I hate to say this, but it's been eating at me for days...
How many people on this forum decry the usurpation of power over local authorities by liveral entities - under Clinton, the courts, Carter, et al... The discussion most times makes no provision whatsoever for exceptional circumstances or emergency - it is always wrong wrong wrong. I still happen to belive that.
If we are to believe in and promote a representative republic we must defer to local authorities unless and until they PROVE themselves unable to cope. Yes its sad. Yes, some of you may call me heartless. Yes, I can take the heat - flame on.
Most Americans, most media, have no idea that the National Guard, under these circumstances are under the control of the governor. They keep blaming the President for not sending in the National Guard.
Then there's the posse comitatus issue, which I'm not 100 percent clear on in a national emergency, but I believe this is why the Army has not been sent in en masse to restore order (there is an Insurrection Act which I think the Governor can request.)
Anyway, my point is, the American people believe what the media tells them and the media don't even know the basics of civics or laws about state versus federal responsibilities and rights.
That being said, I really think that in the case of snipers, the LA Governor does not want to be the one to have to deal with the snipers/thugs through the NG or State Police, nor does the mayor want to deal with the snipers through his police force.
I think they'll wait till things are so bad that the Army does have to go in and take out the snipers so that they can't be blamed for the killings of these thugs...I think they're afraid of racial implications.
Just my 2 cents.
No "flames" from me.
mc
Well stated. No flames from me as I agree with what you have stated.
It is sad fact,but it is true. Unless we change our system of Government we end up living or dying by the idiots or good guys that are elected. Good reason to know how good your Mayor is in a crisis and how good his underlings are in a crisis.
Where have you been? That point was reached between last Friday and Saturday.