Cheney really wants U.S. dictator (GREELEY ALERT)

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | July 7, 2006 | ANDREW GREELEY

[Chi-townChief]

In the winter of 1933, before Franklin Roosevelt's first inauguration on March 4, there was a clamor in the United States for a military dictatorship. The banks were closing, a quarter of Americans were unemployed, rebellion threatened on the farms. Only drastic reforms, mandated by the president's power as commander in chief, would save the country. Something like the fascism of Mussolini's Italy -- viewed benignly by many Americans in those days because it worked (or so everyone said) -- would save the country from communist revolution.

As Jonathan Alter reminds us in The Defining Moment, his brilliant book about FDR's first 100 days, men as different as William Randolph Hearst, financier Bernard Baruch, commentator Lowell Thomas and establishment columnist Walter Lipmann argued for the necessity of dictatorship to reorganize the country's economy.

The call for a military style dictatorship is the ultimate temptation to the greatest treason of a democratic society. Fortunately for us, FDR resisted the temptation and reformed the American economy by a mix of gradualist changes (like Social Security) and magical "fireside chats." Unfortunately years later he yielded to the temptation to a military dictatorship when he interned Japanese Americans simply because they were Japanese. In the first case he resisted the demands of the American people. In the second he caved in to their racist demands.

The United States is caught up in a new campaign for a military dictatorship -- rule by a military chief with absolute power. The White House, inspired by Vice President Dick Cheney, has argued that in time of great danger, the president has unlimited powers as commander in chief. If he cites "national security" he can do whatever he wants -- ignore Congress, disobey laws, disregard the courts, override the Constitution's Bill of Rights -- without being subject to any review. Separation of powers no longer exists. The president need not consult Congress or the courts. Moreover the rights of the commander in chief to act as a military dictator lasts as long as the national emergency persists, indefinitely that is and permanently.

Many, perhaps most Americans, don't mind. The president is "tough on terrorists" and that's all that matters. What is the Bill of Rights anyway? George W. Bush, his supporters will argue, is a good man, even a godly man. He won't misuse the powers, even if the power he claims is no less than Don Hugo Chavez exercises in Venezuela

The Supreme Court in its ruling about a Guantanamo detainee just before Independence Day was a sharp rebuke to Cheneyism. It dealt with only one case and left the president wiggle room. He could consult with Congress about new legislation that would provide more rights for the detainees in a military trial. But that violates Cheney's first principle that the commander in chief doesn't have to consult with anyone on matters of national security. If the president was consistent with the Cheney theory and the Alberto Gonzales memos, he should defy the Supreme Court and insist that he has the right to establish whatever judicial process he deems proper for these potentially dangerous people without any interference from anyone. He may still do that.

Republicans who will seek re-election in November already suggest they will run against the court's decision. The court, they will tell the American people who want the detainees to be shot at sunrise tomorrow, is soft on terror, just like Democrats in Congress. They could probably get away with this nonsense because fear will cause the voters to forget that this is the Republican court that elected Bush.

Richard Cheney is a vile, indeed evil, influence in American political life. He is a very dangerous person who would if he could destroy American freedom about which he and his mentor prate hypocritically. His long years in Washington have caused him to lose faith in the legislative and judicial processes of the government. The country, he believes, requires a much stronger executive. Such concentrated power would have been necessary even if the World Trade Center attack had not occurred. He uses the fear of terrorists as a pretext to advance his agenda of an all powerful president, a military dictator. So long, of course, as he is a Republican.

mailto:agreel@aol.com

[Chi-townChief]

Although it goes without saying, I'll say it anyway: GREELEY ALERT = BARF ALERT.

[Enchante]

Greely is psychotic, like so many of his fellow leftists. Reading his babble is like entering a parallel universe of raving dementia.

[ClearCase_guy]

Somebody forgot to take their meds. Very delusional.

[bmwcyle]

The United States is caught up in a new campaign for a military dictatorship -- rule by a military chief with absolute power.

Her name is Hillary.

[Tax-chick]

Brain tumor? Drug-induced schizophrenia? Bad reaction to AIDS drugs?

What a wreckage. You'd think as these people (Warren Buffet, for example) are obviously approaching the end of their lives, they'd think about facing their Maker. Instead, they seem to just serve their Master with more vigor.

[MNJohnnie]

As usual wildly hysteric, intellectually vacuous and factually absurd. Got to love the way these Leftist make the most hysteric accusations of wrong doing without even a shred of evidence or example to back up their claims. Seems the Left has become the new McCarhtyites. Intellectually incablable of forming a serious argument FOR their views, they merely scream accusations and bile at anyone with a different option.

This is a prime example of why the Dinosaur Media is dying. They waste far too much time and space printing week after week garbage like this column. This column would not even make it passed a High School Journalism teacher. That supposedly professional "Editors" and "Publishers" continue to print this sort of rabid bigtory rasies serious questions about their ethics.

[Chi-townChief]

"The court, they will tell the American people who want the detainees to be shot at sunrise tomorrow, is soft on terror, just like Democrats in Congress."

Interestinly, back when FDR was prez, this is pretty much what happened to out-of-uniform German "combatants" (and filmed for viewing on The History Channel 50 years later.) The didn't even get the chance to become "detainees."

[NeilGus]

You have got to love these guys. Scrappleface couldn't make this up.

Whenever I worry about where Republicans are going and how far off base they are, I can always look left for comfort.

They are nuts!!!!

The sad part is that the lack of coherent thought from Dems is hurting the country because Repubs are not forced to pay for their mistakes (spending like Dems, immigration etc). You might not like what Repubs are doing but who could vote for a Democrat?? They are clueless.

[gaspar]

Greeley is a vile man who, thank God, has little influence in American political life.

[DCPatriot]

Let's see...The NYT piece on Cheney's Summer getaway in St. Michael's on Maryland's Eastern Shore...

...PLUS Greeley claiming Cheney is an evil person trying to create a military dictatorship and monarchy?

This is irresponsible and dangerously close crimminal, IMO.

All it takes is one John Hinckley or other leftist wacko with nothing to lose....

Disgusting.

[blitzgig]

Geez, and the Sun-Times agreed to print this childish, poorly written tripe? They sure have low standards of discourse.

[Doctor Raoul]

Leftist make the most hysteric accusations of wrong doing without even a shred of evidence or example to back up their claims.

You are correct, Sir. As Ed McMahon used to say. The Looney Left will take any hypothesis they can construct as "evidence". Motive is not evidence.

[HawaiianGecko]

Fortunately for us, FDR resisted the temptation and reformed the American economy by a mix of gradualist changes (like Social Security) and magical "fireside chats."

Oh for God's sake. FDR was President for nine years during "The Great Depression." His ideas and actions didn't do squat during that time. It was WWII that lit our economy on fire.

The United States is caught up in a new campaign for a military dictatorship -- rule by a military chief with absolute power. The White House, inspired by Vice President Dick Cheney, has argued that in time of great danger, the president has unlimited powers as commander in chief.

The President does have extraordinary powers granted by the constitution during a time of emergency, but the analogy to a campaign for a military dictatorship is hyperbole beyond being silly. I keep hearing the left scream that we are losing are rights. My rights emanate from the constitution of The United States and the last time I looked it hasn't been amended.

Now, if the screechers on the left want to voluntarily surrender their rights in exchange for these over the top statements, I guess that is one of their "rights" but no one, especially Vice President Cheney or President Bush is forcing them.

What amazes me is that anyone in this country is stupid enough to believe that it is even possible for someone to become a dictator. If they really think it possible, you'd think they would be solidly behind the second amendment. It takes a person with a very weak mind to fall for this brainless drivel.

[Always Right]

Geez, and the Sun-Times agreed to print this childish, poorly written tripe? They sure have low standards of discourse.

What major newspaper would have printed such vile hatred towards Clinton? Clinton-haters could only get heard on the web and were castrated by the MSM. Bush-haters are paraded out by the MSM as heros.

[chatham]

Andrew Greeley is a fraud.

[Lazamataz]

Unfortunately, as psychotic as Greely is, he is right about the fact that we have horribly degraded our Constitutional protections for this WoT.

I'm not sure I have a better solution, but there it is.

[OpusatFR]

Greeley has forgotten the concept of calumny.

He just did it.

[SIDENET]

Good grief, the author is a loon.

[MNJohnnie]

Unfortunately, as psychotic as Greely is, he is right about the fact that we have horribly degraded our Constitutional protections for this WoT.

Without hysterics, tell us 3 ways the WOT has "Degraded our Constitutional Protections".

[jjm2111]

I think Greeley is right. Cheney is such a meaney.