Don’t jump on me too hard...but my husband read the entire executive order and said that much of this has been in effect for many years. (I’m not saying that it’s good.)
For a different view, see this: http://volokh.com/2012/03/18/new-eo-on-natural-resources-defense-preparedness
An excerpt: “The EO is simply an update of prior orders on the same subject going back decades to, among other things, account for changes in the cabinet and the like. if this is a presidential power grab — and I don’t believe it is — the power was grabbed decades ago.”
You are correct, the power was grabbed decades ago. The concern now is that we have someone in the White House who seems likely to make use of the power.
The idea is that the USA has existing policies in place that would facilitate a president (any president) in being a dictator. The fear is that we might (some day) have someone in the White House who would make use of these Executive Orders.
The similarity is to the constitution of the Weimar Republic in Germany. It wasn’t a bad document at all. But it did contain Article 48 — and that basically said that the German Constitution would be suspended if a state of emergency were declared. Well, Hitler was elected chancellor, the Reichstag building caught on fire, and Hitler said, “Okay. No more Constitution. I am the fuhrer and my word is law.”
Completely legal and in accordance with government mandates put in place by others.
Much of it, yes. But I have heard that the inclusion of “in peacetime” makes much more mischief possible.