Posted on 04/07/2009 12:05:23 PM PDT by BGHater
Seeks power of popular vote
A movement to bypass the Electoral College and elect the president based on the popular vote is gaining steam, racking up almost one-fifth of the support needed to trigger the plan.
National Popular Vote, a California-based group formed in 2006, has won commitments from four states to award their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote. Those four states — Maryland, New Jersey, Illinois and Hawaii — have 50 electoral votes among them.
The goal is for states with a total of 270 electoral votes to enter into a compact in which they agree to give their electoral votes to the winner of the popular vote.
Since presidential candidates need 270 electoral votes for victory, such a compact would ensure that the candidate earning the most votes nationwide would win the election, and the Electoral College would be made irrelevant. Campaigning would become radically different. The most obvious change is that there would be no advantage to getting 51 percent in a given state, thus no "battleground states."
The new system wouldn't kick in until the target is reached, said John Koza, chairman of National Popular Vote and the designer of the plan.
"We have 20 percent of the electoral votes we need," said Mr. Koza. "The whole idea of the bill is that no state can do this alone. It only goes into effect when we have 270 electoral votes."
At this rate, however, the system could be implemented in time for the 2016 presidential race. Nearly every state has introduced National Popular Vote legislation this year, and seven have passed bills in one chamber.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...
17th Amendment, etc.
Under this hair-bained scheme who counts the vote? Who recounts the vote? Constitutionally, apporval of Congress is needed for any compact betwen states, but such legal niceties mean little in 2009.
“The last remnants of the Old Republic have been swept away.”
The electors are chosen for their party loyalty.
How will they vote against their own party if it needs them and the opposing party wins the popular vote?
In other words, California selects every president from now on?
So would a majority of states.
And so would a majority of voters who find their cumulatively winning vote neutralized in favor of what other states, not residents, choose.
And so would the politicians who put this plan together, when enough people decide their Constitutional rights have been grossly betrayed.
How can this be stopped? Or can’t it be?
NY will be next because the libs control both houses and the governor.
I can’t believe the ignorance people display when it comes to the electoral college. They don’t understand how a popular vote would trample on states rights. They don’t understand a few metropolitan areas would control the rest of the country. And those metro areas don’t have the rest of the country’s best interest in mind.
possibly unconstitutional, definitely stupid- your states ‘votes are diluted and almost meaningless unless you margin can affect the national outcome. But so far only Dem states have signed on, so let ‘em.
Interstate Compacts are unconstitutional. But hell, since everyone is crapping on the document what's one more group???
I'm starting to look forward to the inevitable secession and balkanization that is coming.
Well, they’ve made campaigning a little easier...now there’s no reason at all for a candidate to visit or spend money in Maryland or Hawaii when they can divert the resources to New York or California.
It’s not a good idea at all to overturn the Electoral College. If so, then look for the top five largest metro areas in the country to elect the President every single time...
The closest I think would have to come via Article I. Sec. 10 of the US Constitution. I've highlighted one little portion. How this would play is anyone's guess.
Section 10. No state shall enter into any treaty, alliance, or confederation; grant letters of marque and reprisal; coin money; emit bills of credit; make anything but gold and silver coin a tender in payment of debts; pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or grant any title of nobility.No state shall, without the consent of the Congress, lay any imposts or duties on imports or exports, except what may be absolutely necessary for executing it's inspection laws: and the net produce of all duties and imposts, laid by any state on imports or exports, shall be for the use of the treasury of the United States; and all such laws shall be subject to the revision and control of the Congress.
No state shall, without the consent of Congress, lay any duty of tonnage, keep troops, or ships of war in time of peace, enter into any agreement or compact with another state, or with a foreign power, or engage in war, unless actually invaded, or in such imminent danger as will not admit of delay.
It is best if they go ahead and get this finalized so that it can go before the supreme court before O has a chance to stack the court with libs/loose constructionists. The sooner they get it done, the better.
Bad idea.
It’s getting close. Getting REAL close.
Yeah, right. All the states with the smallest populations will go for this scheme to disenfranchise them. /s
bump!
So much for a Republic.
Rule by mob.
But, hey, it won’t be THAT bad, right?
Who needs to fight when we can sit around and wait for worse things to happen to us?
No worries, America, it will all work out fine in the end.
These anti-American leftists aren’t so bad really.
Just relax, have a beer (if you can afford one) and cozy-up to your new country.
All that “freedom” stuff is overrated anyhow.
So don’t do anything. Turn on the radio for some invigorating talk, or tune-in to Glenn Beck and watch him snivel and recommend good books.
No need to get worked up over all of this—someone else will do something and some point, right?
Take a deep breathe, relax, sit very still and maybe the bad power mongers will go away.
Shhhh.
Since by the next election, all the Democrat-run cities will have emptied out just like Detroit (and for the same reason), and the top five largest metro areas will all be solid Red, I'm okay with that result. I just can't figure out how to square it with the Constitution.
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