I received this email today from a friend of mine who is a terrific activist and had to share:

I just want to give everyone a heads up that the author and legislative sponsor of Arizona’s show-me-your-papers law (SB1070) will be recalled this week.

Unfortunately, one of the Republican Secretary of State gave the recall campaign the WRONG DEADLINE to turn in signatures for a November election (we have a complex, odd set of internal Secretary of State rules). Now, it will be up to the governor to call the election for November 2011 or March 2012.

We need to show a backlash from across America against everybody in the extreme set, and Russell Pearce (John Tanton’s protege) is a great example for the rest of the country because most people believe he’s untouchable and Arizona’s unchangeable. Recalling Russell Pearce could go a long way to helping reshape the narrative on today’s crazy crop of right wingers.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: Starting Tuesday, we are going to need as many bloggers as possible bringing to light the “mistake” made by the Republican Secretary of State that allows Arizona’s can’t-speak-in-public governor (Literally. Remember the 13 seconds of debate silence followed by, “I have did everything I could do.”) to determine whether the recall election happens in November 2011 or March 2012.

BOTTOM LINE: Pearce is RECALLED the moment the signatures are turned in. Arizona’s GOP governor should not continue to provide cover and protection for Pearce by arbitrarily scheduling the recall ELECTION next year.

A little back story: The recall effort is a NONPARTISAN group, co-chaired by a Republican and a Democrat. There is a Republican group who had been working on recall signatures but stopped when the nonpartisan group said they would make the deadline. That Republican group has spent the time since then lining up a MODERATE candidate and getting the business community and local GOP precinct committee persons behind their candidate. No matter who runs on the Democratic side, Russell Pearce is likely lose the recall election. Even if he is replaced with a moderate Republican, the backlash message will reverberate across the country.

RECALL PEARCE CAMPAIGN ENTERS FINAL 3 DAYS

Volunteers Motivated By Former Congressman JD Hayworth’s Inflammatory Email on Behalf of Senator Pearce that Called
Members of Citizens for a Better Arizona:

“…ultra liberal, open-border, pro-amnesty mafia…who carry swastikas and call ALL conservatives Hitler.”

Final Number of Signatures Expected to Exceed 17,000!

Media Advisory for May 28, 2011

What: Volunteers will gather to collect signatures to Recall Sen. Russell Pearce.

Who: Citizens for a Better Arizona

Where: 628 N. Center Street, Mesa, AZ

When: Saturday, May 28th 9:30AM- 3:00PM

Sunday, May 29th 10:00AM – 7:00PM

Monday, May 30th 9:30AM – 7:00PM

May 28th, 29th, and 30th volunteers will gather at the Citizens for A Better Arizona Recall Russell Pearce office to gather an additional 500 signatures to Recall Russell Pearce. The organization Citizens for a Better Arizona has been gathering signatures for the past 116 days. If successful, this will be the first time in Arizona’s 100 year history that a Senate President will have been recalled.