The Bush administration’s legal brief in the D.C. guns case has earned a lot of criticism from gun-rights activists. Dick Cheney, acting in his capacity as president of the Senate, has joined 305 congressmen on a brief that takes a stronger position in favor of gun rights. The Washington Post is upset, asserting that Cheney lost a fight inside the administration and isn’t willing to accept defeat. But their assumption seems naive. Isn’t it possible that Cheney is covering the administration’s right flank? Whatever the explanation of Cheney’s action, it is nice to see the Post stand up for the unitary executive.