You know there’s angst about the recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom. You can tell by the clumsy way in which the state’s Democratic Party came to the governor’s defense. With friends like that, who needs enemies?
The non-partisan CalMatters reported the debacle like this: “The state’s largest political party denounced the germinating effort to ask voters to recall Newsom, likening it to the mob laden with white supremacists and conspiracy theorists that stormed the U.S. capitol building in a fruitless effort to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.”
Party chairperson Rusty Hicks said: “Some of the same individuals and groups who were encouraged by California Republican leaders and (who) attacked the people’s house are also engaged in a recall effort against Governor Gavin Newsom right here in California. This recall effort, which really ought to be called ‘the California coup,’ is being led by right-wing conspiracy theorists, white nationalists, anti-vaxxers and groups who encourage violence on our democratic institutions.”
Reporters, as they should, asked Hicks to provide proof of that claim. He hemmed and hawed and said he’d have to “get back to you” on that.
“Stunningly stupid” is how Hicks’ came across in his defense of the governor. The only thing Hicks could have done worse is hold the press conference at the French Laundry with big oil and gas lobbyists footing the bill.
Look, even high school students know that a recall effort is a Constitutional right for which any California citizen may engage. You gather signatures. If you get enough of them, it goes to a vote. That’s democracy, not a coup.
All that said, my guess is there’s enough steam behind the effort to get the recall on the ballot. And, you gotta believe that Gov. Newsom will be in for a fight for his handling of the virus spread. He’s been singularly unsuccessfully, as some 3 million Californians who contracted the disease during his tenure can attest. Plus, his shutdown strategy simultaneously killed the economy. Fair or not, he must wear those facts into an election.
And, as he likes to say when he publicly fires underlings who mightily screwed up his pandemic response in 2020, everybody must be held accountable.
Nothing like a recall for accountability of the person at the top.
A recall of Gov. Gavin Newsom is a-comin’. Can he defend his pandemic response?
THIS IS US IN 2021
If you’ve been looking for the perfect meme to express the hope and fear we all feel about 2021, I think I found it. Enjoy.
IF YOU’RE KEEPING SCORE
California ranks a lousy 43rd nationwide in administering COVID-19 shots per 100,000 residents. Not a good stat for the state. In Marin, there are a lot of seniors wondering why the hell they have not yet been allowed the vaccination. Let’s get with it, please.
ONE MORE THING
— I put a thingamabob inside the whatchamacallit, turned the doohickey and the wuteveritis still doesn’t work. Any ideas?
— Does anyone know which part of the Bible explains how to turn water into wine?
— Beginning this month, the roadside sobriety test administered by the Fairfax Police Department will involve folding a fitted sheet. So, best not drink and drive. A public service brought to you by the Ross Valley Reporter and Marinscope Community Newspapers, the most awesome weekly newspapers in California, as judged by me.
— Forgive me father, pastor, vicar, padre, for I have synonymed.
— The chances of you being killed by a Sonoma cow is slim … but never zero.
I apologize in advance for those one-liners. I’ll let myself out. Thank you for reading. Be kind. Be safe.
(Sherman R. Frederick is the founder of Battle Born Media, a newspaper company dedicated to the preservation of community newspapers. You can follow him on Facebook at facebook.com/sherm.frederick/. He may be reached at shermfrederick@gmail.com.)
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