Excuse me, Mr. Cheney but we've already got a 4th branch of government

The press corps is starting to take notice:

During a heated press briefing today, White House spokesperson Dana Perino tried desperately to downplay yesterday’s report showing that Vice President Cheney has exempted his office from a presidential executive order designed to safeguard classified national security information. At one point, Perino called it “a little bit of a non-story.”

She repeatedly said that Cheney exempt from a mere “small portion” or “small section” of the executive order, and that President Bush never intended for the executive order to apply to Cheney any differently than it applies to the president’s own office.

Perino later contradicted herself: first, she stated definitively that Cheney’s office is “complying with all the rules and regulations regarding the handling of classified material.” But when questioned how she could be sure, Perino said it was a “good question” and admitted she isn’t “positive” that his office is in compliance. [Think Progress]

There's only room for one quasi-official fourth branch of government in this republic, and it's not the VP.

Comments

[Maiden]

Back in April 2004, the initial response of the White House to 60 Minutes' breaking of Abu Ghraib was that it was a nonstory too: just a bunch of rogue, fucked-up GIs doing what rogue, fucked-up GIs do. (Maybe this is what rogue, fucked-up VPs do...)

[Eric Jaffa]

Since in Cheney's opinion, his office isn't part of the executive branch, Congress should tell him to leave. Impeach Cheney.

[shrimplate]

One thing's for sure, Cheney is not head of the administration's Bullshit Department; that's Rove's.

[stm177]

If he's not part of the executive branch, then he shouldn't be getting any classified data, and he cannot claim executive privilege either.

[Summerisle]

Are you talking about the Fourth Estate, or the military? If it's the fourth estate you mean by 4th branch of government please remember that for residents of the United States the French Revolution only conjures up vague memories of seeing some topless chick with a french flag in a textbook somewhere.

[pseudonymous in nc]

Since in Cheney's opinion, his office isn't part of the executive branch, Congress should tell him to leave.

I'd just suggest that he's needed to preside over the Senate every moment it's in session between now and 2009. I'm sure he'd love that.

[dave]

I posted on another thread, same response fits here:

Sure looks like it is time to shake the tree of liberty again.

[JohnL]

I think Cheney would argue (and does in the Plum book ( here http://www.gpoaccess.gov/plumbook/2004/p226_appendix5.pdf)) that the VP does work in the legislative and executive branch but is in neither. Perhaps, he then argues that if the duties he is performing are for the executive branch then he can claim executive privilege. I think this needs to go to the Supreme Court, since Cheney has said he does not have to obey the executive (does Bush know this?)nor the legislative branches.

[Alan Bostick]

I get it... Cheney is claiming to be a member of the Fourth Estate, and therefore doesn't have to reveal his sources.

(Personally I think that viewing the press as the Fourth Estate is dangerous and antidemocratic. The freedom of the press belongs to all of us, not just the handful of rich people who own one of their own.)

[Cass]

"I think this needs to go to the Supreme Court, since Cheney has said he does not have to obey the executive (does Bush know this?) nor the legislative branches."

I hate to repeat myself every time; but six years into this administration, there's no excuse anymore, none, for anyone to take their constitutional arguments seriously. Under pressure, its true, they'll make what appear to be concessions to the rule of law. They've also made it clear to anyone with eyes that none of these concessions mean anything, if they decide, in their wisdom, that they don't care for these particular checks on their power. From declaring war to suspending elections to crushing a child's testicles, there ARE no limits. And since their definition of a "patriot" is of a submissive dolt who thinks his leaders are incapable of evil, they don't see why anyone should have a problem with this.

[Cass]

And right on cue: "Bush Claims Exemption From His (own) Executive Order"

http://fairuse.100webcustomers.com/sf/latimes227.htm

The story mentions that while Bush "stressed the importance of the public's right to know" in the order, he never actually intended those words to apply to him or his administration. And the fact that the wording of the order leaves that impression doesn't matter, according to the White House, because Maximum Leader alone knows what was in his own mind, and that wasn't it.

[inkybrain]

I'd say it's funnily ironic (ironically funny?) that those who ostensibly argue for the strict construction of the Constitution are the same who break it on the rack to justify crap like this. Except for, you know, the near-irremediable damage to our system of government and everything.

[Summerisle]

Yeah.

Should I even bother? That's the question. The answer is yes: the meaning of the Fourth Estate effectively is that the press keeps an eye on the government and can check it's power if it's used in a bad way. Nobility, Clergy, Commoners, the traditional three estates, which, minus clergy, translate out into an upper chamber and a lower chamber. If you think of the Estate concept as representing chambers, each with a power to block the actions of the other chambers, then the Fourth Estate would be like a literal check on the actions of the executive and of the other two, if we're assuming a Constitutional monarchy with a prime minister and cabinet or equivalent.

I don't know where you get the "Owning the presses" thing from; maybe you're reading the concept a little bit too literally.

BTW, the painting I referenced was "Liberty" by Eugene Delacroix