LAT: Angelides Puts Iraq on Table: As governor, would withdraw Cali. Guard

[DeepModem Mom]

CALIFORNIA ELECTIONS
Angelides Puts Iraq on Table
The gubernatorial candidate says he would immediately seek the Guard's withdrawal.
By Michael Finnegan, Times Staff Writer
September 24, 2006

In a move to bolster his appeal among Democrats, state Treasurer Phil Angelides said Saturday night that on his first day as governor, he would call on President Bush to withdraw California's National Guard troops from the war in Iraq.

The Democratic nominee for governor said in a telephone interview that he would take court action against Bush if necessary to extract the state's National Guard members from Iraq. He said he would also urge other governors and members of Congress to join his effort.

"I will do everything in my power as governor of the state of California to bring our National Guard troops home," Angelides said.

At a Democratic primary debate in May, Angelides said governors lack the power to force the Pentagon to send a state's National Guard troops home from the war. But in the interview Saturday night, he said there might be some legal leeway on the matter.

Angelides said roughly 1,700 California National Guard troops are stationed in Iraq, but the number could not be verified on Saturday night. He also said he would not call for the withdrawal of several hundred California National Guard troops deployed in Afghanistan....

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/politics/cal/la-me-angelides24sep24,0,7265587.story?coll=la-home-right1

[rocktivity]

1. He's bolstered his appeal with THIS Democrat!

This is exactly what he needs to do--come out swinging.

:)
rocknation

[ForPeace]

2. Yes!! Go Angelides!

[Buzz Clik]

3. Curious.

"I will do everything in my power as governor of the state of California to bring our National Guard troops home," Angelides said.

What exactly is within his power to do such a thing.

[Mz Pip]

4. That would be my question.

And if a Governor of a State has that power why haven't other Democratic Governors used that power?

Mz Pip
:dem:

[xchrom]

5. well, no matter what i'm not voting for ahnuld.

[LeftCoast]

6. Now this gets me hopeful!

Angelides has had me pretty worried about his election chances up till now!

[Demobrat]

7. Uh oh, Phil, you'd better look out.

Or Arnie will call you a girlie-man!

[Peace Patriot]

8. Well, I know that, recently, Bush tried to tried to yank power over the

National Guard from governors, and governors resisted. (I think it had to do with Bush ability to deploy Nat'l Guard domestically--but not sure.) So there are questions and fuzzy areas. Who controls the Nat'l Guard? In New Orleans, there was also a question, I believe--and the Dem governor won that battle.

But I wouldn't care what the governor's powers are, or what Bush or Supreme Ct would do or assert. It's the FIGHTING SPIRIT that's needed. The willingness to go to mat for the people, for peace, for fairness, for decency. If Gov. Davis had shown ANY spirit in the Enron fight, he would have won the recall by a landslide--even if he couldn't have gotten our money back. (Enron stole $9 billion from Calif.) If Kerry had dressed Bush down in the debates over torture, HE would have greatly heartened the American people, and may well have overcome the Diebold advantage to Bush with an overwhelming landslide. (I figure he won by 4% to 5% landslide, right at the edge of what Diebold, ES&S could reverse without raising too many eyebrows).

I just told my mate what Angelides said about pulling the CA Nat'l Guard out of Iraq, and he said, "Ha! That's the FIRST thing he's said that's worthwhile!" And my mate's a good gage of the subterraneans of politics. (He told me in spring '04--in the middle of the Abu Ghraib revelations--that he was spooked by Bush's and Cheney's arrogance, like they knew it would be rigged for them. First inkling I had of how bad things were in our election system. Diebold/ES&S had spread very quickly, to control 80% of the nation's votes--I hadn't realized how big the threat was.)

Now, if Angelides would ALSO speak to our other deepest concern--the highly riggable e-voting machines controlled by Bushite corporations--he would have my vote. (I was looking around, and considering casting my first Green vote ever--for Peter Camejo--Angelides has been such a corporate clone candidate, and such a nothing.) Angelides now has Schwarz's veto of universal health care to bolster his support. But if he doesn't pledge to restore transparent elections, how can anybody trust that HE will do anything about health care? It would be like Clinton's promise to include labor and environmental protections in NAFTA. Hot air.

Transparent elections, however, mean ACCOUNTABILITY. And if he acknowledges the problem of having UNACCOUNTABLE officials, (s)elected by secret corporate vote counting, then he's on his way to KEEPING his promises.

1. Fight Bush on the war. Fight it on whatever ground you can find. Put up a strong fight on the Nat'l Guard. Calif has earthquakes. We're long overdue. What the hell are we gonna do if half our Nat'l Guard is in Iraq? Put it on the ballot, if necessary. (And how about endorsing the Bush/Cheney impeachment resolution that's been submitted to the Calif legislature, Phil?)

2. Promise to restore transparent elections. (Actively support Debra Bowen for Sec of State, and the ouster of Diebold shill Bruce McPherson.)

3. Promise to restore the universal health care bill.

I could vote for this, with enthusiasm. It's not everything I would want, but it's a good start, and shows RESPONSIVENESS to the people, and belief in democracy (--something I think Democratic leaders have to prove to us, after their MIND-BOGGLING SILENCE on the e-voting disaster, which, in Calif, included the swift-boating of our former, good Sec of State, Kevin Shelley).

4. Another good move would be to loudly recomment Absentee Ballot voting to all Californians. 50% of the Los Angeles voters have already turned to AB voting because THEY DON'T TRUST THE MACHINES (--and they have a particularly corrupt Diebold shill as head of elections). San Diego voters may be next, after the CA-50 debacle--and the utter corruption of the Republican political machine there. AB voting has dramatically increased everywhere in Calif. It would be a very popular suggestion. And it would also signal corrupt election officials that the Democrats are going to be closely scruntizing AB vote counting, and the whole system. PUT THEM ON NOTICE. If they commit fraud, we WILL find out. The whole world is watching! Come on, Phil! You want to win? THIS IS HOW!

[AX10]

10. I am not counting this race out yet.

Phil can win!

[pinto]

9. Good move, Angelides.

:thumbsup:

[Gregorian]

11. That's what I call supporting the troops!

Good call, sir!!!

[w4rma]

12. A vote for Angelides = Bringing the kids home and Universal Healthcare. nt

[autorank]

13. Bold!!! That's a good sign. Hey CA public service unions...go for it!

They can push him over the top. Imagine the "elites" disappointment that their pet is pulled from the scene. Then maybe there will be an investigation of that meeting that odious former LA Mayor Riordan, Arnie, and Ken Lay had just before the power crisis. Sweet!