Cheney: The Decider's Decider

There's a fascinating look into the machinations of "Dead Eye" Cheney in the Bush Assministration in the WaPo. His freewheeling disregard for coordination within the Assministration, his contempt for the rule of law, and his obsessive secrecy are all on display here. Dead Eye plays the commanding role in cooking up the policy on torture and domestic wiretapping with little concern for legalities. What comes across vividly is that he and his staff consider themselves to be a law unto themselves, not subject to oversight or questioning. It's also clear that Bush is either too incompetent and lazy to object, or has no understanding of what his nominal subordinate is doing, or both. In reality, Bush comes across as a figurehead, signing whatever's put in front of him by a sinister, power grabbing veep. (photo: Dead Eye lurking in the bushes while, er, Shrub speaks)