WHERE IS CONGRESS ON THIS?? Finishing Touches on Bush's Dictatorship...LINK

[Blackhatjack]

Congress still does not get it. Bush is actively working to enhance, consolidate and cement his dictatorial powers over government operations, and the further emasculation of Congress and the Judiciary.

The 'gloves have been off' for some time, and a constitutional crisis is already here. What is Congress waiting for??

The creation of a requirement that "each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee" fits in with the way dictators rule around the world. The NY Times article by Robert Pear, excerpt below, is yet another 'dead canary' in the early warning system that our constitutional democracy is being dismantled right before our eyes.

These criminals are now operating out in the open for everyone to see. It is not just politics. And if Congress does not act quickly in a bipartisan fashion to regain and preserve the powers given it in the Constitution, they will find themselves mere puppets with no power.

Just because the MSM and the Congress do not realize the import of these actions, does not reduce the deadly significance of these acts. If Congress does not act today, later they will look back on this and say we should have spoken out and done something then. Just like the WMD disinformation campaign that got us into the Iraq war.

Letting Bush have his way for the remainder of his term is a dangerous choice, as evidenced here. Just imagine what Bush has already given himself power to do in executive orders he has secretly signed and implemented without the knowledge of Congress and the Public.

I fear we are in big trouble, which will make the Watergate constitutional crisis look like tea time. IF we continue down this road, Bush just may not step down at the end of his term, and we can expect Congress to say 'We had no idea this would happen.'

*****************************************************************************


Bush Raises His Sway at U.S. Agencies (signs Executive Order giving himself more power)

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30rules.ht ...

By ROBERT PEAR

WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2007

President Bush has signed a directive that gives the White House much greater control over
the rules and policy statements that the government develops to protect public health,
safety, the environment, civil rights and privacy.

In an executive order published last week in the Federal Register, Mr. Bush said that
each agency must have a regulatory policy office run by a political appointee,
to supervise the development of rules and documents providing guidance to regulated industries.
The White House will thus have a gatekeeper in each agency to analyze the costs and
the benefits of new rules and to make sure the agencies carry out the president’s priorities.


This strengthens the hand of the White House in shaping rules that have, in the past, often
been generated by civil servants and scientific experts. It suggests that the administration
still has ways to exert its power after the takeover of Congress by the Democrats.

MORE

[BleedingHeartPatriot]

1. Hellooo, Congress, we the people are paying attention, even if the corporomedia ignores it.

K & R, stand up to the liar NOW!!!! MKJ

:kick:

[Junkdrawer]

2. Give him enough rope...and he'll hang us all, n/t

[CrazyOrangeCat]

3. yes.

The power grabs are being made in broad daylight now. Unka Dick is pulling out all the stops.

And unfortunately, the Congress is not anywhere near his match.

This is the scariest thing they've done yet.

And it will stay under the radar . . . cuz Dicky's corporate media sure ain't gonna tell.

[magellan]

4. I'm sure they'll discuss it and get back to us on it.

[C_U_L8R]

5. Congress has got to shut them down

it's almost too late.

[HereSince1628]

6. I agree. An attempt to destroy the use of evidence and reason

in the formulation of rules and regulations in areas where Congress has historically admitted it doesn't have the expertise required.

Of course in Shrub' black and white world, deregulation in the interest of profiteering is a singular and over-arching good.

Bad times are coming. A capitalist country with an ideological zeal greater than Stalin's Soviet Union is a very very scary image of the future.

[nannah]

7. Spot on!!! Why pull the constitutional safeguards apart

for the next team in office????? I have posted this question on several blogs this week and no one has responded. I have mentioned it 4 or 5 times here on DU with 0 replies; i've asked these questions on Firedoglake and on glenn greenwald's blog; no one has responded. yet as * vigorously signs away the constitution, you have to ask why??????

[mmonk]

8. While lots of people see all this as the republican party's last

stand, the unknown factor will be how much the democratic victory for control of the House was made possible by citizens who have had enough and want a constitutional check on increasing dictatorial power. The leadership is guessing that they were swept into victory on primarily other issues such as prescription drugs or minimum wage increases. They are taking a huge gamble in not addressing the biggest power grab in US history because they think Americans aren't really concerned with it. 08 might not be the landslide they envision by not addressing this particular situation. There is a nemesis out there called the Green party that will attempt to make hay over this with their repetitive theme that there isn't really a difference between the democratic party and the republican party. One can see the arguments and evidence they will use. Those who aren't concerned have their heads in the sand.

[MatrixEscape]

9. Quote ...

"The illusion of freedom will continue as long as it's profitable to continue the illusion. At the point where the illusion becomes too expensive to maintain, they will just take down the scenery, they will pull back the curtains, they will move the tables and chairs out of the way, and you will see the brick wall at the back of the theater."

~ Frank Zappa ~ 1977

[GliderGuider]

10. Now you have zampolits. The endgame is approaching

When I saw this story this morning I almost soiled myself. You guys aren't living in the United States any more. It may look like it, but it's not. SwampRat's lizard men really have taken over.

What does it take to wake you up? What will it take to get you into the streets?

[Theres-a]

12. Yep. nt

[helderheid]

14. Those of us awake are in the streets - the media doesn't report it to the rest who sleep.

[ruiner4u]

24. Id like to know...

We are too busy in a pissing match over whose house is smaller and who loves animals more...

[Raffi Ella]

11. I wonder the same thing.

I was watching Keith O last night and he mentioned a special comment...directed towards the President/towards his actions...
He needs to do a special comment directed at the Democratic Congress.No more excuses,they have an obligation to protect this country from this mad man...Keith could do a Scathing!Commentary on just why they should be starting impeachment hearings.

I wrote him last night and told him just that.Now's the time,the time is now:IMPEACH!

[Blackhatjack]

16. I Agree 100% - KO needs to Direct A Special Comment Toward Congress....

IF we ever needed Congress to stand up, protect our rights, and do their jobs it is NOW.

Within our system of democratic constitutional government, Congress is the only thing standing between Bush and his usurping of dictatorial powers.

Outside our system of democratic constitutional government, the people will stand up to Bush with a huge loss of life and anarchy that will extract a price that no one wants. Think the civil war all over again, except bloodier, with a larger loss of life, and more protracted.

It is patriotic and a service to our country for a person like KO to call the Congress to action. Let's hope he does it right away.

[Raffi Ella]

21. Yeah,I'm sorry but this is no longer about Bush.

This is about The United States of America,Our Constitution!Directing a special commentary towards Bush is moot at this point,it's done and he aint gonna stop - Keith needs to realize that and direct his comments towards the ones who can DO something about it-

TAKE HIM DOWN congress!There is no other answer,By Law YOU HAVE AN OBLIGATION - DO your Duty!NOW!

[Blackhatjack]

13. What is amazing is Repub Members of Congress Are Ceding Their Power and Responsibility to Bush

THis really is not a partisan issue anymore.

This is about the constitutional democracy which is the foundation of our government.

Without sharing of power among the three branches, and checks and balances provided for in the constitution, we get the same kind of Monarchy or Dictatorship that the founders tried to prevent in drafting and adopting the constitution.

If and when the battle is joined by Congress, the outcome will determine whether the world's greatest democracy was a mere experiment, or had lasting power to survive and provide an example of what is possible for the rest of the world.

[nannah]

15. reading this thread is wierdly encouraging.

what we are seeing must be visible to others.

[Blackhatjack]

18. Yep, and it appears Congress is waiting for someone to step out first

For the life of me I cannot imagine that Congress is not well aware of the implications of Bush's actions.

I can see some individuals on the Hill who are constrained from speaking out or acting because of some kind of 'blackmail' or 'extortion' that relates to their personal conduct. (The Soviet system depended on this type of influence to maintain the system). However, I cannot believe there are no other members free of this type of influence who are not condemning this from the floor of each House of Congress.

This may be the critical moment in our nation's history, and those who should step up and be counted may be missing in action --and it sure won't be televised by the MSM.

[nannah]

20. ahh yes, the "I know your embarassing secrets" threat

of the great wire tapper and mail opener. another element of this administration's control over the votes in congress that is rarely mentioned.

[mmonk]

23. They know.

"For the life of me I cannot imagine that Congress is not well aware of the implications of Bush's actions."

That is the most troubling part of all this, especially after all the abuse of power that has already occurred. What really is up with all that? Who is pulling the democratic party strings? We pretty much know who the players are that have been pulling republican strings.

[The Cleaner]

17. LINK DOES NOT WORK

Page Not Found

The page you've requested does not exist at this address. Please note:
* If you typed in the address, used a bookmark or followed a link from another Web site, the page is no longer available. Most articles remain online for seven days after publication. Articles back to 1851 are available through The New York Times Article Archive: 1851-Present.


* If you clicked on a headline or other link on NYTimes.com, you can report the missing page.


* E-mail subscribers: If the article links in your mailing do not work, your e-mail program may not support the HTML version of the mailings. Please try switching to the Text Version.


http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30rules.ht?_r=1&oref=slogin

[Blackhatjack]

19. Sorry, the link now goes to a NY Times login page....

www.Rawstory.com has good coverage of this story.

[helderheid]

22. THIS is how he will get around the people to test Divine Strake:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x79536

[Blackhatjack]

25. Feingold and Kerry should take this head on .....

Both have nixed presidential ambitions for 2008.

Go full bore against this President for the sake of our country and our military caught in an impossible situation.

An all-powerful President is a threat to democracy and our military overseas.

[maxrandb]

26. I hear that Congress is working on a non-binding resolution

to convey their displeasure at this latest power grab. :sarcasm:

[OmmmSweetOmmm]

27. Recommended and just sent the article to my Congressman. eom

[redqueen]

28. WORKING LINK

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/01/30/washington/30rules.html?hp&ex=1170133200&en=f7bdc9f4cbb28c31&ei=5094&partner=homepage

Thanks for posting this.