September 24, 2008 archive

Ever heard of the Posse Comitatus Act?  From the wiki on it:

The Posse Comitatus Act is a United States federal law (18 U.S.C. § 1385) passed on June 16, 1878 after the end of Reconstruction. The Act prohibits most members of the federal uniformed services (the Army, Air Force, and State National Guard forces when such are called into federal service) from exercising nominally state law enforcement police or peace officer powers that maintain “law and order” on non-federal property (states, their counties and municipal divisions) in the former Confederate states.

The statute generally prohibits federal military personnel and units of the United States National Guard under federal authority from acting in a law enforcement capacity within the United States.

So, anyone want to share why the U.S. Army Times is reporting the following?

The 3rd Infantry Division’s 1st Brigade Combat Team has spent 35 of the last 60 months in Iraq patrolling in full battle rattle, helping restore essential services and escorting supply convoys.

Now they’re training for the same mission – with a twist – at home.

Beginning Oct. 1 for 12 months, the 1st BCT will be under the day-to-day control of U.S. Army North, the Army service component of Northern Command, as an on-call federal response force for natural or manmade emergencies and disasters, including terrorist attacks.

Okay, so it may be a coincidence, the U.S. Army training at home for operations at home (I believe for the first time), starting ONE MONTH BEFORE THE ELECTION.

But what about Posse Comitatus?

Is it expected to be suspended in October?  Do they know something we don’t?

Or is just a coincidence?

Just because you’re paranoid…

So yesterday I wrote a diary pleading for lawyers to help the Obama campaign ensure the vote on election day and the response was overwhelming and heartening.

Lots of “I just signed up” and “I’m in” and “They’ve got my info”, and yet, for every person who stepped up, there was another who said, “I want to help and have sent an email, but no one has gotten back to me.”

Well, to that, I smile and say… we are reaching the St. Crispen’s Day in this election.

St. Crispen’s day?

Henry V. The English badly outnumbered by the French. And in Shakespeare’s retelling, Westmoreland, cousin of King Henry, wished for more troops…

WESTMORELAND

O that we now had here

But one ten thousand of those men in England

That do no work to-day!

…but Henry did not share Westmoreland’s need, wanting instead to hoard the glory…

KING HENRY

What’s he that wishes so?

My cousin Westmoreland? No, my fair cousin;

If we are mark’d to die, we are enow

To do our country loss; and if to live,

The fewer men, the greater share of honour.

Or, translated, XLI or 41, which is the amount of days left until the election.

What?!? Only 41 days?!? Scary?

Nope.

Because we gots ourselves a plan to vote…

Original article, by Rob Sewell, via Socialist Appeal (UK):

“I like thieves. Some of my best friends are thieves. Why, just last week we had the president of the bank over for dinner.” W.C. Fields.

Here’s an idea!

This Pony Party serves as an open thread.  Please do not rec the pony party!