Stop the GOP Electoral College Power Grab in California - Sen Boxer

[RamboLiberal]

Just when you thought it was safe to start thinking about having a Democrat in the White House, along comes a cynical power grab by Republican operatives. And unfortunately, it's happening right here in my own state of California.

If you haven't heard already, Republican strategists recently announced plans to begin raising money for a dangerous initiative that would radically change the way California apportions our electoral votes in presidential elections. Rather than awarding all of California's electoral votes to the candidate that wins the popular vote -- the way it works in every single state except the small states of Maine and Nebraska -- their scheme would divvy up California's electoral votes based on the number of Congressional districts each candidate wins.

What does this mean? Well, if the last few elections are any guide, rather than the Democratic nominee winning all 55 of California's electoral votes in 2008, this new partisan scheme could hand 20 of California's electoral votes to the Republican candidate and only 35 to the Democrat.

Don't get me wrong: After the 2000 and 2004 election debacles, I'm a strong advocate for election reform. But it's absolutely wrong for California to go it alone. It's just patently unfair for a large "blue" state like California to change our system for awarding electoral votes while other large states which trend "red" like Texas and Florida don't change their system at the same time.

This isn't reform -- this is a partisan power grab by Republican operatives in the Karl Rove tradition.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/sen-barbara-boxer/stop-the-gop-electoral-co_b_60728.html

Pay Attention. IMHO this is one of the ways they will steal the '08 election.

[billyoc]

1. This is very bad. You can't even call it stealing, because 2 states

allocate their electoral votes by congressional district already(ME,NE) and NC is considering it as well.
The Republicans must never be underestimated, they may have outplayed the Democrats again with this.

[AX10]

2. K & R!

Where is everyone else? :shrug: We need 5 votes on this page!
:dem:

[Hawaii Hiker]

3. This topic has been discussed in many posts, as well it should:

as it is extremely significant....But Democrats are certainly ready to fight it, as it is clearly an attempt to rig an election....

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601070&sid=aF52TIkkbEcA&refer=politics

" ``This isn't about promoting election reform but a fig leaf to cover up a Republican effort to rig the system in order to fix the election,'' said Chris Lehane, a Democratic strategist in San Francisco who is helping to organize opposition to the measure. ``In the event they do try to fix the system, we will have a group of very prominent California Democrats who will stand up and make sure this is defeated.''

"who will stand up and make sure this is defeated.'' :woohoo:

[defendandprotect]

4. The Electroral College should be ended -- but meanwhile . . .

Either every state has to change at the same time -- or NONE

[Progressive Friend]

5. Exactly

We should oppose this GOP power grab, but at the same time fully support electing presidents directly via nation wide popular vote (perhaps using instant runoff voting as well).

[eagler]

6. Until we end the Electoral college your vote is only a suggestion