"Bush grants presidency extraordinary powers" (in emergency; undercuts Congress)

From this:
President Bush has signed a directive granting extraordinary powers to the office of the president in the event of a declared national emergency, apparently without congressional approval or oversight.

The "National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive" [whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/05/20070509-12.html]was signed May 9, notes Jerome R. Corsi in a WND column.

...The directive establishes under the office of the president a new national continuity coordinator whose job is to make plans for "National Essential Functions" of all federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, as well as private sector organizations to continue functioning under the president's directives in the event of a national emergency.
It's a National Security Presidential Directive (NSPD-51) and a Homeland Security Presidential Directive (HSPD-20) and it creates a national continuity coordinator who would be Frances Townsend.
"Catastrophic emergency" is loosely defined 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."

Corsi says the president can assume the power to direct any and all government and business activities until the emergency is declared over...

The directive also makes no reference to Congress and its language appears to negate any requirement that the president submit to Congress a determination that a national emergency exists...
Much more at both links, and in case you think this would only be for continuity of government, note that it apparently supercedes the more Constitutionally-correct National Emergency Act, which explicitly involves Congress. Also note this May 2005 story:
The Bush administration periodically put the USA on high alert for terrorist attacks even though then-Homeland Security chief Tom Ridge argued there was only flimsy evidence to justify raising the threat level, Ridge now says.

Tags: 

Comments

Bush need's the power to murder the USA And that is what this is all about many people are so sheeple like that many will go a-long to get a-long just like hitler wanted people to go-along to get along and you will do as you are told to do! he can now call Me A Terrorist or you a terrorist he can call on any police force to shot you for any thing you say or just start putting people in camps like hitler did! and the third world rulers are doing! listen to coast to coast listen to savage nation listen to Alex Jones, but most will just go along to get along, and May God help you all. Treason has many faces Just Like evil. "this Presidential order is EVIL"..BUSH IS BIN LADEN.

If this be true, then Bush is getting ready to do something really naughty. Could it be that dang amnesty bill of Ted's has become the final straw, giving too many of us fond memories of France in 1792? His recent speeches indicate he feels something big and bad is coming our way soon. Does he know of a potential emergency, or is he planning on manufacturing one? Agree with Fred. Time to check the locker and make sure your ammo is fresh.

Does he really need 'em? Doesn't Congress seem to go along with whatever he wants anyway?