Winnowing the field
Chris Dodd: on the retroactive grant of immunity to carriers for illegal wiretap
Bill Richardson: on the next Abu Gonzales, Abu Mukasey.
I think that reading the telephone book to stop FISA is wicked smart politics. I wish that Richardson would be as constructive, and order the NM National Guard back to New Mexico. Its not that it just takes one to win, its that it just takes one, no more, and no less, to start.
Comments
On what legal basis does a state governor have the right to "de-Federalize" a National Guard unit? I'm curious, because it must be tough. Otherwise, why didn't southern governors then attempt such a thing during the late 1950s and 1960s?
Posted by: palamedes | October 20, 2007 06:41 PM
See http://wampum.wabanaki.net/vault/2006/03/002450.html
Posted by: ebw | October 20, 2007 08:54 PM
The Iraq War Resolution would presented as "executing the laws of the United States." Granted, said law was based on a series of lies, falsehoods and deceptions, but the Congress would not want even bad laws from their bailiwick challenged by a state's Governor for fear that it would open the door to a reduction of Federal authority.
And more than a few Governors wouldn't want to take such a risk because the President not only already has the statutory right to deny future military funding of a state's National Guard units, but may use such a situation as an excuse to reduce or deny, by association, all Federal funding flowing to said state.
It might be better to review Title 10 and Title 32, regarding under what circumstances National Guard units can be Federalized and de-Federalized, but then I'm not a Constitutional lawyer.
Posted by: palamedes | October 20, 2007 09:48 PM