This is truly frightening, because it is an open move to centralize the military power in this country, making it far easier for a President to seize absolute power on some pretext, such as another terrorist event. It would also allow the President to use the troops to essentially upsurp state governments in the same fell swoop.

This would be a non-issue if the States weren't addicted to federal money. Since the federal government pays for the Guard, ultimately they have to power to use it as they wish; if the States paid for their own Guards, they could tell the federal government to go to hell.

Mark P. >> good point. But isn't that just like all people today? They want something for nothing.

They want the government to pay for all their actions and lifestyles and then complain when the government tries to restrict their actions.

It's happened with gay marriage, Intelligent Design in public schools, and now the National Guard.

Sometimes I think that if most people were able to put up with Stalin, then there is no hope for the US.

This is how the Feds will usher in a Fascist State, they will use the Guard as a Police Force. We can only hope the nations 50 Govenors can stop them, or the Military remembers their oath to defend the Constitution and pull a coup de tat on the government and refuse to comply should this be attempted.

The Posse Comitatus Act (prohibiting domestic law enforcement by the military) is binding on Guardsmen when under Federal authority; they may, however, be used for law enforcement purposes by the Governors. Federalization of the Guard creates no more of a threat than already exists.

And I am quite confident that my brothers in arms will be no part of domestic oppression.

-US Air Force Academy Class of 2003

"...I am quite confident that my brothers in arms will be no part of domestic oppression."

I wish I could believe you Mark P., but who assisted New Orleans Police in disarming the law abiding private citizens of New Orleans leaving them at the mercy of less than law abiding looters after Katrina? The National Guard. They will only "follow orders", that is Military conditioning. Your brothers would have had to shoot me im afraid, I would not have complied.

Yes, it was the National Guard, under gubernatorial control, not federal. And don't over-generalize about military conditioning. Only the Oath of Enlistment contains anything about obeying orders; the Oath of Officers contains only the "support and defend" clause which creates constant, quiet, internal debates among the Officer corps about how to determine at what point our own Commander-in-Chief constitutes a domestic enemy of the Constitution.

I SINCERELY hope that your assessment is correct Mark. An internal debate of that nature in and of itself is disturbing.

I would like to believe that a Code of Honor, supported by persons of Principle and Character still exists in this world. I still would like to believe that people still know what is right and will act on it, regardless of the consequences. Unfortunately, I have seen little evidence of it in real world tactics, and I once wore the uniform myself.

I'm sorry, but I trust the military as much as the president, Mark P. They obeyed orders to march into Iraq. If told to fire on citizens within the US, I have no doubt such an order would be followed. The commander in chief is currently a terrorist and an enemy of everything this country once stood for, including the constitution. So whatever process you all have come up with to sound the alarm is obviously not working as his orders are still being followed.

The people of this country are getting the government they deserve. Its interesting how societies that start out with freedom seem to always gravitate towards tyranny. Its almost like people want to be enslaved. They are always so willing to exchange a little freedom for a little temporary security. Maybe we should give the people what they seem to so desperately want.

The state will always look for ways to increase its power which is why along with it's corporate partners it needs to go. No more but we still need it to protect from force and fraud BS. The world must be free of hierarchy.

Let's put the debate in a more concrete light. Let's just suppose we have another major terrorist incident. Suppose a Oklahoma City style attack is used to take out a Congressional Office Building, perhaps killing a large number of Congressmen in the process. Suppose other attacks elsewhere have devastating effects on infrastructure.

Now suppose our good tyrant, er President, in the almighty name of "National Security" declares, that for purposes of public safety, he is "temporarily" suspending the Constitution of the United States and declaring martial law. And suppose he further nationalizes the National Guard and appoints the commanding general of the National Guard in each state, Military Governor of that state, "temporarily" of course.

I will wager any amount of money that the military won't have the courage to do the right thing and place him under arrest and hand power back to civil authorities. I fully expect that the military would acquiese in a civilian dictatorship. I hope that I am wrong, and hope that the bulk of military officers are better than that, but unfortunately, I know all to well that the Military leadership has been deliberate stacked with Neo-conservatives by the Presidents, just for such an event.

This is another attempt to end the federal system.