Federalization of National Guard without governors' consent...

[cynatnite]

CHARLESTON, S.C. - The nation's governors are closing ranks in opposition to a proposal in Congress that would let the president take control of the National Guard in emergencies without consent of governors.

The idea, spurred by the destruction and chaos that followed Hurricane Katrina's landfall in Louisiana and Mississippi, is part of a House-passed version of the National Defense Authorization Act. It has not yet been agreed to by the Senate.

The measure would remove the currently required consent of governors for the federalization of the Guard, which is shared between the individual states and the federal government.

"Federalization just for the sake of federalization makes no sense," said Gov. Kathleen Blanco of Louisiana, a Democrat who had rough relations with the Bush administration after the disaster last year. "You don't need federalization to get federal troops. ... Just making quick decisions can make things happen."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060805/ap_on_re_us/governors_guard

[Eric J in MN]

1. We need civilians to provide assistance during disasters.

The military has enough roles.

[converted_democrat]

2. I'm not smart enough to know why this bothers me, but it does.. Just

seems like there is more to it than what meets the eye.. Besides that, what Governor in his/her right mind would want to turn control of his/her state to this corrupt, inept administration??

[w4rma]

13. It conglomerates and centralizes power.

Who decides when there is an "emergency"? Who then gets control over, not only the federal troops but the state "militias". Who decides **what** is an "emergency"?

Heck these same troops could even be redirected **away** from emergencies to punish or blackmail a state.

[12string]

28. Federalizing the Natl. Guard

Seems to me this tyrant wants an instant 50 state federal
police force at his disposal soon.Are the detention facilities
almost completed?Are they thinking they may have to take by
force this November what they simply stole before?I'm certain
it has nothing to do with emergency humanitarian aid.You have
good reason for this to bother you.

[converted_democrat]

29. I think a point you made bothers me the most..

"I'm certain it has nothing to do with emergency
humanitarian aid." Anyone with half a brain knows that the last thing this crew will ever worry about is helping those in need due to a disaster, or the poor.. They just don't have a humanitarian bone between them.. So right off the bat we know that their cover story is bogus, because they don't ever help those in need.. So, what is the "real" reason they want this to happen?

[sutz12]

3. Bad, bad, bad idea....

The National Guard is the remnant of the militia. It is there not only for "national defense" but for defense against the nationalists. This is a neo-con power grab.

No f'ing way can this happen.

[cynatnite]

4. Is it just me or isn't the timing a little suspicious?

We're only a few months from midterms.

[sutz12]

7. Well, I'm pretty suspicious of anything this admin does...

Notice, governors are starting to worry, too, including prominent Republican Governors.

Dems should pick up on this as the power grab that it is. This could be another pressure point to use against the repub congress.

[converted_democrat]

8. I certainly think it is, but then again I'm suspicious of anything they're

trying to sell.. I think it's great that the Governors aren't just rolling over, I hope they can stop it from happening.. I don't know very much about this topic, but wouldn't this just be another way for them to get around Posse Comitatus? I too am suspect of the timing..

edited for spelling..

[JAYJDF]

5. I agree with you. The guard is to protect us from

just the sort of possibility that Busch is developing. That will be tough since most of them are already overseas. They are our last line of defense before individuals pick up arms again.

[JAYJDF]

6. In fact, "blue" states need to get those guardsmen back

before Busch does try something crazy.

[Protagoras]

9. If this had been proposed under Clinton or Carter can you imagine?

There would have been conservatives screaming and waving guns as they ran up the down the streets.

But like Debt and Nation Building and protections on our Civil Liberties...it just doesn't matter as long as it's Chimp doing it.

We've become a theocracy worshiping at the alter of insane, neocon greed.

Where are all the states rights boosters in Congress now?

[cynatnite]

10. It would be non-stop 24/7 on TV if it was Clinton...

It would lead the news, headlines all across the US, RW nutjob frothing at the mouth screaming with outrage at the very notion.

I do try to be rational and not be too overly suspicious, but this does concern me a lot.

[bananas]

11. This already passed the House?

I hadn't heard anything about it.
This is very bad.

[Joanne98]

12. Any Governor who gives up state control over the guard should be HANGED.

[Name removed]

15. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[cynatnite]

16. Good thing we don't hang people anymore

:eyes:

[leftchick]

18. we have more modern methods

:(

[SensibleAmerican]

22. It's hung, and that my friend is a terroristic threat

n/t

[ThomWV]

14. Under What Authority Could Congress Do This?

I am confused. Does not not Constitution separately give control of a well regulated malitia to the people and control of the nations army to the President. Everything else is left to the states, presumably as excercised by each state's Governor. So all the authoritys for any sort of armed force seem to have already been used up.

[formercia]

30. It doesn't matter if it's Unconstitutional

This Administration has violated the Constitution so many times already, it won't matter. He just wants the power to take complete control and suspend the Constitution. After that, any legal points are moot.

[ChiciB1]

17. Why Doesn't Someone Just Buy The Idiot A Fake Crown, Maybe

then, IF he "thinks" he's KING he'll be satisfied for a little while and stop more destruction of America!

Weren't the Repukes the Party of "smaller" government. Seems to me that every time I turn around anymore... the government is right behind me. Are you listening NSA??

It's got to happen, I just don't know to make it happen, but we MUST take to the streets. Use whatever battle cry we need to, but we must do it.

Maybe everyone is just waiting until after November, at least I hope that's the reason for holding back! THEY MUST GO!!

[ananda]

19. How my suspicious mind works...

I'm so suspicious that BushInc deliberately fucked up the response to Katrina
so he could get control of the NG and not have to institute a draft in order to
stay the course in Iraq and Afghanistan, that is, stay the course to complete
and utter failure while using expendable lives to do it.

Sue

[glitch]

23. It's not your suspicious mind, it's their non-stop suspicious acts.

You better believe they deliberately fucked up the Katrina response on purpose, for this and quite a few other reasons (crony profit, discrediting democracy etc etc).

[uppityperson]

20. no. f*ing. way.

[SensibleAmerican]

21. Did the federalization of the National Guard bother people ...

when the governors were using the National Guard to stop blacks from going to schools.

[Bluebear]

24. Yes I imagine it bothered people, what is the point? nt

[SensibleAmerican]

25. 2 points actually

1. I believe it is already legal to federalize the Guard if Eisenhower and Kennedy were able to do it.

2. Based on the success of federalizing the Guard, I'm not against the idea of making a more explicit law allowing the President to do such, especially for a Democratic President.

[Bluebear]

26. I don't want this monkey President to have any more power than he does.

And any law that has a Democratic OR a Republican President speciafically in mind is not a great idea, because the pendulum will always swing the other way.

[bananas]

27. FWIW

Some info on when the president can federalize the guard:

http://66.102.7.104/search?q=cache:IF7DTiVKt-IJ:www.intel-dump.com/posts/1126296246.shtml+Eisenhower+federalize+%22national+guard%22&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2

http://www.intel-dump.com/posts/1126296246.shtml