All 51 Governors Fight For State's Rights

[Nbadan]

GOVERNORS RESIST SHIFTING AUTHORITY OVER GUARD

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 14

— In an unusual act of bipartisan and regional unanimity, 51 governors have joined to voice their strong opposition to legislation to let the president federalize National Guard troops in a disaster without local authorities’ consent.

In a letter to Congressional leaders last week, the governors detailed their argument that the measure, drawn up after Hurricane Katrina and tucked into a military authorization bill that the House recently passed, would undermine their authority and autonomy.

“This provision was drafted without consultation or input from governors,” read the letter, conceived in large part by Gov. Mike Huckabee of Arkansas, a Republican, “and represents an unprecedented shift in authority from governors as Commanders and Chief of the Guard to the federal government."

NY Times

To bad Congress has seen fit not to 'turn the other cheek' at the expanding power of the Executive branch like these 51 Governors. Dubya could have turned what's remaining of the National Guard into a militia Matada Al-Sadr would have envyed.

[DarkReign]

States Rights > Federal Rights

Unfortunately, the recent US government doesnt see it that way.

[JoeChalupa]

Hey, are the Governors with us or against us!?!?

[George Gervin's Afro]

do the governors hate freedom loving people? they must want America to lose!

[ChumpDumper]

This means the hurricanes have already won.

[Ocotillo]

Governors be damned, Hastert and crew have the rubber stamps ready. Just another reason that no matter who your rep is, he needs to be voted out if he is a Republican. Lamar Smith will likely coast to an easy victory, especially in light of the recent redistricting but maybe I can help get rid of that puppet Henry Bonilla.

[PixelPusher]

umm...where does that 51st governor come from? D.C.? Puerto Rico? Last time I check the United States of America had 50 states.

[Nbadan]

The 51st Governor was from Puerto Rico.

[Ya Vez]

wait aren't these the same people that were criticizing bush for not sending the guard in fast enough to NOLA after katrina? Oh yeah thats right Gov. Blanco was in control of the national gaurd.... gee you can't have it both ways... lol

[Ocotillo]

wait aren't these the same people that were criticizing bush for not sending the guard in fast enough to NOLA after katrina? Oh yeah thats right Gov. Blanco was in control of the national gaurd.... gee you can't have it both ways... lol

LOL. Republicans used to be the states rights party. Now that the lil' dictator is in charge they have become unitary executive branch fans.

Any bets on how fast they change their stripes if a Democrat wins the White House in '08. All of a sudden a Dem will have the ability to listen to their phone calls without congressional or judicial oversight. All of a sudden Hillary or whoever will be in charge of their state National Guard. Friggin' dumb ass Republicans are willing to trash 200 years of freedom for their moment in the sun.

[DarkReign]

I wouldnt be too surprised to see a Dem in the WH repeal or change these things once in office.

Personally, I hope the next President does indeed repeal/amend these outstanding issues, Rep or Dem or Indie.

[Extra Stout]

LOL. Republicans used to be the states rights party. Now that the lil' dictator is in charge they have become unitary executive branch fans.

Any bets on how fast they change their stripes if a Democrat wins the White House in '08. All of a sudden a Dem will have the ability to listen to their phone calls without congressional or judicial oversight. All of a sudden Hillary or whoever will be in charge of their state National Guard. Friggin' dumb ass Republicans are willing to trash 200 years of freedom for their moment in the sun.

It's not entirely that Republicans are all unitary executive fans. What's happened is that any Republican who protests gets marginalized.

Grover Norquist used to be powerful, but his opposition to intrusive government was stronger than his loyalty to Bush, and he spoke up, so he's been kicked out of the loop.

Mike Huckabee at one time was going to run for President in '08. Now he's complained about Bush's power grab. He can say goodbye to those hopes.

It will take either a Democrat in the White House, or a Republican from outside the authoritarian wing of the party, to reverse this.

Bush is like an amalgamation of the naive crusading idealism of Woodrow Wilson, the insularity of Warren Harding, and the powerlust of Richard Nixon.

[boutons_]

"Grover Norquist used to be powerful"

... when people thought he was purely about principles, then he was exposed as having his hands in the Abramoff slush funds. "Christain Coalition angel boy" Ralph Reed/Georgia was also derailed by his participation with Abramoff.

Gets your ing facts straight, these two anti-federal/anti-tax crusaders weren't deflated because they were anti-anything, but because they were pro-corruption.

[Ocotillo]

It's not entirely that Republicans are all unitary executive fans. What's happened is that any Republican who protests gets marginalized.

Point understood. You are correct.

[DarkReign]

Now, that Lazarus should lie stranded there on the curbstone before the door of Dives, this is more wonderful than that an iceberg should be moored to one of the Moluccas. Yet Dives himself, he too lives like a Czar in an ice palace made of frozen sighs, and being a president of a temperance society, he only drinks the tepid tears of orphans. But no more of this blubbering now, we are going a-whaling, and there is plenty of that yet to come.

Ok, we get the analogy.

ing troll, stay in the troll forum.