Seems to me the really interesting thing about Darth Cheney’s recent claim that his office isn’t part of the executive branch is the degree to which it confirms something we’ve suspected all along:

Cheney runs this show, not Bush.

All along I’ve gotten a laugh out of those who took seriously the notion that Bush was somehow the “boss” of Cheney in anything but name. Has there ever been - in recent years at least - a president so utterly overshadowed by his vice president?

Now there’s apparently a Republican plan to get Cheney out of office - maybe substituting Wilford Brimley (as James Wolcott calls Fred Thompson). Which, on the face of it, would be a sound political move - Thompson can then run as an incumbent, with a connection to the administration and its 26 percent hardcore support, yet still claim himself as distant from it all.

Thing is, Cheney’s going nowhere. He’s the ultimate rogue agent, unable to be controlled by his supposed “boss,” claiming vast new privleges for his office, and likely licking his chops at the prospect of war with Iran. Even now, Cheney seems to be in charge. That makes Bush look weak. And in this case, appearances aren’t deceiving.