Cheney, rather than Bush, is at the heart of this transformation of executive powers.
Throughout his political career, he has held the belief that the Executive Branch has "inherent" powers beyond those enumerated in the Constitution, and as a result, the president has the right to defy Congress and the courts.
He believed much of the Watergate investigation was illegal (particularly Congressional subpoenas for the White House tapes). While in Congress, he defended Reagan actions, re: Iran/Contra by insisting on the floor of the House that the Boland Amendment was unconstitutional. While Sec of Defense under GHW Bush, he routinely bypassed Congress.
A story about Cheney in the Boston Globe lays it out pretty well:
Hail to the Chief.
So when the opportunity arose in 2000, particularly with a supportive Republican Congress, he jumped on the opportunity to "restore and expand" the powers of the Executive Branch at the expense of the Constitutional system of checks and balances.
The result? Historic numbers of Executive Orders and signing statements, expanded use of executive privilege in response to Congressional investigations, warrantless wiretaps, etc.
The dangers from Bush/Cheney will pass in 10 months. The greater danger is that they have created a new standard of "unchecked" executive powers for future presidents of either party.
The question is if those future presidents follow the uncharted trail blazed by Bush/Cheney or restore the vision of the Constitution.
The Boston Globe conducted a
survey of the candidates' positions on executive power.
But you never know until they have the power.