Governor Newsom, you need to step up your game here.
‘Cause this is only going to get worse.
Let’s set aside the issue of jackbooted federal thugs roaming the streets with masks and assault rifles.
Firstly, because the whole country is having to deal with that, but also because the various California police forces are generally not that different in this from the feds. Just watch the LAPD’s behavior to confirm that.
And let’s also set aside the actual deployment of federal marines as well, since those are federal troops and there’s not a lot of legal ways for a Governor to intervene in that.
No, let’s look instead just at the California National Guard.
These are Californians, serving the state of California and commanded by the elected Governor of California.
Yet, somehow, under the control of the federal government.
Illegally, as you have youself pointed out in both tweets and press releases, under the control of the federal government.
You’ve even promised to sue over it.
But all this just cedes the initiative and judicial deference to the feds.
If the orders are illegal, then as Governor it’s your actual job to countermand those orders.
The correct response to the Guard commander following illegal orders is absolutely not to sue the President.
Not at all. There’s time for prosecuting the President for giving illegal orders later.
The correct response is to immediately order the Guard to stand down, withdraw from Los Angeles and return to their home bases. Or, better, to order them to turn around where they are and protect Californians from the illegal activities of the federal agencies.
Though that level of commitment may be asking too much.
Both of the Governor and of the California National Guard.
But what a you, personally, as Governor, do not do is just give up command and ask the courts to save you; as the Governor , you need to do your damn job and let Trump sue California for command of the California guard if he thinks his orders are legal.
It is not too late to rise to this occasion.
Stop it with the talk about not giving Trump an excuse; that time is long past.
Stand down the California National Guard and order them home.
Stop following; lead, or get out of the way.
