California Rep. Lofgren proposes abolishing Electoral College

modbee ^ | 11-19-04

[LouAvul]

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush would have been re-elected this month even if there wasn't an Electoral College, but that hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of some Democrats for abolishing it.

Arguing that voters in populous states like California are underrepresented by the Electoral College, Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-San Jose, introduced a constitutional amendment Friday to eliminate it and provide for direct election of the president and vice president.

"Changing the Constitution in this way should not be about advantaging one party over the other," Lofgren said. "It's about treating each American voter equally."

The introduction of Lofgren's amendment is symbolic - coming on one of the final days of the 108th Congress, it won't be acted on this year. But she said she hoped it would draw attention to the issue.

[SoDak]

Screw you Zoe, there is NO way Red America will let you do this. Leave our constitution alone.

[zygoat]

Go blow,Zoe.

[Hank All-American]

To the contrary, I wish someone would propose an amendment to remove the direct election of Senators and go back to having the state legistlatures elect them, as originally intended.

[Michael.SF.]

Still smarting over the 2000 results, huh, Zoe?

I notice she goes straight for the kill, bypassing the "proportional" distribution of EV's.

Also, if you can't win by the rules...............change them and/or cheat.

[So Cal Rocket]

Perhaps Zoe will endorse an initiative in her home state of California to assign electors on a Congressional District basis like Maine and Nebraska, so that California voters won't be "disenfranchised"?

Fat chance.

[G.Mason]

"Numerous attempts to abolish the Electoral College have failed. Amending the Constitution requires a two-thirds vote in both houses of Congress and ratification by 38 states - no easy feat because small states are unwilling to abandon the disproportionate influence they get from the Electoral College."

So it is written ... so it shall be!

The one thing that needs changing is mini-minds like Lofgren's, etal.

[PMCarey]

I oppose removing the electoral college, but perhaps a compromise position would be to award a certain number of electoral college votes to the winner of the popular vote. For example if 5 votes were given to the popular vote winner it would make it less likely that the electoral college results would conflict with the popular vote results, but it would still keep the integrity of the electoral college system. Thoughts?

[goodnesswins]

Another IDIOT speaks......how many states would approve of this? Let's see....New York, Calif, uh....Florida?...maybe Michigan....

[goodnesswins]

NO. That's my "thoughts."

[Beckwith]

There have been over 700 attempts to abolish the Electoral College over the years.

It's still there because of the little states.

[VOYAGER]

WASHINGTON (AP) - President Bush would have been re-elected this month even if there wasn't an Electoral College, but that hasn't dampened the enthusiasm of some Democrats for abolishing it.

The Dems can't win with the people they have on board to run for president regardless of what they jerrymander!

[KarlInOhio]

They want to be able to take San Francisco and Chicago ballots and stuff them in Ohio and Florida ballot boxes. The Electoral College stands as a partial firewall against national vote fraud.

[RockinRight]

Amen!

I'd like to see the 16th and 17th amendments repealed.

[Argus]

It's called the United States of America for a reason. End of discussion.

[RockinRight]

Only if they were allocated by congressional district like it's done in Maine.

[IGOTMINE]

The 19th Amendment has GOT to go, too!

(Ducking from items thrown by female FREEPERS)

[NonValueAdded]

Sorry Zoe, but no freaking way are we going to give control of the country to the blue cities. Let's start digging the moats and dust off Max Zorin's plan for the San Andreas. Maybe after "the big one" we'll be ready to entertain a bigger role for the remaining red state of California.

[NonValueAdded]

Let me expand upon goodnesswin's answer: HELL NO

[Repealthe17thAmendment]

I know what you mean. I've been saying that for years.