White House Revises Post-Disaster Protocol

WASHINGTON — The Bush administration is writing a new plan to maintain governmental control in the wake of an apocalyptic terrorist attack or overwhelming natural disaster, moving such doomsday planning for the first time from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to officials inside the White House.The policy requires all government agencies to have clear lines of succession if top officials are killed and be prepared to operate from a new headquarters within 12 hours of a catastrophe. They must be prepared “to lead and sustain the nation during a crisis” — a charge ranging from “providing leadership visible to the nation and the world” to “bringing to justice perpetrators of crimes or attacks.”

The policy replaces a Clinton-era “continuity in government” post-disaster plan. The old plan is classified, but security specialists and administration officials said the new policy centralizes control of such planning in the White House and puts a greater emphasis on terrorism spurring the catastrophe.

Bush quietly signed the new policy on May 4. The unclassified portion of his “homeland security-national security presidential directive” — a special kind of executive order that can be kept secret — was also posted on the White House website on May 9, without any further announcement or press briefings.

The new policy focuses on a worst-case scenario in which a terrorist nuclear bomb explodes without warning and wipes out much of the nation’s top leadership. Older plans were instead premised on a Cold War-era long-range missile attack, presuming it would be detected in enough time to evacuate the president and other top government officials.

“As a result of the asymmetric threat environment, adequate warning of potential emergencies that could pose a significant risk to the homeland might not be available, and therefore all continuity planning shall be based on the assumption that no such warning will be received,” the new policy states. “Emphasis will be placed upon geographic dispersion of leadership, staff, and infrastructure in order to increase survivability and maintain uninterrupted government functions.”

The unexpected arrival of the new policy has received little attention in the mainstream media, but it has prompted discussion among legal specialists, homeland security experts and Internet commentators — including concerns that the policy may be written in such a way that makes it too easy to invoke emergency presidential powers such as martial law.

Specifically, the policy creates a new “National Continuity Coordinator” inside the White House who is charged with ensuring all executive agencies have a plan by Aug. 4 to keep functioning if their leadership perishes in an attack. The coordinator is also directed to help Congress, the Supreme Court, and state and local leaders prepare for a worst-case scenario.

The policy designates the president’s top adviser for homeland security and counterterrorism — currently Frances Townsend — as the national continuity director. It also directs Townsend to consult National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley and Vice President Dick Cheney.

The public portion of the new “National Continuity Policy” contains few details about how surviving officials would invoke emergency powers, or when emergency powers should be deemed to be no longer necessary so that the elected democracy can resume. The answers to such questions may be contained in a classified appendix which has not been made public.

The unanswered questions have provoked anxiety across ideological lines. The conservative commentator Jerome Corsi , for example, wrote in a much-linked online column that the directive looked like a recipe for allowing the office of the presidency to seize “dictatorial powers” because the policy does not discuss consulting Congress about when to invoke emergency powers — or when to turn them off.

In addition, specialists at both the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think-tank, and the American Civil Liberties Union said they have taken calls and e-mails from people who are worried about what the new policy may portend.

James Carafano , a homeland security specialist at Heritage, criticized the administration for failing to inform the public that the new policy was coming, and why it was changing.

He said the White House did not recognize that discussion of emergency governmental powers is “a very sensitive issue for a lot of people,” adding that the lack of explanation is “appalling.”

But White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe said that because of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the American public needs no explanation of such plans.

“It’s well known that the vice president was in a secure, undisclosed location for a period of time for continuity-of-government reasons, so these considerations are not unknown to the American people in a post-9/11 world,” he said.

Some homeland security and legal specialists say that anxieties about the new plan may be exaggerated. The government has had versions of a doomsday response plan dating back to the Cold War, although this is apparently the first time the White House has made a portion of the plan public.

“Any time any leaders are talking about the destruction of our government and the disruption of traditional ideas of representative government, that is something we all have to be concerned about and it should be discussed,” said Michael German , ACLU policy counsel. “And that is one reason why I appreciate that this document has been made public.”

The Bush administration in general “is very secretive,” he added, “so I don’t think we should be entirely critical of what’s in [the plan] because I think we want to encourage them to release information like this.”

Nevertheless, some legal specialists say that the White House should be more specific about its worst-case scenario plans, pointing out two unanswered questions: what circumstances would trigger implementation of the plan and what legal limits the White House recognizes on its own emergency powers.

The policy broadly defines a “catastrophic emergency” — the triggering event for the plan — as “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.”

Sharon Bradford Franklin , the senior counsel at the Constitution Project, a bipartisan think-tank that promotes constitutional safeguards, said the policy’s definition “is so broad that it raises serious concerns about when and how this might be used to authorize unchecked executive action.”

But Johndroe said it was necessary for a loosely-worded definition because the goverment can’t be sure what kind of emergency might arise.

“I don’t think you want to have anything in the directive that would tie the president’s hands from being able to implement emergency action,” he said.

The policy also does not contain a direct reference to statutes in which Congress has imposed checks and balances on the president’s power to impose martial law or other extraordinary measures.

For example, the policy does not explicitly acknowledge the National Emergencies Act, a post-Watergate law that gives Congress the right to override the president’s determination that a national emergency still exists, activating the president’s emergency powers.

The policy says that it “shall be implemented consistent with applicable law,” but it does not say which laws are “applicable.” Because the Bush legal team has pushed a controversial theory that the Constitution gives the president an unwritten power to disobey laws at his own discretion to protect national security, some specialists said that the vagueness of the policy is troubling.

Asked if the White House believes that the National Emergencies Act is a constitutional constraint on executive power and thus would apply, Johndroe repeated only that “Anything developed would be consistent with all applicable laws.”

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46 Comments so far

Jaded Prole June 2nd, 2007 4:25 pm

Sounds like they are planning something pre-emtive on the home front . . .

jazzhead June 2nd, 2007 5:11 pm

What else would one expect from an administration that was appointed (rather than elected) in one election and stole a second election.

Connect the dots… an executive that usurped the power to designate anyone an “enemy combatant, ignores Habeus Corpus, illegally spies on US citizens, flaunts the constitution, collects massive amounts of private data on EVERYONE…

A hard rain’s a gonna fall…

Best to hoist your unbrella as far away from “civilized” areas as possible.

jungleboy June 2nd, 2007 5:29 pm

Oklahoma Federal to the World Trade… Follow the money. Whats next? Osama is still there, getting money from his family who works with the Bushes at Carlyle.

These crazy fanatical laws seem to follow the republican approach to create a republic and not a democracy, they seem to cut away at the constitution quite a bit. I wonder what his signing statements are. If this is his idea. I’ll be a monkeys uncle. All these style ‘encroach upon the constitution’ laws seem to follow some disaster with a “Media Bombing”, except Katrina, a real disaster that shows the ineptitude of their “disaster” abilities.

We’ll see what happens next.

peachmcd June 2nd, 2007 5:32 pm

I’m amazed at the way this Presidential Directive is being presented by the Globe. Fascinating to see the White House Taling points. This is the end of a republic, we’re talking about, after all.

NSPD-51 supercedes an act that does everything it does, but the National Emergencies Act includes Congress in the process. Bush’s NSPD-51 is vague in its wording about what constitutes a “catastrophic emergency” and gives the President sole authority over when it starts and how long it lasts.

I don’t want to give ANY human being in the US that kind of power.

Peach McD in Durham NC

Amos June 2nd, 2007 5:41 pm

Somehow, in a post-Katrina world I don’t see the government doing anything in the event of a disaster. As a matter of fact the response to 9/11 has been pretty ridiculous too. So what in the hell could they possibly be thinking of doing if something does happen?

After all these are the Bozo’s that let the tragedy happen in the first place. “Bin laden determined to attack within the United States,” was too complicated for them to figure out. Do you really think they are the reason for no further attacks? Inept incompetence is the hallmark of this administration and they’re changing and making plans for future catastrophes. Great. They are a catastrophe in and of themselves.

Nothing they say or do is trustworthy or believable and I can only hope to see them go into history as the worst possible leaders at the most critical time in American history since the end of the Second World War other than the Cuban missile crisis but I shudder to think of Bush in charge of a situation like that. We probably would not have survived

I do pity the successor to this abomination that is Bush and all of his parasites. There is no justice or peace with these tyrants but it’s good to still be able to say that in a public forum.

Remember Katrina… There is no forgiveness for the response to that tragedy. Never forget the response to Katrina… It says it all about these guys.

SarahConnah June 2nd, 2007 5:47 pm

Pretty much guarantees another “Bush 911 Product” and this time, a take over before his appointment expires.

jazzhead June 2nd, 2007 5:48 pm

To add to my list above, I just read an article over on Alternet about contracts awarded to KBR to build numerous and massive detention centers all across the country.

These guys are as serious as they are dangerous.

aum33 June 2nd, 2007 6:09 pm

If those who are paid to serve the people were competent and worthy of the people they’re supposed to be serving, they’d be doing things like planning for peace & reconciliation, planning for free education & public transportation. They’d be helping workers reduce their work weeks from five days to 3 or 4, they’d be cleaning up the environment, eliminating needless poverty, shutting down prisons, chasing white collar criminals, corrupt politicians, and others who exploit the weak and ignorant, etc. etc.

As many people here know, the reign of the Bush regime is a major disaster. Not only for the USA, but for the world.
We’ll get over it and all will be well, but it will take a lot of hard work.

—————

“Man must change or die.
There is no other course.”
Maitreya the World Teacher
http://www.Share-International.org

John Hotchkiss June 2nd, 2007 6:23 pm

Whew, I’ve been worried, but now feel safe. All our officials, in there dispersed locations (Cheney in his cave, Chertoff on his yacht, Bush and Rove in Air Force 1 flying aimlessly about, Robert Gates “in charge”–remember Alexander Haig?) trying to find out what is going on and what to do because their cell phones don’t work. What, me worry? I’ll just crawl under my rock.

iolellity June 2nd, 2007 6:36 pm

aum33,

I agree with your post completely!

I would only like to add that this directive…is revolting because it only serves to preserve the lives and power of the people on top, and says absolutely nothing about the American citizens. I mean, really, if they were that great then they wouldn’t have to worry so much about instituting martial law the moment an emergency comes to keep their positions in place. This is not to mention that the text seems to outright say what the next “terrorist attack” is going to be, like they already know it is going to happen…

Earthian June 2nd, 2007 10:14 pm

Here is the link to the NSPD 51:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html

If the president is “coordinating” the entire government, who decides what constitutes “proper respect” for the other two branches of the government?

See this quotation:

“(e) “Enduring Constitutional Government,” or “ECG,” means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the constitutional separation of powers among the branches.”

The definition of an emergency that would allow the President to execute NSPD 51 is:

“(b) “Catastrophic Emergency” 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;”

Seems a bit broad–any “location” . . . “severely affecting” . . . “environment.” Using these qualifications he could take over the government if there was a big forest fire in California while offering “proper respect” for the separation of powers . . . as defined by . . . him. (Perhaps prior to the election.)

I’d prefer the presumption of Mike Gravel–the theory of the sovereignty of the people (and the Preamble), over the Bush theory of the sovereigty of the unitary executive, eh, himself.

JH June 2nd, 2007 10:17 pm

The writing is on the wall. An “emergency” of one kind or another prior to the 2008 election. Voting suspended, George anointed “Chancellor” (or some such). The end of pretense of democracy or representational government. Speak out, then disappear. Most of American will happily accept the appearance of security under their new dictator with police state powers, as long as they can keep watching American Idol, Lost, Survivor, National Bingo, Extreme Makeover, etc. etc. etc.

Pierre June 2nd, 2007 11:03 pm

So far in this discussion section, everyone is pretty much in agreement, if not overtly, intimationally. There may be an arranged disaster. It has seemed more and more probably there will be no 2008 election. Martial law will be imposed. Internet communication will vanish overnight. As a people we are not experienced with this kind of situation. We will not do well with it. There will be a lot of actual fighting with weapons of the day. It will not be fun. I have read there is at least one detention center in every state, often more. Gitmo heaven. Or…

this is a bad dream.

Poet June 2nd, 2007 11:37 pm

I think that Amos has the right take on this whole situation. Given the performance of trolls in charge and their minions in everything from Andrew (scratch your heads and think real hard that was the Mother of All ‘canes as of ‘92) to Katrina my suspicion is that these guys and gals are more like F Troop than they are like the Gestapo.

My suspicion also is that armed bands of wary citizens will shoot back at all those KBR/Blackwater “contractors” before seeking their help. Better to worry about Wal-Mart than FEMA in such “emergencies” because Wal-Mart has much more of what will be really needed than FEMA.

Pierre June 2nd, 2007 11:52 pm

I hope you’re right.

Paul Bramscher June 3rd, 2007 1:02 am

One of their MO’s has always been demoralization of the opposition. When I see the labor camps I’ll believe it. It’s nice living in a border state. They’re pretty gung-ho on Iran, and we can’t forget Bush’s interest in taking over North Korea either. They’ll need something bigger than 9/11 to kick off WWIII if that’s their interest.

Robert Settgast June 3rd, 2007 1:03 am

GRANTING MORE EMERGENCY PRESIDENTIAL POWERS
Granting even more power to this zealot would be another step in surrendering our democracy over to him and his henchmen. This administration has stolen two presidential elections, has pursued the most corrupt & deceptive presidential policies in our history, and has inflicted unprecedented destruction to our system and environment Their vicious tactics to keep power such as character assassinations against those who oppose their policies render them even more dangerous (ie branding Senator Max Cleland, a triple amputee Vietnam Vet, for sponsoring an inquiry into the causes of 9/11 which Bush opposed).

Their motives are clear. Wake up America.

dcbeltway June 3rd, 2007 1:51 am

Pierre I am terrified you might be right. My gut feeling says if there is a major attack it may be blamed on Iran and we’ll also find ourselves in war there too. Martial Law is terrifying.

We live in the worst of times.

frank1569 June 3rd, 2007 4:02 am

We all need to stop listening to and analyzing anything that comes out of this administration, because precedent has been established: EVERYTHING they say is a LIE. They do not care about the poor, the environment, workers, human rights, laws, treaties, nothing. And all the hoping and wishing in the universe ain’t gonna change that.

It’s the “crumb theory” writ large, as if we’re children of alcoholic parents: we know they’re lying drunks, but once in a while, they show us “love,” which we latch onto, because accepting the truth is too painful, even though the truth couldn’t be more obvious.

For example: “Bush Offers Climate Plan.” Seriously. After what we know. We’re supposed to accept that and then analyze and debate a “plan” from liars who could care less about the Earth? Because, what, they just might have “seen the light” after decades of fighting against the very same plan?

“Just because Bush says it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.” So said Bob Kerry on “Bill Moyers’ Journal” last Friday, a perfect example of a “crumb” addict. It no longer matters if the drunk promises to stop drinking this time, or the next time. In order to survive, those affected by the drunk need to accept the fact that the drunk will say anything for another drink. Period.

sageone June 3rd, 2007 5:57 am

Pierre, I think that you have the right of it. If you look further down in the directive, it talks about the different departments having anual asessments and reports. He is talking about this state of emergency lasting a long time. All that it is going to take is for him and his Saudi cohorts to pull off another 9/11 style attack, or heck even another Katrina, to put us under martial law. That gives them carte blanche to round up all of us ‘disidents’ and put us in KBR and Blackwater’s detention camps.

hybridoma2001 June 3rd, 2007 7:06 am

aum33, this is what I meant by human nature remaining, for all practical purposes, as not having changed. Yes, there have been changes in many areas because the people used their collective power and had true leaders to follow. But this isn’t the first time in history that there have been great or horrible leaders.
It’s still the same thing we people who think about current events have always had to deal with: not those with a more positive collection of naturally occurring human traits, but rather those who use the negative aspects of human nature to maintain dominance and control.
I feel just as bad as the next thinking person about where the USA seems to be heading.
It’s time to get back to basics.

ooopsy June 3rd, 2007 7:15 am

I hope i don’t unwittingly find myself in detention with a bunch of other forward thinking folks, just because i failed to act on my forward thinking…

/kicks the dirt and looks at the high walls

“damn….. i knew this might happen! i should have left when i still had time!”

/eats yucky mush

Sang Ze June 3rd, 2007 8:04 am

Maybe we better not hold another presidential election. It might be dangerous to our national security. We could save a lot of money, too, and use it to build a few detention camps, just in case . . .

fedayeen June 3rd, 2007 8:18 am

Giving too much credit to these whackos is what you are doing. Name one thing that has resulted in the stated objectives by this crowd of crowing loonies? Sure they might declare martial law, but who is going to implement it? The police are overworked right now, the jails are full, and the rest of the military are either in Iraq or going there, so what resources are they going to mobilize to control 300 million sheep? Not going to happen, sure declare anything you want, but if no one pays attention then it is the final straw of an ineffective administration, and nothing will come out the way they think. Besides do you really think that the decider can pull this off? Nope and numbnuts rove won’t be able to do much either, he is all mouth, ask jeff gannon.

Ullern June 3rd, 2007 8:58 am

This Presidential Directive is a real parallel to Germany’s 1933 “Enabling act”.

“The formal name of the Enabling Act was ‘Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich’ (”Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Nation”).” (Cf. Wikipedia: “Enabling act”).

But nothing is predetermined – only predisposed towards.

The take-over can be pushed back, pushed back, pushed back. Until it’s made obsolete by the growing obvious needs for mutual help and cooperation – individually to internationally. A better global mood growing, out of need. Global loving triggered by climate change and other destructive environ-mental disturbances, forcing US people to harmonize culture with nature.

Keep pushing back. That reduces the work needed later.

chlorocardium June 3rd, 2007 11:22 am

Its a power grab. And these folks have no scruples whatsoever. Where is the MSM on this?

claudius June 3rd, 2007 12:40 pm

I hope someone gives us heads up before the Bush Administration pushes the big red button.

davepepper June 3rd, 2007 1:15 pm

Warning? LOL They don’t warn anyone. The pass laws, then they commit their terrorist acts, and it’s too late. The people are already imprisoned. They even get their media to call “unpatriotic” others who don’t agree with them. Americans are total sheep, just like the 1930s Germans. “It couod never happen here”, they all say….Hah, it has already happened.

Pierre June 3rd, 2007 1:25 pm

With regard to detention camps:

This is just a smattering of web info. There are 1,350,000 sites listed on Google.
All are fairly rational. It’s an extremely large number of sites to be created on
the web by just a handful of kooky, infantile, and irrationally frightened citizens.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2006/010206detentioncamps.htm
http://www.constitution.org/abus/intern/intern.htm
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=WAT20060204&articleId=1886
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0814-05.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0814-05.htm
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=9c2d6a5e75201d7e3936ddc65cdd56a9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJBxdRIQx7Y

Pierre June 3rd, 2007 1:30 pm

With regard to mention of detention camps above: Google “detention camps in the U.S.” There are over 1,350,000 entries. A handful?

UN-common-dreams June 3rd, 2007 2:12 pm

Quotes from Charlie Savage’s article above: “…providing leadership visible to the nation and the world…” and “…bringing to justice perpetrators of crimes or attacks”

Well, it’s about time!
But why wait till then to impeach un-President BuSh I wonder?

“…Emphasis will be placed upon geographic dispersion of leadership, staff, and infrastructure in order to increase survivability and maintain uninterrupted government functions…”
–Given the present un-government, methinks that would spoil the whole event. -Couldn’t we just carry on without them? The world would be a lot safer then!

“…It’s well known that the vice president was in a secure, undisclosed location for a period of time for continuity-of-government reasons…”
– I would hardly call the White House lavatories ‘a secure location’. ~But then, he maybe finds solace there, -being among his ‘own kind’, -and all headed down the pan together!

“I don’t think you want to have anything in the directive that would tie the president’s hands from being able to implement emergency action…”
– Oh, I don’t know, -that sounds like an *excellent* idea to me! Can we tie his feet as well? And maybe a little Gitmo-style ’special handling’ would stop him getting bored

“…the Bush legal team has pushed a controversial theory that the Constitution gives the president an unwritten power to disobey laws at his own discretion to protect national security…”
–National security? What’s that then?
Neither the governing sludge nor the poor people who suffer their mis-rule are feeling so very ’secure’ these days are they?

_________________

As to un-President BuSh himself, I doubt he took any of this very seriously anyway.

Let us recall that this obscenely rich, draft-dodging demented boor believes wholly in ‘The Rapture’ fairy tale, and thus considers he is going to be snatched up to Heaven any day now, - there to sit on the right hand of Michael Jackson / God / Donald Duck, - still clad in his Dr Seuss pyjamas…

What does he care if the planet tumbles into disarray thereafter?
un-President BuSh might be accused of many things, but actually caring a tinker’s cuss for his fellow human beings is certainly not one of them!

As a pea-brained walking disaster somehow at present incongruously lodged atop the White House like a fly surmounting a doggy’s doo-doo, why trouble oneself with all those ‘challenging’ passages in the ‘Sermon of the Mount’ when one can more usefully misinterpret (from a swift purview of ‘Revelations’) that God mostly prefers wholly selfish, bombastic, murdering braggarts to those with humility, care and compassion for their fellow creatures?

C’mon, get a grip you guys!
_______________

We don’t need the Freedom of Information process to inform us that the poltroon maniacs in power are very, very frightened; -nor to inform us that their malodorous mal-administration is coming to an end very soon, - both through our insistent pressure, and with a timely dose of ‘Auxilio Divino’ [ divine aid ]:

“Yf that you can, come alwaise home, by GANGES goulden sandes,
And you, that live at home, and can not brooke the flood,
Geve praise to them, that passe the waves, to doe their countrie good,
Before which sorte, as chiefe: in tempeste, and in calme,
Sir Francis Drake, by due deserte, may weare the goulden [Valerie?] Palme.”

(- Geffrey Whitney: ‘Choice of Emblemes ‘ 1586)

xntrk June 3rd, 2007 2:51 pm

Just because Herr Bush is incompetent at building a working society doesn’t mean he isn’t pretty damned good at operating prisons and torturing miscreants. To put your entire future on the line in the hopes Herr Bush and his friends cannot pull this off is foolhardy.

It is no secret that the US has thousands of people willing to work as concentration camp guards, and help out the authorities as needed. look at the Abu Ghraib footage if you doubt it.

No, the trains won’t run on time, and the schools and hospitals may not function well, but think of all the contracts that will be up for grabs, and all the money that can be looted from OUR National Museums.

I’d advise keeping a bag packed and having a bit of cash and your passport handy. If you’re not picked up in the first round, don’t hesitate, leave! Lie, beg, borrow or steal, but get the hell out and fight from abroad.

Revolutions aren’t organized you know - They simply happen. The problem is you don’t know whether the winners will be the guys your hoping for - You can get Stalin or Franco, as easily as Gandhi - maybe easier…

Guess what I am trying to say, is we shouldn’t be passive. Sitting here writing on the net, and watching things play out on TV may be interesting and even seem like being involved, but it’s a trap.

If the power is out in NYC for 3 days, people die in their apartments. So, make like a Boy Scout: Be Prepared!

I told my son to make sure he has a back way out and the door is open.

PowerofLove June 3rd, 2007 2:57 pm

Remember, that initially, anyone questioning the facts behind the Reichstag fire (1933, Berlin) would have been labeled a “conspiracy theorist.”

The burning of the parliament building is widely believed to have been set by Hitler-supporters (possibly among them, Hermann Göring) to smooth his way into power by blaming “terrorists.”

Hitler used this as evidence that the communists were plotting against his government, and in fact this proved to be a successful rationale for the Nazis to initiate 12 years of government sponsored terror.

Thom Hartmann has written an excellent piece on some of the disturbing parallels to current events (”When Democrac Failed -The Warnings of History” at Thomhartmann.com).

‘In the name of combating terrorism and fighting the philosophy Hitler said spawned it…

‘Within four weeks of the terrorist attack, the nation’s now-popular leader had pushed through legislation - that suspended constitutional guarantees of free speech, privacy, and habeas corpus. Police could now intercept mail and wiretap phones; suspected terrorists could be imprisoned without specific charges and without access to their lawyers; police could sneak into people’s homes without warrants if the cases involved terrorism.’

Hmmm…What the…??!

michael jordan June 3rd, 2007 3:01 pm

I must admit I welcome these revelations because they shed light on the rather confusing confidence exhibited by Bloody King George W. Bush when his polls are in the dumper and Americans want out; but Republicans want to stay in; while George is seemingly unconcerned by the lack of support he is receiving nationwide. We haven’t seen George support anyone who might be his successor in the Republican party. Could it be that this is because he has an ace in the hole? Why throw his support to a Republican Candidate when there will be no candidate? He isn’t even attacking potential Democratic candidates. Why? …don’t gotta do that cause there ain’t gonna be an election. Just another black-op’s false flag attack on the Americans by the Republicans to firm up the starch heads in the red states.

Simple eh? And when the people rise up to fight the takeover he will then bring the troops back home to slaughter Americans in the streets. Kent State to the power of infinity. I sure wouldn’t want to be 20 years old nowadays. It is hard enough being 60 and with even a few years to live it is like looking upon the dawn of the French Revolution and the days of Robespierre’s Cleansing Justice and the Fred Thompson-like Scarlet Pimpernel’s. The sad point difficulty now is that the Americans are out-gunned by the murderous Republican marauders and their huckstering mercenary highwaymen of horror. What are we going to do when the Army takes over Safeway and you need a RNC card to buy milk?

I have been asking you all to step up for a long time now, and ask you again to please heed the call and make a significant move in your own ever-dwindling self-interest. THE VERY FIRST MOVE THAT IS ATTAINABLE IS TO IMPEACH ALBERTO GONZALES IMMEDIATELY! BY IMPEACHING HIM, THE SURE TAP TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE AMERICAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS WILL BE THROWN INTO TEMPORARY DELAY AND THE BUSH DICTATORSHIP WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED. IF THIS IS NOT DONE SOON THERE WILL BE NO OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO AMERICANS AND THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY WILL HAVE COMPLETE DICTATORIAL CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WE ARE THE AMERICANS! NO ONE ELSE CAN DO THIS FOR YOU,– YOU HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING! It takes real nerve and I pray we can find it in time!!

michaelkjordan@yahoo.com

apollotomorrow.blogspot.com

hetzer June 3rd, 2007 6:51 pm

John Hanks, Laramie, Wyoming

Don’t bother to talk to your representatives. Talk to your neighbors and friends instead. That is the real meaning of “speaking truth to power.

toddboyle June 3rd, 2007 8:15 pm

Contrary to the logic of so many people in this discussion, the wiser path is to cutoff your participation in the corporate economy, and spend your time and your talents on more fulfilling enterprises OUTSIDE the money-intermediated, corporate economy. Do every possible thing to suck money and resources out of it–be disabled. Be a crisis case. Be homeless. Be starving. etc. That’s one track. Another track is, the nonprofit route. Join one, learn about it. you will get very little money but it will be close to the typical world wage, $5000. year maybe. Forget about buying a house or renting your own place, live in a van or join a group to share rent. No time for the long version here. But, you MUST quit working alongside the xtians, the asleep, the madmen and apocalyptic. Study Jung. They are unconscious!!! We are living in an insane asylum. People are sleepwalking. I’m serious. SNAP OUT OF IT.
TOdd

cosmos June 3rd, 2007 9:14 pm

I’m so happy to see this travesty finally come to the public eye, and feel the power of the response from all of you. For me, this was the last straw, and if we allow this to remain the “law of the land” a la Bush, we are in deep trouble. He could conceivably create an emergency, take power, and eliminate elections and the possibility of passing the administration on to anyone else.

fedayeen: They don’t need police or National Guard or the troops in Iraq, they have “private security”… mercenaries who, if paid enough, will be happy to do their bidding.

Weird Wally June 3rd, 2007 9:48 pm

Yo and what up?

Initially, when I thought of life under the Bush administration, I thought Kafka.

But as things continue to unfold, it’s starting to look more and more like the “King of Hearts,” movie staring Alan Bates and I’m gonna watch it again.

http://weirdwally.org

genaman June 4th, 2007 5:11 am

Well I am sure glad others see the comparison with Hitler of Bush’s plan.
The thing is it will probably work. Bush may get to stay for however long he lives,
The other problem is what country could save us?. Hey Bush is the one with all the Nukes unlike Hitler.
It seems The Reich has arisen again just like many of those dead Nazi’s predicted.
So Heil Bush ! I wonder if he will grow one of those hair under the nose things.
What will be on our Arm bans any suggestions? Skull and Crossbones might work.
How about two ICBM”s crossed.
Or maybe a Burning BUSH

nessie June 4th, 2007 11:33 am

It’s time to stop fixating on Bush, and admit that our problem is structural. Think of it this way: We’re driving the wrong car. It’s burning oil, it’s pulling to the right, it’s rusted out, it’s stolen and it’s being shot at. Changing the hood ornament is not going to help.

sinnerjizm June 4th, 2007 12:42 pm

And if an attack conveniently occurs before the ‘08 election, Bush will sieze control. If that does’nt work, there is the 100,000 acre ranch in Paraguay to run to!

http://www.teambio.org/2006/10/bush-family-98842-acres-and-a-mule/

BTW, the Paraguaian government recently stated that they will not extradite any US
official or military personnel for war crimes

…”It’s time to stop fixating on Bush, and admit that our problem is structural”…
-nessie June 4th, 2007 11:33 am

I agree. I have always thought it rather funny that my fellow lefties actually believ that Bush has any power. Just like with Reagan, does anyone REALLY think that the warmongering neo-cons would let their little sock-monkey make any decision other than what to have for dinner?

thevideoqueen June 5th, 2007 10:20 am

The White House planning for dictatorial taker due to large number of leaders being killed at once? Congress not in ‘the plan.’

Hmmmmmm. Large number of leaders killed….Congress not in the post disaster plan…….

dkm June 5th, 2007 5:17 pm

But Johndroe said it was necessary for a loosely-worded definition because the goverment can’t be sure what kind of emergency might arise.

“I don’t think you want to have anything in the directive that would tie the president’s hands from being able to implement emergency action,” he said.

I beg to differ. Given this president’s record for despotism, I would certainly want this president to have his hands and feet firmly tied and a noose aroung his neck.

Yosef June 9th, 2007 7:47 am

It’s truly a shame that people are so blind.The only terrorist attacks being carried out in america-have been born and bred right here in the USA.Any one willing to trade freedom for safety will sadly find that soon they will actually loose both.For those who aren’t old enough to remember WWII or Hitler go to a book store or publc library and read a book by him called Mein Kampf you will be amased at the similarities between it and our current government.Another good book is George Orwells “1984″,but the best book on it by far is the Bible.Read what it says about a nation who turns it’s back on God!Take a stand never in the history of America has a president given himself such dictatorial powers to assure he will never leave office! use your power of free speech while you can because in the very near future- maybe even today that will become illegal too!

trid2bnrml June 16th, 2007 8:20 am

“Nothing they say or do is trustworthy or believable and I can only hope to see them go into history as the worst possible leaders at the most critical time in American history since the end of the Second World War”

I ONLY HOPE THEY WILL NOT GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE LAST LEADERS OF THIS DEMOCRACY, AS A DEMOCRACY…

“It’s the “crumb theory” writ large, as if we’re children of alcoholic parents: we know they’re lying drunks, but once in a while, they show us “love,” which we latch onto, because accepting the truth is too painful, even though the truth couldn’t be more obvious.”

THE TRUTH IS, ALL THERE WILL BE LEFT FOR US IS CRUMBS, AND THE PAINFUL TRUTH WILL HURT MORE WHEN IT IS THROWN IN OUR FACES…

“I hope someone gives us heads up before the Bush Administration pushes the big red button.”

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY WARNING—UNLESS YOU COUNT ALL OF THE ACTIONS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SETTING OFF ALARMS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST WITH A FEW OF US…

“And when the people rise up to fight the takeover he will then bring the troops back home to slaughter Americans in the streets.”

OUR ONLY HOPE IS THAT THE TROOPS REMEMBER THAT IT IS THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE TOLD TO RISE AGAINST AND CONTROL, AND MURDER.

“They don’t need police or National Guard or the troops in Iraq, they have “private security”… mercenaries who, if paid enough, will be happy to do their bidding.”

HAVE WE “TAUGHT OUR CHILDREN WELL”…I SUPPOSE WE WILL SOON SEE, whether or not they will obey and attack.

jrcarri June 18th, 2007 4:35 pm

The Bush’s have been an economic self seeking lineage of administrations founded on their global oil connection and competitive expertise. 9/11 was conveniently staged just at the start of the Bush Administration to justify going to war as was Desert Storm in the previous Bush Administration. Global competition at the scale of the most valuable global market on earth…OIL. The Bush’s can simply place themselves in positions of power and use the U.S. military to effect their competitive interests.

Now the global market and who controls the oil may be in danger due to an inability, based on resources and constitutional legality, to justify staying in Iraq. That justification may just be the breaking point of a major National Security issue and the now vulnerability of the American continent to cold war type possibilities. The Bush Administrations inability to negotiate is conflicting with its private enterprising interests, their competitive advantage is slipping away.

What America needs to do is adopt a Constitutional directive that protects the American people from enterprising interests having a stronghold on positions like the Presidency and forbid any private influences of this capacity and level to ever take a toll like the Bushs have taken. Terrorists come in many forms, its human nature to compete and survive and our government “for the people and by the people” has been sabotaged and used for private enterprising means. Money CAN buy Government even their very own dictatorship if the global elites take a plan of action like bombing a US city and blaming Russia or Iran. We need to grasp the magnitude and not play the bi-partisan card any longer because that is what elitists are depending on, Americans need to come together and dismantle the Bush’s plan NOW as an emergency plan of action!
Sincerely
Juan R. Carrillo

Jaded Prole June 2nd, 2007 4:25 pm

Sounds like they are planning something pre-emtive on the home front . . .
jazzhead June 2nd, 2007 5:11 pm

What else would one expect from an administration that was appointed (rather than elected) in one election and stole a second election.

Connect the dots… an executive that usurped the power to designate anyone an “enemy combatant, ignores Habeus Corpus, illegally spies on US citizens, flaunts the constitution, collects massive amounts of private data on EVERYONE…

A hard rain’s a gonna fall…

Best to hoist your unbrella as far away from “civilized” areas as possible.
jungleboy June 2nd, 2007 5:29 pm

Oklahoma Federal to the World Trade… Follow the money. Whats next? Osama is still there, getting money from his family who works with the Bushes at Carlyle.

These crazy fanatical laws seem to follow the republican approach to create a republic and not a democracy, they seem to cut away at the constitution quite a bit. I wonder what his signing statements are. If this is his idea. I’ll be a monkeys uncle. All these style ‘encroach upon the constitution’ laws seem to follow some disaster with a “Media Bombing”, except Katrina, a real disaster that shows the ineptitude of their “disaster” abilities.

We’ll see what happens next.
peachmcd June 2nd, 2007 5:32 pm

I’m amazed at the way this Presidential Directive is being presented by the Globe. Fascinating to see the White House Taling points. This is the end of a republic, we’re talking about, after all.

NSPD-51 supercedes an act that does everything it does, but the National Emergencies Act includes Congress in the process. Bush’s NSPD-51 is vague in its wording about what constitutes a “catastrophic emergency” and gives the President sole authority over when it starts and how long it lasts.

I don’t want to give ANY human being in the US that kind of power.

Peach McD in Durham NC
Amos June 2nd, 2007 5:41 pm

Somehow, in a post-Katrina world I don’t see the government doing anything in the event of a disaster. As a matter of fact the response to 9/11 has been pretty ridiculous too. So what in the hell could they possibly be thinking of doing if something does happen?

After all these are the Bozo’s that let the tragedy happen in the first place. “Bin laden determined to attack within the United States,” was too complicated for them to figure out. Do you really think they are the reason for no further attacks? Inept incompetence is the hallmark of this administration and they’re changing and making plans for future catastrophes. Great. They are a catastrophe in and of themselves.

Nothing they say or do is trustworthy or believable and I can only hope to see them go into history as the worst possible leaders at the most critical time in American history since the end of the Second World War other than the Cuban missile crisis but I shudder to think of Bush in charge of a situation like that. We probably would not have survived

I do pity the successor to this abomination that is Bush and all of his parasites. There is no justice or peace with these tyrants but it’s good to still be able to say that in a public forum.

Remember Katrina… There is no forgiveness for the response to that tragedy. Never forget the response to Katrina… It says it all about these guys.
SarahConnah June 2nd, 2007 5:47 pm

Pretty much guarantees another “Bush 911 Product” and this time, a take over before his appointment expires.
jazzhead June 2nd, 2007 5:48 pm

To add to my list above, I just read an article over on Alternet about contracts awarded to KBR to build numerous and massive detention centers all across the country.

These guys are as serious as they are dangerous.
aum33 June 2nd, 2007 6:09 pm

If those who are paid to serve the people were competent and worthy of the people they’re supposed to be serving, they’d be doing things like planning for peace & reconciliation, planning for free education & public transportation. They’d be helping workers reduce their work weeks from five days to 3 or 4, they’d be cleaning up the environment, eliminating needless poverty, shutting down prisons, chasing white collar criminals, corrupt politicians, and others who exploit the weak and ignorant, etc. etc.

As many people here know, the reign of the Bush regime is a major disaster. Not only for the USA, but for the world.
We’ll get over it and all will be well, but it will take a lot of hard work.

—————

“Man must change or die.
There is no other course.”
Maitreya the World Teacher
http://www.Share-International.org
John Hotchkiss June 2nd, 2007 6:23 pm

Whew, I’ve been worried, but now feel safe. All our officials, in there dispersed locations (Cheney in his cave, Chertoff on his yacht, Bush and Rove in Air Force 1 flying aimlessly about, Robert Gates “in charge”–remember Alexander Haig?) trying to find out what is going on and what to do because their cell phones don’t work. What, me worry? I’ll just crawl under my rock.
iolellity June 2nd, 2007 6:36 pm

aum33,

I agree with your post completely!

I would only like to add that this directive…is revolting because it only serves to preserve the lives and power of the people on top, and says absolutely nothing about the American citizens. I mean, really, if they were that great then they wouldn’t have to worry so much about instituting martial law the moment an emergency comes to keep their positions in place. This is not to mention that the text seems to outright say what the next “terrorist attack” is going to be, like they already know it is going to happen…
Earthian June 2nd, 2007 10:14 pm

Here is the link to the NSPD 51:

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html

If the president is “coordinating” the entire government, who decides what constitutes “proper respect” for the other two branches of the government?

See this quotation:

“(e) “Enduring Constitutional Government,” or “ECG,” means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the constitutional separation of powers among the branches.”

The definition of an emergency that would allow the President to execute NSPD 51 is:

“(b) “Catastrophic Emergency” 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;”

Seems a bit broad–any “location” . . . “severely affecting” . . . “environment.” Using these qualifications he could take over the government if there was a big forest fire in California while offering “proper respect” for the separation of powers . . . as defined by . . . him. (Perhaps prior to the election.)

I’d prefer the presumption of Mike Gravel–the theory of the sovereignty of the people (and the Preamble), over the Bush theory of the sovereigty of the unitary executive, eh, himself.
JH June 2nd, 2007 10:17 pm

The writing is on the wall. An “emergency” of one kind or another prior to the 2008 election. Voting suspended, George anointed “Chancellor” (or some such). The end of pretense of democracy or representational government. Speak out, then disappear. Most of American will happily accept the appearance of security under their new dictator with police state powers, as long as they can keep watching American Idol, Lost, Survivor, National Bingo, Extreme Makeover, etc. etc. etc.
Pierre June 2nd, 2007 11:03 pm

So far in this discussion section, everyone is pretty much in agreement, if not overtly, intimationally. There may be an arranged disaster. It has seemed more and more probably there will be no 2008 election. Martial law will be imposed. Internet communication will vanish overnight. As a people we are not experienced with this kind of situation. We will not do well with it. There will be a lot of actual fighting with weapons of the day. It will not be fun. I have read there is at least one detention center in every state, often more. Gitmo heaven. Or…

this is a bad dream.
Poet June 2nd, 2007 11:37 pm

I think that Amos has the right take on this whole situation. Given the performance of trolls in charge and their minions in everything from Andrew (scratch your heads and think real hard that was the Mother of All ‘canes as of ‘92) to Katrina my suspicion is that these guys and gals are more like F Troop than they are like the Gestapo.

My suspicion also is that armed bands of wary citizens will shoot back at all those KBR/Blackwater “contractors” before seeking their help. Better to worry about Wal-Mart than FEMA in such “emergencies” because Wal-Mart has much more of what will be really needed than FEMA.
Pierre June 2nd, 2007 11:52 pm

I hope you’re right.
Paul Bramscher June 3rd, 2007 1:02 am

One of their MO’s has always been demoralization of the opposition. When I see the labor camps I’ll believe it. It’s nice living in a border state. They’re pretty gung-ho on Iran, and we can’t forget Bush’s interest in taking over North Korea either. They’ll need something bigger than 9/11 to kick off WWIII if that’s their interest.
Robert Settgast June 3rd, 2007 1:03 am

GRANTING MORE EMERGENCY PRESIDENTIAL POWERS
Granting even more power to this zealot would be another step in surrendering our democracy over to him and his henchmen. This administration has stolen two presidential elections, has pursued the most corrupt & deceptive presidential policies in our history, and has inflicted unprecedented destruction to our system and environment Their vicious tactics to keep power such as character assassinations against those who oppose their policies render them even more dangerous (ie branding Senator Max Cleland, a triple amputee Vietnam Vet, for sponsoring an inquiry into the causes of 9/11 which Bush opposed).

Their motives are clear. Wake up America.
dcbeltway June 3rd, 2007 1:51 am

Pierre I am terrified you might be right. My gut feeling says if there is a major attack it may be blamed on Iran and we’ll also find ourselves in war there too. Martial Law is terrifying.

We live in the worst of times.
frank1569 June 3rd, 2007 4:02 am

We all need to stop listening to and analyzing anything that comes out of this administration, because precedent has been established: EVERYTHING they say is a LIE. They do not care about the poor, the environment, workers, human rights, laws, treaties, nothing. And all the hoping and wishing in the universe ain’t gonna change that.

It’s the “crumb theory” writ large, as if we’re children of alcoholic parents: we know they’re lying drunks, but once in a while, they show us “love,” which we latch onto, because accepting the truth is too painful, even though the truth couldn’t be more obvious.

For example: “Bush Offers Climate Plan.” Seriously. After what we know. We’re supposed to accept that and then analyze and debate a “plan” from liars who could care less about the Earth? Because, what, they just might have “seen the light” after decades of fighting against the very same plan?

“Just because Bush says it, doesn’t mean it’s wrong.” So said Bob Kerry on “Bill Moyers’ Journal” last Friday, a perfect example of a “crumb” addict. It no longer matters if the drunk promises to stop drinking this time, or the next time. In order to survive, those affected by the drunk need to accept the fact that the drunk will say anything for another drink. Period.
sageone June 3rd, 2007 5:57 am

Pierre, I think that you have the right of it. If you look further down in the directive, it talks about the different departments having anual asessments and reports. He is talking about this state of emergency lasting a long time. All that it is going to take is for him and his Saudi cohorts to pull off another 9/11 style attack, or heck even another Katrina, to put us under martial law. That gives them carte blanche to round up all of us ‘disidents’ and put us in KBR and Blackwater’s detention camps.
hybridoma2001 June 3rd, 2007 7:06 am

aum33, this is what I meant by human nature remaining, for all practical purposes, as not having changed. Yes, there have been changes in many areas because the people used their collective power and had true leaders to follow. But this isn’t the first time in history that there have been great or horrible leaders.
It’s still the same thing we people who think about current events have always had to deal with: not those with a more positive collection of naturally occurring human traits, but rather those who use the negative aspects of human nature to maintain dominance and control.
I feel just as bad as the next thinking person about where the USA seems to be heading.
It’s time to get back to basics.
ooopsy June 3rd, 2007 7:15 am

I hope i don’t unwittingly find myself in detention with a bunch of other forward thinking folks, just because i failed to act on my forward thinking…

/kicks the dirt and looks at the high walls

“damn….. i knew this might happen! i should have left when i still had time!”

/eats yucky mush
Sang Ze June 3rd, 2007 8:04 am

Maybe we better not hold another presidential election. It might be dangerous to our national security. We could save a lot of money, too, and use it to build a few detention camps, just in case . . .
fedayeen June 3rd, 2007 8:18 am

Giving too much credit to these whackos is what you are doing. Name one thing that has resulted in the stated objectives by this crowd of crowing loonies? Sure they might declare martial law, but who is going to implement it? The police are overworked right now, the jails are full, and the rest of the military are either in Iraq or going there, so what resources are they going to mobilize to control 300 million sheep? Not going to happen, sure declare anything you want, but if no one pays attention then it is the final straw of an ineffective administration, and nothing will come out the way they think. Besides do you really think that the decider can pull this off? Nope and numbnuts rove won’t be able to do much either, he is all mouth, ask jeff gannon.
Ullern June 3rd, 2007 8:58 am

This Presidential Directive is a real parallel to Germany’s 1933 “Enabling act”.

“The formal name of the Enabling Act was ‘Gesetz zur Behebung der Not von Volk und Reich’ (”Law to Remedy the Distress of the People and the Nation”).” (Cf. Wikipedia: “Enabling act”).

But nothing is predetermined – only predisposed towards.

The take-over can be pushed back, pushed back, pushed back. Until it’s made obsolete by the growing obvious needs for mutual help and cooperation – individually to internationally. A better global mood growing, out of need. Global loving triggered by climate change and other destructive environ-mental disturbances, forcing US people to harmonize culture with nature.

Keep pushing back. That reduces the work needed later.
chlorocardium June 3rd, 2007 11:22 am

Its a power grab. And these folks have no scruples whatsoever. Where is the MSM on this?
claudius June 3rd, 2007 12:40 pm

I hope someone gives us heads up before the Bush Administration pushes the big red button.
davepepper June 3rd, 2007 1:15 pm

Warning? LOL They don’t warn anyone. The pass laws, then they commit their terrorist acts, and it’s too late. The people are already imprisoned. They even get their media to call “unpatriotic” others who don’t agree with them. Americans are total sheep, just like the 1930s Germans. “It couod never happen here”, they all say….Hah, it has already happened.
Pierre June 3rd, 2007 1:25 pm

With regard to detention camps:

This is just a smattering of web info. There are 1,350,000 sites listed on Google.
All are fairly rational. It’s an extremely large number of sites to be created on
the web by just a handful of kooky, infantile, and irrationally frightened citizens.
http://www.prisonplanet.com/articles/february2006/010206detentioncamps.htm
http://www.constitution.org/abus/intern/intern.htm
http://www.globalresearch.ca/index.php?context=viewArticle&code=WAT20060204&articleId=1886
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0814-05.htm
http://www.commondreams.org/views02/0814-05.htm
http://news.pacificnews.org/news/view_article.html?article_id=9c2d6a5e75201d7e3936ddc65cdd56a9
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dJBxdRIQx7Y
Pierre June 3rd, 2007 1:30 pm

With regard to mention of detention camps above: Google “detention camps in the U.S.” There are over 1,350,000 entries. A handful?
UN-common-dreams June 3rd, 2007 2:12 pm

Quotes from Charlie Savage’s article above: “…providing leadership visible to the nation and the world…” and “…bringing to justice perpetrators of crimes or attacks”

Well, it’s about time!
But why wait till then to impeach un-President BuSh I wonder?

“…Emphasis will be placed upon geographic dispersion of leadership, staff, and infrastructure in order to increase survivability and maintain uninterrupted government functions…”
–Given the present un-government, methinks that would spoil the whole event. -Couldn’t we just carry on without them? The world would be a lot safer then!

“…It’s well known that the vice president was in a secure, undisclosed location for a period of time for continuity-of-government reasons…”
– I would hardly call the White House lavatories ‘a secure location’. ~But then, he maybe finds solace there, -being among his ‘own kind’, -and all headed down the pan together!

“I don’t think you want to have anything in the directive that would tie the president’s hands from being able to implement emergency action…”
– Oh, I don’t know, -that sounds like an *excellent* idea to me! Can we tie his feet as well? And maybe a little Gitmo-style ’special handling’ would stop him getting bored

“…the Bush legal team has pushed a controversial theory that the Constitution gives the president an unwritten power to disobey laws at his own discretion to protect national security…”
–National security? What’s that then?
Neither the governing sludge nor the poor people who suffer their mis-rule are feeling so very ’secure’ these days are they?

_________________

As to un-President BuSh himself, I doubt he took any of this very seriously anyway.

Let us recall that this obscenely rich, draft-dodging demented boor believes wholly in ‘The Rapture’ fairy tale, and thus considers he is going to be snatched up to Heaven any day now, - there to sit on the right hand of Michael Jackson / God / Donald Duck, - still clad in his Dr Seuss pyjamas…

What does he care if the planet tumbles into disarray thereafter?
un-President BuSh might be accused of many things, but actually caring a tinker’s cuss for his fellow human beings is certainly not one of them!

As a pea-brained walking disaster somehow at present incongruously lodged atop the White House like a fly surmounting a doggy’s doo-doo, why trouble oneself with all those ‘challenging’ passages in the ‘Sermon of the Mount’ when one can more usefully misinterpret (from a swift purview of ‘Revelations’) that God mostly prefers wholly selfish, bombastic, murdering braggarts to those with humility, care and compassion for their fellow creatures?

C’mon, get a grip you guys!
_______________

We don’t need the Freedom of Information process to inform us that the poltroon maniacs in power are very, very frightened; -nor to inform us that their malodorous mal-administration is coming to an end very soon, - both through our insistent pressure, and with a timely dose of ‘Auxilio Divino’ [ divine aid ]:

“Yf that you can, come alwaise home, by GANGES goulden sandes,
And you, that live at home, and can not brooke the flood,
Geve praise to them, that passe the waves, to doe their countrie good,
Before which sorte, as chiefe: in tempeste, and in calme,
Sir Francis Drake, by due deserte, may weare the goulden [Valerie?] Palme.”

(- Geffrey Whitney: ‘Choice of Emblemes ‘ 1586)
xntrk June 3rd, 2007 2:51 pm

Just because Herr Bush is incompetent at building a working society doesn’t mean he isn’t pretty damned good at operating prisons and torturing miscreants. To put your entire future on the line in the hopes Herr Bush and his friends cannot pull this off is foolhardy.

It is no secret that the US has thousands of people willing to work as concentration camp guards, and help out the authorities as needed. look at the Abu Ghraib footage if you doubt it.

No, the trains won’t run on time, and the schools and hospitals may not function well, but think of all the contracts that will be up for grabs, and all the money that can be looted from OUR National Museums.

I’d advise keeping a bag packed and having a bit of cash and your passport handy. If you’re not picked up in the first round, don’t hesitate, leave! Lie, beg, borrow or steal, but get the hell out and fight from abroad.

Revolutions aren’t organized you know - They simply happen. The problem is you don’t know whether the winners will be the guys your hoping for - You can get Stalin or Franco, as easily as Gandhi - maybe easier…

Guess what I am trying to say, is we shouldn’t be passive. Sitting here writing on the net, and watching things play out on TV may be interesting and even seem like being involved, but it’s a trap.

If the power is out in NYC for 3 days, people die in their apartments. So, make like a Boy Scout: Be Prepared!

I told my son to make sure he has a back way out and the door is open.
PowerofLove June 3rd, 2007 2:57 pm

Remember, that initially, anyone questioning the facts behind the Reichstag fire (1933, Berlin) would have been labeled a “conspiracy theorist.”

The burning of the parliament building is widely believed to have been set by Hitler-supporters (possibly among them, Hermann Göring) to smooth his way into power by blaming “terrorists.”

Hitler used this as evidence that the communists were plotting against his government, and in fact this proved to be a successful rationale for the Nazis to initiate 12 years of government sponsored terror.

Thom Hartmann has written an excellent piece on some of the disturbing parallels to current events (”When Democrac Failed -The Warnings of History” at Thomhartmann.com).

‘In the name of combating terrorism and fighting the philosophy Hitler said spawned it…

‘Within four weeks of the terrorist attack, the nation’s now-popular leader had pushed through legislation - that suspended constitutional guarantees of free speech, privacy, and habeas corpus. Police could now intercept mail and wiretap phones; suspected terrorists could be imprisoned without specific charges and without access to their lawyers; police could sneak into people’s homes without warrants if the cases involved terrorism.’

Hmmm…What the…??!
michael jordan June 3rd, 2007 3:01 pm

I must admit I welcome these revelations because they shed light on the rather confusing confidence exhibited by Bloody King George W. Bush when his polls are in the dumper and Americans want out; but Republicans want to stay in; while George is seemingly unconcerned by the lack of support he is receiving nationwide. We haven’t seen George support anyone who might be his successor in the Republican party. Could it be that this is because he has an ace in the hole? Why throw his support to a Republican Candidate when there will be no candidate? He isn’t even attacking potential Democratic candidates. Why? …don’t gotta do that cause there ain’t gonna be an election. Just another black-op’s false flag attack on the Americans by the Republicans to firm up the starch heads in the red states.

Simple eh? And when the people rise up to fight the takeover he will then bring the troops back home to slaughter Americans in the streets. Kent State to the power of infinity. I sure wouldn’t want to be 20 years old nowadays. It is hard enough being 60 and with even a few years to live it is like looking upon the dawn of the French Revolution and the days of Robespierre’s Cleansing Justice and the Fred Thompson-like Scarlet Pimpernel’s. The sad point difficulty now is that the Americans are out-gunned by the murderous Republican marauders and their huckstering mercenary highwaymen of horror. What are we going to do when the Army takes over Safeway and you need a RNC card to buy milk?

I have been asking you all to step up for a long time now, and ask you again to please heed the call and make a significant move in your own ever-dwindling self-interest. THE VERY FIRST MOVE THAT IS ATTAINABLE IS TO IMPEACH ALBERTO GONZALES IMMEDIATELY! BY IMPEACHING HIM, THE SURE TAP TO ARREST AND PROSECUTE AMERICAN FREEDOM FIGHTERS WILL BE THROWN INTO TEMPORARY DELAY AND THE BUSH DICTATORSHIP WILL BE SIGNIFICANTLY WEAKENED. IF THIS IS NOT DONE SOON THERE WILL BE NO OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO AMERICANS AND THE REPUBLICAN MINORITY WILL HAVE COMPLETE DICTATORIAL CONTROL OF THE COUNTRY AND THE WORLD. THIS IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY AS WE ARE THE AMERICANS! NO ONE ELSE CAN DO THIS FOR YOU,– YOU HAVE TO STEP UP AND DO THE RIGHT THING! It takes real nerve and I pray we can find it in time!!

michaelkjordan@yahoo.com

apollotomorrow.blogspot.com
hetzer June 3rd, 2007 6:51 pm

John Hanks, Laramie, Wyoming

Don’t bother to talk to your representatives. Talk to your neighbors and friends instead. That is the real meaning of “speaking truth to power.
toddboyle June 3rd, 2007 8:15 pm

Contrary to the logic of so many people in this discussion, the wiser path is to cutoff your participation in the corporate economy, and spend your time and your talents on more fulfilling enterprises OUTSIDE the money-intermediated, corporate economy. Do every possible thing to suck money and resources out of it–be disabled. Be a crisis case. Be homeless. Be starving. etc. That’s one track. Another track is, the nonprofit route. Join one, learn about it. you will get very little money but it will be close to the typical world wage, $5000. year maybe. Forget about buying a house or renting your own place, live in a van or join a group to share rent. No time for the long version here. But, you MUST quit working alongside the xtians, the asleep, the madmen and apocalyptic. Study Jung. They are unconscious!!! We are living in an insane asylum. People are sleepwalking. I’m serious. SNAP OUT OF IT.
TOdd
cosmos June 3rd, 2007 9:14 pm

I’m so happy to see this travesty finally come to the public eye, and feel the power of the response from all of you. For me, this was the last straw, and if we allow this to remain the “law of the land” a la Bush, we are in deep trouble. He could conceivably create an emergency, take power, and eliminate elections and the possibility of passing the administration on to anyone else.

fedayeen: They don’t need police or National Guard or the troops in Iraq, they have “private security”… mercenaries who, if paid enough, will be happy to do their bidding.
Weird Wally June 3rd, 2007 9:48 pm

Yo and what up?

Initially, when I thought of life under the Bush administration, I thought Kafka.

But as things continue to unfold, it’s starting to look more and more like the “King of Hearts,” movie staring Alan Bates and I’m gonna watch it again.

http://weirdwally.org
genaman June 4th, 2007 5:11 am

Well I am sure glad others see the comparison with Hitler of Bush’s plan.
The thing is it will probably work. Bush may get to stay for however long he lives,
The other problem is what country could save us?. Hey Bush is the one with all the Nukes unlike Hitler.
It seems The Reich has arisen again just like many of those dead Nazi’s predicted.
So Heil Bush ! I wonder if he will grow one of those hair under the nose things.
What will be on our Arm bans any suggestions? Skull and Crossbones might work.
How about two ICBM”s crossed.
Or maybe a Burning BUSH
nessie June 4th, 2007 11:33 am

It’s time to stop fixating on Bush, and admit that our problem is structural. Think of it this way: We’re driving the wrong car. It’s burning oil, it’s pulling to the right, it’s rusted out, it’s stolen and it’s being shot at. Changing the hood ornament is not going to help.
sinnerjizm June 4th, 2007 12:42 pm

And if an attack conveniently occurs before the ‘08 election, Bush will sieze control. If that does’nt work, there is the 100,000 acre ranch in Paraguay to run to!

http://www.teambio.org/2006/10/bush-family-98842-acres-and-a-mule/

BTW, the Paraguaian government recently stated that they will not extradite any US
official or military personnel for war crimes

…”It’s time to stop fixating on Bush, and admit that our problem is structural”…
-nessie June 4th, 2007 11:33 am

I agree. I have always thought it rather funny that my fellow lefties actually believ that Bush has any power. Just like with Reagan, does anyone REALLY think that the warmongering neo-cons would let their little sock-monkey make any decision other than what to have for dinner?
thevideoqueen June 5th, 2007 10:20 am

The White House planning for dictatorial taker due to large number of leaders being killed at once? Congress not in ‘the plan.’

Hmmmmmm. Large number of leaders killed….Congress not in the post disaster plan…….
dkm June 5th, 2007 5:17 pm

But Johndroe said it was necessary for a loosely-worded definition because the goverment can’t be sure what kind of emergency might arise.

“I don’t think you want to have anything in the directive that would tie the president’s hands from being able to implement emergency action,” he said.

I beg to differ. Given this president’s record for despotism, I would certainly want this president to have his hands and feet firmly tied and a noose aroung his neck.
Yosef June 9th, 2007 7:47 am

It’s truly a shame that people are so blind.The only terrorist attacks being carried out in america-have been born and bred right here in the USA.Any one willing to trade freedom for safety will sadly find that soon they will actually loose both.For those who aren’t old enough to remember WWII or Hitler go to a book store or publc library and read a book by him called Mein Kampf you will be amased at the similarities between it and our current government.Another good book is George Orwells “1984″,but the best book on it by far is the Bible.Read what it says about a nation who turns it’s back on God!Take a stand never in the history of America has a president given himself such dictatorial powers to assure he will never leave office! use your power of free speech while you can because in the very near future- maybe even today that will become illegal too!
trid2bnrml June 16th, 2007 8:20 am

“Nothing they say or do is trustworthy or believable and I can only hope to see them go into history as the worst possible leaders at the most critical time in American history since the end of the Second World War”

I ONLY HOPE THEY WILL NOT GO DOWN IN HISTORY AS THE LAST LEADERS OF THIS DEMOCRACY, AS A DEMOCRACY…

“It’s the “crumb theory” writ large, as if we’re children of alcoholic parents: we know they’re lying drunks, but once in a while, they show us “love,” which we latch onto, because accepting the truth is too painful, even though the truth couldn’t be more obvious.”

THE TRUTH IS, ALL THERE WILL BE LEFT FOR US IS CRUMBS, AND THE PAINFUL TRUTH WILL HURT MORE WHEN IT IS THROWN IN OUR FACES…

“I hope someone gives us heads up before the Bush Administration pushes the big red button.”

I SERIOUSLY DOUBT THAT THERE WOULD BE ANY WARNING—UNLESS YOU COUNT ALL OF THE ACTIONS OF THIS ADMINISTRATION THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN SETTING OFF ALARMS ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST WITH A FEW OF US…

“And when the people rise up to fight the takeover he will then bring the troops back home to slaughter Americans in the streets.”

OUR ONLY HOPE IS THAT THE TROOPS REMEMBER THAT IT IS THEIR FAMILIES THAT THEY ARE TOLD TO RISE AGAINST AND CONTROL, AND MURDER.

“They don’t need police or National Guard or the troops in Iraq, they have “private security”… mercenaries who, if paid enough, will be happy to do their bidding.”

HAVE WE “TAUGHT OUR CHILDREN WELL”…I SUPPOSE WE WILL SOON SEE, whether or not they will obey and attack.
jrcarri June 18th, 2007 4:35 pm

The Bush’s have been an economic self seeking lineage of administrations founded on their global oil connection and competitive expertise. 9/11 was conveniently staged just at the start of the Bush Administration to justify going to war as was Desert Storm in the previous Bush Administration. Global competition at the scale of the most valuable global market on earth…OIL. The Bush’s can simply place themselves in positions of power and use the U.S. military to effect their competitive interests.

Now the global market and who controls the oil may be in danger due to an inability, based on resources and constitutional legality, to justify staying in Iraq. That justification may just be the breaking point of a major National Security issue and the now vulnerability of the American continent to cold war type possibilities. The Bush Administrations inability to negotiate is conflicting with its private enterprising interests, their competitive advantage is slipping away.

What America needs to do is adopt a Constitutional directive that protects the American people from enterprising interests having a stronghold on positions like the Presidency and forbid any private influences of this capacity and level to ever take a toll like the Bushs have taken. Terrorists come in many forms, its human nature to compete and survive and our government “for the people and by the people” has been sabotaged and used for private enterprising means. Money CAN buy Government even their very own dictatorship if the global elites take a plan of action like bombing a US city and blaming Russia or Iran. We need to grasp the magnitude and not play the bi-partisan card any longer because that is what elitists are depending on, Americans need to come together and dismantle the Bush’s plan NOW as an emergency plan of action!
Sincerely
Juan R. Carrillo

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