Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar


Latest Post | Last 10 Posts | Archives


Previous Post: Poll finds strong support for gun dealer licensing in swing districts
Next Post: Unclear on the concept: Marginal vs. effective tax rates

*** UPDATED x2 - Sandoval: “Ridiculous waste” - Pritzker: “Unnecessary and irresponsible” *** Pivot to center delayed again

Posted in:

* Public Radio

Governor Bruce Rauner says if asked by President Trump, he would send Illinois National Guard soldiers to the U.S.-Mexico border.

“Frankly, the president is the commander-in-chief of our military,” he said while fielding questions at an event in Springfield Tuesday. “Illinois has not been requested to send troops. If we are requested, I believe we’ll honor that request.”

So far, only Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico have agreed to send guardsmen, after President Trump called for a military response to what he calls “lawlessness” at the border.

*** UPDATE 1 *** Expected response…


.@BruceRauner needs to stand up to Trump’s blatant racism and political pandering. This is an unnecessary and irresponsible use of our National Guard.https://t.co/WTLLB2mvIF

— JB Pritzker (@JBPritzker) April 5, 2018


*** UPDATE 2 *** Press release…

State Senator Martin A. Sandoval (D-Chicago)son of immigrant parents that crossed the Mexican border in 1959, issued the following response to Gov. Bruce Rauner’sstatement that he would comply if President Donald Trump ordered Illinois National Guard soldiers to the Mexican border:

“Governor Rauner has shown us time and time again that he is totally unwilling to speak out against the president’s offensive, racist policies and statements. Sending Illinois National Guard soldiers to the border would be a ridiculous waste of taxpayer money. It would also send a message to immigrants in our state that they should be treated like criminals instead of valuable members of our communities. The governor needs to be a leader and stand up for the millions of immigrants living in Illinois

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 10:50 am

Comments

  1. ===“If we are requested, I believe we’ll honor that request.”===

    Hmm.

    In a blue wave election, that may be looming… with no clear constituency… Rauner wants to film-flam… HB40, criminal justice reforms… and sending guard troops to the border?

    Who is Rauner’s constituency?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 10:54 am

  2. GovJunk just made a big mistake.

    Comment by Real Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 10:57 am

  3. Can anyone explain to me what these taxpayer funded guardsmen are supposed to be doing? Standing on one side of the Rio Grande and watching the other? They can’t even legally make arrests or engage anyone.

    Comment by PJ Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 10:58 am

  4. ==I believe we’ll honor that request==

    He believes? I guess he needs to check with whoever is in charge.

    Comment by Henry Francis Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 10:59 am

  5. Henry Francis for the win.

    Comment by Commonsense in Illinois Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:00 am

  6. The gift that just keeps on giving!!!

    Comment by Wow Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:01 am

  7. What is he supposed to say? We will never send troops even though I have zero authority over the president on military personal.

    Rock & hard place.

    Comment by Ole General Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:03 am

  8. Rauner hasn’t figured out if he’s coming or going yet. I think the closeness of the primary has him disoriented.

    –Can anyone explain to me what these taxpayer funded guardsmen are supposed to be doing?–

    Providing distracting headlines. And clearing brush. They’re not armed.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/troops-sent-by-trump-to-border-will-fly-drones-gather-intel–and-clear-brush-too/2018/04/09/8f608250-3c08-11e8-a7d1-e4efec6389f0_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.76c421d420c5

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:04 am

  9. ===even though I have zero authority over the president on military personal===

    Unless the president federalizes the National Guard (as has happened), he can say no.

    Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:06 am

  10. Ole General Trump is not nationalizing the Guard so governors do in fact have the authority to decline the request. Oregon’s governor has done exactly that. This call up of the guard is just an expensive temper tantrum from the five-year-old-in-chief. Rauner should stay no just to avoid disrupting the lives of the members of the guard who will go down to cut brush.

    Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:09 am

  11. Rauner’s in charge this time unless the request from T changes from a Title 32 to Title 10 level, according to reporting done by NBC News. So, he can “believe” all he wants to, but the decision is on his shoulders.

    https://tinyurl.com/y7d4ksut

    Comment by Anon221 Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:09 am

  12. – We will never send troops even though I have zero authority over the president on military personal.–

    Not true. That’s why it’s called a “request.” If refused, Trump would have to nationalize the guard.

    For example, Gov. Wallace refused a request to mobilize the Alabama guard to protect black students in Tuscaloosa. Therefore, Pres. Kennedy nationalized the guard.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:11 am

  13. This country is involved in too much. From all these wars to Mexico and Syria. WW3 is very near.

    Comment by Real Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:11 am

  14. ===Unless the president federalizes the National Guard (as has happened), he can say no.===

    Ball game. That’s why this is important, in that context.

    What southern “border state” hasn’t seen clear to have troops involved?

    Why do you think?

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:12 am

  15. So is Rauner trying to grab all the votes from that big pro-Trump/anti-Ives/anti-veterans/pro-life constituency?

    Is he trying to lose?

    Comment by illini97 Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:16 am

  16. What would Rauner’s response be if Trump requested troops to stem violence in Chicago?

    Comment by Truthteller Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:18 am

  17. “Pivot to center delayed again” implies a lot.

    It’s a sad day that to defend the US border from dangerous people and cargo, is a partisan thought.

    Anyone that doesn’t understand the background to these issues is not well informed.

    Comment by cdog Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:19 am

  18. ==I believe we’ll honor that request==

    Of course, he believed he would veto HB40, until he didn’t.

    I guess he’ll need to check in with Boss Madigan.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:19 am

  19. We need them here in Illinois protecting Santa Anna’s Leg!

    Comment by Spliff Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:21 am

  20. This is the perfect example of not knowing what your job or responsibility is as Governor

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:30 am

  21. Really bad decision. Hopefully Trump doesn’t call on Illinois. Complete waste of resources.

    Comment by Ron Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:35 am

  22. If he wants to put the National Guard to work, there is plenty of work here at home to be done, but the guardsmen are going to be pretty upset cutting kudzu along the roads…
    And, from what I read, they aren’t even going to be armed, so what are they going to do, link hands next to each other along the border???

    Comment by downstate commissioner Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:47 am

  23. Why is this even an issue?
    Reality says that there will be no issue.

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:49 am

  24. ==Therefore, Pres. Kennedy nationalized the guard.==

    If memory serves, Eisenhower also nationalized the National Guard in Arkansas. Similar reason.

    Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 11:56 am

  25. =====It’s a sad day that to defend the US border from dangerous people and cargo, is a partisan thought=====

    What’s sadder too is that someone actually believes the racist xenophobic rants of that child in the White House

    Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:01 pm

  26. @Ole General

    Isn’t being between a rock and a hard place somewhere a leader should be ready to find him/herself? Those are the moments that define leaders and Rauner punted…again.

    @cdog

    “It’s a sad day when a sizeable portion of my fellow citizens hold a different view than me.” Fixed it for you.

    Comment by Chicago_Downstater Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:08 pm

  27. –Anyone that doesn’t understand the background to these issues is not well informed.–

    Please, don’t hide your light under a bushel.

    How do unarmed guardsmen “defend the border?” From whom?

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:10 pm

  28. Why should Illinois expend scarce resources to defend border states? I don’t get it.

    Comment by Stones Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:15 pm

  29. How about this: It’s a sad day that to defend the US citizens from dangerous people buying guns, is a partisan thought.

    Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:19 pm

  30. =Really bad decision. Hopefully Trump doesn’t call on Illinois. Complete waste of resources.=

    Speaking of complete waste of resources, is deploying guardsmen-women to foriegn countries requested in support of Operation Flailing Empire worth denying?

    Comment by OFE Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:20 pm

  31. But who will man DHS offices in an AFSCME strike if the Gov sends them the Nat guard to the boarder? /s

    Comment by Ike Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:27 pm

  32. Rauners response was adequate. No need to dig in to a position, when likelihood Illinois national guard will not be used.

    Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:27 pm

  33. ===No need to dig in to a position===

    Governor?

    ===If we are requested, I believe we’ll honor that request.”===

    That’s kinda digging into a position…

    Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:29 pm

  34. ==defend the US border from dangerous people==

    I believe cdog is referring to the caravan of rapists on their way./s

    Comment by Jocko Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:31 pm

  35. =How do unarmed guardsmen “defend the border?” From whom?=

    Net immigration from Mexico has been down for years now. The only thing that I expect they would do is to help carry the bags of those returning to Mexico.

    And I think this is a very legitimate question to pose to any governor. The President is clearly trying to create distractions from the scrutiny that he’s under. Today it’s the border and National Guard tomorrow it could be something completely different. The real issue for the governor is his willingness to enable that behavior.

    Comment by Pundent Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 12:44 pm

  36. –If memory serves, Eisenhower also nationalized the National Guard in Arkansas.–

    He did, in 1957. But that was to take them out of the situation, as Gov. Faubus had been using the guard to block black students from enrolling at Little Rock Central High, as had been ordered by a federal judge.

    Instead, Eisenhower sent 1,000 troops from the 101st Airborne to enforce the court order to integrate at the points of bayonets.

    The commander was Gen. Edwin Walker, a very strange figure in American history. Walker retired in 1961, and became a rabid Birch and segregation activist.

    In 1962, Walker was arrested at a protest trying to prevent the integration of the University of Mississippi.

    In April 1963, Lee Harvey Oswald is alleged to have just missed sniping Walker in his Dallas home.

    Walker’s last appearance in the news was an arrest in a public restroom in a Dallas park for getting handsy with and propositioning an undercover cop. He pleaded nolo contendre.

    Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 1:07 pm

  37. Stones - For the most part, the DOD pays for the costs of the guard through the National Guard Bureau even when not called by the POTUS.

    Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 1:17 pm

  38. I sure hope my response is allowed to post. It is solid opposition to the typical responses here.

    Actually, ISIS has published their intention to sneak a nuke through the southern US border.
    https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2017/0115/Terror-and-the-Mexico-border-How-big-a-threat

    Also, “soldiers unearthed two Claymores, a grenade launcher, two Barrett .50 caliber rifles, 17 AK-47 rifles, ballistic plates, ammunition, and magazines.” https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-02-10/ak-47-rifles-claymore-mines-grenade-launchers-discovered-mexico-border

    NG will use drones for surveillance, helicopters for enforcement. These people are doing good work. The State Dept has issued several recent warnings for all you folks wondering why that all inclusive is so cheap, recently.

    Xenophobic? Not in the slightest, my strawman friend. I am all for the legal free flow of people, and capital. I’m not so hot on the illegal free flow of either. Black market people (human trafficing) and black market capital don’t help any of us, anywhere in the world.

    Obviously there are things going on we don’t have the clearance to know about.

    Comment by cdog Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 1:28 pm

  39. Do those ISIS terrorists have calves the size of cantaloupes too? Anyway, didn’t the child in chief just tell us that ISIS is dead?

    Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 1:33 pm

  40. All this hot air about protecting the border with Mexico, and not 1 word about protecting the longest unsecured border with Canada.

    Comment by Huh? Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 1:40 pm

  41. Funny, I don’t recall Trump citing ISIS as his reason for the Guard mobilization. That’s more of a Gohmert King branch of the xenophobes. Trump claims that ISIS has been defeated in any event. And dude, Breitbart as a source????? That’s a hill you want to die on?

    Comment by TominChicago Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 1:54 pm

  42. I can’t believe I read that a gubernatorial candidate just accused a president of being racist for sending troops to our border.

    LOL

    Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 3:42 pm

  43. Rauner will send troops to the Mexico border to help Trump but he won’t send them to Quincy to fight legionaella?

    Comment by Leigh John-Ella Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 4:26 pm

  44. This is a typical problem for self-proclaimed smart guys. They think they know everything. They answer questions they aren’t sure they know the answers too because they’ve been right 99% of the time in their lives. They want everyone else to know how smart they are. And they love the sound of their own voices.

    Rauner has been campaigning pretty much nonstop for five years, and he is still answering hypothetical questions.

    “President Trump hasn’t called.”

    All you had to say, buddy.

    You would think all his years in the financial sector would have made him wise to the perils of forward-looking statements.

    Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Wednesday, Apr 11, 18 @ 5:40 pm

Add a comment

Sorry, comments are closed at this time.

Previous Post: Poll finds strong support for gun dealer licensing in swing districts
Next Post: Unclear on the concept: Marginal vs. effective tax rates


Last 10 posts:

more Posts (Archives)

WordPress Mobile Edition available at alexking.org.

powered by WordPress.