Dick Cheney: Fish, fowl or barnacle?

There is no question Dick Cheney is the most powerful vice president in American history. He inserted himself into the key moments of the Bush administration. He influenced Cabinet choices, fought the media and Congress over his secret energy task force, even kept the president out of Washington on 9/11, flying around the country.

Today, Cheney's chief of staff, David Addington, was grilled about the exact nature of the vice president's power. The topic might seem a bit academic. But the House Judiciary Committee plunged in anyway -- and came to a curious conclusion.

Asked why Cheney had given counsel on CIA interrogation tactics, Addington explained that the vice president resided in neither the executive branch nor the legislative branch. Citing a 1961 Justice Department memo, Addington said the vice president, by virtue of being president of the Senate, was "attached" to the legislature.

"He is attached to a legislative branch?" asked Rep. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.).

"That is the quote I read you," Addington said.

"So," Cohen said, "he is sort of a barnacle."

"I don't consider the Constitution a barnacle," Addington replied.

"No, the vice president," Cohen rejoined. "He is neither fish nor fowl, he is just attached to something."

-- Julian E. Barnes

Photo: Alan Hagman / Los Angeles Times

Comments

[dick bohanon]

he needs to be attached to some handcuffs
awaiting arraignment on at least one of the many crimes
and misdemeanors he has perpetrated while in office
(the other end should be around karl rove's wrist)
they will make great cellmates

[newageblues]

yeah, that bad boy definitely needs to be attached to some handcuffs. For someone who "had other priorities" than military service for himself, he sure likes wars and war crimes.