Richard Bruce Cheney, ie Dick Cheney, the 46th vice president of the United States, is the biggest presidential power builder in our country’s history. Possibly Cheney’s greatest fear is Congress limiting the power of the commander and chief. Not only is Cheney expanding the presidential powers, but also his own. “Under Cheney and his Chiefs of Staff I. Lewis ‘Scooter’ Libby, Jr. and David S. Addington the Office of the Vice President has expanded in size.” (Washingtonpost) Cheney is often a gatekeeper for Supreme Court nominees, a referee of Cabinet turf disputes, an arbiter of budget appeals, editor of tax proposals and regulator in chief of water flows in his native West. Cheney has no particular pragmatist beliefs or crusader beliefs, he uses all scopes or schools of thought on any particular action. Especially if it was for his administration’s own gain. Bush senior is a pragmatist, someone who acts as a realist concerning power of the 4 P’s, while Bush junior is a crusader, someone who acts upon principles of the 4 P’s and does not negotiate. (The other 2 P’s are Peace and Prosperity)
- Born: January 30, 1941 (age 66) in Lincoln, Nebraska
- Political affiliation: Republican, or Neo-Conservative if you will.
- Religion: Methodist
- Schooling: University of Wyoming
- Other positions held:
- 17th United States Secretary of Defense under Bush senior.
- 8th White House Chief of Staff under Gerald Ford.
The Constitution gives sole war time powers to the president, and Cheney has blown this out of proportion. Before September 11, 2001 Cheney and Bush had a president power building philosophy, but post 9/11… it became doctrine. The word “terrorist” wasn’t in American’s vocabulary until 9/11, and the Bush administration started tossing it around like a word filler probably aided in its habitual use.
Cheney’s lawyer even dominated Bush’s lawyer. Albeto Gonzales, from the Texas courts, was called "The Judge” in the Whitehouse, and Bush called him Fredo by nickname. He had no national experience, but Cheney’s lawyer did. “David Addington, the General Counsel to Vice President Dick Cheney, was the actual author of one of the now-infamous White House ‘torture memos’ that claimed for President Bush the authority to violate the Geneva Conventions on the Treatment of Prisoners of War, in the so-called ‘war on terrorism.’” (Larouchepub) I’d say that this is power to bypass legal citizen rights, in the power of a vice president’s lawyer, it personally scares me. Cheney’s lawyer relationship is 15 years plus strong.
Let me bring the point home.
“Cheney's proposal had become a military order from the commander in chief. Foreign terrorism suspects held by the United States were stripped of access to any court -- civilian or military, domestic or foreign. They could be confined indefinitely without charges and would be tried, if at all, in closed ‘military commissions.’
‘What the hell just happened?’ Secretary of State Colin L. Powell demanded, a witness said, when CNN announced the order that evening, Nov. 13, 2001. National security adviser Condoleezza Rice, incensed, sent an aide to find out. Even witnesses to the Oval Office signing said they did not know the vice president had played any part.” (Washingtonpost)
That’s at least two highly qualified and important figures in the administration that are clueless on some of Cheney’s actions.
Cheney has been poked fun of by many for his “hunting incident.” “On February 11, 2006, Cheney accidentally shot Harry Whittington, a 78-year-old Texas attorney, in the face, neck, and upper torso with birdshot pellets from a Perazzi shotgun when he turned to shoot a quail while hunting on a southern Texas ranch.” (Wiki)
An assassination attempt upon Cheney allegedely happened in Afghanistan, when a suicide bomber killed over twenty people and the Taliban took credit for it and claimed Cheney as the target.
In summary, George Bush needs to thank Dick Cheney, because without him much of his administration would be considerably weaker. It is not true that the vice president took power from the president in some of his dealings, rather it is more likely that both the presidential powers and vice presidential powers have gained. Cheney is often seen as Darth Vader so to speak. I would say he is more like the Emperor. Why? Because George Bush is really the guy people believe is running the empire, but as Luke Skywalker found out so coldly, the Emperor was the guy who had the blue lightning.
http://www.larouchepub.com/other/2004/3128addington_memo.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dick_cheney
http://blog.washingtonpost.com/cheney/chapters/chapter_1/
http://www.whitehouse.org/administration/dick.asp