"...Pancho Villa and Pershing..."
The illegals are not crossing the border and shooting up Texas towns. Sending Pershing-esque missions is not called for, though sending the NG to shore up and free up the BP is a start.
As for the temporary posting of that NG mission, the idea stated in the media is to do so until another group can take over their mission on a permenent basis. Either you take the media story or you don't - cherry picking bits of it like this before the speech is actually given doesn't really help.
"Unfortunately, the prez has had the ability to shut down the borders (or at least make significant improvements in security at the borders) since he was elected, reinforced by 9/11, magnified by recent events (< 2 months).
He's been remarkable only by his absence."
I agree somewhat. He hasn't been ahead of this at all, and he should listen more, but he isn't sitting on his butt either. I say we let him actually let him tell us tonight what is in the cards, before engaging in a trendy little El Jorge pinata party.
Frank, apparently you missed the point of my mentioning Pancho and BJP. You claimed no prez had ever sent any military to reinforce the border. I did not attempt to draw any parallel beyond the fact that we not only have reinforced the border militarily, we have taken the offensive across the border to ensure it, so I fear my postion stands, correctly.