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Leaving No Tracks

By Jo Becker and Barton Gellman
Washington Post Staff Writers
Wednesday, June 27, 2007; Page A01

Sue Ellen Wooldridge, the 19th-ranking Interior Department official, arrived at her desk in Room 6140 a few months after Inauguration Day 2001. A phone message awaited her.

"This is Dick Cheney," said the man on her voice mail, Wooldridge recalled in an interview. "I understand you are the person handling this Klamath situation. Please call me at -- hmm, I guess I don't know my own number. I'm over at the White House."

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The vice president has intervened in many cases to undercut long-standing environmental rules for the benefit of business. Here, Cheney is photographed during an August 2004 family vacation in Moose, Wyoming. Getty Images
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Wooldridge wrote off the message as a prank. It was not. Cheney had reached far down the chain of command, on so unexpected a point of vice presidential concern, because he had spotted a political threat arriving on Wooldridge's desk.

In Oregon, a battleground state that the Bush-Cheney ticket had lost by less than half of 1 percent, drought-stricken farmers and ranchers were about to be cut off from the irrigation water that kept their cropland and pastures green. Federal biologists said the Endangered Species Act left the government no choice: The survival of two imperiled species of fish was at stake.

Law and science seemed to be on the side of the fish. Then the vice president stepped in.

First Cheney looked for a way around the law, aides said. Next he set in motion a process to challenge the science protecting the fish, according to a former Oregon congressman who lobbied for the farmers.

Because of Cheney's intervention, the government reversed itself and let the water flow in time to save the 2002 growing season, declaring that there was no threat to the fish. What followed was the largest fish kill the West had ever seen, with tens of thousands of salmon rotting on the banks of the Klamath River.

Characteristically, Cheney left no tracks.

The Klamath case is one of many in which the vice president took on a decisive role to undercut long-standing environmental regulations for the benefit of business.

By combining unwavering ideological positions -- such as the priority of economic interests over protected fish -- with a deep practical knowledge of the federal bureaucracy, Cheney has made an indelible mark on the administration's approach to everything from air and water quality to the preservation of national parks and forests.

It was Cheney's insistence on easing air pollution controls, not the personal reasons she cited at the time, that led Christine Todd Whitman to resign as administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, she said in an interview that provides the most detailed account so far of her departure.

The vice president also pushed to make Nevada's Yucca Mountain the nation's repository for nuclear and radioactive waste, aides said, a victory for the nuclear power industry over those with long-standing safety concerns. And his office was a powerful force behind the White House's decision to rewrite a Clinton-era land-protection measure that put nearly a third of the national forests off limits to logging, mining and most development, former Cheney staff members said.

Cheney's pro-business drive to ease regulations, however, has often set the administration on a collision course with the judicial branch.

The administration, for example, is appealing the order of a federal judge who reinstated the forest protections after she ruled that officials didn't adequately study the environmental consequences of giving states more development authority.

And in April, the Supreme Court rejected two other policies closely associated with Cheney. It rebuffed the effort, ongoing since Whitman's resignation, to loosen some rules under the Clean Air Act. The court also rebuked the administration for not regulating greenhouse gases associated with global warming, issuing its ruling less than two months after Cheney declared that "conflicting viewpoints" remain about the extent of the human contribution to the problem.

In the latter case, Cheney made his environmental views clear in public. But with some notable exceptions, he generally has preferred to operate with stealth, aided by loyalists who owe him for their careers.

When the vice president got wind of a petition to list the cutthroat trout in Yellowstone National Park as a protected species, his office turned to one of his former congressional aides.

The aide, Paul Hoffman, landed his job as deputy assistant interior secretary for fish and wildlife after Cheney recommended him. In an interview, Hoffman said the vice president knew that listing the cutthroat trout would harm the recreational fishing industry in his home state of Wyoming and that he "followed the issue closely." In 2001 and again in 2006, Hoffman's agency declined to list the trout as threatened.

Hoffman also was well positioned to help his former boss with what Cheney aides said was one of the vice president's pet peeves: the Clinton-era ban on snowmobiling in national parks. "He impressed upon us that so many people enjoyed snowmobiling in the Tetons," former Cheney aide Ron Christie said.

With Cheney's encouragement, the administration lifted the ban in 2002, and Hoffman followed up in 2005 by writing a proposal to fundamentally change the way national parks are managed. That plan, which would have emphasized recreational use over conservation, attracted so much opposition from park managers and the public that the Interior Department withdrew it. Still, the Bush administration continues to press for expanded snowmobile access, despite numerous studies showing that the vehicles harm the parks' environment and polls showing majority support for the ban.

Hoffman, now in another job at the Interior Department, said Cheney never told him what to do on either issue -- he didn't have to.

"His genius," Hoffman said, is that "he builds networks and puts the right people in the right places, and then trusts them to make well-informed decisions that comport with his overall vision."

'Political Ramifications'

Robert F. Smith had grown desperate by the time he turned to the vice president for help.

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Bush and Cheney, who lost Oregon by less than half of 1 percent in 2000, couldn't afford to anger thousands of Republican farmers and ranchers in the state during the 2002 midterm elections. Above, in 2001 a sign stands in a field near Klamath Falls, Oregon. Aurora/Getty Images

The former Republican congressman from Oregon represented farmers in the Klamath basin who had relied on a government-operated complex of dams and canals built almost a century ago along the Oregon-California border to irrigate nearly a quarter-million acres of arid land.

In April 2001, with the region gripped by the worst drought in memory, the spigot was shut off.

Studies by the federal government's scientists concluded unequivocally that diverting water would harm two federally protected species of fish, violating the Endangered Species Act of 1973. The Bureau of Reclamation was forced to declare that farmers must go without in order to maintain higher water levels so that two types of suckerfish in Upper Klamath Lake and the coho salmon that spawn in the Klamath River could survive the dry spell.

Farmers and their families, furious and fearing for their livelihoods, formed a symbolic 10,000-person bucket brigade. Then they took saws and blowtorches to dam gates, clashing with U.S. marshals as water streamed into the canals that fed their withering fields, before the government stopped the flow again.

What they didn't know was that the vice president was already on the case.

Smith had served with Cheney on the House Interior Committee in the 1980s, and the former congressman said he turned to the vice president because he knew him as a man of the West who didn't take kindly to federal bureaucrats meddling with private use of public land. "He saw, as every other person did, what a ridiculous disaster shutting off the water was," Smith said.

Cheney recognized, even before the shut-off and long before others at the White House, that what "at first blush didn't seem like a big deal" had "a lot of political ramifications," said Dylan Glenn, a former aide to President Bush.

Bush and Cheney couldn't afford to anger thousands of solidly Republican farmers and ranchers during the midterm elections and beyond. The case also was rapidly becoming a test for conservatives nationwide of the administration's commitment to fixing what they saw as an imbalance between conservation and economics.

"What does the law say?" Christie, the former aide, recalled the vice president asking. "Isn't there some way around it?"

Next, Cheney called Wooldridge, who was then deputy chief of staff to Interior Secretary Gale A. Norton and the woman handling the Klamath situation.

Aides praise Cheney's habit of reaching down to officials who are best informed on a subject he is tackling. But the effect of his calls often leads those mid-level officials scrambling to do what they presume to be his bidding.

That's what happened when a mortified Wooldridge finally returned the vice president's call, after receiving a tart follow-up inquiry from one of his aides. Cheney, she said, "was coming from the perspective that the farmers had to be able to farm -- that was his concern. The fact that the vice president was interested meant that everyone paid attention."

Cheney made sure that attention did not wander. He had Wooldridge brief his staff weekly and, Smith said, he also called the interior secretary directly.

"For months and months, at almost every briefing it was 'Sir, here's where we stand on the Klamath basin,'" recalled Christie, who is now a lobbyist. "His hands-on involvement, it's safe to say, elevated the issue."

'Let the Water Flow'

There was, as it happened, an established exemption to the Endangered Species Act.

A rarely invoked panel of seven Cabinet officials, known informally as the "God Squad," is empowered by the statute to determine that economic hardship outweighs the benefit of protecting threatened wildlife. But after discussing the option with Smith, Cheney rejected that course. He had another idea, one that would not put the administration on record as advocating the extinction of endangered or threatened species.

The thing to do, Cheney told Smith, was to get science on the side of the farmers. And the way to do that was to ask the National Academy of Sciences to scrutinize the work of the federal biologists who wanted to protect the fish.

Smith said he told Cheney that he thought that was a roll of the dice. Academy panels are independently appointed, receive no payment and must reach a conclusion that can withstand peer review.

"It worried me that these are individuals who are unreachable," Smith said of the academy members. But Cheney was firm, expressing no such concerns about the result. "He felt we had to match the science."

Smith also wasn't sure that the Klamath case -- "a small place in a small corner of the country" -- would meet the science academy's rigorous internal process for deciding what to study. Cheney took care of that. "He called them and said, 'Please look at this, it's important,'" Smith said. "Everyone just went flying at it."

William Kearney, a spokesman for the National Academies, said he was unaware of any direct contact from Cheney on the matter. The official request came from the Interior Department, he said.

It was Norton who announced the review, and it was Bush and his political adviser Karl Rove who traveled to Oregon in February 2002 to assure farmers that they had the administration's support. A month later, Cheney got what he wanted when the science academy delivered a preliminary report finding "no substantial scientific foundation" to justify withholding water from the farmers.

There was not enough clear evidence that proposed higher lake levels would benefit suckerfish, the report found. And it hypothesized that the practice of releasing warm lake water into the river during spawning season might do more harm than good to the coho, which thrive in lower temperatures. [Read the report.]

Norton flew to Klamath Falls in March to open the head gate as farmers chanted "Let the water flow!" And seizing on the report's draft findings, the Bureau of Reclamation immediately submitted a new decade-long plan to give the farmers their full share of water.

When the lead biologist for the National Marine Fisheries Service team critiqued the science academy's report in a draft opinion objecting to the plan, the critique was edited out by superiors and his objections were overruled, he said. The biologist, Michael Kelly, who has since quit the federal agency, said in a whistle-blower claim that it was clear to him that "someone at a higher level" had ordered his agency to endorse the proposal regardless of the consequences to the fish.

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An estimated 77,000 salmon washed up on the banks of the Klamath River. Last year, the government declared a "commercial fishery failure" on the West Coast. Above, dead salmon line the banks of the Klamath River in Sept. 2002. AP

Months later, the first of an estimated 77,000 dead salmon began washing up on the banks of the warm, slow-moving river. Not only were threatened coho dying -- so were chinook salmon, the staple of commercial fishing in Oregon and Northern California. State and federal biologists soon concluded that the diversion of water to farms was at least partly responsible.

Fishermen filed lawsuits and courts ruled that the new irrigation plan violated the Endangered Species Act. Echoing Kelly's objections, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit observed that the 10-year plan wouldn't provide enough water for the fish until year nine. By then, the 2005 opinion said, "all the water in the world" could not save the fish, "for there will be none to protect." In March 2006, a federal judge prohibited the government from diverting water for agricultural use whenever water levels dropped beneath a certain point.

Last summer, the federal government declared a "commercial fishery failure" on the West Coast after several years of poor chinook returns virtually shut down the industry, opening the way for Congress to approve more than $60 million in disaster aid to help fishermen recover their losses. That came on top of the $15 million that the government has paid Klamath farmers since 2002 not to farm, in order to reduce demand.

The science academy panel, in its final report, acknowledged that its draft report was "controversial," but it stood by its conclusions. Instead of focusing on the irrigation spigot, it recommended broad and expensive changes to improve fish habitat. [Read the final report]

"The farmers were grateful for our decision, but we made the decision based on the scientific outcome," said the panel chairman, William Lewis, a biologist at the University of Colorado at Boulder. "It just so happened the outcome favored the farmers."

But J.B. Ruhl, another member of the panel and a Florida State University law professor who specializes in endangered species cases, said the Bureau of Reclamation went "too far," making judgments that were not backed up by the academy's draft report. "The approach they took was inviting criticism," Ruhl said, "and I didn't think it was supported by our recommendations."

'More Pro-Industry'

Whitman, then head of the EPA, was on vacation with her family in Colorado when her cellphone rang. The vice president was on the line, and he was clearly irked.

Why was the agency dragging its feet on easing pollution rules for aging power and oil refinery plants?, Cheney wanted to know. An industry that had contributed heavily to the Bush-Cheney campaign was clamoring for change, and the vice president told Whitman that she "hadn't moved it fast enough," she recalled.

Whitman protested, warning Cheney that the administration had to proceed cautiously. It was August 2001, just seven months into the first term. We need to "document this according to the books," she said she told him, "so we don't look like we are ramrodding something through. Because it's going to court."

But the vice president's main concern was getting it done fast, she said, and "doing it in a way that didn't hamper industry."

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Cheney's insistence on easing air pollution controls led Christine Todd Whitman, shown with Secretary of State Colin Powell and Cheney aide Lewis "Scooter" Libby, to resign as EPA administrator. Getty Images

At issue was a provision of the Clean Air Act known as the New Source Review, which requires older plants that belch millions of tons of smog and soot each year to install modern pollution controls when they are refurbished in a way that increases emissions.

Industry officials complained to the White House that even when they had merely performed routine maintenance and repairs, the Clinton administration hit them with violations and multimillion-dollar lawsuits. Cheney's energy task force ordered the EPA to reconsider the rule.

Whitman had already gone several rounds with the vice president over the issue.

She and Cheney first got to know each other in one of the Nixon administration's anti-poverty agencies, working under Donald H. Rumsfeld. When Cheney offered her the job in the Bush administration, the former New Jersey governor marveled at how far both had come. But as with Treasury Secretary Paul H. O'Neill, another longtime friend who owed his Cabinet post to Cheney, Whitman's differences with the vice president would lead to her departure.

Sitting through Cheney's task force meetings, Whitman had been stunned by what she viewed as an unquestioned belief that EPA's regulations were primarily to blame for keeping companies from building new power plants. "I was upset, mad, offended that there seemed to be so much head-nodding around the table," she said.

Whitman said she had to fight "tooth and nail" to prevent Cheney's task force from handing over the job of reforming the New Source Review to the Energy Department, a battle she said she won only after appealing to White House Chief of Staff Andrew H. Card Jr. This was an environmental issue with major implications for air quality and health, she believed, and it shouldn't be driven by a task force primarily concerned with increasing production.

Whitman agreed that the exception for routine maintenance and repair needed to be clarified, but not in a way that undercut the ongoing Clinton-era lawsuits -- many of which had merit, she said.

Cheney listened to her arguments, and as usual didn't say much. Whitman said she also met with the president to "explain my concerns" and to offer an alternative.

She wanted to work a political trade with industry -- eliminating the New Source Review in return for support of Bush's 2002 "Clear Skies" initiative, which outlined a market-based approach to reducing emissions over time. But Clear Skies went nowhere. "There was never any follow-up," Whitman said, and moreover, there was no reason for industry to embrace even a modest pollution control initiative when the vice president was pushing to change the rules for nothing.

She decided to go back to Bush one last time. It was a crapshoot -- the EPA administrator had already been rolled by Cheney when the president reversed himself on a campaign promise to limit carbon dioxide emissions linked to global warming -- so she came armed with a political argument.

Whitman said she plunked down two sets of folders filled with news clips. This one, she said, pointing to a stack about 2-1/2 inches thick, contained articles, mostly negative, about the administration's controversial proposal to suspend tough new standards governing arsenic in drinking water. And this one, she said as she pointed to a pile four or five times as thick, are the articles about the rules on aging power plants and refineries -- and the administration hadn't even done anything yet.

"If you think arsenic was bad," she recalled telling Bush, "look at what has already been written about this."

But Whitman left the meeting with the feeling that "the decision had already been made." Cheney had a clear mandate from the president on all things energy-related, she said, and while she could take her case directly to Bush, "you leave and the vice president's still there. So together, they would then shape policy."

What happened next was "a perfect example" of that, she said.

The EPA sent rule revisions to White House officials. The read-back was that they weren't happy and "wanted something that would be more pro-industry," she said.

The end result, which she said was written at the direction of the White House and announced in August 2003, vastly broadened the definition of routine maintenance. It allowed some of the nation's dirtiest plants to make major modifications without installing costly new pollution controls.

By that time, Whitman had already announced her resignation, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family. But the real reason, she said, was the new rule.

"I just couldn't sign it," she said. "The president has a right to have an administrator who could defend it, and I just couldn't."

A federal appeals court has since found that the rule change violated the Clean Air Act. In their ruling, the judges said that the administration had redefined the law in a way that could be valid "only in a Humpty-Dumpty world."

Staff researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.

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About This Series | Chapters:
[Photo]

Cast of Characters

Read about the important people in and out of government who have had an impact on Vice President Dick Cheney's career.

Dick and Lynne Cheney.

Cheney's Personality

Dick Cheney's colleagues, friends, and acquaintances shared stories with Post reporter Bart Gellman.

[Photo]

Cheney's Life & Career

Starting as a junior aide on Capitol Hill, Dick Cheney built an unmatched Washington resume as White House chief of staff, House minority whip and secretary of defense.

Comments

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Cheney leaves no tracks like a real professional criminal. Dr. Evil at his best.

Posted by: tddroy | June 26, 2007 10:18 PM

the funny thing about living human scum like this, is this, he gets away with it- completely on every level, probably even metaphysically as well. We can only use the phenomenon as a time for self reflection and realization that regardless of the existence of people like this, we should try to live our lives as if they mattered, that everyone should inherently desire some moral standard and that this is what makes life truly worth living.

Posted by: Mrmustard | June 26, 2007 10:18 PM

Absolutely amazing series

Posted by: texd | June 26, 2007 10:42 PM

The Anglernator

Posted by: dmls2000 | June 26, 2007 10:49 PM

Thanks for a interesting article.. Who does Cheney think he is...Vice King of the United States...

Posted by: pookeyw1 | June 26, 2007 11:10 PM

Thanks for a interesting article.. Who does Cheney think he is...Vice King of the United States...

Posted by: pookeyw1 | June 26, 2007 11:10 PM

Thanks for a interesting article.. Who does Cheney think he is...Vice King of the United States...

Posted by: pookeyw1 | June 26, 2007 11:10 PM

before this series i was worried but thought we could make it through the election, now i'm scared and not so sure. this guy operates like the politbureau. if anyone ever made our country and the world worse off for existing, it's him.

Posted by: hauserm | June 26, 2007 11:15 PM

What a piece of sh*t Dick Cheney is!!!

Posted by: 1-20-09 | June 26, 2007 11:20 PM

Titled: The non-agency EPA

The EPA is governmental agency that has loss its constitutional teeth of law. Now, over the years, its has desintegrated into a bureaucratic department which can not defend our nation under biological attack, particularly, NBC warfare.

However, more severe, has been the radiological pollution which has destroyed Americas' will to be the best nation on earth. Due to our past and present wars, radiological debri from munnitions fired afar has poison the air space of our nation. This is placing an enduring affect upon the American people. Our people are greatly exposed to HIV/Aids and Cancers as never before. But, the EPA does not have a strong radiation monitoring program to protect our people from the ionizing radiation of man-made materials and by-products. Its time the EPA, now, take charge of this issue, because, our children will be even more affected by its deadly force. I ask all Americans to write their governmental officials asking for a more powerful stance of the EPA. Because, as written in the Bible, we the people have dominion over the earth, but, with this responsibility comes greater accountability as we sheparded the earth. Radiation is the one health care problem for all Americans, period.

Posted by: sterlinggo1 | June 26, 2007 11:20 PM

What a cast of characters! All I can say is it would be a badge of honor to be on Cheney's s. . . list. Did you ever see the picture of our Wyoming cowboy walking along a plank so he could mount his horse. What a cowboy.

Posted by: docblackjack | June 26, 2007 11:24 PM

You have developed an outstanding article so far. The sad part of this whole issue is that Cheney - a sorry excuse for a human being - is in a position to do the evil he has done.

What is it about the American people that causes them to elect losers like Bush, and Cheney?

Posted by: tedtartaglia | June 26, 2007 11:25 PM

Who elected this fascist dumbutt, anyway? Oh, right: the Bush voters! Ain't you proud?

Posted by: thrh | June 26, 2007 11:27 PM

Sort of makes sense of his "principled" opposition to gay marriage while his gay daughter and her 'partner' are having a baby. There are principles, and principles. And political convenience.

Posted by: thrh | June 26, 2007 11:30 PM

Welcome to Humpty Dumpty World courtesy of Dick Cheney

Posted by: mimi424 | June 26, 2007 11:30 PM

**Characteristically, Cheney left no tracks***

Nor does he leave an image in the mirror...wear a string of garlic if he's around...keep a wooden stake handy just to make certain when he finally croaks......he's a pod with a pulse

Posted by: Jerryvov | June 26, 2007 11:31 PM

They grow 'em dumb in Wyoming, but they grow 'em mean!

Posted by: thrh | June 26, 2007 11:32 PM

Great stewardship on the part of an administration that prides itself on following Christian precepts, eh? How cynical can you get!

Posted by: amacarthur2 | June 26, 2007 11:37 PM

I hope all voters will remember in future that a vote for Republicans is a vote against ecological sustainability.

Most conservative voters are not so ideologically rigid or so corrupt that they'd completely sell out the natural world upon which human life ultimately depends, in order to feed short term greed of some business interest or other. But Republican politicians ARE.

I recall Reagan's crazed comment that trees were a major SOURCE of pollution!

So, next time you're in a voting booth, just recall that by marking a Republican on your ballot you're likely endorsing enemies of environmental, planetary and human health.
These people are treacherous. Cheney's just
one particularly glaring example. He's not alone.

Posted by: Bobjb2002 | June 26, 2007 11:37 PM

Natural resource management in the Bush administration is not based on science. High level management positions in the Interior Department should be held by scientists with advanced degrees, not by former congressional aids to Dick Cheney.

Posted by: nrsys | June 26, 2007 11:47 PM

I don't know what is worse Cheney and his evil ways or Bush and his inability to manage him.

This entire series is just sad and depressing. To read the damage that one man has done to this country is breathtaking and overwhelming.

I do believe in karma and expect that he will some day be repaid for all of his dirty evil ways. He isn't even human.

Posted by: srlee66 | June 26, 2007 11:50 PM

This was a great series but I am still puzzled about the conflicting statement in the first part. It mentions that Bush is in control but then goes on the pretty much make him look like a sock-puppet for the freak Cheney.

In fact, I'd say this series puts Bush in a horrible light. He truly is a monkey and he's been working for an idiot.

Cheney may know the corridors of power but he uses that knowledge exactly like a moron uses a chainsaw.

How many people are dead in Iraq right now?
How much have we spent there?
How are we safer right now?

I have never seen such an incompetent group of people in my life. We have a true kakistocracy here in America.

Look up the word.

Posted by: kackermann | June 26, 2007 11:57 PM

Great articles about a sad, sad situation. But the Republicans just keep following this con-man? That's even sadder.

Posted by: taid | June 27, 2007 12:17 AM

...just when you think those two demi-gods can stoop no further, the bar has been, um, "lowered"? Just too unbelievable. I can only hope that many responsible voters are reading this article and instead of their party-line, will vote their conscience. Talk about living in the now...mind-boggling coming from men who have descendants to think about (even if they obviously don't (think about them)).

Posted by: antonioso | June 27, 2007 12:21 AM

It is time for the Democrats in Congress to stop screwing aroung with petty BULLSH*T like a bunch of whining retired millionare football players and get on with the business they were sent to Washington with a majority to conduct: Investigate, Impeach, Imprison. In the meantime let's all start recall petitions for the entire congress. That might get the morons' attention. Go to Washington, become stupid.

Posted by: craiggger | June 27, 2007 12:25 AM

NIXON was a boy scout and a saint compared to the DICK. Anybody checked him for a 666 tatoo?

Posted by: craiggger | June 27, 2007 12:27 AM

Request: to change the expose' to 'The Dangler'

http://www.safecom.org.au/torture.htm

Posted by: theman_in_black | June 27, 2007 12:35 AM

Everytime I despair at living through the years of the worst president we've ever had (and I include Nixon in this list - I thought nothng would ever make me think good things of Nixon but Bush manages it again and again and again), I can always look further to the shining example of our vice president. The man is clearly an evil, unprincipled lout who's only concern is taking care of himself and his cronies. I could go on - he's paranoid and delusional to the point where I think he needs psychiatric help. We impeached a president over oral sex but leaders who show by their actions that they don't believe in the Constitution, the fundamental document on which our system of law was founded, are allowed to continue unabated. The days when the rest of the world looked to us as a shining example of how things ought to be are sadly behind us thanks to Bush and Cheney and their ilk. I pray that we can somehow find the power to restore this country to it's former glory.

Posted by: modenj | June 27, 2007 02:09 AM

This is the slime ball of all slime balls. Does he sleep at night? You bet your life he does! Will the real president of this country stop hiding in the office of Vice-President- stand up Mr Cheney and take a bow, you and your corporate buddies know the real truth that the little weasle who everyone "Thinks" was elected president was not. Your the guy behind the wishy washy so called leader, your the real president who calls all the shots, makes the decision for ruining this country and everyone, including Bush, jump in line to accomodate you. You are the Hitler of the 21st century. You have no shame. You loose no sleep over the five deferments you received,the plots you spin, the wars you plan, the lies upon lies you mouth, the torture of human beings, the destruction of our rivers, forest, wildlife and all the while hundreds of thousand die to keep you and your corporate cronies in the manner you all believe is your God given right.

Posted by: jkft_4 | June 27, 2007 02:15 AM

The American people should not forget who Cheney works for and which party he represents. What has Bush been doing the last six years sleeping? It will take decades to recover from the damage done by this man and his puppet friend No. 43.

Posted by: debbiem | June 27, 2007 02:15 AM

The articles so far have made me angry, but this one on the environment is truly sad. What a waste of cunning. If this kind of "foresight" and "cutting through bureaucracy" had been applied to getting resources to the victims of Katrina, think what might have (still could be) accomplished. I am so tired of President Dunce Cap and Vice President Oil Can. When will the voters learn? High crimes against America with misdeamors contributed by Whitman, Powell and Rice, among a supporting cast of thousands.

Posted by: nugentja2 | June 27, 2007 02:25 AM

The articles so far have made me angry, but this one on the environment is truly sad. What a waste of cunning. If this kind of "foresight" and "cutting through bureaucracy" had been applied to getting resources to the victims of Katrina, think what might have (still could be) accomplished. I am so tired of President Dunce Cap and Vice President Oil Can. When will the voters learn? High crimes against America with misdeamors contributed by Whitman, Powell and Rice, among a supporting cast of thousands.

Posted by: nugentja2 | June 27, 2007 02:26 AM

No tracks; just a stench.

Posted by: zealander | June 27, 2007 02:57 AM

Cheney's "tracks" manifest themselves in the form of spent shotgun shells after he has shot you in the face and the blood trail that Cheney leaves from sticking knives in your back.

Posted by: fwonschik | June 27, 2007 03:16 AM

Like "Boy George" Bush*, Cheney could not find a quart of oil in a filling station, nor a drop of oil under a car. REAL oil men are honest and very hardworking people unlike these twerp/thieves.

*See Bush failures: Harken Energy and Spectrum 7

Posted by: fwonschik | June 27, 2007 03:23 AM

Most distressing in all that has been written about Cheney is that this draft-dodger has been able to wrap himself in a flag of patriotism, anti-terrorism, and national security and hold himself out as a god of war; his courage seems to have come to him quite well now that he has nothing to fear but the loss of parking privileges.

Posted by: listats | June 27, 2007 03:42 AM

Ancient wisdom has it that "You become what you oppose". Having opposed Fascism and Communism so ardently for so long it would appear that the saying is holding true for the Good Ol' US of A. But with one diference. While the present administration play fast and loose with the Law as much as Mugabe does in Zimbabwe, you are still able to say what you think about it all in public.
But before you loose that freedom you ought to find the will to sort Cheney et al out - now, not tomorrow, but now.
The man is breaking the law over and over.
Is there nobody who can haul his ass in front of a grand jury? Watching this spectacle from overseas is painful. For God's sake America ............

Posted by: Canopus07 | June 27, 2007 03:44 AM

When will men of power realise that the human species is perhaps the sole one which continues to sh*t in its own bed with out having another to go to ! The language is crude, and I apologise for that, but how else can one get the idea across to these men and women ?

Posted by: tonyharding | June 27, 2007 03:50 AM

Oh pleaaasssseeee. Stop the insanity. Articles that should have been written more than five years ago...if at all. Your liberal bias is showing and it's a yawn!

Posted by: writeaway777 | June 27, 2007 03:53 AM

Unbelievable; that the American voters could elect a ticket like Bush/Cheney if the first place - and after their record, re-elect them. Both of them work counter to our Constitution. steadily usurping the power of Congress to drive our government towards a "regal" copy of Rome. It's pretty scary that people like Cheney are so influential in government.

Posted by: rangerbob4thco | June 27, 2007 04:37 AM

Unbelievable; that the American voters could elect a ticket like Bush/Cheney in the first place - and after their record, re-elect them. Both of them work counter to our Constitution. steadily usurping the power of Congress to drive our government towards a "regal" copy of Rome. It's pretty scary that people like Cheney are so influential in government.

Posted by: rangerbob4thco | June 27, 2007 04:39 AM

Ha ha, yep, it's FIVE deferrment DICK, mister "I had other priorities" during the VietNam brush fire conflict, a real TinkerToy tough guy! He's not only above the law in America, He wants you to hear al-Quaeda al-the time. Ever notice how all the folks biting the Iraqi dust the last few weeks have been listed as those demons al-Quaeda?
Hey, yooooou folks scared yet? Ya got the fascist right wing noise machine blaring in your eardrum?
There's only 430,000 Americans dying every year due to tobacco related illness, 30,000 of those to secondary smoke. Well, that's about what, 155 September ELEVENTHS EVERY FREAKIN YEAR, YEAR IN, year out. That's 9/11 for all you maroons that cast your ballot for pres dick and sock puppet shrub.
No more freedoms for us, but at least I can say that when 5 deferrment Dick chose himself way back when, I could see Tony Perkins coming down the stairway, with a butcher knife aimed at the heart of America.

Posted by: 2by2 | June 27, 2007 04:40 AM

After reading these articles.....there is much I would want to say.......things my friends and family have been saying for the past 6 years......but I am reduced to only one comment now.......God help us all..this administration has destroyed all I thought my country was and stood for....God help us all.....

Posted by: suziny | June 27, 2007 04:43 AM

Ja,ka kan man si.
Pulitzermaterial..reality is crazier than imaginable.
Finally some details emerges about the last few years regime in the white house.
Regretfully it all fits the picture that has been clear from the get go.
Americans,please take your country back.
Good luck from an ally in Norway.

Posted by: oddhogne | June 27, 2007 04:52 AM

Ja,ka kan man si.
Pulitzermaterial..reality is crazier than imaginable.
Finally some details emerges about the last few years regime in the white house.
Regretfully it all fits the picture that has been clear from the get go.
Americans,please take your country back.
Good luck from an ally in Norway.

Posted by: oddhogne | June 27, 2007 04:54 AM

When Ronnie Raygun was gov of California, he was SO CHEAP that he told the citizens that ketchup was a vegetable in their kid's lunch, lol. Look it up.
Reminds me of Phyllis Diller talking about how CHEAP her husband Fang was. She said he snuck downstairs on Christmas Eve one year and fired off a gunshot, told the kids Santa had commited suicide!

Posted by: 2by2 | June 27, 2007 04:57 AM

I wonder if Becker & Gellman will write on Cheney's promotion of the invasion of Iaq on false pretenses, on his devotion to Chalabi, and on his unconditional support of hard-line Israeli politicians.

That would crown the series! But will they dare go so far?

Posted by: FedUp1 | June 27, 2007 05:25 AM

Boy, the more you read about this character, the more sinister he becomes. Whatever business wants, business gets. Who cares about the environment? Certainly not Tricky Dick. Future generations will spend much time and money cleaning up the assorted messes left by this administration.

Posted by: mollycoddle1 | June 27, 2007 05:38 AM

It should be obvious to all by now how the head of Bush's vice presidential search team in 2000 was able to so easily recommend the best qualified person to be the candidate's running mate.

(A nifty way to become President without needing to waste a lot of personal time raising million$ for the election race. Allows more time to develop prorities and programs.)

Posted by: davesnouffer | June 27, 2007 05:45 AM

When officials leave "for family reasons," as Whitman did they fail to advance the debate on the issue they care about. This approach to government feeds the culture of secrecyin which V-P Cheney thrives. There is no imediate downside for you to trying for the most outrageous idea possible and failing. This culture of the "unprincipled resignation" is one we need to change, I think.

Posted by: niadams | June 27, 2007 05:45 AM

These crooks and their supporters should be hung in public! Anyone who voted for Bush and Cheney should kill themselves for being among the stupidest humans on earth!!!!!!!!!

Posted by: pgrundy1 | June 27, 2007 05:53 AM

Do not only blame Cheney. His accomplices knew, people knew and the benefactors knew but did nothing. People abuse their power and the nation because of the silence. History has many examples of leaders, who are allowed by the people, abuse the rule of power.

Posted by: mconnel2 | June 27, 2007 05:59 AM

The damage to the environment is just one more example of Cheney's callous indifference to the world around us, to the Nation's future and to world opinion towards the USA. It never ceases to amaze me that the Republican party still does not have the guts to face the truth and to eliminate men like Cheney and even Bush who have caused untold harm to the USA and to the world.

Posted by: jjmtwiss | June 27, 2007 06:06 AM

This explains why so many animals have recently been taken off the Endangered Species list. Shameful.
And a great series!

Posted by: marjie | June 27, 2007 06:06 AM

That's it. I've had it. All of these articles have depressed me, but this one puts me right over the edge. Impeach. Impeach now. I know people will be angry that government is "tied up", but they're not getting anything done anyway. May as well shed some light on what a pack of liars, cads and villains occupy the West Wing. Then maybe, just maybe, we'll finally be able to wake up from this nightmare.

Posted by: kyoungdahl | June 27, 2007 06:08 AM

Cheney is like one of the horsemen of the apocaplypse, where ever he goes death follows...

Posted by: rcc_2000 | June 27, 2007 06:09 AM

Such total disregard for the environment clearly demonstrates just how short-sighted and selfish conservatives are. They also fail to grasp the fact that human beings are inextricably linked with all life on this planet. When we start to see species failing at one end of the food chain, it will eventually effect all of us. Cheney is a despicable human being. He cares far more about short-term profits for he and his cronies than the long-term survival of everything else on this planet.

Posted by: ggwalt123 | June 27, 2007 06:14 AM

The poorest excuse for a human being! He
is the kind of guy who would kill bison
for the hide and leave the rest to rot out
in the sun? May God have mercy on his
soul!

Posted by: nittany462003 | June 27, 2007 06:14 AM

Great and needed article--

but it should have mentioned that the republican/Oregon farmers
are on welfare to begin with, leasing federal land for pennies an acre for their crops;

and the article should have explained what crops those farmers
are growing in a high elevation desert--alfalfa for cows?

Finally, the economic destruction caused by Cheney's "biggest in history" fish-kill should have been discussed, comparing the
short term $$ gains of republican welfare-farmers, with the loss
of the much more economically and biologically valuable
salmon fisheries.

Readers would have learned that Cheney's economic strategy
loses more money than the progressive liberal enviro approach.

When's the last time you ate welfare-farmed alfalfa, folks?

When's the last time to you ate wild Coho?

Posted by: lichtme | June 27, 2007 06:15 AM

Would that us Democrats would employ strategy and vision. The only effective opposition to bad ideas is debate, facts, and alternative strategies that employ genuine principles.

Principle is related to morality. And morality is about doing the right thing. But when people are confused about right and wrong then they often cherry pick their morality as "what benefits me." Or link it to some authoritarian vision -- as Dick has done.

As long as both liberals and conservatives don't make a conscious effort to link their moral vision logically to both reality and to ethical considerations, people operating in the shadows will be able to continue to manipulate them for their own personal private gain or for that of their cabal.

Dick is morally sick, their agenda wouldn't "restore" anything but further degrade our moral and institutional integrity. However, he (and his legion of like-thinkers) doen't see it that way. In their script he is he hero saving the country. To deconstruct that immoral ruthless and violent script we need an alternative one that we can agree on, that is in fact superior and that we can establish as such in debate and in the market place. To me maybe that vision is that of King in his "I have been to the mountain" speach, or of Kennedy, or even elements of Reagan.. We have alternative visions, we need to fight to preserve them from a totalitarian lockdown that is only over the horizon of the next terror attack.

Posted by: chris_holte | June 27, 2007 06:16 AM

This Cheney "thing' is why your American men and woman are dying in Iraq!
The "thing" is pure evil!

Posted by: joey752 | June 27, 2007 06:18 AM

As a registered Republican, I have struggled for years with the actions of the Bush Administration. I did not vote for him either time as there was nothing he represented that I could vote for. This administration has forced me to vote the Democratic ticket. These articles on Cheney just confirm my choice.

A lesson for us all is about the powerful network Cheney has built. If any of us are to succeed against him, we would need to build an equally powerful network.

Posted by: gcinnamon | June 27, 2007 06:22 AM

This Cheney "thing' is why your American men and woman are dying in Iraq!
The "thing" is pure evil!

Posted by: joey752 | June 27, 2007 06:24 AM

Even after he started performing his duties as Vice President of these United States, shamelessly, shamefacedly and arrogantly, Dick Cheney obviously never ceased acting as CEO of Halliburton.

As a VP arrogating unto himself authority and powers which constitutionally only the President should exercise, he also obviously championed the causes and the interests not only of the oil industry in particular, but also of business in general--never mind if the policies he championed were detrimental to the natioal interest

One really wonders how Dick Chency was able to get away with all of it. With the approval of those so-called "neocons," he obviously got away with successfully pushing GWB to invade Iraq preemptively and unilaterally--and on the basis of inadequate, misleading and even "doctored" evidence. How many times did Dick Cheney personally go to the CIA apparently to pressure CIA analysts to distort intelligence in ways which would provide specious justification for the invasion of Iraq?

How was Halliburton and its subsidiaries able to get all those fat multibillion no-bid contracts in Iraq--which could not pass public scrutiny for being so disadvantageous to the US? And which reek of corruption?

There are indications that Dick Cheney is now pressuring his acolyte George W. Bush to invade Iran. He must be partly if not mainly responsible for sending a second Carrier Task Force to the Persian Gulf, in an obvious aggressive move to provoke an "incident" there which he and George W. Bush could use as the excuse to invade Iran.

The American people must now be quite aware of how Dick Cheney is able to manipulate things his way!

Going by his record, Dick Cheney is to George W. Bush what Rasputin was to the Czar and his Czarina--an evil and dangerous influence.

Posted by: MPatalinjug | June 27, 2007 06:26 AM

Devestating and deeply depressing. The selfishness, the abuse of power to satisfy the aims of the few over the many, the complete disregard for the law and for the consequences of their actions - this is what the modern Republican party has come to. And to think I ever voted Republican! I will never be able to vote for the Republican party again in my lifetime.

My only hope from the terrible tragedy of the past 7 years is that Bush and Cheney will go down as the Hoover Administration of it's generation - and will cause such a mass of revulsion that a political tidal wave will sweep the Republicans out of office for a generation - which is the amount of time it will take to repair the damage Bush and Cheney have done - if we are lucky.

Posted by: gwiggins | June 27, 2007 06:27 AM

I think this is exactly what happens when you have an "it's all about me baby", capitalistic, profit-driven society. It's works out fine if balance is maintained. Unfortunately, we've swung so far to the right that this sort of amoral, pro-business, profit at all cost ideology has taken over. It's what happens when corporations run your govt, which is exactly what we have.

Posted by: ggwalt123 | June 27, 2007 06:27 AM

Now he'll retire, "Bush" will appoint Thompson or some other right-wing nut and guess who they will hire for "advice!" He's such a sleaze...

Posted by: littledog | June 27, 2007 06:28 AM

At least he's been decisive - a rare quality in today's politician.

Posted by: UncleWillie | June 27, 2007 06:34 AM

This has been a stunning series, filled with details and examples. Some will say we already knew most of this; but this is the first time many (not all) of his machinations have been brought together in one place. It makes Rove look like another boob. Since most have been about Cheney's actions in regard to domestic policies, I hope there will also be similar articles on his actions in foreign policy. I am surprised Bob Woodward hasn't pursued this story more. How much influence has he had on the recent Bush strategy to delay until September and then delay some more?

Posted by: Hannahjones | June 27, 2007 06:40 AM

Let's call Cheney the proctologist.

Posted by: Hannahjones | June 27, 2007 06:44 AM

Sounds like some very one-sided reporting to me. I would side with human beings over fish all the time. Don't you people eat corn and drink milk? Perhaps you would rather human beings be an endangered species?

Posted by: donheinz | June 27, 2007 06:44 AM

This whole series has just been an attempt to shift all the blame for all the illegal behavior that's gone on since before Prescott to Dick.

Come on folks. Recognize that Cheney's being set up to be the fall guy. The deal for a pardon has probably already been cut.

Posted by: Perry3 | June 27, 2007 06:48 AM

This man is a monster ! He belongs to a right wing Under ground Group , that has no morals just an agenda , Its called the Under Ground Railway , They use Church and state as a tool for Evil deeds , Church an State are now one ! and there will be hell to pay , Just a Bunch of Elmer Gantry,s makeing the big bucks ! Ex-con,s turned Pasters . We are in deep do-do !

Posted by: mgilfoy | June 27, 2007 06:50 AM

My parents were WRONG! Crime DOES pay! Liars, cheaters, and evil people laugh all the way to the bank. I want to be a Cheney when I grow up!

Posted by: rjwiechmann | June 27, 2007 06:54 AM

He's not the 'Vice King' (ok, maybe he is, but for other reasons).

What he AND 'dubya' are is the 'imperial presidency' - the necessary cog of the ruling class in the American oligarchy - er, democracy.

Posted by: mpm5 | June 27, 2007 06:55 AM

Thank you very, very much for doing this series and especially for the fourth article in the series. I have followed American environmental policy for nearly 40 years and there was a lot in that article tht was news to me (which indicates how very good Cheney has been at covering his tracks and how dangerous administrative secrecy can be).

Posted by: rpaehlke | June 27, 2007 07:00 AM

This should not be a surprise to most people who pay attention to what this criminal administrations has been doing. The control of our country has been brought and paid for by industry and big business. Bush and Cheney are just the brokers for the sale. Although they may not pubicly get their commission, they will surely be well rewarded in other ways. Why they are not behind bars after so many of their criminal activities have been made public. These criminals should be in jail, not running the White House. The American people appear to be in a trick-bag because the people who are suppose to inforce the laws and insure that the criminal activities perputrated against us are actually members of the same criminal mob that sold our country to their contributors. How will we every restore confidence in the American Political and Judicial systems while these thugs are in control? We can not afford to wait another 18 months and hope we get help. Something must be done now!

Posted by: pjc8300892 | June 27, 2007 07:10 AM

This should not be a surprise to most people who pay attention to what this criminal administrations has been doing. The control of our country has been brought and paid for by industry and big business. Bush and Cheney are just the brokers for the sale. Although they may not pubicly get their commission, they will surely be well rewarded in other ways. Why they are not behind bars after so many of their criminal activities have been made public. These criminals should be in jail, not running the White House. The American people appear to be in a trick-bag because the people who are suppose to inforce the laws and insure that the criminal activities perputrated against us are actually members of the same criminal mob that sold our country to their contributors. How will we every restore confidence in the American Political and Judicial systems while these thugs are in control? We can not afford to wait another 18 months and hope we get help. Something must be done now!

Posted by: pjc8300892 | June 27, 2007 07:10 AM

The Bush/Cheney haters are being intellectually dishonest and are reading this series through liberal colored glasses. The reporters have not once pointed to any crimes or impeachable offenses. Cheney has done what people like the farmers in Oregon elected him and Bush to do, turn back this country's slow march toward socialism. Bush and Cheney campaigned that they were going to roll back environmental activism that was hurting buisness and the economy, so why are people surprised that they kept their campaign promises?

What irks his critics is that Cheney has been successful about getting around the red tape of Washington DC bureaucracy and the usual political stalemates. Like it or not, politics is a contact sport in Washington DC and Cheney is good at it. No crimes here, just an individual who knows how to use this bureaucracy we call the US government to further his political agenda.

True, no VP has ever done wielded this much power but that is not a crime if the President sanctions it.

Posted by: jayh63 | June 27, 2007 07:14 AM

What wrong with a snowmobile in a national park? People who like to ride snowmobiles have just as much right to the parks as the tree hugging, bird watching, sandal wearing nutjobs! To quote Tony Soporano, Dick Cheny for president ... of the F&*king universe !

Posted by: killerm | June 27, 2007 07:19 AM

And these guys i.e. the Bushies, say THEY LOVE AMERICA? That is such a joke! Time and time again their actions have shown that only the ruling class matters to them. The rest can go to you know where.

Posted by: meesh | June 27, 2007 07:29 AM

By combining unwavering ideological positions -- such as the priority of economic interests over protected fish -- with a deep practical knowledge of the federal bureaucracy, Cheney...

As we see now, most of us have to have two people,in a family, working to reach any semblance of a "Middle Class" status we had in the 40's-50's-60's-70's when one person working accomplished the same end.

This whole administration is functioning and has functioned on political, ideological positions and for the few...NOT...on what's good for all of us.

Posted by: 90172 | June 27, 2007 07:30 AM

FOR EVERYONE THAT PUT THEM IN THE WHITE, NOW SHUTUP!!!! AND STOP CRYING!!!!- LET YOUR KING RULE!!!

Posted by: sirj55 | June 27, 2007 07:35 AM

This series of articles describes examples of what I already was thinking.....

This administration is simply the most morally corrupt and manipulative administration in my memory.

I guess none of them paid attention in civics class....

My unwavering hope is that they get caught doing something criminal, which I'm sure they are doing... and they are brought to trial and punished. It will be small consolation, but at least it will show future administrations that it's not OK to be elected and then abandon the people that elected you....

Posted by: RichRable | June 27, 2007 07:37 AM

this is just one of thousands of reasons that this present adminstration is the worst thing to happen to this country.
dick and all the rest of bush's cronies will get their due karma, no doubt about that but in the meantime?
they ruin our country, they spit in our faces and for those who voted for him?
shame on you...
shame on all of you republicans!

Posted by: hemnebob | June 27, 2007 07:39 AM

We let it happen.

We did not care.

We stayed away.

We are responsible.

We still think we are nice people, even though we did nothing.

Posted by: mayer-r | June 27, 2007 07:39 AM

OK, where do we go from here? If one traces the ultimate impact of the WP's series of the Watergate break-in, which lead to Nixon's resignation, could these series be the "ignitor" for a Cheney impeachment or forced resignation? Are the conditions the same today to prompt such a similar change?
I don't think. Back then the Post's series were picked up by the mass media; today the ownership of media is controlled by a few news conglomerates. Can you imagine this WP series being discussed on the massive Fox network? America, we're stuck and more distressing is that avenues for citizens to react and force change have been eliminated except for "elections." We're stuck!

Posted by: iopsc | June 27, 2007 07:42 AM

There comes a time when impeachment becomes a patriotic necessity and anything less is treason. The moment has come.

Posted by: tonyharding | June 27, 2007 07:43 AM

What a story . I am truly fearfull for our planet with these complete idiots in power until 09. There must be a way we can get rid of both Bush and Chaney. Theere has to be a law they have broken that will put them away in some hell hole like what they have created. But oh well, wishfull thinking. Great article. Watch your backs. Big Brother is out there in a big way.

Posted by: jrshoes1 | June 27, 2007 07:44 AM

What is the matter with this guy?

I will probably wake up tomorrow with a horse's head in my bed.

Posted by: jhart | June 27, 2007 07:48 AM

This is a brilliant series of articles. The Post should be proud of itself for finally trying to expose the execesses and blatent disregard for the law that are the hallmark of this administration. It is very unfortunate that it took so long for papers such as the Post to find the backbone to standup to Bush, Cheney, Rumsfeld and Rove.

Posted by: jdekornfeld | June 27, 2007 07:52 AM

and for all of you republicans that choose to believe in the easter bunny over environmental warming?

crawl back into your pjs because the truth cannot ever set you free. pull those covers back over those bulbous, empty heads of yours and go back to bed.

anything that is even close to factual or truthiness, is liberal bias to you...this series is excellent and exposing and it proves that this adminstration isn't for the America that is great and beautiful...it is for the America of the moment...just til they pass away, because they don't give a damn about what is left for our grandchildren or anyone else.

Posted by: hemnebob | June 27, 2007 07:53 AM

Thank you Washington Post for this series. It has been long overdue but for the sake of accuracy and finding sources who were willing to disclose events without fear of repercussion I am glad it is now being published. Being a retired federal employee I have had the opportunity to view many management styles over a 30 year span and have never seen anything as blatant and sad as this. What the majority of the nation does not realize is that this occurs in many forms at different levels. It is frightening to know that there are others who operate this way and what impact they have not only on their missions but the careers of those who work for them. I have no doubt that there are hundreds of other "shameless/blameless" accounts of Mr. Cheney's disregard for rules and laws and his unprincipled approach, the question is, what can be done about it?

Posted by: eqlizre | June 27, 2007 07:54 AM

Are these guys having sex with dick or getting money from him?
His only contribution to this country are thousand of men and women dying in iraq, billions of dollars spent there and high oil prices.

Posted by: kizm12 | June 27, 2007 07:55 AM

Angler - A person who gets or tries to get something by scheming - Random House Unabridged Dictionary

Lets Re-Summarize the Week:
Sunday - Crimes Against the Constitution
Monday - Crimes Against Humanity
Tuesday - Crimes Against the Poor & Middle Class
Wednesday - Crimes Against the Earth

Let's Not bother with Impeachment - Just make him walk down the entire length of Pennsylvania Ave at noon & let the people be heard!

Posted by: garyjhale | June 27, 2007 07:58 AM

As long as there is still a free press in the USA, there is hope. I look foreward to 2008. I'm sure that will free the world of the present White House hooligans and bring sanity back to the USA und the western civilisation. This sends you a reader from Germany.

Posted by: john.pracht | June 27, 2007 08:00 AM

sigh, sigh, sigh. i say again, ralph nader, whereever you are. thank you.

Posted by: jimfilyaw | June 27, 2007 08:01 AM

Call me stupid, but, I just don't understand how those 2 fools in the White House can get away with all the underhanded things they do and no one calls for an investigation. But I guess big business money & the promise of votes really does buy everthing.

Posted by: mrluckie-oje | June 27, 2007 08:04 AM

These gentlemen are making wrong decisions not only in USA ,and in the middle-east.We are anxious about the future plans of these administrators about Turkey. I had heard the first alliance of USA and Turkey about the Korean war. Afterwards the unity of Turkey was very important for USA. Nowadays,I am thinking roles of USA and Russia have been changed. Today's USA government and army journals are telling about the disintegration of Turkey.To me,this is illogic for the future of our relations.I am missing Clinton,with my kind regards.

Posted by: eselimoglu | June 27, 2007 08:06 AM

My kind of guy.
The Bureaucrats can go straight to Hell as far as I am concerned.
And take the Barking Tree Frogs with them.

Posted by: tripferguson | June 27, 2007 08:10 AM

I'm confused. It was not long ago when the "Man Behind the Curtain," controlling all of the Administration's mischief, was Karl Rove. Now, it seems to be Dick Cheney! Assuming that the two communicate with one another, what is the synergy that they create?
This whole presentation appears to have come from the Cartoon Network, except that Real People and Real Nations are being hurt by this Nest of Villains.

Posted by: afcsman | June 27, 2007 08:11 AM

"Smith had served with Cheney on the House Interior Committee in the 1980s, and the former congressman said he turned to the vice president because he knew him as a man of the West who didn't take kindly to federal bureaucrats meddling with private use of public land."

Oh yeah, heaven forbid that the FEDS tell people what to do when they are using PUBLIC LAND for their own PRIVATE purposes. Seriously, these people in the West believe that even if they don't own the land, it's theirs do with as they please. Even if that means screwing the wildlife, and in this case, the livelihoods of people in other industries.

After reading these four articles about the vice president, all I can do is shake my head and say shame on anyone who voted for these people. Shame on all of you who voted for them.

Posted by: scorbett1976 | June 27, 2007 08:12 AM

To make matters even worse, Cheney's subversion of the Constitution is supported by neocons who cloak themselves in high-minded rhetoric about protecting it. Cheney and his goons have long been an enormous threat to American democracy. It's too bad the American people are asleep.

Posted by: tierneyjt | June 27, 2007 08:15 AM

I would like to commend you on your Series!!!

I am glad that you have also brought the Waxman issue to your on line paper!!!

I just wanted to know why there isn't anything on the

***BAE scandal***

as there appears to be big implications that this administration is tied to this "arms for oil" scandal as well!!!
( Larouche publications did and Bloomberg.com did!)We all seem to know why CNN, MSNBC,CBS ,Fox news don't!!!

I also would like to know if you are going to bring any articles about STEVEN JONES,the physisist, and his work on THERMATE that this was used to bring down the WORLD TRADE TOWERS????And probably why the first responders didn't get their treatment as is brought out in SICKO !!
AS I understand it-- It is a USA made implosive !!!!

Posted by: Samarkis | June 27, 2007 08:21 AM

The destruction of our country by republicans will continue as long as republicans run our country,

--- Faye Kane, homeless smartmouth --- see more of my smartmouth opinions at blog.myspace.com/fayekane

Posted by: FayeKane_HomelessSmartypants | June 27, 2007 08:24 AM

Put this into the perspective of the US Attorney firings escapade: complaints come into Tiny (Bush's Brain/Rove). Tiny takes the complaints, puts them into political hierarchy, gives them to Shooter to get taken care of. This is how the did the fish, the power plants, US Attorneys, Plamegate, etc. Shooter doesn't give a sh*t about the environment. He got his name on at a ranch where the trapped birds were released directly in front of the drunk white men.
What was President G. J. Le Petomane doing the months leading up to 9/11? Work, work, work.

Posted by: Bluetexan | June 27, 2007 08:27 AM

interesting article ... i was curious as to why the subject, being 6 years old was being rehashed,so, i decided to do a search on the river/and the subject. there is a lot of information out there, and had i not investigated further, could have taken the article as "cheney chooses farmers over fish for political gain" at face value ... instead, after viewing more of the facts (comparisons of fish migration/fish kills from 1982 to present, current fish populations .. ie, short/long term effects, fish reports from those who live and work the river... ie: guide servies etc., and etc...), it appears someone is beating a dead horse, and perhaps, for all outward appearances, has their own agenda. after viewing the all the facts, i feel, he made the correct decision. by saving the farmers crops, not only were they able to provide for their familys and keep their farms, we benefited from their labors, and will continue to benefit. the problems associated with this river, are common with ALL rivers which have been dammed for mans benefit. as usual, it's a matter of priorities, and needs. complete and fair reporting lends to legitimacy, anything less breeds mistrust.
must be a slow news day, but when bad news is preferred over good, sometimes, we have to dig a litter deeper.
a couple quotes to ponder ....
"our job is to give people not what they want, but what we decide they ought to have" --- richard salant, former president of cbs news.
"our greatest ally is the american liberal" --- vladimir lenin
"the only difference between far left democrats vs. far right republicans and shiite's vs. sunni's, is that the different muslem factions kill each other outright with weapons, whereas the left and right wing political factions attempt to annihilate one another thru biased and all too often unethical political and editorial means", which is simply a slower death for one, and eventual death for both, because one, without the balance of the other, means an end to democracy". --- y.t.

....

Posted by: email.jhodge | June 27, 2007 08:27 AM

Because of Cheney's intervention, the government reversed itself and let the water flow in time to save the 2002 growing season, declaring that there was no threat to the fish. What followed was the largest fish kill the West had ever seen, with tens of thousands of salmon rotting on the banks of the Klamath River.

As a man who was raised in the Pacific NW, I have seen the destruction caused by President Cheney and his big brothers aka big business. What an evil, vile dispicable enity he and they are. When he dies, I hope his gravesite is deficated by all humanity for his crimes against nature and the world.

Posted by: justjunkemail | June 27, 2007 08:29 AM

I love how Cheney gets painted as being "pro-business." Let me ask you something: on one side you have a mom&pop shop that has been in business for decades and has long been a pillar of the community and on the other you have Wal-Mart, which wants to tear down that shop and a slew of others to put up one of its megastores. Which business do you think Cheney will support? Or say you have a small, family-owned farm growing organically next to a huge agribusiness mega-farm. Do you think Cheney has interest in defending the small farm when the megafarm tries to force it out of business? The only "economic interests" that Cheney is defending are those of the huge corporations that can afford to give him millions to look out for their profit margins. The rest of us can all just shut the hell up.

Posted by: contrai1 | June 27, 2007 08:30 AM

Outstanding article. Makes you wonder what's on his agenda today. Really scary, mostly because he seems unstoppable. Can't we get to the people below him--those whom he dictates to and those whom he has access to coerce? I hate this guy.

Posted by: susta505 | June 27, 2007 08:30 AM

Sadly, the democrats are no better, look at today's headlines, amnesty back on the table, soon the invading forces from the south will be citizens, criminals, jr high dropouts, 12 million will soon be 60 million, the borders still open. The war goes on, a profit center for friends of the family currently in power. K Street handing out money from big business, rep or dem, makes no difference, the smell is the same. It is the arrogance of the government that is so depressing, looking at us, the taxpayers and saying, "There is not a damn thing you can do about it." And they are right, two parties, same result.

Posted by: twistedreality109 | June 27, 2007 08:31 AM

In this administration's world, no law is ever broken as long as you have an eraser. Impeachment doesn't sound as conspiracy-nutty as it used to.

Posted by: kban495 | June 27, 2007 08:31 AM

So much for Ms. Whitman's integrity. She should have made public why she was quitting instead of making an excuse. Party loyalty above all else eh?
And now she is to be believed as she testifies that the EPA honestly didn't know how harmful the air around ground zero was to rescue/cleanup workers. And she is OUTRAGED at the implication that the government knew and didn't say anything.

Posted by: SamBrown2 | June 27, 2007 08:31 AM

some claim that our president can now kidnap someone right off the streets of small town america and throw them in prison for no reason what so ever. i am going to write General John G. Roberts and get his thinking on the subject. also, i am going to ask him, Gen. Roberts, if our bill of rights have been rendered null and void under the bush/cheney administration. i will comment back to this web site what i hear. mike hudgins

Posted by: hudg123 | June 27, 2007 08:33 AM

With Cheney and Bush,secrecy is the key to the dictatorship they and others envisioned in the "Project For The New American Century" where the American military would rule the world. How often do you hear the words there is no other super power in the world with a military capable of imposing its will globally.
First they needed to take away the freedoms of the American people. Secrecy and the covert subversion of democracy ,torture and war.Sounds like Nazi Germany to me. All Bush needs is the funny mustache.

Posted by: Styx | June 27, 2007 08:33 AM

With Cheney and Bush,secrecy is the key to the dictatorship they and others envisioned in the "Project For The New American Century" where the American military would rule the world. How often do you hear the words there is no other super power in the world with a military capable of imposing its will globally.
First they needed to take away the freedoms of the American people. Secrecy and the covert subversion of democracy ,torture and war.Sounds like Nazi Germany to me. All Bush needs is the funny mustache.

Posted by: Styx | June 27, 2007 08:35 AM

Do we really need to read anymore. You can stop now WP. Along with the boy president, his sidekick, a pure product of the Beltway in all its refulgent glory combined with that famous Wyoming mindset, will go down as the most successful duo in American history, if you measure success the way they do of course.

Posted by: aguasticas | June 27, 2007 08:36 AM

a reporter once asked president eisenhower to give him an example of an important policy decision in which his v.p.(nixon) had any part. eisenhower mused, then told the reporter to give him a couple of days and perhaps he could come up with one. can you imagine asking that same question, slightly reframed (a decision in which the v.p. had no part), to the moron we jokingly call our chief executive?

Posted by: jimfilyaw | June 27, 2007 08:37 AM

Cheney lackey Paul Hoffman talks about the "genius" of Dick Cheney's approach. Hoffman is dead wrong. Cheney is a coward without the backbone to play by the rules and see where his pro-business illegal use of ofice would end up if it were in public view. String him up, NOW.

Posted by: kjarch | June 27, 2007 08:37 AM

Great empires, great nations throughout history have died from internal rot. Bush and Cheney have started the process.

Posted by: joebennett1 | June 27, 2007 08:39 AM

The most remarkable thing about this four-piece spewing of fecal material is not what it says about your Delsey wannabe waste of wood pulp, but what it reveals about its readers. The vast majority of comments demonstrate that your Lib-lemming readers will believe anything printed in your Daily Grosspack. Now that Libbey's been eliminated, you've decided to skip Karl Rove for the moment and move on to the VP. Screeching the Leftist Mantra is Easier than Thinking.

Posted by: veritasintco | June 27, 2007 08:41 AM

Sally Quinn hit the nail on the head in a CNN interview. #1...Cheyney resigns for health reasons.#2...Bush appoints a Thompson-like VP as successor.#3...Bush critics in the House are petrified to impeach him ( my assumption ) so as to avoid a cleaned-up VP the opportunity to run from the Oval Office in 2008.....a potential major strategic disaster for the Dems. Brilliant !!

Posted by: rhumphrey144 | June 27, 2007 08:42 AM

This article makes it crystal clear to anyone without their party-loyalist blinders on that this administration was willing to screw the fishing industry in order to help the Oregon farmers, for political purposes and without regard for the environmental consequences. There's that Republican integrity and honor we've heard so much about in action.
Under the circumstances I'd say the vice-president's "Angler" codename is a little ironic.

Posted by: SamBrown2 | June 27, 2007 08:44 AM

What can you say? The man is pure evil...

Posted by: lou1 | June 27, 2007 08:47 AM

Cheney makes me think of comic book supervillians who are out to benefit their own means in whatever way possible. Their schemes are often ingenious, but also exceedingly self-serving. Cheney's abuse of the environment is deplorable; we are not the only living things occupying this dustball, and if we continue to hurt it, nothing will survive long. Ignoring the rest of the ecosystem is just as dangerous for humans as it is for other creatures, and we can't afford to tip such a delicate balance.

Too bad we don't have a Batman to come swinging in to save the day. That, it would seem, is a job left for the rest of us.

Posted by: linkworshiper | June 27, 2007 08:55 AM

To all Republicans: please remember that you have elected a most heinous American to lead us. Cheney is a lawbreaker so in the future you Republicans do not have any right to be outraged should a Democratic official break some law. Bush and Cheney are despicable for the underhanded things they have done to destroy the principles Americans were taught to observe. I hope Cheney and his family will experience the horrors that Cheney have visited upon the farmers and the environment.

Posted by: mstratas | June 27, 2007 08:58 AM

With such a mindset, my worst fear, is that the current administration may be entering a Jim Jones Jonestown endgame, that would also get rid of many pesky future witnesses of other atrocities.

The Whitehouse policy towards the environment and global warming would actually make sense if they had a real high-tech solution. Perhaps, something machiavellianly macabre? perhaps a mild nuclear winter in Iran?

Posted by: alerma | June 27, 2007 08:59 AM

One fundamental question: who does Mr. Cheney work for?:

1)The American people?

2)His own interests?

Is amazing his ability to amass resources and allies, his deep knowledge of the current political system and the way he uses it for maximum advantage. However, it's a pity he doesn't use them for the common good, for what he was elected for. Instead, he chooses to fulfill his own particular desires and those powerful interest groups that, no doubt, benefit handsomely from his decisions and at the same time reward Cheney in the same way.
This is a classical example of an amazing talent being wrongly used.

Posted by: eaglestrk01 | June 27, 2007 09:00 AM

Mr. V.P., I know your number, and it is up. One of the shadow
images of this article is : if we dont know about this one , what else dont we know??? This means that we have no clues about
the broken laws and travesties you perpetraited that did not surface through coincidence or angelic intervention. You are more than just a bad man, you are able to destroy mulitple levels of many systems by the depressing evil you do and how that impacts on those who struggle to follow the rules, laws and conventions of normal human interaction. This is why you are evil, because of your willingness to solve only for yourself and the narrow margin of like minded Neo-Nazis and Imperial-Cons going after total control of the future. This is why you
fabricate normalized stories to cover your bizzar activities and
statements, which have now worn thin and actually made you a characature of demonic evil, that you are. This is a characterization based on the effect of death which you bring to most issues. I realize that someone like you enjoys arsenic in your water and dead fish on the river, because you live in a mindset of death and feel empowered to bring it upon others.
This is the reason that everything you say sounds backwards or
completely devoid of common sense and human progress. It does however smack of business acumen, profits and pollution, which is the pathway illuminated by the muckrakers and by Dos Passos "Mid-century", a process which has only gotten more sophisticated over the years. The only thing I can truely say for the big picture is that there is no secret threat and that your
evil behavior and vile spewings are not fooling anyone.

Posted by: bebeyond49 | June 27, 2007 09:00 AM

I once heard that a little story is worth a thousand pictures!
We have a 13 year old dog who as a puppy ate some Tylenol and was terribly sick all over our Living Room carpet. It was such a rotten mess that we had to replace the whole carpet.
After Cheney and Bush you get the picture

John from Costa Rica

Posted by: jfsjr77 | June 27, 2007 09:00 AM

First, allow me to explain my "liberal" bias: From January 2000 until January 2005 I lived in Oregon and worked for a county air pollution control agency. I also made trips down through the Klamath Falls area to visit friends in Reno, Nevada several times during this period, and I understand the financial devastation that the farmers faced in the drought years; I saw it first-hand.

Nothing is more abrupt than driving southeast of Klamath Falls and coming to the end of the irrigated area: on one side of the road are verdant green fields; on the other side is the natural growth: sagebrush. You can see this many places in the West, for example, heading east from Reno along I-80, or south from Twin Falls, Idaho towards Nevada, but I digress.

The problem is this: A water policy that may have looked good to the federal government and farmers 100 years ago does not work any more. It was never good for the native people, or for the environment, but we didn't care about those interests 100 years ago. Today we have learned from our mistakes (at least, some of us have).

Today, it seems to me, the whole concept of having a "Bureau of Reclamation" is mis-guided. What is being "reclaimed?" Semi-arid lands? Natural-flowing streams? The slogan "let the desert bloom" ignores both the value of the natural landscape, and also the increasingly limited water supply in the West.

But I felt for the farmers, because they were relying on the government for their water. They had a contract, as did their parents before them, and their grandparents. For the record, they can grow many things besides alfalfa here: potatos and sugar beets, for examples.

Yet to anyone who looked at the situation objectively in 2002, it was was clear what was happening to the fish in the Klamath River system. The fish kill was completely predictable. And, to respond to one commenter, sure, I eat corn and milk (neither of which are produced much in the Klamath Basin), but I also eat salmon.

My solution would have been to leave the water in the river, but compensate the farmers who were being cut off. Tough on them to be sure, but if compensated, at least they could move on. But the fish are gone, as is the industry on the coast that grew up around their harvest.

As for the administration's air pollution rules, I got to see this process up-close: I attended numerous national meetings of state and local air pollution control officials where we fought tooth and nail with the EPA's assistant administrator for air and radiation. He just couldn't understand why we, who were charged with protecting the public health, couldn't see the advantages of the administration's approach. We, on the other hand, were upset with the EPA for "selling out." Thank God for the federal judiciary, which ultimately ruled that the administration's approach was deeply flawed (not to mention illegal).

Finally, to be fair, Reagan was right: at least in the forests of the northwest, trees DO contribute to air pollution! Coniferous trees are a big source of volatile organic compounds (think terpenes); VOCs, mixed with our industrial and vehicular emissions (mostly oxides of nitrogen), combine to form photochemical smog. We estimated that as much as 80% of our VOC emissions in the region were due to background "biogenic" contributions.

These issues are complex. Political strong-arming from either side is not generaly the best approach to resolving them.

Brian Jennison

Posted by: bjennison | June 27, 2007 09:01 AM

A perfect Cheney mantra:

""What does the law say?" (.....) "Isn't there some way around it?"

Posted by: eaglestrk01 | June 27, 2007 09:05 AM

It sounds as though many of you would have been happier having people float to the shores of the Klamath River instead of fish. Perhaps you some of you actually worked with the land you'd have so