Cheney's office now says President and VP are distinguished from "agencies" subject to oversight

[dajoki]

Cheney Aide Explains Stance on Classified Material

By Michael Abramowitz
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 27, 2007; Page A05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/26/AR2007062602052.html?hpid=topnews

Vice President Cheney's office offered its first public written explanation yesterday for its refusal to comply with an executive order regulating the handling of classified material, arguing that the order makes clear that the vice president is not subject to the oversight system it creates for federal agencies.

In a letter to Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.), Cheney chief of staff David S. Addington wrote that the order treats the vice president the same as the president and distinguishes them both from "agencies" subject to the oversight provisions of the executive order.

Addington did not repeat a separate argument that has been previously advanced by Cheney's office: that it is not strictly an executive branch agency but also shares legislative functions because the vice president presides over the Senate. That argument has drawn ridicule in recent days from Democrats and on late-night television.

Addington suggested in his letter that it was not necessary to rehash that dispute. "Given that the executive order treats the Vice President like the President rather than like an 'agency,' " he wrote, "it is not necessary in these circumstances to address the subject of any alternative reasoning, based on the law and the legislative functions of the vice presidency. . . ." The controversy arises from the revelation last week, by Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Calif.), that the vice president's office has not cooperated since 2003 with officials at the National Archives and Records Administration, who are charged with policing executive branch compliance with rules protecting classified information. In a letter to Cheney, Waxman wrote that the vice president's office had not responded to letters from the National Archives contesting its legal position.

<<snip>>

Kerry rejected Addington's arguments. "This legalistic response raises more questions than it purports to answer," the senator said in a statement. "I am far from satisfied with the response from David Addington, and ask again for the Vice President's office to plainly answer the question of whether he considers himself outside the realm of agency scrutiny, and what their office is doing to secure our nation's most privileged information."

[Kagemusha]

1. As I posted on an earlier thread, but is the VP office an "entity"?

Because the law refers to agencies yadda yadda, and all other "entities" yadda yadda. So is the VP office an entity? Or is it a time-space anomaly?

[kurth]

3. It's an eigenvalue in the asshole eigenspace

[zabet]

2. Another cover their ass anyway possible move..

"...the executive order treats the Vice President like the President .."
Are they admitting they are really Co-presidents?
:puke: :puke:

[jimshoes]

4. They really don't care how absurd

the position they put forward, all that will happen is the chattering classes, (that's everyone else outside the executive branch) will argue back and forth while nothing meaningful happens. Did you think they were kidding when they said they would create their own reality and leave us to study it it judiciously while they continue merrily raping us.

[greenbriar]

5. Bullshit...the founding fathers specifically set up checks and balances

because of the presidency


they did NOT ever want a form of king

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

6. Holy shit. This is CYA to the nth degree. "Let me just explain more"

OMFG.

MKJ

[MadMaddie]

7. While they are playing their bullshit games...American Soldiars

are dying, Iraquis are dying....our National Security is at risk...

If it Sounds like T-R-E-A-S-O-N and walks like T-R-E-A-S-O-N it must be T-R-E-A-S-O-N!


Every area of government has been intentially sabotaged by these idiots....and it's time to see them in cuffs.

[Amonester]

8. Plus: $ 8, 808, 443, 410, 150. 36 (the real reason for their secrecy)

The Outstanding Public Debt as of 27 Jun 2007 at 07:11:10 AM GMT is:
$ 8, 808, 443, 410, 150. 36

An awful lot of these "numbers" end up (and away) in their options (and have-more's around 'em).

[radfringe]

9. simply put

the bushies operate ABOVE THE LAW and OUTSIDE OF THE CONSTITUTION

to them following the law or the constitution is "Option D" on a survey.. DOES NOT APPLY

[dajoki]

10. "a wonderful academic question."

As Tony Snowjob put it...
White House press secretary Tony Snow said the president and vice president are not executive "agencies" and are therefore not covered under the executive order, but he stopped short of placing Cheney exclusively in the legislative branch. Snow He said the vice president has served "in an executive capacity delegated to him by the president" and noted that, constitutionally "there are no specified executive activities for the vice president," and that his role "is a wonderful academic question."
If you can figure that out you get the prize.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-cheney_wedjun26,1,6424091.story?coll=chi-newsnationworld-hed&ctrack=1&cset=true