Bush wanted more power for himself then any other president in this nation's history, except for Richard (yes you were a crook) Nixon.
I found this in the New York Times this morning via the Washington Post.
Memos Reveal Scope of the Power Bush Sought
WASHINGTON — The secret legal opinions issued by Bush administration lawyers after the Sept. 11 attacks included assertions that the president could use the nation’s military within the United States to combat terrorism suspects and to conduct raids without obtaining search warrants.
That opinion was among nine that were disclosed publicly for the first time Monday by the Justice Department, in what the Obama administration portrayed as a step toward greater transparency.
The opinions reflected a broad interpretation of presidential authority, asserting as well that the president could unilaterally abrogate foreign treaties, ignore any guidance from Congress in dealing with detainees suspected of terrorism, and conduct a program of domestic eavesdropping without warrants.
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The opinion authorizing the military to operate domestically was dated Oct. 23, 2001, and written by John C. Yoo, at the time a deputy assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel, and Robert J. Delahunty, a special counsel in the office. It was directed to Alberto R. Gonzales, then the White House counsel, who had asked whether Mr. Bush could use the military to combat terrorist activities inside the United States.
The use of the military envisioned in the Yoo-Delahunty reply appears to transcend by far the stationing of troops to keep watch at streets and airports, a familiar sight in the wake of the Sept. 11 attacks. The memorandum discussed the use of military forces to carry out “raids on terrorist cells” and even seize property.
“The law has recognized that force (including deadly force) may be legitimately used in self-defense,” Mr. Yoo and Mr. Delahunty wrote to Mr. Gonzales. Therefore any objections based on the Fourth Amendment’s ban on unreasonable searches are swept away, they said, since any possible privacy offense resulting from such a search is a lesser matter than any injury from deadly force.
The Oct. 23 memorandum also said that “First Amendment speech and press rights may also be subordinated to the overriding need to wage war successfully.” It added that “the current campaign against terrorism may require even broader exercises of federal power domestically.”
Mr. Yoo and Mr. Delahunty said that in addition, the Posse Comitatus Act, which generally bars the military from domestic law enforcement operations, would pose no obstacle to the use of troops in a domestic fight against terrorism suspects. They reasoned that the troops would be acting in a national security function, not as law enforcers.
In another of the opinions, Mr. Yoo argued in a memorandum dated Sept. 25, 2001, that judicial precedents approving deadly force in self-defense could be extended to allow for eavesdropping without warrants.
It was a 'conservative' in the Whitehouse along with his 'conservative' buddies at the Department of Justice who wanted to take away our liberties, freedoms...such as our freedom of speach and freedom of the press...and our Constitutional right of freedom from oppression.
If there is anything that could be construed as being 'oppressive' or 'controlling' to anyone it would be the controls that should be put back on the banking industry and Wall Street. The same controls that were removed by 'conservatives'....starting with Ronald 'The Rich Man's President' Reagan....which allowed the banks and Wall Street run amok and do whatever they damn well pleased.
There's an old 'battle cry' from the '60's....Power To The People!
Well...the people have the power now, and it's about damn time!
Much thanks to the New York Times and the Washington Post without who I probably couldn't have posted this.
7 comments:
I'm just surprised that He didn't find some way to make himself Dictator!
Thank God for term limits!
All that I can say is that they cannot be allowed to get away with what they have done.
Jim,
I think he tried.
One Fly,
I don't care what Obama says, they ALL should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
I agree but let's get something moving on the first one. Until then all we have is the same old shit-which is squat.
And stick the truth commission Lehey where the sun don't shine. If we go that way imunity will be given and that's bullshit too.
Agreed. Something new has to be done.
Every conservative plitician who says "government is the problem" should put their money where their mouth is... and resign!
Agreed, Shea.
If gov't is the problem, they are part of the problem, so they should just leave.
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