[twntaipan]

My wife keeps asking me about this, and I keep answering: Without the governor of a state requesting it, the president cannot just waltz into action.

Is that not the case? Doesn't a request have to come from Blanko?

[ARealMothersSonForever]

You are correct. A request for Nat'l guard troops to restore civil order must come from the governor (or their designate). Comm/con must remain civilian, under most circumstance (unless Gov&LtGov&president of state senate&state speaker of house are incapable). Even then, USCongress must make a temporary determination before DOD can asume comm/con.