Cheney: It’s Just An ‘Urban Legend’ That I ‘Exceeded My Authority’ As Vice President»

[babylonsister]

http://thinkprogress.org/2009/01/07/cheney-urban-legend/


Cheney: It’s Just An ‘Urban Legend’ That I ‘Exceeded My Authority’ As Vice President»


In an interview with CBS Radio today, Vice President Cheney claimed that he never “exceeded” his role as Vice President over the past eight years. It’s an “urban legend,” he insisted:

Nearing the end of eight years as Vice President, Dick Cheney bluntly dismissed the frequent suggestion that he was the one calling the shots in the White House. “It’s an urban legend,” he said. “It never happened.” <…>

“This whole notion that somehow I exceeded my authority here, was usurping his authority, was simply not true.” Cheney said “there was never any question about who was in charge: it was George Bush and that’s how we operated.”

Cheney is, simply put, the most powerful vice president in history. Early in the Bush presidency, Cheney worked out a deal with Bush so he could be active in “whatever area the vice president feels he wants to be active in,” according to Chief of Staff Josh Bolten. “He has been pretty damn good at accumulating power,” remarked former secretary of state James Baker.

Here are just some examples of Cheney abusing his vice presidential powers:

– Argued he was not part of the executive branch but instead a “barnacle” hanging between the legislative and executive branch.

– Cheney’s office failed to provide data on its classification and declassification activities as required by Executive Order 12958. “Cheney’s office provided the information in 2001 and 2002, then stopped.”

– Top Cheney aide David Addington “typed a substitute signature line” for Alberto Gonzales on a memo re-authorizing Bush’s illegal wiretapping program.

– “The Cheney team had…technological supremacy over the National Security Council staff. That is to say, they could read their e-mails,” said former Colin Powell aide Lawrence Wilkerson.

– Documents prepared for the then-National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice were “routed outside the formal process” to Cheney.

– A Cheney lawyer told the Secret Service in September 2006 “to eliminate data on who visited Cheney at his official residence.”

In addition to his well-documented disregard for the rule of law, Cheney admitted last year that he doesn’t care what the public thinks. It is no wonder he leaves office with 23 percent of Americans saying he is the worst VP ever.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. And the fact that he is a "friend in the face shooting" fat asshole is an urban legend as well.

[YOY]

2. And the truckloads of illegible shredded documents that were clearly about kittens proves it!

n/t

[ShadesOfGrey]

3. Uh huh...

[gratuitous]

4. Really, Dick?

Then tell us, who attended your secret energy policy meetings in 2001?

We'll start with that one, and once we have an answer to that urban legend, I have a whole list of other things to inquire about. I trust a subpoena won't be necessary . . .

[TNOE]

5. They just keep on lying

as if we are all ignoramuses that can't tell our own assholes from holes in the ground. They have insulted the American people's intelligence (well, most of us anyway) for 8 years.

If I hear ONE MORE LIE out of these people - I may explode, but I won't, because that would make them too happy. I know they must get off on all the negativity.

[elleng]

6. Is that because the CONSTITUTION

is an URBAN DOCUMENT? OR, COURTS only in URBAN AREAS???

[Kaleko]

7. Only 23 % are saying that Cheney is the worst VP ever???

Must be a typo or a poll I don't trust.

Sheesh.

[TahitiNut]

8. The dried ink on his blanket PARDON puts the lie to his words.

He wouldn't be shooting off his mouth unless the ink was dry on his blanket pardon ... but the pardon itself wouldn't even be thought of if it weren't for his war crimes and crimes against humanity.

[ColbertWatcher]

9. Well, I guess if he says it's an urban legend, it must be an urban legend! n/t

[leveymg]

10. He's right about this: Bush knew (and approved) everything, eventually.

So, Cheney now gives up his designated role as White House flack-catcher and boogeyman, in favor of a more honest self-portrait as King's headsman and the Evil Voice whispering in the royal ear.

[Winterblues]

11. Why did Cheney INSIST that he had to be with Bush* when he testified for 9-11 Commission?

Cheney is simply not Credible. Nothing he says can be believed PERIOD.

[JackRiddler]

12. More urban legend. There was no 9/11 and Cheney had nothing to do with it.

[4 t 4]

14. Cheney - The Worst Person In The World

second to Hitler IMHO Worse that *

[jimshoes]

13. That Dick, he's such a kidder,

Ya never know when he's kidding around. What a card.











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[fascisthunter]

15. Every Lie is Due to Weakness

the weakness to stand up to the truth. Cheney is a very weak, sick man...

[Caliman73]

16. The fact that he was even rated shows that he overstepped

Sure Quayle was a joke and other VP's had some notoriety or infamy, but Cheney has used his office to try and gut the other 2 branches of government, accumulate power unto himself, and enrich his contributors. He is psychotic.

[spanone]

17. he should be saying this to a judge.

[Bluebear]

18. Yes, just like green M&M's.

Ass.

[OnceUponTimeOnTheNet]

19. David Fucking Addington. Sis, it must make you near insane to read these Cheney

statements. Have you ever thought about writing a book? I can see you doing that.

[mascarax]

20. Sounds like Dick's been hanging w/Michelle Bachmann

Two people who say the darndest things on camera...and then deny it as an "urban legend".

[Solly Mack]

21. You betcha...downright "debatable"

snort

[bdamomma]

22. cheney is such an

a$$hole.

[deutsey]

23. What a nutcase n/t

[Flying Dream Blues]

24. Liar. nt