Democrats target electoral-vote plan that could tilt 2008 race

[WillTheGoober]

Source: Mercury News

Democrats target electoral-vote plan that could tilt 2008 race
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD Associated Press Writer
Article Launched: 08/16/2007 04:13:18 PM PDT

LOS ANGELES—Democrats are preparing to raise millions of dollars to defeat a California ballot proposal they fear could tilt the 2008 presidential election in favor of the Republican nominee.

The quick move to begin raising cash underscores the proposal's potential appeal in a state with an abundance of fickle, independent-minded voters. The plan would upend a winner-take-all system for awarding the state's 55 electoral votes in presidential elections—a prize claimed by Democratic candidates in the last four elections.

Instead, the statewide winner would get only two electoral votes—the rest would be allocated according to results in each of the state's 53 congressional districts. Because 19 of the districts are represented by Republicans, that would be an open door for a GOP candidate to pick up those votes. President Bush carried 22 districts in 2004 while losing the statewide vote by double digits.

Supporters say the initiative—if it qualifies for the June primary ballot and is approved by voters—would mark a new era of fairness in presidential contests. But Democrats call it a power grab aimed at skewing the 2008 election.

It's "another cynical move to keep the presidency in Republican control," Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer said in a joint statement.

EDITED TO COMPLY WITH DU COPYRIGHT RULES.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_6641571

[Bitwit1234]

1. And if that don't work rove and his satanist have something else in mind.

I will bet he is dregging the sewer of his mind to bring all these dirty tricks to fruitation.

[WillTheGoober]

2. Big Deal ...

This is a big deal for sure ...

They want part of our biggest state.

[DU9598]

3. Is there a way Democrats can push this in Florida and Texas?

[jaybeat]

4. Only fair if it is nationwide

Otherwise, each party will want it only in states where they are in the minority.

As an aside, how is it that, in their supposed wisdom, the founding patriarchs allowed states to decide how they choose their electors--if it weren't for amendments that came later, couldn't some states give the vote only to propertied males, or whites, or whomever they wanted? Give all electors to the choice of their smallest town's dog catcher?

Constitutional scholars, help me out here! It seems something as important as selecting a President should be fair and uniform across all the states--heck, the Constitution says we have to all vote on the same day, but not what our votes actually mean?

:wtf:

[DoctorMyEyes]

5. Fine. If they don't like the electoral college

then lets get rid of it. It's anti-democratic anyway. But the point is, you can't pick and choose. Saying pretty much that they want to get rid of the electoral college in California a state where Dems pretty much always win is a no go, unless you say we want to get rid of the electoral college everywhere. Let's include recall elections in the same principal. We could have voted Dumbya out of office ages ago like they did to Gray Davis.

Republicans, the "Our Hypocrisy Knows No Bounds" party.

I've been beating the drum to get rid of the electoral college for years. Either that or stop teaching kids in school that we live in a democracy. That's a lie. Where one persons vote counts more than another persons vote depending on where they live, that's not democracy. (and don't give me that "Democratic Republic" Horse manure. Let's get rid of all the BS and go with one person one vote. It would take out a lot of the incentive to cheat in elections and for officials to turn a blind eye to voter purges and caging and other vote fixing schemes. If you're an official in a small state and some A-hole at the RNC wants you to purge thousands of voters off your rolls, you're only marginalizing and minimizing the importance of your state in a national race.

:nuke: Electoral College

[WillTheGoober]

6. Well ...

What we don't need is this just being California.
This may be one of their strategies for winning.

I hope the California people don't let this go through.