"Just as long as you're OK with a future Democrat president having the same power..."
Exactly what power are you referring to? It appears to be a decent attempt at setting forth a process of running the country during an emergency.
It's not like President Bush invented the presedential fiat.
Here's one quote googled up at random that touches upon a number of examples. Feel free to delve into the history of executive orders.
"In 1978, a select bipartisan Senate committee identified 500 existing laws that take effect when a president declares an emergency by executive order. Such laws include vast powers to seize property, commodities, fuel and minerals; organize and control the means of production, including compulsory job assignments for civilians; assign military forces abroad; institute martial law and force civilian relocation; seize and control all forms of transportation and restrict travel; seize communications and health facilities; regulate operation of private enterprise; require national registration through the postal service or otherwise control citizens' lives.
Congress terminated all four emergencies under review at the time and set up a new system of annual renewals to preclude perpetual states of emergency. The gesture turned out to be hollow. On Nov. 14, 1979, President Carter declared the next emergency during the Iran hostage crisis, and it still is in effect -- along with 13 other national emergencies. Executive orders renewing emergency declarations have become routine paperwork.
"Unfortunately, the Supreme Court has essentially ruled over time that the executive orders have the force and effect of law," says Rep. Jack Metcalf, Washington Republican, leader of a rebellion currently brewing in the House. "Well, they don't, but if nobody's there to challenge them they continue to carry the effect and force of law.""
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Executive orders may or may not be the best thing for the country, but they've been with us since George Washington. I don't understand why all of a sudden they're news. Well, maybe I do.
John