Why Bush ran away on 9/11

[Fight_n_back]

There was a great article in the Atlantic Monthly on a Reagan era plan for surviving a nuclear war. (?!)

This plan was conceived by...Cheney and Rumsfeld. They used to have secret rehearsals on how to keep the government running after an attack.

One of the most chilling parts of the article was the talk about presidential Succession. The plan was NOT to reconvene Congress because they may decide to have the Speaker of the House take his Constitutional role in the absence of the Pres and VP. This was considered "messy". So essentially the plan was for a coup in the case of an emergency. this is all completley illegal shit but why is that a surprise.

Anywho, when the attacks occurred this plan went into effect, Cheney acted as the President and told Bush to run around the country, which he was only too happy to do.

Some questions to ask:

When was the President allowed to run the government again? (almost a rhetorical question)

Why isn't this "plan" discussed in a democratic way?

Is this what they are hiding from the 9/11 commission?

Why would YANG reference an article and not provide a link?

Why do gays love Cher so much?

Discuss...

[CatWoman]

1. Another question

Is Yang still as sweet and funny as he was last year?

:hi:

[Fight_n_back]

2. Awww

funnier...not as sweet...

a whole lot of water has gone under my bridge in the last year but I still have a HUGE CRUSH on Catwoman

:hi:

[thebigidea]

3. didn't they revise the old contingency plans after 9/11?

the whole "Shadow Goverment" thing.

[BeFree]

4. Beat me too it...

Yes, the "Shadow Government" thing. That's where it came from -- the raygun administration.

Time for these bastards to pay for their treason. They've got just enough rope to hang themselves with, let's swing!

[DieboldMustDie]

5. The Speaker of the House...

being in the line of succession to the presidency is not in the constitution.   There are some who think this is actually unconstitutional -- separation of powers and all that.

[Stephanie]

6. Fascinating. Yes, I would love a link, Yang...

How long ago was the article? I'd really like to see that.

From an old thread: Dick Cheney - Shadow President

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http://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A24386-2002Dec7?language=printer

Shadow Government Is at Work in Secret
After Attacks, Bush Ordered 100 Officials to Bunkers Away From Capital to Ensure Federal Survival
Friday, March 1, 2002; Page A01

President Bush has dispatched a shadow government of about 100 senior civilian managers to live and work secretly outside Washington, activating for the first time long-standing plans to ensure survival of federal rule after catastrophic attack on the nation's capital.

<snip>

Known internally as the COG, for "continuity of government," the administration-in-waiting is an unannounced complement to the acknowledged absence of Vice President Cheney from Washington for much of the pastfive months. Cheney's survival ensures constitutional succession, one official said, but "he can't run the country by himself." With a core group of federal managers alongside him, Cheney -- or President Bush, if available -- has the means to give effect to his orders.

<snip>

According to officials with first-hand knowledge, the Bush administration conceived the move that morning as a temporary precaution, likely to last only days. But further assessment of terrorist risks persuaded the White House to remake the program as a permanent feature of "the new reality, based on what the threat looks like," a senior decisionmaker said.

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