Executive Orders

Hey folks,

Happy Friday to you. Now I told you to keep in the back of your mind the fact that President Bush issued an Executive Order in reference to stem cell research. I told you I wanted you to think about that. So let’s talk about Executive Orders.

Quite simply put, Executive Order equals what the President wants, the president gets. Congress wanted embryonic stem cell federal funding. The President finds this unethical. He see this as the destruction and murder of innocent lives. I agree. I’m glad he vetoed it. But then he decided to cut to the chase and stop the game playing by congress. Again, not a bad idea. Glad he did it.

Now because the President issued an executive order, funding will be given to those scientist that play by the rules. Does Congress like it? No. Can they do anything about it? No. Here in lays the danger. Notice you have heard no complaining by Congress over this? That is because they can do nothing about it.

So what is an Executive Order? The Nation.com puts it this way.

From time to time I hear that President Bush has issued an Executive Order establishing this policy or that. What is an Executive Order? Where does the President get the authority to issue them? Is there any way to reverse an Executive Order?

"Stroke of the pen. Law of the Land. Kinda cool."
Paul Begala, former Clinton advisor, The New York Times, July 5, 1998

"We've switched the rules of the game. We're not trying to do anything legislatively."Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt, The Washington Times, June 14, 1999

Executive Orders (EOs) are legally binding orders given by the President, acting as the head of the Executive Branch, to Federal Administrative Agencies. Executive Orders are generally used to direct federal agencies and officials in their execution of congressionally established laws or policies. However, in many instances they have been used to guide agencies in directions contrary to congressional intent.

Not all EOs are created equal. Proclamations, for example, are a special type of Executive Order that are generally ceremonial or symbolic, such as when the President declares National Take Your Child To Work Day. Another subset of Executive Orders are those concerned with national security or defense issues. These have generally been known as National Security Directives. Under the Clinton Administration, they have been termed "Presidential Decision Directives."

Executive Orders do not require Congressional approval to take effect but they have the same legal weight as laws passed by Congress. The President's source of authority to issue Executive Orders can be found in the Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution which grants to the President the "executive Power." Section 3 of Article II further directs the President to "take Care that the Laws be faithfully executed." To implement or execute the laws of the land, Presidents give direction and guidance to Executive Branch agencies and departments, often in the form of Executive Orders.

Now understand this.

Executive Orders are controversial because they allow the President to make major decisions, even law, without the consent of Congress. This, of course, runs against the general logic of the Constitution -- that no one should have power to act unilaterally. Nevertheless, Congress often gives the President considerable leeway in implementing and administering federal law and programs. Sometimes, Congress cannot agree exactly how to implement a law or program. In effect, this leaves the decision to the federal agencies involved and the President that stands at their head. When Congress fails to spell out in detail how a law is to be executed, it leaves the door open for the President to provide those details in the form of Executive Orders.

You can also learn about Executive Orders according to Wikipedia -Executive Order.

So why am I pointing this out? You know as well as I do that this Congress wants to give this President NOTHING. They want to make life hell for him the remainder of his term. They have come right out and said that. By this President issuing this Executive Order, more research will be taking place that has WORKED and will not destroy human life. The President also showed us LIVING examples when discussing it. Again, I still have not seen any of what he said about the positives of research OTHER than embryonic in the MMD. Have you? Just Bush bad, Bush vetoed. Bush doesn’t want to help those sick with Parkinson, ETC.

WAIT! As a side note, did you catch THIS? AP -New treatment promising for Parkinson's

An experimental treatment for Parkinson's disease seemed to improve symptoms — dramatically so, for one 59-year-old man — without causing side effects in an early study of a dozen patients.

The gene therapy treatment involved slipping billions of copies of a gene into the brain to calm overactive brain circuitry.

The small study focused on testing the safety of the procedure rather than its effectiveness, and experts cautioned it's too soon to draw conclusions about how well it works. But they called the results promising and said the approach merits further studies.

Get this,

The Lancet paper reports that over a year, patients showed no side effects from the procedure. What's more, they showed improvements in an overall assessment of symptoms like tremors, stiffness and walking problems.

The improvements were evident at a checkup three months after the procedure and persisted to the end of the study, one year after the surgery, researchers reported. By that time, the overall amount of improvement from before surgery was about 24 percent when measured at times that patients were off their normal medication, and 27 percent at times when they were on medication.

Yet NO scientific proof the embryonic stem cells do ANY better than any other stem cells. This doesn’t even USE stem cells. Interesting . Back to the Executive Orders. Now I have been warning you over and over again that Liberalism is a quest for tyranny. I have pointed out time and time again, Supreme Leader wannabe Clinton’s OWN words. Listen to her again.

"The other day the oil companies reported the highest profits in the history of the world. I want to take those profits and I want to put them into a strategic energy fund that will begin to fund alternative, smart energy, alternative and technology that will begin to actually move us toward the direction of independence. I have to tell you, I am not running for president to put Band-Aids on our problems."

The Democratic senator said what the Bush administration touts as an "ownership society" really is an "on your own" society that has widened the gap between rich and poor.

"I prefer a 'we're all in it together' society," she said. "I believe our government can once again work for all Americans. It can promote the great American tradition of opportunity for all and special privileges for none."

"There is no greater force for economic growth than free markets. But markets work best with rules that promote our values, protect our workers and give all people a chance to succeed," she said. "Fairness doesn't just happen. It requires the right government policies."

"We have sent a message to our young people that if you don't go to college ... that you're thought less of in America. We have to stop this," she said. "Our country cannot run without the people who have the skills that are taught in this school."

Now remember Clinton said some of the proposed changes would be made through executive order and others through legislation. She said she'd move quickly as president to implement the changes. Now you KNOW what she means, as I told you before, what Hillary wants, she gets, nothing you, nor Congress, nor anyone else can do about it. That is, with one exception, do not vote her in.
Peter

President Bush's Statement on His Veto of Embryonic Stem Cell Bill

Hey folks,

Here is President Bush's statement on his Veto of Embryonic Stem Cell Bill.

Mr. President: Welcome. I'm glad you're here. America is a nation that leads the world in science and technology. Our innovative spirit is making possible incredible advances in medicine that could save lives and cure diseases.

America is also a nation founded on the principle that all human life is sacred -- and our conscience calls us to pursue the possibilities of science in a manner that respects human dignity and upholds our moral values.


I appreciate the fact that we're joined by a lot of folks who share the deep desire to advance science, and at the same time, uphold our moral values. I appreciate the fact that Mike Leavitt is here, Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services. I want to thank the members of theUnited States Congress and Senate who have joined us. I thank you for taking your time to be here on this important announcement today.


I'm joined on stage by two good docs, really smart, capable people: Dr.Bill Hurlbut, Professor of Stanford University Medical Center; Dr. DonLandry, Professor at Columbia University Department of Medicine --actually, he's the Chairman of the Department. The reason they're here is these are brilliant biologists who are seeking new ways to develop stem cell lines without violating human life. And these are smart folks, and I cannot thank them enough for coming to the Oval Office to share with metheir wisdom and their vision.


I'm also up here with Carol Franz; she has whipped cancer twice byusing adult stem cells. In other words, adult stem cells have saved her life. She's a determined woman who believes strongly that there aredifferent alternatives available to use stem cells other than those whichare created as the result of destruction of human life.


And, finally, I'm up here with the McNamara family -- Kaitlyne is with us -- I'm going to talk about her in a second.


I do want to thank the other stem cell patients and researchers and advocates who are here with us today. If you're not in any of those categories you're welcome, too. (Laughter.)



In 2001, I announced a policy to advance stem cell research in a way that is ambitious, ethical, and effective. I became the first President to make federal funds available for embryonic stem cell research -- and my policy did this in ways that would not encourage the destruction of embryos. Since then, my administration has made more than $130 million available for research on stem cell lines derived from embryos that had already been destroyed. We've provided more than $3 billion for research on all forms of stem cells -- including those from adult and othernon-embryonic sources.


This careful approach is producing results. It has contributed to proven therapeutic treatments in thousands of patients with many different diseases. It's opening the prospect of new discoveries that could transform lives.

Congress has sent me a bill that would overturn this policy. If this legislation became law, it would compel American taxpayers -- for the first time in our history -- to support the deliberate destruction of human embryos. I made it clear to Congress and to the American people that I will not allow our nation to cross this moral line. Last year, Congress passed a similar bill -- I kept my promise by vetoing it. And today I'm keeping my word again: I am vetoing the bill that Congress has sent. (Applause.)



Destroying human life in the hopes of saving human life is not ethical-- and it is not the only option before us. We're already seeing remarkable advances in the science and therapeutic uses of stem cells drawn from adults and children, and the blood from umbilical cords -- with no harm to the donor. Researchers value embryonic stem cells because they are pluripotent -- which means that they have the potential to develop into nearly all the cell types and tissues in the body. Researchers are now developing promising new techniques that offer the potential to produce pluripotent stem cells -- without having to destroy human life.



For example, several new studies released earlier this month showed the potential of reprogramming adult cells -- such as skin cells -- to make them function like embryonic stem cells. It's exciting new research taking place in the United States of America. Scientists from all over the country hailed this as an important breakthrough. And I'm pleased to report to you that my administration and the NIH helped fund this exciting work. The taxpayers' dollars are going to new kinds of therapies, new kinds of science, new kinds of work that do not cross a moral and ethical line.



A few months earlier, scientists discovered that cells extracted from amniotic fluid and placentas could also provide stem cells that seem to do what embryonic cells can. Still other researchers are investigating how to combine reprogramming and other innovative techniques to produce stem cells with the abilities of embryonic stem cells -- without creating or destroying embryos. There's a lot of interesting work going on that's ethical and moral. Scientists are exploring ways to collect stem cells inthe same manner that doctors now rescue organs from patients who have died.



With us today are patients who are benefiting from ethical stem cell research -- including Kaitlyne McNamara. Kaitlyne was born with spinabifida, a disease that damaged her bladder. None of the treatments her doctor tried had worked; she was in danger of kidney failure. Then her doctors took a piece of her bladder, isolated the healthy stem cells, and used them to grow a new bladder in a laboratory -- which they then transplanted into her. And here she stands, healthy. (Applause.) Scientific advances like this one are important and should give us hope that there's a better way forward than scientific advances that require the destruction of a human life.



The researchers pursuing these kinds of ethically responsible advances deserve our support, and there is legislation in Congress to give them that support. Recently, the United States Senate passed a bill sponsored by Norm Coleman and others that would authorize additional federal funding for alternative stem cell research. The bill was approved with the backing of 70 United States senators. The House leaders need to pass similar legislation that would authorize additional funds for ethical stem cell research. That would be an important advancement. It would be an important statement. Because we can't lose the opportunity to conduct research that would give hope to those suffering from terrible diseases -- and help this country move beyond the controversies over embryo destruction.



We have a good chance to put aside all the politics and focus on a good piece of legislation that advances science and doesn't cross an ethical line. Norm, I want to thank you and Johnny Isakson for sponsoring that piece of legislation. (Applause.)



In the meantime, my administration is taking immediate action to increase our support for researchers in their vital work. Earlier today, I issued an executive order to strengthen our nation's commitment to research on pluripotent stem cells. This order takes a number of important steps.The order directs the Department of Health and Human Services and the NIH to ensure that any human pluripotent stem cell lines produced in ways that do not create, destroy, or harm human embryos will be eligible for federal funding.



The order expands the NIH Embryonic Stem Cell registry to include all types of ethically produced human pluripotent stem cells. The order renamesthe registry -- calls it this, the Pluripotent Stem Cell Registry -- so it reflects what stem cells can do, instead of where they come from. The order invites scientists to work with the NIH, so we can add new ethically derived stem cell lines to the list of those eligible for federal funding. I direct Secretary Leavitt to conduct an assessment of what resources will be necessary to support this important new research.



This science which does not cross ethical lines requires money. I believe it is a good use of taxpayers' money to spend money on this kind of science and research. And Michael is going to expedite it, that's what that means -- it's a fancy paragraph for saying he's going to get it done.(Laughter.)



With these steps, we'll encourage scientists to expand the frontiers of stem cell research. We want to encourage science. We want to say, we stand on your side in an ethically responsible way. Scientists have recently shown they have the ingenuity and skill to pursue the potential benefits of pluripotent stem cell research. Here's two of them right here. That's why they're standing here, they have showed what's possible. I have confidencein their abilities to continue to develop new techniques. With our expanded support of non-destructive research methods, we'll make it more likely that these exciting advances continue to unfold.



Technical innovation in this difficult area is opening up new possibilities for progress without conflict or ethical controversy. So I invite policymakers and scientists to come together to speed our nation toward the destination we all seek -- where medical problems can be solved without compromising either the high aims of science or the sanctity of human life.



Thank you all for coming. May God bless. (Applause.)