Rahm Unfazed by Cheney Retreat
Mike Allen reports in The Politico that although I-Am-the-Branch-in-Chief Cheney has backed down on his claim to be a trans-executive creature, Rahm Emanuel still plans to move his legislation cutting off funding for the vice-president's office tomorrow:
Emanuel, who has scheduled a vote on Cheney’s funding for Thursday, said the change makes it clear that the White House “told Cheney that he would have to come up with another excuse – that this was not sustainable in the public arena.”
Emanuel said the vote is still planned, and said the new position means the vice president needs to comply with National Archives requirements.
Perhaps this means that the legislation will be rewritten to suit the Cheney backdown. Stay tuned.
In any case, it warms the heart to read the gibberish to which the executive branch is reduced, viz:
Now, a senior administration official tells The Politico: “It's a moot point to get into executive functions and legislative functions because of the executive order's intent. That trumps all because it is what the president intended.”
What we need is a congress that can read Bush's mind. Clearly the Dem congress has failed at this too. Though in their defense the inside of Bush's mind looks like that amusement park in Fallujah these days. None of the rides work and some are boobytrapped.
June 27, 2007 3:52 PM | Reply | Permalink
I still like the idea of tying Cheney's funding to compliance with congressional requests for documents and to submission to oversight.
This was never about the "Executive branch" issue really. It's about containing Cheney's authoritarianism.
thosethingswesay.blogspot.com
June 27, 2007 4:15 PM | Reply | Permalink
Hey, Destor, aren't you from Charlottesville? Just asking, because after my call to Virgil Goode today, I got called to participate in a "live call-in." I stayed on the phone for about 45 minutes listening to my "neighbors" call in to compliment Virgil for all he's doing to keep the "illegals" out. I had a written comment for when my time came up, but after the 20th love-fest comment, where Virgil responded about the Kennedy-Bush Amnesty bill, I finally hung up. I just couldn't listen to that redneck for one more second.
Funny that it happened the same day I called to register an anti-Cheney sentiment!
Jan
June 27, 2007 4:49 PM | Reply | Permalink
Isn't reading Bush's mind something like listening to the sound of one hand clapping?
--
Howard
*equal opportunity offense to both extremes*
To truly annoy a mime, aim your stereo speakers at his house and play a blank CD at full volume, at 3 AM.
June 27, 2007 6:53 PM | Reply | Permalink
Agreed. Props to Rahm for sticking with it. I just hope other Dems will do the same thing.
June 27, 2007 7:22 PM | Reply | Permalink
So a congressman has temporarily realized that controlling expenditures is how things are done... Maybe he read the constitution or something... Gonna take away Cheney's $5 million in toys. When are they gonna go for the Prez's Executive Office of the President? Shut that little sucker down and CONGRESS would be IN CHARGE again... Just a little hint.
June 27, 2007 9:56 PM | Reply | Permalink
On June 28, 2007 - 12:56am Good 4 A Merica said:
So a congressman has temporarily realized that controlling expenditures is how things are done... Maybe he read the constitution or something... Gonna take away Cheney's $5 million in toys. When are they gonna go for the Prez's Executive Office of the President? Shut that little sucker down and CONGRESS would be IN CHARGE again... Just a little hint.
I'll bet Congress -- and the Democrats; you pro-Bushit Democrat bashers never seem to remember that there are foot-dragging Republicans also in the Congress -- know more of what the Congress can do, and what they are about. But, gee, how clever: Why not set a precedent by using threats of fund-cutoffs to manipulate future Democratic presidents!
Smart idea, Sherlock!
Actions have consequences. Democrats know that. Perhaps the pro-Bushit Democrat bashers should learn that basic rule of responsibility and civility.
June 27, 2007 10:43 PM | Reply | Permalink
Emmanuel's stunt is nothing more than that; a stunt, designed to show the American public that "Hey, we Dems do have a spine of sorts."
Nothing will come out of Emmanuel's posturing. Although the MSM, especially the "Paper of Record" chooses to feature on its front page the latest, sordid antics of the blonde bimbo of the moment, rather than legitimate news, some are savvy enough to realize that we have lost control of our government at all three levels.
And all the antics and circus like atmosphere of the Congress will do nothing to restore our democratic republic.
Besides, even if they did pass legislation cutting the "Dark Prince's" funds, Bush would just issue a signing statement saying the funds were still available.
And that is where Emmanuel and the cowardly Dems should be focusing some of their energy; Stopping the Executive Branch's illegal taking of power by fiat.
June 28, 2007 3:59 AM | Reply | Permalink
Well, I guess Cheney will just have to start spending his personal 18 quadrillion dollar oil fortune, then...maybe he'll pronounce himself king of Iraq or something, he can be Duke Dick, with one of those little turban hats or something...Prince Halliburton? LOL Whatever it works out to, as long as he stops trying to pass himself off as part of publicly accountable, duly elected government, it's fine with me.
June 28, 2007 5:10 AM | Reply | Permalink
Dick Cheney Starring in
NeoCommix's 2004 Release
ByPass
June 28, 2007 6:11 AM | Reply | Permalink
If Congress defunds the OVP (and there appears to be at least a 50-50 chance of that), the OVP will cease to operate. Cheney cannot use his private funds to run the office. While the Constitution provides for his salary, it is the Congress which determines whether he has an office, staff, etc.,etc. The same is true for Shrub (aka, GWB).
BTW, the Congress can also defund the AG's office.
Current polling shows the Democrats have nothing to lose and everything to gain from defunding both the OVP & the AG's office.
Finally, do not discount the importance of the subpoenas issued yesterday by the Senate Judiciary Committee to the WH, OVP, DOJ, etc., regarding the illegal eavesdropping program. Because this is an investigation of potential criminal activity, executive privilege does not apply (see US v Nixon (1974)). THIS is actually a bigger story than defunding the OVP.
June 28, 2007 6:50 AM | Reply | Permalink
A hamstrung government is a government that won't be stealing the Natural Rights of Humans, nor creating America's future enemies with Imperialists Gone Wild. Sounds a lot like a win/win situation to me.
June 28, 2007 6:57 AM | Reply | Permalink
No, I live in Brooklyn and work in Manhattan. Sorry you had to put up with all of that but thanks for getting involved.
thosethingswesay.blogspot.com
June 28, 2007 8:17 AM | Reply | Permalink
For the uninformed, which would seem to include you, the EOP was created in 1938 or 1939. Before that, the president had a handful of aids and had to work cooperatively with the much more powerful cabinet.
OMB (formerely BoB) and the Council of Economic Advisers formed, at that time, the core of EOP. Frankly, the whole country would be better off today if we abolished the Council of Economic Advisers, which is an unnecessary statutory elevation for a myopic academic discipline.
Defunding, or hobbling OMB would mean that CBO would be the chief budgetary agency of the federal government. If one actually believes in democracy and accountability this might not be a bad idea.
Congress should not make its financial decisions based on the individual aspirations of congressmen who hope for a promotion to president.
June 28, 2007 8:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
Another feelgood piece of red meat thrown to the base that accomplished nothing.
Oh well, my representative's humiliation today was by no means the biggest asskicking anybody got in Conress today.
June 28, 2007 9:09 PM | Reply | Permalink
I'm not a big fan of Rahm Emanuel, but I've got to give him credit when he does the right thing. Unfortunately, his amendment lost when 24 Democrats crossed over and helped out the Republicans.
David "Idiot Liberals" Obey voted no. What does he know that most of the House Democrats (including a marjority of the Progressive Caucus, a majority of the New Democrats, and a majority of the Blue Dogs) don't?
June 30, 2007 7:30 PM | Reply | Permalink