We need some governor or mayor who controls a state or local police force to say: this is illegal and illegitimate, I do not recognize it as law enforcement, and I can and will direct the police under my command to arrest anyone found on our streets participating in this illegal fake law enforcement operation.
At some point we are going to wind up with blue state National Guard facing off against active military sent by Trump. Whoever shoots first will have fired the first shots of the 2nd Civil War.
I live in a blue state, CO, but our Governor is a wimp. As a gay jewish democrat, he has been disappointing in his lack of advocacy and spine. I have a letter drafted to him encouraging him to follow CA lead, but from his interviews w BTC, he is waffling as usual. One person pointed out that if DC is occupied, then Chicago, the nation is effectively split in half, with supply chains directly to Gulf and cutting off western US. That is terrifying, esp as CO and NM are surrounded by 'red' states, and WY is one of states getting Nat'l Guard presence. I fear that this will come to civil war, and there will be many casualties if the GOP doesn't stand up. Unfortunately, too many are white christian nationalists and doomsday pursuers, and the others are just spineless. The Heritage folks said it would be a peaceful takeover if Dems allowed it. I am an Independent, and I will NOT allow it!
name calling is such a Trumpian tactic. Yes, I did point those out because that's who he is. There are no judgments attached to that statement, merely fact. In fact, the same point was made by my Jewish Iranian friend, so you can take your juvenile name calling and stick it.
So none of you care about keeping people safe....It's just politics to you. Focus on the working people.... Stop people from being killed and beaten and robbed. What is wrong with you?
Really important points and appreciate these action items. Great article. I wanted to get clarification on one point, if possible: Are you urging governors to issue orders that *contradict* federal orders, or merely to decline requests for voluntary assistance? For example, in California, Governor Newsom could have issued an order directing the National Guard *not* to deploy to Los Angeles, on the ground that the federalization was illegal. Then the head of the California National Guard would have been in the difficult position of deciding whether to follow Trump's order or Newsom's order. Newsome chose to test his position in court instead of issuing orders that contradicted Trump's order.
Another commenter (Nicholas Weininger) argues that state and local leaders should direct their police forces to arrest National Guard members, which seems like going from cold civil war to violent and actual civil war, as one imagines that the National Guard and police officers would turn their guns on each other. That would seem to go even further than issuing contrary orders not to deploy. Thanks for considering!
Isn’t the real underlying issue here the constitution giving the federal government exclusive jurisdiction over DC? Ie, this isn’t actually an illegal abuse of power?
Good and helpful post, Ben! Talking about what we can do is helpful and hopeful. I continue to be horrifyingly amazed that the Supreme Court continues to kowtow to Trump in ruling that insult the lower federal courts, and the litigants seeking relief.
We need some governor or mayor who controls a state or local police force to say: this is illegal and illegitimate, I do not recognize it as law enforcement, and I can and will direct the police under my command to arrest anyone found on our streets participating in this illegal fake law enforcement operation.
At some point we are going to wind up with blue state National Guard facing off against active military sent by Trump. Whoever shoots first will have fired the first shots of the 2nd Civil War.
This was my thought too--at least if governor followed the suggestion here.
looks like it,steve
Looks like JB Pritzker got the memo, Nicholas.
https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/pritzker-sends-warning-to-trump-on-national-guard-threat-do-not-come-to-chicago/3814727/
I live in a blue state, CO, but our Governor is a wimp. As a gay jewish democrat, he has been disappointing in his lack of advocacy and spine. I have a letter drafted to him encouraging him to follow CA lead, but from his interviews w BTC, he is waffling as usual. One person pointed out that if DC is occupied, then Chicago, the nation is effectively split in half, with supply chains directly to Gulf and cutting off western US. That is terrifying, esp as CO and NM are surrounded by 'red' states, and WY is one of states getting Nat'l Guard presence. I fear that this will come to civil war, and there will be many casualties if the GOP doesn't stand up. Unfortunately, too many are white christian nationalists and doomsday pursuers, and the others are just spineless. The Heritage folks said it would be a peaceful takeover if Dems allowed it. I am an Independent, and I will NOT allow it!
Nice that you pointed out Gay and Jewish you idiot….
name calling is such a Trumpian tactic. Yes, I did point those out because that's who he is. There are no judgments attached to that statement, merely fact. In fact, the same point was made by my Jewish Iranian friend, so you can take your juvenile name calling and stick it.
Thank you for this good post.
This stuff continues to be beyond appalling.
So none of you care about keeping people safe....It's just politics to you. Focus on the working people.... Stop people from being killed and beaten and robbed. What is wrong with you?
Really important points and appreciate these action items. Great article. I wanted to get clarification on one point, if possible: Are you urging governors to issue orders that *contradict* federal orders, or merely to decline requests for voluntary assistance? For example, in California, Governor Newsom could have issued an order directing the National Guard *not* to deploy to Los Angeles, on the ground that the federalization was illegal. Then the head of the California National Guard would have been in the difficult position of deciding whether to follow Trump's order or Newsom's order. Newsome chose to test his position in court instead of issuing orders that contradicted Trump's order.
Another commenter (Nicholas Weininger) argues that state and local leaders should direct their police forces to arrest National Guard members, which seems like going from cold civil war to violent and actual civil war, as one imagines that the National Guard and police officers would turn their guns on each other. That would seem to go even further than issuing contrary orders not to deploy. Thanks for considering!
Isn’t the real underlying issue here the constitution giving the federal government exclusive jurisdiction over DC? Ie, this isn’t actually an illegal abuse of power?
Good and helpful post, Ben! Talking about what we can do is helpful and hopeful. I continue to be horrifyingly amazed that the Supreme Court continues to kowtow to Trump in ruling that insult the lower federal courts, and the litigants seeking relief.