Vice President Cheney, to avoid releasing his files and documents to the National Archives, declared that the Office of the Vice President is not a part of the Executive Branch of government and the National Archives is not entitled to his records.
Has the man lost his marbles?
Did he flunk civics class in school? Why is his picture and biography on the
official White House web page if he isn't a part of the Executive Branch? (http://whitehouse.gov/vicepresident)
Can he be unvoted President of the Senate? Can he be fired for not the job he
was elected to do?
Constitution of the United States
Article II: The Executive Branch
Section 1 Clause 1: The executive Power shall be vested in a President of the United States of America. He shall hold his Office during the Term of four Years,8 and, together with the Vice President, chosen for the same Term, be elected, as follows: ...
Clause 6: In Case of the Removal of the President from Office, or of his Death, Resignation, or Inability to discharge the Powers and Duties of the said Office, the Same shall devolve on the VicePresident, and the Congress may by Law provide for the Case of Removal, Death, Resignation or Inability, both of the President and Vice President, declaring what Officer shall then act as President, and such Officer shall act accordingly, until the Disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.
What part of the Constitution doesn't Mr. Cheney understand?
Hypocrisy Today is puzzled, so we asked eminent psychiatrist, Dr. Jennifer Melfi, for some answers.
HT: Doctor Melfi, you have vast experience psychoanalyzing sociopaths, can you answer some questions about Vice President Cheney?
Melfi: Well, as you may know, I'm easily intimidate by powerful men, or men who think they are powerful. But, I'll give it a try, with the understanding that I've never met VP Cheney, nor has he ever been my patient.
HT: Understood. But can you offer an opinion as to why he would deny the National Archives his files when it is the job of the Archives "to hold all documents and materials created in the course of business conducted by the United States Federal government" and make them available to the public?
Melfi: Simple. He's anal retentive.
HT: Or perhaps some of the documents are evidence of illegal activity?
Melfi: Perhaps. He is a secretive man.
HT: But he could "classify" those particular documents.
Melfi: True.
HT: The real question is why do you think he came up with such a strange excuse that he was not a part of the Executive Branch of Government when there were a number of more viable excuses. The Vice President is Constitutionally a part of the Executive Branch and he, like the President swore an oath to uphold the Constitution, etc, etc. Is he nuts? Or stupid?
Melfi: We don't call it "nuts". DMS IV refers to it as "diminished capacity". Probably with complications.
HT: ???
Oh well. Only two more years to go. Unless President Bush waives the 2008 elections.
