Why doesn’t Waxman at least threaten such an eventuality if Cheney insists on acting in an unconstitutional and illegal manner?

Er, did you miss efk’s link above where the Democrats are threatening to do exactly that? Rahm Emmanuel made his press statement on Friday.

Somehow, regrettably, I think the Democrats in Congress lack the spine to do such things. Why doesn’t Waxman at least threaten such an eventuality if Cheney insists on acting in an unconstitutional and illegal manner?

This is as bad as it gets. Furthermore, Cheney is caught red handed and doing something that obviously wrong: Saying he doesn’t work for the President. I think just about everyone in America could understand that and why it’s wrong.

This isn’t something complicated like the AG scandal or unconstitutional wiretappings or signing statements.

This is pure simplicity: Dick Cheney arguing that he doesn’t work for Bush.

Cheney’s office denied doing anything wrong, but Cheney’s office is also denying it’s an office. Tricky Dick Deuce declared himself exempt from a rule that applies to everyone else in the executive branch, instructing the National Archives that the Office of the Vice President is not an “entity within the executive branch” and therefore is not subject to presidential executive orders.

So which military uniform will he wear once he declares himself Grand Vice President to the Great Royal President of the Free State Holy Christian Front of the United States?

Will it be a Hitler style brown shirt with Leiderhosen? Or will it be more along the line of past African dictators, with plumed helmet and an array of brass medals and ribbons? Possibly a Paul Revere getup to satiate his Free Stater supporters.

Will we get a parade down Pennsylvannia Avenue in which his Majesty throws quarters to the commoners? Will James Dobson become the Secretary for the Department of Public Decency and
Social Sanitation?
Oh I can’t wait!

Second, the Washington Post is in the middle of a four-part series on Cheney, and it’s pretty much brilliant (if four years too late). The link is to part 1 of the series; part 2 can be found by clicking on the drop-down menu under the “Angler” banner.

Richard A. Epstein, a prominent libertarian law professor at the University of Chicago, said, “The President doesn’t have the power of a king, or even that of state governors. He’s subject to the laws of Congress! The Administration’s lawyers are nuts on this issue.”

Having gone to U. of C., I often like to see which way Epstein blows on a certain topic, because he’s insane, but usually consistently so. For example, he’s famous for half-joking that the Bill of Rights should stop after “Congress shall make no law” — small government, etc. — but he also supported the Bushies for a long while. Anyway, it’s nice to see an ugly architect of the right, a Federalist Society stalwart, now demonstrate some outfreakage with respect to the constitutional crimes being committed by the Bush administration. Put another way, if Richard Epstein thinks someone is too nuts to the right? Sound the alarms, as the shit is really hitting the fan.

One good thing to come out of this is that Rahm Emanuel has come up with the “that’s dead clever” solution of recommending the defunding the Office of the Vice President from the appropriations to the White House in the Executive Branch. If Cheney wants to act like he’s not part of the executive branch, then he shouldn’t get money for being part of it. Couldn’t agree more. It’s just a stunt, of course, but a nice one.

How can Cheney make the argument that his office isn’t a part of the executive branch? That contention just seems silly on its face.