Bill Richardson: Outrageous And Absolutely Incorrect

You'd think politicians would be mindful of living in the new media age. This from Gov. Bill Richardson at the Huffington Post, calling the Iraq War lost and blaming California's shrinking National Guard on the war. He should have called ABC first - see below.

It is a sad irony that yesterday, the very day I sent fire crews to California, 300 more New Mexico National Guard members were sent to Iraq. Just when we need them most at home, more of our brave men and women, true public servants, are sent away to a war we cannot win.

Never before in our history has our National Guard, a group of dedicated men and women who serve our country and provide critical aid in the time of natural disasters been used, and re-used, for so long to fight a war tens of thousands of miles away.

In California, the Guard force is authorized to have over 21,000 members. Today, that number is just under 15,000. Why the decline? I believe it has nothing to do with a diminished commitment to service, but rather is a frustration with having that commitment abused, and families turned upside down, just so President Bush can continue to pretend his war can succeed.

George Bush, his Republican friends and the Democrats who continue to allow this war to continue have not only broken our military, they've broken our National Guard.

Via ABC7/KGO-TV in May - thanks to liberal Democrats, CA doesn't offer a full range of benefits making recruiting difficult. Money quote bumped to the top.

Assemblyman DeVore thinks it has been difficult to get tuition benefits approved in this Democratic-led state Legislature in recent years because it could be viewed as support for the Iraq War

Lt. Col. Jon Siepmann, CA National Guard: "This is a problem we've seen really over the past twenty years but most noticeably in the past ten years, even before the war started."

A decade ago, California was authorized to have 21,000 in its guard force. Today it's down by 5000, the size of an entire infantry brigade. The unit that responded to the Northridge earthquake no longer exists.

Lt. Col. Jon Siepmann: "We think that providing an educational benefit will go a long way towards recruiting and retaining quality soldiers here in California."

California is the only state in the nation that does not provide any college tuition help for its guardsmen. The Guard believes it can swell its numbers by 10,000 with a tuition benefit.

It's the number one thing recruits ask for. Assemblyman Chuck DeVore just retired from the Guard after 24 years of service. Though California has the largest guard force in the country, he's worried about our disaster prone state.

Assemblyman Chuck DeVore, (R) Irvine: "It's not the end of the world if we continue to lose National Guard strength to Texas and Alabama. That said, I would rather have the troops under the command of our Governor than have to rely on the Governor of Alabama to get troops from Alabama to California to help out."

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Comments

[Scrapiron]

I doubt that the democrat/code pink demonstrations at the recruiters offices has helped build membership in the guard units. I'm waiting until half or more of SF is destroyed by an earthquake or slides into the ocean to laugh, and rolling on the floor laughing I will do.

[Blue Texan]

Yeah, San Francisco getting destroyed would be really, really funny!

Hahahaha!

By the way, Dan, college tuition to help increase the guard ranks would be good. Also -- not sending the National Guard to fight completely unnecessary and disastrous wars -- and then have them babysit sectarian civil wars year after year in a stop-loss policy -- would be good too.

[Thomas Collins]

Want to make a safe bet? Bet that substantially all of those who oppose tuition bennies for the National Guard in California favor in-state tuition for illegals (oh, excuse me, I mean "those temporarily without documents).

[Mark A. Flacy]

"...have them babysit sectarian civil wars year after year..."

Why are you bringing up Kosovo?

[Major John]

Blue,

As a 22+ year National Guardsman I can only slowly shake my head when I see comments like yours. Pray, tell me what units of CA are serving in Iraq, and what would they be doing if home? Has Gov. Swartzenegger activated his EAC? Do you even understand these questions?

[Chuck DeVore]

California is the only state in the union not to offer tuition free admission to state colleges for their National Guard soldiers. We also have the least amount of benefits compared to other states. That's a fact. And that's one big reason why we lose end strength every year while states that honor and appreciate their Guard soldiers, such as Alabama and Texas, gain end strength at our expense. The National Guard Bureau authorizes the strength where it can be raised. California's weak policies are its own making. It isn't by accident that we have, by far, the smallest number of Guard troops per capita of any state -- it isn't even close.

All the best,

Chuck DeVore
California State Assemblyman, 70th District
Lieutenant Colonel CA ARNG (Ret.)

[Supersocialisto Teat Chappers]

"--- I'm waiting until half or more of SF is destroyed by an earthquake or slides into the ocean to laugh, and rolling on the floor laughing I will do. ---"

If the Lord did allow San Fransicko to suffer a calamity, I must admit that Schadenfreude would indeed be tempting... but perhaps a few souls may yet be saved out of that abomination of a city. Prayer for those lost souls yet to be found would probably be the more edifying and Holy Spirit-filled response.

[seekeronos]

ooops. Forgot to change the nick. :P

[SDN]

I have to apologize for the specimen of Democratus Copperheadus still claiming residence in my state.

Obviously his breeding is showing: direct descendant of slavery enablers.

[SDN]

I have to apologize for the specimen of Democratus Copperheadus still claiming residence in my state.

Obviously his breeding is showing: direct descendant of slavery enablers.

[bobInStamford]

Wait a minute, I thought that the troops served for duty, honor, country and all that. Is it possible that it's for the state welfare instead? This is terrible! I feel like the curtain has been pulled back and the wizard revealed!

[Lala]

Heard on the news this morning - Qualcom stadium was full of freeloaders. When the police started to check addresses everybody left except for 300 people.

[jj]

I can't for the life of me understand why chris/boob would be in Qualcom, Lala.

[JeffC]

Shame on you Idiot bobInStamford! Troops do served for duty, honor, country and all that but you can't survive on that alone that's why they get paid and get benefits. Hell if they only wanted Tuition Benefits they could go work at UPS part time. These benefits allow them to sever their country and develop themselves at the same time. There are only so many hours in day. Why don't you try to go to school full time, join the Guard/Reserves, have a life, and work at the same time. The fact of the matter is these people do have something you and your jealous snide remarks will never have and that is Honor, Commitment, and Integrity! They are not getting state welfare for freeloaders but earning every dime with their sweat and yes sometimes their blood.

[Techie]

So I take it boobinStamford is opposed to the GI Bill?

[seekeronos]

I'd say that Boob is probably opposed to the USA in general, and the military in particular. He'd like for the US Armed Forces to be disbanded and the equipment sold off so we can build a dhimmmified paradise ripe for the takeover by his Islamist buddies.

[Some Soldier's Mom]

Without benefits, none who wished to serve in the military -- whether active or Guard -- could afford to serve. I dare bobInStamford to live anywhere in the US -- but especially in "it costs what???" California -- on what the military is paid... even soldiers gotta eat and pay bils...

http://www.defenselink.mil/militarypay/pay/bp/paytables/fy2007_apr_basicpay.html

[ZZMike]

Only 15,000 Guard troops here in CA? Didn't our lovely Senator say just the other day that there aren't any at all - they're all in Iraq?

"California is the only state in the nation that does not provide any college tuition help for its guardsmen."

That's OK - we offer in-state tuition to illegal aliens. Thomas Collins pointed that out, but it bears repeating.

We should be forgiving of our less intelligent brethren, like bobInStamford. The rest of you have responded more than adequately.