scary laws

http://www.webpronews.com/topnews/2007/06/06/american-reporters-arrest-c...

"But something else was going on among the press corps, according to bloggers. A YouTube video has surfaced showing InfoWars.com's Matt Lepacek, who claimed to have proper press credentials at CNN's Republican debate, being arrested at the command of Giuliani's press secretary after asking a question.

Never mind the question itself. It was a rather audacious query about Giuliani's knowledge of a terrorist threat prior to 9/11. And that's something we'd rather not get into here.

But Lepacek's arrest brings up some serious questions about freedom of the press, especially since Lepacek is being held on charges of criminal trespassing and espionage.

President Bush has signed a directive granting extraordinary powers to the office of the president in the event of a declared national emergency, apparently without congressional approval or oversight.
…The directive establishes under the office of the president a new national continuity coordinator whose job is to make plans for “National Essential Functions” of all federal, state, local, territorial and tribal governments, as well as private sector organizations to continue functioning under the president’s directives in the event of a national emergency.

“Catastrophic emergency” is loosely defined as “any incident, regardless of location, that results in extraordinary levels of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy, or government functions.”