Cheney this week seemed to imply that he was not part of the Executive Branch of American government and thus not required to submit to requirements that his office comply with requirements the National Archives' charting of the classification and declassification of important documents.
Expressing a point of view that most grade school kids studying politics might dispute, the Vice President seems to think of himself as more of a lawmaker (just you're average politico) as opposed to a member of the Executive Branch of the system. It's a claim that has raised the ire of politicians and citizens alike in the US, many of whom are always a tad suspicious of the VP at the best of times.
All week Stewart has been running a feature called "You don't know Dick", tantalyzing little facts about the VP which leave you rolling in the aisles. If you haven't been tuning in to the show (you're missing out on some of the best satire there is), check out the Daily Show website, they have frequent archive items posted including some of the fine video eviscerations that they have offered up this week.
There are others willing to help out Mr. Cheney with his confusion, Doonesbury wades into the political waters with a straw poll to help the VP out about his place in the American system.
But for the Veep, there's a lot more to worry about than just the comedic stylings of a master satirist or cartoonist, the real world is starting to ask questions about the Imperial Cheney and the lightning rod effect that his comments seem to bring to him from America.
Time to reel in the arrogant 'Angler'
Cheney's statements show signs of arrogant leadership
Feingold on Cheney: “I Think He’s Confused"
Don't underestimate that pitcher of warm spit
Dick Cheney's own branch of government
Cheney puts himself above the law
The latest bit of controversy surrounding the Vice President brings back echoes of the 1970's and the days of Spiro Agnew and Richard Nixon. Which historians might note didn't end particularly well for either of those principles at the time.
As if on cue, the Washington Post is once again in the forefront of examining a presidency and the second banana of the bunch.
Angler: The Cheney Vice-Presidency
It will be interesting to see if history repeats itself in the very near future. Hollywood likes sequels, perhaps we may soon see All the President's Men II: Wrath of Dick. Featuring Barton Gellman and Jo Becker as this era's Woodward and Bernstein.
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