Given
the current slate of candidates and their political philosophies coupled with
the stakes involved for
As you
know, I put zero stock in anything politicians say especially during a campaign
year. I focus rather on character
and how they’ve conducted themselves in the past when deciding who I think
should wear the mantle of command. Who can we best trust with such enormous
power and authority? Frankly, our
track record of candidates in that regard does not inspire confidence.
A
presidential power often overlooked but always lurking in the convoluted
background of shadowy political intrigue is that of the Executive Order.
An
Executive Order, whether viewed as constitutional or not by those of us who
think about such things, becomes law simply through its decreed activation by
the President and subsequent publication in the Federal Registry.
There
have been hundreds upon hundreds of these executive orders signed over the years
governing everything from declaring
when the flag flies and placing our oil shale land off limits for development,
to the virtual declaration of what is as close to martial law as we’ve ever
seen in America. Presidents have used the Executive Order in times of
emergencies to override the Congress as well as the Constitution.
Andrew
Jackson used his executive power to force the Cherokee Nation off their land.
The Cherokee fought
Lincoln suspended many fundamental rights guaranteed in the Constitution and the Bill of Rights closing down newspapers opposed to his war-time policies and imprisoning many so-called political prisoners suspending their right to trial and the right to be confronted by their accusers. Lincoln's justification was that the preservation of the Union took precedence over everything. After the war and Lincoln's death, Constitutional law was restored.
In
1917, as World War I raged in Europe, Woodrow Wilson could not convince Congress
to arm
FDR
issued an Executive Order in December 1941 relocating approximately 100,000
Japanese residents to internment camps and confiscating their property. Both
Now
imagine, if you can, any one from our current crop of candidates with such power
in an age of global terrorism—terrorism that would provide a readymade excuse
for declaring a national emergency. Just
thinking about that is nightmarish!
In
light of the demonstrated intent of terrorists to engage in acts of war on our
homeland and considering the leading candidates of both parties, this election
becomes more critical than any in recent memory. We would be ill-advised to put
such executive power in the hands of anyone whose moral fiber or judgment might
lead them to arbitrarily abuse it at the first opportunity.
Such abuse could transform
Although our economy and current level of freedom would certainly be the short-term victims of another terrorist attack, the potential aftermath of extreme executive action could be devastating in the long-term to our Constitution and way of life. Frankly, the only thing that stands between us and something potentially akin to martial law is the character and temperament of the President coupled with a national crisis sufficient to scare Americans into obeying it…and of course a supportive Congress or at least one unwilling to politically challenge the order. Yet one more consideration when deciding who to entrust with this massive but little publicized power.
Just
the view from my saddle…
Contact Colonel Dan: coloneldan@bellsouth.net