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Title: Bush Seizes Control Over State Militias
Source:
Progress.org
URL Source: http://www.progress.org/2007/ussr03.htm
Published: Jan 18, 2007
Author: Kavan Peterson
Post Date: 2007-01-18 11:11:32 by Brian S
Keywords: None
Views: 366
Comments: 33
Bush Seizes Control Over State Militias To the dismay of the nation’s governors, the White House now will be empowered to go over a governor’s head and call up National Guard troops to aid a state in time of natural disasters or other public emergencies. Up to now, governors were the sole commanders in chief of citizen soldiers in local Guard units during emergencies within the state. A conflict over who should control Guard units arose in the days after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. President Bush sought to federalize control of Guardsmen in Louisiana in the chaos after the hurricane, but Gov. Kathleen Blanco (D) refused to relinquish command. Over objections from all 50 governors, Congress in October changed the 200-year-old Insurrection Act to empower the hand of the president in future stateside emergencies. In a letter to Congress, the governors called the change "a dramatic expansion of federal authority during natural disasters that could cause confusion in the command-and-control of the National Guard and interfere with states' ability to respond to natural disasters within their borders." The change adds to tensions between governors and the White House after more than four years of heavy federal deployment of state-based Guard forces to fight in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since the 2001 terrorist attacks, four out of five guardsmen have been sent overseas in the largest deployment of the National Guard since World War II. Shortage of the Guard’s military equipment -- such as helicopters to drop hay to snow-stranded cattle in Colorado -- also is a nagging issue as much of units’ heavy equipment is left overseas and unavailable in case of a natural disaster at home. A bipartisan majority of both chambers of Congress adopted the change as part of the budget-busting, 439-page, $538 billion 2007 so-called Defense Authorization Bill signed into law last October. The nation's governors through the National Governors Association (NGA) successfully lobbied to defeat a broader proposal to give the president power to federalize Guard troops even without invoking the Insurrection Act. But the passage that became law also "disappointed" governors because it expands federal power and could cause confusion between state and federal authorities trying to respond to an emergency situation, said David Quam, an NGA homeland security advisor. "Governors need to be focused on assisting their citizens during an emergency instead of looking over their shoulders to see if the federal government is going to step in," Quam said. Under the U.S. Constitution, each state's National Guard unit is controlled by the governor in time of peace but can be called up for federal duty by the president. The National Guard employs 444,000 part-time soldiers between its two branches: the Army and Air National Guards. The Posse Comitatus Act of 1878 forbids U.S. troops from being deployed on American soil for law enforcement. The one exception is provided by the Insurrection Act of 1807, which lets the president use the military only for the purpose of putting down rebellions or enforcing constitutional rights if state authorities fail to do so. Under that law, the president can declare an insurrection and call in the armed forces. The act has been invoked several times in the past 50 years, including in 1957 to desegregate schools and in 1992 during riots in south central Los Angeles after the acquittal of police who were caught on videotape beating Rodney King. Congress changed the Insurrection Act to list "natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident" as conditions under which the president can deploy U.S. armed forces and federalize state Guard troops if he determines that "authorities of the state or possession are incapable of maintaining public order." Mark Smith, spokesperson for the Louisiana Governor's Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness, said local and state emergency responders know what their communities need during a crisis better than officials in Washington. "The president should not be able to step in and take control of the National Guard without a governor's consent. The Guard belongs to the states, has always belonged to the states and should remain a function of the states," Smith said.
Centralized, paternalistic government was a bad Soviet Communist idea, so why does AWOL Bush favor it? by Kavan Peterson
A little-noticed change in federal law packs an important change in who is in charge the next time a state is devastated by a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina.
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#1. To: Brian S, burkeman1 (#0)
(Edited)
Destro's plan to save America: De-federalize the National Guards. Make the 50 national guards answerable only to the govs of their states. The NG can only be federalized if a declaration of war is declared by congress. If the president sends federal troops overseas without a declaration of war he can request NG units from the individual states which can send units or refuse the request. What this hoped would do the following: This would limit the power of the federal govt. This would ensure that the NG do serve as a true citizens well regulated militia and help make the gun laws more sane and Swiss in style (Swiss have rights to bear arm but that does not mean every idiot can have a gun). allows a patriot to serve his country through the NG without having to join the US federal military and serve overseas on missions he does not agree with like in Iraq or Kosovo. Restore the balance of power back to the states.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
Why didn't they just say "There's a FEMA camp waiting nearby for YOU!!!!!"
No matter how noble the objectives of a government; if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens human life, and breeds ill will and suspicion - it is an EVIL government. Eric Hoffer
A little-noticed change in federal law packs an important change in who is in charge the next time a state is devastated by a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina. To the dismay of the nation’s governors, the White House now will be empowered to go over a governor’s head and call up National Guard troops to aid a state in time of natural disasters or other public emergencies. Up to now, governors were the sole commanders in chief of citizen soldiers in local Guard units during emergencies within the state. The only ones doing anything were at the state level during Katrina, so guess what that means in the next disaster.
The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws. – Tacitus
Idiot two party fraud arguments against your idea. The "liberal" Beltway argument: The states are not populated with enlightend folks like us. They would lynch and kill all their black people if not for the Feds. Giving governors real power over armed forces larger than foolishly dressed highway speed ticketers is dangerous. The "Consevative" Beltway argument: The states don't recognize the danger that "insert enemy of the decade here" represents. If we don't fight them over there, we will have to fight them here. States rights are good- just not now (nor ever in reality as there will always be an "x" enemy to "Fight". A large centrally commanded military is what we need to "defend" us- that and 1000 foreign military bases. Besides- how will our friends in the MIC make money? Get real jobs?
I proposed the exact same above idea on so called right wing http://Libertyforum.com and the so called conservative states righters hated the idea because it would weaken the military might of the USA. I read their statements incredulously.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
Why increduously? The central focul point of American "conservatism" is militarism and worship of the Fed standing military and has been since WWII. What I call the right wing in this country- the "reichwing"- has been a sham movement from since WFB started National Review. It is an MIC controlled fraud. The leaders of this "Conservatism" worship FDR and Truman- two monsterous state builders and militarists par excellance. The "Conservatism" of America is a sort of knuckle dragging state worshipping Stalinism. Its the sort of "conservatism" that we used to call Stalinists during Gorby's era when he wanted to cut military spending and ease up on the police state. There has never been a spending bill on the military American "Conservatives" have ever thought enough. They react the same way liberals do to suggestions on cuts on the rates of spending increases for social programs- with howls of them being "gutted". American "Conservatism" paid lip service to "States Rights" when they were party out of power for 30 years in Congress. Comes time to deliver? Wow- another "enemy" that not only can't allow that- but actually requires that power to be increased. And the coward "men" that make up the chief demographic of "conservatism" couldn't be happier with that. They love their war toy magazines and History Channel. Hell- there is even a Military Channel now that caters to reichwinger military closet homos.
Many states also have a unique "State" militia, independent to the usual "Guard" or Reserve" authority.
secession bump
This is quite true, I met Utah Militia people who would occupy our armory and facilities if we were gone and deployed when I was in the National Guard Special Forces there. Not hardly your U.S. Army regulation bound and complete with TOE uniforms and equipment or TA 50, but they definately filled a need in the continuum of forces there.
This is quite true, I met Utah Militia people who would occupy our armory and facilities if we were gone and deployed when I was in the National Guard Special Forces there. Not hardly your U.S. Army regulation bound and complete with TOE uniforms and equipment or TA 50, but they definately filled a need in the continuum of forces there. The original intent of these was to exempt them from all federal control - but arms-length deployable under the State Governor's obligations to FEMA. I haven't been able to track down where the 'tyranny' authorities of FEMA went, with the formation of the DHS.
Because I was a conservative based on my classical education and not through Rush Limbough listening and thus I assumed what I was thinking was mainstream conservatism. With that said - does my proposal have merit?
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
The ladder of success.
"Don't Steal, the government hates competition."
See my post #1.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
I also think they use the NRA and notion of citizens militia (guys with beer guts who think they will be able to take on the US military) to give a false sense of empowerment. You want a true 'regulated militia' made of citizen/freemen? De-federalize the National Guards. As well as horror that I was emasculating the American military I was called some kind of gun grabber when I proposed this on LF.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
I remember quite well the nonsense out of their mouths about how Clinton "gutted" the military- though he didn't cut penny one from any military spending. He simply didn't launch new boondoggle contracts fast enough for their tastes. An America that spent money on its military like the rest of the world and in proportion to our size and wealth would be spending something like 50 billion- not 600 billion. A penny less than half a trillion and Freepers would die of insomnia worrying about the Islamic hordes about to slit their throats like the moron cowards they are.
I like it. But government power never devolves. I can't think of one example in history with the possible, limited, and qualified example of the Chi-com government devolving economic power- of a government ever giving up power. I think DC would have to be destroyed first.
The reason I removed myself from the voter roll.
After 'Nam patriots within the Pentagon made sure that the new American military structure would be linked to the National Guard and Reserves in the hopes that if an undeclared war happened again that drawing from the weekend warriors of the NG and Reserves would hamstring an adventurous president and a compliant congress by making sure another Golf of Tonkin resolution was not passed. It seems Clinton/Bush found a way around mobilizing the reserves in such a way as to not arouse the American people. My proposal above is an attempt to restore that hamstring mechanism to overseas adventurism.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
It's voluntary. 50 cent bumper stickers aside- no one cares all that much what the government does with its professional standing Merc armed forces. If their lil Johnny doesn't have to fight in it and is under no compulsion to fight in it- then the war is a cocktail party argument- to opposse or support casually.
Heck, they had national guard, BATF, DEA, local and state police officers out in this tiny far away town just to bust people who had marijuana plants growing in their homes. It was a big federal operation. They even had a national guard helicopter with special equipment to detect grow lights flying over people's houses. It was a big operation, they must've found around 50 plants and arrested a bunch of mostly 50+ year olds who were using it for medical conditions. About 20 of them are facing prison sentences and none of them know anything about the law as they've never been in trouble before. I wonder if having marijuana plants in your home makes you a terrorist now, sounds like maybe it does.
Yup - modern Hessians. Again, my proposal is one I think while a long shot would be doable real world solution. Oh well, the time of patriotisim is over - it is service to the powers that count now - and how much you can be purchased for your services.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
Not in this state that I know of, but they sure have a huge state and federal militia operating in this very sparsely populated area, you'd think this place it Terror Central, it's nuts. There's even been lots of articles on our famous spy cameras.
I wish Alaska could be it's own country! (I can't get arrested for saying that yet, can I?)
Nahhhh...people in Vermont talk about it all the time.
I am not calling for secession just a restoration of the balance of power.
"The desire to rule is the mother of heresies." -- St. John Chrysostom
Lodwick brought up secession, but you're right.
The Feds are over-running the states' power, at least out here.
Texas and Alaska could do just fine on their own - drill ANWAR, Gull Island, and the Gulf of Mexico, and stand back and watch. state's rights bump
Actually, Alaska does have such a militia, the last I checked, anyway. It's a small unit, admittedly. http://www.ak-prepared.com/asdf/
It appears to me they are a group who wants to help out the govt in case of emergency, not one of those "survivalist" type groups that Destro refers to.
bush and the NAZIS
"You can not save the Constitution by destroying it."
Since the (un)Patriot Act, Military Commissions Act, formation of Dept of Homeland Security, and all the other police state provisions enacted in the last 6 years - farting in public can be a "terrorist act" if they want it to be! All they gotta have is the foul odor to claim you were trying to poison the population with some nerve agent...
No matter how noble the objectives of a government; if it blurs decency and kindness, cheapens human life, and breeds ill will and suspicion - it is an EVIL government. Eric Hoffer
Your solutions are certainly as good as any.
Accepting used LP accounts and donations in cash.
#2. To: Brian S (#0)
Congress changed the Insurrection Act to list "natural disaster, epidemic, or other serious public health emergency, terrorist attack or incident" as conditions under which the president can deploy U.S. armed forces and federalize state Guard troops
#3. To: Brian S, *KATRINA* (#0)
Centralized, paternalistic government was a bad Soviet Communist idea, so why does AWOL Bush favor it?
#4. To: Destro (#1)
#5. To: Burkeman1 (#4)
The "Consevative" Beltway argument:
#6. To: Destro (#5)
#7. To: Brian S, Christine, Honway, Robin, Aristeides, Red Jones, Diana, All (#0)
#8. To: Brian S (#0)
#9. To: SKYDRIFTER (#7)
"Many states also have a unique "State" militia, independent to the usual "Guard" or Reserve" authority."
#10. To: Ferret Mike, Christine, Brian S, Honway, Robin, Aristeides, Red Jones, Diana, Kamala, All (#9)
"Many states also have a unique "State" militia, independent to the usual "Guard" or Reserve" authority."
#11. To: Burkeman1 (#6)
(Edited)
Why increduously?
#12. To: lodwick (#8)
(Edited)
#13. To: Redheadedstranger (#1)
#14. To: Burkeman1 (#6)
American "Conservatism" paid lip service to "States Rights" when they were party out of power for 30 years in Congress.
#15. To: Destro (#14)
emasculating the American military
#16. To: Destro (#11)
With that said - does my proposal have merit?
#17. To: ladybug. all (#12)
The ladder of success.
#18. To: Burkeman1 (#16)
#19. To: Destro (#18)
#20. To: innieway (#2)
Why didn't they just say "There's a FEMA camp waiting nearby for YOU!!!!!"
#21. To: Burkeman1 (#19)
It's voluntary. 50 cent bumper stickers aside- no one cares all that much what the government does with its professional standing Merc armed forces. If their lil Johnny doesn't have to fight in it and is under no compulsion to fight in it- then the war is a cocktail party argument- to opposse or support casually.
#22. To: SKYDRIFTER (#7)
Many states also have a unique "State" militia, independent to the usual "Guard" or Reserve" authority.
#23. To: lodwick, SKYDRIFTER, Destro (#8)
secession bump
#24. To: Diana (#23)
(I can't get arrested for saying that yet, can I?)
Remember...G-d saved more animals than people on the ark. www.siameserescue.org
#25. To: Diana (#23)
secession bump
#26. To: Destro (#25)
#27. To: Destro (#25)
#28. To: Diana (#23)
I wish Alaska could be it's own country!
#29. To: Diana, Christine, Brian S, Honway, Robin, Aristeides, Red Jones, Kamala, All (#22)
Not in this state that I know of, but they sure have a huge state and federal militia operating in this very sparsely populated area, you'd think this place it Terror Central, it's nuts. There's even been lots of articles on our famous spy cameras.
#30. To: SKYDRIFTER (#29)
#31. To: Brian S (#0)
#32. To: Diana (#20)
I wonder if having marijuana plants in your home makes you a terrorist now, sounds like maybe it does.
#33. To: Destro (#1)
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