“Apparently Bush used this extensively after 9-11.”
FWIW, we’ve BEEN in a national state of emergency ever since 9-11. Last September, Obama announced that it would continue for another year, i.e., until this coming September.
I believe the rationale for a new state of emergency is that each declaration has to specify what statutory authorities the president is invoking under his emergency powers that couldn’t be done without such a declaration (e.g., having Treasury seize assets etc.).
I don’t support or like Obama, but the reality is that if he’d want to abuse his powers under a state of emergency, the opportunity has been there ever since he took office. So we might want to dial down the rhetoric a bit over this newest move.
I find nothing wrong with allowing the Admin know that we are aware of the possibilities. At the very least,keeping ourselves edu to the pitfalls of this loophole re our freedoms.
Even with all of the NE Declarations since 9-11, we STILL see so-called “homegrown” terrorists. The last being the most dangerous so far and it wasn’t even one of the long drawn out investigations. It was citizens that caught him.