The All Powerful

Dick Cheney, fresh from telling the world his woe and sadness after shooting his friend, has had another demon to face of late: Scooter Libby says Papa Dick told him to leak a covert CIA operative's name in the wake of Joseph Wilson's scathing editorial denouncing the most compelling Administration evidence that Iraq wanted nuclear arms. Thus, Cheney begat the Plame Affair.

Cheney's response to Libby's claim is of vital interest, and, like the media blackout of his hunting accident, telling of Cheney's disdain for American public values.

Cheney says he can assume any and all powers he wishes, including the power to declassify information at will in order to enact a political vendetta against political enemies; apparently including declassifying the identity of under cover CIA agents. Again- what's of vital harm here is the continued attempt by The Administration to claim any and all powers of government, up to and including what information is shared and what information is locked.

To Dick Cheney, you and I don't get to know anything unless he says it's okay to know it.