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He Can’t be Serious

Banks’ tweet shows ambition is his only agenda

Published in the Journal Gazette May 10, 2023

By Chuck Zumbrun

Churubusco, IN

Congressman Jim Banks, in response to the Biden administration sending 1,500 US military personnel to the US-Mexico border to support the Border Patrol in administrative duties, posted on Facebook on May 2, 2023: “Authorize the use of military force against the cartels NOW!”

Like many people, Congressman Banks posts provocative statements on social media with emphatic capitalization but no explanation or details.  With this post it seems there are three possible interpretations: that we should use our military against drug smugglers on US soil, or that we should invade Mexico and attack Mexican civilians, or that this is an inflammatory post for political gain, not a serious proposal to deal with drug smuggling.

If Congressman Banks is proposing we should use military force against drug smugglers on US soil, he’s ignoring history, our long tradition, and legal precedents that we do not use the US military for law enforcement on our own soil.

Law enforcement and military personnel have very different training and purposes.  Law enforcement officers are a part of the community that they serve and protect. The lawbreakers they encounter are members of their own community.  If they use lethal force, it is in self-defense and as a last resort.  On the other hand, military personnel are trained to accomplish their mission, and to strike the enemy with lethal force to accomplish that mission.  Those the military attack are enemy combatants, not criminals.

Legal constraints of military operations on domestic soil go back to the aftermath of the Civil War and originated as the Posse Comitatus Act.  After the Civil War, white supremacists in the South used the law to prevent the military from acting as law enforcement to keep the South from imposing racist laws.

While that law has its beginnings in a disgraceful purpose, it has become enshrined as an essential safeguard that the military cannot be used to settle civilian affairs.  The origins of the Posse Comitatus Act go back even further, to the abuses the British military visited upon American colonists, who were then subjects of their government prior to the Revolutionary War. 

The irony that Congressman Banks would be proposing using military force on US soil just a few days before the anniversary of when National Guardsmen, acting as law enforcement officers, used automatic weapons on protestors and killed 4 civilians at Kent State cannot be overlooked.  Congressman Banks cannot possibly be suggesting using the US military for law enforcement on our soil.

That Congressman Banks would propose the US military should invade Mexico and use lethal force against Mexican citizens is even more preposterous. That was the plot of Tom Clancy’s “Clear and Present Danger”.  In 688 pages of turgid prose, Clancy lays out why invading a friendly nation by the military for law enforcement is an abuse of military power and a violation of our principles. 

Mexico is our ally, and while the members of the cartels are despicable criminals, they are not enemy combatants. To use our military to attack civilians would violate the Geneva Convention and basic human decency.  Congressman Banks cannot possibly be suggesting we should use military force to attack Mexican citizens on Mexican soil.

That leaves the conclusion that Congressman Banks posted “Authorize the use of military force against the cartels NOW!” solely as a provocation for a perceived political gain.  Since proposing either to use the US military on US soil for law enforcement or to invade Mexico is clearly absurd, it leaves political gain as Congressman Banks’ purpose in making this post.

As a Congressman, Jim Banks is entrusted with the sole power to declare war.  That he would take that power so lightly as to post something implying we should declare war just to enhance his political posture shows he cannot be trusted with that power.

Conservative columnist Michael Gerson, in 2022, said “this is now what it takes to win prominence in the modern GOP: a quiver full of culture-war attacks and a stout willingness to look foolish in public.”  Congressman Banks has no purpose except to advance his prominence in the GOP. 

Congressman Banks could propose real solutions, he could work with Democrats to create laws to deal with the genuine and difficult problems our country faces.  But instead, he chooses to post foolish and irresponsible nonsense solely to fuel his personal ambition.

From 89.1 WBOI: 3rd District Democrats Organizing Early For 2022 Race

by Zach Bernard, WBOI 

Feb. 10, 2021

Despite the next Indiana election still being more than 18 months away, Democrats in the 3rd District are already organizing in an effort to unseat Republican congressional representative Jim Banks.

Banks has served the district since 2016, replacing Marlin Stutzman. He rather handily defeated Democratic candidates Courtney Tritch in 2018 and Chip Coldiron in 2020 to maintain his seat in the U.S. Congress.

But local Democrats are hoping to seize on the momentum of Joe Biden’s White House win last November by organizing for 2022 now, and several possible candidates have already stepped forward … To read more, visit the WBOI website.

 

Turtle Days Parade

Please join the Whitley County Democrats as we walk in the Turtle Day’s Parade Saturday June 17! Invite your friends and family to join us as well.

We need both walkers and riders for the Democratic float (chairs will be provided).

Staging for the parade will be in the parking lot of BRC and/or C&A Central. (Old Mahle Building). Staging will begin at 2pm (please be in line no later than 3:30pm).

Wear your Whitley County Democrats shirt or something red, white, or blue. (If you don’t have a shirt but would like one, they are available for $15/ea.)

End the parade at Churubusco Clerk-Treasurer, Madalyn Sade-Bartl’s house and stay for a party!

We look forward to seeing you there #GoBlue

Click Here for Facebook Event Page

Third District Democrats Dinner

Join us for our annual Third District dinner featuring speakers, House Minority Leader Rep. Scott Pelath, Former Indiana Rep. and Lt. Governor candidate Christina Hale, and SMART Transportation Legislative Director KO Edwards! Saturday, April 22 at Eagle Glen Event Center. Sponsorships and tickets are available and can be purchased at the link below.
See you there!!
Pay online via ActBlue at https://secure.actblue.com/contribute/page/cd3nner

Facebook Event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1323326401060350/?ti=as

Reorganization Meeting

Whitley County Democrats

Join the Whitley County Democrats for our reorganization meeting. Per party rules, County organizations must hold a reorganization meeting every four years. Our meeting will be Saturday, March 4 at 10 a.m. at the Peabody Public Library downstairs in the auditorium.

Immediately following the election of officers, we will hold our regular business meeting. Only Precinct Chairs can vote in the reorganization, however the meeting is open for all Democrats to attend.

Please plan to attend our meeting to share ideas and discuss our plans for the year. See you there! #GoBlue

https://www.facebook.com/events/600547830149327/?ti=as

Coat Drive – Give The Gift Of Warmth

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Help us give the gift of warmth this holiday season by donating new or gently used coats and winter accessories .

Items will be donated to Passages, Inc of Whitley County and Whitley County Consolidated Schools for children in need.

If you would like to donate a coat please contact Shannon Clark at 260-229-2781 or drop off your items at the Bloom Gates & Whiteleather office  (119 S. Main St.) or the Passages Creative Learning Center (333 N. Oak St.).

Drop off hours are Monday – Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The last day to donate items is Friday, January 13.

Thank you for your generous donations and helping us keep our community warm for the winter.

 

 

https://m.facebook.com/events/103011686860498?acontext=%7B”ref”%3A”104″%2C”action_history”%3A”null”%7D&aref=104

 

Dems & Lattes

Dems & Lattes is an informal meeting for Whitley County Democrats to share ideas and talk about issues that matter to us.

Join us at Brewha Saturday, December 10 at 10 a.m.

Bring a friend or bring an idea.

 

 

 

 

Whitley County Democrats Meeting

Join us Thursday, November 17 at 6:30pm at the Peabody Public Library downstairs in Community Room B.

We need to take our anger and fear and turn it into something productive. If you’ve been sitting on the sideline, unsure of how to get involved, now is the time! Let’s join together and organize. Let’s make a commitment to do better next time.

Collectively we can use our skills to make a difference. Please join us!

https://www.facebook.com/events/690270251133288/