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An AG sure can say nothing with a lot of words, can't he.
“We have received multiple questions regarding proposed legislation for the 2020 General Assembly session and the authority of the Governor of Virginia to employ the Virginia National Guard in a law enforcement role. Please make sure you share this message with your all of your personnel.
We understand and respect the passion people feel for the U.S. Constitution and 2nd Amendment rights. We will not speculate about the possible use of the Virginia National Guard. I encourage everyone to be patient while we allow our elected officials to work through the legislative process.
We have not received any requests from the Governor, or anyone on his staff, about serving in a law enforcement role related to any proposed legislation.
I expect our Soldiers, Airmen and members of the Virginia Defense Force to be professional and respectful in their discussions about this subject. As private citizens, our personnel are free to express their opinions to their elected officials, but they should not engage in any political activity while in a uniformed status.
We will provide regular updates when appropriate during the General Assembly session. Please utilize your chain of command to direct any questions or concerns to my office, and we will do our best to address them.”
Once you get to field grade, your skill set is more along the lines of a politician than a straight leader, so it's to be expected.
It would appear, though, that his office is getting lots and lots of requests for information.
That could be a good thing.
He's almost certainly in communication with higher and asking, "Well, what the fuck am I supposed to do?"
More like the commander of the Byzantine Army during one of the Nike riots. 'We'll just, kinda, stand back and wait to see who's going to win...'
ReplyDeleteFive paragraphs to say absolutely nothing. Which is what to expect from someone who answers to a president, a governor and to the citizens of the state. I would not have expected him to say anything else, no matter how he feels. Not his job to make political statements. Especially to make a statement that would get him fired. Verbally walking on eggshells.
I actually applaud him for weasel-wording his statements.
Now we just get to sit back and see what will happen.
And, you know, the more I think about the way the GOP handled, or didn't handle the election in November, part of me is thinking that the Virginia GOP saw what was potentially coming, and decided to sit back and let the nuts get elected in order to force a situation such as what is going on now.
ReplyDeleteI know, probably over-analyzing the situation, but... in the vein of 'handing them enough rope to hang by' there is that niggling little thought that this is all one massive set-up.
Wonder how many recall elections will happen in the next year.
yeah, beans you're over analyzing. the va gop isn't the bright light on the horizon. they have missed opportunity one after the other to rid us of this scourge. they are still run by old money who still think its the 50's. its now up to us, the people, to set this right. the dems have failed to see it coming, instead taken more steps to antagonize the situation. they will pay dearly. when high school kids and little old ladies are talking about shooting folks, the situation is too far gone. sic semper tyrannis.
ReplyDeleteIf Virginia is similar to Maryland, which I think it is, calling up the National Guard would add to available weapons but not significantly to available manpower - because a significant percentage of the State Police is in the National Guard (I've seen numbers for Maryland that over 30% of State Police are in the Guard).
ReplyDeleteAnd then, of course, you have the possibility that Trump federalizes the VA Guard or issues a veiled statement that calling them up for this would cut federal funding...
I'm more concerned about state efforts in general than I am about the additional effect that calling up the Guard would have.