Wednesday Wit

Sure sure the big news today is that Magic Johnson announced he has HIV. Way to man up Magic. But I don't think that is the biggest event that happened today.

Let's look at 1973, U.S. Congress over-rode President Nixon's veto of the War Powers Act, which limits a chief executive's power to wage war without congressional approval. Now who did this piss off? A few conservatives to be sure, but the two that stand out in my head are Dick Cheney and Don Rumsfeld. It was a slap in the face of those who held ol tricky Dick up as one of their version of all that is good in the world. Those who believed in absolute power wanted an executive branch back them that could do what it wanted. That was the only thing holding them back from winning the war in Vietnam and being keepers of the democratic way of life. The ends would justify the means and as long as it was in the name and spirit of democracy, it was ok. So they swallowed that defeat and let it fester for years and years. Until one day W comes along and another Dick sees his chance to get in the White House and make it right. Cheney saw Bush for what he was, a puppet, a coattail, the next rung to climb on the latter. Long before 911, Cheney started to create an executive branch that would have all the power of a king and could do whatever it wanted with the military without the approval of Congress. After 7 years, he has done it. The most secretive, militaristic, myopic administration in history. The unified executive theory in all its glory according to Cheney. Revenge is his. At some point today, the Veep will hold his glass of single malt scotch above his head and shed a tear that his friend, his hero, his former boss Richard Nixon couldn't be here today to see all the great things Cheney has done. This will be one of those bitter sweet victory celebrations that you always read about.