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This is it.

  • Jul. 20th, 2007 at 12:14 PM
writing carnival
Item the First:

Bush administrations extends executive privilege.

Bush administration officials introduced a bold new assertion of executive authority Thursday in the dispute over the firing of nine U.S. attorneys, saying that the Justice Department will never be allowed to pursue contempt charges initiated by Congress against White House officials once the president has invoked executive privilege.

The position presents serious legal and political obstacles for congressional Democrats, who have begun laying the groundwork for contempt proceedings against current and former White House officials in order to pry loose information about the dismissals.

In case you're not clear on what just happened? That's a claim of immunity from prosecution.

Item the Second:

I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America,... hereby order:

Section 1. (a) Except to the extent provided in section 203(b)(1), (3), and (4) of IEEPA (50 U.S.C. 1702(b)(1), (3), and (4)), or in regulations, orders, directives, or licenses that may be issued pursuant to this order, and notwithstanding any contract entered into or any license or permit granted prior to the date of this order, all property and interests in property of the following persons, that are in the United States, that hereafter come within the United States, or that are or hereafter come within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,

(i) to have committed, or to pose a significant risk of committing, an act or acts of violence that have the purpose or effect of:

(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq; or

(B) undermining efforts to promote economic reconstruction and political reform in Iraq or to provide humanitarian assistance to the Iraqi people;

(ii) to have materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, logistical, or technical support for, or goods or services in support of, such an act or acts of violence or any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order; or

(iii) to be owned or controlled by, or to have acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, any person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to this order.


The rest of the Executive Order here.

[info]pecunium explains what this means.

In short form? If the current administration deems that any person or organization is obstructing the establishment of democracy in Iraq, they can seize their assets.



And pecunium explains the context of both issues some more, also.

Dear Congress:

It is time to invoke inherent contempt and start hauling people's asses before the Senate. It is time to initiate impeachment and censure proceedings. It is time to remember that constitutionally, you are the body with the power to declare war.

And please don't wait until after lunchtime.

Because this is it. This is a constitutional crisis. This is history in the making, right here, right now.

This is the point where we stop them, or the United States of America ceases to be a republic, and becomes a tyranny, ruled by fiat.

Comments

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[info]monkeyspoon wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:22 pm (UTC)
I'm waiting for the order which states that once again a president can run for more than two terms. Or just the declaration of Emperor of the United States.

Has anyone drafted a Dear Congress letter similar to the above that is being sent to places. This is now beyond ridiculous.
[info]monkeyspoon wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:23 pm (UTC)
P.S. Thanks for posting this!
(no subject) - [info]matociquala - Jul. 20th, 2007 04:35 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]monkeyspoon - Jul. 20th, 2007 04:51 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]matociquala - Jul. 20th, 2007 05:07 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]monkeyspoon - Jul. 20th, 2007 05:09 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]theninth wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:23 pm (UTC)
.... Dude, I saw this movie. It had Hayden Christiansen and Ewan McGregor in it, and as I recall, it did not end well.

(it's either make jokes, or go hide somewhere until I can figure out how to get off this planet before it implodes)
[info]nedlum wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:06 pm (UTC)
On the bright side, the Death Star project will probably take twenty years or so. You've got time.
(no subject) - [info]theninth - Jul. 20th, 2007 05:40 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]ammitnox - Jul. 20th, 2007 06:15 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]theninth - Jul. 20th, 2007 10:59 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]mekkavandexter wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:24 pm (UTC)
it's not all roses up here, but i have a bed for you if you ever need it!
[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:35 pm (UTC)
I am starting to think I might.

This is terrifying.
(no subject) - [info]mekkavandexter - Jul. 20th, 2007 04:43 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]cucumberseed wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:26 pm (UTC)
Hope you don't mind, I just reposted this.
[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:36 pm (UTC)
Not at all.

Now I hope I got my details right.
[info]lcsbanana wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:37 pm (UTC)
thank you for the push i needed to go renew my passport, i've been putting that off.
[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:38 pm (UTC)
Fuck the passport. It won't help you.

Call your Senator.
[info]hundmathr wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:40 pm (UTC)
Sweet mother of darkness...

Thank you for posting that. *shudders* Ok I’m officially terrified now.

I think its past time to “start hauling people’s asses before the Senate...” we should have started a while ago now. Now your right, it’s make or break time.
[info]jebbypal wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:41 pm (UTC)
WORD! A lot of people on my flist think I'm crazy to call for impeachment because, to quote one, "i think it's overly optimistic to expect a conviction". The issue isn't conviction, the issue is that by issuing the articles of impeachment, congress will finally be able to reveal the full extent of illegalities without "executive privilege" protecting anything.

But I'm preaching to the choir here.
[info]biomekanic wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:44 pm (UTC)
Cheney first, then Bush, otherwise we get 8 years of Cheney.
(no subject) - [info]_tallian_ - Jul. 20th, 2007 06:38 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]pecunium - Jul. 20th, 2007 08:47 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]abidemi wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:42 pm (UTC)
Frankly, I'm amazed something like this hasn't happened sooner. And by sooner, I mean any time in the last century.

There's something very sick, authoritarian, and juvenile about American political culture that has just got to curl up and die. Otherwise, even if it's stopped this time, it will just happen again. Most of the people doing this have been around in politics for decades, and many of them (or their apprentices) will continue to be decades from now.
[info]franciskerst wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:06 pm (UTC)
Don't wonder too much; French people are not politically juvenile (more senile, rather) and they are now following the same path: Sarkozy is quite rightly nicknamed "Tzar-kosy". Must be an universal trend, linked with the growing concentration of the mass communication media, controlled by an oligarchy and the (related) still faster growing of cultural dearth and misery.
(no subject) - [info]talkswithwind - Jul. 21st, 2007 08:17 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]erinya wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 04:55 pm (UTC)
Also note this, which I find very worrying in connection with the executive order of the 17th. Looks like something big is being put in motion here...

But the phrase an act or acts of violence...doesn't that limit the executive order from extending to speech against the war? Would it only apply to actual acts of violence? I'm grasping at straws here. *goes to read [info]pecunium's post*
[info]casacorona wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:46 pm (UTC)
No, because the phrasing of the order includes "promoting acts of violence". And later it includes "supporting people who promote acts of violence." So if you've ever written a post questioning the imprisonment of the people in Guantanamo Bay, you could have your assets seized under this act.
(no subject) - [info]erinya - Jul. 20th, 2007 05:59 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]yuripup - Jul. 20th, 2007 07:09 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]krylyr wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:00 pm (UTC)
Holy crap. Thank you so much for posting this. I'll be writing letters and posting about it shortly.
[info]fidelioscabinet wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:02 pm (UTC)
Among the hundred, no, thousands of reasons why I hate this administration, one is "They make Richard Milhous Nixon look like a paragon of ethics and compassion".

I remember Richard Nixon. I remember Watergate. I remember the sick feeling I got when the Saturday Night Massacre took place over at the Justice Department. I remember Barbara Jordan and the rest of the House Judiciary sub-committee. I remember Judge Sirica. I didn't want to have to remember them like this.

Important Note: Don't just call your senators. Call your congresscritters as well--the Articles of Impeachment are to be drawn up in the House before they can be acted upon by the Senate.

You might also want to look into writing letters. Explain why, simply and plainly, you feel this needs to be done. You don't have to cite specifics; just say "because of repeated violations of the US Constitution and and contempt for the rule of law"; they aren't living under rocks and they know what you mean. They won't act unless they think you're going to vote for them if they do--they are terrified of the media and of the Republican spinmeisters--even the Republicans are terrified of them. Telling them this course of action is important to you as plainly and simply and politely as possible is the only thing to do. Tell them they can ignore Robert Novak and David Broder and the rest of that crowd--tell them how much this means to you--and I think it can be done in under fifty words, not counting Dear Congresswoman/man or Dear Senator, and Sincerely, Your Name.
This isn't a Democrats vs. Republicans fight, or a Liberals vs. Conservatives fight any more--this is a Rule of Law and Principles of the Republic fight, and that's all there is to it. Any of us can be disappeared, any of us can be reduced to penury, any of us can be stigmatized and driven from pillar to post like a mad dog. Any of us at all. No one is immune.

[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:05 pm (UTC)
Yes.

Call. Write letters. Write emails. Tell them this is a make-or-break issue for you as a voter.
(no subject) - [info]qnofhrt - Jul. 20th, 2007 09:19 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]faithhopetricks - Jul. 20th, 2007 11:52 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]talkswithwind - Jul. 21st, 2007 08:21 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]luis_mw wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:06 pm (UTC)
any person or organization is obstructing the establishment of democracy in Iraq

So would that include the US military? And all those companies with big contracts who might lose out if the conflicts cease?
[info]hawkwing_lb wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:16 pm (UTC)
I'm appalled at how little I can do, but I've emailed all the national news outlets I can reached with copies of that executive order.

If nothing else, they might make some noise.

[info]stwish wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:27 pm (UTC)
And check my last post about the Reganite worried about a police state... And as i write this, Darth Cheney is the actual president of this country.. Brrrr..
[info]kelliem wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:44 pm (UTC)
Holy crap. So Bush does this, and the top headlines on CNN involve dogfighting and a horse falling off a trail? . . .

Free press my ass.

::off to write letters::
[info]ravynstoneabbey wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:48 pm (UTC)
I'll be writing a letter to my Senator and Representative as well, Bear. I also linked this from my main blog.
[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 05:54 pm (UTC)
Thank you.
[info]meijhen wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 06:01 pm (UTC)
I went out and was looking on MoveOn.org and was very surprised not to see a campaign already underway on this.
In fact, there doesn't seem to be a lot of noise on this at all. But I've forwarded the links and articles to all and sundry, and asked them to contact their Congress-people as well.
[info]cinnabari wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 06:09 pm (UTC)
Our President wants to be Caesar.
[info]stwish wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 06:31 pm (UTC)
Letter Sent to My Senators, Congressman, and Local Paper.
It is obvious to many, perhaps most people in America, that President Bush is deliberately provoking a Constitutional Crisis with his unprecedented claims of Executive Privilege, Primacy, and Immunity from Congressional Oversight, all in his pursuit of his illegal and failing War in Iraq. It is the duty of all of us as American citizens to help reassert Congressional Authority in matters of War Making Powers, Executive Branch Constraint , and Budgetary Management by any Constitutional methods what-so-ever, up to and including Impeachment.

The will of the people is becoming more focused on this issue, and our Representatives and Senators cannot afford to ignore that will.

In the face of a pathological government, the sane citizen must take action, while there is still time, if indeed there is any time left.
[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 06:32 pm (UTC)
Re: Letter Sent to My Senators, Congressman, and Local Paper.
good show, old chap.
[info]jerusha wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 07:02 pm (UTC)
Letters off
To both senators (Durbin (D-IL), Obama (D-IL)) and my representative (Biggert (R-IL/13)). Biggert's letter referred to bringing and voting for Articles of Impeachment, rather than voting to convict.

I am alarmed and appalled at President Bush's broadening declarations of Executive Privilege. Despite Constitutional requirements for the oversight of the actions of the Executive Branch by the Legislative Branch, he seems to have devolved to "I can do what I please, because I'm the President." Should impeachment proceedings be brought before the Senate, I urge you to vote to convict President Bush. He has arrogated to himself powers that properly belong to the legislative branch, and he must be stopped, not only for the current Administration, but for the future effects that such a comprehensive unbalancing of our system of government will bring under future Administrations of either party.
[info]renakuzar wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 08:00 pm (UTC)
Wishes real hard that some one in Congress reads your blog and understands the need for action.

REAL Hard.
[info]magentamn wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 08:52 pm (UTC)
If anyone here is as scared as I am, I suggest a further step, after writing letters and checking your passport.

Get all the cash you can.

Really, if you have it under the bed, or wherever, they can't seize it quite so easily. I wouldn't liquidate stocks (though the market could be peaking) or do anything conspicuous. But make sure you have enough to 1)pay bills and expenses for a while 2)get the hell out if it comes to that.

If this comes to naught, as I hope it will, all you lose is a little interest.
[info]stwish wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 10:24 pm (UTC)
Teresa says this is the Doris Umbridge Moment of the Bush Administration.
[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 21st, 2007 03:42 am (UTC)
Teresa is smart.
[info]faithhopetricks wrote:
Jul. 20th, 2007 11:49 pm (UTC)
Holy SHIT.

//off to write letters
[info]coffeeem wrote:
Jul. 21st, 2007 06:23 am (UTC)
"(A) threatening the peace or stability of Iraq or the Government of Iraq;"

Hey, wait--wasn't that, um, you know...

...us?
[info]matociquala wrote:
Jul. 21st, 2007 12:20 pm (UTC)
We can go home any time we want, I hear....
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