The Fourth Branch
If you read my blog regularly you'll know I rarely touch the topic of politics, let alone American politics. However, the most recent Constitutional controversy is just too big a deal to let pass without comment. If your aren't familiar with the "Fourth Branch" fire (ignited by Dick Cheney's most recent attempt to redefine the level accountability of and transparency into his office) I suggest you get up to speed with the clip below where Jon Stewart shared his hilarious interpretation of the story.
In my three years since my move the US I have attempted to learn about the people and the ideas behind the foundation of the United States. I'm finding the topic fascinating, naturally comparing and contrasting the resulting political system (a seemingly rapidly evolving one) to that of the UK. I think I've gotten past the "this system is better than that" phase and have learned to accept the US system for what it is. That said, I do miss the US equivalent of a Prime Minister's question time and believe US politics would be much improved if such a regular grilling occured - if nothing else for the entertianment value alone.
As an objective outsider (I try), my observation of the Fourth Branch hiatus (and my witnessing of previous attempts to redefine the Constitution and the power of the Presidential office in the last few years) has led me to believe that Cheney really is a nutcase. A very powerful and very smart nutcase who is set on corrupting the system to increase his freedom to do whatever he chooses while minimizing his accountability to the citizens that put his boss and party in power. The audaciousness of this latest move is stunning.
What Chenney and his party has to keep in mind however is that the changes he's been putting in place will be used against his party by the party that next gets in. And of course it is US citizens that are the ultimate losers in this continued "scope creep" effort as they increasingly lose visibility into workings of the Presidential office (the excecutive branch) and its accountability, which of course he is now denying he is a part of. Wake up America!!!