As Leon Drolet points out, “Their intent is to keep it off the ballot by any means necessary.” But lately these means have grown more and more despicable:

    • Recall opponents have repeatedly tried to drag proponents into court on ridiculous, trumped up charges to distract them from the recall campaign.
    • The union-sponsored Michigan Association of Police Organizations has pumped thousands of robo-calls into the district warning residents that there are “extremists” walking about and purposely mischaracterizing the recall effort as “illegal.”
    • One of the individuals hired by the Michigan Democratic Party as a “voter educator,” and alleged to be harassing those residents circulating the recall petition, was discovered to be an eight-time felon out on parole. His convictions include weapons violations and armed robbery.
    • Police in Redford Township blocked citizens from petitioning on the same side of the street as the local post office on Tax Day, April 15th. Not merely was the police presence ridiculous overkill, Redford Township Supervisor Miles Handy, a Dillon crony, told recall supporters they would be charged for the cost of the police time.
    • Last, but not least, a judge had to send a letter to local police reminding them not to harass those involved in the petition effort.

Harassment, both legal and political, is wrong. But when the intimidation involves the police, a frightening line has been crossed. Injecting fear into politics isn’t new, but that makes it no less loathsome.

But most telling, and disturbing, was Drolet’s explanation of the palpable fear of Speaker Dillon and Supervisor Handy expressed by district residents. “We had a number of people want to contribute, who live in Dearborn Heights, who live in Redford Township, in Livonia,” Drolet explained. “But once they found out that Miles Handy was going to see their name, they were worried about their liquor licenses, if they had them, they were worried about their business license and they were worried about treasury coming down and doing a little audit.”

Fighting the powers that be, the powers that ultimately live off the money we pay to our government in taxes, can be a dangerous endeavor.

In the movie, the good guy wins. The same may prove true in Michigan. This past week, recall supporters turned in nearly twice as many signatures as the law requires. This August, no doubt after every possible legal assault against the effort has been exhausted, the voters will decide.

My favorite line in the movie is when Sen. Smith sharply responds to another senator: “The people of my state need permanent relief from crooked men riding their backs.” In human affairs, much less politics, nothing is permanent. But the recall of Speaker Dillon will provide much needed relief.