Posted on 03/27/2013 12:17:16 PM PDT by Red Steel
DENVER — Less than a week after the governor signed into law three gun-control bills, petitions are already circulating in the drives to recall two Democrats, Colorado Senate President John Morse and State Rep. Mike McLachlan.
The Colorado Secretary of State’s office approved petition language Monday for the Morse recall effort and Friday for the McLachlan recall.
Two more recall drives against state Sen. Evie Hudak (D-Lakewood) and state Rep. Rhonda Fields (D-Aurora) are still in the planning stages.
“There are now 400+ petitions on the streets in Durango, Gunnison, Lake City, Pagosa Springs and Silverton!” said a Monday post on the Facebook page, Recall Mike McLachlan.
All the recall targets are Democrats, but so far the Colorado Republican Party has stayed out of the fray, leaving the organization to gun-rights and grassroots liberty groups.
“The grassroots support for this has been immense,” said Nick Andrasik, spokesman for the Basic Freedom Defense Fund in Grand Junction, which is coordinating the Morse and Hudak recalls.
The fund had also been helping organize the McLachlan recall along with the San Juan Freedom Defense Committee in Durango, but the groups announced Monday that they had split. Morse represents District 11 in Colorado Springs, while McLachlan’s District 59 is based in Durango.
Andrasik said Colorado is on the cutting edge of a political backlash against the state and national movement to enact tougher gun-control laws in the wake of two mass shootings in 2012.
“This isn’t just about Colorado–the momentum against these gun-control measures is nationwide,” said Andrasik. “Colorado is really the starting point for this. We’re the main stage in the national debate.”
Organizers say they need 7,178 validated signatures to put a Morse recall on the ballot, and 10,587 for a McLachlan recall. All the signatures must be from within the legislators’ districts, and petitions must be submitted within 60 days of receiving approval.
The governor is charged with selecting a date for a special election after the signatures have been validated, but may put off the vote until Nov. 5, the date of the next regularly scheduled election, if the petitions are approved within 90 days of the election.
Andrasik said his group is hoping to have signatures validated in time for a vote in August or September.
So far there has been little comment by Democrats targeted by the recall efforts. Morse told KOAA-TV in Colorado Springs that his support for the gun-control package was worth any political price he may pay.
“That’s why politicians around the country don’t want to stand up for this issue, but this is a political hill in my view that’s worth dying for so that we can make sure others don’t die literally at the point of a gun,” Morse said.
Political insiders watching the recall effort unfold had a piece of advice for organizers: Don’t overshoot.
Former Senate President John Andrews said the recall groups may want to “narrow the focus and try to take just two scalps,” preferably McLachlan and Hudak, whom he identified as the most vulnerable lawmakers.
“If Coloradans can recall at least one state senator and one state rep over their unrepresentative and arguably unconstitutional gun control votes, it will be the most important grassroots message since Californians recalled Gov. Gray Davis [in 2003],” said the Republican Andrews in an email.
Organizers should also bear in mind that recalls can be politically risky, said former Colorado Republican Party head Dick Wadhams.
“This is the problem with recalls: If they fail, they actually strengthen the incumbent politically,” said Wadhams. “This is pretty high-stakes stuff we’re talking about. Short of malfeasance or corruption in office, I think it’s smart to wait until the next election.”
He noted that in 2014, Morse would be term-limited and McLachlan is up for reelection. At the same time, Wadhams acknowledged that frustration and anger with the legislature over gun control may never be higher.
“I will say that the gun-control issue is very hot right, and these recalls should be able to take advantage of the political climate,” said Wadhams. “The intensity factor will work in favor of the recall groups.”
That’s why it’s important to act now, said Andrasik. “I think it’s more dangerous to wait until the next election,” he said.
ping
I would be internally auditing the signatures as they come in? i would not plan for, or assume, that any democrat (arm of ObamaPAC) will sit by idly and watch? i would assume that they are going to actively try to get as many fraudulent signatures on the petitions? questions to consider...
Sheriff Maketa releases statement regarding gun control stance
Historically, any citizen would be allowed to speak if they arrived at the Capitol early and signed up on testimony records. Although sign up sheets were in place and citizens including myself signed up, we were completely disregarded. Minutes after I signed up to testify, I learned a different process would be utilized and testimony was based on three categories: experts, preferred witnesses, and public witnesses. No explanation was provided to define expert or preferred witness. I was told this decision was made by the senate president and the chairperson of the hearing committee. Additionally, experts would have no time constraints and all others would be restricted to three minutes.
As I made my way out of the Capitol, I was shocked at the number of people who attended these hearings. It's estimated the number of people in attendance reached 1,000. I spoke to several and was told they just wanted their voice to be heard.
I am not sharing this because of the outcome of the hearings that day; rather I am sharing this because of the process implemented and the faces of all those citizens that were never permitted to participate in the process. Government is supposed to be by the people, for the people and on this day, they were crushed and kicked to the side. Special interest coalitions and hand picked experts with no relevant expertise trumped our citizens.
Shocking email: Dems threaten Colo. sheriffs’ salaries over gun control
Sheriff Terry Maketa to file charges against Colorado Democrat leadership
Colorado sheriff says new state gun laws won't be enforced
Recall effort begins; Petition aims to oust McLachlan (Anti-Gun Colorado Dem State Rep.)
The Basic Freedom Defense Fund Three recall efforts underway for Rep. McLachlan, Sen. Morse and Sen. Hudak.
Poll at the Denver Post on the proposed Magazine Ban.
Vast majority support repeal of mag ban.
Denver Post rigs poll. (read posts that follow that)
I’m sure they are and get more than you need to pad it.
Are these clowns in districts that potentially would throw them out?
Obviously the state as a whole is now solid blue (Obama +5) and heading bluer based on the demographic trends.
Make sure you get a few 'Scaps' to mitigate against propaganda of the ones you don't. "Pretty" good to excellent that these guys are going down.
Yes they are.
Obviously the state as a whole is now solid blue (Obama +5) and heading bluer based on the demographic trends.
It's a thin veneer. CO is not super solid blue Kalifornia as of yet.
Good work! Give em hell.
I never figured Wisconsin could pass RTW in a million years.
Ping.
Bump
Outside of Denver and Boulder I doubt Colorado is overly Democrat.
I believe it is more like Washington and Missouri. Let’s wait until everyone else reports and then KC, Saint Louis, and King County (Seattle and West of the Cascades) report and overwhelm the returns of the rest of the state.
I am afraid as more transplants move in Colorado will continue to move left and vote more and more Democrat. I hope I’m wrong.
An except. This person would be a coup de ta if they get her in a recall election.
except = exception ;^)
Michigan went RTW too, but far too long after the cows had left the barn.
Here’s the FB page for Mike McLachlan recall:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Recall-Mike-Mclachlan/500495826674701?ref=ts&fref=ts
“...every right that in the proper circumstances the government may infringe, take away, or completely reduce that right.”
- Mike McLachlan, February 23rd
If you are in Colorado or not, hit like and spread the word. The more attention the better. Hopefully one will get going for Rhonda Fields of Aurora...my town. Thank you for this thread and thanks to a FReeper FRiend for the heads up. :)
Classic despotism. They have no limits to infringe as they see fit.
Thank you for the ping!
” Less than a week after the governor signed into law three gun-control bills, petitions are already circulating in the drives to recall two Democrats, Colorado Senate President John Morse and State Rep. Mike McLachlan.”
Great start, Colorado patriots. Now you need a PR campaign to paint these rats as anti-American scum fascists who hate individual freedom. Associate these rats with Stalin, Mao and Hitler and rounding up people sent to gulags and camps.
Hire a PR firm to do it. It’s what the left has been doing for years.
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