What I want to know is - were they STILL reporting to Cheney AFTER he was out of office?

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

He has no official standing to know anything any longer, correct?

[NightWatcher]

1. good one. I dont think he just walked away from everything on Jan 20.

[Cleita]

2. It seems Fox News and the other media cheer leaders have been getting

talking points from somewhere and I wouldn't doubt that it is Cheney. If they are still under orders I wouldn't doubt that others are also following orders too. There always has been a shadow government behind the official government especially during the Bush/Cheney administration. I do believe that not impeaching these criminals was a big mistake. Impeachment and investigations would have uncovered what is going on and who is behind it. Instead, now they will just go underground like before and emerge again when they steal another few elections.

[noise]

3. Why would orders from Cheney be required?

Maybe the people in leadership positions at the CIA are on the same page with Bush and Cheney.

[SpiralHawk]

9. "HOG totally rules. Sneer. " - xVP Dickie 'Five-Military-Deferments' Cheney

* Homelander Occult Government*

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zvCLjsWq_UU/SQGpsqD2FtI/AAAAAAAAAek/RuNJ7WpKBQE/s400/cheney.+sneer.jpg

[Sal Minella]

17. * Homelander Occult Government *.....snrrfff. Very good. Very good.

That photo of Mr. Five-Deferments always makes me wonder which part of a baby's bone structure is most difficult to chew.

[Robbien]

4. Laura Rozen over at Washington Monthly takes a look at that issue

She calls it "Cheney’s state within the state" and gives a guide to the Cheney network and calls it "dwindling and beleaguered, but by no means to be underestimated"

I believe the conclusion is that they still give allegiance to Cheney.

http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/features/2007/0701.rozen.html

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

5. Except that the article is from 2007

If anyone IS still passing on classified information to Cheney after he is out of office, I can't think how many laws, rules, statutes, security violations, etc. that would violate.

[Robbien]

10. True, but it stands to reason that their loyalty was just to Cheney

and still is. Thus this may be the reason Panetta recently shut down the operation this past June.

[malaise]

6. That would be illegal

Cheney should be charged with treason.

Now we know why he refused to head home after the elections.

[monmouth]

11. That and his doctors and other medical care are in the area...n/t

[eleny]

7. Holy crap

and thanks for the link, R.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

8. My 2nd question would be:

Panetta didn't know, Congress didn't know.

So, who was the top ranking official at the top of the food chain in any Government capacity receiving reports on the secret program AFTER the elction?

[Robbien]

14. My guess

would be they still informally reported to Cheney.

Cheney has been full of confidence and all over the media spouting doom and gloom implying he KNOWS that Obama is hurting the US. After the operation was shut down in June Cheney has been quiet.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

15. But as I said, there still had to be a top government person(s) still in place

who would be the "buck stops here" guy OFFICIALLY.

This is a really, really important question if you think about it. Why did it take SIX MONTHS before Panetta somehow found out about this program? How did he actually find out? Anyone know the backstory on that?

[Robbien]

16. The deputy director of the CIA was aware of the program all along

Stephen Kappes the deputy director of the CIA under Bush/Cheney was kept by Obama's Leon Panetta.

According to this article
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-cia-cheney12-2009jul12,0,2470959.story


Kappes knew of the program. Why it took him six months to tell Panetta is another story (if it even was Kappes who told Panetta).

[MindMatter]

19. And still do.

Why would anybody assume that Panetta was able to stop this? They did it without oversight before. What keeps them from continuing now? Is Panetta going to fire them? He probably can't even identify most of the people who are involved in the program.

Welcome to the secret agency, Leon. If you know what's good for you, you won't ask too many questions. And it would be wise not to speak any more about the boss -- er I mean former Vice President Cheney.

[shanti]

22. fire 'em all

and sort them out later!

[kentuck]

12. Even today, are they still reporting to him?

I would say yes. He and Bush, Sr....Dubya gets in by legacy. So I would say that things have changed very little since Jr left office...

[hwmnbn]

13. Maybe we should use our surveillance programs...

to find out. Tap his ass and everyone around him. And we don't need no fucking warrants!

[ControlledDemolition]

18. ...and maybe a little 'rendition' to boot! n/t

[havocmom]

20. 'Tap his ass' seems likely to become part of the lexicon

And, yeah, maybe that is part of the bush/cheney era tool kit Obama isn't giving up, yet

[hwmnbn]

21. Unless we clean out all the "loyal bushies"...

from every agency they infest, there will be underhanded sneaky shit going down in all government agencies. IMO, in order to start fresh, EVERY Bush appointee or hire has to leave. It's the only way to make sure Obama controls the levers of power.