Keyes Wants To End Election of Senators

[Justitia]

http://www.salon.com/news/wire/2004/08/14/keyes/index.html

snip:

"Alan Keyes said Friday he would like to end the system under which the people elect U.S. senators and return to pre-1913 practice in which senators were chosen by state legislatures."


Keep talking Keyes, you are making this way too easy for Obama!

[Taylor Mason Powell]

1. You know, Keyes is rather amusing.

To me, he's always been good for a bit of comic relief in the midst of a very distressing political scene.

[KeepItReal]

2. Sounds like a Tom DeLay wet dream...

GOP gerrymanders legislative districts to create GOP majorities in state legislatures...legislatures then pick GOP U.S. Senators. How convenient. How transparently bogus.

[Canuckistanian]

3. Why doesn't he just talk about the issues?

He's just spinning in circles spewing either invective or craziness.
If he wants respect (or even legitimacy) shouldn't he start talking about what he's going to do for the people of Illinois?

[Scairp]

14. I can answer that

He a total frigging nutbar, that's why. He should be in an institution on heavy anti-psychotic meds, not running for the U.S. Senate. He's insane, pure and simple.

[bluestateguy]

4. He could set an example

By letting the Illinois legislature make the pick this year. That would be fine by me.

[Tosca]

5. What a freakin' cartoon character

this idiot is. Alan, have you been dipping into Rush's stash?

[Sporadicus]

6. Completely Reactionary!

Keyes advocates scrapping a method for electing senators that has worked well since 1913. I guess he won't be happy until the vote of an African American counts as 3/5 of a white landowner vote. Maybe he'll just come right out and advocate a return to slavery!

[Melodybe]

9. Is he saying the you shouldn't vote him for Senator?

[Sporadicus]

11. Well, Lemme Think About it...YES!

That's exactly what he's saying, and I don't even live in Illinois!

[MODemocrat]

7. Similar to how it was done in the presidential election of 2000?

The people elected Al Gore, but the president was chosen by the Supreme Court. I don't believe you can win Mr. Keyes; either way you go, Obama is going to be the victor.

[madaboutharry]

8. He most likely would also

like to bring back the pre-1920 practice in which only men were allowed to vote.

[DaveSZ]

10. He makes me laugh too

He's basically Rick Santorum and Orrin Hatch rolled into one.

[Charlie Brown]

12. Just to clarify

Quite a few states allowed women to vote prior to 1920. The 19th Amendment simply guaranteed them suffrage, thereby demanding the chauvinistic states change their laws.

[Charlie Brown]

13. I know I'm going to be flamed for this

but maybe Keyes has a point about delegating Senators. The founding fathers conceived of the Senate as a Legislature outside the bounds of campaigns and platforms (sort of like how Supreme Court Justices and members of the Fed are appointed, not elected). Only the House was supposed to be represented by the popular vote. If Senators were allowed more intellectual freedom, they might not tow the party line on wedge issues as much (like the marriage amendment and tax cuts). Then again, we might end up with people like Keyes, so it might be a bad trade.

[TexasBushwhacker]

17. Not flaming, just disagreeing

Here's what I don't like about it. It just moves the connection between the voter and the politician one more degree. The further removed the politicians are from the VOTERS the more they can be influenced by the big businesses and lobbyists. Pre-1913, mega corporations making political contributions and professional lobbyists were nearly as much of a factor.

[Damn Hippie]

15. What a dumbass

He might as well not bother moving to Illinois.

[Kahuna]

self delete dupe

[Kahuna]

16. How long before the IL repukes ask Keyes to drop out? With Keyes

in the race, Kerry will take IL by a landslide margin.

[soleft]

18. Duplicate topic

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=749502