Cheney Shielded Bush From Crisis

[sabra]

Source: WP

Vice President Cheney convened a meeting in the Situation Room at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, March 10, 2004, with just one day left before the warrantless domestic surveillance program was set to expire. Around him were National Security Agency Director Michael V. Hayden, White House counsel Alberto R. Gonzales and the Gang of Eight -- the four ranking members of the House and the Senate, and the chairmen and vice chairmen of the intelligence committees.

Even now, three months into a legal rebellion at the Justice Department, President Bush was nowhere in the picture. He was stumping in the battleground state of Ohio, talking up the economy.

With a nod from Cheney, Hayden walked through the program's vital mission. Gonzales said top lawyers at the NSA and Justice had green-lighted the program from the beginning. Now Attorney General John D. Ashcroft was in the hospital, and James B. Comey, Ashcroft's deputy, refused to certify that the surveillance was legal.

That was misleading at best. Cheney and Gonzales knew that Comey spoke for Ashcroft as well. They also knew, but chose not to mention, that Jack L. Goldsmith, chief of the Office of Legal Counsel at Justice, had been warning of major legal problems for months.


Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/14/AR2008091401974.html

[Bob Dobbs]

1. Ignorance is no excuse.

busholini is culpable for everything done on his watch.

indict. convict. execute.

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

5. ..salt the earth.

Don't forget that one.

[UpInArms]

2. Criminals are at the helm of our government.

Providence willing, they will imprisoned and stripped of all their power and wealth (which they have plundered from the people of the world - not just from our nation's coffers)

[redirish28]

3. No wonder why Impeachment is off the table. Just sick the idea that

Cheney is REALLY running this country.

[4lbs]

4. I think most people ended up knowing that...

President Cheney was even having a tough time letting the First Kid, Dubya, ride a tricycle since he failed with a Segway Scooter.

[Pete2069]

6. Looks as if the mafia has taken over the White House

Bush , Cheney and this administration is just as corrupted ,
criminal and ruthless as the mob of the 1920's , in fact they
are worst and have much greater power and control over our
police forces.  
One thing they have the Mafia didn't have is direct control
over our CIA , FBI , Federal , State and local police force.  

Plus they have control of military and judicial system
completely... While they are building they own private
mercenary armies like Blackwater....

[calimary]

7. They sent him out cheerleading while they butt-fucked the Constitution.

Dear God these are assholes.

Will they ever pay for even a thimble-full of what they've done?

[JDPriestly]

8. The federal courts are full of Bush appointees. Probably not.

[Festivito]

9. But, not from the decision. Bush chose Cheney. Made own bed.

If Bush does not like the situation in which he has to make a decision, he can resign.

[Ramius]

10. When has he NOT shielded Bush...

... I mean really... does anyone REALLY think that Bush was "the decider" on ANYTHING??

Come to think of it..... it's the other way around... Bush was shielding Cheney from scrutiny.

[ladjf]

11. Prison. Any less will prove that our criminal justice system is

demolished.

[Solly Mack]

12. allowing them to get away with it just undermines the country even more

and as of this morning, they are all still free