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This was the original discussion thread back from January on Blankley’s article. I was just as aggressively defending the 17th in that thread, making the same points as I have here, with a special emphasis on the fact that the 17th enables the Republican party to conceivably be competitive in every state to elect a Senator. Repeal of the 17th would immediately make it impossible in roughly 29 states for the Republicans to win a seat. Do the math and that means we couldn’t win but 1 more seat than we currently have — a potential permanent minority.

As for my voting with my feet, I don’t have the means or capability to do so at present.

My what a difference a few months make, wouldn't you agree?

From NationalJournal:

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Republicans picked up 680 seats in state legislatures, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures -- the most in the modern era.

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The GOP gained majorities in at least 14 state house chambers. They now have unified control -- meaning both chambers -- of 26 state legislatures.

But did you look at the states that swept in majorities vs. those where races were up this year ? Let’s take a look...

AL... Richard Shelby-R (Yes, but only because the GOP just won for the first time in 140 years)
AK... Lisa Murkowski-RINO (Probably, but only through collusion of the RINO/Democrat majority coalition)
AR... John Boozman-R (No, Democrats still have a majority)
CA... Barbara Boxer-D (Yes, Democrats have a majority)
CO... Michael Bennet-D (Yes, Dems have a numerical majority adding both bodies despite the GOP capture of the CO House)
DE... Chris Coons-D (Yes, Dems have a majority)
FL... Marco Rubio-R (Yes, GOP has majority, but he might’ve not been the party nominee)
GA... Johnny Isakson-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
HI... Daniel Inouye-D (Yes, Dems have majority)
ID... Mike Crapo-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
IL... Mark Kirk-RINO/Combiner (No, Dem has majority, but I wouldn’t cry over it — he’ll switch parties before long)
IN... Dan Coats-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
IA... Chuck Grassley-R (Up in the air, haven’t seen final legislative totals, and without GOP gains of one body, he’d have lost)
KS... Jerry Moran-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
KY... Rand Paul-R (No, Dems have numerical majority, GOP only has narrow majority in Senate)
MD... Barbara Mikulski-D (Yes, Dems have majority)
MO... Roy Blunt-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
NV... Harry Reid-D (Yes, Dems have majority)
NH... Kelly Ayotte-R (Yes, GOP just won back majority)
NY... Gillebrand & Schumer-D (Yes, Dems have numerical majority)
NC... Richard Burr-R (Yes, but only because GOP just won control of legislature for first time since 1890s)
ND... John Hoeven-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
OH... Rob Portman-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
OK... Tom Coburn-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
OR... Ron Wyden-D (Near-tied body, probably would’ve won)
PA... Pat Toomey-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
SC... Jim DeMint-R (Yes, GOP has majority)
UT... Mike Lee-R (Lee wouldn’t have likely won in a legislative contest even with a GOP majority, so RINO Bennett probably would’ve been sent back)
VT... Patrick Leahy-D (Yes, Dems have majority)
WA... Patty Murray-D (Yes, Dems have overall majority)
WV... Joe Manchin-D (Yes, Dems have majority)
WI... Ron Johnson-R (Yes, GOP just won majority)

So looking at all that, many of those Dem incumbent key races we had a shot at, we would’ve lost had the legislature elected them, and Boozman, Kirk, Paul and possibly Grassley would’ve lost (and Lee & Rubio might never have won the nominations). Hence, despite all the gains nationwide, we’d have had FOUR fewer seats going into January (and 2 more RINOs in place of Conservatives). My argument for opposing repeal of the 17th is still proven out.