Rogue Vice President?

Meanwhile, Cheney appears to be making his own rules when it comes to government travel regulations.

The Center for Public Integrity reports that Cheney and his staff have exempted themselves from the travel disclosure laws that other White House officials and staff adhere to.

The vice president's office appears to have stuck taxpayers with millions of dollars in travel costs and has avoided disclosing its expenses and destinations.

The private sector routinely covers the travel expenses associated with government officials' appearances – of which Cheney himself has made more than 275 since 2001 – at think tanks, trade organizations and universities around the world. When the private sector picks up the tab, however, federal law requires that officials report where they went, how much it cost, and who paid.

Yet since 2001, Cheney's office – unlike Vice President Al Gore before him – has claimed that it is not bound by the travel disclosure rules the rest of the White House complies with, the Center found. Letters from the vice president's counsel assert that the office is not "an agency" of the executive branch, but adds as "a matter of comity" that none of the staff has accepted travel payments from a non-federal source.

Since the vice president's office engages in trips like any other government agency, its refusal of payment from the private sector defers the costs to taxpayers – all while keeping the travel specifics concealed from public view.

The vice president's office is not an agency of the executive branch? Then, what is it? Does Cheney really fancy himself co-president as so many of his critics characterize him? This would explain a lot.

It would explain, for example, why Cheney assumed the authority to order military planes to shoot down civilian aircraft on September 11, 2001. It would explain why, this October, White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan gave the impression that he did not have the authority to answer questions on behalf of the vice president.

Q Given the fact that the Vice President did say publicly in September of 2003 that he never knew about Joe Wilson or who sent him, as John points out, and now there appears to be information to contradict that, how do you explain that contradiction?

MR. McCLELLAN: Again, there's an ongoing investigation. There are many facts that are not known. I would encourage you not to engage in speculation. And on top of that, if there's any additional information that the Vice President's Office wants to provide you, you can direct questions there. But the policy of this White House has been not to comment on this investigation while it's ongoing. And it has been that way for some time.

This curious remark by McClellan makes perfect sense if, as reported, Cheney has established that his office is not an agency of the executive branch of the United States government.

Of course, if it is not, one could be forgiven for wondering just what on earth it is.