Profiles in Arrogance
May 18th, 2007 at 9:56 am by Dr. S
Haven’t you heard, judge? We’re above the law.
Attorneys for Vice President Cheney and top White House officials told a federal judge yesterday that they cannot be held liable for anything they disclosed to reporters about covert CIA officer Valerie Plame or her husband, former ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV.
The officials, who include senior White House adviser Karl Rove and Cheney’s former chief of staff, I. Lewis “Scooter” Libby, argued that the judge should dismiss a lawsuit filed by the couple that stemmed from the disclosure of Plame’s identity to the media.
The lawyers said any conversations Cheney and the officials had about Plame with one another or with reporters were part of their normal duties because they were discussing foreign policy and engaging in an appropriate “policy dispute.” Cheney’s attorney went further, arguing that Cheney is legally akin to the president because of his unique government role and has absolute immunity from any lawsuit.
You realize, of course, that this means the administration believes it can do or say anything in attack response to anyone who disagrees with anything it does. Lets hope the courts disagree.
But the courts have been weakened through decades
of far-right judicial appointments by Reagan and
the two Bushes.
(Clinton’s appointments were fewer, and generally
centrist rather than liberal.)
The problem is that the entire fabric of government
has been weakened, not just the executive branch.
“Cheney’s attorney went further, arguing that Cheney is legally akin to the president …”
Misspelled “King” … doesn’t the Post employ proofreaders?
With kind regards,
Dog, &c.
searching for home
Interesting since they wouldn’t be making this argument if they weren’t guilty as hell.