What’s Obama’s gameplan? He announced this in 2008–why didn’t anyone ever simply ask?

From today’s Rush Limbaugh:

Story #11: Constitutional? A Civilian National Security Force?

RUSH: Now, ladies and gentlemen, I need to ask my buddy Andy McCarthy about this or maybe my buddy F. Lee Levin about this. They’re both lawyers. There was a White House executive order signed yesterday, signed into law yesterday. I want to read it to you. “When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States; and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.” This is from the WhiteHouse.gov press office: “President Obama Signs Executive Order Establishing Council of Governors.” Now, this seems to be federalizing the National Guard. This is why I need to get legal opinion on this. “When appointed, the Council will be reviewing such matters as involving the National Guard of the various States; homeland defense; civil support; synchronization and integration of State and Federal military activities in the United States;” integration, synchronization “and other matters of mutual interest pertaining to National Guard, homeland defense, and civil support activities.”

Now, Obama said in the campaign, “We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.” He said that in 2008 in the campaign. You stop and think about that: Just as well funded as the US military? The military budget is, what, $600 billion a year? Stop and think of that: We spent more on the stimulus than on national defense. But anyway, we’re going to spend $600 billion on a civilian national security force just as powerful as the US military? Can anybody say posse comitatus? Then we have this executive order from yesterday and I’m really scratching my head over what this means. Based on his campaign statement: “We cannot continue to rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives that we’ve set. We’ve got to have a civilian national security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well-funded.” You ponder that.

Media Matters has Obama’s backside:

Rush Fearmongers With “Civilian National Security Force” Conspiracy Theory
Published Tue, Jan 12, 2010 5:36pm ET
(…)
Rush then decided to join noted conspiracy theorist Alex Jones and Glenn Beck in some fearmongering over an Executive Order establishing a bipartisan advisory council on homeland security, claiming that it is “federalizing” the National Guard. El Rushbo, who has previously promoted Jones’ website, now stands with Beck in promoting the crazy conspiracy theory that President Obama is forming a “civilian national security force”.

Rush is promoting a conspiracy theory!

OK, Media Matters, so what IS the truth? Why doesn’t Obama simply explain his remarks? He’s President of the United States. We’re the people of the United States. There’s no need for conspiracy theories. Just tell us what those campaign statements and this week’s actions really mean.

Crickets.