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Thursday, November 17, 2005

The Recall or Right to Referendum (which one is it) ?

That's just the point I'm making, this drive isn't organized at all. They haven't even decided what they're going to petition for yet. At least among the voters and supporters. I've been following one of the organizers of this drive, it's falling apart before it starts. There is a big plan that's supposed to unfold, after the first of the year. That will produce 40-50,000 signatures in one day. With the help of 400 volunteers, which I'll have to see to believe. I wish this movement the best of luck, if that's what they want to do. I would love to see the citizens of Memphis stick together about anything. Hopefully it won't be this though. I won't be supporting it myself, but to each his own. I don't think they'll get the required number of signatures. If this doesn't work, those behind it will complain about that too. They'll try to come up with something new, and try to force it down other peoples throat. In the meantime his term will be practically over. Let's look at this as far as I know to the point we are right now. Someone please correct me, if I'm wrong.

Under the provisions of the city charter, even if accomplished it wouldn't change much. It would be more symbolic, than anything else. We're beyond this point, but for the sake of conversation let's consider this. That's one of my major issues with the recall. Even if I supported it. It's too late in the game. They can't initiate it until after the second year of his term. Then it can only be put on the ballot, in a general election. In hindsight the recall provision wasn't designed, to appease a disgruntled minority. In order for this thing to work, a whole lot of people have to be thoroughly upset. Like maybe if they caught the mayor on camera smoking crack, or in bed with a little boy. Well maybe not smoking crack. Somebody already got away with that. When it comes to money, it depends on who it is. Some people seem to feel, some people are entitled. I certainly wouldn't take a chance on a young girl either. Especially if she was developed. It would somehow be her fault. I think a little boy would be too much. Even the voters of Memphis, wouldn't go for that.

Even if you got the mayor out, you couldn't remove the city council. That's like killing a roach, and not getting the eggs. Everything the citizens are upset about, the city council voted for it. In the interim there is a prior appointed person in place, pending the results of the recall. I don't know who that is, but I would bet it's not a rebel. It will be someone that won't make radical changes. Look at the person, who filled Janet Hooks vacated council seat. It was someone I personally never heard of. Unless we take two things to the table all at once. The recall petition, and the candidate of choice. Which is another story in itself. That would involve another wait. I bet a majority of those people supporting this, haven't looked that far ahead.

The last time I saw a scenario like this, was the election of the president of the Shelby County Democratic party. That was a joke too. We see how that turned out. When the smoke cleared, who was in charge? Considering where this came from, I have suspicions of the same type of force behind this. The whole thing reeks of the "divide and conquer principle". Most people are sincere in their complaints. They just don't know how to resolve it. They don't know what to do, but they want to do something. Recalling the mayor isn't the answer.

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