(02-15-2019, 01:13 PM)Kane Wrote:

(02-15-2019, 12:51 PM)mikesez Wrote: going back to George Washington, the President has had more leeway to act unilaterally in foreign affairs than in most other areas.

uhhh OK?
What about Somalia is a national emergency for us?
hint: its not. 
It's just more nonsense brought to you by American politics.

Here's the first national emergency brought up by Woodrow Wilson

"I have found that there exists a national emergency arising from the insufficiency of maritime tonnage to carry the products of the farms, forests, mines and manufacturing industries of the United States, to their consumers abroad and within the United States"

Whereas we have Obama's first national emergency declaration for:
Blocking Property of Certain Persons Contributing to the Conflict in Somalia  – Intended to help combat Somali pirates.
Good thing we're declaring national emergencies for something that literally doesn't affect us

But hey... Trump has already done something similar twice... Nicaragua and Myanmar.... with his other national emergency order being for sanctions on any country interfering with elections.

All in all most of the national emergencies used outside of weather and disasters are stupid executive orders that are signed so that the POTUS doesn't have to get congressional bills and approvals. Most of which I would deem an overuse or abuse of power.

But that's the system we live in currently.

there are statutes that specifically give the president the authority to freeze bank accounts and other assets of foreigners.
That kind of thing can't be debated in Congress on a case-by-case basis. 
If they start moving a bill with your name on it, you'll get your money out to Panama or some other place before they are done debating.

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