Guess it's time to update all civics books in the US

[RightIsWrong]

And then this idiot goes on to say that the agency that is wanting to investigate his office to ensure that they are handling classified info in the proper manner should be abolished in his defense to their appeal to the Justice Dept. to force him to comply.

House Democrats on Thursday denounced Vice President Dick Cheney's idea of abolishing a government office charged with safeguarding national security information ? and criticized him for refusing to cooperate with the agency.

Cheney's office ? over the objections of the National Archives ? has exempted itself from a presidential executive order that seeks to protect national security information generated by the government, according to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

Under the order, executive branch offices are required to give the Information Security Oversight Office at the archives data on how much material it has classified and declassified.

Cheney's office provided the information in 2001 and 2002, then stopped. Henry Waxman, chairman of the committee, said Cheney's office claims it need not comply with the executive order because it is not an "entity within the executive branch."

"Your decision to except your office from the president's order is problematic because it could place national security secrets at risk," Waxman wrote in a letter to Cheney on Thursday.

Megan McGinn, a spokeswoman for the vice president, said Cheney's office was not breaking the law, but did not elaborate.

"We are confident that we are conducting the office properly under the law," she said.

The Information Security Oversight Office has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resolve the legal dispute over whether the order applies to Cheney's office. So far, the Justice Department has not ruled on the issue.

Waxman said J. William Leonard, director of the Information Security Oversight Office, told the panel that after he sought advice from the Justice Department, Cheney's office recommended that the executive order be amended to abolish the ISOO. "I question both the legality and wisdom of your actions," Waxman said.

Waxman said Leonard also told the panel that in 2004, Cheney's office blocked the archives from doing an onsite inspection of his office to make sure classified information was being properly protected.

"To my knowledge, this was the first time in the nearly 30-year history of the Information Security Oversight Office that a request for access to conduct a security inspection was denied by a White House office," Waxman wrote.

The eight-page letter asks Cheney to respond to a series of questions about why he believes his office is exempt, and what steps his office has taken to ensure that national security information is protected.

I love their take on things....."Trust us."

I know that it has been said many times prior already....but I feel the need to repeat it again. Just impeach this fvcker already and get it over with.

Edit: Linkage

 

[MadRat]

Technically he's part of the Legislature.

 

[RightIsWrong]

Originally posted by: MadRat
Technically he's part of the Legislature.

I wish that he would make that argument because the rules of disclosure and ethics on the Legislature are a whole lot more stringent. Even he isn't that stupid.....is he?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: RightIsWrong

Cheney's office claims it need not comply with the executive order because it is not an "entity within the executive branch."

Cheney is right, his office is a branch of the Republican Fourth Reicht.

 

[techs]

My take on Dick Cheney:
No one is completely useless. They at least serve as a bad example.

 

[gcy]

Cheney's stradling on the fence if he in the legislative or executive really shows his contemp of the american goverment system. He makes his own rule without regard to the law or tradition of this country.

"The Information Security Oversight Office has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resolve the legal dispute over whether the order applies to Cheney's office. So far, the Justice Department has not ruled on the issue."

Asking Gonzales to resolve the legal issue is laughable, as I don't think he believes in the rule of law either.
:disgust:

Thinking about it, maybe Cheney can just declare himself independent and US laws does not apply to him.
:roll:

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: gcy
Cheney's stradling on the fence if he in the legislative or executive really shows his contemp of the american goverment system. He makes his own rule without regard to the law or tradition of this country.

"The Information Security Oversight Office has asked Attorney General Alberto Gonzales to resolve the legal dispute over whether the order applies to Cheney's office. So far, the Justice Department has not ruled on the issue."

Asking Gonzales to resolve the legal issue is laughable, as I don't think he believes in the rule of law either.
:disgust:

Thinking about it, maybe Cheney can just declare himself independent and US laws does not apply to him.
:roll:

Yeah well AGAG doesn't know what habeas corpus is either. It's almost like he obtained his law degree through a correspondence course.

Cheney has basically assumed the powers of the President here where he thinks he can declare any classified info as declassified and distribute it to anyone he wants. This is beyond his powers.

If he really wants his own kingdom so badly, I'm sure we could find an atoll in the Pacific somewhere, he could wear his crown of coconuts there and quit trying to destroy our government.

 

[kage69]

There is just no limit to the amount of disgust this slimeball can generate, is there?

Cheney pisses wherever Cheney wants apparently. Been doing it for years with the military, look at him with his 5 student deferments and expectant father deferment, giving an ethics lecture at West Point. America's most prestigious and honored military institution.
Not sure exactly which clusterfvck from the last 6 years qualifies this @sshead to teach anything, if anything this admin has provided a stellar example 'of what not to do.'

Yeah well AGAG doesn't know what habeas corpus is either. It's almost like he obtained his law degree through a correspondence course.

...or he went to Regeants. Not that it matters, he's already been proven to be a spineless, dishonest crony happy to relinquish the decisions of his office to others.


God I hate this administration. I'm literally ashamed of them.

 

[nageov3t]

ever get the impression that this administration is playing Calvin Ball?

 

[nageov3t]

Originally posted by: MadRat
Technically he's part of the Legislature.

but if that's true, are all his claims of executive privilege now null and void?

 

[Craig234]

One problem is when there are laws without penalties for violating them. What's the penalty for violating this executive order?

Another is that impeachment can only be used for 'high crimes and misdemeanors', so Clinton's impeachment notwithstanding, there seems to be little but bad publicity for lawbreaking like this.

Hopefully, they'l find a way to force him to comply.

It would seem likely also that Cheney would just have Bush amend the executive order.

 

[Lemon law]

I look at it as a golden opportunity and a historical continuity---as bad as Nixon was, the pragmatic always said get Spiro first---and now the pragmatic have that pressing need to get Cheney first. Maybe we can get Scooter Libby to sing. The big slam dunk is that Cheney has been doing many other things that warrant impeachment---and we just are not looking hard enough to find the many many many smoking guns. I do however have some faith in Waxman who is slowly tracking things down. But it would be nice to have a deep throat to accommodate the man they call Uncle Dick.

And seeing Cheney impeached, convicted in the Senate, and later in a jail cell---that would be a priceless trifecta.---and a fitting end for someone who is an axis of evil all by himself.

 

[Narmer]

These guys are making a mockery of the federal government. Something needs to be done...fast.

 

[Lemon law]

I also question the concept the the office of Vice-President could be considered an arm of the legislative branch just because the VP can break a tie in the Senate.
Actually the VP has no real constitutional role other than being a President in waiting. And as Texas Nance Garner---the sage of Ulvalde put it---the Vice Presidency is not worth a pitcher of warm spit. And you can a bet---if there is a fight on a subpoena for Vice Presidential documents---the Cheney arguments will assert executive privilege.

 

[fskimospy]

I hope people keep pushing this dirtbag on this. I agree with what was said above, if he's not part of the executive branch, then bye bye to executive privelidge that he so rampantly abuses.

I mean Bush is bad and all, but this man is a cancer on our system of government. (hell, it seems Cheney is where Bush has gotten a lot of his most extreme executive power ideas from anyway)

 

[Lemon law]

To Eskimospy,

You somewhat unwittingly get to the heart of the problem when you say--I hope people keep pushing this dirtbag on this. I agree with what was said above, if he's not part of the executive branch, then bye bye to executive privelidge that he so rampantly abuses.

The problem is that serial liars like to have things both ways---and Cheney will assert he is both in the legislative and executive branches---and it just depends on which is more convenient at the moment. And Cheney will flip flop back and forth at near the speed of light and never acknowledge the glaring inconsistencies. And his base will eat it up and we will cry in frustration. Its something that has gotten Cheney far in Washington and in business.

 

[zinfamous]

Originally posted by: loki8481
ever get the impression that this administration is playing Calvin Ball?

nice analogy :thumbsup:

 

[1EZduzit]

Cheney and Bush both need to be taken out and publically bitch slapped. That take the sneers off their crooked faces....... for a little while anyway.

 

[JD50]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
Cheney and Bush both need to be taken out and publically bitch slapped. That take the sneers off their crooked faces....... for a little while anyway.

I'd watch that. :thumbsup:

 

[QTArrhythmic]

The VP office is part of Satan's branch.

 

[ayabe]

Well Tony Snowjob said the other day that Congress actually doesn't have any oversight authority over the executive branch, don't have a direct clip of it, but it was on Colbert, you can see it here:

Linktacular



This is how these people operate, they walk around with their middle fingers extended at all times.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Lemon law
I also question the concept the the office of Vice-President could be considered an arm of the legislative branch just because the VP can break a tie in the Senate.
Actually the VP has no real constitutional role other than being a President in waiting. And as Texas Nance Garner---the sage of Ulvalde put it---the Vice Presidency is not worth a pitcher of warm spit. And you can a bet---if there is a fight on a subpoena for Vice Presidential documents---the Cheney arguments will assert executive privilege.

Lemon Law. First off, I'm not backing Cheney on this, but I wanted to fix a couple mis-statements you made.

a) You said he has no role other than being a president in wating. Actually his single constitutional duty is to serve as president of the Senate.
b) Believe it or not, he receives his paycheck from the U.S. Senate

Legally he may be correct, but as Techs pointed out, what a great trade we get. Let's call him the legislature and remove all executive privledge...

 

[bsobel]

Cheney is right, his office is a branch of the Republican Fourth Reicht.

I see your adding nothing to the conversation, as usual.

 

[ayabe]

Originally posted by: bsobel
Legally he may be correct, but as Techs pointed out, what a great trade we get. Let's call him the legislature and remove all executive privledge...

Exactly, he just f'ed himself, now he's going to have to reveal who was at his secret energy meeting way back in the day and what they were discussing, among many many other things.

 

[Lemon law]

Originally posted by: 1EZduzit
Cheney and Bush both need to be taken out and publically bitch slapped. That take the sneers off their crooked faces....... for a little while anyway.

Well the problem is that such bitch slaps have no legal standing in American tradition. Although
sticking their heads in stocks and the ducking stool was in vogue with the puritans. But that ended with the constitution---and cruel and unusual punishments.

But we could revive another old American tradition---tar and feather them---and ride them out of town on a rail. And its cheap also---you can get the required ingredients and most well stocked K marts or Walmarts. It could prove to be just the right way to properly honor them
in a protracted group ceremony complete with a honor guard to show due deference to their exalted offices. And everyone loves a parade. July 4 would be about right.