Has anyone called the California recall a "political lynching"?

[dolstein]

Because that's exactly what it is. People shouldn't forget that work began on the recall almost immediately after Davis was reelected last Novermber. And the savage attacks on Davis by the right-wing media in California and elsewhere began long before that.

Let's admit it -- the Republicans have had Davis in their sights for a long time, because they know that as long as California is a solidly Democratic state, the Republicans will have difficultly winning (and keeping) the White House. So there has been a carefully orchestrated Republican campaign to shift all of the blame for California's woes onto Davis, even though it's the Bush Administration that bears primary responsibility for needlessly prolonging the energy crisis as well as for the subsequent economic downturn.

It really bothers me that so many Democrats in California have fallen for this Republican con game.

[slackmaster]

1. Cite please

People shouldn't forget that work began on the recall almost immediately after Davis was reelected last Novermber.

Can you support this with hard information?

[Bandit]

2. Kepp on voting until you get who you want.

Just like the recount. GOPers were constantly saying how the Democrats wanted to recount until they got the results they wanted. They lied then but are practicing what they accused us of right now. What is their justification for the recall? Please inform me. Many governors appear to do lousy jobs but never have been recalled. What specifically is the reason stated for this recall?

[slackmaster]

4. From the text of the recall petition

"Gross mismanagement of California Finances by overspending taxpayers’
money, threatening public safety by cutting funds to local governments, failing to account for the
exorbitant cost of the energy fiasco, and failing in general to deal with the state’s major problems
until they get to the crisis stage."

[Bandit]

6. Sounds like virtually every single state governor at this point in time.

Overspending taxpayers money. Does a 450 billion dollar deficit fit Gross mismanagement of taxpayers money by over spending? And that doesn't even count the monies spent on Iraq and Afghanistan. By the way does the governor need to get approval before spending money? It is my impression that spending is the legislatures authority not the governor.

[slackmaster]

8. Yes, and the California recall provision may be unique

The reason for recall is "not reviewable" by anyone except the voters.

Although I disagree with the reasons for this recall I support the process. If people get tired of recall elections they'll stop signing peititions.

[dolstein]

5. I did a search in the Washington Post archives

and there were articles on the recall effort back in February, which is as far back as I was able to search on that site. I did read in a news article that the recall effort actually began last year. It didn't really gain much steam until Issa announced that he'd fund it. But the radio commentators and right-wing activities were calling for Davis' head long before that. Republicans with a reputation to protect didn't formally get on board until the recall effort looked like it was going to succeed.

[Boreas]

12. Repubs Sighted; Cited Same

http://www.democraticunderground.com/articles/03/08/15_coup.html

[DinahMoeHum]

3. I haven't, but more than once I've said that if Gray Davis

IS recalled, he and the Dems should play him up as a political martyr, and use that to stir up anger among their political base, and against the Repukes.

:kick:

[PROGRESSIVE1]

10. Yes they should show him a Political Martyr and no...

I DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE RECALL PROCESS. Giving a small group of people to incite such change in the system is absurd!!!! Eliminate all recalls!!

[Eloriel]

7. No, it's another coup

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=180842

Eloriel

[Mairead]

9. "political lynching"!?! For goodness's sake get a grip, will you!?

We are not hearing the sound of jackboots on the stairs. This is an e-l-e-c-t-i-o-n. By the c-i-t-i-z-e-n-s. It's called d-e-m-o-c-r-a-c-y.

Don't be afraid of democracy, be angry instead that there is no comparable method to get rid of Smirky McCokespoon And His Happy Psychopaths. NOBODY should have the right to keep a public office for which they have demonstrated they are unqualified. NOBODY!

[Brian Sweat]

13. It may be what you call Democracy,

but it is what I call a gross minipulation of the system. From what I understand, this recall effort began almost immediately after Davis was re-elected. This may be legal within the California election system, but that doesn't make it right.

[Mairead]

16. It's what you should be calling 'democracy' too

It's an election. If everyone can participate who so chooses, and the votes are fairly and completely counted, then that's as good as democracy gets at present here.

The definition of democracy has never included, nor does it include now, periodicity or immunity from exercise. That so many US venues, such as national offices, disallow democracy is to our discredit, not something laudable.

[slackmaster]

18. I keep reading statements like this but nobody has backed it up

From what I understand, this recall effort began almost immediately after Davis was re-elected.

I'd appreciate it if someone could provide concrete evidenct to support this. And please define "almost immediately".

[dolstein]

14. Bullshit -- it's NOT just another election

The recall was put into place to allow the masses the opportunity to remove a governor who was guilty of malfeasance. The recall movement would never have taken off until right-winger Issaa decided to fund it. And as far as I can tell, the only crime Davis is guilty of is being unpopular.

Sorry, but the recall is the "nuclear option" of politics, and my concern is that we are gradually lowering the bar for what is considered acceptable in a democracy. And believe me, if the recall succeeeds, the Republicans are going to target each and every unpopular Democratic governor in states that allow recalls. Eventually it will simply become too expensive for Democrats to get elected to -- and hold onto -- high office.

First we "elect" a president without bothering to make sure he actually carried Florida. Now were removing a Democratic governor less than a year after he was reelected. Pretty soon Texas legislators will be forced at gunpoint to vote for a redistricting plan that further entrenches House Republicans.

Sorry, but this is NOT just another election. And nobody who cares about democracy would be treated this as casually as you are.

[Mairead]

17. "Recall is...to remove a governor who was guilty of malfeasance"

Cite the language, please.

And as for your slur: I'm not the one who's objecting to a lawful, democratic election, pal.

[slackmaster]

19. Is dolstein thinking of impeachment?

Time for a quick civics lesson, California style.

All that is needed to initiate a recall election is an allegation of a reason by any citizen of the state. Only the voters can decide whether or not the reason is good enough to remove someone from office.

Malfeasance, i.e. misconduct in office calls for impeachment, which is initiated by the state Assembly and tried in the state Senate. Voters play no part in impeachment Here's the part of the California Government Code that deals with impeachment procedures:

CALIFORNIA CODES
GOVERNMENT CODE
SECTION 3020-3040

3020. State officers elected on a statewide basis, members of the
State Board of Equalization, and judges of state courts are subject
to impeachment for misconduct in office.

3020.5. The Senate when sitting as the court of impeachment is a
court of record. The officers of the Senate are the officers of the
court.

3021. All impeachments shall be by resolution adopted, originated
in, and conducted by managers elected by the Assembly.

3022. The managers shall prepare articles of impeachment, present
them at the bar of the Senate, and prosecute them. The trial shall
be before the Senate, sitting as a court of impeachment.

3023. When an officer is impeached by the Assembly for a
misdemeanor in office, the articles of impeachment shall be delivered
to the President of the Senate.

3024. The Senate shall assign a day for the hearing of the
impeachment and inform the Assembly thereof.

3025. Not less than 10 days before the day fixed for the hearing,
the President of the Senate shall have served on the defendant a copy
of the articles of impeachment, with a notice to appear and answer
the same at the time and place appointed.

3026. The service shall be made upon the defendant personally. If
upon diligent inquiry he can not be found within the State, upon
proof of that fact the Senate may order publication to be made, in
such manner as it deems proper, of a notice requiring him to appear
at a specified time and place and answer the articles of impeachment.

3027. If the defendant does not appear, upon proof of service or
publication the Senate may, of its own motion or for cause shown,
assign another day for hearing the impeachment, or may proceed to
trial and judgment in the absence of the defendant.

3028. When the defendant appears, he may object in writing to the
sufficiency of the articles of impeachment, or he may answer the
articles by an oral plea of not guilty.

3029. If the objection to the sufficiency of the articles of
impeachment is not sustained by a majority of the members of the
Senate who heard the argument, the defendant shall be ordered
forthwith to answer the articles of impeachment. If he then pleads
guilty, or refuses to plead, the Senate shall render judgment of
conviction against him.

3030. If the defendant pleads not guilty, the Senate shall try the
impeachment at the time it appoints. The plea shall be entered upon
the Senate Journal, and puts in issue every material allegation of
the articles of impeachment.

3031. At the time and place appointed, and before the Senate acts
on the impeachment, the secretary shall administer to the President
of the Senate, and the President of the Senate to each of the members
of the Senate present, an oath truly and impartially to hear, try,
and determine the impeachment. No member of the Senate can act or
vote upon the impeachment, or upon any question arising thereon,
without having taken such oath.

3032. The defendant can not be convicted on impeachment without the
concurrence of two-thirds of the members elected, voting by ayes and
noes. If two-thirds of the members elected do not concur in a
conviction, he shall be acquitted.

3033. After conviction and at the time appointed by the Senate, it
shall pronounce judgment, in the form of a resolution entered upon
the Senate Journal.

3034. On the adoption of the resolution by a majority of the
members present who voted on the question of acquittal or conviction,
it becomes the judgment of the Senate.

3035. The judgment may be that the defendant be suspended, or that
he be removed from office and disqualified to hold any office of
honor, trust, or profit under the State.

3036. If judgment of suspension is given, during the continuance of
the judgment the defendant is disqualified from receiving the
salary, fees, or emoluments of the office.

3037. Whenever articles of impeachment against any officer subject
to impeachment are presented to the Senate, the officer is
temporarily suspended from his office and can not act in his official
capacity until he is acquitted.

3038. Upon temporary suspension of any officer other than the
Governor, his office shall at once be temporarily filled by an
appointment made by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the
Senate. The office shall be filled by the appointee until the
acquittal of the party impeached or, in case of his removal, until
the vacancy is filled at the next election.

3039. If the Lieutenant Governor is impeached, notice of the
impeachment shall be immediately given to the Senate by the Assembly
in order that another president may be chosen.

3040. If the offense for which the defendant is convicted on
impeachment is also the subject of an indictment or information, the
indictment or information is not barred thereby.

[Zolok]

11. No but it is...

constitutional warfare of a new and unprecedented type.
Think about it, a minority of voters signed those petitions...a majority decides the recall, then a minority with as little as 10 percent of the vote can elect a new governor.
It combines the worst aspects of proportional balloting and so called "majority rule".
The GOP's goal is to govern sans restrain if necessary WITHOUT THE CONSENT OF THE MAJORITY.
The recall is nothing but a formula to create series of governors who have less and less legitimacy.
IF Arnold wins, I say recall him.
If that effort fails, we must gear up to begin recalls petitions in EVERY STATE OF THE UNION WITH A RECALL PROVISION THAT IS GOVERNED BY A REPUBLICAN!!!
By fair means or foul
By hook or by crook
By any means necessary.

www.chimesatmidnight.blogspot.com

[jiacinto]

15. You are right

The real question is what to do in the future.