What is Digg?88 Comments
- AnaHadWolves, on 10/11/2007, -3/+47OK, if he isn't a member of the Executive Branch, can we then try him before the International Court at The Hague for war crimes? I'd be happy seeing him at the end of one of their ropes.
- mikelieman, on 10/11/2007, -2/+24Well, the story *does* have a direct link to the original PDF from Addington, so yes. I'd say the site is credible.
- adamh227, on 10/11/2007, -0/+18This is ridiculous. The constitution says he is in the executive branch. The end.
- Novagenesis, on 10/11/2007, -1/+17The constitution is so last presidency. The suggested replacement is the Patriot Act..it even sounds more American
- TecHeavy, on 10/11/2007, -0/+13That's because if anyone decides to talk for Dick Cheney, or speak without permission, Cheney would eat their kids.
- SilentJay74, on 10/11/2007, -0/+10It does not matter what branch he is in. If our other elected SO CALLED LEADERS HAD THE BALLS they would find a way to get his ass in court where he belongs. WE THE PEOPLE continue to speak of the ***** storm he has caused for our country but no one has the balls to go get him. Some elected officials say it would take a hell of a lot of money and resources to convict him. Looks like all that money and resources the administration spent putting us into a BS war and causing our brave Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, and Airmen to lose their lives isn't reason enough! Haliburton and the administration are in bed together, giving each other political reach arounds to strengthen their political influence once the Bush administration leaves office. This whole administration is BS and I know our founding fathers are rolling in their graves watching what so many who came before us have tried to give us. Yet we and the media continue to piss it away allowing these people to continue to worsen our image with the rest of the world. The US is supposed to be a world leader! When the hell are we going to get a leader who has the integrity and courage to lead BY EXAMPLE! Senators and Congressmen grab your balls out of Cheney and Bush's desk drawers and go get these guys!
- MonsterChaOS, on 10/11/2007, -1/+11well, it's no fox news
[/sarcasm] - obliviousfool, on 10/11/2007, -1/+10Shame on Raw Story for using primary sources like that! Actually, the letter seems to have been taken down. Addington is the single most powerful lawyer in the USA, afterall.
- Rsardinia, on 10/11/2007, -1/+9Bravo. Lay it down to these people always questioning the info from credible sites that provides information contrary to Fox News and all other mass media :)
- R34C7, on 10/11/2007, -2/+10Can you fault the guy for not commenting? At least he is not the perpetrator of the lie, he is simply covering his ass. He probably likes his job and doesn't want to be part of the fiasco in agreeing with Cheney because he knows the ***** storm is coming. He acted in the best possible way in this circumstance.
- dargon, on 10/11/2007, -0/+7Even if the constitution doesn't directly say that the Vice President (or the President for that matter) is part of the Executive Branch, their own friggen website does.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/exec.html
http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html
as does USA.gov "The executive branch of the government is responsible for enforcing the laws of the land. The president, vice president, department heads (cabinet members), and heads of independent agencies carry out this mission." - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6My God, this lunacy makes me want to gouge out my own eyes. How does Cheney reconcile this in his warped mind? I mean, what kind of lies has he told himself so he can sleep at night?
- shawshank62, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6I can't wait till this guy gets out of office.
- hotpocket, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6And how much time does he spend doing that job? Out of 100% of his time at work, what percent is he at the senate breaking ties, versus being Vice President?
- mrmdc, on 10/11/2007, -0/+6Only one job?
So, what do you suppose he spends his time doing? Twiddling his thumbs? - Ramble, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5Fine by me, if he isn't in the branch then he should get none of the benefits or powers he would usually get.
- primortal, on 10/11/2007, -1/+6What is it going to take to start the impeachment process on these guy's?
- pintomp3, on 10/11/2007, -0/+5what is this constitution you speak of? sounds like socialist propaganda if you ask me.
- Authustian, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4anyone have a chance to grab the .pdf of the letter before it went offline?
- withincontext, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4"Why would a Wookiee, an eight-foot tall Wookiee, want to live on Endor, with a bunch of two-foot tall Ewoks? That does not make sense! But more important, you have to ask yourself: What does this have to do with this case? Nothing. Ladies and gentlemen, it has nothing to do with this case! It does not make sense! Look at me. I'm a lawyer defending a major [asshat], and I'm talkin' about Chewbacca! Does that make sense? Ladies and gentlemen, I am not making any sense! None of this makes sense! And so you have to remember, when you're in that jury room deliberatin' and conjugatin' the Emancipation Proclamation, [approaches and softens] does it make sense? No! Ladies and gentlemen of this supposed jury, it does not make sense! If Chewbacca lives on Endor, you must acquit! The defense rests."
- mrdeathgod, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4"... the more modern functions of the vice presidency ..." ???
I can't imagine they're going to tell us what any of those are either... - Shaman760, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4And these people are running the USA? Can we get a refund? Hey I didn't vote for the *****, nor his trained monkey.
- kreneskyp, on 10/11/2007, -0/+4The absurdity is that he claims because he has one function in the senate, all his actions fall under those rules. Any action that is part of his role as an executive should fall under the rules for the executive branch. For simplicity's sake his office has just had to comply with the executive branch rules since they are his primary function. If we wanted to be really strict they could impose rules from both executive and legislative branch just in case it hard to split up his papers between the two roles
- Dumbledorito, on 10/11/2007, -1/+4"I vas only following orders! I svear!"
- monkeyrun, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3but why focus on that while we could talk about how great a leader Bush & co. is?
You are obviously biased ;) - DrDragun, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3they can try him whether or not we are a member, and they can try him in his absence. if convicted, the USA would obviously not extradite but it would prevent Cheney from ever taking vacations outside the US (or going to work at Haliburton's new headquarters)
what are you going to convict him of? ordaining torture and falsifying intelligence with the intention of justifying an invasion? they are his crimes for sure, but they would be difficult to prove that Cheney was the direct source - bcarl314, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Point of Fact: The constitution has 2 references to the role of Vice President:
a) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_One_of_the_United_States_Constitution - President of the Senate. Part of the legislative
b) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Article_Two_of_the_United_States_Constitution#Section_1:_President_and_Vice_President - a member of the Executive
What _should_ happen here is that the Vice President is, while being both branches, and should be bound to any rules, laws and other regulations that apply to EITHER branch.
What his office is _claiming_ is that neither apply (except when they fit their need). - Pfhreak, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Article I, Section 3: "The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided."
The only mention of the VP in reference to the Legislative Branch is in his capacity as tie-breaker. By convention, his role as PotS is purely ceremonial, and the President pro tempore is the de facto leader of the Senate. He has no vote outside tie-breaking, and no presiding power outside the ceremonial.
Article I, Section 6: "no Person holding any Office under the United States, shall be a Member of either House during his Continuance in Office."
The VP cannot be a member of both Executive and Legislative Branches.
Article II, Section 1: "The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows:"
The VP is explicitely mentioned in Article II, Section 1, which establishes the structure and election process for the Executive Branch.
Although no ruling was ever made, during the impeachment of Senator William Blount in 1799, it was argued that the House does not have the authority to impeach members of Congress, on the grounds that there was already a procedure for each chamber to expel its own members (in Article I, Section 5). Blount was removed by the Senate through the method outlined in Article I, Section 5 before the House voted to impeach, and the House has never attempted to impeach a member of Congress since. Article II, Section 4 explicitely mentions the VP again, this time as one of the officers to be removed via impeachment, along with the President and all civil officers, another case where's the VP is included with the Executive Branch:
"The President, Vice President and all civil Officers of the United States, shall be removed from Office on Impeachment for, and Conviction of, Treason, Bribery, or other high Crimes and Misdemeanors."
The Vice President is a member of the Executive Branch, and the Executive Branch only. - GabrielS, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Ah sanity. Yes, lawyers have been ready for this argument for some time now. Addington is no dummy. He was the Republican Counsel on the House Committee that investigated Iran-Contra. Dick Cheney just so happened to be the ranking Republican on that committee. They were investigating the office of Vice President George H. Bush.
- manova, on 10/11/2007, -0/+3Article 2 Section 1
The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years, and, together with the Vice-President chosen for the same Term...
Article 1 Section 3
The Vice President of the United States shall be President of the Senate, but shall have no Vote, unless they be equally divided.
The Senate shall choose their other Officers, and also a President pro tempore, in the absence of the Vice President, or when he shall exercise the Office of President of the United States.
Here it is. I can really see how a lawyer could have a field day arguing this. - inactive, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2CYA != following orders
- crweaks23, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Owned again.
- EuroMarkus, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2
I guess Cheney never read the Executive Order 12958 which defines "Agency" below -- The VP might not be an Agency, but he's an Entity...
(i) "Agency" means any "Executive agency," as defined in 5 U.S.C. 105, and any other entity within the executive branch that comes into the possession of classified information. - TheSabre, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2As a federal employee, I would be more than happy to refund your $0.02. Provide me with your name, address, date of birth and SSN (so I can verify that you paid taxes), and I'll send you the $0.02 in 7-10 business days. :-)
- GabrielS, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Here you go.
http://kerry.senate.gov/newsroom/pdf/Addington_Letter.pdf - mikelieman, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2If Cheney wants to pretend that he's President of The Senate, and Not VP of the Executive, that's fine.
The SENATE RULES ON OVERSIGHT APPLY!!!
They got their own office to make sure that Senators are handling sensitive documents correctly. - monkeyrun, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2He obviously won't recall anything by then.
- monkeyrun, on 10/11/2007, -2/+4It’s just a goddamned piece of paper!
- GabrielS, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Wikipedia's may be wrong here. The Constitution at Cornell and the LoC doesn't list the Vice President as a "member of the executive".
Where are you getting these words "member of executive". - geekee, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"Remember how Scooter Libby took one from the Special Prosecutor to save Dick Cheney?"
Save him from what? Not getting charged like Armitage wasn't charged? - GabrielS, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2This isn't accurate. The US Senate wouldn't ratify the treaty. Ergo, President Clinton never introduced it to the Senate for a vote. Clinton wanted to sign it, but he knew the Senate would never ratify it so he tabled it.
- keepinithamsta, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2"The United States Cabinet (usually simplified as "the Cabinet") is composed of the most senior appointed officers of the executive branch.."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/U.S._President%27s_Cabinet
Cheney's listed on http://www.whitehouse.gov/government/cabinet.html
How did Cheney get into office when he doesn't even know the basics of American politics? By the way, I have a theory on the man-sized safes in his office: for when shooting one friend in the face just isn't enough. - airwalkery2k, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2I actually feel sorry for anybody who has to defend this position.
- venicerocco, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Cheney is up to something big. What ever we have discovered about him is just the tip of the iceburg. Over the next decade or so, a lot will come out.
- crweaks23, on 10/11/2007, -0/+2Owned.
- SigmaOne, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Here is the solution to the problem:
http://www.wikihow.com/Take-Action-to-Impeach-a-US-President - withincontext, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1@texpundit
My thoughts exactly. This is nothing but CYA (cover your ass). We need people to come out of the woodwork and stand up for what they believe. - flycatcher, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1Yes... Your refund is don't ***** vote for people like this next time round, and demand accountability. Also, grow a ***** backbone and put yourself on the line for stuff like human rights, reduction in government, and reduced personal greed. This ***** is only going to get worse until there is some catastrophic event to reset the government. I don't know why Americans are sleeping at the wheel. Don't expect an admin change to do anything either. America was manipulated before and it sure as hell will happen again if you ***** let it.
- Phearce, on 10/11/2007, -0/+1No, I would not like a rogue leader from any party. That's why our forefathers set up a careful system of checks and balances: to avoid tyranny and abuse.
- Fredtheviking, on 10/11/2007, -1/+2Not sure why you have been dugg down. You ask a perfectly valid question. As far as your questions is concern, I would hope a mature digger could answer. I am fear I don't know your question. One does wonder how valid many of the anti-bush and anti-Cheney stories are. I mean who could be so dedicated to evil... who really has that kind of time?
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