American Governing Meltdown....

This is the China Syndrome of meltdowns....


The House Judiciary Committee just voted to charge contempt.

The Senate Judiciary Committee just laid out Gonzales for bald face lying.

Republicans stand lock step with the President, facilitating the Executive branch's continued assault on Congressional constitutional oversight.

What is clear is that America and Democratic majority will likely be forced to accept the inevitable outcome.

Impeachment.

The very wheels and gears of this nation's government has a big wrench in it...in fact several big wrenches. These were thrown casually over the past few years by both sides until now the machine has stopped.

There is only one remedy, Impeachment.

Impeachment will force out all the ugly deeds and lies of this Administration it will also break the iron chain of unity that is the Republican party.

Right now our government is broken, thanks to Bush and the Republicans. Impeachment is the only remedy as well as preserving the integrity of our democracy with a joint resolution ensuring the continuity of elections in 2008.

If the Republicans refuse to sign on to the continuity of our democracy by removing the President's "alleged" authority in a "National Emergency" then everyone will know that we have been in the midst of bloodless political coup that seeks to instantiate single party rule with a imperial President in America.

It must stop. Impeachment and the continuity guarantee resolution is required.

and bills. We have elections you know.;-)

That are contrary to the law and constitution by empowing Congress with Executive Order and Signing Statement VETO.

Right now Bush can suspend our democracy (say elections) based on Executive Orders issued in recent years.

We need to ensure that this self appointed authority is challenged and removed. Congress makes the laws not the President.

or is that "the elections are fixed..."

Sorry, I get confused when I'm not throwing tantrums about the importance of the Constitution.

Dry powder will fix it too. That stuff's like duct tape.

you're supposed to go into "mea culpa" mode, doncha know????

Getting all heated up about the loss of democracy and our descent into tyranny is not what good little boys and girls should do.

You want impeachment *before* the 2008 election (if any)??? Temper, temper!!!!

They play at least as much of a role as the nonbinding resolutions.

Dry powder for all!

-Hoot

sternly worded letters.

That's your Héloise Congressional Housekeeping tip for the day.

What's the rush?

... broken and therein lies the rub -- the system needs to be working at least to the degree that impeachment hearings can proceed so these criminals can be exposed for exactly what they are, for ALL to see.

Federal government is curled into a fetal ball sucking it's thumb and things are only going to get worse as days go by. Fortunately, just about everything needed for everyday life is capable of running this way for a while, the mail still runs, the banking system still runs, though there probably are a few crooks taking advantage of the system meltdown to enrich themselves. We can't keep on like this, more and more it's got to be clear that we need to sweep out the * and deadeye gang or we will be paying for it down the road.

edit: damn fat fingers

Before you simply post a signing statement without reading it post the section of the signing statement that actually says he has the authority to do this.

Is proof enough of Bush's authority in conjunction with his EO ability to freeze assets of anyone who hinders political or economic development in Iraq.

the current confrontation over Executive authority will validate or invalidate congresses oversight ability.

Years of Republicans majorities have enabled the Nation to teeter closer and closer to a single party imperial presidency for of government.

where in that bill does it say this?

If Bush's Executive Orders issued under the guidelines of the National Emergency Act he could issue a executive order suspending the election on the ground of preserving public safety. It is important for Congress to challenge and nullify the Presidents authority to issue ANY executive order that disrupts the continuity of elections. The law below allows Bush to order federal troops to take charge during not just natural disasters of emergencies but ANY declared insurrection, conflict, conspiracy etc...


SEC. 1042. USE OF THE ARMED FORCES IN MAJOR PUBLIC EMERGENCIES.

(a) USE OF THE ARMED FORCES AUTHORIZED-

(1) IN GENERAL- Section 333 of title 10, United States Code, is amended to read as follows:

`Sec. 333. Major public emergencies; interference with State and Federal law

`(a) USE OF ARMED FORCES IN MAJOR PUBLIC EMERGENCIES- (1) The President may employ the armed forces, including the National Guard in Federal service, to--

`(A) restore public order and enforce the laws of the United States when, as a result of a natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident, or other condition in any State or possession of the United States, the President determines that--

`(i) domestic violence has occurred to such an extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession are incapable of maintaining public order; and

`(ii) such violence results in a condition described in paragraph (2); or

`(B) suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy if such insurrection, violation, combination, or conspiracy results in a condition described in paragraph (2).

`(2) A condition described in this paragraph is a condition that--

`(A) so hinders the execution of the laws of a State or possession, as applicable, and of the United States within that State or possession, that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law, and the constituted authorities of that State or possession are unable, fail, or refuse to protect that right, privilege, or immunity, or to give that protection; or

`(B) opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.

`(3) In any situation covered by paragraph (1)(B), the State shall be considered to have denied the equal protection of the laws secured by the Constitution.

`(b) NOTICE TO CONGRESS- The President shall notify Congress of the determination to exercise the authority in subsection (a)(1)(A) as soon as practicable after the determination and every 14 days thereafter during the duration of the exercise of the authority.'.

(2) PROCLAMATION TO DISPERSE- Section 334 of such title is amended by inserting `or those obstructing the enforcement of the laws' after `insurgents'.

(3) HEADING AMENDMENT- The heading of such 15 of such title is amended to read as follows:

`CHAPTER 15--ENFORCEMENT OF THE LAWS TO RESTORE PUBLIC ORDER'.

(4) CLERICAL AMENDMENTS- (A) The table of chapters at the beginning of subtitle A of title 10, United States Code, and at the beginning of part I of such subtitle, are each amended by striking the item relating to chapter 15 and inserting the following new item:

331'.

(B) The table of sections at the beginning of chapter 15 of such title is amended by striking the item relating to sections 333 and inserting the following new item:

`333. Major public emergencies; interference with State and Federal law.'.

(b) PROVISION OF SUPPLIES, SERVICES, AND EQUIPMENT-

(1) IN GENERAL- Chapter 152 of such title is amended by adding at the end the following new section:

`Sec. 2567. Provision of supplies, services, and equipment in major public emergencies

`(a) PROVISION AUTHORIZED- In any situation in which the President determines to exercise the authority in section 333(a)(1)(A) of this title, the President may direct the Secretary of Defense to provide supplies, services, and equipment to persons affected by the situation.

`(b) COVERED SUPPLIES, SERVICES, AND EQUIPMENT- The supplies, services, and equipment provided under this section may include food, water, utilities, bedding, transportation, tentage, search and rescue, medical care, minor repairs, the removal of debris, and other assistance necessary for the immediate preservation of life and property.

`(c) LIMITATIONS- (1) Supplies, services, and equipment may be provided under this section--

`(A) only to the extent that the constituted authorities of the State or possession concerned are unable to provide such supplies, services, and equipment, as the case may be; and

`(B) only until such authorities, or other departments or agencies of the United States charged with the provision of such supplies, services, and equipment, are able to provide such supplies, services, and equipment.

`(2) The Secretary may provide supplies, services, and equipment under this section only to the extent that the Secretary determines that doing so will not interfere with military preparedness or ongoing military operations or functions.

`(d) INAPPLICABILITY OF CERTAIN AUTHORITIES- The provision of supplies, services, or equipment under this section shall not be subject to the provisions of section 403(c) of the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (42 U.S.C. 5170b(c)).'.

(2) CLERICAL AMENDMENT- The table of sections at the beginning of such chapter is amended by adding at the end the following new item:

`2567. Provision of supplies, services, and equipment in major public emergencies.'.

(c) CONFORMING AMENDMENTS- Section 12304(c) of such title is amended--

(1) by striking paragraph (1); and

(2) by redesignating paragraphs (2) and (3) as paragraphs (1) and (2), respectively.

I didn't know this, is this actually the case? These exact same claims were being made in 2004.

But even if it does the basic structure of our government is still there. The bill above makes it clear that all branches of government will still be in tact. Bush can't really take control of the government if the supreme court is there to say he can't nor can he do anything terrible as congress can still remove him from office.