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On Recalls.. and the PosseBy JGillman, Section News
(Cross posted at recallposse.org)
There are reasons to recall your elected official. And there are as many opinions about the level of broken trust required to instigate recall as there are politicians. So where do we jump off? At what point do we say enough is enough? We started the Recall Posse idea to inspire and move forward demands of accountability by our elected representatives. However, some don't agree on the method.
My father, a decent guy, a long time Republican, with a well developed sense about politics, yet would still not sign a petition to put our governor, Jennifer Granholm up for recall. Never mind that it would be too much of an effort, but he simply would not support a recall based on her record. His feelings about recalls, is that "unless they do something 'criminal,' recalls have no place in politics."
I couldn't disagree more. A criminal act has its own consequence. A criminal act has its own "removal" element. A criminal act, hardly requires a recall effort, as it has its own reward. Consider as an analogy.. You and a few others frequently carpool with a driver who swerves into the other lanes frequently, talks on a cell phone, never uses the mirrors, and eats with both hands while driving. You are in DANGER. You have a heightened chance of being hurt by such activities. You have a choice to either accept that person as a driver going forward, or you remove that driver from the rotation. Our Governor is eating with both hands, applying makeup, texting, and has cell phones up to both ears. Further, her path is one that all of a sudden has cliffs on both sides. Her incompetence is hardly a "criminal" offense, yet the danger is real. Of course.. a recall effort to remove this "typhoid Mary" of state sponsored economy destruction is impractical due to the incredible number of signatures needed. So where does that leave us?
Consider house speaker Andy Dillon. The recall effort last year collected enough signatures, only to have enough thrown out by the bureau of elections to take all the efforts away. But then, a United States District Judge declared in favor of the recall team clearing the way for a ballot presence. On August 27, 2008, United States District Judge Robert Holmes Bell issued a preliminary injunction ordering Michigan Secretary of State Terri Lynn Land to re-examine the signatures without reference to statutory requirements prohibiting non-residents of Dillon's district from circulating petitions; and further ordered that if sufficient signatures are found, then Land must place the recall against Representative Dillon on the November 4, 2008 general election ballot.<sup id="cite_ref-13">[14]</sup> <sup id="cite_ref-14">[15]</sup> The citizens did not recall Dillon in the end. But his political ambitions are now toast, and he will never successfully run for governor in Michigan. Which is good. The effort accomplished two things. It provided as a test case under the 1st amendment, that petitioners need not be registered in the district they collect. Additionally, it attached a boat anchor to the political ambitions of a taxoholic politico. Good can come of a well managed recall effort. It provides a second look at the representation provided by our elected officials, and keeps them looking to the public which elected them as a "chaperon" of sorts.. Hardly will a recall effort be done lightly. It takes time and manpower, which means money, and more money ultimately. No.. its not easy, so we are attempting to pull together regional groups who are willing to do an occasional weekend in the efforts to send our message. Hopefully at some point in the future, the mere presence of the posse will be enough to get our leadership on the same page as us once again.
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On Recalls.. and the Posse | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
On Recalls.. and the Posse | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
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