(Originally titled "what the Hell is this?" .. I should have simply kept it up, instead of deleting it)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/...
Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq
Fact sheet Message to the Congress of the United States Regarding International Emergency Economic Powers Act
I've had a chance to look more carefully at the Executive Order.
It is a blueprint for tyranny.
Not by itself, but in conjunction with everything else Bush has done, all of the other Executive Orders this does finally seal the crypt.
Sec. 6. The Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense, is hereby authorized to take such actions, including the promulgation of rules and regulations, and to employ all powers granted to the President by IEEPA as may be necessary to carry out the purposes of this order. The Secretary of the Treasury may redelegate any of these functions to other officers and agencies of the United States Government, consistent with applicable law. All agencies of the United States Government are hereby directed to take all appropriate measures within their authority to carry out the provisions of this order and, where appropriate, to advise the Secretary of the Treasury in a timely manner of the measures taken.
No courts involved.
No legislation to control it.
No redress of grievances available.
The definitions are so broad that the Sec of the Treasury could have the DHHS declare whole cities to be quarantined, for example. 'Applicable law' doesn't make much sense when you have just outlined virtually unlimited powers for your branch of government.
Things like this, this is why we threw off British rule.
And what has happened in response? America has simply looked at the horror, and has decided en masse to switch the channel. Too horrible to contemplate taking action to rein in the madman that would be Emperor, people like Russ Feingold, for God's sake .. Russ Feingold .. have told us to hold our fire. Keep the powder dry.
Bob Barr, Richard Viguerie, Bruce Fein, Republicans all, they know what is necessary. They are calling for impeachment of at least some of the Bush administration. It's only a question of why Democrats cannot figure it out. I'm beginning to think that Congress has been told in no uncertain terms that any move to limit these powers by Bush will be met with 'harsh action'.
I was against Impeaching Bush and Cheney before we started on Gonzales first. What Bush signed today yesterday changed my mind.
What do Bush and Cheney hold over this Nation's head, that is scaring Congress into being led like lambs on the way to the slaughterhouse?
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Update: Action.
Let's all spend at least a few minutes and raise the temperature in some of those offices that sit inside the Beltway. I've written both of my Reps who are Democrats [Hodes and Shea-Porter], and will even write Gregg and Sununu.
Make the Republicans state one way or the other that they support this abomination; hold your representative to the flames on this. It matters.
It's GOT TO. We have got to try to wrest back control from these madmen.