Reply #2: Overstated and not unprecedented at all

[Zensea]

something of a dupe also, although I know that only applies to LBN
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=364x2512682

This law is not new. It is an amendment to existing law. The power to do this has been existent since at least 1956. All this current law does is amend existing language slightly. Congress overwhelmingly voted for this, so it is not really accurate to say that Bush moves towards martial law, it would be more accurate to say Congress has & even that is an overstatement since the power was already there and codified since 1956.

This is not a new problem.

Also I think something that people forget is that the executive branch does have certain responsibilities and duties. Just because there is an executive in power who oversteps is no reason to strip the executive branch of all power. Public emergencies consist of things like Hurricane Katrina also and one of the justified criticisms of Bush is that he did not use the executive power sufficiently in that case.