Just something to remember...the EAS, when used in ‘National Emergency’ mode, is in reality a last-ditch effort for the President to send a message to the American people. He would only use it IF there were no way for him to speak to the nation...that is, that he could not, for whatever reason, get his message out over regular channels.
If Barry the Boob wanted to inform us that he had just named himself Emperor For Life (as some FReepers fully expect him to attempt), he wouldn’t NEED the EAS unless the networks and the MSM refused to allow him to do so (a highly unlikely event). Since we all KNOW how much they love him, he’d be able to go on national TV and radio and make that announcement without the need for the EAS.
This system is meant for a true national crisis, like nuclear missiles inbound on the US. Granted the likelihood of that event happening since the demise of the Soviet Union has dropped dramatically...but the possibility still exists.
Can it be mis-used for nefarious purposes? Yes. Will it? I hope not.
Who’s watching TV at this hour of the day? Seriously, it would almost be better to try to do it via Twitter, or Facebook.
The President of the United States has available certain powers that may bee xercised in the event that the nation is threatened by crisis, exigency, or emergency
circumstances (other than natural disasters, war, or near-war situations). Such powers may be stated explicitly or implied by the Constitution, assumed by the Chief
Executive to be permissible constitutionally, or inferred from or specified by statute. Through legislation, Congress has made a great many delegations of authority in this regard over the past 200 years.
http://fpc.state.gov/documents/organization/6216.pdf
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman released this statement to Business Insider:
“The weaknesses exposed by today’s test of the emergency alert system are unacceptable. Government and media carriers must work together to make sure the system does what it is intended to do, which is to transmit a nationwide message from the President in a crisis. I commend FEMA for carrying out this long-overdue, first-ever, nationwide test of the system. Without it, we would never have known the extent of the system’s vulnerabilities.”
What about Barry calling for Marshall Law? Riots in numerous cities...
No President has ever used the current [EAS] system or its technical predecessors in the last 50 years, despite the Soviet missile crisis, a presidential assassination or attempted assassination, the Oklahoma City bombing, major earthquakes and three recent high-alert terrorist warnings including 911.
There are around 35 50K radio stations that reach like 95% of the American public. I don’t understand why the NOAA Weather radio stations don’t participate, that’s just weird.
Your point is well taken... besides a nuclear attack or Marshall Law... what else is there? An asteroid? The government would never let us know if we were going to be hit by an asteroid.
How many of these TV and radio stations would still be around if "regular channels" aren't??