Commanding general of D.C. National Guard to be removed from post

[deminks]

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/commanding-general-of-dc-national-guard-to-be-removed-from-post/2017/01/13/725a0438-d99e-11e6-b8b2-cb5164beba6b_story.html?postshare=5191484323834636&tid=ss_tw&utm_term=.e2baf3db62e8

The head of the D.C. National Guard, Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz, said Friday that he has been ordered removed from his command effective Jan. 20, 12:01 p.m., just as Donald Trump is sworn in as president.

Schwartz’s forced departure will come in the midst of the presidential inauguration that he has spent months helping plan alongside D.C. police, the U.S. Secret Service and other top District officials. He will turn over command to an interim as power transfers from one president to the next, and just before the inaugural parade marches down Pennsylvania Avenue.

“The timing is extremely unusual,” Schwartz said in an interview Friday morning, confirming a memo announcing his ouster that was obtained by The Washington Post. During the inauguration, Schwartz would command not only the members of the D.C. guard but also an additional 5,000 troops sent in from across the country to help. He also would oversee military air support protecting the nation’s capital during the inauguration.

“My troops will be on the street,” Schwartz, 65, said. “I’ll see them off but I won’t be able to welcome them back to the armory.” He said that he would “never plan to leave a mission in the middle of a battle.”

(snip)

And for the lurking nutters:

http://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/ws/?pid=83992

Appointed by Bush June 10, 2008.

So, no commander for the innaugural? WTG Team Orange! /sarcasm off

[elleng]

1. 'Unlike in states, where the governor appoints the National Guard commander,

in the District that duty falls to the president.

Schwartz said that he has not been told why he was asked to step down. “I’m a soldier,” he said, noting that he was following orders and has no regrets. “I’m a presidential appointee, therefore the president as the power to remove me.”'

[northoftheborder]

2. What????

Journalists: do your duty and find out the background and reason for this abrupt dismissal.

[Phoenix61]

3. And he just keeps digging.

Have to wonder if he wants there to be a problem. If he does, he might want to check out what happened to Nicholas, the last of czar if Russia. The people never forgave him for what happened the day of his inauguration.

[csziggy]

5. For those who don't know the history (as I didn't)

<SNIP>

On 26 May 1896, Nicholas's formal coronation as Tsar was held in Uspensky Cathedral located within the Kremlin.[32] In celebration on 27 May 1896, a large festival with food, free beer and souvenir cups was held in Khodynka Field outside Moscow. Khodynka was chosen as the location as it was the only place near Moscow large enough to hold all of the Moscow citizens.[33]

<SNIP>

Khodynka was primarily used as a military training ground and the field was uneven with trenches. Before the food and drink was handed out, rumours spread that there would not be enough for everyone. As a result, the crowd rushed to get their share and individuals were tripped and trampled upon, suffocating in the dirt of the field.[34] Of the approximate 100,000 in attendance, it is estimated that 1,389 individuals died[32] and roughly 1,300 were injured.[33]

The Khodynka Tragedy was seen as an ill omen and Nicholas found gaining popular trust difficult from the beginning of his reign. The French ambassador's gala was planned for that night. The Tsar wanted to stay in his chambers and pray for the lives lost, but his uncles believed that his absence at the ball would strain relations with France, particularly the 1894 Franco-Russian Alliance. Thus Nicholas attended the party; as a result the mourning populace saw Nicholas as frivolous and uncaring.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicholas_II_of_Russia#Reign

[Phoenix61]

7. Thanks!

[elleng]

9. Sounds like a 'good' omen.

NOT dancing on anyone's grave, and as I lived in DC for 20+ years, I'm certainly not pleased to contemplate such, but would like to see something come of this. I'm sure the troops will do their best.

[crosinski]

4. ... they wouldn't be directly under the control of Donald then, would they?

cuz that's pretty damned crazy to think about.

[elleng]

6. Yes, and sure as hell IS crazy.

[procon]

8. This was Trump's order!

Trump Orders DC National Guard Chief To Leave In Middle Of Inaugural Ceremony

In a bizarre move, Donald Trump has demanded that the commanding officer of the Washington, D.C. National Guard resign from his post in the middle of the Inauguration ceremony, even though the general will be in the middle of helping oversee the event's security, the Washington Post reported on Friday.

Maj. Gen. Errol R. Schwartz will be removed from his post at 12:01 p.m. on Inauguration Day, just after Trump is sworn in but before the Inaugural parade begins, according to a memo obtained by the Washington Post.

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/livewire/dc-national-guard-chief-removed-inauguration


adding:


[link:http://www.stripes.com/polopoly_fs/1.448837.1484326738!/image/image.jpg_gen/derivatives/landscape_900/image.jpg|

Of course, it's merely a coincidence that the general just happens to be a black man... right?

[FarCenter]

10. Major General for a command with 2700 personnel?

Why does DC have a National Guard? Tradition?

[randome]

11. He's black, right? Probably a Breitbart command.

[hr][font color="blue"][center]Treat your body like a machine. Your mind like a castle.[/center][/font][hr]

[procon]

13. Yes, he is. nt

[mercuryblues]

12. I believe

he is firing the heads of all these agencies to replace them with people only loyal to him. He and they care nothing about a democracy. He is positioning himself to become dictator.

[Lucinda]

14. This could have something to do with the planned protests.... n/t

[suffragette]

15. Good point. Who will be in charge on Jan 21?

[Lucinda]

16. I was already worried about everyones safety....this makes it worse.

[suffragette]

17. Yes. And I wonder if that is the main reason they're doing this.

K&R for more attention to the issue.

[Lucinda]

18. Well we know lil Donnie is paranoid, so maybe they just want everything under their control, but

Trump's comments lately make me think he intends to clamp down hard. He was talking about someone in the press getting one last shot in before he becomes POTUS...which made it sounds like he didn't plan on them having the chance to speak out afterwards. Plus he's screeching about Hillary again. So my mind went straight to trying to squash the protests...

And on a more pleasant note...every time I see your screen name the song from Mary Poppins pops in my mind.

[suffragette]

19. I just realized I've never seen the full movie, only clips.

Thanks for posting that!

[pansypoo53219]

20. pRESIDENT pissy pants.

PISSY even more so.

[mountain grammy]

21. I'm a bit unnerved by this

With a large demonstration planned for the next day What's up?