Tea Party wins a round against Menendez

1.3 million... (0.00 / 0)

1.3 million signatures means that if they got every single person in NJ who voted for someone beside Sen. Menendez in 2006, they would STILL need a quarter million more....

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by: Zames @ Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 17:23:25 PM UTC

Petition (0.00 / 0)

Unfortunately, a lot of people will sign petitions without paying attention.  Also we now have a Supreme Court that will figure out a way to make it help the Republicans by issuing a narrow decision a la Bush v Gore

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by: amybrown @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 02:00:23 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Nice context, Zames. n/t (0.00 / 0)

It's not a particularly snappy signature, but here's what I think we need in the next NJ Democratic State Chair.  

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by: Rosi Efthim @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 18:13:22 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

They're trying to avoid the constitutional issue (0.00 / 0)

They're obviously hoping that the teabaggers won't get the necessary signatures so they won't have to address the constitutional issue.  In the unlikely event that 1.3 million signatures are obtained, the recall provision will be struck down as being in conflict with the U.S. Supreme Court's term limits decision in the 1990s.

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by: 12mileseastofTrenton @ Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 17:59:24 PM UTC

Missing something here (0.00 / 0)

OK - I haven't read the decision yet.  Call me a jerk.

Two issues appear:

Whether the Tea Folks (Focks) have the right to recall a US  Senator.

Whether the TF's have the right to recall him when they don't like his votes/positions.  

If the latter i true, why don't  generate a petition to recall Christie immediately?

OH - I forgot: we have a legislature.  In your dreams.

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by: SmartyJones @ Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 18:36:49 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

Salon.com (4.00 / 1)

I really like some of their columnists - to wit; Glenn Greenwald.

I just saw a column by (I think) our own JRB.  They spelled his name wrong!

We are entitled to all the "teh'"  on our crazy BJ keyboard.  They have oodles of avertisers and contributiers.  Get a real life, Joan, or hire me to edit, with good pay and health benefits.

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by: SmartyJones @ Tue Mar 16, 2010 at 19:56:11 PM UTC

[ Parent ]

They spelled my name wrong? Or Menendez's? (0.00 / 0)

If anything's spelled wrong, it's probably my fault!

Thanks for reading, though.

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by: JRB @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 02:58:28 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tee Hee (0.00 / 0)

You are welcome, JRB.

The irony is that while I joked about editing at Salon, the above comment is so riddled with typos, I couldn't even make it at the NY Post or Drudge.

I'm on my one last nerve.  That's my excuse and I'm sticking with it.

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by: SmartyJones @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03:55:17 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

The answer to that (0.00 / 0)

In theory, Christie can be recalled -- there's not constitutional bar to recalling state officials.

BUT, he cannot be recalled until January 2011. He must serve at least one year.

There have only been three statewide recall campaigns that gained enough signatures. North Dakota (1921), Arizona (1988) and California (2003). Extremely rare.

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by: JRB @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 03:00:53 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Can we start collecting signatures now? (0.00 / 0)

Or do we have to wait until January 2011 to start?

I think that cutting income taxes on the wealthy when the budget is already strapped is far more reasonable of grounds for a recall movement than any beef that the teabagging wingnuts might have with Menendez.

When you consider Menendez's votes on issues like DOMA and the bankruptcy bill, I think that progressives have more to complain about Menendez than conservatives have, which tells me that it is more about his last name than any votes that he has ever cast.

I actually don't have a problem with this recall movement conceptually.  While elected officials have terms in office, I think that there should be a mechanism whereby every elected official could be subject to a vote of no confidence and have to run for re-election earluer than the end of their terms.

Elections are often about picking the lesser of two evils, but having an up-or-down vote on an elected official's performance on their merits and not in comparison to someone else could require a higher level of performance from our elected officials.

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by: Bertin Lefkovic @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 04:58:13 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Understand the issue (4.00 / 1)

here is not on the constitutionality of the recall of a federal official.

The issue is whether or not Wells overstepped her authority - which I believe she did. To rule otherwise would set a really bad precedent - in essence making each elected official a mini U.S. Supreme Court.

I think it is very possible - in fact probable - that she is right and the U.S. Constitution does not allow the recall of a U.S. Senator. But that is an issue for federal authorities.

There is nothing Democratic about a Machine.

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by: Carl Bergmanson @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 05:30:22 AM UTC

Let them Collect Signatures (0.00 / 0)

If they get over 1 million valid signatures then it would be an important number that we shouldn't ignore anyway. More than likely they won't get it, as the number is nearly insurmountable. Why waste any effort in fighting it? It would be bad news for them when they don't reach the number.

Collecting signatures is an enormous and tiring effort. What are we afraid of?

PS: I am a big supporter of having a recall mechanism for all elected officials. Personally I also believe that a state should have the right to pull one of its representatives as long as it is a vote by the people and not some arbitrary political move like a governor's (or even legislative) decision.

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by: mmcgrath @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 15:11:07 PM UTC

Recall Christie! (0.00 / 0)

Why don't we start doing something that is legal.   Let's recall Christie.

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by: princetonblue @ Wed Mar 17, 2010 at 16:25:11 PM UTC

*like* (0.00 / 0)

I wish this was Facebook and came with a like button

http://outspokenliberal.blogsp...

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by: tabbycat31 @ Fri Mar 19, 2010 at 04:51:19 AM UTC

[ Parent ]

Tea Partiers... (0.00 / 0)

...have no logic whatsoever. I mean, you don't have to be a frickin' supporter of Bob Menendez to know that it is UNCONSTITUTIONAL to remove a federal official.

I am a strong believer in the idea of the easy recall, but recalling Menendez would be impossible. That is an absolute.

Now, why can't progressives recall our lardbutt of a governor.

-Jordan O

http://pinelandsprogressive.blogspot.com

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by: IndependentNJ @ Fri Mar 19, 2010 at 21:57:50 PM UTC