Cheney aide is screening legislation - Adviser seeks to protect Bush power

[wicket]

http://www.boston.com/news/nation/washington/articles/2006/05/28/cheney_aide_is_screening_legislation/

The office of Vice President Dick Cheney routinely reviews pieces of legislation before they reach the president's desk, searching for provisions that Cheney believes would infringe on presidential power, according to former White House and Justice Department officials.

The officials said Cheney's legal adviser and chief of staff, David Addington , is the Bush a dministration's leading architect of the ``signing statements" the president has appended to more than 750 laws. The statements assert the president's right to ignore the laws because they conflict with his interpretation of the Constitution.

The Bush-Cheney administration has used such statements to claim for itself the option of bypassing a ban on torture, oversight provisions in the USA Patriot Act, and numerous requirements that they provide certain information to Congress, among other laws. Previous vice presidents have had neither the authority nor the interest in reviewing legislation. But Cheney has used his power over the administration's legal team to promote an expansive theory of presidential authority. Using signing statements, the administration has challenged more laws than all previous administrations combined.

``Addington could look at whatever he wanted," said one former White House lawyer who helped prepare signing statements and who asked not to be named because he was describing internal deliberations. ``He had a roving commission to get involved in whatever interested him."
Knowing that Addington was likely to review the bills, other White House and Justice Department lawyers began vetting legislation with Addington's and Cheney's views in mind, according to another former lawyer in the Bush White House.

[salin]

1. In short, the Presidential signing statements are not even from the Pres.

IOW, the extra-constitutional activities of the administration in asserting powers not granted by the Constitution - are done under the Vice President, who has even less authority according to the Constitution. Or am I missing something here?

[wicket]

2. Sounds about right to me

n/t

[Eugene]

3. Shrubya signs the bill with the statement.

It is a Presidential action even if * is acting as Dick Cheney's puppet.
An good question would be whether * actually reads what he signs.

[salin]

14. Scary thought he might not even bother to read, or if he does

he wouldn't take the time to try to figure out the implications. All fits with what he told a reporter on the 2000 campaign trail... that policy bores him...

[BonnieJW]

35. Read it???

Have you been thinking that * actually reads legislation??? He couldn't even get through My Pet Goat.

[spindrifter]

47. With the volume of materials

it is highly unlikely he would read, think about, send back to his aides for more research the S.S.'s and bills. He probably looks at a few of the high profile items that someone flags for him, as they know he'll have to be conversant with a few of them.
I wonder what this guy's reading speed is.

[jamesinca]

5. Let us not forget that Cheney worked for Nixon

He was a big advocate of unchecked executive power back then. It is one of the things that got Nixon in trouble. If the President does it, it is not illegal. Or this gem; the illegal we can do immediately, the unconstitutional takes a little time.

[madaboutharry]

7. I don't think you've missed a thing

Cheney is a fascist, that is the bottom line.

[LiberalFighter]

17. They are taking over the responsibities of the courts

Courts are the only area of government that can rule that a piece of legislation is invalid once the President signs the bill. And determine whether all or part of the legislation will continue as law.

The President can only sign legislation that is passed by both Houses of Congress.

[Jack113]

30. Cheney in command

I believe Cheney has held the real power since Bush was first placed in office.

Bush is no more than a figurehead that is easily led around by his VP and staff members.

It is still two years plus before we get to choose a new president and until then if these cons and puppets are not brought under control they can still do more great harm to this nation and the world. I really hope and prey that the murder and corruption is stopped before it is to late for America and the rest of the world.

[bdamomma]

58. oh yea, cheney is definitely the power behind bush

bush just delegates all the power to someone else, but, both of these men bush and cheney are both instrumental in their abuse of unchecked power. Very dangerous indeed.

[wordpix]

43. good summary, you get an "A" on your comprehension of this illegal activit

y. :puke: :hide:

[anchor of hope]

49. Abuse of Power

It is especially important during wartime that Americans have full faith in their President's word and credibility. When President Bush writes an addendum announcing that he shall interpret any bill he signs as he see fits (and by implication reserves the right to disobey or fail to adhere to any legislative provision he disagrees with), that undermines trust in the President and his word. His failure to adhere to and ensure that all laws are faithfully executed is an abuse of power, subject to an impeachment inquiry.
Any conscientious American and defender of civil liberties and the separation of powers believing ion the separation of powers (and dispersion of authority) has a civic obligation to stand up to any Rethuglican protestations that any criticism of the President during wartime is treasonous, "providing aid and comport to our enemies". Unfortunately, the President's party is dominated by pre-programmed robots who are told what to say and think (largely religious fundamentalists and some military personnel). Conservative Republicanism is today largely defined by a hierarchical respect for a strong father figure as national leader (authoritarianism), and an intolerance toward dissent as heretical, dangerous and treasonous.
Of modern American political leaders, only the late Meldrim Thomson (NH Governor, 1973-79) viewed his office similarly, as "Supreme Leader".

[Martin Eden]

56. Dereliction of Duty

I agree with your post, and the failure of Congress to hold this president accountable for his abuse of power is dereliction of duty on their part.

[peacetalksforall]

4. The evidence is imperative. The PNAC plan was to come up with

person of contained interests who could be manipulated and used. They needed someone that could be a figurehead with a certain charisma (to some) and a name, but who was incapable of forming his own opinions about how to run a country except in the area of oil interests and the game of loyalty, betrayal, and revenge. They wanted a puppet. They got a puppet. A really bumbling, embarassing one at times.

The evidence is imperative that Dick Cheney, head of PNAC, recipient of the profits of Halliburton and other companies, is the President.

The agenda of PNAC and the barons and foundations behind PNAC is being fulfilled by the complicity of so-called news people who are now being paid for propaganda.

A amall per cent of people have pulled off a coup within the U.S. and most of us still don't have a clue.

From stealing a growing number of elections to breaking down the separations of powers, from turning us into a military attack machine (on each other and the world_ - to throwing out all we were taught to hold dear - they've done it - the proof is all there.

[Drum]

18. see also:

[grasswire]

39. see also

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_True_Believer

[anchor of hope]

51. Manchurian Candidate

Rush Limbaugh thought former President Clinton was the Manchurian candidate because of Hillary Clinton's domineering role in domestic policy.

[BonnieJW]

36. 2008

And can you think of another idiotic bumbler to take the place of * in 08? It's not going to be McCain - he thinks. It's going to be another George - Allen. A total dumbass who has had everything handed to him by his famous father. The similarity is incredible.

[anchor of hope]

50. Puppet President

Agree that President Bush acts like Dick Cheney's press secretary.

[ixion]

6. watch for the Big Backpeddle on these 'presidential powers' when

a dem is elected in 08. They'll leave skidmarks in their effort to curtial what they've granted to Little Lord Pissypants. :grr:

[TriSec]

8. But is it fascism?

So, Mr. Addington gets to approve everything that the 'president' signs. Who elected him in charge of the executive branch?

I'm trying to find historical precedent for this monstrous erosion of the constitution, but I don't see anything...nothing from the Third Reich, or the Central Committee of the Communist Party, or anything.

This isn't like the 'president' making proclamations and then having a compliant congress rubber-stamp the thing...it's almost the reverse.

This is truly something new.

[Fovea]

31. Germany had

new institutions supercede (without renouncing) the old institutions. The Gauleiters and the courts for example.

You just declare the new stuff operative, and the old stuff inoperative. Sure we are still a democracy, see congress passing bills? Do they have any effect on presidential power? Not if I say they don't.

This moves beyond one party rule to one man rule. And people with that power don't step down in elections-- generally they leave office feet first.

[anchor of hope]

53. Supreme Ruler

The other historical parellel to George W. Bush's abuse of executive power is Louis XIV ("Le e'tat es moi", or "I am the state".).

[wordpix]

44. where the hell is Congress on this? It is an outrage & it's been going on

far too long. :mad:

[Laelth]

46. Too long, indeed.

Signing statements go back as far as Andrew Jackson, and they have almost always been interpreted by Congress as an unacceptable usurpation of Congressional authority. Just not this Congress. They don't seem to mind.

Interesting history of signing statements here: http://www.usdoj.gov/olc/signing.htm

-Laelth

[anchor of hope]

54. Where is the Congress?

I'll tell you where Congress has been; it's members have until recently been intimidated by the President's campaigning against them (e.g, calling Tom Daschle an "obstructionist").

[nicknameless]

9. K/R

[Ilsa]

10. We need to get Cheney a color blind Aide,

and have provisions for executive incarceration typed in red on green paper for violations of law.

I originally put another penalty in there, but can't take a chance. :tinfoilhat:

[UpInArms]

11. "they conflict with his interpretation of the Constitution"

Wow! When did that crapass "C" student become a recognized and reputed Constitutional Scholar?

[robbedvoter]

12. Consolidating the power they hijacked in 2000. Logical step

Some day this truth will dawn on all of you: just because appearances were kept, it doeasn't mean we were a democracy as of December 13, 2000. Rome was an empire with a senate and other trappings of a republic. people accepted it because they were held above all other people in the world (and many inhabitants of Rome itself - who were slaves or just not citizens)

[Rose Siding]

13. Just imagine a cheneybush signing statement to the War Powers Act

It's a wonder they even bothered with an IWR.

snip>``Judgments about the Iran-Contra affair ultimately must rest upon one's views about the proper roles of Congress and the president in foreign policy," Cheney's report said. ``The fundamental law of the land is the Constitution. Unconstitutional statutes violate the rule of law every bit as much as do willful violations of constitutional statutes."

Cheney's report includes a lengthy argument that the Constitution puts the president beyond the reach of Congress when it comes to national security. Some 18 years later, the Justice Department would repeat these same arguments in a 42-page memo arguing that Bush's warrantless wiretapping program is a lawful exercise of presidential power.

[catmandu57]

15. Which makes getting deadeye all the more important

Cutoff the head of this monster, w* is an illiterate sociopath, as long as he gets to kill he doesn't care, the real danger lies behind him.

[Veronica.Franco]

16. The fascists all sing, "We don't need no CONSTITUTION" ...

[Lib Grrrrl]

28. OK, You Just Got Me Thinking

We need to come up with lyrics to this song...

And it must be done to the tune of "Another Brick In The Wall" by Pink Floyd.

C'mon guys...you can do it...

We don't need no Constitution
We dont need no ________ control.
___________________ in the Congress,
Hey! People! Leave the Shrub alone!!

All in all it's just another __________________

Fill in the blanks, folks...we gotta work on this...it could be funny as hell! If it weren't TRUE!!

[jwirr]

19. I thought that we had a Supreme Court to interpret the Constitution.

Or did they give their obligations away when they selected the idiot over the legal votes of the people?

[yy4me]

20. Bravo to the Boston Globe and staff writer Charlie Savage.

This is another powerful article by this very courageous reporter and we appreciate his efforts to expose this mess we call our Federal Government. Praise to the Globe also for showing spine in giving it "above the fold" coverage in todays' paper. Now if newspapers in the rest of the country would follow the lead of the Globe, maybe we could get people to wake up. The road to "hell in a hand-basket" is getting closer.

[grytpype]

21. Investigate the OVP and impeach Cheney!

As bad as the White House is, the OVP is even worse, and weirder. Even the White House people think Cheney's people are weird.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

22. Cheney is truly evil.

I don't understand how he's alive. His heart is like an old oil rag from an oil change, yet he continues to do the most evil things. I didn't think anyone on earth could survive having a heart that is worthless and continuing to do evil. It's his very nature, I guess.

[bdamomma]

59. Cheney probably has oil running through his body than blood

cheney is definitely evil, taking his revenge on everyone for Nixon's resignation.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

65. I don't think he's alive.

I think Cheney's heart killed him long ago, then some Repugnican scientist found him spare parts in a cemetery and fired the creature up again. However, the spare parts belonged to Repugnicans, and so of course he became quite a demonic presence.

[WiseButAngrySara]

23. Sounds about right! I KNEW B* himself wasn't intelligent enough to

plan that far in advance! I'm not surprised at all that Cheney is behind most of the evil in this fascist misadministration.

[Mr_Spock]

24. Just another of the dozens of ways Bushco is killing America

Fucking Nazi fucks.

[Mountainman]

25. This is so disturbing to me that I don't even like to read about it.

The reason is because I know how wrong it is yet no one is going to do anything about it. Suppose they decide they don't need to abide by the laws that call for a presidential election in 2008. It's obvious that they are not concerned about *'s low numbers and that there is an election this year. They keep going about what they are doing as if * was a dictator who will remain in power for a long time.

I hate them all and hope we gain the control of Congress so we can begin to do something about it.

[Spazito]

26. It certainly re-affirms to me that Cheney would easily instruct his

aides to out Valerie Plame without a second thought. His obsessive and powerful control over even the minutest detail, as shown in the now public portions of Libby's Grand Jury testimony, is made even clearer by this article.

Thanks for posting the link.

[heartofthesiskiyou]

27. deleted.. wrong thread

[NoodleyAppendage]

29. Constitution says 2-term Pres. limit. Could Bush ignore this???

If King Chimp can just arbitrarily ignore laws, as he and vice-Pres. Belzebub seem to assert, then what's to keep him from just ignoring our current Constitional limit on Presidential terms????

J

[Initech]

32. Well, the repukes seem to think the constitution is toilet paper

these days. Wouldnt surprise me if they could find some way to completely bypass the 22nd amendmennt... :eyes:

[bdamomma]

60. if they blow this Constitutional limit of the Presidential terms

there is no rule of law period.

[Joey Liberal]

33. Bunnypants Bush is a puppet for Cheney n.t

[leftchick]

34. You would think any self respecting repuke would be sick and tired

of being bushco** doormats. They are irrelevant and stupid! They look like fools and they don't even care.

[HuffleClaw]

37. is this some attempt to SHIFT the blame?

"David Addington , is the Bush a dministration's leading architect of the ``signing statements" the president has appended to more than 750 laws. "

[Zhade]

38. Check out the subtle propaganda!

"The statements assert the president's right to ignore the laws because they conflict with his interpretation of the Constitution." - that should read ""The statements assert THAT the president HAS THE right to ignore the laws because they conflict with his interpretation of the Constitution."

The way it's phrased, makes it sound as if the assertion is correct, when it's in fact blatantly illegal.

[xxqqqzme]

40. I hate these people!

edit to add:

'...assert the president's right to ignore the laws because they conflict with his interpretation of the Constitution.'...

HIS interpretation? Since when did chuckle nuts become a scholar of that 'dirty old piece of paper'?

[Buns_of_Fire]

62. His "interpretation of the Constitution" probably roughly parallels...

...his "interpretation of the English language." In other words, be afraid. Be very afraid.

[pinto]

41. The Problem with Presidential Signing Statements, by John Dean

The Problem with Presidential Signing Statements: Their Use and Misuse by the Bush Administration

By John W. Dean

Presidential signing statements are old news to anyone who has served in the White House counsel's office. Presidents have long used them to add their two cents when a law passed by Congress has provisions they do not like, yet they are not inclined to veto it. Nixon's statements, for example, often related to spending authorization laws which he felt were excessive and contrary to his fiscal policies.

In this column, I'll take a close look at President Bush's use of signing statements. I find these signing statements are to Bush and Cheney's presidency what steroids were to Arnold Schwarzenegger's body building. Like Schwarzenegger with his steroids, Bush does not deny using his signing statements; does not like talking about using them; and believes that they add muscle.

But like steroids, signing statements ultimately lead to serious trouble.

Relying On Command, Rather Than Persuasion

Phillip Cooper is a leading expert on signing statements. His 2002 book, By Order of the President: The Use and Abuse of Executive Direct Action, assesses the uses and abuses of signing statements by presidents Ronald Reagan, George H.W. Bush and Bill Clinton. Cooper has updated his material in a recent essay for the Presidential Studies Quarterly, to encompass the use of signing statements by now-President Bush as well.

By Cooper's count, George W. Bush issued 23 signing statements in 2001; 34 statements in 2002, raising 168 constitutional objections; 27 statements in 2003, raising 142 constitutional challenges, and 23 statements in 2004, raising 175 constitutional criticisms. In total, during his first term Bush raised a remarkable 505 constitutional challenges to various provisions of legislation that became law.

<more>

http://writ.news.findlaw.com/scripts/printer_friendly.pl?page=/dean/20060113.html

[remfan]

42. Never forget that Cheney chose himself to be bush's VP

after reviewing ALL the other potential running mates.

He didn't do it because he thought bush was a great leader, kids.

[zippy890]

45. Excellant article - clear abuse of power by Cheney via Bush

from the article

"By contrast,(to previous administrations) Bush has used the signing statements to waive his obligation to follow the new laws. In addition to the torture ban and oversight provisions of the Patriot Act, the laws Bush has claimed the authority to disobey include restrictions against US troops engaging in combat in Colombia, whistle-blower protections for government employees, and safeguards against political interference in taxpayer-funded research.

Cheney's office has taken the lead in challenging many of these laws, officials said, because they run counter to an expansive view of executive power that Cheney has cultivated for the past 30 years"...

~snip~

it is worth reading the whole article, good journalism here by Charley Savage

Cheney's the man behind the curtain, which is being pulled away by articles like this- and with the Libby case

[wicket]

48. kick

:kick:

[Triana]

52. "challenged more laws than all previous administrations combined"...

There is a word for lawlessness:

GWB

[radfringe]

55. bush = PINO?

President In Name Only

basically cheney tells bush what to sign - so who's really running things?

[Zorra]

57. The US has been officially diagnosed with cancer of the democracy.

We need to get rid of these fascists and undo everything they have done. We'll have to make sure that every last Bu*h appointee is removed from office. They are the feces of immunovirus.

They are all traitors.

[bdamomma]

61. and war criminals

they are certainly shredding everything this country has stood for.

[AzDar]

63. I'd say 'unbelievable', but these days, it just isn't... n/t

[wicket]

64. kick

:kick: