This is from an email from Representative Kay Granger from my district: With all that is going in Washington these days some things don’t make the news the way they should. Fourteen days ago President Obama issued an Executive Order that you should know about. This order gives an unprecedented level of authority to the President and the federal government to take over all the fundamental parts of our economy - in the name of national security - in times of national emergency. This means all of our water resources, construction services and materials (steel, concrete, etc.), our civil transportation system, food and health resources, our energy supplies including oil and natural gas – even farm equipment – can be taken over by the President and his cabinet secretaries. The Government can also draft U.S. citizens into the military and force U.S. citizens to fulfill "labor requirements" for the purposes of "national defense." There is not even any Congressional oversight, only briefings are required. By issuing this as an Executive Order the President puts the federal government above the law, which, in a democracy, is never supposed to happen. As President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, he has the Constitutional authority to issue executive orders. And while similar orders have been made before by presidents from Eisenhower and Reagan to Clinton and George Bush – it has never been done to this extent. It is still unclear why this order was signed now, and what the consequences are for our nation – especially during times of peace. This type of Martial Law imposes a government takeover on U.S. citizens that is typically reserved for national emergencies, not in a time of relative peace. How much of an overstep of boundaries is this? Personally, this sounds like too much power in he and his cabinet's hands. He seems to keep becoming more incredulous with each passing signing. Of course, true Statists would love this.
The EO in question: http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press...order-national-defense-resources-preparedness All Presidential EO's http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/executive-orders/disposition.html
On FEMA.gov it shows this PDF file: The Defense Production Act of 1950, as Amended (50 U.S.C. App. 2061 et seq.) (if you click on view/download/print)
When you cant get your own party to vote for your initiatives, executive orders are all that is left to you. [video=youtube;paqI0KwlaK8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=paqI0KwlaK8[/video] President Zero. It has a ring to it.
I was just checking out Representative Kay Granger's voting record. It doesn't appear she has a problem with invasive government powers, as long as the initiator has an R at the end of their name. I think her email is insincere.
I'd have a problem whether this order came from a Republican or Democrat. It just so happens that it came from the latter in this case. Consolidation of power and curtailing of liberties continues.
This order is just an update of numerous executive orders before it. The only real difference is that the power grab is now delegated to various branches of the DHS instead of just FEMA. Doesn't make it any more legitimate in my opinion, just clarifying that I don't see any justification for laying blame exclusively at the foot of the current POTUS. He's just another cog in the machine. The cogs before him built FEMA, the DHS, et. cetera. If you read the order, it basically gives the executive the power to impose communism at their whim (whenever they deem an emergency to occur). Dance puppets, dance.
Great post and point. The farther down the slippery slope we get, the noisier you should expect the American public to be as the president lavishes on more grease. I personally find it encouraging that the Supreme court looks like it will shoot down the personal mandate, just like the same conservative court shot down the indefinite incarceration of American citizens when Bush asked for it in 2004. In both cases, the court could have leaned on precedent to get us a little farther down the slope, but apparently, the court recognizes there has to be some limit to the power of the government. Why would anyone think the excuse, "Well Bush tried to do it" would get traction with anyone?
Its pretty funny when the shoe is now on the other foot. The reaction is, "how can un-elected officials...." blah, blah, blah.. Suck it Bama!
Hmmm, would some on the left say Obama is behaving like a Conservative? Of course not, they would just make excuses.