Prominent Californians Come Together To Reject Republican Effort to Unfairly Rig Electoral College

[WillyT]

<snip>

San Francisco, CA -- Prominent elected officials, community leaders and Democratic supporters from across California joined together today in an effort to promote real electoral reform and fight back Republican efforts to qualify a ballot measure that would unfairly rig the state’s Electoral College votes for the GOP and guarantee a Republican victory in the 2008 Presidential election.

Californians for Fair Election Reform (www.FairElectionReform.com) will formally oppose the Republican effort to rig the Electoral College system. U.S. Senators Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein formally endorsed the formation of the Committee today and pledged to support its efforts.

Serving as the Committee’s Director will be California business leader and philanthropist Tom Steyer. Californians for Fair Election Reform will have an Advisory Committee consisting of the following: business leader and philanthropist Steve Bing, Oakland Mayor Ron Dellums, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, CA Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, CA Senate President Don Perata, Art Pulaski of the California Labor Federation and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.

Senators Boxer and Feinstein issued a joint statement today announcing their support for Californians for Fair Election Reform: “This Republican initiative is the wrong reform at the wrong time in the wrong place. If we want to change the way we elect the president, we should go to a direct national popular vote -- where it would be guaranteed that the presidential candidate who receives the most votes in all 50 states will win the presidency. This power grab, orchestrated by the Republicans, is another cynical move to keep the Presidency in Republican control."

Tom Steyer, added, “This Republican proposal is dressed up as electoral reform (initiative Number 07-0032) but it is really an effort to rig the Presidential election by making California the only large state to award its electoral votes by Congressional District, instead of by statewide popular vote. Democrats would lose 20 electoral votes and very likely the presidency, if California abandons the winner take all system while large Republican states like Florida and Texas do not. It is no surprise that this measure is the product of the Republican Party and clearly designed to give them a political advantage."

<snip>

Link: http://www.fairelectionreform.com/news?id=0001

Don't let this thing pass folks.

:kick:

[EFerrari]

1. I'm glad to see they got on it right away. If this POS gets on the

ballot, we have to run a media blitz. :kick:

[BrotherBuzz]

4. It WILL be on the ballot

The same paid shills that pushed the Gray Davis recall petitions are out at the Big-box stores duping people as we speak.

[liberaldemocrat7]

13. So tell the people who run the big box stores you will boycott them unless they stop giving people

access to their stores to sign petitions.

When will progressives learn that the Republican party appears vulnerable at the cash registers of those companies that support the Republican party?

[BrotherBuzz]

14. The big box stores have been on my shit list for decades

I'll just try boycotting them harder. I only heard from a very good person that they were already gathering signatures at the stores, and he will get in the manager's face. I have been advised to sit this one out, especially after my last heated encounter with the management. ;)

[liberaldemocrat7]

19. You need to do more. You need to get people to contact these Big Box stores

and tell them, unless they stop allowing Republicans from conducting the signature gathering for this fake reform of assigning electoral votes in Californiia, at their big box stores, you will not buy there any longer. Then get as many people to call these big box stores and tell them this too. Apply some economic pressure. So many DUers tell me they already boycott company X. You need to do more. You need to call them and make demands of them.

[robinlynne]

2. excellent.

[KansDem]

3. "...Unfairly Rig Electoral College ."

As opposed to "fairly rigged?"
:rofl:

[nolabels]

15. LOL

Quite the valid point :rofl:

[stimbox]

5. Another Repuke dirty trick

They can't win elections fairly so they try and game the system.
Their fake-ass recall of Davis emboldened them.
I've noticed similar tricks used locally too.
There were Repuke backed attempts to recall some of SF's Supervisors.

If some one asks you to sign a petition for this measure, be sure to deface it.

[BrotherBuzz]

7. Careful about defacing the petition

Instead, use a few lines of the signature space on the petition to boldly write "NO WAY!", "Only an idiot would sign this petition", or something along that line to discourage the next potential signer, and hand it back to the shill. The signatures already gathered are still valid, but it just places the shill in an uncomfortable position of not being able to hand in tidy petitions to his paymaster. Chances are the shill will choose to start a new petition sheet. Sad, but there is no way we can block this group from ultimately gathering enough valid signature to place this crap on the ballot.

[stimbox]

9. Why?

Is it illegal?

How about asking the shill how much it gets for each valid sig and then offering to pay them the same to give you the petition to destroy?

[BrotherBuzz]

10. Good question

Is it illegal? I sure as hell would think it is; destruction of property, assault, or something. :shrug:

What I proposed doing to the petitions was suggested by a lawyer that I trust explicitly; confront rather then assault.

I wouldn't give a nickel to the petition gatherers because there are more then enough dupes willing to sign, although I have no problem placing speed bumps on their path to slow them down. The measure will be on the ballot.

[stimbox]

12. Sounds good to me...

But I'd still rather scribble void all over it.

[Qutzupalotl]

11. You have a great idea there. I hope everyone sees it.

It's in keeping with the ACLU's saying, "the solution for unwanted speech is more speech" (which is usually said in the context of questions of censorship). You're just giving a warning.

[Irishonly]

6. K&R

:kick: I haven't been approached by anyone. Someone had better help any fool that asks me.

[OnionPatch]

8. Ok, but what are they doing about it?

Just issuing a statement isn't going to do squat. Maybe I missed something when I read the link, but I don't see what it is they're actually doing. Are they going to have TV and radio commercials against it? Are they manning people at the grocery stores to counteract the cons? Are there going to be billboards? Mass mailings? Something has to be done to stop this or we're getting a Republican for president in '08!! Edited to add: I see where you can sign up to help but it doesn't say what the effort would be. Guess that's what the committee is for. Can't wait to hear some plans for fighting this.

Recommended. This isn't just a problem for California, folks! This is the next election theft!

[beltanefauve]

16. This is Plan B

First, they ousted Gray Davis and installed Arnold. Then, they ousted Kevin Shelley, Secretary of State, and Arnold appointed Bruce(Diebold)MacPherson. Debra Bowen squeeked into office in the wee hours of the night much to their dismay. So this is a logical next step for them.

[tomp]

20. plan c

giulliani on the ticket to counter hillary in new york. new yorkers, be on guard for elction fraud!

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

17. If the Repubs pass this they will keep the WH in 08 guaranteed. That can't happen.

[Polemicist]

18. They should sponsor a different petition....

In order to ensure that this Republican plan to ensure their candidate is elected President, doesn't ever take effect. First, raise money and run adds opposing this Congressional district vote allotment plan. Secondly, form their own petition to get a ballot measure added that essentially modifies and nullifies the GOP plan.

A yes vote on the alternative ballot initiative, would simply delay implementation of the GOP ballot initiative, until at least half the States in America had adopted similar vote allocation plans. So, if enough people vote yes for the GOP plan and it passes, then likely many of them will also vote yes for the alternative delayed implementation plan and it passes as well.

That gives you two shots at stopping this ballot initiative, rather than just one.

[Colorado Progressive]

21. kick