Earmarking the War Machine
ONCE AGAIN, the railing of Senate Democrats did not matter on Iraq.”This is George Bush’s war,” Hillary Clinton said. “He is responsible for this war. He started the war. He mismanaged the war. He escalated the war. And he refuses to end the war.”
Edward M. Kennedy of Massachusetts said, “After more than four years of such smoke and mirrors, Congress and the American people have lost faith in the president’s competence in managing the war.”
Carl Levin of Michigan, the Armed Services Committee chairman who is cosponsoring a combat-troop pullout deadline with Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island, said, “What we’re not comfortable with is the huge chaos which exists in Iraq right now . . . which we’re trying to bring to an end by changing the course.”
Not only did the Senate Democrats fail again this week to advance proposals for a pullout, they show in much broader ways that they have not changed course at all. They may want to end the war bungled by Republicans, but they refuse to end the escalation of the American war machine.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the Democrats would “drain the swamp” of Republican corruption and “break the link between lobbyists and legislation.” But the Globe recently reported that Kennedy slid $100 million into the 2008 defense authorization bill for a General Electric fighter engine that the Air Force said it did not need.
It gets worse in a defense budget that is zooming to $648.8 billion. The nonpartisan budget watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense last month analyzed 309 Senate defense earmarks. Four of the top five “earmarkers” were not Republican hawks but centrist and liberal Democrats.
Levin led the way with 44 earmarks. Clinton was second with 26. Reed was fourth with 23, one behind Republican John Warner of Virginia. In fifth place was Charles Schumer of New York with 21. When asked if she saw any change in defense earmark behavior since the Democrats took back the House and the Senate, senior analyst Laura Peterson of the Taxpayers for Common Sense said over the telephone, “No.”
More proof the swamp is still full is the fact that only four of the top 10 senators in defense campaign contributions in the 2006 election cycle were Republicans. According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, Democrats Kennedy, Clinton, Christopher Dodd of Connecticut, Dianne Feinstein of California, Bill Nelson of Florida, and Democrat-turned-independent Joe Lieberman of Connecticut collected 60 percent of the $1.4 million the industry lavished among the top 10.
Democrats say defense contracting is not about war but about jobs in their states (and of course votes). This no longer washes when bringing home the bacon fries the rest of the world. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute last year reported that the United States is now responsible for just under half of the entire planet’s trillion-dollar military spending. No other nation accounts for more than 5 percent of the world’s military spending.
The Stockholm report said the United States “is the principal determinant of the current world trend.” With that, it is no surprise that the United States accounted for 80 percent of the increase in global military expenditures in 2005. The United States is also roughly tied with Russia in exporting arms to the rest of the world, together accounting for 60 percent of the total.
The World Policy Institute, an independent arms proliferation watchdog group, reported in 2005 that the United States transferred arms to 18 of the 25 countries in active conflicts. It also reported that 20 of the 25 nations that received arms from the United States in 2003 were classified as undemocratic or as having a poor human rights record by our own State Department.
Have you heard the Democrats leap up in unison to end this madness? They know they are not just funding better body armor or prosthetics for our soldiers. They know they fund the gear that makes prosthetics necessary.
This week, Kennedy reacted to Bush’s progress report on Iraq by saying in a statement, “It’s wrong to keep pouring more and more lives into the endless black hole of a failed policy. It’s time to say ‘enough.’ ”
When Kennedy and the Democrats say the same thing about defense earmarks, arms proliferation, and lives lost in black holes outside of Iraq, we will know the swamp is truly being drained.
© Copyright 2007 The Boston Globe
We spend far more on defense than any other country. This is more than 15 years AFTER the end to the cold war and the so called “peace dividend”. Ike warned us about the military industrial complex, but few listened. We can not go on this way accumulating trillions in debt just to feed the hogs at the trough of the Pentagon budgets.
RE: ‘PEACE DIVIDEND’ - WENT TO BAILING OUT THE REAGAN DEBT
sjc_1 July 21st, 2007 3:13 pm
“We spend far more on defense than any other country. This is more than 15 years AFTER the end to the cold war and the so called ‘peace dividend’.”
Reagan cut taxes mainly for the rich - the infamous ’supply-side’ or ‘trickle-down’ economics - and increased the military budget.
‘Peace dividend’ freed up by reduced military spending in the 90s, after the US had supposedly ‘won’ the Cold War? Uh-uh - yea, for a decade, in the supposedly relaxed aftermath of the supposed win, real dollars military spending went down; but, for a decade, domestic spending was sharply capped - to pay off the deficit left by those ‘cut-taxes-on-rich-and-rack-up-huge-debt-on-military Republicans.
Now the current right wing regime has cut taxes and spiked the military budget again - creating huge deficits that will, again, be used to justify cuts in domestic ‘priorities.’ Except, this time, there’s less prospect of domestic prosperity to bail the US out.
Too many people are making too much money to have this war end. When will they begin outsourcing the military industrial complex? They have outsourced most everything imperative for daily living, except for meds.
This is direct from 1984, pertetual war with somebody, doesn’t seem to matter who as long as we have to maintain our ‘defense’ budget. Too bad it is not farm implements that require such a huge budget. Too bad feeding the world is not a priority like eliminating vast populations with war machinery.
annabelle July 21st, 2007 4:58 pm
“This is direct from 1984, pertetual war with somebody, doesn’t seem to matter who as long as we have to maintain our ‘defense’ budget.”
In 1984, ‘perpetual war’ was used to justify a totalitarian state too.
Apart from arming conflicts on a global scale and the will ensure agony to perhaps millions of people, there is karma attendant on blood profits. When war becomes a nation’s chief product, it will be brought to its knees. It feels like sci-fi that in spite of history’s lessons, the excellent education so many have received, the voices that bear witness to previous calamitous wars, this sickening route is still chosen. No one can make a better case then this waste of blood and treasure that this nation for all its Christian rhetoric, lays its hosannas at the altar of Mars, the god of war.
oops.. first line should read “that will ensure agony..”
Good article, hope some liberals are listening.
I’ve long been convinced that the first step in cleaning up the Democratic party, as well as Congress itself, is getting rid of Edward Kennedy. He’s been at the center of the corruption for decades. If there’s anyone in Congress who should be investigated and audited it’s him. Working for GE, I’m not surprised.
I think what people are missing about Bush’s Iraq strategy is the concept of finite
numbers. X number of Iraqis are made refugees, X number are otherwise displaced (emmigration, moving in with other family members etc.),and X number are killed, crippled and maimed.These numbers are constantly increasing.Now you subtract this # from the total
population at the start of this fiasco (24 million, including women and children).I honestly believe the fascist dictator in the White House thinks that eventually, we and they will reduce the number of combatants to “managable levels”. There will simply be far fewer people left to kill.
I do realize this is the strategy of a psychopath, but,let’s face it- Americans did it to the Indians, Israelis are doing it to the Palestinians, these sick fucks are just going to do it one more time.No more war for Empire
John from Portland
Ahh,,,the good old Americans,,,give both sides arms make the american tazpayer pay for it and get the Noble Prize besides, thats Kissinger,,,policy, and everyones since, makes you wonder why a former Sec of Defense wouldn’t start an arms company, oh thats right Carluci, and the Carlyle Group, and former CIA chief Bush is on the Board, funny, not to mention certain Saudi royals and Bin Ladens,,,given the fact that the US Treasury is drained to the tune of 9 Trillion overdrawn, and the IOU’s to the Social Security is 25 Trillion, I/d say we are bankrupt, but keep spending maybe the military will bail us out when they fully take over. Privatize that!
Americans are lazy, like so many groups, we don’t want to sweat the details, modern day types would rather pop a beer, flip to American Idol and chat about it later-no moral bother in that, no tough choices, no giving up anything, except the money for the beer and tube. Life goes on merrily down the stream.
-Frederick Douglass dealt with a similar mind set during his fight to end slavery.
“Those who profess to favor freedom and yet depreciate agitation, are people who want crops without ploughing the ground; they want rain without thunder and lightning; they want the ocean without the roar of its many waters. The struggle may be a moral one, or it may be a physical one, or it may be both. But it must be a struggle. Power concedes nothing without a demand; it never has and it never will.
Find out just what any people will quietly submit to and you have found out the exact measure of injustice and wrong which will be imposed upon them, and these will continue till they are resisted with either words or blows, or with both. The limits of tyrants are prescribed by the endurance of those whom they oppress.”
Think about that demand part-might mean some in your face stuff-
But especially think about that limits part-where are the limits now? Pretty far the other side of the gates of hell.
Democrats say its about jobs? If we need to have a state-supported industry with global impact — an industrial complex — why not a cure-cancer industrial complex? A cure AIDS industrial complex? A renewable energy industrial complex? And so on, and so on.
The crux of the issue is that “jobs [for the many]” is code for “profits for the few”.
The military industrial complex has no “give” in it — it’s largely “take”. Take from the taxpayer, take resources from another country, etc. And so being the most complete form of wealth redistribution, the elite favors it.
There are good jobs and there are bad jobs. The military industrial complex adherents among the Democrats would do well to read the Buddha’s Eightfold Path. Particularly what constitutes: Right Livelihood.
What DEFENSE? We are OFFENSIVE!
All to Relevant Quote:
How is the World Ruled & how do wars start?
Diplomats tell lies to journalists & then believe what they read.
(Karl Kraus, Austrian Press,1874-1936)
General Eisenhower’s warnings concerning the dangers of the military industrial complex were preceded by Albert Einstein in 1932 when he cited munition makers as the main thrust for war machines. The need to scrutinize such adventures by the executive branch was cited by John Adams and other constitutional framers.
Unfortunately this war is an example of the neglect and/or ignorance of pertinent history, along with the profiteering motives. Such misguided disasters can occur only when a compliant & apathetic populace allows their legislators to tolerate these types of abuses from arrogant and unlearned administrations guided by special interests.
have always loved the character
john galt
polishing trains–
not designing
not that strong
think not it is for
the bread
i loved the
challenge
pretty much a
shit gotcha!!
ken
The ratcheting that Reagan started was designed to cut social programs. If you cut taxes and increase spending, the government will be so far in debt that they can never help the poor…and they call themselves patriots.
There seems to be no limit to the Bush power grabs.
What he can’t get legislatively he’s seizing by Executive Order. Rule by Decree, making congress redundant.
Goggle the White House website for particulars, but be aware that what George W. Bush says, and what he intends is the difference between democracy and tyranny. Most of these Executive Orders are so disingenuous, complicated and convoluted, it takes a Chinese Lawyer to decypher what they mean.
Executive Orders Issued by President George W. Bush
Executive Orders Issued by President George W. Bush
Date Executive Order
2007
Jul. 18 Executive Order: Establishing An Interagency Working Group on Import Safety
Jul. 17 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Who Threaten Stabilization Efforts in Iraq
Jun. 29 Executive Order: Further Amending Executive Order 13381, as Amended, to Extend Its Duration by One Year
Jun. 29 Executive Order: Waiver Under the Trade Act of 1974 with Respect to Turkmenistan
Jun. 20 Executive Order: Expanding Approved Stem Cell Lines in Ethically Responsible Ways
May 17 Executive Order: National Security Professional Development
May 16 Executive Order: Protecting American Taxpayers From Payment of Contingency Fees
May 14 Fact Sheet: Twenty in Ten: Strengthening Energy Security and Addressing Climate Change
May 14 Executive Order: Cooperation Among Agencies in Protecting the Environment with Respect to Greenhouse Gas Emissions From Motor Vehicles, Nonroad Vehicles, and Nonroad Engines
May 9 Executive Order: Establishment of Temporary Organization to Facilitate United States Government Assistance for Transition in Iraq
Apr. 18 Executive Order: 2007 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
Apr. 4 Executive Order: Establishing An Emergency Board to Investigate a Dispute Between Metro-North Railroad and Its Maintenance of Way Employees Represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters
Apr. 2 Executive Order: Renaming a National Forest in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Mar. 7 Executive Order: Extending Privileges and Immunities to the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to the United Nations
Mar. 6 Executive Order: Establishing a Commission on Care for America’s Returning Wounded Warriors and a Task Force on Returning Global War on Terror Heroes
Feb. 14 Executive Order Trial of Alien Unlawful Enemy Combatants by Military Commission
Jan. 26 Executive Order: Further Amendment to Executive Order 13285, Relating to the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation
Jan. 24 Executive Order: Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management
Jan. 18 Executive Order: Further Amendment to Executive Order 12866 on Regulatory Planning and Review
2006
Dec. 28 Executive Order: Providing for the Closing of Government Departments and Agencies on January 2, 2007
Dec. 21 Executive Order: Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Dec. 20 Executive Order: National Aeronautics Research and Development
Dec. 14 Executive Order: Amendment to Executive Order 13317, Volunteers for Prosperity
Dec. 6 Executive Order Establishing An Emergency Board to Investigate Disputes Between Metro-North Railroad and Certain of Its Employees Represented by Certain Labor Organizations
Dec. 5 Executive Order: Strengthening Surface Transportation Security
Dec. 1 Executive Order: Assignment of Certain Pay-Related Functions
Nov. 3 Executive Order: Amendment to Executive Order 13402, Strengthening Federal Efforts to Protect Against Identity Theft
Oct. 31 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Oct. 13 Executive Order: Blocking Property of and Prohibiting Transactions with the Government of Sudan
Aug. 29 Executive Order: Improving Assistance for Disaster Victims
Aug. 22 Executive Order: Promoting Quality and Efficient Health Care in Federal Government Administered or Sponsored Health Care Programs
Jul. 3 Executive Order: Establishing An Emergency Board to Investigate a Dispute Between Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority and Its Locomotive Engineers Represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen
Jun. 29 Executive Order Amending Executive Order 13381, as Amended, to Extend Its Duration by One Year
Jun. 26 Executive Order: Public Alert and Warning System
Jun. 23 Executive Order: Protecting the Property Rights of the American People
Jun. 19 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Undermining Democratic Processes or Institutions in Belarus
Jun. 7 Executive Order: Task Force on New Americans
May 12 Executive Order: Amendments to Executive Orders 11030, 13279, 13339, 13381, and 13389, and Revocation of Executive Order 13011
May 10 Executive Order: Strengthening Federal Efforts to Protect Against Identity Theft
Apr. 27 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Persons in Connection with the Conflict in Sudan’s Darfur Region
Apr. 27 Executive Order: Responsibilities of Federal Departments and Agencies with Respect to Volunteer Community Service
Apr. 26 Executive Order Blocking Property of Additional Persons in Connection with the National Emergency with Respect to Syria
Apr. 18 Executive Order: National Mathematics Advisory Panel
Mar. 7 Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Homeland Security with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Feb. 8 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in Côte D’Ivoire
Jan. 13 Executive Order: Designating the Global Fund to Fight Aids, Tuberculosis and Malaria as a Public International Organization Entitled to Enjoy Certain Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities
2005
Dec. 22 Executive Order: Providing An Order of Succession Within the Department of Defense
Dec. 22 Executive Order: Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Dec. 14 Executive Order: Improving Agency Disclosure of Information
Nov. 23 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Additional Persons Undermining Democratic Process or Institutions in Zimbabwe
Nov. 1 Executive Order: Creation of the Gulf Coast Recovery and Rebuilding Council
Nov. 1 Executive Order: Establishment of a Coordinator of Federal Support for the Recovery and Rebuilding of the Gulf Coast Region
Oct. 25 Executive Order: Further Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans
Oct. 14 Executive Order: 2005 Amendments to the Manual for Courts Martial, United States
Sept. 30 Executive Order: Further Amendment to Executive Order 13369, Relating to the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform
Sept. 30 Executive Order: Continuance of Certain Federal Advisory Committees and Amendments to and Revocation of Other Executive Orders
Jul. 27 Executive Order: Assignment of Functions Relating to Original Appointments as Commissioned Officers and Chief Warrant Officer Appointments in the Armed Forces
Jul. 15 Executive Order: Amending Executive Orders 12139 and 12949 in Light of Establishment of the Office of Director of National Intelligence
Jun. 29 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Weapons of Mass Destruction Proliferators and Their Supporters
Jun. 28 Executive Order: Strengthening Processes Relating to Determining Eligibility for Access to Classified National Security Information
Jun. 17 Executive Order: Implementing Amendments to Agreement on Border Environment Cooperation Commission and North American Development Bank
Jun. 16 Executive Order: Amendment to Executive Order 13369, Relating to the President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform
May 12 Executive Order: Amendments to Executive Order 12788 Relating to the Defense Economic Adjustment Program
Apr. 13 Executive Order: Designating the African Union as a Public International Organization Entitled to Enjoy Certain Privileges, Exemptions, and Immunities
Apr. 13 Executive Order: Amendments to Executive Order 12863
Apr. 1 Executive Order: Amendment to E.O. 13295 Relating to Certain Influenza Viruses and Quarantinable Communicable Diseases
Mar. 14 Executive Order: Amendments to Executive Order 12293
Mar. 10 Executive Order: Amendments to Executive Order 11926 Relating to the Vice Presidential Service Badge
Feb. 16 Executive Order: Clarification of Certain Executive Orders Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions
Jan. 27 Executive Order: Amendments to Executive Order 13285
Jan. 13 Executive Order: Providing An Order of Succession in the Office of Management and Budget
Jan. 7 Personnel Announcement
Jan. 7 Executive Order: President’s Advisory Panel on Federal Tax Reform
2004
Dec. 30 Executive Order: Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Dec. 21 Executive Order: United States-Mexico Border Health Commission
Dec. 17 Executive Order: Committee on Ocean Policy
Dec. 3 Executive Order: 2004 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
Nov. 29 Executive Order: Modifying the Protection Granted to the Development Fund for Iraq and Certain Property in Which Iraq Has An Interest and Protecting the Central Bank of Iraq
Nov. 29 Executive Order: Establishing the Afghanistan and Iraq Campaign Medals
Nov. 29 Executive Order: Designation of Additional Officers for the Department of Homeland Security Order of Succession
Oct. 21 Executive Order: Service-Disabled Veterans Executive Order
Oct. 21 Executive Order: Central San Joaquin Valley
Oct. 19 Executive Order: Notice Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to Significant Narcotics Traffickers Centered in Colombia
Sept. 28 Executive Order: Assignment of Functions Relating to Certain Appointments, Promotions, and Commissions in the Armed Forces
Sept. 20 Message to the Congress of the United States
Sept. 20 Executive Order: Termination of Emergency Declared in Executive Order 12543 With Respect to the Policies and Actions of the Government of Libya and Revocation of Related Executive Orders
Aug. 27 Executive Order: Strengthened Management of the Intelligence Community
Aug. 27 Executive Order National Counterterrorism Center
Aug. 27 Executive Order Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans
Aug. 27 Executive Order Establishing the President’s Board on Safeguarding Americans’ Civil Liberties
Aug. 26 Executive Order Facilitation of Cooperative Conservation
Jul. 29 Executive Order
Jul. 23 Executive Order: Amending the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology to Serve as the National Nanotechnology Advisory Panel
Jul. 23 Executive Order Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Importation of Certain Goods From Liberia
Jul. 22 Executive Order: Individuals with Disabilities in Emergency Preparedness
Jul. 15 President Bush Signs Identity Theft Penalty Enhancement Act
Jul. 8 Executive Order Delegation of Certain Waiver, Determination, Certification, Recommendation, and Reporting Functions
Jul. 8 Executive Order Assigning Foreign Affairs Functions and Implementing the Enterprise for the Americas Initiative and the Tropical Forest Conservation Act
Jul. 7 Executive Order: Amending Executive Order 13261 on the Order of Succession in the Environmental Protection Agency
Jun. 24 Notice Continuation of the National Emergency with Respect to the Western Balkans
Jun. 6 Executive Order Providing for the Closing of Government Departments and Agencies on June 11, 2004
Jun. 1 Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Commerce and Veterans Affairs and the Small Business Administration with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
May 20 Executive Order: Further Amendment to Executive Order 11023, Providing for the Performance by the Secretary of Commerce of Certain Functions Relating to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
May 18 Executive Order: Establishment of Great Lakes Interagency Task Force and Promotion of a Regional Collaboration of National Significance for the Great Lakes
May 13 Executive Order: Increasing Economic Opportunity and Business Participation of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders
May 11 Executive Order: Blocking Property of Certain Persons and Prohibiting the Export of Certain Goods to Syria
Apr. 30 Executive Order: Issuance of Permits with Respect to Certain Energy-Related Facilities and Land Transportation Crossings on the International Boundaries of the United States
Apr. 30 Executive Order: American Indian and Alaska Native Education
Apr. 27 Executive Order: Incentives for the Use of Health Information Technology and Establishing the Position of the National Health Information Technology Coordinator
Mar. 18 Executive Order: Amending Executive Order 13257 to Implement the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act of 2003
Mar. 3 Executive Order: Further Adjustment of Certain Rates of Pay
Feb. 27 Executive Order: National and Community Service Programs
Feb. 24 Executive Order: Human Service Transportation Coordination
Feb. 24 Executive Order: Encouraging Innovation in Manufacturing
Feb. 6 Executive Order: Commission on the Intelligence Capabilities of the United States Regarding Weapons of Mass Destruction
Feb. 4 Executive Order: Federal Real Property Asset Management
Jan. 30 Executive Order: President’s Commission on Implementation of United States Space Exploration Policy
Jan. 23 Executive Order: Amendment to Executive Order 12293, the Foreign Service of the United States
Jan. 16 Executive Order: Termination of Emergency with Respect to Sierra Leone and Liberia
2003
Dec. 30 Executive Order Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Dec. 30 Executive Order Assignment of Functions Relating to Arrivals in and Departures from the United States
Dec. 17 Executive Order Appointments During National Emergency
Dec. 9 Executive Order
Dec. 5 Executive Order
Nov. 21 Executive Order
Sept. 25 Executive Order Volunteers for Prosperity
Sept. 17 Order Designation Under Executive Order 12958
Sept. 17 Executive Order
Aug. 29 Executive Order
Aug. 22 Statement on Executive Order 13224
Aug. 8 Executive Order
Jul. 31 Executive Order
Jul. 29 Executive Order
Jul. 29 Executive Order: HSIS
Jul. 28 Executive Order
Jul. 25 Executive Act on Intellectual Disabilities
Jun. 20 Executive Order
May 29 Executive Order
May 29 Executive Order: European Central Bank
May 29 Executive Order Establishing the Bob Hope American Patriot Award
May 22 Executive Order
May 16 Executive Order Amending Executive Order 13212, Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects
May 14 Executive Order
May 9 Executive Order: Facilitating the Administration of Justice in the Federal Courts
May 8 Executive Order Interagency Group on Insular Areas
May 7 Executive Order
Apr. 23 Executive Order
Apr. 18 Executive Order
Mar. 28 Executive Order
Mar. 28 Executive Order
Mar. 25 Executive Order
Mar. 24 Executive Order: Further Adjustment of Certain Rates of Pay
Mar. 20 Executive Order: Confiscating and Vesting Certain Iraqi Property
Mar. 12 Establishing the Global War on Terrorism Medals
Mar. 7 Executive Order: Blocking Property Of Persons Undermining Democratic Processes Or Institutions In Zimbabwe
Mar. 4 Executive Order: Preserve America
Feb. 28 Executive Order Amendment of Executive Orders, and Other Actions, in Connection with the Transfer of Certain Functions to the Secretary of Homeland Security
Jan. 30 Executive Order: President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation
Jan. 24 Executive Order
Jan. 21 Executive Order: Establishing the Office of Global Communications
2002
Dec. 31 Executive Order
Dec. 19 Executive Order: Half-Day Closing of Executive Departments and Agencies of the Federal Government on Tuesday, December 24, 2002
Dec. 12 Executive Order: Equal Protection of the Laws for Faith-based and Community Organizations
Dec. 12 Executive Order: Responsibilities of the Department of Agriculture and the Agency for International Development with Respect to Faith-based and Community Initiatives
Dec. 11 Executive Order: President’s Commission on the United States Postal Service
Nov. 20 Executive Order: Delegation of Certain Authorities and Assignment of Certain Functions Under the Trade Act of 2002
Nov. 15 Executive Order Regarding Undocumented Aliens in the Caribbean Region
Oct. 7 Executive Order: Creating a Board of Inquiry to Report on Certain Labor Disputes Affecting the Maritime Industry of the United States
Sept. 18 Executive Order: Environmental Stewardship and Transportation Infrastructure Project Reviews
Aug. 29 Executive Order: Further Amending Executive Order 10173, as Amended, Prescribing Regulations Relating to the Safeguarding of Vessels, Harbors, Ports, and Waterfront Facilities of the United States
Aug. 13 Executive Order: Proper Consideration of Small Entities in Agency Rulemaking
Jul. 9 Executive Order Establishment of the Corporate Fraud Task Force
Jul. 3 Expedited Naturalization Executive Order
Jul. 3 Taliban Executive Order
Jun. 20 Executive Order
Jun. 20 Executive Order: President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
Jun. 20 Executive Order: Activities to Promote Personal Fitness
Jun. 6 Executive Order Amendment to Executive Order 13180, Air Traffic Performance-Based Organization
Apr. 29 Executive Order: President’s New Freedom Commission on Mental Health
Apr. 12 Executive Order — 2002 Amendments to the Manual for Courts-Martial, United States
Mar. 21 Homeland Security Council Executive Order
Mar. 19 Executive Order Providing An Order of Succession in the Environmental Protection Agency and Amending Certain Orders on Succession
Feb. 12 Advisors for Historically Black Colleges and Universities
Feb. 7 Executive Order: Amendment to Executive Order 13227, President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education
Jan. 30 Establishing the USA Freedom Corps
Jan. 17 Amendment to Executive Order 13223
Jan. 7 Exclusions from the Federal Labor-Management Relations Program
2001
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession in the Department of Veterans Affairs
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession at the Department of State
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession at the Department of Labor
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession at the Department of Housing and Urban Development
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession at the Department of Health and Human Services
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession at the Department of Interior
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession at the Department of Commerce
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession at Department of Agriculture
Dec. 29 Executive Order: Adjustments of Certain Rates of Pay
Dec. 29 Executive Order on Succession in Department of Treasury
Dec. 28 Executive Orders on Succession in Federal Agencies
Dec. 27 Normal Trade Relations Treatment Executive Order
Dec. 21 Council of Europe in Respect of the Group of States Against Corruption
Dec. 20 Executive Order Establishing An Emergency Board
Dec. 14 Afghanistan Combat Zone Executive Order
Dec. 6 Executive Order for Federal Government Closure on Dec 24
Nov. 28 Executive Order: Creation of the President’s Council on Bioethics
Nov. 27 Executive Order Waiver of Dual Compensation Provisions of the Central Intelligence Agency Retirement Act of 1964
Nov. 16 National Emergency Construction Authority Executive Order
Nov. 13 President Issues Military Order
Nov. 9 Citizen Preparedness in War on Terrorism Executive Order
Nov. 1 Presidential Records Act Executive Order
Oct. 22 Executive Order for Dept of Health and Human Services
Oct. 16 Executive Order on Critical Infrastructure Protection
Oct. 12 Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans Commission
Oct. 8 Executive Order Establishing Office of Homeland Security
Oct. 3 Executive Order on Excellence in Special Education
Oct. 1 Continuance of Federal Advisory Committees
Oct. 1 President Signs PCAST Executive Order
Sept. 24 Executive Order on Terrorist Financing
Sept. 14 President Orders Ready Reserves of Armed Forces to Active Duty
Aug. 17 Executive Order on Export Control Regulations
Jul. 31 Energy Efficient Standby Power Devices
Jul. 2 Executive Order
Jun. 20 President Bush Issues Executive Order Regarding 21st Century Workforce Initiative
Jun. 19 President Bush Issues Executive Order Regarding Community-Based Alternatives for Individuals with Disabilities
Jun. 6 Executive Order: Amendment To Executive Order 13125
Jun. 1 Executive Order
May 29 President’s Task Force to Improve Health Care Delivery for Our Nation’s Veterans
May 23 Executive Order: Additional Measures with Respect to Prohibiting the Importation of Rough Diamonds from Sierra Leone
May 18 Executive Order: Actions Concerning Regulations That Significantly Affect Energy Supply, Distribution, or Use
May 18 Executive Order: Actions to Expedite Energy-Related Projects
May 2 Executive Order: President’s Commission to Strengthen Social Security
Apr. 30 Executive Order: Establishment of the President’s Task Force on Puerto Rico’s Status
Apr. 6 Executive Order: Amendment to Executive Order 13202
Apr. 5 Executive Order: Further Amendment to Executive Order 10000
Apr. 4 Executive Order: Termination of Emergency Authority For Certain Export Controls
Mar. 9 Executive Order: Establishing an Emergency Board
Feb. 21 Executive Order on Preservation of Open Competition and Government Neutrality Towards Government Contractors’ Labor Relations on Federal and Federally Funded Construction Projects
Feb. 21 Executive Order on Notification of Employee Rights Concerning Payment of Union Dues or Fees
Feb. 21 Executive Order: Revocation of Executive Order on Nondisplacement of Qualified Workers under Certain Contracts
Feb. 21 Executive Order and Presidential Memorandum Concerning Labor-Management Partnerships
Feb. 12 Executive Order on the President’s Information Technology Advisory Committee
Jan. 29 Agency Responsibilities with Respect to Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Jan. 29 Executive Order: Establishment of White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives
Dennis Kucinich and his friends can turn it all around!
Robert Settgast says, “Such misguided disasters can occur only when a compliant & apathetic populace allows their legislators to tolerate these types of abuses from arrogant and unlearned administrations guided by special interests.” This is true only in terms of the INFO a population is given. The nazis understood the power of propaganda and used it all too efficiently to warrant “manufactured consent.” I believe the same is true in America today, given the rightwing/corporate/military ownership of most media venues.
RABBLEROWZER: Although it breaks my heart to read “the record,” of Bush’s over-reach of power never justly extended to him, thanks for posting it. MIND blowing hubris coupled with lack of intelligence, morality, judgment, justice, compassion, decency, etc to the 10th degree. In short, a worse leader would be hard to find… and that such a one can abuse power to this extent with apparent impunity, it’s a bad dream come true.
i am speechless. this all so fucked. i remain one of the pathetic many that have yet to call their congresspeople RE impeachment. it’s been on my list of things to do for three months. it’s time for the usa to fall on its sword. will the chinese and japanese that own this nation’s debt please withdraw their support? those who buy US treasuries are complicit in the iraq and palestinian atrocities. the sooner all the delusional self righteous ignorant holer than thou FOX “news” viewers are pushing wheelbarrows full of US currency to buy a loaf of bread the better. the extravagant deceits of US media and political elites must become tragically hard felt by the 80% have-nots and sheep who don’t vote, are lulled into self destructive anger and timidity, and believe jesus is going to save their asses from the consequences of their ignorance and cowardice.
what else should we expect from pelosi? camp casey to the rescue as the new madam speaker!
kucinich and nader for pres and veep! fuck the corporate crony criminal duopolist pigs!
Siouxrose July 22nd, 2007 9:46 am
“RABBLEROWZER: Although it breaks my heart to read “the record,” of Bush’s over-reach of power never justly extended to him, thanks for posting it. MIND blowing hubris coupled with lack of intelligence, morality, judgment, justice, compassion, decency, etc to the 10th degree. In short, a worse leader would be hard to find… and that such a one can abuse power to this extent with apparent impunity, it’s a bad dream come true.”
Ditto!
On the bright side:
Marbury vs. Madison: (from Encarta)
“It is also not entirely unworthy of observation that, in declaring what shall be the supreme law of the land, the Constitution itself is first mentioned, and not the laws of the United States generally, but those only which shall be made in pursuance of the Constitution, have that rank.
Thus, the particular phraseology of the Constitution of the United States confirms and strengthens the principle, supposed to be essential to all written Constitutions, that a law repugnant to the Constitution is void, and that courts, as well as other departments, are bound by that instrument.”
If there is no constitutional basis for “Executive Orders”, and to this day I have not been able to find one within this document written by our founding fathers; it would then follow that these EOs are not only repugnant, but void.
Does it appear that “any” of the three branches of government are upholding their constitutional obligations to the people of this country?
Someone once said: “Those who seek or want to hold onto their existing power are not about to condemn the man (or his actions) who has done so much to extend its reach.”
Impeachment is off the table! That statement pretty much confirms the truth of the aformentioned quote.
‘House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has said the Democrats would “drain the swamp” of Republican corruption and “break the link between lobbyists and legislation.”’
Yes, but she did not say “bipartisan corruption.”
When everyone is culpable, no one is responsible.
We are learning how it feels to live in a third world nation. Perhaps we can understand better the powerless feelings of our brothers and sister in the rest of America when the USA institutes changes to protect corporate interests.
“Ignorance is preferable to error, and he is less remote from the truth who believes nothing than he who believes what is wrong.” Thomas Jefferson
One of my flash points in the past when Republicans have drawn a parallel between the Iraq War and World War II has been the shameless pork attached to bills to support our troops in the field in the mideast. If someone tried to do that in World War II, they would have been impeached, tarred and feathered and run out of town if not beaten up. America was fighting for its life and absolutely everyone was sacrificing family members to the war effort. They were rationing essential items needed for the war. In the past, I could point to the Republican controlled congress and pork projects such as eradicating tree snakes in Hawaii, the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, and the maintenance contract on a closed military base (someone’s grandson with a new lawn mower?). All of this came out of funds intended for our troops during a time period when there was a Hillbilly Armor issue (troops scavenging for metal to use as armor fo their vehicles).
Now we are expecting to see a difference with a Democratic controlled congress, and we are discovering legislators in the same age range of the Republican porkers are as shamelessly involved in pork projects on a bill meant to support our troops.
Here is the quick way to eliminate this from happening in the future both parties refuse to consider: eliminate the annual “emergency funding bill.” It is not an integral part of the Department of Defense budget because that budget is specifically designated for that department. This is why the emergency funding bill was created, to have a bill that had a compelling rationale for existence to sell it to the public but would be vulnerable to earmarks. This is the good ol used car salesman bait and switch tactic. We are buying support for the troops, but we are getting many little weaselly projects slipped in after discussion has ended and just before the president signs off on the bill. All funding for our troops need to be protected as an integral part of the Department of Defense budget.
Unfortunately, such an anti weasel proposal would have to be voted on by the weasels themselves. How weaselly can the weasels weasel?
Tar and feathers still sounds good.
Rabbleowzer: Thank you very much for posting the list of executive orders. Very few of the 300,000,000 people in this country are aware that our government officials have betrayed the oath of allegiance to the United States Constitution they took when they were sworn in. The corporations, the super-rich, and the military war machine make the rules.
The new “cold war” is going to be a little different this time. The world, with the exception of bought off countries will turn on the U.S. and cooperate with Russia and China. Eventually, Britian will join with western Europe (on the continent) and side with Putin. It will be the United States and Israel, alone.
the purpose of warfare is to maintain the class structure of society-orwell, 1984
Yeah, thank Orwell for his clear sighted, view of what was going on 75 years ago!!! what the fuck are we doing, !!!??? we should be out in the streets rounding up these war profiteers and traitors and hanging them from the highest skyscraper, or oil rig!! trillions in debt my ass, this is a democracy, VOTE OUT THE DEBT!, hang the rich.
To bartleby and merryoldsoul: Orwell was very clear sighted when he wrote that masterpiece in 1948. Too bad Americans are willing to give their lives and limbs for the traitors and war profiteers who continue on the path of no return. This is why I say, maybe too often, but at least for new readers of Common Dreams news articles and the comment section, that, ” ignorance is not bliss, it is unforgivable.” That is why these people have taken over the country, with the help of the Republican Crime Family and the phony Democrats, pretending to be in opposition. “Birds of a feather flock together”.
All working class people can put an end to the calculated derangement in government and return to the checks and balances that the Founders installed in the Constitution. How? THE GENERAL STRIKE. Shut down the country until every single piece of legislation signed by Bush is repealed and voided out. Then vote the bums out on paper ballots. No touch screen machines. Then we’ll go on from there. If you want progress, you must be willing to take action and coordinate activities to accomplish this. Big money and power doesn’t give up easily.
Remember how after 9/11 Bush urged everyone to “go shopping”? I think the general strike idea is worthy, yet the country is too full of pussies to go through with it. People aren’t hurting enough (yet?) to go to such extremes…
When the republicans are in power they are corrupt.
When the democrats are in power they are corrupt.
God save America.
The democrats say “it’s about jobs”?
Perhaps, but it’s also about more stratospheric profits for the super rich at the expense of you, me, and our grandchildren. It’s also about “payback time” for the same corporations and power elites who finance the campaign chests of the “top tier” candidates of both parties: The Demopublicans.
Time to look beyond party affiliations. The only two presidential candidates who are truly sincere, and want to shut down the war machine are Paul & Kucinich. If 70% of Americans oppose the war, and “We the People” have finally caught on to the money game, then why aren’t Paul & Kucinich leading the polls of their respective parties? Because for the average voter, the 2008 presidential election is nothing more than a beauty contest.
My money and support is on Paul, who absolutely is not a passenger of the Federal Gravy Train. But if either one was our new president, all of us would score a victory. I don’t understand how any informed voter could remotely consider voting for anyone else. Both are plain spoken, genuine, consistent, and actually believe what they say. A vote for the “other guys” is vote for big business, big government, big media, more wars, more taxes, more deficits, more lies, and less and less freedom you and me.
The democrats say “it’s about jobs”?
Perhaps, but it’s also about more stratospheric profits for the super rich at the expense of you, me, and our grandchildren. It’s also about “payback time” for the same corporations and power elites who finance the campaign chests of the “top tier” candidates of both parties: The Demopublicans.
Time to look beyond the mystical shroud of party affiliation. The only two presidential candidates who are truly sincere, would shut down the war machine, and repeal the Patriot Act, are Paul & Kucinich. If 70% of Americans oppose the war, and “We the People” have finally caught on to the money game, then why aren’t Paul & Kucinich leading the polls of their respective parties? Because for the average voter, the 2008 presidential election is nothing more than a beauty contest.
My money and support is on Paul, who absolutely is not a passenger of the Federal Gravy Train. But if either one was our new president, all of us would score a victory. I don’t understand how any informed voter could remotely consider voting for anyone else. Both are plain spoken, genuine, consistent, and actually believe what they say. A vote for the “other guys” is vote for big business, big government, big media, more wars, more taxes, more deficits, more lies, and less and less freedom you and me.