Throw the Bums Out: Let’s Take It On The Road

Eighteen states provide for recall elections to remove state officials.  Nine of those provide for the same for their Congressional representatives.  But such a right of recall can and should be adopted in every state.

Ideally this would be done by amending the state constitution to provide for such recall elections.  But it can be done through statute as well, with the New Jersey Uniform Recall Election Law as a good model.

The greatest opportunity is in the states that already provide for citizen initiatives to put state constitutional amendments or proposed statutes on the state ballot for a vote of the people for adoption.  In these states, the citizens can act directly, without depending on the politicians to adopt a check on their own power.

The right of recall is desirable because it maintains democratic accountability to the people throughout the entire term of elected officials, rather than just at election time.  This is more relevant now because increasingly we see an attitude among elected officials that they know best and the people are ignorant yahoos who should be ignored until they need to be fooled again at election time.  The people need a right of recall to remove officials who display this anti-democratic attitude after they are elected.

(more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: Al Franken, Arnold schwarzenegger, california recall, citizen initiative, Gray Davis
Posted Feb 16th 2010 at 7:14 am in Congress, Culture, History, Justice/Legal, News, Politics | 7575442 Commentshttp://biggovernment.com/pferrara/2010/02/16/throw-the-bums-out-lets-take-it-on-the-road/Throw+the+Bums+Out%3A+Let%27s+Take+It+On+The+Road2010-02-16+15%3A14%3A18Peter+Ferrara

The Right of Recall

Congress is out of control.  The public overwhelming opposes a government takedover of our health care. But Congressional leaders are telling us they don’t care – that they know best, and they’re going to pass it anyway.

We are getting the same attitude on other issues, from global warming regulation, to taxes, government spending, deficits, federal debt, energy policy, welfare, corporate bailouts, and beyond.  Too many of our elected Members of Congress are making behind-closed-door deals and ignoring their constituents, calling them “yahoos,” “Nazis”,“and “tea-baggers.”

This isn’t American democracy — this is a shop-worn, elitist, authoritarianism closer to abuses we see in countries like Venezuela.

So, what would happen if the people could change this rotten situation?

(more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: congressmen, corporate bailout, Deficit, federal debt, global warming
Posted Feb 9th 2010 at 8:19 am in Congress, Justice/Legal, News, Politics, State Politics | 72582217 Commentshttp://biggovernment.com/pferrara/2010/02/09/the-right-of-recall/The+Right+of+Recall2010-02-09+16%3A19%3A49Peter+Ferrara

A Name Americans Should Know – Jodie Evans and the Obama-Hollywood-Terrorist Connection

How much access can a possible agent of influence for state sponsors of terrorism buy from President Barack Obama? For Jodie Evans, a progressive Hollywood activist, the going rate appears to be $30,400 for dinner and a conversation.

Last week in San Francisco, Obama headlined a three million dollar fundraiser at the Westin St. Francis Hotel. The San Francisco Chronicle reports about 160 people paid $30,400 or more per couple for a private dinner with Obama followed by a reception costing $500 to $1000 that drew over 900 attendees. Among those at the dinner was the leftist, so-called antiwar group Code Pink co-founder, Jodie Evans.

The Chronicle reports Jodie Evans had a several minutes long conversation with Obama at the fundraiser.

Why does Jodie Evans merit such face time with the president even though she acts as an agent of influence for the anti-American governments of Iran, Cuba and Venezuela, as well as Middle Eastern terrorists?

Over the life of the campaign, Jodie Evans became one of Obama’s top donors, giving the maximum $2300 to his respective primary and general election funds and tens of thousands of dollars more to the Obama Victory Fund, a joint Obama-Democratic National Committee fund.

(more…)

Email this to a friend | Print | Share on Facebook | Tweet this |

Tags: Barack Obama, Barbara Boxer, Code Pink, Democrat National Committee, Fidel Castro
Posted Oct 23rd 2009 at 4:15 pm in Culture, Defense, Featured Story, Obama, Politics | 20358177 Commentshttp://biggovernment.com/taylorking/2009/10/23/a-name-americans-should-know-jodie-evans-and-the-obama-hollywood-terrorist-connection/A+Name+Americans+Should+Know+-+Jodie+Evans+and+the+Obama-Hollywood-Terrorist+Connection2009-10-23+23%3A15%3A33Kristinn+Taylor+and++Andrea+Shea+King