Directive 51 is the scariest issue on the table.

[rhett o rick]

Please notify your Congress people. This is what I sent:

Recently the Supreme Commander in Chief issued the following directive:

NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD 51

HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/HSPD-20

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

This directive will allow the Supreme Commander in Chief to assume complete control of the Country in an emergency when he deems necessary. There was little fanfare, it wasn’t mentioned in the corporate media and Congress seems to be ignoring it.

Domestic spying, torture, suspended habeas corpus, an illegal war, stolen elections, and now this. What will it take to get the democrats outraged?

This is scary. You need to make it clear to the self appointed Supreme Commander in Chief that this directive is itself illegal. Now is the time to draw the line in the sand. Tell him to rescind the directive or face immediate impeachment actions.

Spending time passing a pittance of a minimum wage increase is an insult in light of the dangers this President is to this Country.

I fully believe that the neocons will not give up the presidency in 2008.

Please take action now and don’t wait for him to invoke this horrible directive making Congress irrelevant, if it isn’t already.

[Captain Angry]

1. At a minimum, Congress has a couple of questions to ask.

1: How does this program get implemented, and how much input does Congress have into this decision process?

2: What are the benchmarks for restoring the standard process, and canceling the continuity directive?


The version that I've read did not seem to have clear starts/ends, or definition of what constitutes an emergency to force implementation of this program. How high (low) is the bar?

[dusmcj]

2. pls explain your assessment

You may be right, but I see language about maintaining current Constitutional structures with balance of powers among multiple branches. Can you describe either your own interpretation and/or commentary by others that you've seen ?

[rhett o rick]

3. I read it to say that the Executive Branch will take control of the government

with "a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches "

Comity is a term used in international law (and in the law governing relations between U.S. states) to describe an informal principle that nations will extend certain courtesies to other nations, particularly by recognizing the validity and effect of their executive, legislative, and judicial acts. This principle is most frequently invoked by courts, which will not act in a way that demeans the jurisdiction, laws or judicial decisions of another country. Also, comity in the context of professional licensure, refers to one jurisdiction granting credit for experience earned, and exams passed, in a different jurisdiction.

The Executive branch will afford the legislative branch certain courtesies with regard to decisions made for the good of the Country.

[dusmcj]

5. excellent, thank you. nt

[rhett o rick]

4. Am I alone thinking this is a huge issue? nm

[RestoreGore]

6. No you aren't....

But when I posted about it here I was told I was "panicking." Seems some still trust these traitors even after all they have done to trample our Constitution, as if any of the words about it in this directive are sincere on their part. America is truly screwed at this point if this flippant attitude is as widespread as it appears to be. Just one hurricane could slap the cuffs on what remains of whatever freedoms we have left... To think Americans on the whole are so indifferent about giving all of their rights away to Bush is indeed frightening to me. This is a clear illustration of Bush and his henchmen once again using fear to overcome reason. Recommended and I have alerted my representatives, all the good it will do.

[Augdog20]

12. Not alone; keep up the message

Definitely not alone.
Keep up the message. Keep on posting.
People are just caught up with short term messes.
But this urgent issue is a huge gorilla/elephant -whatever- in the room that more people outght to care about.

[nealmhughes]

7. I find the text almost laughable in the Strangelove way, "Gentlemen! No fighting in the War Roor!"

Odd legalese and vague mentions of the three branches, yet when the presidential succession is mentioned by the 1947 Act, the Cabinet is mentioned specifically, but not the Speaker of the House nor are the President P. T. of the Senate who preceed the Cabinet...

I also found it odd that in the list of things to be done and why, that "confidence in the financial institutions" comes immediately before mention of the public health and safety!

[rhett o rick]

8. Yes but Dr. Strangelove was supposed to be funny. This is scary. nm

[rhett o rick]

9. It is not my intention to spread panic but to anticipate the next great

outrage the Neocon cabal will unleash. Congress should address this directive now not later. Is it legal, is it Constitutional, how will it be implemented, will Congress be involved or irrelevant?

[Meeker Morgan]

10. Sounds like he expects a civil war. n/t

[DemSoccerMom]

11. Yes, either a civil war or a revolution.

When I initially learned of this, I went into full panic mode. While I think Commander Guy is a complete tool, incapable of complex thought, I fear he may be surrounding himself w/ individuals who are saying this may be a great way to begin a dictatorship.

[stfrequency]

13. Discontinuing Democracy

Hi all,

I've just finished an essay that chronicles the historical (and future) use of national security directives to amass executive power. I discuss the new directive at length and there are numerous links/references that help to explain the situation we are facing. Please read it over at http://www.realitysandwich.com/node/362>RealitySandwich.com and feel free to sign up and join in the discussion. I feel strongly that there needs to be a public awareness and discussion about this directive before it is activated.

I would very much appreciate it, if the article strikes you, if you would forward the link onto other sites/forums as well. Also, if anyone feels compelled to add it to the Editorials forum here, please do so. I have not made enough posts here yet to be granted this ability. Thanks in advance.

-ST