Nothing is more entertaining than watching far right wing Republicans get in sh*tstorm between each other over who can be more reactionary than the other. In this instance, the truly psychologically disturbed Del. Bob Marshall wins out over Governor Bob "Taliban Bob" McDonnell on the issue of gays in the Virginia National Guard - assuming that one is a Neanderthal knuckle dragger. By "winning," of course, Marshall embarrasses not only himself, but the entire Commonwealth of Virginia. A column in the Fredericksburg Free Lance Star roundly trashes Marshall and his unrelenting homophobia and desire to drag the Virginia back into the 19th century. Behind the scenes of all of this is Marshall's delusional ambition to win the GOP nomination to run for U. S. Senator - which Marshall apparently thinks he can win by being even more crazy than Christine O'Donnell. Meanwhile, McDonnell's ambitions for higher office dictate that he tone down his image as a Pat Robertson puppet. The Virginian Pilot looks at the McDonnell v. Marshall set to and here are some highlights:
*During an appearance on FOX & Friends this morning to discuss his bill to ban "active homosexuals" from the Virginia National Guard, Del. Bob Marshall said that Gov. Bob McDonnell is incorrect in concluding that the Guard must abide by Defense Department regulations on gays in the military. A Prince William County Republican, Marshall has announced plans to file legislation to block gays from Guard service in Virginia.
*
McDonnell previously said that while he disagrees with the policy change he "expects the Guard to adhere to the final guidelines implemented by the Department of Defense." The governor also noted that the bulk of the "Guard’s funding is federal and any departure from federal policies may put this funding at risk."
*
Marshall argued that his bill could be enforced because the U.S. Army and the Virginia National Guard have different enlistment criteria.
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The Free Lance Star piece looks at the history of the Virginia National Guard and demonstrates that once again Marshall is full of ignorance, bullshit and bigotry. Here are some highlights:
*
In olden times, when marauding Indians were the main threat to a community's survival, state militias could afford to operate independently. But the nature of the modern world requires the Regular military branches, the Reserves, and the National and Air Guards to function as one. As early as 1903, the Dick Act brought the state organizations under close federal supervision and authorized the War Department to establish training standards for the various National Guards.
*
Later, in 1933, the National Guard Mobilization Act explicitly made the Guard a component of the Army, while the Total Force Policy of 1973 formally blended the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard into one doctrinal entity. Finally, in 2008, President Bush signed a bill placing the National Guard Bureau under the Department of Defense.
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Now, what would happen, in the high emergency of war, were openly gay Regular Army soldiers, or Minnesota reservists, transferred to Virginia Guard units that still clung to "don't ask"? Grudging acceptance? Flat rejection? In any case, the result would be lost efficiency when efficiency is crucial. Where now is the Marshall expertise on threats to national security?
*
Whatever in the Constitution Mr. Marshall has found that allows a National Guard to go its own way, the courts have not detected it. After some liberal governors threatened to exempt state Guard units from overseas assignment during the Reagan era, Congress in 1987 squelched those threats with the Montgomery Amendment, which the U.S. Supreme Court uphheld.
*
As is always the case, Marshall places his personal prejudice and bigotry over the U.S. Constitution and the federal laws governing the military. His idiocy may play well amongst the lobotomized Tea Party set, but in a state wide election for U.S. Senate, he's proven himself to be just as nutty as Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle.
*
McDonnell previously said that while he disagrees with the policy change he "expects the Guard to adhere to the final guidelines implemented by the Department of Defense." The governor also noted that the bulk of the "Guard’s funding is federal and any departure from federal policies may put this funding at risk."
*
Marshall argued that his bill could be enforced because the U.S. Army and the Virginia National Guard have different enlistment criteria.
*
The Free Lance Star piece looks at the history of the Virginia National Guard and demonstrates that once again Marshall is full of ignorance, bullshit and bigotry. Here are some highlights:
*
In olden times, when marauding Indians were the main threat to a community's survival, state militias could afford to operate independently. But the nature of the modern world requires the Regular military branches, the Reserves, and the National and Air Guards to function as one. As early as 1903, the Dick Act brought the state organizations under close federal supervision and authorized the War Department to establish training standards for the various National Guards.
*
Later, in 1933, the National Guard Mobilization Act explicitly made the Guard a component of the Army, while the Total Force Policy of 1973 formally blended the Regular Army, Army Reserve, and Army National Guard into one doctrinal entity. Finally, in 2008, President Bush signed a bill placing the National Guard Bureau under the Department of Defense.
*
Now, what would happen, in the high emergency of war, were openly gay Regular Army soldiers, or Minnesota reservists, transferred to Virginia Guard units that still clung to "don't ask"? Grudging acceptance? Flat rejection? In any case, the result would be lost efficiency when efficiency is crucial. Where now is the Marshall expertise on threats to national security?
*
Whatever in the Constitution Mr. Marshall has found that allows a National Guard to go its own way, the courts have not detected it. After some liberal governors threatened to exempt state Guard units from overseas assignment during the Reagan era, Congress in 1987 squelched those threats with the Montgomery Amendment, which the U.S. Supreme Court uphheld.
*
As is always the case, Marshall places his personal prejudice and bigotry over the U.S. Constitution and the federal laws governing the military. His idiocy may play well amongst the lobotomized Tea Party set, but in a state wide election for U.S. Senate, he's proven himself to be just as nutty as Christine O'Donnell and Sharron Angle.
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