Zeev's Turnips Talk Politics (ZTTP)

[seabass]

>>>we still have the national guard here since the storm<<<


And I bet you didn't know what function they could have been asked to perform.....until just recently. I sure didn't.


Going back to 2006......ignored by the media:

"Last year, Congress quietly made it easier for this President or any President to declare martial law.

This significant change was made without consulting the Nation’s Governors, mayors, sheriffs, or the National Guard Adjutants General. It was made without consulting the other relevant policy committees in the Senate and the House. It was merely slipped in, at the Administration’s request, as rider to a bill that was hundreds of pages long. And when the Nation’s Governors learned of the change and expressed their strong opposition, they were ignored, and this facilitation of presidential ability to federalize the National Guard – even over the objections of the Nation’s Governors -- remained in the bill that was signed into law by President Bush.

Now this President and future Presidents can more easily take control of the National Guard and use our entire military apparatus for law enforcement at home. In a situation like another Katrina or even a more contained incident like a terrorist incident, the President will be able to bring in federal troops and take away control from the Governors, the Emergency Managers, the Sheriffs, and the state Adjutants General who know their communities best and are responsible for responding."

http://leahy.senate.gov/press/200702/020707.html


Order restored a week ago:

"In a difficult and highly unusual legislative achievement, Leahy also achieved repeal of the so-called Insurrection Act Rider, attached to the 2006 defense policy bill, which had made it easier for presidents to take control of the National Guard from governors and to use the U.S. military for domestic law enforcement."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080130/pl_usnw/bush_signs_bill_enacting_leahy_bond_national_guard_empowerment_reforms__and_their_repealer_of_the____insurrection_act_rider


Credit where it's due. Bush has been effective in using national tragedies as excuses to build a police state foundation. Effective enough where 29% still haven't even noticed.....