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DonViejo

(60,536 posts)
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 11:04 AM Feb 2013

The Other GOP Plan To Blow Up The Electoral Vote

BENJY SARLIN FEBRUARY 4, 2013, 6:10 AM

GOP efforts to rig the Electoral College in favor of GOP presidential candidates may be close to dead, but a group of Republicans are hard at work at another plot to blow up the system: switch to the popular vote.

Although more closely associated with progressive circles in recent years, the idea has a number of conservative activists behind it as well. And there are signs it’s gaining momentum.

“I think there’s a growing consensus that the winner-take-all system we’re currently under is a problem, that it’s not representative, that only a small number of states benefit, and that it needs to be changed,” Saul Anuzis, a Republican national committeeman from Michigan who advocates on behalf of the nonpartisan National Popular Vote group, told TPM.

The plan, as espoused by groups like NPV, is to lobby states to pass binding legislation pledging their entire slate of electors to whichever candidate wins the most votes nationwide. The bills would only take effect once enough states join in to provide a guaranteed majority in the Electoral College — 270 votes — in order to prevent individual legislatures from trying to game the system unilaterally.

-snip-

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/02/popular-vote-republicans.php?ref=fpa

12 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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The Other GOP Plan To Blow Up The Electoral Vote (Original Post) DonViejo Feb 2013 OP
I don't like anything based entirely on the popular vote BlueStreak Feb 2013 #1
Wouldn't matter Rstrstx Feb 2013 #3
Bring it on Rstrstx Feb 2013 #2
Then just get rid of the Electoral College Angry Dragon Feb 2013 #4
That would take a constitutional amendment davidpdx Feb 2013 #7
Wouldn't what they are planning need a Constitutional Amendment also?? Angry Dragon Feb 2013 #8
no RudynJack Feb 2013 #9
I hope that is true davidpdx Feb 2013 #11
I have no objection to a popular vote compact. RudynJack Feb 2013 #12
Or we could go back to the unpopular vote like we did in 2000. Kablooie Feb 2013 #5
The GOP would never do that. Cali_Democrat Feb 2013 #6
What a bunch of dipshits. The only states that will pass in would never vote for a Democrat madinmaryland Feb 2013 #10
 

BlueStreak

(8,377 posts)
1. I don't like anything based entirely on the popular vote
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 11:24 AM
Feb 2013

because that means the vote rigging in Florida and Ohio can cancel out legitimate votes in other states.

And I definitely do not like the idea of this system taking effect after only half the electoral votes are committed that way. We can already see that the states supporting this are mostly the blue states. And states like Texas will hold off so that they can guarantee their electors to the GOP regardless of the popular vote. This should only kick in after a really decisive number of states have bought in -- say at least 85% of the electors. Even then, we can be certain it will be almost entirely red states that refuse to go along.

Rstrstx

(1,399 posts)
3. Wouldn't matter
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 11:31 AM
Feb 2013

Since it would only go into effect after states which have 270 electoral votes have ratified it it would render the rest of the states' EVs useless.

davidpdx

(22,000 posts)
7. That would take a constitutional amendment
Tue Feb 5, 2013, 05:26 AM
Feb 2013

which would be a very tough sell to both Congress and the American people.

RudynJack

(1,044 posts)
9. no
Tue Feb 5, 2013, 04:56 PM
Feb 2013

it's states acting to change how they allocate their electors - no amendment required.

But it may violate another clause prohibiting states from entering into compacts with other absent congressional approval.

RudynJack

(1,044 posts)
12. I have no objection to a popular vote compact.
Wed Feb 6, 2013, 02:41 AM
Feb 2013

I do object to certain states reallocating electors to ensure a win for the person without the popular vote.

 

Cali_Democrat

(30,439 posts)
6. The GOP would never do that.
Mon Feb 4, 2013, 03:25 PM
Feb 2013

That means large metro area like LA and NY would have more clout. The GOP would never go for that.

madinmaryland

(64,933 posts)
10. What a bunch of dipshits. The only states that will pass in would never vote for a Democrat
Wed Feb 6, 2013, 12:27 AM
Feb 2013

anyway.

Who gives a fuck what Idaho, Utah, and Wyoming do.

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