Kristi Noem raises ethical concerns with privately bankrolled National Guard border deployment

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Salon

The mission, funded by a billionaire GOP megadonor, appears to be the first of its kind in American history
By JON SKOLNIK
PUBLISHED JUNE 30, 2021 6:03PM (EDT)

South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem announced Tuesday that she will deploy up to 50 National Guard troops to the Mexico-U.S. border – a mission not funded by South Dakota or the federal government but a billionaire GOP megadonor with a staunch commitment to "protect America."

"The Biden Administration has failed in the most basic duty of the federal government: keeping the American people safe,"Noem, a Republican, said. "The border is a national security crisis that requires the kind of sustained response only the National Guard can provide.

"We should not be making our own communities less safe by sending our police or Highway Patrol to fix a long-term problem President Biden's Administration seems unable or unwilling to solve. My message to Texas is this: help is on the way."

The deployment, which will reportedly last between 30 and 60 days, is currently being bankrolled by Willis Johnson, the founder and chairman of Copart Inc., a global corporation that facilitates vehicle auction and remarketing services.

Read more: https://www.salon.com/2021/06/30/kristi-noem-raises-ethical-concerns-with-privately-bankrolled-national-guard-border-deployment/

[Tomconroy]

1. I have to assume this fellow is Mexican.

[quaint]

18. Who?

Thank you.

[Hugin]

20. I'm assuming Willis Johnson...

As, he is supposedly paying for the privatized and potentially illegal deployment.

The poster is making a sarcastic riff on the meme that Mexico was going to pay for the southern wall the Republicans were always ranting about, which was coined by Trump.

[quaint]

21. Hmm, thanks.

[Hugin]

22. You know what is said about assumptions.

But, I think this is a pretty good guess.

You're welcome.

[LonePirate]

2. This is an incredibly dangerous precedent. What's next?

Billionaires paying for protection by the National Guard when people start protesting the rich? Will they be hired out as mercenaries against the enemies of the buyer?

[diverdownjt]

19. This IS how those dystopian futures start.

[Diamond_Dog]

3. This sets a frightening precedent.

That is, if you have enough money in America, you can bankroll your own military action.

[iluvtennis]

15. +++ agree. n/t

[Judi Lynn]

27. I don't see how they can NOT be viewed as "mercenaries" considering the circumstances.

It doesn't take long to see that as an dangerous arrangement if that happened in another country. Paramilitaries usually become death squads.

[Shellback Squid]

4. is this an IOU? a promise?

or is he paying upfront?

[Lovie777]

5. She did it because she wanted to protect . ..

South Dakota from Brown people.

[OriginalGeek]

28. Come on, she only has a 4-state buffer

They's practically in her yard!

[Mysterian]

29. The last thing on Kristi Noem's little mind

is protecting the people of South Dakota from anything. She's a grifter to the core and she's in it for herself.

[Judi Lynn]

6. Willis Johnson, comfy at home in Suinsu Valley, California

This 80-Acre Northern California Estate Is a Car Collector’s Dream
Villa De Madre has space for over 100 vehicles along with a hoppin' ’50s diner.
By HOWARD WALKER



For aficionados of fine wines, classic automobiles, and a hard-to-resist deal, the sprawling 80-acre Villa De Madre estate in Suinsu Valley, Calif. (about 30 minutes from Napa) checks all the right boxes. Built in 2002 for Willis Johnson, founder and CEO of the salvage auto auction giant Copart, Villa De Madre features a 63-acre vineyard devoted to Cabernet grapes, a 23,000 square-foot main residence, a separate 1,900-square-foot four-bedroom cottage, and its pièce de résistance: two cavernous car barns that can accommodate up to 100 automobiles.

A passionate classic car enthusiast, Johnson built the barns to house his fast-growing collection, decorating the buildings with ’50s Main Street America features like retro store facades and vintage signs. He also equipped the buildings with a gas station, working workshop garage, and fully functional diner complete with a soda fountain.

The spectacular European-style main house comes with six bedrooms (including a 2,000-square-foot master suite), eight bathrooms, an expansive living room featuring 24-foot-high ceilings, an indoor pool, a chef’s kitchen with three ovens and four freezers, and a 250-bottle wine cave. Lavish decorations include hand-painted Venetian-style murals and ceilings, marble fireplaces, and a grand double-winding staircase.

The vineyards, which are currently managed by the nearby Regusci Winery, produce around 150,000 bottles of rich Cabernets a year, while olive trees lining the driveways deliver around 80 gallons of fine olive oil annually. The property also includes a third 24,000-square-foot barn housing vineyard equipment.

More:
https://robbreport.com/shelter/homes-for-sale/ultimate-home-car-collectors-suisun-valley-california-2790113/

[neverforget]

7. One, the National Guard is not a mercenary force and,

two, billionaires have too much money.

[GB_RN]

8. How Is This Even Legal?

[bluestarone]

9. I was hoping somehow the SC could get involved on this.

Is there anyway our AG could request Federal judges ruling on this?

[COL Mustard]

10. I Don't In Any Way Understand How This Is Legal

It's certainly unprecedented. This "deployment" uses Federally funded equipment, and although the Soldiers may be paid from State funds while they are on these orders, I really don't understand how it's legal.

Of course the Commander In Chief could always federalize the SDARNG and put an end to this.

[EndlessWire]

14. No, no

A private citizen is footing the bill! The state isn't paying anything. This one guy is paying! I don't understand this, either. This is international stuff that they are interfering in. How can a Governor delegate military matters to a PRIVATE CITIZEN. Isn't there something in the Con against this? Is the National Guard a militia?

The GQP, aka TP, has lost its mind.

[ZonkerHarris]

11. The US Military are now a rent-an-army for domestic purposes.

[LiberalLovinLug]

26. Can we rent them, via GoFundMe, to help stand in front at protests?

As barriers to police abuse?

[keithbvadu2]

12. Mercenaries now

Mercenaries now

[EndlessWire]

13. I don't get it, either.

So, if they harm someone, who gets sued? Are they protected under Federal law? Do they have immunity? What keeps them from being just another gang of thugs out to cause mischief? If there is one thing I want to see, it's Joe and Kamala stopping this nonsense. Surely there is something codified somewhere which says they can't do this crap.

Let's see if I understand this: they are loaning their state troops to the border states because they say that Biden isn't doing his job??? This is just the same as tRump drumming up a phony caravan of devil brown people coming to murder us. Are these troops going to be armed?

Who is in charge of these troops? I think that if a private citizen pays for deployment, then these troops become just a private militia. Do these troops have to show up now?

Let's crowd fund for our own private Army and Navy: we need the Navy to prevent more Lake Travis nonsense from happening. Yep, it would be just as valid as whatever these stupid GOP turds are doing. National Guard troops without a callup by the legitimate CIC?? We are looking at a serious irregularity here.

[truthisfreedom]

16. This is clearly an in-kind contribution to her next campaign.

Absolutely no doubt about it.

[Roy Rolling]

17. Higher Taxes

This is why we need higher taxes on the wealthy—some will spend their money destroying the country that made them rich in the first place.

Traitor.

[lark]

23. I'd bet she doesn't bring them home then, unless ordered to by a court.

Nope, she will fuck over the people of SD and keep them there on the taxpayers dime, it's what repugs do, after all. Plus she is going to get sued (or she damn well better) because she's interfering in federal business.

[Ramsey Barner]

24. Will Willis Johnson claim a tax deduction for this "donation"?

I guess that's a rhetorical question!

[BobTheSubgenius]

25. What's a billionaire to do? If you can't afford your own space program, consider a private army.

Setting aside the obvious concerns for a moment - this kind of corporate/govt mingling has more than a whiff of fascism about it - but it's also kind of ludicrous. I suppose we should be relieved that the details of this "deployment" show it as the grandstanding nonsense it is.

50 or fewer troops patrolling whatever part of a 2000-mile border for a month, or two at the most? Absurd.

That being said, it's a disturbing idea on its face.