Bush Does Something Right

President Bush just announced the signing of a new executive order (text of EO here) relating to the shameful Kelo v. New London Supreme Court case (case details here) that approved government seizure of land under eminent domain, not for "public use" as has been the standard, but for private development.

The executive order is basically a rejection of the verdict reached in the Kelo case:

It is the policy of the United States to protect the rights of Americans to their private property, including by limiting the taking of private property by the Federal Government to situations in which the taking is for public use, with just compensation, and for the purpose of benefiting the general public and not merely for the purpose of advancing the economic interest of private parties to be given ownership or use of the property taken.

While I'm not sure exactly what sort of effect this will have in practical terms, it is at least a show of support for those who were outraged by the court's ruling. As far as I can tell, the order doesn't claim to usurp the authority of the courts in deciding the matter, but rather establishes a general policy of the executive branch, since the executive can exercise a good deal of discretion in its enforcement of laws.

I'll post anything more I hear about the practical effects of this, or any comments from the media.