8
‘He has no dog and he has no friends and his lawn is dying’
Sometimes when I read things about how the Bush administration is not-so-quietly consolidating power into a streamlined federal apparatus with a unitary executive’s hands placed loosely on the controls, I feel like that guy in the Tom Waits song, skulking around outside his neighbor’s house, wondering, “What’s he building in there?”
A provision in section 511 of the House-passed DoD Act would allow the President to federalize the National Guard of the states without the consent of the governor. Specifically, this clause amends Title 10 of the United States Code to give the President the authority to take control of the Guard in case of “a serious natural or manmade disaster, accident, or catastrophe that occurs in the United States, its territories and possessions, or Puerto Rico.”
Of course, to make the Tom Waits allusion completely accurate, the reclusive neighbor would need to keep bending nails and repeatedly banging his thumb while reaching for increasingly large hammers.
Some Guy said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:12
Wow. He’s* trying to directly usurp State authority. Hmm… I wonder when the Confederate Flag touting peeps will get pissed about this?
I guess there’s just no time for pleasentries, these days. How long could it take to get Governor approval, thirty minutes?
Ever get the feeling that this administration wishes of so badly that life was like 24?
*a loose “He”.
Ugh said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:13
Title 10 of the United States Code to give the President the authority to take control of the Guard in case of “a serious natural or manmade disaster, accident, or catastrophe that occurs in the United States, its territories and possessions, or Puerto Rico.�
Does the current catastrophe in Iraq count as a “serious…manmade disaster…in [a] United States…possession”?
Kathleen said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:17
I wonder when the Confederate Flag touting peeps will get pissed about this?
they are too busy hating gays and women.
Flying Rodent said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:31
Oooh, sounds fun. I wonder what it is?
I’ll tell you one thing, he’s not building a playhouse for the children.
MCH said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:36
Hmm. Does it rhyme with “partial claw”?
tg said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:40
So there’s a flood in Puerto Rico and the Oregon Nat’l Guard is off to Iran?
I’ll bet he spent a little time in jail…
Retardo Montalban said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:51
Wow, great catch, Travis. So what happened to Rethug faith in federalism? States’ rights? Seems like this is a repeal of the Posse Comitatus act.
Ugh said,
August 8, 2006 at 22:56
Didn’t Ike nationalize the Alabama national guard without the consent of the governor back in the 1950s?
TC said,
August 8, 2006 at 23:01
Boy, this in addition to creating an alternate court system?
Sure does sound like they’re getting ready for 2008, doesn’t it?
Maybe Georgie isn’t going to let go of his new favorite toys that easily after all.
mikey said,
August 8, 2006 at 23:05
So what happened to Rethug faith in federalism?
‘Tardo, c’mon. That was back when the Rethugs were CONSERVATIVES. These clowns are anything but that. Radical, authoritarian, big government, interventionist, did I mention RADICAL, as in “out of the mainstream”? I don’t know what happened to all those conservatives, but these guys ain’t it. And tell you the truth, speaking as a long-time liberal, I miss them…
mikey
Auguste said,
August 8, 2006 at 23:11
I’ll tell you one thing:
He’s not building a playhouse for the children.
Ugh said,
August 8, 2006 at 23:28
So what happened to Rethug faith in federalism? States’ rights?
John Yoo’s response to this kind of comment about Republicans when I took con law from him was: Don’t think that if they get their hands on ultimate power they won’t use it.
jpj said,
August 8, 2006 at 23:28
Ugh:
I don’t think Ike nationalized the guard during the crisis at Central High in Little Rock. He sent in regular Army, paratroopers in fact. Hell, Ike fought the Big One, he knew from overwhelming force. Not that they dropped from airplanes onto Central High but they were clearly Soldiers WIth Whom the Rednecks Would Not Screw.
Then, I think he used National Guard from elsewhere for a few months before turning it back to the locals.
This is all from hazy memory, I’d be glad to shown to be wrong by someone who has actually researched it. You know, Google is so hard to figure out sometimes….
Otto Man said,
August 8, 2006 at 23:31
Didn’t Ike nationalize the Alabama national guard without the consent of the governor back in the 1950s?
It was Arkansas, but yes he did. However, it was only after Gov. Faubus had called out the ANG in direct opposition to the federal court order to desegregate Central High School in Little Rock. Eisenhower federalized the guard to countermand the order — not sure of how, but he did — and sent in the 101st Airborne to boot.
Ugh said,
August 8, 2006 at 23:34
jpj and Otto Man – thanks.
Toof Fat Elvis said,
August 9, 2006 at 2:39
So is it ironic that Republican, Southern Baptist minister and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee is one of the signatories on the letter or not. I mean Faubus would have opposed Bush’s efforts as well, but then it seems more like a anti-authoritarian stand at the same time. Is this place that always confuses me?
cowalker said,
August 9, 2006 at 6:47
I’m kind of pumped, thinking what John Edwards could do with all the powers Dubya is creating for the Unitary Executive.
Ruthie said,
August 9, 2006 at 8:28
Specifically, this clause amends Title 10 of the United States Code to give the President the authority to take control of the Guard in case of “a serious natural or manmade disaster, accident, or catastrophe that occurs in the United States, its territories and possessions, or Puerto Rico.�
Do illegal aliens swarming over the border to pick lettuce in the Imperial Valley of CA for about $3/hr. constitute a “natural” or a “manmade” disaster?
Marq said,
August 9, 2006 at 13:52
Y’know, the way they keep larding up the Executive branch with more power, they can’t possibly be willing to hand it over in ’09. They’re either intending to keep Chimpy on as Pretzeldent via some fake or real “emergency,” or they are absolutely certain that electoral victory is in the bag, regardless of how people vote, and they’ll be just as happy with Preznit McCain/Romney/Frist/Jebby/Guilani/Allen/whoever.
I, christian said,
August 9, 2006 at 21:01
“I’m kind of pumped, thinking what John Edwards could do with all the powers Dubya is creating for the Unitary Executive.”
Don’t be.
Augustus (seems like a good fellow) was followed down the line by, eventually, Caligula (need I say more?).
that’s why the separation of powers is so important.
thank god we still have THAT protection.