Fourthbranch II: The Fourthbranchening

Why am I not surprised?

The Hill reports that it inquired with both Joseph Biden and Sarah Palin about whether they would consider themselves to be part of the executive branch in the next administration. The Hill’s Kevin Bogardus reports, “Sen. Biden (Del.) believes the office he is seeking is solely in the executive branch, according to his staff. But aides to Alaska Gov. Palin did not answer the question”:

[A] spokesman for the Republican presidential campaign did not answer the question. Instead, he e-mailed remarks Palin gave at a campaign rally in Golden, Colo., on Monday.

Palin did not say what branch of government she believes the vice president’s office is part of in those remarks. Instead, Palin said she and Republican presidential nominee John McCain had discussed what responsibilities she would take on as his second-in-command.

Palin is asserting the same vagueness on the subject as Cheney because she wants to play by the same rules as Cheney, which of course are no rules at all. She has obstructed and intimidated the Alaska State Legislature to the point where they're probably a week away from dropping the entire Troopergate investigation, despite the fact that evidence already exists to show at the very least unethical behavior, if not a total abuse of power, in the form of Frank Bailey's phone call urging Walt Monegan to do all but fire Michael Wooten. The McCain campaign has taken over the investigation, and they're openly harassing reporters at home to get them to drop their unfavorable coverage. And the "First Dude," Todd Palin, is refusing to testify in the probe, just because... he doesn't like it. As he isn't a state employee, there's no way for him to invoke executive privilege. He just doesn't want to testify. And so he's not.

This is very dangerous stuff. This woman who could be Vice President is as devious and secretive and abusive as her predecessor. Check this out:

But those who know her say Palin, 44, is uncommonly deft at something else: sensing the mood of her constituents, shaping her public messages and harnessing a remarkable personal popularity to accomplish what she wants. "She has an incredible pulse on the public will," said Bruce Botelho, a Democrat who is mayor of Juneau, the state capital.

"She tends to . . . create a situation where legislators are cornered -- going against her would be political suicide," said John Bitney, who grew up with Palin, was her campaign policy director and became her first legislative liaison.

That's how Cheney took over the White House. This is happening all over again.

Fortunately, her negatives have jumped up as weeks of relentless attacks have taken their toll. And this ad about aerial wolf hunting really hits people in the gut and moves voters. But we have to be vigilant. The country can't afford four more years of Fourthbranch.