http://rt.com/usa/news/obama-president- ... tions-770/
Thoughts on this? I don't see an issue with this but other than having blinders on I can see this as a need in a Federal emergency. I'm sure if Progurt hadn't taken his ball and gone home I'm sure he'd tell me how I'm a rube for continuing to support Obama.

I see the planning and preparation for the use of such power as a yawn. Any harm it could do, I would have already expected in any situation where it would be relevant.

Gee, Every president since the end of WWII has done similar planning. The paranoids in the comments are hoot.

Seems to me that the government has always had this capacity in one form or another and exercised it with regularity. I am not certain that I grasp the need for an executive order other than perhaps establishing and defining a procedural and authoritative hierarchy that may have been lacking in current policy.

I sort of think the the word Emergency carries some special meaning with regard to application and the like, but seriously, in the event of such an emergency that the gov feels taking control of my telephone is warranted, I going to assume that things have gone to shit already.

This may be new, but I suspect that these guys have been the boss all along anyway...

Sec. 5.5. With respect to the Intelligence Community, the DNI, after consultation with the heads of affected agencies, may issue such policy directives and guidance as the DNI deems necessary to implement this order. Procedures or other guidance issued by the heads of elements of the Intelligence Community shall be in accordance with such policy directives or guidelines issued by the DNI.

and Progurt has left us? Shit, nobody tells me anything.

I'm only guessing progurt has left, haven't seen him post in awhile. Maybe this will draw him out of hiding.

If I know Progurt, he ain't hiding from nothin

haven't even noticed his being gone.

This looks like the logistical rebirth of the Emergency Broadcast System. Seems to me that this is an adaptation to current technology, not a grab of new power.

Hmmm... Does this mean he can shut down Fox News?

The FCC did a dry run not to long ago. They probably realized they needed renewed authority.

Bucolic wrote:Hmmm... Does this mean he can shut down Fox News?

Oh dear god please yes.

gendoikari87 wrote:haven't even noticed his being gone.

Why the edit?

From what I read it seems Obama is exercising his executive authority through the administrative agencies. Nothing "new." Congress vested those powers in the agencies. If congress doesn't like it, they can limit these powers through amended or new legislation.

whitey wrote:http://rt.com/usa/news/obama-president- ... tions-770/
Thoughts on this? I don't see an issue with this but other than having blinders on I can see this as a need in a Federal emergency. I'm sure if Progurt hadn't taken his ball and gone home I'm sure he'd tell me how I'm a rube for continuing to support Obama.

P. is still around.
Let's be honest for a moment, hmmm? If this was announced during a Republican's turn in the White House, wouldn't most of us be running around with pitchforks and torches?
And rightfully so.

No, I wouldn't, not for this. But others would. So point taken.

the comedian wrote:

whitey wrote:http://rt.com/usa/news/obama-president- ... tions-770/
Thoughts on this? I don't see an issue with this but other than having blinders on I can see this as a need in a Federal emergency. I'm sure if Progurt hadn't taken his ball and gone home I'm sure he'd tell me how I'm a rube for continuing to support Obama.

P. is still around.
Let's be honest for a moment, hmmm? If this was announced during a Republican's turn in the White House, wouldn't most of us be running around with pitchforks and torches?
And rightfully so.

To me this is another step in the evolution of our Imperial Presidency. Congress has surrendered many responsibilities over the decades, does it declare an emergency? I think you will find that they have given the President the authority to do it on his own. There are many emergency statues on the books. The excuse is that the President needs the power to act quickly in the modern world (large element of truth in that) but the office has immense powers (multiplied by the "Patriots" act) that have the potential for abuse. In it self this act is minor (I think it stitches together existing authority) but it is a part of a trend. How we respond seems to depend on who we support for President.

I'm not seeing this specific piece of paper as being especially problematic. It reads like a managerial memo: we ought to be ready for emergencies and here is how we are going to do it.

The article quotes EPIC. I usually trust EPIC but I think they are barking up the wrong tree here.

wlewisiii wrote:Gee, Every president since the end of WWII has done similar planning. The paranoids in the comments are hoot.

Yup.