I think Democratic Governors are going to have to do considerably more than appoint progressive judges to state courts (although that is important). We need Democratic Governors to join Governor Pritzker's blue state coalition (or something similar). For the foreseeable future states will be responsible for all the federal services that the Republicans are demolishing. Who is going to create and approve new vaccines? How will we replace FEMA services? Countless other services that won't be available. States will have to work collaboratively in what will be in effect a shadow federal government. I believe blue state governors should get out in front and explain to their constituents the dire circumstances and what will be required to survive until we can (hopefully) re-establish a functional democracy.
They are doing much more, although the appointment of judges has staying power. But Democrat governors and attorneys general have filed a number of lawsuits in federal court to stop trump & his chief jester from their illegal acts & to roll them back
But people following the law have a handicap that criminals don't have. Respect for the law.
People getting out "and explain to their constituents the dire circumstances and what will be required to survive until we can (hopefully) re-establish a functional democracy" also seems to be in short supply.
Most of us don't know what the governor's job entails, but I learned quite a bit by reading about former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts in her book "Up the Capitol Steps." If the presidency and Congress were held to the same standards, we'd have a balanced budget on time every year. We'd have disaster preparedness and relief as priorities. We'd have mandatory care for our most vulnerable citizens. Let's go, governors!
Thank you for your excellent addition to the original story. Thank you for naming one of the Governors that you admire. Her name would have, otherwise, escaped my notice.
It's also fun to look into leaders of states other than your own. After the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore, a commenter pointed me toward a book about a former mayor there, to help understand the culture. This could be a whole new history thread for me.
America has been looking for reassurance, leadership, and good governance for as long as America has been America. And, ever since the Mayflower landed we have found reassurance, leadership, and good governance very elusive. Not in short supply, however were those who espoused that what was good for America was that which was good for their pocket books.
Today we still have an abundance of them, two of which are now in the oval office.
We definitely need to get them out, but in a larger sense we need to recognize our weakness to people like this and remove them from public office before they contaminate our political process.
In short, we need to re-introduce morality into our political system.
This informative article was boosted by comments from BosPhotoGuy and KnockKnockGreenpeace. Thank you al for Illuminating some of the powers of the Governors.
"This is one of the greatest powers that all but two governors across the country hold in some form."
I'm thinking Kentucky is one of the two. I seem to remember all of our judges being elected. Which is why we have a Republican super-majority on the State Supreme Court, which routinely overrules Gov. Andy Beshear, most notably with emergency powers designed to protect the state during Covid.
I would welcome clarification from the author on her statement that all but 2 Democratic Governors have judicial appointment power. Certainly the NC Democratic Governor does not have such power as evidenced by the recent, closely contested partisan election for state Supreme Court o NC.
Note her caveat "in some form". In most states with judicial elections, the governor ends up appointing a significant number of judges due to mid-term retirements (voluntary or mandatory due to age). For example, previous NC Gov Roy Cooper appointed 74 judges: https://ballotpedia.org/Judges_appointed_by_Roy_Cooper
Edited to add: Forgot to mention that Allison Riggs, who as you allude Jefferson Griffin is trying to deny her victory, was originally appointed by Gov Cooper.
I think Democratic Governors are going to have to do considerably more than appoint progressive judges to state courts (although that is important). We need Democratic Governors to join Governor Pritzker's blue state coalition (or something similar). For the foreseeable future states will be responsible for all the federal services that the Republicans are demolishing. Who is going to create and approve new vaccines? How will we replace FEMA services? Countless other services that won't be available. States will have to work collaboratively in what will be in effect a shadow federal government. I believe blue state governors should get out in front and explain to their constituents the dire circumstances and what will be required to survive until we can (hopefully) re-establish a functional democracy.
They are doing much more, although the appointment of judges has staying power. But Democrat governors and attorneys general have filed a number of lawsuits in federal court to stop trump & his chief jester from their illegal acts & to roll them back
But people following the law have a handicap that criminals don't have. Respect for the law.
People getting out "and explain to their constituents the dire circumstances and what will be required to survive until we can (hopefully) re-establish a functional democracy" also seems to be in short supply.
Most of us don't know what the governor's job entails, but I learned quite a bit by reading about former Oregon Gov. Barbara Roberts in her book "Up the Capitol Steps." If the presidency and Congress were held to the same standards, we'd have a balanced budget on time every year. We'd have disaster preparedness and relief as priorities. We'd have mandatory care for our most vulnerable citizens. Let's go, governors!
Thank you for your excellent addition to the original story. Thank you for naming one of the Governors that you admire. Her name would have, otherwise, escaped my notice.
It's also fun to look into leaders of states other than your own. After the collapse of the Key Bridge in Baltimore, a commenter pointed me toward a book about a former mayor there, to help understand the culture. This could be a whole new history thread for me.
America has been looking for reassurance, leadership, and good governance for as long as America has been America. And, ever since the Mayflower landed we have found reassurance, leadership, and good governance very elusive. Not in short supply, however were those who espoused that what was good for America was that which was good for their pocket books.
Today we still have an abundance of them, two of which are now in the oval office.
We definitely need to get them out, but in a larger sense we need to recognize our weakness to people like this and remove them from public office before they contaminate our political process.
In short, we need to re-introduce morality into our political system.
This informative article was boosted by comments from BosPhotoGuy and KnockKnockGreenpeace. Thank you al for Illuminating some of the powers of the Governors.
"This is one of the greatest powers that all but two governors across the country hold in some form."
I'm thinking Kentucky is one of the two. I seem to remember all of our judges being elected. Which is why we have a Republican super-majority on the State Supreme Court, which routinely overrules Gov. Andy Beshear, most notably with emergency powers designed to protect the state during Covid.
I would welcome clarification from the author on her statement that all but 2 Democratic Governors have judicial appointment power. Certainly the NC Democratic Governor does not have such power as evidenced by the recent, closely contested partisan election for state Supreme Court o NC.
Note her caveat "in some form". In most states with judicial elections, the governor ends up appointing a significant number of judges due to mid-term retirements (voluntary or mandatory due to age). For example, previous NC Gov Roy Cooper appointed 74 judges: https://ballotpedia.org/Judges_appointed_by_Roy_Cooper
Edited to add: Forgot to mention that Allison Riggs, who as you allude Jefferson Griffin is trying to deny her victory, was originally appointed by Gov Cooper.
Cecelia - thanks so much for this information and the link.