Comments on: Tired of Losing, Democrats Trying to Change the Rules http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/ When I wake up I read the Bible and the newspaper... because I want to know what both sides are up to. Sun, 14 Mar 2010 21:49:48 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Jonathan http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-621 Mon, 24 Apr 2006 16:29:11 +0000 http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-621 Legally, I wonder if this could stand? On the one hand, you have the Supreme Court who may not be inclined to agree with the legality of this movement. After all, ignoring the will of the voters in your own state in order to obeserve the will of the voters in <i>other</i> states seems to undermine the idea of the Electoral College and its purpose. However... The Constitution does say that the electoral votes in each state are to be allocated in a manner that the state sees fit. For example, all but two states use the popular vote of their state to award all electoral votes to a candidate. The other two (Maine and Nebraska) allocate their electoral votes differently: one vote per Congressional district, plus the remaining two electoral votes to the guy who had more votes in the state. Technically, a state could decide to have a 100-meter dash between the candidates, or have the state legislature pick the winner, or whatever they want. In other words, the Constitution <i>does</i> allow a state to decide how to allocate its electoral votes. Therefore, as much as it behooves me to understand why a state would possibly ignore its own voters, it may be that the Constitution allows the state to do that. I am both horrified (at the thought it could succeed) and intrigued (I'm fascinated with Constitutional law...I know, I need a life!). Legally, I wonder if this could stand?

On the one hand, you have the Supreme Court who may not be inclined to agree with the legality of this movement. After all, ignoring the will of the voters in your own state in order to obeserve the will of the voters in other states seems to undermine the idea of the Electoral College and its purpose.

However…

The Constitution does say that the electoral votes in each state are to be allocated in a manner that the state sees fit. For example, all but two states use the popular vote of their state to award all electoral votes to a candidate. The other two (Maine and Nebraska) allocate their electoral votes differently: one vote per Congressional district, plus the remaining two electoral votes to the guy who had more votes in the state. Technically, a state could decide to have a 100-meter dash between the candidates, or have the state legislature pick the winner, or whatever they want.

In other words, the Constitution does allow a state to decide how to allocate its electoral votes. Therefore, as much as it behooves me to understand why a state would possibly ignore its own voters, it may be that the Constitution allows the state to do that.

I am both horrified (at the thought it could succeed) and intrigued (I’m fascinated with Constitutional law…I know, I need a life!).

]]> by: Judith http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-544 Sun, 23 Apr 2006 06:20:10 +0000 http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-544 This is so scary. Rhode Island would no longer be equal to Texas as far as the electoral process is concerned. I hope I understand that this is what the founding fathers had in mind--making the states equal in this process. If I am wrong, someone (not a troll) please correct me. I majored in History and and minored in Poli Sci but its been a while. This is so scary. Rhode Island would no longer be equal to Texas as far as the electoral process is concerned. I hope I understand that this is what the founding fathers had in mind–making the states equal in this process. If I am wrong, someone (not a troll) please correct me. I majored in History and and minored in Poli Sci but its been a while.

]]> by: ForNow http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-528 Sun, 23 Apr 2006 03:18:24 +0000 http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-528 Preserving the Electoral College is about immigration and controlling our borders. If we weaken or eliminate the Electoral College, the result will be <i>GREATLY increased incentive</i> to politicians to make immigration & nationl-level voting rights much easier. Why? Because currently immigrants have to spread out among the states in order to influence an election. They have to integrate across the country. That requirement would be weakened or eliminated by weakening or eliminating the Electoral College. Just fill up Texas or California with an extra few million voters who owe it to one party and, presto!, you've tipped the national election to that party. As for recounts, the agreeing states can simply agree to go ahead without a national recount system. Then there could be nightmare chaos of lawsuits all over the country, contesting every result. Anyway the agreeing states could have their own agreed "system" for deciding how to vote in case significant election results still remained in question. All they need to do is agree and cast their Electoral Votes accordingly; and I'm not sure that that's such a tall order even in the case of contested voting totals. Now, here's a nightmare which let's hope never takes shape: If the agreeing states comprise a majority of the country's electoral votes, and if they agreed to cast their votes collectively for whoever wins the popular vote in just the agreeing states collectively (rather than nationwide collectively, as is the current plan), then the national election in the rest of the country would be rendered irrelevant. And it would be hard to get a Constitutional amendment to stop it -- you'd need, among other things, 2/3 of the House of Representatives to agree. Preserving the Electoral College is about immigration and controlling our borders.

If we weaken or eliminate the Electoral College, the result will be GREATLY increased incentive to politicians to make immigration & nationl-level voting rights much easier.

Why?

Because currently immigrants have to spread out among the states in order to influence an election. They have to integrate across the country. That requirement would be weakened or eliminated by weakening or eliminating the Electoral College.

Just fill up Texas or California with an extra few million voters who owe it to one party and, presto!, you’ve tipped the national election to that party.

As for recounts, the agreeing states can simply agree to go ahead without a national recount system. Then there could be nightmare chaos of lawsuits all over the country, contesting every result. Anyway the agreeing states could have their own agreed “system” for deciding how to vote in case significant election results still remained in question. All they need to do is agree and cast their Electoral Votes accordingly; and I’m not sure that that’s such a tall order even in the case of contested voting totals.

Now, here’s a nightmare which let’s hope never takes shape: If the agreeing states comprise a majority of the country’s electoral votes, and if they agreed to cast their votes collectively for whoever wins the popular vote in just the agreeing states collectively (rather than nationwide collectively, as is the current plan), then the national election in the rest of the country would be rendered irrelevant. And it would be hard to get a Constitutional amendment to stop it — you’d need, among other things, 2/3 of the House of Representatives to agree.

]]> by: protein wisdom http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-501 Sat, 22 Apr 2006 19:29:15 +0000 http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-501 <strong>"Popular Nonsense: An unfair and ill-conceived attempt to ditch the Electoral College"</strong> Tara Ross, NRO:Opponents of the Electoral College have conjured up yet another scheme by which they hope to undermine America's unique system of electing presidents. If they are successful, the Electoral College could essentially be eliminated at ... "Popular Nonsense: An unfair and ill-conceived attempt to ditch the Electoral College"

Tara Ross, NRO:Opponents of the Electoral College have conjured up yet another scheme by which they hope to undermine America's unique system of electing presidents. If they are successful, the Electoral College could essentially be eliminated at …

]]> by: Blue Crab Boulevard » Blog Archive » The Attack On The Consitution http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-481 Sat, 22 Apr 2006 17:04:37 +0000 http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-481 [...] Now comes word of an even worse assault on the constitution of the United States. Texas Rainmaker discusses what would be, in effect, an end run around the constitution and the electoral process for the presidency. Legislation being considered in many states as the result of something called the "National Popular Vote" would invalidate the electoral college. They tyranny of the mob the founding fathers feared is at hand. [...] […] Now comes word of an even worse assault on the constitution of the United States. Texas Rainmaker discusses what would be, in effect, an end run around the constitution and the electoral process for the presidency. Legislation being considered in many states as the result of something called the "National Popular Vote" would invalidate the electoral college. They tyranny of the mob the founding fathers feared is at hand. […]

]]> by: Outside The Beltway | OTB http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-473 Sat, 22 Apr 2006 15:11:29 +0000 http://www.texasrainmaker.com/2006/04/21/tired-of-losing-democrats-trying-to-change-the-rules/#comment-473 <strong>Abolishing the Electoral College by Stealth</strong> A group called Campaign for the National Popular Vote has been pushing a plan to essentially do away with the Electoral College without amending the Constitution. I read about it in The New Yorker a while back and it’s apparently gaining some st... Abolishing the Electoral College by Stealth

A group called Campaign for the National Popular Vote has been pushing a plan to essentially do away with the Electoral College without amending the Constitution. I read about it in The New Yorker a while back and it’s apparently gaining some st…

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