Stop Ballot Initiative for June '08 California (ELECTORAL COLLEGE + rOVE'S DIRTY TRICKS)

[mod mom]

Dear Friend,

Unless you join me in acting, the White House -- and our democracy -- will be hijacked by a Republican "elaborate dirty trick" in June 2008.

So says a powerful editorial from the New York Times titled "Stacking the Electoral Deck".

The Republicans are launching an unbelievable ballot initiative proposed for June 2008 in California -- a right-wing power grab straight out of Karl Rove's "dirty tricks" playbook. If passed, it would dictate that California divide up its electoral college votes by congressional district -- resulting in the Republican theft of at least 20 electoral votes in November's general election.

Game over. You might as well give the keys to the White House to Rudolph Giuliani, Mitt Romney or John McCain right now.

Just like I did, please click here to stop this "elaborate dirty trick" from being pulled on the American public:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/nodirtytricks

In a scathingly powerful editorial, the New York Times is blunt in describing how this cynical scheme by a "shadowy group" of California Republicans will "do serious damage to our democracy."

Remember when Karl Rove stole Florida from Al Gore in 2000? What about Tom DeLay's single-handed theft of five congressional seats via redistricting in Texas?

If California loses its winner-take-all system, the consequences for America will be catastrophic. Iraq. Health care. Global warming. The future of every single issue we care about will be decided in California on June 3, 2008.

But we can stop it. Now. It only takes a second to click this link and sign the "No Dirty Tricks" pledge:

http://www.couragecampaign.org/nodirtytricks

In November 2008, we will be voting for a new President in the most important election of our lifetime.

But your vote won't matter if the Republicans steal the California election in June 2008. Please stand up right now to the GOP's dirty tricks and say "No" to this cynical right-wing power grab.
http://www.couragecampaign.org/nodirtytricks
Thank you!

[mod mom]

1. On the positive side Schwarzenegger is "cool" to the idea:

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/2007/08/calif_gov_wary_of_electoralvot.php

[Skink]

2. If they had only left the electronic machines in place.

now everybody knows.

[mod mom]

3. It's the equivalent to handing the pugs a state like OH.

[L. Coyote]

4. The "White Collar Mafia" is a national Republican group, not just CA.

To say this is "a "shadowy group" of California Republicans" " is truly naive.
These criminal overthrow operatives in American politics are a national, if not
international, group. Look to the Bahamas for example.

[mod mom]

5. It's the 4 letter swear word: r-o-v-e

[Mz Pip]

6. I notice this isn't

being done in Texas, Mississippi, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida or Ohio. The Repugs are pushing this in the Bluest of the Blue to peel off just enough electoral votes to swing the election to the GOP in a close election.

This isn't about being fair. If it were it would be a national movement.

Mz Pip
:dem:

[mod mom]

7. I would be for it if it was a national movement, but to target one very blue state

is more GOP dirty works.

[AndyTiedye]

8. The Democrats Have a Competing Initiative

What happens if they both pass?

[in_cog_ni_to]

11. What's the Democrat's initiative? n/t

[mod mom]

13. Here is what I found:

California Democrats Mobilize to Fight Electoral College Initiative
August 16th, 2007
On August 16, leaders of the California Democratic Party announced a new organization to fight a proposed ballot initiative that would let each U.S. House district elect its own presidential elector in California. The new organization is headed by the state’s two Democratic U.S. Senators, the Mayors of Los Angeles and San Francisco, and Democratic state legislative leaders. See its webpage at www.fairelectionreform.com. An op-ed in the Wall Street Journal on August 16 is critical of the proposed initiative. The Wall Street Journal supports the existing electoral college system, and the op-ed says that the proposed Republican initiative will merely play into the hands of the National Popular Vote Plan. Thanks to Jack Dean for this news.



http://www.ballot-access.org/2007/08/16/california-democrats-mobilize-to-fight-electoral-college-initiative/

[EFerrari]

9. K&R. The next battle in the war for CA.

:grr:

[in_cog_ni_to]

10. signed! K & R! n/t

[DemReadingDU]

12. signed

[cboy4]

14. Oh come on. My state only provides 55 electoral votes to the

Dems...you make it sound like that would factor into a presidential race.

:sarcasm: