NYT: Dick Cheney, Palin's Role Model

Saturday's New York Times runs an editorial hammering Gov. Sarah Palin over her debate comments about expanding the powers of the vice president:

In all the talk about the vice-presidential debate, there was an issue that did not get much attention but kept nagging at us: Sarah Palin's description of the role and the responsibilities of the office for which she is running, vice president of the United States.

In Thursday night's debate, Ms. Palin was asked about the vice president's role in government. She said she agreed with Dick Cheney that "we have a lot of flexibility in there" under the Constitution. And she declared that she was "thankful that the Constitution would allow a bit more authority given to the vice president also, if that vice president so chose to exert it."

It is hard to tell from Ms. Palin's remarks whether she understands how profoundly Dick Cheney has reshaped the vice presidency -- as part of a larger drive to free the executive branch from all checks and balances. Nor did she seem to understand how much damage that has done to American democracy.

Here's the video:

The NYT continues, saying Palin's understanding the vice presidency "frighteningly wrong":

Mr. Cheney has shown what can happen when a vice president -- a position that is easy to lampoon and overlook -- is given free rein by the president and does not care about trampling on the Constitution.

Mr. Cheney has long taken the bizarre view that the lesson of Watergate was that Congress was too powerful and the president not powerful enough. He dedicated himself to expanding President Bush's authority and arrogating to himself executive, legislative and legal powers that are nowhere in the Constitution.

Any president deserves a vice president who will be a sound adviser and trustworthy supporter. But the American people also deserve and need a vice president who understands and respects the balance of power -- and the limits of his or her own power. That is fundamental to our democracy.

So far, Ms. Palin has it exactly, frighteningly wrong.

Comments

[democynic]

In Alaska magazine, you can see that VP candidate Palin and VP Cheney have a casual phone relationship in February 2008!!! And all that nonsense about not thinking of foreign relations is just that! She wants to increase the constitutional powers of the Vice President and she's learning from her mentor directly, Dick Cheney.
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QUOTES FROM THE ARTICLE:

...but I kept talking about energy and national security, and not relying on foreign sources of energy," Palin said.

...Palin is still a mom first. "She can be on the phone with Dick Cheney and have (Republican Senate President) Lyda Green right outside her door, and her kids call and she goes, "Oops, hold on,"" said Leighow, the deputy press secretary. "Her kids trump everyone, and I think that"s pretty neat.

---"Alaska's Hottest Governor" Alaska Magazine, February 2008

[GiggidyGeshmoygen]

it is clear that the cynical, reckless, and politics-over-country choice of a running mate who is dangerously unprepared to step into the presidency WAS NOT MCCAIN'S CHOICE ---

palin was chosen by the same cheney/rove neocons that engineered the bush agenda, the people behind the curtains, the staff and advisors running the campaign --- after being told he was a sure loser in this campaign, mccain was given the courtesy of a phone call with palin before being forced to announce her as his VP pick ---

this speaks volumes about just how much of a "MAVERICK" mccain has become --- sadly, for a once respected and powerful political maverick, mccain has now devolved into a mere distraction from the real neocon candidate, sarah sixpack, being brought in through the back door --- by now, mccain must surely have grown to hate his own party, first for rejecting him, then for embracing him reluctantly and exacting the price of his own desperately shoddy soul .........

[WorkingClass]

The aptly named *Dick* Cheney has to be in his crypt before sunrise. Thats what they mean by "undisclosed location". He has probably promised eternal life (if you can call it life) and the power to destroy people who piss her off to Sara Palin in exchange for her soul.

[lamarguerite]

Sarah Palin confirms:

http://whatissarahthinking.blogspot.com/2008/10/you-bet-i-want-more-power.html

[janvoght]

earlier i had made mention and reference to the "abuse of power" investigation that gov sarah palin is currently involved in, as it relates to the cheney/bush style of leadership. the courts have been quick to swat back the attempts that these two have made to consider themselves "above the law" in many respects, and i would assume they would correct sarah, in her mis-understanding of the roles of VP and President, as it is outlined in our Constitution. (sarah referred to these roles in the VP debate of thursday night) turns out, these comments have caused concern in more than just myself. the loose talk of expanding VP powers, shows a disregard for the wisdom of our forefathers, that she referred to in the debate, as well as the unavoidable fact that she is out of her league as far as being a heart beat away from the presidency.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[2876]

Palin's role model: Cheney. Palin's mentor: George W Bush. Palin's Cheney: Todd Palin.

[janvoght]

the FACT that gov sarah palin is currently under investigation for an abuse of power charge, is evidence enough for me, that her role model is the lame duck VP dick cheney. her reinterating the fact in her VP debate on thursday night with sen joe biden, who was the definite winner of the evening, was starteling to some, who were not aware of her poser "look at me i'm a wink wink middle american". the fact that she is not willing to cooperate with these investigations in a transparent way, is reminicent of cheney's fascist style of "i am above the law, AND not even a part of the legislative branch" which the courts have been eager to swat back. both the president and cheney have tried their creativity in the constitutional roles of their respective positions, and have already gotten away with , yes i will say it...MURDER. (literally, if you consider that attacking iraq, a country who did not in fact attack us, is starting an illegal war) the sweet demeanor that sarah has been coached into, does not pass the "liar liar pants on fire" test.
OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[forebode]

self-serving and fundamentally dishonest politician

To the Republicans, that's precisely what qualifies her!

[windyYooper]

wake U.P. america
this party wants to take all power away from the voter, and put it in their own hands....
they wrap themselves in the flag.... and they seem patriotic....
they put a yellow ribbon on their escalade ..... and they seem to care about our vets and enlisted kids
they claim to be fisicaly responsible and increase the debt...
they take their "golden Parrachute" and ask for help from you the tax payer...
they cut the work force. and its benifits then give themselves a raise...
a wolf in sheep's clothing....
a pig with lipstick...
wake U.P. america.... or you may end U.P. living in
AMERIKKKA

[forebode]

* Glibness and Superficial Charm

* Manipulative and Conning
They never recognize the rights of others and see their self-serving behaviors as permissible. They appear to be charming, yet are covertly hostile and domineering, seeing their victim as merely an instrument to be used. They may dominate and humiliate their victims.

* Grandiose Sense of Self
Feels entitled to certain things as "their right."

* Pathological Lying
Has no problem lying coolly and easily and it is almost impossible for them to be truthful on a consistent basis. Extremely convincing and even able to pass lie detector tests.

* Lack of Remorse, Shame or Guilt
Does not see others around them as people, but only as targets and opportunities. Instead of friends, they have victims and accomplices who end up as victims. The end always justifies the means and they let nothing stand in their way.

* Callousness/Lack of Empathy
Unable to empathize with the pain of their victims, having only contempt for others' feelings of distress and readily taking advantage of them.

* Poor Behavioral Controls/Impulsive Nature
Believe they are all-powerful, all-knowing, entitled to every wish, no sense of personal boundaries, no concern for their impact on others.

This is the Republican agenda all rolled up into negative personality characteristics. Another favorite pastime of the Repugs is blaming the victim and blackballing people who don't agree with them. They are a very dangerous ANTI-AMERICAN and ANTI-DEMOCRACY bunch of thugs.

[nancytheragingliberal]

It is obvious that she, along with Cheney, believe in the Unitary Executive. Americans, wake up and vote for the return of your country and money in your wallets.

[janvoght]

fortunately the courts have been consistent in finding these tactics that bush/cheney and now,
suggested by palin, which is now beginning to be sort of a theme. the abuse of power investigation in alaska, which sarah is not cooperating in ( showing an unwillingness to value transparency) UNCONSTITUTIONAL!
OBAMA/BIDEN '08

[Insearchoftruth]

This is a scary thought. However, even more frightening is the prospect that Todd Palin would be running around the halls of government giving orders, taking names and kicking asses. He is her defacto Chief of Staff and advisor in Alaska. If McCain wins why should we expect that to change.

[Whinger]

McBush and McCheney, the return of the warmongers!

[JungleRoses]

Wow! Sarah didn't even research the VP role before the date, She's dumber than a doorknob.

[MrKINOKO]

Excuse me...but a doorknob knows which way to turn. At least it's that smart. I mean, come on....who would possibly pick an unfit meth-town mayor/shifty Governor to be a 72 year old cancer-survivors heartbeat away from the presi......omg...wait a minute !

[Norge]

No, Cheney is not Sara Palin's role model, Cheney is Sara Palin's husband's role model as he wants to climb higher up the ladder and become a CEO in the oil industry on the north slope of Alaska.
He wants to be a big chief of oil as Cheney, his oil industry hero.