I am still processing this, but it seems that the President of the United States has just ordered the Department of Homeland Security to do everything in its power to help expand religious organizations in this country.
This executive Order just now posted on the White House website, instructs the DHS to establish a 'Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives' and orders that center to 'strengthen' the 'capacity' of 'faith-based' organizations to serve the needs of the country.
So, the President's 3-step plan to protect us from terrorist attacks and hurricanes appears to be this: (1) Watch hurricanes on TV, (2) Sell the ports to the UAE, and (3) Funnel money to mega-churches.
Excellent...
Here are the key parts of the order, which you can also see at the
White House website:
For Immediate Release
Office of the Press Secretary
March 7, 2006
Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to help the Federal Government coordinate a national effort to expand opportunities for faith-based and other community organizations and to strengthen their capacity to better meet America's social and community needs, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Establishment of a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives at the Department of Homeland Security.
(a) The Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) shall establish within the Department of Homeland Security (Department) a Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (Center).
(b) The Center shall be supervised by a Director appointed by Secretary. The Secretary shall consult with the Director of the White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (WHOFBCI Director) prior to making such appointment.
(c) The Department shall provide the Center with appropriate staff, administrative support, and other resources to meet its responsibilities under this order.
(d) The Center shall begin operations no later than 45 days from the date of this order.
Sec. 2. Purpose of Center. The purpose of the Center shall be to coordinate agency efforts to eliminate regulatory, contracting, and other programmatic obstacles to the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in the provision of social and community services.
Sec. 3. Responsibilities of the Center for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In carrying out the purpose set forth in section 2 of this order, the Center shall:
(a) conduct, in coordination with the WHOFBCI Director, a department-wide audit to identify all existing barriers to the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in the delivery of social and community services by the Department, including but not limited to regulations, rules, orders, procure-ment, and other internal policies and practices, and outreach activities that unlawfully discriminate against, or otherwise discourage or disadvantage the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in Federal programs;
(b) coordinate a comprehensive departmental effort to incorporate faith-based and other community organizations in Department programs and initiatives to the greatest extent possible;
(c) propose initiatives to remove barriers identified pursuant to section 3(a) of this order, including but not limited to reform of regulations, procurement, and other internal policies and practices, and outreach activities;
(d) propose the development of innovative pilot and demonstration programs to increase the participation of faith-based and other community organizations in Federal as well as State and local initiatives; and
(e) develop and coordinate Departmental outreach efforts to disseminate information more effectively to faith-based and other community organizations with respect to programming changes, contracting opportunities, and other agency initiatives, including but not limited to Web and Internet resources.
[...]
Sec. 5. Responsibilities of the Secretary. The Secretary shall:
(a) designate an employee within the department to serve as the liaison and point of contact with the WHOFBCI Director; and
(b) cooperate with the WHOFBCI Director and provide such information, support, and assistance to the WHOFBCI Director as requested to implement this order.
Sec. 6. General Provisions. (a) This order shall be implemented subject to the availability of appropriations and to the extent permitted by law.
(b) This order is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, its agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.
GEORGE W. BUSH
THE WHITE HOUSE,
March 7, 2006
So, this new person at the DHS is basically in charge of making sure that large sums of taxpayer money, that are supposed to be used to protect this country and keep it safe, actually end up in the hands of organizations run by James Dobson. And to make sure this operation goes smoothly, this person at the DHS is supposed to work closely with the person at the White House whose job it is to make sure that large sumes of taxpayer money ends up in the hands of organizations run by James Dobson.
In summary...
The President's plan to protect Americans from the hurricanes and terrorists who kill Americans at roughly equal success rates--his plan is to (1) sell the ports to the UAE and then (2) give homeland security to Dobson.
And the President unveils both of these initiatives, of course, not in major announcements to the American people--not by standing proudly before the public and saying, "This is my plan to protect you!" Instead, he sneaks this information out in the dead of night.
From the yankee towns of Vermont, to the San Francisco Bay--let freedom ring.