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May 21, 2013 11:30 AM UTC

McLachlan Recall Effort Sputters Out

  • 22 Comments
  • by: Colorado Pols

From Lynn Bartels at "The Spot":

The first of four efforts to recall Democratic lawmakers over their gun votes has failed, with the secretary of state’s office reporting no signatures will be turned in an effort to oust Rep. Mike McLachlan of Durango.

Today was the deadline to turn in signatures for the first-term lawmaker’s recall, but the secretary of state’s office was informed that no signatures will be forthcoming. Those spearheading the recall effort against McLachlan needed to collect 10,586 signatures in order to force a recall election.

Juuusst a bit outside.
If you’re going to take a big swing…you had better connect.

It's true that a recall of Senate President John Morse is the primary target for RMGO, Dudley Brown and crew (as well as the NRA), and recall efforts against Democrat Senators Evie Hudak (Arvada) and Angela Giron (Pueblo) also continue. But that doesn't mean that such a poor effort on the McLachlan recall is not important. In fact, failing to turn in any signatures in a recall effort against McLachlan will have political repercussions beyond 2013.

As we've discussed before, it is incredibly difficult to succeed in a recall effort, which is why threatening such a maneuver carries so much risk. The threats from Brown and his RMGO lobbyists during the 2013 legislative session (threats like this one) only work if there is a real risk that a recall will succeed. Next time, for McLachlan and other "threatened" legislators, they'll have some recent history to consider when another "threat" comes their way.

What could make the difference in the remaining recall attempt, against Senate President John Morse in Colorado Springs, is the presence of paid petition gatherers and growing national interest in the effort. Due in part to Morse's last election being in the 2010 off-year, Morse always represented the lowest hurdle for recall organizers, and the highest-profile target as Senate President. It's worth nothing that the first, stillborn recall question against Morse technically failed last week–but that doesn't matter now that the NRA-endorsed, fully funded signature gathering campaign is on the ground, and they can try again and again if they wish. In interviews this past week, Morse appears to accept the fact that his recall will probably go to the ballot, and he vows to fight–not just for his seat, but to defend all of the many policy goals the General Assembly accomplished this year.

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22 thoughts on “McLachlan Recall Effort Sputters Out”

  2. Recalls only work when you have done such a piss poor showing that folks have no choice but to get rid of you incase your being their makes it worse (i.e. Gray Davis). 

    Just because he didn't vote your way on a couple of bills (bills only opposed by a part of the part that didn't support you to begin with) isn't grounds in most people's minds, even those who didn't vote for you, to recall you from office. 

    This is Field Organizing 101 and the NRA/RMGO is doing a very bad job at it. 

  3. While recalls can make sense for elected officials with longer terms that flip majorities, it is hard to justify a recall effort for a state rep elected to a two year term who is already halfway through that term.

    Unlike federal offices, since vacancies in the Colorado general assembly are filled by same party vacancy committees, a truly weak elected official (or one with personal life problems) can resign and be replaced by a less controversial individual.  This process encourages a "resign with dignity" ethic rather than a hang on no matter how bad that controversy is in order to hold the seat for the party ethic, and makes the politics of personal attacks far less attractive.  Short of a Wisconsin style broadbased concern about the party in control as a whole, it isn't a very useful tactic.

  5. I heard most of the door-to-door recall staff had to go back and report to their Probation Officers, anyway.

    Well, that's what I heard…..

  6. In rural districts stands to reason it would be tougher to collect signatures. It would require something close to a genuine grassroots effort fed by genuine grassroots anger. Against Hudak and Morse it is much more likely to be successful if all you need do is put a sign up at a park and offer a hot dog

    1. True, but that's also why you need to be careful what you threaten. There was no way they were going to be able to recall McLachlan, so they ended up with an empty threat that does nothing to advance their cause.

  7. If those people obtain enough signatures, Sen. Morse's recall is going to be a very hard campaign for the following reasons. The NRA and the RMGO are putting everything on the line going against Sen. Morse. They have to win or loose all credibility within Colorado and perhaps beyond. That is why they hired a company to gather signatures. If they can't gather enough signatures, they look silly and ineffective.

    For decades, the "gun rights" groups were able to scare the General Assembly when it was in Republican hands because they could turn out their voters in the primary election and because of that, they controlled the legislative agenda. Any Republican who misstepped on those issues was likely not to be reelected, but with the Democrats in control, they have lost much of their inherent and taken for granted power. Their threats look hollow so they are now in a situatuion where they have to prove their threats still mean something.

    If they gather sufficient signatures, the funding for the campaign agaisnt Sen. Morse will be massive and will most likely exceed seven figures. All of us need to give as much as we can to help Sen. Morse.

    1. You're right. It's all about Morse. Republicans from across the state and nation will be camping out in Colorado Springs this summer and fall!

      Making an example of Morse will make Democrats everywhere think twice about doing Obamaberg's bidding.

      2. ArapaGunsOverPeople,!!  Are you threatening us? Whatcha gonna do to all us Obamabergers?? Huh..??

        We should think twice about having a conscience? Eschew honesty, perhaps? We should reconsider honoring and rewarding hard work by blue collar workers as much as we do the gambling and swindling on Wall Street? Give a second thought to reaching out to our neighbors?. …unless you don't consider all those Obamabergers in NY and NJ your neighbors. 

        You try to be a bully, like Nugent, Cruz, Issa, DeLay, McConnell, Scott, on and on..but America is on to you ArapaGOP. You lose.

      4. You and your ankle-monitor-wearin' buddies couldn't even get a recall going when the "They're coming to take away our gunz!" lies were still fresh in people's minds.

        Romeny in a Landslide.

    2. you are correct, Morse is the big one because he is the biggest idiot passing ridiculous legislation.  McLachlin was only voting how Uncle Bloomberg and Biden wanted him to vote.  He was all PRO gun until he got elected.  All you liberals for some reason seem to believe nobody is for guns but there are alot of us who are and just like you gays want to be recognized and given "equal rights" or whatever it is you are wanting gun owners want the same. No more BS useless legislation hamstringing gun owners

      1. Where I live the liberals are armed too, jackass.  How anyone that has paid any attention during the last 4 cycles in Colorado can think an idiot like you calling folks 'libtards' and 'gays' does anything other than help elect more of us is a dithering, slobbering idiot probably too stupid to sit up on his own.  (Yes, I assume you are male). 

        1. Suddenly a bunch of fact free, lame insult filled talking point posts on aging threads from someone who apparently just started paying attention.  Is it spring try outs for trolls? If this is the best they've got, they're in trouble. And here I thought ArapGoof was scraping the bottom of the barrel.

  9. I think the contest between the law (Senator Morse and his background in law enforcement) and the outlaws (RMGO et al.) could be very interesting,  In many ways it really is a battle between civil society and anarchy.

     

    1. Morse is a moron, a conceited pompous asshole with no regard or concern for most of Colorado's voice.  He obviously became a cop and somehow got into politics to go on a power trip since he's such a little BS Spewing b#$ch.

      2. Care to offer any reasons for any of your opinions or allegations?  Didn't think so.  This is what we get from those who've got nothing because they know nothing except that they're against  all them libruls and I doubt you even know what that means.

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