Bush says he may need more power in disasters

TheState.com ^ | 09/13/2005 | Stewart M. Powell

[Rebelbase]

Take that, Blanco and Nagin you incompetants!

[sheltonmac]

States' rights ping.

[Paradox]

I knew this was coming... be careful what you ask for DEMmies..

[BenLurkin]

The Federal government has too much power already.

[reelfoot]

"Bush says he may need more powers in disasters."

No, thanks. You have more than enough now. (Including, by the way, the power to control the border.)

[Constitution Day]

Grant wider leeway for active-duty U.S. military personnel to carry out law enforcement operations.

Ahh, no thanks.

[johnny7]

Bush will only be in office for 3 more years. I advise you to think this one over before you run out to buy party hats.

[Pessimist]

"Grant wider leeway for active-duty U.S. military personnel to carry out law enforcement operations. "

That one has slippery slope written all over it.

The last thing we need in this country is MORE federal authority. And for the less constitutionally inclined, consider that more federal authority - more federal responsibility = more federal expenditures.

Department of homeland security, huge new drug entitlement, and now this. Boy, that W... a real conservative, huh?

[peacebaby]

the general public doesn't know that Bush didn't have the power to order immediate civilian evacuation. Will they even hear about this? I know President Bush's comments were covered on Fox last night, but is anyone else covering it?

[OB1kNOb]

Uh, oh. This treads on dangerous territory IMO, regardless of who the President is at the time or his party affiliation.

[rattrap]

No doubt, no good can come of this.

[dfwgator]

President "Hillary!" is salivating at the thought.

[Rebelbase]

How do you equate my statment with wishing to buy party hats?

[dirtboy]

The same left-wingnuts screaming about Bush's response to Katrina will now screech about Bush wanting more powers to respond to future disasters.

True to form, they want it both ways, which makes them irrelevant in any sober debate of this issue.

So, then, we need to look at the issue at hand ourselves and figure out if this is a good idea.

I think it isn't - the framework is already there for federal intervention IF THE GOVERNOR REQUESTS IT - as Pete Wilson did during the LA riots. Having a governor involved in the decision-making prevents a president from abusing this power.

And this is why it is so key to make sure that Blanco's malfeasance in this disaster is highlighted - if the voters of Louisiana had elected a competent Chief Executive, we wouldn't be having this debate now. Folks are unaware how much power and authoritiy governors have in a major disaster, and are prone to think it's all the responsibility of the federal government. It's not. So they in turn need to realize that if they vote an incompetent hack into the governor's mansion, they are setting themselves up for problems in a disaster.

[sheltonmac]

Department of homeland security, huge new drug entitlement, and now this. Boy, that W... a real conservative, huh?

Hey, you're starting to sound like a pessimist. ;-)

It goes without saying that this has "slippery slope" written all over it.

[Jeff Head]

I am not for this...for expansion of federal power and authority into these areas withoiut state request or approval, despite the incompetence or political manuevering of the LA officials. The answer is for the people at the local level to address these needs and then request Federal aide when they need it.

It would be better to suffer the incompetence of local fools like these so the people can correct it, than to vest such unbridled authority in the Federal government. A person like Bush we could trust with it perhaps...but there will be others later whom we cannot and we dare not allow it to come into being for that reason alone.

[dirtboy]

President "Hillary!" is salivating at the thought.

Why do you think she only wants to examine the federal response and not the failures of Blanco before, during and after the disaster?

So she can call for greater federal powers, as well as pin the blame on Bush.

[dfwgator]

Bingo! Keep your eye on the ball people. This is what this is all about. The Rats have dreamt about more Federal power, they are being opportunistic.

[johnny7]

I'm a synergist.