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Why that National Guard rumor is almost surely false

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Illinois

* AP…

Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner says he will not dispatch the Illinois National Guard to Chicago to stem gun violence.

The Republican on Wednesday said that “the National Guard is not for neighborhood policing.” […]

But he says state troops would only be appropriate for “a riot or some issue like that.”

* The reason why I believe the governor and not the rumor is that he’s been so consistent on this topic over the years. From August of 2016…

As Chicago capped off its deadliest month in almost 20 years, Gov. Bruce Rauner on Wednesday ruled out the idea of deploying the National Guard to help combat street violence in the city, saying that to do so would be an “emotional” reaction that “wouldn’t make sense.”

The Republican governor said he had discussed the concept with community leaders, police officers and the National Guard, but that “no thoughtful leader thinks that’s a good idea or would really provide a solution.”

* January of 2017…

Gov. Bruce Rauner doesn’t want to send the National Guard into Chicago, despite the city’s spiking violence, saying in a recent interview the extreme measure “would be a mistake.”

President Donald Trump once again brought national attention to the city’s violent crime Tuesday, tweeting that he would “send in the feds” if officials in Chicago can’t get a handle on the ongoing “carnage.”

* February of 2017…

President Trump has threatened repeatedly to “send in the feds” unless officials reduce Chicago’s bloody violence.

Governor Rauner said Friday that if the president means military units, then he’s opposed.

Bruce Rauner said experts on violent crime have told him what they’ve told us here at FOX 32: Deploying the National Guard would do little to stop the targeted, gang-related killings that plague parts of Chicago.

“National Guard troops are not trained to be community police officers,” Rauner said.

Also, there’s just no way that Mayor Emanuel will ask him to send the troops or agree to the troops if Rauner completely flip-flopped and made a unilateral move like that.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 3:56 pm

Comments

On this, the governor is to be commended.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:07 pm
If you send in the National Guard there will be protests. They may throw bottles or rocks. Some just out of high school Guard member gets scared and an unarmed protester gets shot. Rauner loses the election by 75 points.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:12 pm
A good example of the media fanning flames on twitter before reporting things out. Twitter has some good features but it has also allowed reporters to report more on rumors and things they are “hearing” in real time. Ultimately, that can hurt credibility of all news organization. Save the gossip for the tabloids.

Comment by rumor circle Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:15 pm
==Some just out of high school Guard member gets scared and an unarmed protester gets shot. Rauner loses the election by 75 points.==

And we all have to pay for a bajillion dollar legal settlement

Comment by Lester Holt’s Mustache Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:20 pm
I agree with rumor, where’s the evidence of a poll taken on deployment of the NG in Chicago?

Comment by Wensicia Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:22 pm
The only thing that Trump can do is create a task force of FBI, DEA, and ATF to assist. There are likely numerous federal laws being broken that would allow the task force to have jurisdiction.

Comment by A Jack Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:32 pm
While “not implementing martial law in a knee-jerk attempt to placate reactionaries” is an exceptionally low bar for a governor to clear, good on Bruce here.

Comment by Actual Red Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:34 pm
Two words- Kent State. Using National Guard is a total non- starter. Better if Rahmbo let the police resume the tactics they need to keep the streets safer. Ask any active Chicago policeman- they all feel they can’t do what’s needed and fear being defendants in the next fiasco

Comment by Sue Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:36 pm
Surely, internal polling — yes?

Comment by Anoniphone Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:37 pm
Two words- Kent State. Using National Guard is a total non- starter. Better if Rahmbo let the police resume the tactics they need to keep the streets safer. Ask any active Chicago policeman- they all feel they can’t do what’s needed and fear being defendants in the next fiasco

-Then maybe they don’t need to be police officers to begin with.

Comment by Real Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:40 pm
This rumor was magnified by the Chicago media but it was being pushed to the media by “Dem insiders”. (See Rich’s earlier post on this today.) What was the point and what did they hope to gain? Whatever it was, does anybody think they succeeded in anything other than outing themselves as unreliable sources?

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:41 pm
Well I’m glad we’re nailing down everything public officials are NOT going to do to address the ongoing bloodbath in Chicago.

Any of them have any thoughts on what they WILL do? Anyone? Anyone?

Comment by GOPgal Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:42 pm
4:41 is me.

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:42 pm
Anonymous - Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 4:41 pm:

Try rereading the earlier post. The sources were bipartisan and Ahern’s on internal polling is GOP.

Comment by Precinct Captain Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 5:03 pm
Lester @ 4:20 pm- “And we all have to pay for a bajillion dollar legal settlement.” The Army is not liable in state court as far as I know. That’s why the Posse Comitatus act was passed after the northern military occupation of the Confederate states after the civil war, to make sure that armed military troops would not patrol the streets. Which is why the American colonists opposed British rule, it was military occupation, not local courts with locally elected officials, right?

Still waiting for Grand Poobah “executive director” Richard Pearson to issue forth a call for volunteers from ISRA World Headquarters in Chatsworth that he, John Boch and Valinda Rowe are busing in their highly trained concealed carry “good guys” from all over southern Illinois to step into the breach as violence interrupters on the south side with Father Pfleger.

Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 5:42 pm
Sue,

–Better if Rahmbo let the police resume the tactics they need to keep the streets safer. Ask any active Chicago policeman- they all feel they can’t do what’s needed and fear being defendants in the next fiasco.–

What are these Tactics police are prohibited from using? Would they be the same ones that the AG is pursuing a consent decree over? The ones that violated citizens Civil Rights?

Comment by Mason born Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 6:57 pm
“We couldn’t find any way to blame it on Madigan, so I guess we can’t.”

Comment by Bruce (no not him) Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 7:06 pm
The NG declined the job after they heard Lisa Madigan was making them do paperwork every time they unslung their rifles.

Comment by Arthur Andersen Wednesday, Aug 8, 18 @ 8:45 pm
The story that is being missed, if PRES.Trump decides to send the National Guard to Chicago, Rauner and others would be powerless to stop him.

Comment by dc Thursday, Aug 9, 18 @ 12:59 pm