Text 9785, 133 rader
Skriven 2013-08-18 15:58:13 av Lee Lofaso (2:203/2)
   Kommentar till text 9647 av Gary Perkins (11708.fidonews)
Ärende: How to raise a panic
============================
Hello Gary,

 LL>> Doubtful.  Remember, The One is term-limited and thus will not be
 LL>> seeking a consecutive third term ...

 GP>> Or any third term, thank Goodness.  The 22nd Amendment is clear on
 GP>> that.

 DD>> He could do what the Shrub threatened to do and declare a state of
 DD>> emergency - where the constitution and its amendments are stood aside
 DD>> for the duration...

GP>The constitution addresses that idea.  In Article 1, Section 9,
GP>habeas corpus can only be suspended in cases of rebellion or
GP>invasion, and then only if public safety is threatened (a good
GP>bet it would be).

Abraham Lincoln and George W. Bush have the distinct honor of having
been the only presidents in US history to have suspended habeas corpus.
With both times having been declared unconstutional by the courts.

GP>I'm not aware of any amendments that would affect that (correct
GP>me if I'm wrong), and in law there are some rather dubious acts
GP>passed that may not pass Supreme Court muster if it were brought
GP>before them.

After New Orleans was flooded due to Hurricane Katrina, GWB considered
declaring martial law.  His close advisors were able to convince him
otherwise, which was a good thing for the residents of New Orleans -
as well as every citizen in this country.

In times of national emergency, the President has lots of leeway
to do whatever the hell he wants.  Congress will not step in the way.
No governor would dare step in the way.  Nobody in their right mind
would even consider trying to step in his way.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina was a local event.  The aftermath
of Hurricane Sandy was a local event.  One could argue that both events
were regional events rather than local, but few would argue that either
event was a true national emergency.  And yet, one president strongly
considered to declare martial law after such an event.  Imagine what
would happen if a real national emergency were to take place.

GP>Each sovereign State has their own laws regarding martial law, or
GP>something approaching it, in times of emergency.

Do you seriously think that Governor Blanco could have prevented
President Bush from declaring martial law, or from federalizing the
National Guard?  She knew it was pointless to even try.  And she
was a seasoned politician, the elected Governor of Louisiana.

GP>For example, Louisianna has no specific articles or laws regarding
GP>it, but they do have the ability to temporarily suspend civil law in
GP>the event of a widespread public health disaster.  The governor was
GP>able to use that to send in his Guard.

President George W. Bush prevented Governor Kathleen Blanco from
sending in the National Guard.  Why?  Because President George W.
Bush wanted to politicize a natural disaster for his own personal
benefit.

Actually, I should have written Governor George W. Bush, since
our moron of a president was never legitimately elected president
of anything, much less President of the United States of America.

GP>However, at all times the writ of habeas corpus remains in effect
GP>(excepting invasion or rebellion).

It didn't after the events of 9-11, thanks to GWB.

GP>In any case, the entire notion is a bit silly.  The president would
GP>have to get the support of the Joint Chiefs, as well as all the
GP>departments of Homeland Security, as well as a SOLID majority of
GP>their subordinates.  Senators, Representatives, and likely the
GP>entire Judiciary would not support him, so his first act would have
GP>to be to try and disband them (effectively making him a dictator).

There are protocols in place so that none of that is necessary.
The events of 9-11 was a dry run of what is soon to take place in
America.  Only rather than Dictator Bush, we will have Dictator
Obama.

What was the very first thing that GWB did upon being informed
about planes hitting the WTC Towers in NYC?  He ran and hid.
Hopped aboard an airplane and flew all over the country, from
place to place, never revealing his present location.  His vice
president was hidden away at a safe and undisclosed location.
Other important government personnel and elected officials were
also protected.

Every leader of every country has contingency plans to deal with
such matters.  The events of 9-11 killed around 3,000 people in one
day.  This was a small number in comparison to what a real national
emergency could be.

GP>Were any of that to happen, pretty much all of the States'
GP>militaries would be storming Washington anyway.

The President would have federalized the National Guard in each
and every state, thus making those soldiers his own protectors.
No governor could have stopped him.  No governor would have even
bothered to try.  All would have sworn their allegiance to The
One.  Just as Germans swore their allegiance to Der Fuhrer in
the dark days of WWII.

 DD>> And on that subject, if the US constitution was such a great piece of
 DD>> law, why did it need so many amendments?

GP>That's why it's considered a great document, and probably the only
GP>reason we have one of the oldest continuous governments.

The U.S. Constitution was ratified without any amendments.  Three
years later, it became obvious to all it had to be fixed.  Ergo, the
Bill of Rights (Amendments 1 through 10) were added and ratified.
And it still wasn't perfect, as several more amendments had to be
tacked on during the course of our history.

The fact of the matter is, the Framers of the Constitution did not
promise us a perfect union.  They promised us a more perfect union.
We still have quite a ways to go to make it perfect.  We can get a
bit closer to perfection by finally ratifying the ERA ...

GP>We also consider it great because if it's abused or ignored, the
GP>states can choose to overthrow those in power.

The last time certain states tried to do that, those states got
their butts kicked.  I'm not so sure Rick Perry and his merry band
of Texans want to make that same mistake again.

--Lee

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