We Need A Movement To Contact Our Governors: Tell Them To Reclaim The Troops

[orleans]

this is regarding the troops at walter reed, the neglect, and -- as of today -- the fact that the pentagon is telling them to SHUT UP about their treatment & living conditions and NOT TALK TO THE MEDIA

i called my governor's office today and talked to a staffer who said they have received calls regarding this issue, but he (the staffer) has not read anything on this subject.

he told me the best way to communicate this would be to snail mail a letter regarding this issue and my views on it. i asked if i should enclose copies of these articles i am referring to and he said yes.

i know randi rhodes has been telling her audience to call the governors and senators--a suggestion made by a caller from seattle (if i remember correctly) after the dana priest article broke feb. 17th.

the article that started the conversation:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/17/AR2007021701172.html

part two:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/18/AR2007021801335.html

a follow up:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/19/AR2007021900759.html

but now:
http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/TNSreedinspect070227/

and
http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003551716

and
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/02/28/AR2007022801954.html

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE:
can some of you take the time and find your governor's address, write a letter and send a copy of a couple of these articles along with your letter?

and then do the same with your senators.

can anyone join me in taking the time to do this?
Every state needs to reclaim the troops--let this gop know how they are NOT supporting our troops--and we need to take care of these people who need help.

[Lars39]

1. K&R

[Quiet_Dem_Mom]

2. Database of current governors from Nat'l Gov's Association.

http://www.nga.org/portal/site/nga/menuitem.42b929b1a5b9e4eac3363d10501010a0/?vgnextoid=d54c8aaa2ebbff00VgnVCM1000001a01010aRCRD&vgnextfmt=curgov

The links provide background info on the Gov as well as links to their addresses, official website, etc.

Hope that helps!

QDM

[Lars39]

6. Thanks,Quiet_Dem_Mom!

[BlueGirlRedState]

3. I emailed Texas Gov. Rick Perry

After listening to Randi on AAR last week, I emailed Gov. Perry and asked him to bring the Texas Guardsmen home to our hospitals. I got a letter in reply from a staffer saying Gov. Perry was a veteran himself and concerned about the military but had no jurisdiction and therefore was forwarding my concerns to our senators.

[w8liftinglady]

5. I called Hutchison and Cornyn's offices with the same concerns...

I got the typical "we'll look into it" bullshit.

[helderheid]

4. Rec #3 YES YES

[helderheid]

7. MORE RECS y'all

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

8. Does a governor have any jurisdiction?

I imagine the NG units got "federalized", stolen from the state and not under state command. And we know how much Bush likes to listen to opposing views.

Even if the governors could pull their NG wounded to the states, that would leave the regular and reserve wounded at Walter Reed.

Plus, who's inspecting the facilities that the states would provide to the NG wounded. Better than Walter Reed? Worse?

And it's more than just facilities. Walter Reed barracks might be a shit-hole, but if they have the good doctors, nurses, and therapists, the rest is not as significant. Gotta look at the total care picture, not just bad walls and some vermin.

[orleans]

9. i always thought the governor was in charge of their state's

national guard. we have a ton of national guard in this fucking war--the governor needs to "reclaim" the guard lost from the state

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

10. I don't think so ...

Once "nationalized", the state governor has no command of the NG. I don't know how far back that goes, but Pres Kennedy nationalized the Alabama NG specifically to take command away from Gov Wallace. He thought Gov Wallace would use the NG to suppress efforts at desegregation. So he took Wallace's command away.

The NG overseas is certainly under DOD command. The wounded NG at Walter Reed are maybe a greyer area. I think they're still "natioal" and not "state", but not sure.

[orleans]

12. then maybe we need the senate to pass a bill that allows the

governors to reclaim the guard? (that should take FOREVER!)

[bonito]

11. Kick