Many are counting down the remaining days in the Bush regime including Keith Olbermann and Bill Press, who continually remind us that the end of his tyrannical rule is near.

Or is it?

The mainstream press has virtually ignored Bush's ultimate act of permanently grabbing absolute authority over the country with the signing of the National Security Directive in May of this year.

In essence, the directive centralizes the executive branch in the event of a national emergency to the exclusion of ALL other governmental entities.

In a loosely defined explanation, the directive says a "catastrophic emergency" is outlined as "any incident, regardless of location, which results in an extraordinary level of mass casualties, damage, or disruption severely affecting the U.S. population, infrastructure, environment, economy or government function."

Defined in that manner, Bush can decide that anything from sun spots to the bird flu; to the threat of an attack; to an actual or feigned attack; to a tie-up on L.A.'s 405 Freeway; to the country having a hangnail and everything in between, is reason to shut down the country, deputize anyone he wants, arrest anyone he wants, and do whatever he wants in any manner he wants.

Even more frightening is that having given himself these powers, Bush can close down any or all government offices, send Congress home, and WORST of all...he CAN cancel the 2008 elections, all under the guise of "national security."

While the clock is ticking down, Congress must take steps now to rein in the reigning George Bush and Dick Cheney and the rogue government they are running before it's too late.

The newly elected Democratic Congress is already conducting hearings and handing out subpoenas. That's not enough. They must start impeachment proceedings into the criminal activities of Bush and Cheney even if the clock runs out, and a newly elected president is sworn into office in January 2009.

Congress must find a way to shackle these criminals and their aiders and abettors before Bush declares a 'national emergency' and we see a soldier standing on every street corner...that is if there are any left after he's killed most of them off in his illegal war in Iraq.

Bush, Cheney and clan are not above law, even if they think they are. They can be found guilty of crimes even after leaving office and proper jail sentences -- using Federal sentencing guidelines, of course -- can be meted out.

Watching these impeachment proceedings and investigations will be like watching an episode of "Law and Order."

Each person in the government who is investigated will lead to the investigation of someone else, and so on...and so on...and so on...