Governor Kemp Interview, That Blue Check Glow, CA Recall 2.0 a Go
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Good morning!
Welcome to Outsider on the Inside. I hope this dispatch from in and around the nation’s capital on underreported topics finds you well.
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Here’s what I have for you today.
EXCLUSIVE: My Chat with Governor Brian Kemp fo Georgia
On District of Conservation today, I’m joined by Georgia Governor Brian Kemp for a conversation about the Great Outdoors and energy/environmental issues.
Among the many subjects covered, Governor Kemp touched upon the surge of hunting and fishing participants. He also stood by his decision to keep outdoor opportunities open during the pandemic.
“A lot of the other states have closed their boat ramps down and state parks and we never did We kept those open. We had a lot of people coming to fish and hunt in Georgia, which was just great for our small businesses. And obviously, you know, our bait, tackle. Obviously, on the firearms industry side of things and, you know, camping gear and other things. Just the whole…hunting and fishing part of it has been huge for our state. Lot of residuals there in the economy.”
That Blue Check Glow: The Trifecta is Complete
Yesterday night, I noticed a blue checkmark appeared on my Instagram. Hooray!
Very cool to have all of the “Big Three” accounts of mine verified. Years of media interviews, columns, and creating buzz have finally paid off.
Thank you for supporting my work!
California Recall 2.0 is On
Word came yesterday the Recall Governor Gavin Newsom petition qualified for the fall ballot with 1.6M verified signatures.
This is HUGE news for my home state California. The Sacramento Bee reports:
The effort to recall California Gov. Gavin Newsom has enough signatures to qualify for the ballot, Secretary of State Shirley Weber’s office reported Monday, marking a significant milestone in the more-than-year-long campaign to remove the head of the nation’s most populous state.
Recall supporters needed to turn in 1.5 million valid signatures to trigger an election, and organizers say they were able to collect more than 2.1 million by the March 17 deadline. Weber’s officer reported that more than 1.6 million signatures have been found to be valid.
Recall opponents now have a 30-day window wherein signers are allowed to withdraw their names from petitions. Unless Democrats can muster a huge withdrawal movement, the recall is likely to result in a special election come this fall.
Newsom’s favorability among California residents is falling fast—especially in wake of the French Laundry incident. Two recent polls tracking approval rating reveal a divide in voter perception involving the embattled California governor.
A January statewide survey from Public Policy Institute of California of likely voters showed an approval rating of 52%—a drop from 64% in May 2020.
Contrast that with Berkeley Institute of Governmental Studies January online poll: Newsom’s approval rating hovered at 46%, down from 64% in September 2020.
Ouch.
The appetite for recall is definitely there. And it isn’t a “Republican-backed recall” as critics suggest.
Plenty of independents and Democrats are sick and tired of uniparty rule plaguing Sacramento and the associated obtuse policies like AB5, high taxation, restaurant and school closures, and much more.
As a native Californian exiled in Virginia, I recall (ha!) living through the most successful recall campaign back there: the 2003 recall of Governor Gray Davis (D-CA).
My parents were among the millions of Californians who voted on October 7, 2003, to recall Davis. And they weren’t alone. They were among the 55.4% of registered voters who voted “Yes” on the recall. Voter turnout then stood at 61.2%. Republican Arnold Schwartzenegger received a plurality of the vote, 48.6%, against Democrat Cruz Bustamante’s share, 31.5%.
The Terminator’s eight years as Governor was interesting. While a slight improvement from Davis, he was lukewarm at best and was terrified of unionized nurses. It also didn’t help having an infidelity scandal brought to light. But that could be a post for another time.
Could Recall 2.0 be in reach? It’s doable. And I certainly hope my home state pulls it off again.
For too long, it’s been defined by Fool’s Gold and not Gold Rushes. Imagine its forefathers looking at the Golden State today? They’d be embarrassed by what it’s morphed into.
The Bear Republic has been besieged by disastrous uni-party rule for eons. And even hardened Democrats realize this. (Good!)
I’ll say this: Don’t count Californians out. Miracles can happen!
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—Gabriella