Cheney lawyer claims Congress lacks power to conduct oversight over vice president

[babsbunny]

http://rawstory.com/news/2008/Cheney_lawyer_claims_Congress_has_no_0429.html

John Byrne
Published: Tuesday April 29, 2008



'I trust you will not turn your back' on respecting Congress, Democrat says

In what appears yet another effort to strengthen his position in the executive branch, the attorney for Vice President Dick Cheney said in a letter released by Congress Thursday that the Congress "lacks the constitutional power" to conduct oversight over his job.

The letter came in response to requests that Cheney's chief of staff David Addington testify about the his role in approving harsh interrogation tactics -- which some see as torture -- at Guantanamo Bay.

[aquart]

1. I really need marshalls to appear at Dickie's door.

And conduct him to a cell beneath Congress. Of course, that would mean the Secret Service has a decision to make.

[midnight]

2. Congress already knows that. That is why they can't impeach.

That is of course sarcasm, but I don't have the visual aid. Come on people. Do your job...

[liberal N proud]

3. Then why do we even have a Congress?

If Congress has no power over these bastards, why do they even bother wasting our money sitting their on their sorry asses in the marble palace on the hill?

[notesdev]

4. He's technically correct

The executive is a co-equal branch of government, and the offices of the President and VP aren't subject to Congressional oversight.

However, they are quite subject to Congressional impeachment, and if Congress wasn't a bunch of lily-livered wimps, they'd have had both these characters up on high crimes charges long ago.

[IowaGirl]

5. Cheney = Evil

:grr::nuke:

[izquierdista]

6. There was another dude who thought this way

L'etat, c'est moi.

[King Coal]

7. Hey, is that Uncle Louis?

[ColbertWatcher]

8. Overlord Cheney

Mr. Cheney's post has a name:
The Supreme Judiexeculative Branch

The Supreme Judiexeculative (pronunced: judy exec you lay tive) Branch belongs to only man...



...who has a Special Message for everyone in America!

[Jacobin]

9. Its not that they don't have the power. Its that they fail to exercise it