Gaining A Perspective on the Colorado Recall Elections

Angela Giron (left) and John Morse

 Here in Colorado we've just seen the results of what can only be described as one more in  a series of  frivolous elections:  the "recall" of John Morse (of El Paso County) and Angela Giron, from Pueblo. I put these recall elections in the same category as the stupid "personhood" amendment ballots that keep being recycled each year by a coterie of idiots and Tea bagger know-nothings who demand an amendment that declares  a "fertilized human egg is a person, whether in a woman's uterus or in a test tube."

Let's leave aside for the moment the fact that no sane person in his or her right mind can possibly regard a zygote as a person. There is simply no standard by which that passes even elemental laws or tests of logic, or science. A person, a human person, must have at least minimal capacity for basic cognition and rudimentary choice. It must possess a brain, at the very least, which evinces definite brain waves. Anything that doesn't is a proto-human entity, but clearly not a person. The logical error made is called the "genetic fallacy". That is, arguing that because a thing is going to become something, it IS something. It would be analogous to saying that an acorn "is an oak tree."

Further, to talk or write of imprisoning a pregnant woman  for "threatening the life of a person" (in her womb) because she is caught drinking alcohol or riding a motor bike borders on utter insanity and folly. Anyone who'd propose such a law really needs binding in a straightjacket and being administered thorazine and ECT three times daily.

And what has this to do with the Colo. recall votes that now replace John Morse and Angela Giron? Only that the two cretins (Bernie Herpin and George Rivera) who are taking their place are firm personhood amendment supporters! Moreover, Herpin has made it clear he intends to have artificial birth control devices and pills banned all over our county because they "eliminate potential persons", i.e. by interfering with natural conception. No, this is no joke - I wish it were! (So at least Dr. Helen Fisher - the pseudo-science 'funny' guru from chemistry.com - would give me some humor credits)

What,  pray tell, did the two Democrats - Giron and Morse - do that incited the recall? Only actively supporting SANE state gun legislation, in the wake of the Newtown massacre, when most other states were so intimidated by the NRA their legislatures could only wet their collective pants.

The sane  Colorado laws limit gun magazines to 15 rounds and require the simple expedient of universal background checks, to be paid for by the gun purchaser, among other sensible restrictions. This is no more or less than would be required of a person seeking a license to operate a motor vehicle - i.e. having to submit to rigorous testing as well as eyesight - and paying for license- which can be revoked under certain circumstances.

But the 2nd amendment - NRA freaks were jacked off and hacked off, so the provisions (now amendments)  passed without a single Republican vote. The laws, which took effect July 1, remain in force despite Tuesday's vote, which is about the only good part of the recall loss - which now has the rest of the nation in despair it can stop the gun culture and its insane advocates from taking over the nation's elections. (Btw, anyone paying attention lately to how Georgie Zimmerman is still getting away with bandying about his weapons, now against his wife? His own lawyer has even disowned him !)

Anyway, at the instigation of the NRA and the Koch brothers, the Reepos in the state - especially in my own politically contaminated county, launched the recall drive to "teach them liberals a lesson".  With this outside help, money poured in to the tune of over $3. 5 million - and contrary to the lies you may read in assorted necrotics' blogs- this arrived compliments of the NRA and Kochs (as reported by Chris Hayes 2 nights ago).  That amount never came from Mayor Bloomberg to Morse and Giron, who received about  $350,000 in campaign donations-  and that was it!


So, in effect, the NRA and the Kochs bought the election. They also had a major role in delimiting the nature of the vote - which for the first time was restricted to only a fraction of the specific district each state rep lived in, as opposed to the whole county. Also, no mail ballots were allowed. Wifey and I knew about the latter when we showed up at our own precinct last Friday afternoon (for early voting), so that wasn't the problem. The problem was we were declared "ineligible" voters for this election and directed to the District 11 vote map on a nearby wall. There we observed that the D-11 eligible vote district was cut off right at Platte Ave. - thereby eliminating nearly 8 in 10 democratic votes (or anti-gun independents like me) that would have ensured John Morse remained in office.

How do we call this? Outside gerrymandering by edict? 

Give Morse beaucoup credit for vowing to fight on, saying the true test is not being knocked down but getting up again.


We applaud that, and hope that in the next round we can not only get a referendum passed to eliminate outside money from third parties pushing pro-gun recalls, but get all such frivolous recalls outlawed - just like personhood amendments. Our future freedom demands it!