Dear Blue States:
How y’all been? As long as you are leaving the neighborhood, could you please return a few items, my lawnmower, for instance? I remember a lot of years ago, you sent some folks around the neighborhood doing what you called “redistributing”. It kind of sucked and we would all like our stuff back. With you all gone, we will have no need for the Federal Income Tax, so you can take that as well. I am glad to see that we get to keep Texas A&M, Rice, and a quite few other Universities in your offer. Also, please return Chuck Norris and Arnold Swartzenager. Under no circumstances will we accept Geneane Garafalo or Al Franken, we will now require visas to visit, and those two are persona non grata. Thank you ever so much for taking Hollywood. We were so happy that we get to keep NASA, NORAD, and the US Marine base at Quantico, VA and the Air Force Academy in Colorado. They will come in handy in the coming years. Oh, by the way, would you please consider taking France with you? We talked it over with most of the EU and they thought it would be best for all concerned if you would. Our big question is why, when WE suggested the split over a hundred years ago, did you all think it was such a bad idea?
Signed,
Red States
Monday, October 27, 2008
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I was sitting in a restaurant minding my own business when in walks Commissioner Anthony Troiani. A short time passes when one of the usual suspects from the City Commission approached the commissioner. I overheard the uncomfortable conversation. Alex Resendez asked Troiani about supporting a change in the City Charter's recall section to reflect the number of votes cast and not registered voters.
An agitated Troiani voiced, "We don't want to make a recall so easy that anyone can do it." It reminded me of the argument on the Charter Committee made by his two appointee who are lawyers too.
I have reviewed Cafe Brownsville's videos. I have read Mero's passionate arguments. And I am of the opinion that the number of votes casts should be the benchmark. Unfortunately, the committee bolstered with feelings and speculations have chosen to support a 10% registered voters standard for a recall.
Some of the usual suspects have appeared before the committee opposing the current registered voters standard. Strengthen by numerous facts and figures, their analysis demonstrates a clear need and viability for a votes cast requirement. They have stated that 148 Texas cities use their preferred standard, while 109 cities use the other standard Troiani, his lawyers, and committee support.
In refuting some of these facts, the committee points to Austin, Corpus Christi, and Laredo who use registered voters. The usual suspects counter that roughly 40% of the more populous cities in Texas like Houston along with other cities like Mission, Edinburg, and La Feria use number of votes cast. The fifth-largest city in Texas, El Paso, recently created a council-manager form of government and decided to use votes cast with regards to a recall. Why is it not good enough for Brownsville? They did their research. It's obvious the committee is only using research provided by the City Attorney and Secretary.
I must remind everyone of the events unfolding during this presidential year. ACORN has an abnormally high number of registration cards that reek of fraud. This development should make the Charter Committee worried about using their preference. If it can happen in other states and larger cities, it can happen here. Who's to say it isn't already happening?
As argued in Ohio, "Mickey Mouse" may be registered to vote, but he will not be allowed to vote because he won't show up. If the Committee and Troiani have it their way, "Mickey Mouse" would inflate the number of registered voters but not number of votes cast in an election. A homeless person registered 73 separate times would damage the ability of recall under their planned rule. This would not occur if the votes cast constraint were adopted.
We must demand from the committee members which include Richard Atkinson, Carlos Ayala, Hilario Diaz, Elizabeth Dierlam, David Fischer, Edward Moore, Henri Nicolas, Francisco Rendon, Mark Sossi, Eddie Sykes, and Melissa Zamora to use the number of votes as the reference point.
Why will they not listen to the legitimate arguments? We cannot simply blame the four lawyers appointed to the committee. The regular folks appointed refuse to budge on this issue.
They and Troiani stand in the way of holding politicians accountable to the people who elect them. It isn't about making a recall so easy a caveman can do it. Not all 148 Texas cities including Houston have recalls every other election cycle. Why does the committee and Troiani have such a negative opinion of Brownsville that they will not support what a majority of Texas home rule cities use in their chaters?
Wes Blackmum
"That's my view. And it happens to be correct."
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