Posted by zeugma on June 22, 2007, at 20:47:45
In reply to Re: Jumping to conclusions, posted by fayeroe on June 16, 2007, at 20:56:19
> > When it comes to politics, that's about the only way to get there, until they open the archives or someone spills the beans.
>
> Cheney says his guestbook comes under the Presidential Confidentiality thingy......
>
>
He tried to disband the agency appointed to investigate his visitor log.He has also claimed that although the President has granted him executive priviledge, he is not a member of the executive branch.
This leads to the natural question of what branch Mr. Cheney does belong to. Apparently he is a legislator (he does cast the deciding vote in the case of a Senate tie- this was intended by the Framers of the Constitution as a check on the legislative branch by the executive branch, analogous to the president's veto power- that is my interpretation, it is the most parsimonious amd sensible one, and it is routinely taught to schoolchildren- although it is strongly at variance with Mr. Cheney's novel argument- I detect the influence here of Leo Strauss, who held that there are truths fit for children, and truths for the lesser sort of adults, and then the 'real' truths for the ruling class- I think such an interpretation is touching in its paternalism) but uniquely also a staffer in the Executive Branch, with all the immunity that implies (and these days, there is nothing it doesn't imply). In effect, this makes him a legislator with executive powers- a true novelty in the history of this republic.
If this argument holds up (and since Alberto Gonzales has been asked to adjudicate the matter, it will- ) all the textbooks that say Separation of Powers is integral to our political way of life will be in need of revision. I have seen several that claim that Separation of Powers is the essential mark distinguishing a republic from a monarchy.
They are correct, but a republic is a demanding form of government, and Mr. Cheney invites us to relax. Or as Strauss would say, time to go to bed, children.
-z
poster:zeugma
thread:763045
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/poli/20070312/msgs/765097.html