The Georgia legislation goes into effect in October, 2023. Let's hope Willis acts before that date.
Here are the grounds for removal by a state commission under Georgia's SB 92:
The following shall be grounds for discipline of a district attorney or solicitor-general
or for his or her removal or involuntary retirement from office:
(1) Mental or physical incapacity interfering with the performance of his or her duties
which is, or is likely to become, permanent;
(2) Willful misconduct in office;
(3) With respect to district attorneys, willful and persistent failure to carry out duties
203 pursuant to Code Section 15-18-6 [relating to prosecution of drug offenses etc.]
While we should not put anything past Kemp, obtaining an indictment after a recommendation in favor of an indictment by a special grand jury does not seem like "willful misconduct in office." I don't believe Kemp would attempt to have Fani Willis removed under the "willful misconduct" standard. Many news outlets are incorrectly reporting that Kemp can remove a prosecutor if he "disagrees" with the prosecutor's actions. That is not what the statute says. I recognize that what the statute says and what Kemp might do are two different things.
I really don’t think he will touch that given his responses to Purdue in the last election. Yes he could but he is much more pragmatic (although we may not agree with him) then extremist.
I hope I am not the only one to point out that VP Kamala Harris is wildly popular with the single most important part of the Democratic base - Black women.
When Biden first selected her as his running mate, they raised a huge amount of money within two days.
Agreed, but I think Kamala is widely respected among many Democratic constituencies. I think she is being unfairly judged by some because of her gender and her race.
Yes, exactly! She has a lot of experience and is smart. She is also interested in helping the people of this country live better lives. She is loyal to the constitution and will fight to maintain and nurture our democracy.
She gets short shrift by MSM. And I have had it with the Harris bashing.
If she were to become President due to an illness or untimely death of President Biden, she would enter the office with more experience than President Obama had when he became President, because she has been vice-president! She is smart enough to know what she doesn’t know and would surround herself with experts and actually listen to them.
I see an echo of the treatment Clinton got in 2016.
If something is said over and over, people start to believe it.
This "old white guy" thinks Harris has done an exemplary job as VP. For those who disagree, please read her job description and tell me where she has failed. Her number one responsibility is to be ready to be President and ... to support the President. Forget all the gossip and look at the facts. She is super smart and has done a great job.
VP Harris also has the best teacher possible, is gathering more experience than anyone who has not been Secretary of State, and has charmed diplomats and heads of state in Asia, Africa, and South America. She is slowly learning to speak more concisely, and to vary the intonation of her delivery. Her writers are learning how to write for her - to use her prosecutor voice, her righteous Black woman voice, and her more intimate, feeling voice.
She is popular with young people and (as I said in my earlier comment) with the crucial Democratic base.
Also: She has a year or more to continue honing her political skills.
As you may know, she also has secured some $billions in private funds for the Northern Triangle to slowly combat corruption and gangs, and to increase economic opportunities, so more people may begin working to improve their lives.
I think part of VP Harris's "problem" is that the press simply does not cover what she has been doing. Per Heather Cox Richardson's Tuesday politics chat: President Biden has sent her to all 50 states to talk about women's reproductive rights; she has also gone to places with mass shootings; she had a hugely successful trip to Africa to promote democracy and inclusion in the world economy rather than the usual western colonial attitude; she has made the rounds in Europe. Yes, VP Harris has been lacking in foreign policy experience, but is now being mentored by Joe Biden, one of the best foreign policy experts in our nation's history.
Agree with all of the above. My husband. And I are huge Kamala supporters. She is so talented and attacks problems by finding the source of the problem and addressing it - such as getting billions of dollars of support for Central American countries to reduce migration by improving economic opportunities within those countries, as Jerry noted above.
And the lack of US press coverage for all she is doing is inexcusable, as Robin noted.
And yes, she has the best leader in the world to learn from - Joe Biden!
Kamala Harris is getting ‘exposure’ and some kind of foreign policy ‘experience’ through her official travels. However, when my wife and I have viewed clips of her speeches, we’ve thought they are flat and superficial.
It's helpful to focus on *what* someone says rather than *how* it is said (though I acknowledge that many do the latter and not the former). And focus on her positive efforts to date as made clear above.
Black women are relentless warriors! They have had to fight hard all their lives for every accomplished victory. Actually, they never stop battling! Their victories have benefitted and will always benefit women and girls of all colors and backgrounds.
I like Kamala. When Joe picked her, I thought it was great having power on deck. Forgive the baseball imagery. I used to bat cleanup on a slow pitch softball team. (I was good).
I would strongly recommend viewing the documentary that aired on PBS this evening on their Frontline program titled "Clarence and Ginny Thomas". It's evenly presented. The agenda of the present conservative majority is VERY scary.
Very sorry if I sent this earlier. I lost it while editing it. Anyway —
To me, the Carroll verdict is important for another reason: It reminds us just how awful a human being Trump is. Maureen Dowd still has the best description: American Monster. Put aside all the legal issues and the technical points. He is just plain evil. In a biblical sense. The notion that we as a country would hire him to be a political leader is beyond my comprehension. Is this just about character? No. George Santos is about character. Trump is about something worse.
Such an important post, Robert! Why is it that we so quickly pull our snail shells out and give up!!??
I honestly think it was a mistake and an insult to all the people who worked so hard ... and continue to work so hard .. and i sincerely hope that Marc Elias 'adjusts' some of the dangerous message he wrote. I'm flabbergasted!
Thank you. Getting out the vote is an important part of the pathway to fair elections.
I want to mention the successful efforts of the non-partisan League of Women Voters registering new voters daily. Our local chapters are introducing the privilege to hundreds of qualified young adults at our high schools. The League is well organized both nationally and locally. And needless to say, we are determined!
Hi, Joyce. Thanks for your reminder about the League of Women Voters. I left the LWV off my list last night because it is non-partisan and I sometimes get pushback when I include non-partisan groups with partisan organizations (a laudable effort by those groups to maintain their independence and status as non-partisan).
If you are involved with LWV and would like me to promote, I would be happy to include a description of an initiative or program. Send any relevant information to rhubbell@outlook.com. Thanks!
“So, as I did in yesterday’s newsletter, I again implore Democrats to stop looking for the dark clouds while ignoring the silver linings. We shouldn’t deceive ourselves about the challenges we face, but let’s not go out of our way to depress ourselves by assuming disaster and ignoring the problems faced by our opponents.
We have a better than fighting chance. Trump is weak and getting weaker. He has the GOP locked in a death grip from which it cannot escape. He will drag the GOP down with him. While we shouldn’t count on Republicans to defeat themselves, let’s not ascribe to them invincibility they do not have. We can beat them in 2024—just like we did in 2018, 2020, and 2022.”
Great newsletter Robert. As you have said before many times, the Republicans want us to give up. I update a BIG Calendar List each week of events that anyone can join on Zoom (mostly free) to hear from candidates, Reps in office at all levels, and leaders of fabulous GOTV organizations, as well as listing Zooms that offer easy ways to help and company while doing it. Seeing speakers on our side and writing postcardstovoters.org postcards really sustains me. The last one starts with a great screen shot of what is going on in Minnesota now after achieving a trifecta in 2022, in the face of a massive push and $ from GOP in the MN elections last fall: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=5d39856e5e769397f8feaaa33&id=b810e3f9bc
If anyone doubts what spirit and will can achieve on our side in the face of voter suppression, watch "Dress Rehearsal," the really inspiring 15-minute documentary about the April 2020 Wisconsin Supreme Court election where there was plenty of GOP-led voter suppression and a new pandemic lockdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSSlxVMyKkk and the Democrat won. And Justice Janet Protasiewicz, the Dem, just won a seat on same court in April 2023! When I flag, I watch that little film again and think about all the fantastic new Dems in Congress (including Rep. Jeff Jackson who you cited), and Nancy Pelosi (did you see "In The House," the new documentary made about Nancy by her daughter? Great film!).
David Pepper, former Ohio Democratic Party chair, explains at this link https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/on-democracys-front-line?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email why he started "Blue Ohio," an org created to make sure Democrats are challenging every single Republican seat in the OH State Legislature, even in districts that are held in a gerrymandered stranglehold. All our work matters.
Giving up and sitting out won't help! We can win if we all help!
So true. DRESS REHEARSAL is one of the most inspiring films about the big impact created from small group organizing. I have copied and pasted your comment about the documentary in my note above. I have shared the link to the film with many friends. It is a clarion call for engagement to support grass roots organizations.
I live in Idaho. We are used to pushing water uphill. Yet we persist. And we have succeeded with citizen voter initiatives it’s doing the work to meet people where they are that lifts all boats. Thank you for this newsletter.
Texas congress removed a representative who was guilty of less than Trump. This gives hope that some Republican voters will be moved by Trumps court outcome yesterday.
Heather Cox Richardson spoke about the job that VP Kamala Harris has been doing in her FB chat last evening. I cannot say where in the hour's long chat Harris is mentioned, but...
I’d like someone to explain which ‘voters don’t like Kamala Harris’ and why. I read this and I can’t help noting that very little media attention is given to her role, what she does, who she is. Where is the support for this statement?
I fear we have fallen into the snares of the misogynists who work so effectively to minimize the accomplishments of political women and to disavow their effectiveness, leading us inevitably to an appalling lack of representation and respect for more than half the population. Please let’s stop contributing to this unattributed and questionably supported statement which has now, unfortunately, become a meme.
Robert, you give credit where little is due when you write: "Roberts, Kavanaugh, and Barrett are not that stupid. They hear the footsteps of history gaining on their corruption and hubris." They lied giving testimony during their confirmation hearings. They are bought and paid for by the Federalist Society which is another way of saying the NRA.
On the debt ceiling law which has no reason to exist, please write your members of Congress and tell them the first payment that should be cut on June 1 is their own salaries! Of course, that will have little impact on these millionaires who are being corrupted by their donors "gifts". I would remind them that the only winner in the U.S. defaulting will be China who can raise the interests rates on the U.S. debt they hold. I would also tell them we will Re-elect No One who allows the U.S. to default!
I have one question: Why does Marc Elias have to save democracy from voter suppression? Where is the DOJ? They pledged to fight voter suppression and they are MIA.
Baseball game announcer, “Next up to bat Fanni Willis from Fulton County Georgia and on deck in the batters circle Jack Smith from Washington DC”
Perfect analogy! I will cheer loudly from the stands when this home run finally happens!
Don’t forget that Kemp can now remove Willis any time he wants….
The Georgia legislation goes into effect in October, 2023. Let's hope Willis acts before that date.
Here are the grounds for removal by a state commission under Georgia's SB 92:
The following shall be grounds for discipline of a district attorney or solicitor-general
or for his or her removal or involuntary retirement from office:
(1) Mental or physical incapacity interfering with the performance of his or her duties
which is, or is likely to become, permanent;
(2) Willful misconduct in office;
(3) With respect to district attorneys, willful and persistent failure to carry out duties
203 pursuant to Code Section 15-18-6 [relating to prosecution of drug offenses etc.]
While we should not put anything past Kemp, obtaining an indictment after a recommendation in favor of an indictment by a special grand jury does not seem like "willful misconduct in office." I don't believe Kemp would attempt to have Fani Willis removed under the "willful misconduct" standard. Many news outlets are incorrectly reporting that Kemp can remove a prosecutor if he "disagrees" with the prosecutor's actions. That is not what the statute says. I recognize that what the statute says and what Kemp might do are two different things.
Thank you, Robert, for your precisely worded, important clarification.
Geez, by those standards how can they possibly support Trump?
I really don’t think he will touch that given his responses to Purdue in the last election. Yes he could but he is much more pragmatic (although we may not agree with him) then extremist.
Hope is eternal I guess! Thanks
I love it!
I hope I am not the only one to point out that VP Kamala Harris is wildly popular with the single most important part of the Democratic base - Black women.
When Biden first selected her as his running mate, they raised a huge amount of money within two days.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-election-biden-fundraising/biden-campaign-raises-48-million-in-48-hours-after-naming-kamala-harris-as-vp-choice-idUSKCN25A0CU
Agreed, but I think Kamala is widely respected among many Democratic constituencies. I think she is being unfairly judged by some because of her gender and her race.
That's an understatement.
Yes, exactly! She has a lot of experience and is smart. She is also interested in helping the people of this country live better lives. She is loyal to the constitution and will fight to maintain and nurture our democracy.
She gets short shrift by MSM. And I have had it with the Harris bashing.
If she were to become President due to an illness or untimely death of President Biden, she would enter the office with more experience than President Obama had when he became President, because she has been vice-president! She is smart enough to know what she doesn’t know and would surround herself with experts and actually listen to them.
I see an echo of the treatment Clinton got in 2016.
If something is said over and over, people start to believe it.
So stop it! Call it out when it happens.
This "old white guy" thinks Harris has done an exemplary job as VP. For those who disagree, please read her job description and tell me where she has failed. Her number one responsibility is to be ready to be President and ... to support the President. Forget all the gossip and look at the facts. She is super smart and has done a great job.
VP Harris also has the best teacher possible, is gathering more experience than anyone who has not been Secretary of State, and has charmed diplomats and heads of state in Asia, Africa, and South America. She is slowly learning to speak more concisely, and to vary the intonation of her delivery. Her writers are learning how to write for her - to use her prosecutor voice, her righteous Black woman voice, and her more intimate, feeling voice.
She is popular with young people and (as I said in my earlier comment) with the crucial Democratic base.
Also: She has a year or more to continue honing her political skills.
Thanks for giving me good reasons to feel better about her.
As you may know, she also has secured some $billions in private funds for the Northern Triangle to slowly combat corruption and gangs, and to increase economic opportunities, so more people may begin working to improve their lives.
I didn't know that. Yet another reason to be happy about her position.
And what’s being said about her has been said about every (white, male) VP at about this point in his tenure.
Not only that but the bumbling VPs chosen by the Pubbies (my favorite term coined by TLWills,) would belie Kamela's alleged poor qualifications.
I think part of VP Harris's "problem" is that the press simply does not cover what she has been doing. Per Heather Cox Richardson's Tuesday politics chat: President Biden has sent her to all 50 states to talk about women's reproductive rights; she has also gone to places with mass shootings; she had a hugely successful trip to Africa to promote democracy and inclusion in the world economy rather than the usual western colonial attitude; she has made the rounds in Europe. Yes, VP Harris has been lacking in foreign policy experience, but is now being mentored by Joe Biden, one of the best foreign policy experts in our nation's history.
Agree with all of the above. My husband. And I are huge Kamala supporters. She is so talented and attacks problems by finding the source of the problem and addressing it - such as getting billions of dollars of support for Central American countries to reduce migration by improving economic opportunities within those countries, as Jerry noted above.
And the lack of US press coverage for all she is doing is inexcusable, as Robin noted.
And yes, she has the best leader in the world to learn from - Joe Biden!
Kamala Harris is getting ‘exposure’ and some kind of foreign policy ‘experience’ through her official travels. However, when my wife and I have viewed clips of her speeches, we’ve thought they are flat and superficial.
We hope we’re wrong.
It's helpful to focus on *what* someone says rather than *how* it is said (though I acknowledge that many do the latter and not the former). And focus on her positive efforts to date as made clear above.
“Biden campaign raises $48 million in 48 hours after naming Kamala Harris as VP choice“
Black women are relentless warriors! They have had to fight hard all their lives for every accomplished victory. Actually, they never stop battling! Their victories have benefitted and will always benefit women and girls of all colors and backgrounds.
I like Kamala. When Joe picked her, I thought it was great having power on deck. Forgive the baseball imagery. I used to bat cleanup on a slow pitch softball team. (I was good).
I had to quit softball…was worried about my liver!,
Don't overswing (I didn't always take this advice), over celebrate or commiserate.
Thanks for that info. She's not my favorite, but your important point makes me feel better about her.
I would strongly recommend viewing the documentary that aired on PBS this evening on their Frontline program titled "Clarence and Ginny Thomas". It's evenly presented. The agenda of the present conservative majority is VERY scary.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Frightening, wasn't it? Both have clear mental problems. I kept thinking his eyes just look dead.
Very sorry if I sent this earlier. I lost it while editing it. Anyway —
To me, the Carroll verdict is important for another reason: It reminds us just how awful a human being Trump is. Maureen Dowd still has the best description: American Monster. Put aside all the legal issues and the technical points. He is just plain evil. In a biblical sense. The notion that we as a country would hire him to be a political leader is beyond my comprehension. Is this just about character? No. George Santos is about character. Trump is about something worse.
Like: "Trump is about something worse."
Have you ever heard "they lie when the truth would save them"? We've probably all known people like that. Santos is an archtype.
Get some sleep, Robert. You outdid yourself tonight.
Such an important post, Robert! Why is it that we so quickly pull our snail shells out and give up!!??
I honestly think it was a mistake and an insult to all the people who worked so hard ... and continue to work so hard .. and i sincerely hope that Marc Elias 'adjusts' some of the dangerous message he wrote. I'm flabbergasted!
I hope, also, that Marc Elias will have read Robert's post and everyone here's excellent comments.
Thank you. Getting out the vote is an important part of the pathway to fair elections.
I want to mention the successful efforts of the non-partisan League of Women Voters registering new voters daily. Our local chapters are introducing the privilege to hundreds of qualified young adults at our high schools. The League is well organized both nationally and locally. And needless to say, we are determined!
Hi, Joyce. Thanks for your reminder about the League of Women Voters. I left the LWV off my list last night because it is non-partisan and I sometimes get pushback when I include non-partisan groups with partisan organizations (a laudable effort by those groups to maintain their independence and status as non-partisan).
If you are involved with LWV and would like me to promote, I would be happy to include a description of an initiative or program. Send any relevant information to rhubbell@outlook.com. Thanks!
Thank you. That’s good of you. I will find something appropriate and forward it to you.
“So, as I did in yesterday’s newsletter, I again implore Democrats to stop looking for the dark clouds while ignoring the silver linings. We shouldn’t deceive ourselves about the challenges we face, but let’s not go out of our way to depress ourselves by assuming disaster and ignoring the problems faced by our opponents.
We have a better than fighting chance. Trump is weak and getting weaker. He has the GOP locked in a death grip from which it cannot escape. He will drag the GOP down with him. While we shouldn’t count on Republicans to defeat themselves, let’s not ascribe to them invincibility they do not have. We can beat them in 2024—just like we did in 2018, 2020, and 2022.”
Amen, Robert, amen!
Great newsletter Robert. As you have said before many times, the Republicans want us to give up. I update a BIG Calendar List each week of events that anyone can join on Zoom (mostly free) to hear from candidates, Reps in office at all levels, and leaders of fabulous GOTV organizations, as well as listing Zooms that offer easy ways to help and company while doing it. Seeing speakers on our side and writing postcardstovoters.org postcards really sustains me. The last one starts with a great screen shot of what is going on in Minnesota now after achieving a trifecta in 2022, in the face of a massive push and $ from GOP in the MN elections last fall: https://us17.campaign-archive.com/?u=5d39856e5e769397f8feaaa33&id=b810e3f9bc
If anyone doubts what spirit and will can achieve on our side in the face of voter suppression, watch "Dress Rehearsal," the really inspiring 15-minute documentary about the April 2020 Wisconsin Supreme Court election where there was plenty of GOP-led voter suppression and a new pandemic lockdown: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vSSlxVMyKkk and the Democrat won. And Justice Janet Protasiewicz, the Dem, just won a seat on same court in April 2023! When I flag, I watch that little film again and think about all the fantastic new Dems in Congress (including Rep. Jeff Jackson who you cited), and Nancy Pelosi (did you see "In The House," the new documentary made about Nancy by her daughter? Great film!).
David Pepper, former Ohio Democratic Party chair, explains at this link https://davidpepper.substack.com/p/on-democracys-front-line?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email why he started "Blue Ohio," an org created to make sure Democrats are challenging every single Republican seat in the OH State Legislature, even in districts that are held in a gerrymandered stranglehold. All our work matters.
Giving up and sitting out won't help! We can win if we all help!
thanks Sarah. I am publishing your comments in tonight's newsletter.
So true. DRESS REHEARSAL is one of the most inspiring films about the big impact created from small group organizing. I have copied and pasted your comment about the documentary in my note above. I have shared the link to the film with many friends. It is a clarion call for engagement to support grass roots organizations.
I live in Idaho. We are used to pushing water uphill. Yet we persist. And we have succeeded with citizen voter initiatives it’s doing the work to meet people where they are that lifts all boats. Thank you for this newsletter.
Laurie,
Bless you and thank you for all you do!
Texas congress removed a representative who was guilty of less than Trump. This gives hope that some Republican voters will be moved by Trumps court outcome yesterday.
Heather Cox Richardson spoke about the job that VP Kamala Harris has been doing in her FB chat last evening. I cannot say where in the hour's long chat Harris is mentioned, but...
https://fb.watch/kr9C5cHp41/
As for the rest, Robert, thank you!
I’d like someone to explain which ‘voters don’t like Kamala Harris’ and why. I read this and I can’t help noting that very little media attention is given to her role, what she does, who she is. Where is the support for this statement?
I fear we have fallen into the snares of the misogynists who work so effectively to minimize the accomplishments of political women and to disavow their effectiveness, leading us inevitably to an appalling lack of representation and respect for more than half the population. Please let’s stop contributing to this unattributed and questionably supported statement which has now, unfortunately, become a meme.
While I disagree with the criticisms of Kamala Harris and believe she is a good VP and great running mate, here is the data you request:
https://www.latimes.com/projects/kamala-harris-approval-rating-polls-vs-biden-other-vps/
Robert, you give credit where little is due when you write: "Roberts, Kavanaugh, and Barrett are not that stupid. They hear the footsteps of history gaining on their corruption and hubris." They lied giving testimony during their confirmation hearings. They are bought and paid for by the Federalist Society which is another way of saying the NRA.
On the debt ceiling law which has no reason to exist, please write your members of Congress and tell them the first payment that should be cut on June 1 is their own salaries! Of course, that will have little impact on these millionaires who are being corrupted by their donors "gifts". I would remind them that the only winner in the U.S. defaulting will be China who can raise the interests rates on the U.S. debt they hold. I would also tell them we will Re-elect No One who allows the U.S. to default!
I have one question: Why does Marc Elias have to save democracy from voter suppression? Where is the DOJ? They pledged to fight voter suppression and they are MIA.