Recently, The Chosen One declared that if elected President, he would like to give the general populous an energy rebate of $1,000.  The money, he said, would come from the profits of the oil companies.  I'm sure many LOVE the sound of this, but any red blooded American, who believes in what this country was founded on, should be appalled.  

 President Truman in 1952 decided to order his secretary of commerce, Charles Sawyer, to take over the nation's steel mills.  The steel companies were deadlocked with the Wage Stabilization Board (yes, one actually used to exist) in higher wages for workers.  A strike was looming.  Fearing what a strike would do to the lack of production of steel and the economy, Truman declared that this was an emergency and decided to take over people's private business.  Felix Morley, writing for Nation's Business compared Truman's "inherent power" in the Constitution with the "divine right" of King Charles I.

 The steel companies urged a federal judge to issue a restraining order and an injunction against the federal government.  Arguing for the government, Asst. Attorney General Holmes Baldridge argued that the President has "the power to take such action as is necessary to meet an emergency".

 The case made it's way to the Supreme Court in Youngstown Sheet and Tube Co. v. Sawyer (1952).  The government argued that a fair reading of the Constitution granted the President power to seize private property.  In a 6-3 decision against the government, Justice Hugo Black ruled no power granted by the Constitution or any congressional statute gave the President this power.  His ruling was the president's task was to enforce the law, not legislate, and Truman's seizure of the steel mills in the abscence of any legal authorization amounted to a legislative act. Seems liberals only believe in following precedent when it comes to abortion cases. 

So, in listening to The Chosen one speak yesterday, it reminded me of past attempts by presidents to extend presidential power, including Bush's attempt to justify his wire tapping program.  What I find interesting however, is the followers of The Chosen One love to claim Republicans have benefitted from the politics of fear, yet have no problem with Obama attempting to scare the people with claims of recession and fear and striking back against a law abiding industry.  Who's next?  What business is next?  Will it be YOUR business or YOUR profits The Chosen One decides to target?