I love the discussions here on DU about which Democratic candidate can win the '08 election when there's a good chance there won't BE an election ....oh look jim, see that plane flying into that building over there ... BAM ... before you can say “L’État, c’est moi” Bush will be president for LIFE!
Get use to having Bush around - he ain't going nowhere ...
here's why:
The United States Military Commissions Act of 2006, (Senate Bill 3930<1>) approved by Congress and signed into law by Bush last October, specifically says that the president can federalize the National Guard to "suppress public disorder" in the event of "national disorder, epidemic, other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack, or incident." That determination, the act states, is solely the president's to make. Congress is not involved. The Military Commissions Act creates the category of "unlawful enemy combatants," who lack the right of habeas corpus, and traditional protections from torture under the Geneva Conventions. Furthermore, the Act avoids any clear language ensuring that U.S. citizens will not be classified as a "terrorist". The New York Times stated that the legislation introduced, "A dangerously broad definition of "illegal enemy combatant" in the bill that could subject legal residents of the United States, as well as foreign citizens living in their own countries, to summary arrest and indefinite detention with no hope of appeal. The president could give the power to apply this label to anyone he wanted."
The John Warner Defense Appropriation Act for Fiscal Year 2007 (H.R. 5122.ENR) signed on the same day, allows the President to “...employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to... 1. restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when... the President determines that,...domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order; 2. suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy...Keep in mind the Insurrection Act (10 U.S.C.331 -335) has historically, along with the Posse Comitatus Act (18 U.S.C.1385) helped to enforce strict prohibitions on military involvement in domestic law enforcement. With one cloaked swipe of his pen, Bush is seeking to undo those prohibitions
The National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD 51), and the Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-20), signed on May 9, 2007, gives special powers to the President in the event of a "Catastrophic Emergency," which means "any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions." In such situations, "The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government." The scope of the program is so secretive that even Homeland Security Committee member and Congressman Peter DeFazio was denied access to view the classified portion of the documents.
A presidential Executive Order issued on July 17th, entitled Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq provides the President with the authority to confiscate the assets of "certain persons" who oppose the US led war in Iraq. It states that any American citizen who "threatens the peace and stability of Iraq and undermines efforts to promote reconstruction and reform" there may have all their property and interests seized by the Treasury department without warning. The executive order violates the First, Fourth and Fifth Amendments of the US Constitution. It repeals one of the fundamental tenets of US democracy, which is the right to free expression and dissent.
The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed HR 1955 titled the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act of 2007. This bill is one of the most blatant attacks against the Constitution yet and actually defines "thought crimes" as homegrown terrorism. Unlike previous anti-terror legislation, this bill specifically targets the civilian population of the United States and uses vague language to define homegrown terrorism. Amazingly, 404 of our elected representatives from both the Democrat and Republican parties voted in favor of this bill.
http://psychedelictourist.blogspot.com/2007/07/were-just-one-planted-bomb-away-from.html
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