And why did they do this?

"Only one of the five War Council lawyers remains in office: David Addington, the brilliant but abrasive longtime legal adviser and now chief of staff to Cheney. His primary motive, according to several former administration and defense officials, was to push for an expansion of presidential power that Congress or the courts couldn't check."

Theory of executive authority is fascist trend and the results of its realization we can see now around.

Expect a lot of right wingers to cry bloody murder come January 30th when they realize all the power they gave the executive branch and the fact that they don't control said branch. Then they will realize that hey, those powers can be used against them as well.

Bloody oath.

I think those powers will remain on the shelf, waiting for the next executive-power zealot, unless the Congress passes articles of impeachment. The precedent will remain as long as executives believe they can get away with it.

Maybe, but then what happens if the next bomb takes out a women health clinic or a black church or a federal building. Now that terrorism has been elevated to a crime beyond "normal" crimes and a whole extra-legal structure has been created based on the fact that terrorism is special somehow, what would stop the goverment from using these powers?

Imagine if the national guard did in say, I don't know Wyoming, the same house to house searches as they do in the Basra.

After all a terrorist is a terrorist is a terrorist....

Oh boy

Gotta tell you, with the floods here in Iowa, I have been amazed to discover that the government has the power to order you out of your own home and arrest you if you try to return without their permission, for as long as they like. "For the public safety."

I'm sure it is safer not to go back, but where does the authority come from to bar one from one's own home at one's own risk? I find it spooky.

Get used to it silly, they have the power and want more.