OBAMA JOB #1: Co-Opt, Disarm a Potential 'Silent Coup'

• 'Rogue elements' could subvert his leadership if not curbed

•  Lay plans to put "homeland" agencies under Defense, Justice and Treasury

GET POLITICAL w/ VIC LIVINGSTON

Contrary to mainstream media conventional wisdom, Barack Obama's most pressing task at hand as  President-elect is not dealing with the economic crisis.

As the first order of business, he must take decisive action to consolidate his power and disarm potential rogue elements within the bowels of the government bureaucracy that may be tempted to "test," or even subvert, his leadership.

Major elements of the security complex no longer fall under the purview of the Department of Defense or the Justice Department. Their independence, and an absence of meaningful oversight by Congress, make these entities a potential breeding ground for resistance to his ascension to the presidency.

The situation is compounded by the fact that some of these entities are privy to virtually all channels of communications and surveillance.

President-elect Obama would be wise to co-opt any potential bureaucratic resistance by retaining the services of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and, at least for the short term, Attorney General Michael Mukasey.  FBI Director Robert Mueller's term isn't up until 2010; the retention of Gates and Mukasay, along with the continued service of Mueller, would act as a powerful deterrent to potential rogue actors who do not fall under the command of those three key national security officials.

The President-elect should immediately announce the retention of these Bush administration appointees. Then he should lay plans for a Congressionally-mandated reorganization that would once again bring the agencies of the Department of Homeland Security under the direct purview and authority of existing cabinet departments -- notably, Defense, Justice and Treasury.

Such a reorganization would establish greater accountability on the part of the Homeland Security agencies, and would better facilitate meaningful Congressional oversight.

This reorganization would retire the title "Homeland Security," which is linguistically reminiscent of the rhetoric of Nazi Germany.

Gates and Mukasey, it could be argued, already have demonstrated their capability for independent decision-making that puts the national interest above partisan political or ideological considerations. By giving these three officials a vote of confidence now, President-elect Obama would demonstrate bi-partisanship while deterring potential rogue resistance to his leadership.


BUT WILL THE ELECTION EVEN MATTER?

Not as long as government-supported "extrajudicial targeting" vigilante squads are "community stalking" American citizens, making a mockery of the rule of law:

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/american-gestapo-state-supported-terrorism-targets-u-s-citizens
OR members.nowpublic.com/scrivener 

WHAT IF THEY COULD SHOOT YOU
WITHOUT LEAVING A TRACE? THEY CAN.

http://www.nowpublic.com/world/zap-have-you-been-targeted-directed-energy-weapon-victims-organized-gang-stalking-say-its-happening-usa-1

OR members.nowpublic.com/scrivener