Secrecy may cost Cheney, Dems warn

[sabra]

Source: The Hill

Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) yesterday warned Dick Cheney that his office would risk losing its budget unless the vice president agrees to follow a presidential directive ordering the protection of classified information.

Durbin chairs the Appropriations subcommittee on financial services and general government, which writes the executive-branch spending bill that funds the vice president’s budget.

Durbin’s warning came as Sen. Charles Schumer (N.Y.), No. 3 in Democratic leadership, said that he would “seriously consider” joining House counterparts in seeking to yank funding for Cheney’s office after the vice president contended that his office is a hybrid entity that is neither legislative nor executive.

“The decision to exempt your office from this system for protecting classified information is deeply troubling because it could place national security secrets at risk,” Durbin wrote to Cheney yesterday. Durbin did not specify how appropriators would hit Cheney’s funding.

Read more: http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/secrecy-may-cost-cheney-dems-warn-2007-06-26.html

[soothsayer]

1. Why not just IMPEACH the bastard? He shows nothing but contempt

for the law, the constitution, etc. Get him OUT!

[calimary]

47. Amen! I wrote a column about that very thing.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=132x3341524

We NEED to IMPEACH this bastard and Get Him OUT. It's the only kind of message that will get through to him... or to history - and EVERY subsequent vp or other upper-level bastard who aspires to abuse power the way he has.

[StClone]

2. Stop Threating Dick and just do it!

It's becoming apparent that the Dems are patiently and conservatively pursuing the NeoCons when we need action!

[theHandpuppet]

43. Agreed! Less talk, more ACTION!!!!

I'm sick of warnings and reprimands. I want subpoenas and impeachment!!

[jwirr]

3. When are they going to learn that the House does not need the

Senate to stop funding for any branch of the government?

[bluestateguy]

4. Yeah, the Democrats are thinking about drafting a strongly worded letter criticizing Cheney

If they can agree on the language to be used in the letter, that is.

Otherwise, maybe a strongly worded statement that will at least give him the gist of it.

Don't want to get taken off of the cocktail party list, you know.

[n2doc]

8. He's shaking in his boots! I am sure he is running down right now to apologize and ask forgiveness!

:sarcasm:

I'm sure the Dems will find time to look into it, sometime real soon now. But they gotta work on more important things first, like divvying up the pork.

[closeupready]

10. Do you know that I was going to post almost the exact same thing you did here?

When Karl Rove laughed at photographers during Fitz' investigations, he knew what you and I both know.

[Mz Pip]

13. Big Wow

That should scare him. A strongly worded letter. Woop de la de da do. Next they'll plan to torture him with the comfy cushion. Oh no! Not the comfy cushion! :scared:

Mz Pip
:dem:

[Javaman]

16. Dear dick,

"You are a very naughty naughty boy! Now play nice and share your blocks."


There, that should do it.

:banghead:

[redqueen]

18. *sigh*

Ain't that the truth.

[proud2BlibKansan]

19. Oh yes! More strongly worded letters!!

That's the ticket!! :sarcasm:

[theHandpuppet]

44. I'm sure I heard on CNN Breaking News....

... there's a Democratic committee being formed that will click their tongues in the general direction of the Naval Observatory.

[Edweird]

5. The fact that every move is "telegraphed" tells me that it is all bluff.

If they were going to do something it would have been done already. Cheney is refusing to comply with the requirements of the law. Cutting off the funding (which isn't going to happen) would then mean that as long as you don't need the money, you don't have to follow the law. That is wrong. Compel cheney to account for his refusal to follow the law.

[dkofos]

6. Not could Mr. durbin, already has. Or have you forgotten about

Valeri Plame.

[AndyA]

7. Note to Dems: STOP warning, STOP trying to be bipartisan.

The Republicans are manipulating the Democrats like puppets on a string. And the impression the public has of the Dems is that they are another "do nothing" Congress. This is reflected in the polls on Congress, lower even than Bush.

That should send a strong and sobering message to Congress. The Dems power is going to be short lived if they don't get it together and DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY FROM THE EVIL DOERS WE NOW HAVE IN CHARGE.

[loyalkydem]

9. Warning

these two idiots at the top does no good. There going to IGNORE you any way. Stop warning and actually start proceedings. Take a fucking chance why don't you. I don't care if we have a year left in their presidency. Impeaching their ass will send a powerful message.

[GeorgeGist]

11. Little Richards response ...

"Go phuck yourself"

[Faygo Kid]

12. Be careful, Cheney - the Dems may go tsk-tsk on the talk shows

I am sure Dick Cheney is terrified of the spineless Dems (with a very few exceptions) who may say he was a bad boy and they wish he wouldn't do it again.

And that will be it.

[Elidor]

14. Ooooooooooo...I'm sure he's scared now

Toothless threats from clawless pussycats.

[Javaman]

15. The key word here is "may". I'm just soooooooo holding my breath.

:sarcasm:

[frylock]

17. yawn..

somebody wake me when the Dems actually follow through on their idle threats.

[cliss]

20. Well, we're starting to see some action

from the DemoKitties versus the DemoCats.

[Occulus]

21. MAY??

MAY!??!

:grr:

[redqueen]

23. what? we don't want to be called 'shrill', now, do we?

:sarcasm:

[depakid]

22. Yawn.

The Dem "leadership" reminds me of dysfunctional parents... all threat and bluster- no follow through- leading of course to an increasingly errant (and unrepentant child).

[pat_k]

24. The only "coin" they care about losing is their massive power

How are they gonna make him "pay" when the ONLY coin he cares about losing is the massive power of the Americans presidency.

He's making enough off the war to fund his own damn office indefinitely.

Pay my ass.

Until they impeach (and you can't impeach Cheney w/o his partner in crime Bush), nothing they do will even make Bush or Cheney blink, much less "cost" them.

[sabra]

25. Democrats to Target Funding for Cheney

Source: AP

(AP) WASHINGTON - House Democrats, responding to Vice President Dick Cheney’s assertion that his office is exempt from certain national security disclosure requirements, said Tuesday they will try to strip some of his funding.

...

Rep. Rahm Emanuel, D-Ill., sponsor of the amendment, noted that five years ago Cheney claimed executive privilege in refusing to release details about his meetings with oil industry executives to discuss energy policy.

"Now when we want to know what he’s doing as it relates to America’s national security in the lead-up to the war in Iraq and after the fact, the vice president has declared he is a member of the legislative branch."

Therefore, Emanuel said, "we will no longer fund the executive branch of his office and he can live off the funding for the Senate presidency." The vice president presides as president of the Senate.

Read more: http://www.kstp.com/article/stories/S123236.shtml?cat=145

[waiting for hope]

26. Wow - I love this new momentum

that the Dems are showing......the cracks are really beginning to show. My husband had Fox Noise on last night for giggles and I've got to tell you - they are really at a loss on what to say, it was absolutely surreal hearing them talk about Cheney and this latest development.

[loyalkydem]

28. Forget the cracks

I want to see pain and suffering for the republicans

[Kikosexy2]

32. Strip him...

of everything!!!...his bank accounts...his homes...cars, boats right down to his dignity...DIGNITY???? Oops that's in Hell with Satan already...DICK CHENEY MUST DIE!!...at least by his own ticker or he's shot in the face..or God strikes a bolt and destroys the evil once and for all....

[redqueen]

27. (vice) president presides as president

i like that


i also hope there's some actual action on this issue. this guy's been getting away with murder long enough.

i sure hope rove is next.

[partylessinOhio]

29. Rahm Emanuel is on my do-not-trust list along with Pelosi/Reid.

I heard Rahm Emanuel give this exact one minute speech on the floor today. It don't mean a thing if he don't have the votes to back it up.

Why cut funding just impeach him! The Constitution gives congress the power.

[orleans]

31. um, in answer to your question: BECAUSE IMPEACHMENT IS OFF THE TABLE

and my guess is he is grandstanding, getting some smirky face time, and pissing in the wind--trying to give us a little feel good time.

well, screw that.

i'd feel better if rahm would stop pissing around and get serious.

[NV Whino]

30. That's great, but...

Cheney's funded by the corporations. Won't hurt him a bit.

[pat_k]

33. The "power of the purse" doesn't exist in Bush World.

The fascists will just raid Medicare, or get money from the Saudi's, or Halliburton, or wherever they please to advance their fascist agenda.

[Canuckistanian]

34. They're gonna do what?

Congress can't even pass a simple no-confidence motion against the disgraced AG, even with some GOP members calling for Gonzo's resignation themselves.

Then there are the traitor Dems, who will vote against anything the GOP considers "soft on terrorism".
No doubt they'll spin this like that, too.

Musn't rock that boat or else the powder will get wet.

[kurth]

35. Roberts may tilt court to right, Dems warn

[kurth]

36. Alito may tilt court to right, Dems warn

[kurth]

37. Iraq war authorization may lead to chaos, Dems warn

[kurth]

38. Bankruptcy reform may lead to poverty, Dems warn

[kurth]

39. Grow balls, goddamnit

[Rosa Luxemburg]

40. Cheney should retire now

he can live on his assets not on taxpayers' money

[Zhade]

41. Sure, guys. Like the last hundred times.

I no longer believe your party has what it takes to pursue justice, save a few good people trying DESPITE the party leaders' efforts to stifle them.

Show me otherwise, or shut the fuck up - no one cares about more empty threats.

[RelativelyJones]

42. These old men really don't give a shit

about what happens efter they are gone. These statements are as embarrassing and meaningless as Lugar's stern warning long after the war has become a quagmire They lived through Vietnam, they should have known better. They will go down in history as the risk-averse, shameful du-nothings that they are.

[Orsino]

45. "Halt! Or I'll yell 'Halt!' again!" n/t

[Javaman]

46. "don't make me give you that stern look again!!" nt