Cheney: Obama Will "Appreciate" Our Expansion Of Power

In an interview with Rush Limbaugh (via Politico), Vice President Dick Cheney predicted that the next president will appreciate the way he and George Bush expanded executive power.

"Once they get here and they're faced with the same problems we deal with every day, then they will appreciate some of the things we've put in place," Cheney said.

"We did not exceed our constitutional authority, as some have suggested," Cheney added. "The President believes, I believe very deeply, in a strong executive, and I think that's essential in this day and age. And I think the Obama administration is not likely to cede that authority back to the Congress. I think they'll find that given a challenge they face, they'll need all the authority they can muster."

Cheney went on to express doubt that President Obama would, as he has promised, close Guantanamo Bay.

"Guantanamo has been very, very valuable. And I think they'll discover that trying to close it is a very hard proposition," he said. "They're unlawful combatants. And you if you're not going to have a place to locate them like Guantanamo, then you either have to bring them here to the continental United States and I don't know any member of Congress who's volunteering to have al Qaeda terrorists deposited in his district."

Cheney also expressed grave concerns about the automobile industry.

"We're on the downside of a recession that may be the worst since World War II," he said. "And if the automobile industry goes belly up now, there's a deep concern that that would be a major shock to the system."

Comments

[sposton]

Cheney is right when he says "Obama administration is not likely to cede that authority back to the Congress." That is the nature of power - very few are willing to give it back once acquired. The new executive powers are dangerous because they exist by elimination of checks and balances. Their goodness or badness depends entirely on the benevolence of the president in power. The Framers had a different notion of dangers from the too powerful executive. They feared the intrinsic power of the executive even if the president were an angel. It all started with Lincoln, then onto FDR and now Bush. You can just image where it might end even if Obama were an angel. Sooner or later we will elect a tyrant and the Constitutional restraints will have been gone. That is what the Framers feared the most and I think they were much wiser people than we are.

[JJ30]

What a flipping joke. Like the rest of us, Obama will appreciate when you, Bush and all your crooks get the heck out of office.

[javagirl322]

We will NEVER "appreciate" your expansion of power....NEVER

[sposton]

He may not appreciate it but he's unlikely to cede that authority back either. That is exactly why what Bush and Cheney is so dangerous. So Obama is an angel and is not going to abuse these powers but what happens after Obama? Sooner or later we will elect someone even more dangerous than Bush and all these unchecked powers will have been preserved for the tyrant. Let's not hover too much about personalities - it is the intrinsic danger contained in unchecked power that we ought to worry about.

[myrddin]

Obama recognizes the danger in what Bush and Cheney have done and WILL restore the checks and balances built into the contitution. I have no doubt of this

[Opt1musPr1me]

I have to say I agree with Cheney. Obama should bank all the power he can because their will be times that he has to fall back on that. I also agree with Cheney that if the auto industry goes it would be the equivalent of a nuclear strike on our economy I do believe however that Obama will push forward with plans to shut down Guantanamo and replace the bowling alley in the white house with a basketball court. I also believe he will look more presidential getting off of Marin One and walking across the white house lawn with his national security team in tow. I also think he will make a surprise visit to Iraq to visit with General Lloyd Austin and the troops in the first 3 months of his presidency.

[LWkcma]

Does this mean they are going to have the "Office" sterilized and fumigated??

[foxbat]

I just picture Cheney and Bush short-sheeting all of the beds, removing all of the toilet paper, putting parental locks on all of the cable boxes, and stopping up the sinks and turning on the water. Cheney and Bush have done just about everything else that's possible to make it as hard as possible on Obama. Those things seem like the only things left for them to toss at him.

[RickO]

Yeah, but Dick, WE don't appreciate your expansion of power.

Please go away and never come back.

[biskitdaddy]

And this guy has the nerve to call Hugo Chavez and Kim Jong Il dictators...

[DFutureIsNow]

Hey Dick. Read my lips: No more torture!!!

[BrnPhil]

Good Bye. The worst VP and Prez.

[Roxanna]

At Least Bush has said some of the time.... "I am sorry"

You will never hear those words ever from ego manic Cheney

He is without heart... Thus all the heart problems trying to find it.

[noinvolvement]

Anything to keep the power in Obama's hands and out of Pelosi's and Frank's.

Robert Kennedy Junior's fight for the Alaskan Polar Bear.

http://digg.com/world_news/Robert_Kennedy_Junior_s_Plea_To_Save_The_Alaskan_Polar_Bear

[Xgal08]

I'll "appreciate" seeing you and Bushie on trial for war crimes.

[ltfday1]

Memo to Cheney:
Please turn the lights back on before you leave. Eight years of operating on the dark side are more than enough.
Please leave the staplers and the scotch tape in the office. The next administration will need them to try to repair the Constitution you and yours so wantonly destroyed.
Finally, since you are so enamoured with GITMO, you and your cadre, including Rumsfield, Libby, et al will be given an all expenses paid vacation to enjoy the complete treatment meted out to our enemy combatants. You, dear sir, and your cohorts in domestic terrorism are the true enemy combatants.

[getoffmedz]

Mr. Cheney is silly to assume the President-elect and those around him are as lawless, heartless and corrupt as this maladministration has demonstrated in fact to be.

Good riddance.