Is GOP scheming to steal another election?

[IndianaGreen]

Is GOP scheming to steal another election?

Author: Marilyn Bechtel

People's Weekly World Newspaper, 11/08/07 12:03

Just weeks ago, a proposed ballot initiative by far-right Republicans with links to presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani seemed dead, after efforts to put it on California’s June primary ballot imploded amid secretive financial maneuvering by its supporters.

Now, like Freddy Krueger in “Nightmare on Elm Street,” it’s back!

The ballot initiative, if it were to become law, would apportion all but two of the state’s electoral votes according to the top vote getter in each congressional district, instead of the current winner-take-all system. Had these provisions been law in 2004, President Bush would have won 22 electoral votes in California, though John Kerry won the state by 54 percent.

Supporters of Electoral College reform emphasize that, to be fair, any change in the system must apply equally to all 50 states.

California has 55 of the Electoral College’s 538 votes, the most of any state. California’s winner-take-all system is currently used by every state except Maine and Nebraska, who only have nine electoral votes between them.

Late last month, just before Halloween, a new group of campaigners — also with ties to Giuliani — picked up the muddied flag of the so-called Presidential Election Reform Act.

http://www.pww.org/article/articleview/12000/1/398/

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

1. Always! When did they ever stop.

Under the equal protection clause reasoning of Bush v. Gore, disparate methods of apportioning electoral votes would be unconstitutional.

But, of course, the SCOTUS was careful to say that Bush v. Gore can never be used as a precedent. Funny how that works!

[robinlynne]

2. And they are aiming for the June election, when voters aren't paying any attention at

all.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Is the proposal on the June ballot?

I am wondering how they are going to pull this off.

BTW, short of outright abolishment of Electoral College, I favor apportioning EC votes according the popular vote per congressional district. I do agree with the author that to be effective this should be done in all 50 states, not in the biggest of the blue states.

[robinlynne]

5. They are gathering the signatures to put it on the june ballot. They have

millions of dollars and are paying their signature gatherers, so they will have no problem getting it on the ballot.

[Triana]

3. Of Course. Does the sun rise in the morning? They'll never stop. (n/t)

[polichick]

6. They know they can't win legally...

My guess is they'll have Cheney step down soon due to heart problems (though we all know he doesn't have one), and appoint a new V.P. who will run next year ~ just in case the California initiative doesn't work.

[opihimoimoi]

7. Going to the WELL for brainwashed votes...worked in the past...no sense in changing

They haven't realized their perilous position fully....still clinging for what worked in previous years/campaigns...

[slick8790]

8. Do bears shit in the woods? n/t

[TrogL]

9. We had that kind of voting here for Premier

After the dust had settled, none of the front-runners had won and when the winner was announced you could hear everybody yell "Who?!?!?" 'cause nobody'd ever heard of him.

[HuckleB]

10. Of course they are.

Who ever said any different?

[aquart]

11. What? You thought they became honest all of a sudden?

Bastards deserve to steal it again. Let THEM clean up the mess. Oh wait. They can't. They still think the economy is doing well.

[Perry Logan]

12. Republicans haven't figured out that being in power is the worst thing that can happen to them.