My guess is that Iowa doesn't want a new senator until Grassley or Harkin retire/die. They like the system they have with a senior senator on both sides of the isle. It works well for a state that way. Take Iowa, Nevada and Oregon. 2 purple states and a pretty liberal state, which both have a R and D senator to put the money on the table for their state no matter which party is in power. That system works well for a state.

one little PS;

If Latham were to get popped by Spencer this time around, his chances for giving Culver a run for Governor would be in that same slim-to-none category.

Although I don't perceive Culver as even remotely vulnerable, either, but no doubt a lot of "Steele" and "Blackwellian" hot air will be expelled trying to argue the point.
BUT to no avail...

"Why would Latham leave a safe House seat to run for Senate?"

Is Latham's seat really safe? Not in terms of re-election, althought that still remains disputable, but in terms of being a Delay-clone earmarked Congressman in an era of Democratic oversight? Would you really consider that "safe?"

I would think Latham's record (like Nussle's)of close involvement and colusion with Delay, Bush, et al, might give him pause to even run again; if he was older and wiser he might make that decision to get out of the game more readly.

If anything, this is Latham's way "out", and he's just smart enough to see it as graceful end to his tenuous circumstances.

Considering the level of hubris reached by the Republicans in the Delay, K-Street project heydey, and the loose earmark money that profused during that dark era in American politics, isn't it likely that nearly every one of those Delay/Abramoff minions cut out their own little piece of pie, never anticipating having to answer for it?

Now that the Dems have the gavels and the accompanying oversight, that old easy money may not look so easy now. All the rest of the unnamed Republican lawmakers who also practiced Ney's, Cunningham's, Doolittle's, etc, etc and Stevens(AK) bad examples, are probably looking over their shoulder for one of Leahy or Waxman's hounds.

Latham can use this opportunity to run for Senate to free himself very gracefully of this impending burden.

And the chances of his beating Harkin in this era of reform are slim to none, and only the most brainwashed among us will argue the possibility seriously.

Everyone else is just spouting words they know are false.

I have heard, too, that Dr. Selden Spencer, who surprised everyone last time around with amuch closer outcome than expected against Latham, is seriously considering running again. If that is true, then the Republicans in Iowa probably aren't looking forward to Latham's running for the Senate, because Spencer will likely beat anyone the R's could produce right now in that district.

And it is even quite possible Spencer would beat Latham this time around, if the pattern continues as it has been.

So running against Harkin might be a graceful exit for Latham all the way around, then he doesn't face the embarrassment of losing the seat he now holds quite tenuoulsy.

Losing to Harkin would not be perceived as nearly as much of a defeat as losing his seat in Congress. And once the Senate race is over, then Latham can go back, hang out at the family seed factory, and practice his Gubernatorial campaign speeches for a couple years, prepping for his next event.

Harkin is pretty safe. As previous posts have noted, he generally gets in the low to mid 50's, but he always pulls it out. Iowa is content with its two senior senators, one in each party. No matter which party is in control, we have someone on point.

Why only the Senate as Latham's goal? The GOP lost the governorship to a Dem in the last election. Latham's family farms, corps & political connections make him a natural to run for gov in the next one.

Don't make the mistake of thinking Latham's House seat is all that safe. His opponent, Dr. Selden Spencer, got into the race in late Spring with no political experience, little name recognition and local financing. All he had were the issues -- he polled 43 per cent in a largely conservative district. Spencer announced his next candidacy on election night.

It might be less embarrassing for Latham to get beat by an incumbent senator than a comparative neophyte. Whatever he does, the writing is on his wall. Spencer is someone to watch.

Thanks, Spartan.

Jon, sometimes CC's subject is limited and an intelligent discussion proceeds off topic. This was not one of those times.

Jon - That;s becasue individual races, ones between tweedle dee and dweedle dum party amount to nothing more than a bunch of hot air. Harkin *has* spoken out against outsourcing and is for removing tax breaks for corporations that outsource jobs. He HAS NOT called for duties and fees on goods and services that these corporate traitors then turn around and bring into this country, paying not one red cent. He HAS NOT called for taxing corporations for paying corporate officers obscene bonuses. He HAS NOT called for an complete end to the H1-B and similar visas. He HAS NOT called for simply expelling every illegal alien in this country and still is apparently wedded to the Kennedy-Bush-Clinton-Obama criminal cartel that would give amnesty to the millions of ilegals here. Latham has almost exactly the same positions on these critical issues. Given that these two twits were evidently cojoined twins at birth, why should we or the people of Iowa care? We WANT, we DESERVE, **REPRESENTATIVES**. We want politicians that will represent the will and wishes of the people. We've had quite enough of windbags like Bush and Clinton and Kennedy that run roughshod over us; self serving windbags that think they know what's best for us. It's time to rethink politcis and that evidently is going to mean a regime change in Washington, from top to bottom and on both sides.

Harkin's more than solid. Latham is hardly a threat at this point.

http://www.political-buzz.com/

Forget Montana as a possible GOP US Senate pickup. Baucus is a moderate who pulled 63 percent of the vote last time out. What are you smoking out there? One of Governor Brian Schweizter's proverbial pine cones?

If the best his party can say about Latham is that he 'looks like a Senator' -- I'd say Harkin is pretty safe.

This post must break some kind of a record. NOT EVEN A HALF DOZEN COMMENTS ARE ABOUT THE IOWA SENATE RACE!!!!!!!!!!!!

Why is this place not moderated?

You are right MikeB, it is part of the class war.

They don't want us to know. And the corporate media and Mr. Cillizza want to keep it that way.

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"included the estimated value of the stock options "

explain how this is done. Can you predict the future price of a stock? wow, you AP guys must be rich. If my strike price is 10 bucks above the current price, please let me know the date I clear a profit. I really need to know. this is typical Liberal mathematics, based solely on a political story. If the CEO does not perform and/or the stock price falls (consider this likely under a Dem admin), his options are worth nothing. will AP come back then and correct their calculations. didn't think so.

Summary - more liberal BS about fixing prices and punishing success. why go to grad school when hillary will just pay you anyway?

Do any of our posters in IA think Harkin is in trouble?

Posted by: Mark in Austin | June 11, 2007 05:29 PM

no not really, harkin always win with by 4 or 5 percentage points. no worries mark
p.s. please dont feed the trolls

Do any of our posters in IA think Harkin is in trouble?

Posted by: Mark in Austin | June 11, 2007 05:29 PM

no not really, harkin always win with by 4 or 5 percentage points. no worries mark
p.s. please dont feed the trolls

Income Tax Expense 458,011 767,816 437,966

for Yahoo the last three years. I can only guess that an out of work engineer considers half a million bucks to be chump change. either that or he is inventing convenient facts again. No surprise there.

XTO:
Income Tax Expense 1,101,000 658,000 317,738

And, Che, go give a look at two other things - (1) *most* of these companies paid NO income tax. A good law would be to have a minimum income tax equal to 100 times the value of their executive compensation packages plus perks. I imagine Yahoo's board might think twice before sending the government their minimum tax check of $7,170,000,000! (2) Look at WHO/which candidate they send money to. Most of these cat swine send theor money to....Clinton! Clinton, Kennedy, Richardson, Obama, Bush, McCain, Romney, Thompson, and similar "free traitors" are simply parasites. Only someone braindead or who truly hates this country and themselves would consider supporting them.

Ewww I wish I were them. hillary, please take that money and give it to me. and can you make sure I pay no more than $1.50 per gallon of gas. thanks.

the village idiot

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US: CEO pay climbs to "stratospheric heights"

By Joe Kay
11 June 2007

Compensation for chief executives at the largest US companies continued to increase last year, according to a study published by the Associated Press on Saturday. CEOs at half of the public companies listed on the Standard & Poor's 500 received a combined total of $4.16 billion in 2006.

According to the AP calculation, the highest paid chief executive was Yahoo's Terry Semel, who received $71.7 million in pay, stock options and other forms of compensation. Half of the CEOs in the companies surveyed pulled in more than $8.3 million.

The top-paying industries were investment banks and energy companies. Second on the AP's list was Bob Simpson of XTO Energy Inc., with $59.5 million, and third was Ray Irani of Occidental Petroleum, with $52.8 million.

The AP's figures are based on a new formula for calculating executive pay, which is different from that used in other reports, including the companies' own filings with the US government. The news agency, which described compensation for the nation's corporate executives as reaching "stratospheric heights," included the estimated value of the stock options handed out to CEOs in 2006, and did not include the amount of money that executives received by exercising stock options they were given in earlier years.

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2007/jun2007/ceo-j11.shtml

"just going to leave you alone "

We never live up to our promises, even the good ones.

Do any of our posters in IA think Harkin is in trouble?

poor zouk.

"Suspected al-Qaida bombers stepped up attacks on key transportation arteries, striking a bridge north of the capital Monday a day after shutting the superhighway south of Baghdad with a huge explosion that collapsed an overpass and killed three U.S. soldiers. "

how did al queda get into Iraq? I thought they were all in Afghanistan? Is this a civil war or not? when can we hurry up and surrender? My latte is getting cold. I bet if they understood how useful that bridge was, they would have left it alone. We need to talk more.

We Libs always give up. surrender is in our nature. It is all we know. Cowardice runs in my family back many years. you may think it is easy to be so scared all the time. It takes stamina to be chicken of everything and run away at every opportunity. sometimes I use other people's words to try to fight back, but in the end, I have nothing of my own in the way of a spine, so I just fold. That is why I am so happy in the Democrat party. Harry Reid is just like me - a coward.

just going to leave you alone to rant now, zouk, you poor pathetic mental patient.

Help, my cut and paste is stuck down.

haha fooled you -- dems didn't want immigration bill either.

Just give us the money now; after it is all spent, we will consider what went wrong. We don't want to spend it on actual threats to our country or any of our empty campaign promises. we are Dems. We only say things to get elected. Everyone knows we never follow through on anything. We mostly just change our minds on important issues and then invent clever stories to cover up.

Viguerie Credits Conservative Media For Immigration Reform Defeat

The defeat of a carefully crafted bipartisan deal to reform U.S. immigration policy is the result of conservatives using blogs, e-mail, websites, radio talk shows, cable TV, and direct mail, according to a longtime conservative activist.

http://onthehillblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/viguerie-credits-conservative-media-for.html

Viguerie Credits Conservative Media For Immigration Reform Defeat

The defeat of a carefully crafted bipartisan deal to reform U.S. immigration policy is the result of conservatives using blogs, e-mail, websites, radio talk shows, cable TV, and direct mail, according to a longtime conservative activist.

http://onthehillblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/viguerie-credits-conservative-media-for.html

Viguerie Credits Conservative Media For Immigration Reform Defeat

The defeat of a carefully crafted bipartisan deal to reform U.S. immigration policy is the result of conservatives using blogs, e-mail, websites, radio talk shows, cable TV, and direct mail, according to a longtime conservative activist.

http://onthehillblog.blogspot.com/2007/06/viguerie-credits-conservative-media-for.html

Via Matt Yglasias & Sullivan, we get a look at uber lobbyist Fred Thompson's pro-choice past. It wouldn't really be note worthy -- the entire GOP 08 lineup is such a pallet of inveterate flip floppers they put Big Joe Turner to shame -- but Thompson's edge with the lizard brains seems to be based on the notion that he is a "true social values conservative" whereas Rudy's just an authoritarian b*stard whose kids really hate him.

http://firedoglake.com/

'We'll hold an expensive meeting of all the rich honest countries and poor corrupt countries '

well of course, zoukie, rich equals honest to you and poor equals corrupt. that's the winger worldview.

'shot the teachers during the lunch break' -- wow, zoukie it's just like here in the good old USA, isn't it?

Why are you so afriad that someone might DO something about global warming? Does it keep you awake at night? Global warming is already taking a whack out of our economy, with swiftly rising insurance costs which are only going to continue as the more violent storms and rising seas continue -- and more industries like agriculture are affected. Have you any idea what the crop losess were like this year? Astronomical. But you wingers are too dishonest to admit that.

NAIROBI - The Kenyan capital was rocked Monday by a bomb blast thought to be the work of a suicide bomber who blew himself to bits while clutching a copy of the Koran, injuring dozens of people. "It was a bomb explosion and body parts have been thrown apart," policeman Gabriel Omondi told AFP after the blast in front of the crowded City Gate restaurant on Moi Avenue, one of Nairobi's main streets.

First, the definitions on how we play this game. The debate over global-warming is done by majority rule. Everyone who believes in global warming caused by humans (it's our fault, folks), raise your hands. OK, as Chairman, I count 110% hands up. Now, comrades, what should we do about it? I know. Let's create a treaty among friends. Majority rules.

We'll hold an expensive meeting of all the rich honest countries and poor corrupt countries on some wealthy overcrowded island where food and oil is imported. We'll meet in Kyoto, Japan. Then, we'll all agree that global warming is our collective fault and the biggest countries causing global warming will have to slash their economies to cut back their emissions of carbon dioxide.

We'll also agree never ever to mention the dirty phrase "global cooling" and the fact that we were all dead wrong 25 years ago. We're right this time for sure. Since God is dead, it's totally our responsibility to manipulate the environment on this planet. We've done a good job in water conservation, ocean fish preservation, elimination of malaria and helping the poor people in Africa break out of poverty. We'll simply use the same tried-and-true collectivist tactics to handle global warming. Damn it. We broke it and we're gonna fix it!

Since the majority of us believe in the slogan "to each according to his needs", we'll create a way of allowing those good countries which don't pollute to sell their spare air to those bad countries which do. We'll exempt the biggest polluters - they're dirt poor you know-- (China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia and Brazil), and we'll blame the most aggressive supporter of clean air & clean water, that shifty fat cat Uncle Sam. Then, we'll spend lots of money on hiring out-of-work scientists to write us made-as-instructed reports proving that global warming is happening -- and that people are the prime cause.

Next, we'll enlist the media -- they don't know anything about science anyway - and we'll use them to smear the tens of thousands of other honest scientists who might object to the questionable science being produced on demand. If we chant the mantra "global warming, global warming" long enough, soon everyone will have read about it in the papers - and you know the papers never lie.

Eventually, if we're really lucky, we'll convert our cause into a cult religion. "Global Warming is the Opiate of the People". You can work wonders with guilt.

We'll pass lots of non-binding resolutions (so the EU countries and our other friends don't have to met their reduction goals). Then we'll call on the United Nations -- where we are solidly in control, brother -- to create an upright honest, respectable Intergovernmental Panel to produce a series of action-item reports, just like we did with the food-for-oil program that worked so well in Iraq.

Finally, we'll make up long-range 50 and 100-year weather forecasts on which to base all our new laws and spending, putting aside the fact that we can't even do accurate 7-day weather forecasts anywhere on the planet yet.

Then we can get filthy rich off of all the wasted human energy, junk science, and corrupt politicians, by creating artificial markets in "emissions trading". We'll have power, prestige, rock music, and guilt-ridden masses obeying our every rule.

Of course, we'll still be flying around in our private jets going to important global warming meetings and using our chauffer-driven limousines to transport us on the diamond lanes (2 people or more, please), and producing pseudo-scientific emotional-manipulating movies showing monster tidal waves and parched deserts. If we play our cards right, we might even get an award or two along the way, maybe even a Noble Peace Prize...

Meanwhile, we'll be able to ignore or suppress the growing number of climatologists, astrophysicists and meteorologists who are saying pesky things like global warming is mostly caused by the sun's periodic heating up, that lots of other planets and moons are getting hotter too, and that the earth has gone through over 30 cold-hot cycles with some much hotter than today.

Since it will take at least a decade -- maybe two or three if we're lucky - to prove us wrong, we can make lots of cash in the meantime.

So, now is the time to stock up on alternative-energy fuels that don't burn carbon. Solar panel technology looks good. And nuclear energy looks great (damn, who let the nukes in here to play?).

For a while we can make money on ethanol -- until we take up so much of it for fuel that our food prices go through the roof and the country gets wise to the fact that it takes more energy to make ethanol that you can get from it. So ethanol production plants, ethanol pipelines, ethanol storage tanks look like good get-rich-quick investments.

And since we have over 1000 years of coal left, investments in new expensive coal burning plants that bury their exhaust gases back underground look promising. As long as oil stays above $60 per barrel. New $3 per gallon gasoline taxes should make sure that the high prices are here to stay. We'll need lots new laws of course. And lots more jails to hold the new global warming criminals.

The bottom line: Global Warming is going to take one heck of a whack out of our economy. It's going to line the pockets of those insiders who can figure out how to play the game, or force other people (us) to pay for it. It's going to drive inflation up and decrease the economy's efficiency the way taxes always do. Global Warming will put America in its place, and bring back that old-time religion of fear and guilt. (But will it save the planet?)

Isn't it all just wonderful, comrade

Gaza - Palestinian gunmen fought inside a hospital and fired on the prime minister's offices after a truce collapsed on Monday, killing eight people in factional violence that cast fresh doubt over the future of the unity coalition. ''Everybody is shooting at everybody,'' a doctor /snip/ The heavy fighting doomed an Egyptian-brokered ceasefire announced just hours before and threw a shadow over long-term prospects for the unity coalition

Bangkok - Two female Buddhist teachers were shot dead at a school in Thailand's Muslim-majority south today, prompting 50 institutions to close indefinitely for fear of further attacks, officials said. Two men walked into the government school in Narathiwat, one of three provinces caught up in three years of Muslim separatist unrest in which more than 2300 people have been killed, and shot the teachers during the lunch break

Rezko contributed thousands of dollars and raised thousands more as Obama ran for the Illinois legislature, the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate. He was even involved in Obama's purchase of a family home.

But now Rezko faces federal charges as the central figure in an Illinois corruption scandal, and Obama -- whose Democratic presidential campaign emphasizes a squeaky-clean image -- is scrambling to distance himself from his old supporter.

The chairman, Wisconsin Democrat David Obey also said that his House Appropriations Committee will publicize proposed "earmarks" before House-Senate conferees resolve differences in the government's annual spending bills this fall. But Republicans said the offer falls far short of Democrats' January promise to disclose lawmakers' earmark requests before the bills reach the House floor, a process that begins this week.

Oh I forgot, I know about this because I never had to tell. so don't ask.

' National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Ensign (Nev.) said that Latham "looks like a senator" '

Pray tell, what does a Senator 'look like'
What is this republican obssession with appearance? From the talk about their candidates, that's all they seem to be able to come up with, a lot of teenage girl gushing about there manly good looks. Pretty superficial...and boy, they sure seem to get a lot of mancrushes. No wonder they're so phobic about gays... cuts a little too close.

Ensign has been a strong supporter of the U.S. effort in Iraq and needs to watch his own backside as that millstone is firmly tied around his neck. Guess that's the beauty of not having to worry about re-election until 2010: you are free to shoot your mouth off about everyone else's chances in 2008.

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http://onlinejournal.com/artman/publish/article_2063.shtml

New presidential directive gives Bush dictatorial power

By Larry Chin

The National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive, signed on May 9, 2007, declares that in the event of a "catastrophic event," George W. Bush can become what is best described as a dictator, "The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government."

This directive, completely unnoticed by the media, and given no scrutiny by Congress, literally gives the White House unprecedented dictatorial power over the government and the country, bypassing the US Congress and obliterating the separation of powers. The directive also placed the secretary of Homeland Security in charge of domestic "security."

The full text is below. A critical analysis on the directive can be found here.

This is another step towards official martial law (see "US government fans homeland security fears"), which suggests that a new "catastrophic event" 9/11-type pretext could be in the pipeline.

# # # # #

National Security and Homeland Security Presidential Directive

NATIONAL SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/NSPD 51

HOMELAND SECURITY PRESIDENTIAL DIRECTIVE/HSPD-20

Subject: National Continuity Policy

Purpose

(1) This directive establishes a comprehnsive national policy on the continuity of Federal Government structures and operations and a single National Continuity Coordinator responsible for coordinating the development and implementation of Federal continuity policies. This policy establishes "National Essential Functions," prescribes continuity requirements for all executive departments and agencies, and provides guidance for State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector organizations in order to ensure a comprehensive and integrated national continuity program that will enhance the credibility of our national security posture and enable a more rapid and effective response to and recovery from a national emergency.

Definitions

(2) In this directive:

(a) "Category" refers to the categories of executive departments and agencies listed in Annex A to this directive;

(b) "Catastrophic Emergency" means 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;

(c) "Continuity of Government," or "COG," means a coordinated effort within the Federal Government's executive branch to ensure that National Essential Functions continue to be performed during a Catastrophic Emergency;

(d) "Continuity of Operations," or "COOP," means an effort within individual executive departments and agencies to ensure that Primary Mission-Essential Functions continue to be performed during a wide range of emergencies, including localized acts of nature, accidents, and technological or attack-related emergencies;

(e) "Enduring Constitutional Government," or "ECG," means a cooperative effort among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the Federal Government, coordinated by the President, as a matter of comity with respect to the legislative and judicial branches and with proper respect for the constitutional separation of powers among the branches, to preserve the constitutional framework under which the Nation is governed and the capability of all three branches of government to execute constitutional responsibilities and provide for orderly succession, appropriate transition of leadership, and interoperability and support of the National Essential Functions during a catastrophic emergency;

(f) "Executive Departments and Agencies" means the executive departments enumerated in 5 U.S.C. 101, independent establishments as defined by 5 U.S.C. 104(1), Government corporations as defined by 5 U.S.C. 103(1), and the United States Postal Service;

(g) "Government Functions" means the collective functions of the heads of executive departments and agencies as defined by statute, regulation, presidential direction, or other legal authority, and the functions of the legislative and judicial branches;

(h) "National Essential Functions," or "NEFs," means that subset of Government Functions that are necessary to lead and sustain the Nation during a catastrophic emergency and that, therefore, must be supported through COOP and COG capabilities; and

(i) "Primary Mission Essential Functions," or "PMEFs," means those Government Functions that must be performed in order to support or implement the performance of NEFs before, during, and in the aftermath of an emergency.

Policy

(3) It is the policy of the United States to maintain a comprehensive and effective continuity capability composed of Continuity of Operations and Continuity of Government programs in order to ensure the preservation of our form of government under the Constitution and the continuing performance of National Essential Functions under all conditions.

Implementation Actions

(4) Continuity requirements shall be incorporated into daily operations of all executive departments and agencies. As a result of the asymmetric threat environment, adequate warning of potential emergencies that could pose a significant risk to the homeland might not be available, and therefore all continuity planning shall be based on the assumption that no such warning will be received. Emphasis will be placed upon geographic dispersion of leadership, staff, and infrastructure in order to increase survivability and maintain uninterrupted Government Functions. Risk management principles shall be applied to ensure that appropriate operational readiness decisions are based on the probability of an attack or other incident and its consequences.

(5) The following NEFs are the foundation for all continuity programs and capabilities and represent the overarching responsibilities of the Federal Government to lead and sustain the Nation during a crisis, and therefore sustaining the following NEFs shall be the primary focus of

the Federal Government leadership during and in the aftermath of an emergency that adversely affects the performance of Government Functions:

(a) Ensuring the continued functioning of our form of government under the Constitution, including the functioning of the three separate branches of government;

(b) Providing leadership visible to the Nation and the world and maintaining the trust and confidence of the American people;

(c) Defending the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and preventing or interdicting attacks against the United States or its people, property, or interests;

(d) Maintaining and fostering effective relationships with foreign nations;

(e) Protecting against threats to the homeland and bringing to justice perpetrators of crimes or attacks against the United States or its people, property, or interests;

(f) Providing rapid and effective response to and recovery from the domestic consequences of an attack or other incident;

(g) Protecting and stabilizing the Nation's economy and ensuring public confidence in its financial systems; and

(h) Providing for critical Federal Government services that address the national health, safety, and welfare needs of the United States.

(6) The President shall lead the activities of the Federal Government for ensuring constitutional government. In order to advise and assist the President in that function, the Assistant to the President for Homeland Security and Counterterrorism (APHS/CT) is hereby designated as the National Continuity Coordinator. The National Continuity Coordinator, in coordination with the Assistant to the President for National

Security Affairs (APNSA), without exercising directive authority, shall coordinate the development and implementation of continuity policy for executive departments and agencies. The Continuity Policy Coordination Committee (CPCC), chaired by a Senior Director from the Homeland Security Council staff, designated by the National Continuity Coordinator, shall be the main day-to-day forum for such policy coordination.

(7) For continuity purposes, each executive department and agency is assigned to a category in accordance with the nature and characteristics of its national security roles and

responsibilities in support of the Federal Government's ability to sustain the NEFs. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall serve as the President's lead agent for coordinating overall

continuity operations and activities of executive departments and agencies, and in such role shall perform the responsibilities set forth for the Secretary in sections 10 and 16 of this directive.

(8) The National Continuity Coordinator, in consultation with the heads of appropriate executive departments and agencies, will lead the development of a National Continuity Implementation Plan (Plan), which shall include prioritized goals and objectives, a concept of operations, performance metrics by which to measure continuity readiness, procedures for continuity and incident management activities, and clear direction to executive department and agency continuity coordinators, as well as guidance to promote interoperability of Federal Government continuity programs and procedures with State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate. The Plan shall be submitted to the President for approval not later than 90 days after the date of this directive.

(9) Recognizing that each branch of the Federal Government is responsible for its own continuity programs, an official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President shall ensure that the executive branch's COOP and COG policies in support of ECG efforts are appropriately coordinated with those of

the legislative and judicial branches in order to ensure interoperability and allocate national assets efficiently to maintain a functioning Federal Government.

(10) Federal Government COOP, COG, and ECG plans and operations shall be appropriately integrated with the emergency plans and capabilities of State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate, in order to promote interoperability and to prevent redundancies and conflicting lines of authority. The Secretary of Homeland Security shall coordinate the integration of Federal continuity plans and operations with State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector owners and operators of critical infrastructure, as appropriate, in order to provide for the delivery of essential services during an emergency.

(11) Continuity requirements for the Executive Office of the President (EOP) and executive departments and agencies shall include the following:

(a) The continuation of the performance of PMEFs during any emergency must be for a period up to 30 days or until normal operations can be resumed, and the capability to be fully operational at alternate sites as soon as possible after the occurrence of an emergency, but not later than 12 hours after COOP activation;

(b) Succession orders and pre-planned devolution of authorities that ensure the emergency delegation of authority must be planned and documented in advance in accordance with applicable law;

(c) Vital resources, facilities, and records must be safeguarded, and official access to them must be provided;

(d) Provision must be made for the acquisition of the resources necessary for continuity operations on an emergency basis;

(e) Provision must be made for the availability and redundancy of critical communications capabilities at alternate sites in order to support connectivity between

and among key government leadership, internal elements, other executive departments and agencies, critical partners, and the public;

(f) Provision must be made for reconstitution capabilities that allow for recovery from a catastrophic emergency and resumption of normal operations; and

(g) Provision must be made for the identification, training, and preparedness of personnel capable of relocating to alternate facilities to support the continuation of the performance of PMEFs.

(12) In order to provide a coordinated response to escalating threat levels or actual emergencies, the Continuity of Government Readiness Conditions (COGCON) system establishes executive branch continuity program readiness levels, focusing on possible threats to the National Capital Region. The President will determine and issue the COGCON Level. Executive departments and agencies shall comply with the requirements and assigned responsibilities under the COGCON program. During COOP activation, executive departments and agencies shall report their readiness status to the Secretary of Homeland Security or the Secretary's designee.

(13) The Director of the Office of Management and Budget shall:

(a) Conduct an annual assessment of executive department and agency continuity funding requests and performance data that are submitted by executive departments and agencies as part of the annual budget request process, in order to monitor progress in the implementation of the Plan and the execution of continuity budgets;

(b) In coordination with the National Continuity Coordinator, issue annual continuity planning guidance for the development of continuity budget requests; and

(c) Ensure that heads of executive departments and agencies prioritize budget resources for continuity capabilities, consistent with this directive.

(14) The Director of the Office of Science and Technology Policy shall:

(a) Define and issue minimum requirements for continuity communications for executive departments and agencies, in consultation with the APHS/CT, the APNSA, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Chief of Staff to the President;

(b) Establish requirements for, and monitor the development, implementation, and maintenance of, a comprehensive communications architecture to integrate continuity components, in consultation with the APHS/CT, the APNSA, the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, and the Chief of Staff to the President; and

(c) Review quarterly and annual assessments of continuity communications capabilities, as prepared pursuant to section 16(d) of this directive or otherwise, and report the results and recommended remedial actions to the National Continuity Coordinator.

(15) An official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President shall:

(a) Advise the President, the Chief of Staff to the President, the APHS/CT, and the APNSA on COGCON operational execution options; and

(b) Consult with the Secretary of Homeland Security in order to ensure synchronization and integration of continuity activities among the four categories of executive departments and agencies.

(16) The Secretary of Homeland Security shall:

(a) Coordinate the implementation, execution, and assessment of continuity operations and activities;

(b) Develop and promulgate Federal Continuity Directives in order to establish continuity planning requirements for executive departments and agencies;

(c) Conduct biennial assessments of individual department and agency continuity capabilities as prescribed by the Plan and report the results to the President through the APHS/CT;

(d) Conduct quarterly and annual assessments of continuity communications capabilities in consultation with an official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President;

(e) Develop, lead, and conduct a Federal continuity training and exercise program, which shall be incorporated into the National Exercise Program developed pursuant to Homeland Security Presidential Directive-8 of December 17, 2003 ("National Preparedness"), in consultation with an

official designated by the Chief of Staff to the President;

(f) Develop and promulgate continuity planning guidance to State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators;

(g) Make available continuity planning and exercise funding, in the form of grants as provided by law, to State, local, territorial, and tribal governments, and private sector critical infrastructure owners and operators; and

(h) As Executive Agent of the National Communications System, develop, implement, and maintain a comprehensive continuity communications architecture.

(17) The Director of National Intelligence, in coordination with the Attorney General and the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall produce a biennial assessment of the foreign and domestic threats to the Nation's continuity of government.

(18) The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Secretary of Homeland Security, shall provide secure, integrated, Continuity of Government communications to the President, the Vice President, and, at a minimum, Category I executive departments and agencies.

(19) Heads of executive departments and agencies shall execute their respective department or agency COOP plans in response to a localized emergency and shall:

(a) Appoint a senior accountable official, at the Assistant Secretary level, as the Continuity Coordinator for the department or agency;

(b) Identify and submit to the National Continuity Coordinator the list of PMEFs for the department or agency and develop continuity plans in support of the NEFs and the continuation of essential functions under all conditions;

(c) Plan, program, and budget for continuity capabilities consistent with this directive;

(d) Plan, conduct, and support annual tests and training, in consultation with the Secretary of Homeland Security, in order to evaluate program readiness and ensure adequacy and viability of continuity plans and communications systems; and

(e) Support other continuity requirements, as assigned by category, in accordance with the nature and characteristics of its national security roles and responsibilities

General Provisions

(20) This directive shall be implemented in a manner that is consistent with, and facilitates effective implementation of, provisions of the Constitution concerning succession to the Presidency or the exercise of its powers, and the Presidential Succession Act of 1947 (3 U.S.C. 19), with consultation of the Vice President and, as appropriate, others involved. Heads of executive departments and agencies shall ensure that appropriate

support is available to the Vice President and others involved as necessary to be prepared at all times to implement those provisions.

(21) This directive:

(a) Shall be implemented consistent with applicable law and the authorities of agencies, or heads of agencies, vested by law, and subject to the availability of appropriations;

(b) Shall not be construed to impair or otherwise affect (i) the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budget, administrative, and legislative proposals, or (ii) the authority of the Secretary of Defense over the Department of Defense, including the chain of command for military forces from the President, to the Secretary of Defense, to the commander of military forces, or military command and control procedures; and

(c) Is not intended to, and does not, create any rights or benefits, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by a party against the United States, its

agencies, instrumentalities, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.

(22) Revocation. Presidential Decision Directive 67 of October 21, 1998 ("Enduring Constitutional Government and Continuity of Government Operations"), including all Annexes thereto, is hereby revoked.

(23) Annex A and the classified Continuity Annexes, attached hereto, are hereby incorporated into and made a part of this directive.

(24) Security. This directive and the information contained herein shall be protected from unauthorized disclosure, provided that, except for Annex A, the Annexes attached to this directive are classified and shall be accorded appropriate handling, consistent with applicable Executive Orders.
GEORGE W. BUSH