Cheney really wants U.S. dictator BY ANDREW GREELEY

[jbfam4]

Cheney really wants U.S. dictator
http://www.suntimes.com/output/greeley/cst-edt-greel07.html
July 7, 2006

BY ANDREW GREELEY

The United States is caught up in a new campaign for a military dictatorship -- rule by a military chief with absolute power. The White House, inspired by Vice President Dick Cheney, has argued that in time of great danger, the president has unlimited powers as commander in chief. If he cites "national security" he can do whatever he wants -- ignore Congress, disobey laws, disregard the courts, override the Constitution's Bill of Rights -- without being subject to any review. Separation of powers no longer exists. The president need not consult Congress or the courts. Moreover the rights of the commander in chief to act as a military dictator lasts as long as the national emergency persists, indefinitely that is and permanently.


The Supreme Court in its ruling about a Guantanamo detainee just before Independence Day was a sharp rebuke to Cheneyism. It dealt with only one case and left the president wiggle room. He could consult with Congress about new legislation that would provide more rights for the detainees in a military trial. But that violates Cheney's first principle that the commander in chief doesn't have to consult with anyone on matters of national security. If the president was consistent with the Cheney theory and the Alberto Gonzales memos, he should defy the Supreme Court and insist that he has the right to establish whatever judicial process he deems proper for these potentially dangerous people without any interference from anyone. He may still do that.


Richard Cheney is a vile, indeed evil, influence in American political life. He is a very dangerous person who would if he could destroy American freedom about which he and his mentor prate hypocritically. His long years in Washington have caused him to lose faith in the legislative and judicial processes of the government. The country, he believes, requires a much stronger executive. Such concentrated power would have been necessary even if the World Trade Center attack had not occurred. He uses the fear of terrorists as a pretext to advance his agenda of an all powerful president, a military dictator. So long, of course, as he is a Republican.

[eleny]

1. "Richard Cheney is a vile..." - Oh I like the sound of that

[NMDemDist2]

5. A Greely writes great novels too!

If the Catholic Church was like his books, I'd be in the pew every Sunday!

[mzteris]

2. Greeley got it wrong. . .

Cheney really wants TO BE U.S. Dictator!

[OffWithTheirHeads]

3. He also wants to be president of the NRA

Cause he is such a safe shooter. Don't get me wrong. I own guns, I like guns, but even imbeciles know that guns and alcohol do not mix!

[teryang]

4. It's nice to hear someone call it what it is

Next I expect the executive office to carry a "we aren't a dictatorship" PR campaign.

[Vidar]

6. Greeley nails it again;"Cheney is a vile, indeed evil, influence".

[treestar]

7. In the 70s Cheney was involved in plans to continue the

government in the case of nuclear attack - it involved certain people taking power to the point where you have to wonder if now that he is VP, he is up for the "disaster" or "attack" to take place so he can have the powers outlined in his "plan." (Which nobody asked for, and indeed, if the US were totally destroyed it could reconstitute itself - it's on a piece of paper called "the Constitution.")