So the story of Cheney’s curious interpretation that the OVP straddles both the Executive and the Legislative branch recieved wide coverage in the MSM today. Most notable, perhaps was a front page article in today’s NYT. Yay. Recent coverage such as this WaPo article features quotes on the topic taken from a White House press briefing today. Here’s a quote I found particularly interesting (Perino is the WH spokeswoman).
As the “author” of the executive order and “the person responsible for interpreting” it, Bush “did not intend for the vice president to be treated as an agency,” Perino said.
Now that’s interesting isn’t it. Bush is the author of the executive order. True. It’s not a law, so he doesn’t have to be in the Legislative branch to write it. He’s also the executor of the order…appropriate because he’s the head of the Executive branch. And apparently Bush is also the interpreter of the order…here playing the role of the Judicial branch. So for the purposes of this order…Bush is effectively all of the branches. With the sole exception of the special new Cheney branch, that is.