Was President Bush Forced to Use the Insurrection Act?

Chron Watch ^ | 06 September 2005 | Barbara J. Stock

[Lando Lincoln]

Lando

[Peach]

It has come to light that all during the night on Friday, September 2, the president of the United States was forced to “negotiate” with Governor Blanco for the lives of the suffering and dying people of New Orleans. She feared that allowing the federal government to take control would make her administration appear as though it had failed. How she would be judged was more important to her than the lives of those people who were dying in the squalor. How many died as Blanco maneuvered to protect her reputation?

The Posse Comitatus Act prevents, by federal law, the president of the United States from sending federal troops into any state without the direct request of the elected governor of that state. A frustrated President Bush could only stand by and watch as the horror unfolded until he received the request for help. Despite the finger-pointing at President Bush, there was little that he could do until he was formally asked for assistance. No matter how loudly the liberals scream, they know full well that the president was helpless to do much of anything.

Can't be repeated often enough. But I'd like to see it stated once or twice by some Republican Congresscritters or for that matter by the administration!

[SE Mom]

"There is reason to believe that President Bush, running out of patience with Blanco by Saturday morning, used the only option that remained to him. It is being reported that Bush went around Blanco and utilized the Insurrection Act to federalize the National Guard and send in active military troops to take over the rescue and put down the lawlessness that had taken over New Orleans. The forces that Bush had poised to move into the city, swung into action. It was no accident that the major, organized rescues began when the sun came up on Saturday morning. At 6:30 AM, when the sky over New Orleans was suddenly filled with military helicopters and military convoys poured into the streets, they were there because of President Bush, not Governor Blanco. "

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IF this is true...one can only wonder how the liberals and media will respond. How DARE the president try to take over the sovereign state of Louisiana...

Now- how to find out if this IS true..

[msnimje]

Does looting rise to the level of insurrection?

[Jewels1091]

Yup, that about covers it....

[PhiKapMom]

Thanks for posting this -- this author nailed it and it should be mandatory reading by the MSM since they don't seem to have a clue.

[siunevada]

But...what does she really think?

Poor joke. She's right on.

[Spktyr]

A state of insurrection exists when the forces available to the state government (NG, LEO) cannot quell a disturbance ("state of lawlessness") and are repelled by force.

In other words, the snipers shooting at the cops and NG and keeping them away were insurgents and this *was* an insurrection.

[Polybius]

While the governors of both Mississippi and Alabama put in a formal request for federal assistance before Katrina even made landfall, the governor of Louisiana refused to relinquish any of her power for the good of the people. Now she and her party point the finger of blame at the White House.

Behind the scenes, a power struggle emerged, as federal officials tried to wrest authority from Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (D). Shortly before midnight Friday, the Bush administration sent her a proposed legal memorandum asking her to request a federal takeover of the evacuation of New Orleans, a source within the state’s emergency operations center said Saturday.......... The administration sought unified control over all local police and state National Guard units reporting to the governor. Louisiana officials rejected the request after talks throughout the night, concerned that such a move would be comparable to a federal declaration of martial law. Some officials in the state suspected a political motive behind the request. “Quite frankly, if they’d been able to pull off taking it away from the locals, they then could have blamed everything on the locals,” said the source, who does not have the authority to speak publicly.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Helluva article, probably the best Katrina-related article I've read.

[Not A Snowbird]

Wow. I'll have to print this and study it for the upcoming confrontation with my idiot in-laws.

[Texasforever]

Does looting rise to the level of insurrection

Not necessarily but add that to shooting cops, rape, and armed men holding hospitals siege then yes it was insurrection.

[Waco]

The RATS were/are more than willing to sacrifice the lives of thousands even millions for political oneupmanship. Never forget that. Blanco's respose was planned and deliberate. Pure politics. PIGS!

[defconw]

Ping!

[wagglebee]

Can't be repeated often enough. But I'd like to see it stated once or twice by some Republican Congresscritters or for that matter by the administration!

They need to put Cheney on TV to "handle" this one!

[softwarecreator]

the MSM since they don't seem to have a clue.

Yes they do.  They know everything outlined in this article.  They are purposely ignoring it.  Since 2000 the MSM, Democrats, Liberals and Lefties have had only one goal ... persecute George Bush and do everything they can to make him look incompetent, evil and uncaring in front of the world.  At any cost.

[Big Giant Head]

bookmarking

[Eva]

The Dept of Homeland Security CAN take charge, but sometimes they MAY not. In other words, yes they are able, but sometimes they are just not allowed.

[dawn53]

I do not believe he issued the Insurrection Act.

Federal troops were brought in, and can be by the government, as long as they don't "enforce the law," they don't violate "posse comitatus."

Discussion on Fox News tonight, and even an interview I heard with General Honore would have me believe that the Insurrection Act was not invoked. Honore indicated that his troops were there to assist and the National Guard would do the enforcing, that leads me to believe that posse comitatus was still in place.

Good website with ins and outs of Insurrection Act, posse comitatus, etc.

http://www.homelandsecurity.org/bulletin/Primer_ChallengestoPreventionandPreparedness.htm

[Fred Nerks]

Thanks for posting, it's a keeper.