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June 24, 2006

Back to Being the People’s President

 

 

It’s good to see President Bush connecting with Americans once again. Many of us had still persistent, yet fading memories of his bullhorn rallying call from atop the rubble at Ground Zero. Since that day however, we've more often seen a weakening pulse of populist vitality from within the White House.

 

Enter the President’s latest executive order.

 

It’s a boon for the triad of first-rights (life, liberty, and property). President Bush’s executive order signed on the anniversary of the infamous Kelo decision establishes parameters under which federal agencies may take property from citizens. Those parameters make allowances only for genuine public use projects, such as the building of roads or hospitals, schools or parks.

 

Along with most Americans, conservative House Speaker Dennis Hastert and House Judiciary Committee Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr. both praised the order, calling it part of a sincere, all-out effort on the part of the President “…to ensure private property rights are protected…”.

 

But some folks are strangely silent. Not a peep in fact, from Arizona Senator John (Insane) McCain, once again no doubt keeping silent in the interest of the big government – big business lobby. In fact, conservative senators are having a difficult time passing the measure the house passed overwhelmingly last year, the Private Property Rights Protection Act of 2005, which the President no doubt will quickly sign if given the chance.

 

Chairman Sensenbrenner:

 

"President Bush should be praised for doing what he can to ensure private property rights are protected by signing this Executive Order. The House of Representatives has acted by overwhelmingly passing by a 376-to- 38 margin the bipartisan 'Private Property Rights Protection Act.' Unfortunately, in the year since the horrendous Kelo decision, the U.S. Senate has not acted."

 

"The Senate's failure to act leaves every homeowner vulnerable to having the government seize their property and give it to a large corporation for a private business use. It has been 232 days since the House passed this legislation that is vital to protecting the rights of every property owner in America, yet this bill is stuck in the U.S. Senate. That needs to end," added Chairman Sensenbrenner.

 

On the bright side however, Texas Senator John Cornyn is offering legislation in the Senate to “block federal funding for any state or local projects in which land was taken through eminent domain”. Of course blocking any funding won’t work; however, specifying funding will only be available for projects that are truly public works in nature, as per the President’s executive order, would probably be a smash hit.

 

It’s good to see the George W. Bush we elected in 2000 and 2004, and the man for whom Texans proudly cast their votes in 1994 and 1998. We (Texans, and later all Americans) felt as if Mr. Bush, unlike liberal Democrat predecessor Ann Richards, and later contenders Al Gore and John Kerry, truly understood us. I hope we will see more of this man; America still needs an advocate.

 

 

Posted by Martin at June 24, 2006 05:47 PM

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