NYT Discovers Presidential Overreach, 20 Years Late
The New York Times is deeply concerned that Dick Cheney's presidential power push created a precedent for Trump. It's a fascinating discovery, given that the executive branch has been accumulating immense, unchecked authority—often with media approval—since at least the Patriot Act. These actions, like the unchecked drone programs and indefinite detentions, were not just Cheney's brainchild; they
were normalized under successive administrations, often with minimal journalistic pushback at the time. This isn't about 'paving the way'; it's about a consistent, bipartisan erosion of checks and balances where presidents effectively declare war without congressional approval and wield vast surveillance powers. The corporate media, including the Times, largely amplified the justifications for
these expansions, presenting them as necessary for 'national security.' Now, with Trump, suddenly the precedents are a problem. One might wonder if the concern is truly about executive power, or merely *whose* executive power we're meant to fear.