LA Gov. Blanco refuses to sign over N.G. control to Feds

Actually the National Guard units rarely fall under fedeal command and control in an emergency deployment, however, you are right that COLON gene is dead wrong about the authority for the DoD to come in and take over a disaster scene. There is authority to do so and even when the governor of a state requests federal troops there are specific and very strict regulations when it comes to using them for law enforcement....

even when a Mayor declares Martial Law! ;~D

As for COLON Gene, I've seen enough online evidence to convince me that he was a nuclear officer in the Army Reserves and a retired Colonel. I have no problem accepting that he was in, that he served his country and that he is who he claims to be. It's sad he has traded honor for idiocy and hatred.

And I'll tell you one thing, If any of my troops showed as much disrespect for their Class A uniform as COLON Gene is showing by how he is wearing his in this picture, I'd personally see to it that the Meritorious Service Medal was never issued! Apparently the COLON showed as much distain for the uniform when he wore it as he does by taking the side of the bacteria in Iraq by calling for us to unconditionally surrender the people and nation of Iraq to terrorists.

Most troops learn quickly that there are those officers you salute and those you salute their rank. Meet a man who probably never once was saluted, but I bet the prima donna hung out in front of PX's just to get his ego fed while soldiers saluted his rank... and he mistook it for respect.

It's Bush's fault.

Ike federalized the Alabama National Guard and ordered then to remain in their barricks and DID NOT HAVE permission of the Governor. In addition, Bush did not need to federalize the Guard, He has the authority to send in Ferderal Active Army Forces given the lack of lawlessness that existed!

I served as a Regular Army officer for four years before joining the reserves in 1968 for 26 years. And yes I received the Army commendation medal and meritorious service medal twice as well as other awards. I completed basic and advanced officers training, combat intelligence, nuclear weapons, Command and General staff College and the Army War College. I was promoted to full colonel in 19 years which the statutory minimum. I served my country unlike George W. Bush who hid out in the National Guard to avoid service in Vietnam.

how does one serve in the national gaurd, yet hide from service at the same time? I just do not get it.

If all you can do is blame Bush then you truely are pathetic. Why don't you blame the mayors and governors for their obvious failures. Oh I forget, they aren't Bush.

how does one serve in the national gaurd, yet hide from service at the same time? I just do not get it.

It can't be a proper anti-Bush thread unless col starts with his usual rhetoric bs. You know col has to demean the military in at least one post today.

IslandDog
and Moderaterman

During Vietnam the best way to stay out of Vietnam and look like you served was to join a National Guard Unit. Unlike today, VERY few if any National Guard Units served in Vietnam even though we had almost 1/2 million troops in that war. When Bush applied to the Gurad his application said he "DID NOT WANT TO BE SENT OVERSEAS" During 64-68 when I was in the Regular Army we said, " Women and Children First, and then the National Guard" Bush got Daddy to get him into the guard ahead of more then 100 others to say out of Vietnam. My post did not demean the military. That was the policy at that time and Bush used it to stay out of the war!

My distain is of people like you who support a president who's policy has killed almost 1,900 of our military and injured another 25,000 and the result is we have created another terrorist operation that threatens our security!

My distain is of people like you who support a president who's policy has killed almost 1,900 of our military and injured another 25,000 and the result is we have created another terrorist operation that threatens our security!

From the sloppy appearance of your class As in that pic, I see you have no respect for the uniform either. No troop in my section would have looked that much like a ragbag in his Class As! You could have at least sprang for the cost of getting it fitted... it looked like you just through on someone else's uniform for the photo op. Disgracefulll!!

My distain is of people like you who support a president who's policy has killed almost 1,900 of our military and injured another 25,000 and the result is we have created another terrorist operation that threatens our security!

And I am tired of people like you who claim they "support the troops" but stab them in back every chance you get. You are an apologist for Saddam and the terrorists that kill innocent people. Everytime you start your National Guard rant about Bush you disrespect every person who has ever served in the National Guard. You sound just like Dan Rather and his fake memos. Col, Bush is not up for election again, why do you bother. People like you that hate Bush are a very small minority in this country. You opinions matter to nobody. Bush was elected and re-elected because America doesn't want liberals in charge anymore.

But keep it col. You and the other leftists will only make our victory in '08 a bit more simpler.

Bush is not up for election again, why do you bother.

He bothers because he was a failure as a politician himself. He bothers because he is a failure as an author. He bothers because he's a failure as a human being.

I'm surprised the deficit hasn't come into the discussion yet.

You can bull shit all you want, I served my country and a hell of a lot of other officers thought I did my job well. I would be happy to compare my service record with Bush ANY DAY! He was a disgrace in his youth with booze and drugs. In his military service. In college, In business and as a leader. All you who support his bankrupt policies are no better then he is. FAILURES!

I'm surprised the deficit hasn't come into the discussion yet.

The deficit to be concerned with is the C.O.L.'s moral values. He sold out a long time ago.

Again C.O.L., look in the mirror... the failure you are most trying to make up for is there.

Your service record include flying Jets? Didn't think so.

College? Hmm, what do they call the guy that finishes last in Med School? Answer: Doctor.

What do they call a failure in politics, failure in life, and jealous to the nth degree former reserve officer that has to toss around his title as if it made him important (meaning he has no other accomplishments to rest on and trumpet as loudly)? C.O.L.

Col, Bush is a twice elected President. You are some liberal who posts on an internet forum. Do you still want to compare?

If any of my troops showed as much disrespect for their Class A uniform as COLON Gene is showing by how he is wearing his in this picture, I'd personally see to it that the Meritorious Service Medal was never issued!

I'm trying to tell who is the COL by the uniform, and I can't tell. Neither one of them look bad, and how a uniform fits on a person can vary from person to person and body type to body type. Honestly, I cannot tell which person you are talking about. Seems like you're being really petty and have sidestepped any issue debate for this nonsense.

Dabe, how a servicemember wears their Class A uniform speaks volumes to the respect he or she has for it. The wrinkles, the crooked ribbon bar and the ill fitting sleaves scream I DON'T CARE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SHOW PRIDE IN MY UNIFORM!!!

The class A uniform is much more than just a suit of clothes... to servicemembers who care. There is nothing "petty" about it.

'm trying to tell who is the COL by the uniform, and I can't tell. Neither one of them look bad, and how a uniform fits on a person can vary from person to person and body type to body type. Honestly, I cannot tell which person you are talking about. Seems like you're being really petty and have sidestepped any issue debate for this nonsense.

He's the person on the right. As far as uniform fit and body types - the Class A uniform is like a suit. It is supposed to be tailored to fit the contours of the body wearing it. If the one issued (or purchased) doesn't fit exactly, then it is the reponsibility of the soldier to get it adjusted to fit. Compare the fit of the uniform jacket on the officer on the left vs the fit of the uniform jacket on the officer on the right. And that's someone that is supposed to be enforcing the same appearance standards that he's not meeting himself.

As for sidestepping the issues: COL Gene repeatedly brings his military experience into the debate as proof that he is an authoritative source. The picture is proof of a less than ... hmmm ... stellar attitude. That attitude brings his claims of authority into question. So, yes, it does bear something on the discussion.

Most troops learn quickly that there are those officers you salute and those you salute their rank.

This is very true. There are officers who Dave salutes because they're awesome people...and then there are those who are worthless and who he salutes simply because protocol dictates that he has to salute the rank.
There are the kind of officers who acceopt salutes and return them in kind, and then there are officers who DEMAND a salute - whether they have earned it or not.

Dabe, how a servicemember wears their Class A uniform speaks volumes to the respect he or she has for it. The wrinkles, the crooked ribbon bar and the ill fitting sleaves scream I DON'T CARE ENOUGH TO TAKE THE TIME TO MAKE SHOW PRIDE IN MY UNIFORM!!!

Again, very true. The military is all about appearance. It's an outward expression of inner emotions.

An update from The Washington Times. Perhaps Mayor Nagin has desires to run for Governor in his future? At least it seems he's starting to target the proper place in the bureaucracy that failed in the aftermath of Katrina.



Mayor slams Blanco for stalling

By James G. Lakely
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

---

Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has been critical of the Bush administration's response to the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but, according to the mayor of New Orleans, her indecision when President Bush offered help delayed rescue efforts and cost lives.
New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin told CNN's "American Morning" Monday that he met with Mr. Bush and Mrs. Blanco on Air Force One on Friday and implored the two to "get in sync."
"If you don't get in sync, more people are going to die," Mr. Nagin said.
Mr. Bush met privately first with Mrs. Blanco, then called Mr. Nagin in for a meeting.
"He called me in that office," Mr. Nagin said. "And he said, 'Mr. Mayor, I offered two options to the governor.' I was ready to move. The governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision."
That decision was a request by Mr. Bush to allow the federal government to take over the evacuation of New Orleans, which had been marked by chaos for days. The Democratic governor, who has clashed behind the scenes with the Bush administration since the storm hit, refused.
White House spokesman Scott McClellan confirmed the Air Force One meeting with Mrs. Blanco and the governor's decision not to cede her authority over the Louisiana National Guard, but added that he didn't think "it helps any situation to get into all those internal discussions."
"This isn't a time when people are trying to look at who's to blame or try to shift responsibility," Mr. McClellan said. "This is a time when we're all trying to work together to get things done."
Mr. Bush, at the request of Mrs. Blanco, declared the entire state of Louisiana a disaster area 48 hours before the hurricane made landfall. He also asked Mrs. Blanco to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans on Aug. 27 -- two days before the hurricane hit -- but she did not make the order until Aug. 28.

---

So the picture starts getting clearer on the where the real incompetence was (and the answer wasn't "Brown", who the MSM was again trying to tar and feather this a.m. for a delay of 5 hours before ordering anything to happen after the storm passed through New Orleans. Is it possible that the 5 hours was needed for determining what go hit, where, how hard, etc.? Nah, that couldn't be possible at all.)

My service record includes 3 commands, service as a nuclear weapons officer, Graduate of the Army War College, numerours medals and OER's that placed me in the top slot for years, Four years as a Regular Army Officer (Distingished Military Graduate) and 26 years as an officer in the Army Reserve. I was promoted to 0-6 in 19 years which is the minimum time allowed. I did not refuse to obey Army regulations and did not skip out of attending drills like GWB.

My service record includes 3 commands, service as a nuclear weapons officer, Graduate of the Army War College, numerours medals and OER's that placed me in the top slot for years, Four years as a Regular Army Officer (Distingished Military Graduate) and 26 years as an officer in the Army Reserve. I was promoted to 0-6 in 19 years which is the minimum time allowed. I did not refuse to obey Army regulations and did not skip out of attending drills like GWB.

But you sure as heck showed NO pride in the wearing of your uniform. Christ I was only an E-5 and I spent a small fortune getting my dress blues tailored.

An update from The Washington Times. Perhaps Mayor Nagin has desires to run for Governor in his future? At least it seems he's starting to target the proper place in the bureaucracy that failed in the aftermath of Katrina. Link>Mayor slams Blanco for stalling By James G. Lakely THE WASHINGTON TIMES Louisiana Gov. Kathleen Babineaux Blanco has been critical of the Bush administration's response to the disastrous aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, but, according to the mayor of New Orleans, her indecision when President Bush offered help delayed rescue efforts and cost lives. New Orleans Mayor C. Ray Nagin told CNN's "American Morning" Monday that he met with Mr. Bush and Mrs. Blanco on Air Force One on Friday and implored the two to "get in sync." "If you don't get in sync, more people are going to die," Mr. Nagin said. Mr. Bush met privately first with Mrs. Blanco, then called Mr. Nagin in for a meeting. "He called me in that office," Mr. Nagin said. "And he said, 'Mr. Mayor, I offered two options to the governor.' I was ready to move. The governor said she needed 24 hours to make a decision." That decision was a request by Mr. Bush to allow the federal government to take over the evacuation of New Orleans, which had been marked by chaos for days. The Democratic governor, who has clashed behind the scenes with the Bush administration since the storm hit, refused. White House spokesman Scott McClellan confirmed the Air Force One meeting with Mrs. Blanco and the governor's decision not to cede her authority over the Louisiana National Guard, but added that he didn't think "it helps any situation to get into all those internal discussions." "This isn't a time when people are trying to look at who's to blame or try to shift responsibility," Mr. McClellan said. "This is a time when we're all trying to work together to get things done." Mr. Bush, at the request of Mrs. Blanco, declared the entire state of Louisiana a disaster area 48 hours before the hurricane made landfall. He also asked Mrs. Blanco to order a mandatory evacuation of New Orleans on Aug. 27 -- two days before the hurricane hit -- but she did not make the order until Aug. 28. So the picture starts getting clearer on the where the real incompetence was (and the answer wasn't "Brown", who the MSM was again trying to tar and feather this a.m. for a delay of 5 hours before ordering anything to happen after the storm passed through New Orleans. Is it possible that the 5 hours was needed for determining what go hit, where, how hard, etc.? Nah, that couldn't be possible at all.)

The "mayor" is the first one who's needs to get slammed! Butthead sat on 700 school buses that could have made a "big" difference in the evacuation.

My service record includes 3 commands, service as a nuclear weapons officer, Graduate of the Army War College, numerours medals and OER's that placed me in the top slot for years, Four years as a Regular Army Officer (Distingished Military Graduate) and 26 years as an officer in the Army Reserve. I was promoted to 0-6 in 19 years which is the minimum time allowed. I did not refuse to obey Army regulations and did not skip out of attending drills like GWB.

And with all those great accomplishments, you wore your uniform like a ragbag private and are somehow so insecure about yourself that you feel the need to constantly defend yourself and throw your rank in the faces of a bunch of bloggers that have absolutely no bearing on any part of your life.

I would call you a small, small man, but that would be a terrible insult to small, small men...

How utterly pathetic is that!

My service record includes 3 commands

And one of them was Stalag 13, eh, Col Klink?