And While We're at It, Let's Take Away Their Security Clearance

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June 23, 2007
And While We're at It, Let's Take Away Their Security Clearance

by emptywheel

Mimikatz already posted Rahm's first response to Cheney's wicked theories that he is a branch of government unto himself. And mcjoan has posted his second response.

House Democratic Caucus Chairman Rahm Emanuel issued the following statement regarding his amendment to cut funding for the Office of the Vice President from the bill that funds the executive branch. The legislation – the Financial Services and General Government Appropriations bill -- will be considered on the floor of the House of Representatives next week.

"The Vice President has a choice to make. If he believes his legal case, his office has no business being funded as part of the executive branch. However, if he demands executive branch funding he cannot ignore executive branch rules. At the very least, the Vice President should be consistent. This amendment will ensure that the Vice President's funding is consistent with his legal arguments. I have worked closely with my colleagues on this amendment and will continue to pursue this measure in the coming days."

But I'd like to call attention to the recommendation Bill Leonard made last year when wrestling with these creeps.

Furthermore, if OVP is not to be considered an entity within the executive branch, I am concerned that this could possibly impede access to classified information by OVP staff, since such access would be considered a disclosure outside the executive branch.

For the record, I've seen Leonard speak twice. He strikes me as a diligent, frustrated straight-shooter--if this is snark, it is sawdust dry. But I think we could have some fun if we find some way to threaten those sending OVP classified information with violations of their security clearance. Think about it--they won't be able to start their Iran war without targeting information. Condi might manage to shut down Gitmo if Cheney remains uninformed of the meetings to shut it down.

There's the problem that, so long as Bush is willing to put up with Cheney's little theories, executive branch agencies (the ones with all the classified info, after all) would get beat up if they refuse Cheney information. Still--it's a worthy idea, one the bureaucrats sick of Cheney's reign might enjoy.

He has declared himself a separate entity of government in open defiance of the established and constituted government of the United States.