A little while ago I stated that Bush was simply a puppet, being told what to do and say by his closest advisors. Of course I knew I was right, but this article in the Washington Post is startling. The article contends that Bush worries about the broad strokes of policy, whereas Cheney concentrates on the organizational aspect, but the history that this article brings out argues something different. "Waxing or waning, Cheney holds his purchase on an unrivaled portfolio across the executive branch. Bush works most naturally, close observers said, at the level of broad objectives, broadly declared. Cheney, they said, inhabits an operational world in which means are matched with ends and some of the most important choices are made. When particulars rise to presidential notice, Cheney often steers the preparation of options and sits with Bush, in side-by-side wing chairs, as he is briefed.
Before the president casts the only vote that counts, the final words of counsel nearly always come from Cheney." The final words always come from Cheney.
"His general counsel has asserted that "the vice presidency is a unique office that is neither a part of the executive branch nor a part of the legislative branch," and is therefore exempt from rules governing either. Cheney is refusing to observe an executive order on the handling of national security secrets, and he proposed to abolish a federal office that insisted on auditing his compliance."
And he is serious. The VP is not part of any branch of goverment, at least according to the VP. Gonzales has been asked to review the legality of this statement, but has been sitting on the request since January. Now Waxman is going to investigate the "legality", but anyone with a passing knowlege of the Constitution will know that Article 2 states implicitly that the office of the Vice President is part of the Executive Branch.
Has the de-facto President gone too far in his power grab? Perhaps he forgot that the Dems are now in power and there are actual checks and balances now. Or perhaps he doesn't care. Constitution be damned.
