Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
General Discussion
Showing Original Post only (View all)Lt. Col. Joni Ernst broke the law by signing the seditious letter to Iran. [View all]
Lt. Col. Joni Ernst, the junior senator from Iowa, is an active duty lieutenant colonel in the Iowa Army National Guard. As such, she is bound by the Iowa State Code of Military Justice. Her signing of the seditious letter to Iran is a clear and direct violation of Chapter 29B.85 of the Iowa State Code of Military Justice.
29B.85 CONTEMPT TOWARD OFFICIALS.
Any person subject to this code who uses contemptuous words against the president, the governor, or the governor of any other state, territory, commonwealth, or possession in which that person may be serving, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
Any person subject to this code who uses contemptuous words against the president, the governor, or the governor of any other state, territory, commonwealth, or possession in which that person may be serving, shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
This is very serious infraction. We are a nation governed by civilians. Our Commander-in-Chief is a civilian. The government officials that hold ultimate authority over our military are civilians. This is true at the federal level and the state level. This has always been the case since George Washington was president. He resigned his military commission to accept the position of president. We have never in our history had a military ruler. Military obedience to civilian authority is critical and essential if we are to maintain the democracy we inherited. That is why "contempt towards officials" is such a serious matter. Lincoln enforced that discipline during the Civil War. Even with the imposition of martial law, Lincoln remained a civilian commander. Truman enforced the same discipline after WWII when he relieved Gen. MacArthur of his command. Obama enforced the same discipline recently when Gen. McChrystal was relieved of his command. There is nothing anachronistic about this fundamental principle.
In the federal armed services, this is handled under Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.
Reading the federal version, it is obvious where Iowa got the wording for its law. It's not an accident or a coincidence. The importance of enforcing the requirement for military obedience to civilian authority is universally applied at every level of governance, from the federal to the local level. This is why we are not a police state.
MORE HERE (plus links):
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/03/12/1370336/-Lt-Col-Joni-Ernst-should-be-court-martialed-for-signing-the-seditious-letter-to-Iran
InfoView thread info, including edit history
TrashPut this thread in your Trash Can (My DU » Trash Can)
BookmarkAdd this thread to your Bookmarks (My DU » Bookmarks)
182 replies, 36806 views
ShareGet links to this post and/or share on social media
AlertAlert this post for a rule violation
PowersThere are no powers you can use on this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
ReplyReply to this post
EditCannot edit other people's posts
Rec (191)
ReplyReply to this post
182 replies
= new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight:
NoneDon't highlight anything
5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Lt. Col. Joni Ernst broke the law by signing the seditious letter to Iran. [View all]
kpete
Mar 2015
OP
We can put pressure on her in two ways. First email this Law to the Iowa Governor. If you cannot
jwirr
Mar 2015
#69
God I want you to be right, sadly I think she just became unbeatable in her home state.
NoJusticeNoPeace
Mar 2015
#101
This is true, usually, but "conduct unbecoming" can be an issue even when someone is off duty.
MADem
Mar 2015
#135
I assumed UCMJ involvement...but the level of scruitiny for discharge must be done via Court Martial
Sheepshank
Mar 2015
#66
Who is responsible for enforcing this? Maybe a petition should be started at White House website.
BigBearJohn
Mar 2015
#5
LOL To be honest I suspect it would not make the Obama family all that happy either.
jwirr
Mar 2015
#70
I know you were attempting to be lighthearted, but the truth is that nothing could make the repubs
onenote
Mar 2015
#79
Yes, and it would just make Dems look like Tea Partiers who don't understand the rules. n/t
cui bono
Mar 2015
#107
At least we nail them if they leak classified material especially about illegal activities.
A Simple Game
Mar 2015
#84
He actually said that if he is elected president his first act would be to establish
tblue37
Mar 2015
#44
They have to abide by their STATE codes--which are usually very similar to the federal ones. nt
MADem
Mar 2015
#136
So we have two junior senators with broad military experience speaking against their President.
BigBearJohn
Mar 2015
#16
While I agree with the intent of the post, where the hell did you ever get the idea that we are not
Hoppy
Mar 2015
#26
I agree. While idiotic, there's nothing outright disparaging to the President in the letter.
Calista241
Mar 2015
#67
How the fuck is suggesting Obama's fine with the US being nuked not disparaging? nt
SunSeeker
Mar 2015
#87
No one is casually throwing the word out. So you're fine with Cheney walking free?
SunSeeker
Mar 2015
#96
It certainly helped al qaeda. You know, the guys who actually attacked America. nt.
SunSeeker
Mar 2015
#169
OFFS. Burning a flag is not the same as sabotaging a nuclear disarmament deal.
SunSeeker
Mar 2015
#159
Section 6 specifically exempts them from protection if it is an act of treason.
SunSeeker
Mar 2015
#88
Because the deal would end the sanctions that are crippling their country. nt
SunSeeker
Mar 2015
#97
You might want to check out Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution, too.
WillowTree
Mar 2015
#100
Unfortunately, you are right. We don't want to ruffle any feathers with the GOP
YOHABLO
Mar 2015
#148
She needs to immediately resign her commission or be court-marshaled the next time she is activated
nakocal
Mar 2015
#153
If you don't know how to spell court martial, you probably also don't know Article 88
onenote
Mar 2015
#166
GUYS - RED ALERT! I just phoned my Senator's office and complained about this,
calimary
Mar 2015
#171