Cheney has lost leverage, but remains a force

[Robbien]

By Bangor Daily News Staff
Monday, December 04, 2006 - Bangor Daily News

When the new Democratic Congress tries to rein in the expanded powers claimed by President Bush, it faces one formidable obstacle: Vice President Dick Cheney.

In 1987, as a U.S. representative from Wyoming, he was vice-chairman of a joint committee that investigated whether the Reagan administration had illegally ignored a law barring the CIA from supporting the rebel Nicaraguan Contras. Instead, the Reagan administration secretly sold arms to Iran and funneled the proceeds to the Contras.

Mr. Cheney refused to sign the blistering committee report. He wrote a minority report insisting that the White House had made "mistakes in judgment and nothing more." It declared that the president is "the country’s exclusive foreign policy leader." Some presidential scholars disagree and say the power is shared with Congress.

The Boston Globe’s Charlie Savage cited that incident in a recent account of Mr. Cheney’s "mission to expand — or ‘restore’ — the powers of the presidency."

In 1974, when Congress was preparing to investigate a New York Times article by Seymour Hersh on CIA domestic spying on Vietnam war protesters, Mr. Cheney urged creation of a presidential commission to investigate the CIA. Mr. Savage obtained a Cheney memo to President Ford saying that the proposal was "the best prospect for heading off congressional efforts to further encroach on the executive branch."

Another memo urged indicting Mr. Hersh under the 1917 Espionage Act to "create an environment" that might intimidate both the press and Congress.

much much more . . .
http://bangordailynews.com/news/t/viewpoints.aspx?articleid=143700&zoneid=34

[acmavm]

1. I think that the Poopy's boys are pretty upset with Chainsaw.

He led their little boy astray, got him involved in all kinds of lose/lose situations, made the family look bad.

I think that this article gives Dickie-Poo credit for way more power than he has now.

Also, have you noticed that KKKarl isn't shooting his big mouth off as much as he used to?

[Demeter]

2. Cheney's Gonna Fold Like a Wet Cardboard Box

The Godfather has taken his number and is punching his ticket. What I fear most is all these crooks getting off scot-free. January's investigations can't come too quickly.

[bemildred]

3. Cheney's power is entirely derivative.

He can huff and puff all he likes, but his usurpations will be undone.