John Dean (Findlaw): Cheney & The Fight Over "Inherent" Presidential Power

[Dudley_DUright]

Vice President Dick Cheney has stirred up an old fight in Washington. He sent a rookie, however, to make his case publicly. It did not work.

Attorney General Alberto Gonzales appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee to offer what may have been the weakest legal argument for presidential power to conduct warrantless electronic surveillance since Nixon's Justice Department invoked the views of King George III.

King George III's take on the matter did not carry any weight either. Indeed, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals could barely believe the Nixon Justice Department was serious. The panel reminded the government's lawyers that warrantless searches were among the very reasons the colonies fought for their independence.

As for the reaction to the Gonzales testimony, a New York Times editorial described it as "a daylong display of cynical hair-splitting, obfuscation, disinformation and stonewalling." The Times also noted committee chairman Arlen Specter's analysis of the Attorney General's legal position: It "just defies logic."

more...

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/dean/20060210.html

[enough]

1. This is a very interesting article, going back

into some of Cheney's history, including the Iran-Contra hearings. Thanks for posting.

[Little Star]

2. Thanks and kick for valuable insight from John Dean.