Recall: The Court Must Show Responsibility

Re “Davis to Ask Court to Postpone Recall,” Aug. 4: Looks like the California Supreme Court won’t be able to duck its responsibility to deal with the recall much longer. Your article lists a flock of recall-related lawsuits awaiting timely action by the court.

We have a 1911 recall law rife with inconsistencies and constitutional problems, particularly in light of recent court decisions. We have a dysfunctional, feuding Legislature. We have a short-attention-span electorate that thinks its civic duty is signing petitions in the Target parking lot, rather than going through the trouble of actually voting on election day. Some responsible institution has to stand up and be the adult in the room. No one but the court can bring some orderliness to the impending chaos.

Len Gardner

Laguna Woods

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Twice, upon being sworn in as governor, Gray Davis pledged to “support and defend the Constitution of ... the state of California.” Now I learn that when it comes down to saving his own neck, Davis has no qualms about asking the California Supreme Court to strike down portions of that same Constitution he has twice sworn to support and defend. Further, he has the effrontery to claim that the recall process violates the rights of California voters. It is clearly he who is attempting to subvert a fundamental right of the people of California, approved by the voters themselves, that has been part of our state Constitution since 1911. I had initially planned to vote no in the recall election. Davis’ own disingenuous actions are now forcing me to reconsider my position.

David James

Crestline

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In democratic countries, elections are determined by a vote of the majority. The Republican Party has a different approach. When it loses at the ballot box, it starts a recall petition using paid (and often out-of-state) signature gatherers and bombarding the voters with talk-radio programs and paid television ads. I hope that Californians see through this attempt to subvert the will and choice of the people. Vote against the degradation of the democratic process.

Daniel Hollander

Beverly Hills

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California needs a governor who has a purpose and vision for our state that transcends his or her own personal political gains. Politics has become big business with disproportional salaries and pensions. It takes lots of cash to ponder a career in government. If you aren’t born with money, you need endorsements and owe implicit and/or explicit favors. What kind of government is that?

Our political system attracts sharks and charlatans and is manipulated and abused. Until we implement election reforms, we will continue to stagnate in the quagmire that is California. We need leaders, not politicians.

Lionel De Leon

Garden Grove