Who is behind Bush's power-grab of the executive agencies?

[The Backlash Cometh]

Bush's latest move to circle the wagons and demand that crony political appointees (i.e. Good Job Brownies) should be in charge of agency decisions is nothing short of micro-managing government. Which is, to anyone who has been paying attention, exactly the opposite of what he said he would do.

So, I'm asking myself, who gave him this legal advice on how to do a hostile take-over of American government? I, personally, smell Federalist Society all over this. It reminds me of how Tom Feeney in Florida was trying to figure out how the Republican controlled Florida House would be able to declare a winner in the 2000 presidential election. Anyone have a clue where Bush got his advice on this one?

[Ian David]

1. They're Bush's "Political Officers," or "The Nightwatch." n/t

[november3rd]

2. Good ideas

Where do all of Bush's ideas come from?

1. Cheney
2. AEI
3. Institute for Policy
4. The Heritage Foundation
5. Exxon

[GliderGuider]

3. And why?

It's easy to say "they want a dictatorship." But why would they want one? The political/industrial axis already control most of the important levers. Why such an obvious grab?

Here's my speculation.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. Satellite photos?

If they control all the agencies that have collected satellite photos, then maybe Bush's cronies will get an edge on geographical information. Like, oil, mineral and cave locations. Now, why anybody wants to know the locations of caves is just a guess, but I can't imagine that the English expedition that got caught in that Mexican cave years back was just an oh, oopsy.

[GliderGuider]

12. I'd forgotten about them

Interesting how some threads seem to be a different colour when you see them in a different light.

However, I think this could go much deeper than just being able to see where the oil is or finding deep places to hide (unless we're talking Dr. Strangelove here).

I've been following Peak Oil analysis for a few years now, especially with respect to the global socioeconomic implications of a "fast crash" in world oil output. The damage to civilization could be enormous, given the right set of circumstances. In fact, the crisis could be bad enough to threaten the integrity of nations. In the face of a catastrophe of that magnitude governments will need unparalleled powers to reorganize their societies for survival. Think of WWII multiplied by five, with no real enemy to defeat and no obvious end in sight. Think of the level of social control that might be needed in that situation to keep a country like the USA from tearing itself to pieces. Think Patriot Act, think KBR detention camp contracts, think detention without recourse, think political control officers in all government agencies.

The output of Cantarell, Mexico's largest oil field and the source of 15% of US oil imports, declined by 25% last year and is predicted to decline by another 50% or so this year. The giant Saudi oil field Ghawar is showing disturbing signs of following the same trend, despite Saudi attempts to obscure the situation. Many oil analysts say we are on the brink of a global decline, and the major disagreements are over exactly when it will start and how steep the decline will be. The problem is that these analysts don't have access to good information from many parts of the oil-producing world. I would expect that senior American politicians with strong ties to the oil industry do have such access. That's why what I'm seeing right now scares the crap out of me.

I'm just sayin'...

[The Backlash Cometh]

15. Just to repeat:

"The problem is that these analysts don't have access to good information from many parts of the oil-producing world. I would expect that senior American politicians with strong ties to the oil industry do have such access. That's why what I'm seeing right now scares the crap out of me."

[InkAddict]

6. You forgot his messages from God. n/t

Oops, wrong place. Reply to #2

[shraby]

4. I don't know where it came from, but with all

his lackeys in place congress can be stonewalled in its investigations until hell freezes over.

[The Backlash Cometh]

7. But on the contrary.

I think this hostile take-over will curry favor towards the Democrats in Congress. All successful impeachments need public support and Bush just handed public opinion to the Democrats.

[TZ]

8. not necessarily

Maybe impeachment and conviction. Clinton was impeached agaisnt the support of the American populace in general (I think only about 30% favored it). But he wasn't convicted. Bush could probably actually get impeached but convicted by the Senate? No way.
t

[The Backlash Cometh]

10. That's exactly what I'm thinking of.

What I identify as a "successful" impeachment is one that makes it from the House to the Senate, and the Senate carries the ball with a trial. Newt's impeachment was not a successful one because it failed to curry public support and died in the Senate.

Yes, Clinton was technically impeached by the House, but the House Republicans ended up with egg on their face when the Senate did not legitimize their efforts with a trial.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

9. Cheney...

The erosion of Presidential power since Nixon was spanked has been one of Cheney's biggest gripes -- there are many articles that talk about this. His stated goal has been to return to the days of the more unitary executive. All this Executive Order crap is his work, make no mistake about it.

[The Backlash Cometh]

11. What does he stand to gain from this, for nothing permanent will

remain from the Bush years? It has to be something in the short run that he's looking for.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

19. It sets precedent for...

any future Republican president. This is their way of pushing the envelope, to what they are able to get away with. The next dictator-to-be can use the same tools in the same way to accomplish even more.

Stop and think about what they have accomplished -- they have fucked us over ten ways til Sunday and they are still in office and the Congress acts powerless to stop them. They now know just how far they can go and still get away with their madness.

[The Backlash Cometh]

20. Yes, IF Congress does not draw a line in the sand, then you are

correct. Bush, like every fucking predator in my community, pushes the envelope because they know nobody will stop them.

So, unless Congress wants to continue an environment that nurtured the Iran-Contra, and now the Bush Iraq War, all they need to do is...nothing.

[cynatnite]

13. Corporate world...

Much of this will help loosen OSHA, EPA and other regulations that protect the public in order for them make more money.

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. No question.

[BuyingThyme]

14. Start with he secret societies at Yale, and

work your way forward.

[sweetheart]

17. 'able danger' himself, mr. cheney

The PNAC nazis had long prepared their reichstag so they could quickly
move on to their moscow and stalingrad.

[MaineYooper]

18. I say AEI and/or the Heritage foundation-

never met a government regulation they didn't want to gut.