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come within the possession or control of United States persons, are blocked and may not be transferred, paid, exported, withdrawn, or otherwise dealt in: any person determined by the Secretary of the Treasury, in consultation with the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Defense,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.
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.
- Location:Guys? We need to fix this. 'kay?
- Mood:
scared

Comments
Has anyone drafted a Dear Congress letter similar to the above that is being sent to places. This is now beyond ridiculous.
(it's either make jokes, or go hide somewhere until I can figure out how to get off this planet before it implodes)
This is terrifying.
Now I hope I got my details right.
Call your Senator.
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.
But I'm preaching to the choir here.
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.
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
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.
Call. Write letters. Write emails. Tell them this is a make-or-break issue for you as a voter.
So would that include the US military? And all those companies with big contracts who might lose out if the conflicts cease?
If nothing else, they might make some noise.
Free press my ass.
::off to write letters::
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.
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.
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.
REAL Hard.
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.
//off to write letters
Hey, wait--wasn't that, um, you know...
...us?