April 27, 2004
Krugman on Cheney
Today's Krugman column focuses on why the Bush Administration is so obsessed with secrecy. He delves into the secret records of the energy task force that Cheney is defending, and suggests that it's not the content that Cheney is defending but the overall principle that the public doesn't have the right to know what the government is doing.
What Mr. Cheney is defending, in other words, is a doctrine that makes the United States a sort of elected dictatorship: a system in which the president, once in office, can do whatever he likes, and isn't obliged to consult or inform either Congress or the public.
This pattern is consistent across the entire Administration, but I think it reflects the management style of Cheney himself. Further, this shows that when it comes to identifying who is really in charge, the answer isn't GWB; as one might expect from a patriarchial society -- the Dick rules the Bush.
My thought is that Shrub used to get laffed at in school waaaay back when, probably the dyslexia or the malaprops or the generally weak grasp of concepts or the feeble applications or knowledge or whatever, and it scarred his shallow spirit for life. Maintaining secrecy == mistakes, screwups, crimes not disclosed == no public humilation or punishment.
Posted by: Chief Engineering Officer Thomas at April 27, 2004 11:41 AMHey, there's nothing wrong with an elected dictator! Just because Adolph Hitler turned out to be a disappointment doesn't mean that — in principle — electing a Fascist dictator is a bad thing. Let's give it another try, shall we?
Posted by: Winston at April 27, 2004 01:18 PMCheney's attitude is, as you said, very patriarchial -- "The real world is a nasty place, so you better let us tough guys handle it. Just go back to reading your 'Left Behind' books and don't worry about it. Stay the course for freedom and all that other good stuff."
Posted by: Mike at April 27, 2004 01:23 PMIf Cheney's so tough, how come he got five deferments?
Oh, sorry.
Now, let us pray.
[In unison] Lee Harvey Oswald, acting alone...
Posted by: Winston at April 27, 2004 04:44 PMRe: Cheney's ETF docs, check this out...
http://www.judicialwatch.org/071703.b_PR.shtml
Posted by: Heimie at April 27, 2004 04:55 PM