[Vigilanteman]

“Entirely apart from the politics,” he [Tribe] said, “this clearly violates Article II of the Constitution, which very explicitly requires that the electors for president be selected ‘in such manner as the Legislature’ of the state directs.”

Tribe is full of crap. Initiative, referendum and recall were all added to California's Constitution back in the days of Ban Johnson. Johnson's reasoning was quite straight-forward:

1. The legislatures and certain other public officials are elected by the people to serve or act on their behalf.
   
2. When they fail to do so, the people can override them.

Smacking down an unwilling state legislature with referendum, when they act in opposition to the people or with initiative, when they fail to act according to the will of the people is no different than recalling a failed governor. Remember Gray Davis?

[Publius]

Tribe is full of crap. Initiative, referendum and recall were all added to California's Constitution back in the days of Ban Johnson.

You mean Hiram Johnson. Ban Johnson founded baseball's American League.