Posted on 09/27/2005 8:19:23 AM PDT by Crackingham
President Bush yesterday sought to federalize hurricane-relief efforts, removing governors from the decision-making process.
"It wouldn't be necessary to get a request from the governor or take other action," White House press secretary Scott McClellan said yesterday.
"This would be," he added, "more of an automatic trigger."
Mr. McClellan was referring to a new, direct line of authority that would allow the president to place the Pentagon in charge of responding to natural disasters, terrorist attacks and outbreaks of disease.
"It may require change of law," Mr. Bush said yesterday. "It's very important for us as we look at the lessons of Katrina to think about other scenarios that might require a well-planned, significant federal response -- right off the bat -- to provide stability."
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) accused Mr. Bush of attempting a power grab in the wake of fierce criticism that he responded too slowly to Hurricane Katrina a month ago.
"Using the military in domestic law enforcement is generally a very bad idea," said Timothy Edgar, national security policy counsel for the ACLU. "I'm afraid that it will have unforeseen consequences for civil liberties."
SNIP
But stabilizing a crisis might require federal troops to arrest looters and perform other law-enforcement duties, which would violate the Posse Comitatus Act of 1878. The law was passed in the wake of the Civil War and Reconstruction to prevent the use of federal troops from policing elections in former Confederate states.
The White House wants Congress to consider amending Posse Comitatus in order to grant the Pentagon greater powers.
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
Hmmm, what would a guy like Billy Clinton do with this kind of power?
Damned if he do, damned if he don't. What a lousy Catch 22 the Pres is stuck in.
Create a great Free Republic Day!
Huge mistake.
Anytime the Federal Gov't gets more power, its bad.
This is a very bad idea.
I can understand Bush's wish to be able to help and not have his hands tied by incompetent governors.
However, the States are supposed to be free from Federal interference in such issues unless they ask for help. THe states have the authority and the responsibility, and it should remain that way.
It's a Catch-22 for sure.
The federal government are not first responders. However, what happens if state and local officials (as well as FEMA) bungle the case, as they did with Katrina?
no one is "demanding" he do this - he should just leave this issue alone. its not going to pass congress anyway.
Agreed, the President is getting it from all sides. I believe he does everything within his power to assist those in need.
what SHOULD have happened this time. what Brown is doing right now in his testimony. GO ON OFFENSE AND BLAME THE RESPONSIBLE PEOPLE. rather then taking the blame for something the federal government didn't do.
I can understand Bush's wish to be able to help and not have his hands tied by incompetent governors.
However, the States are supposed to be free from Federal interference in such issues unless they ask for help. The states have the authority and the responsibility, and it should remain that way.
Just wanted to repeat your statement .
Oh and you flunkys at the ACLU, bite me.
We conservatives will deal with this.
Florida, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama responded very well to the hurricanes. So why should the whole system be changed because one state with a couple of morons for governor and mayor of N'awlins screwed up!
Solution: replace "Dumb & Dumber" and leave well enough alone!
Fellow Freepers. I think we are seeing more srtategery in action. This is a direct counter-punch to the media attack on the President's response to Katrina. This move highlights the way the current laws work and will put the liberals in a catch-22. They would love to have more power, but supporting this move lets him off the hook. Opposing this plan shows they really DIDN'T want to fix the problem, just attack Bush. This move parries both lines of attack.
We don't need to throw the baby out with the bathwater. Blanco is the bathwater.
The party of smaller government strikes again.
...Or, we could just elect competent governors.
He should definitely leave it alone. The Stafford Act and The Insurrection act are basically tools that are in place for the President to deal with disasters and national emergencies.
Two idiots in Louisiana doesn't call for new federal powers. Doing so is dangerous to say the least.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.