Let's abolish the Electoral College

NY Newsday ^ | April 20, 2004 | WILLIAM BENOIT

[presidio9]

The Electoral College should be abolished for two important reasons.

First, the Electoral College may be reducing voter turnout. Everyone knows that Vice President Al Gore received a half-million more votes than Gov. George W. Bush, but Bush became president.

What most people do not realize is the effect this could have on voters. Political observers have lamented a steady decline in the percentage of voters who turn out for presidential elections. One potential reason for declining turnout is a feeling of powerlessness among voters.

[Still Thinking]

No doubt several. Think of the hype-to-reality ratio for the "Million Mom March" and apply that here.

[OldFriend]

But of course, we want New York, and California to choose our president.

[longtermmemmory]

it sounds more like the democrats have done and analysis that sees their continued diminshment. If they go to a straight vote then they will be able to diminish or eliminate the effect of Bush country and create Flyover country. If anything it would balkanize the USA.

This is nothing more than Democrat Party tactics, create a division and conquer. Class warfare redux.

[Core_Conservative]

How about: Making it illegal to run for office more that 2 months before the election. Instead of a State making it a winner take all, break it down by precinct. Then cast the electoral college votes. That seems to be more acceptable - LOL

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

The Democrats voted mental hospitals, dead people, College students voted several times, homeless people got "Smokes for Votes",

And, the state of Washington, with 39 counties, only 5 voted Democrat, and the state went for Gore. (Seattle area)

No thanks, we'll keep our voice that our forefathers so cleverly crafted for us!

[mtbopfuyn]

First, the Electoral College may be reducing voter turnout.

Oh, puleez! Most of the country didn't even know we had an Electoral College much less why it was instituted.

[ScottinSacto]

Now, WHY would we want to do that.....so 6 or 7 major cities can determine elections for the whole country?

So you too could all enjoy the experience of a California-esque legislature! /sarcasm

Now if NBC's Sunday Night Movie 10.5 was a documentary.......

[VetoBill]

1) One cannot logically be for eliminating the Electoral College without eliminating the Senate as well.

2) I am from a small state and on behalf of all small states I say, "Good luck trying to amend the Constitution without our support... bite me suckers!"

[Still Thinking]

There is no "F" in "way".

And no "freak" in "french fries".

[Liberatio]

Wow, this sounds like something from DemocraticUnderground or whatever the name of it. The reason why we have an electoral college is why we need one to elect the governor in Michigan. The city of Detroit should not be able to be the major influence to elect the governor. Half of the population of Michigan lives in and around the Detroit area. Most people are unhappy with our governor and the rest of the state is held and the mercy of the unions and those who typically do not vote Republican or third party candidates.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

First, the Electoral College may be reducing voter turnout.

Bull. Most voters are idiots and don't even know what the Electoral College is or why it was instituted.

[Howlin]

---

Hillary Calls For End To Electoral College
ALBANY, New York, Nov. 20, 2000


Senator-elect Hillary Rodham Clinton began a victory tour of upstate New York Friday by calling for elimination of the Electoral College.

At an airport news conference, the first lady said she would support legislation seeking a constitutional amendment providing for the direct election of the president.

At the moment, Americans are waiting to see who wins Florida's 25 electoral votes and thus becomes the next president. Vice President Al Gore leads Republican George W. Bush in the popular vote nationwide.

"We are a very different country than we were 200 years ago," Clinton said. "I believe strongly that in a democracy, we should respect the will of the people and to me, that means it's time to do away with the Electoral College and move to the popular election of our president."

The first lady also said that because of the closeness of this year's presidential election, "I hope no one is ever in doubt again about whether their vote counts."

Clinton was accompanied by Green Island Democrat Rep. Michael R. McNulty, who has co-sponsored electoral college legislation introduced by Illinois Republican Rep. Ray LaHood. LaHood has introduced his bill in each of the last two congressional sessions, but aside from a 1997 hearing granted as a favor by House Judiciary Chairman Henry Hyde, R-Ill., it has not advanced.

McNulty thinks the measure will gain momentum if Gore wins the popular vote but loses the electoral tally.

As she started her tour across upstate New York, Clinton said she had talked with Republican Gov. George E. Pataki on Thursday about how they could work together to help the state. She called it "a very cordial conversation" and said she and Pataki hope to get together soon.

Pataki was a major supporter of U.S. Rep. Rick Lazio, the Republican congressman from Long Island who Clinton easily beat on Tuesday to win the New York Senate seat.

"I'm back here first and foremost to say thank you," Clinton told a crowd of about 100 people at the Albany International Airport, the first of her six stops across upstate New York. She planned airport appearances in Syracuse, Watertown, Rochester, Buffalo and Ithaca.

Clinton ran unusually well in traditionally more conservative upstate New York, where she captured 47 percent of the vote to Lazio's 50 percent.

She was greeted by about 150 enthusiastic supporters at Syracuse Airport. Asked whether she saw herself more in the mold of Sen. Charles Schumer, former Sen. Alfonse D'Amato or outgoing Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan, Clinton said: "I hope to be myself.

She added it was important for a senator to be involved in a "grass roots, kitchen-table way." But also wants to be involved in the major issues of the day such as preservation of social security and Medicare.

[taxcontrol]

Rather than abolish it, lets fix it.

I propose a constitutional amendment that requires the candidate who received the most votes in each congressional district, receive that district's electoral vote. The two remaining votes per state would then be awarded to the candidate who received the most votes in that state. The candidate that receives 50% plus 1 vote wins. Otherwise...

First tie breaker would be the candidate that received the most district votes.

Second tie breaker would be the candidate that received the most state votes.

If still not resolved, House decides the President, Senate the Vice-President.

[CyberAnt]

And .. not just ABSENTEE .. but MILITARY ABSENTEE

That is the outrage the dems won't admit to.

[OldFriend]

And I recently heard the money man Bob Brinker calling for the abolition of the electoral college.

This was followed by a rant about how mismanaged California has been and how irresponsible are their voters.

Logical then, that we'd want the likes of the Californians picking the next president.......NOT!

[CROSSHIGHWAYMAN]

let's abolish voting for women!

They don't make informed choices.....they vote for the best-looking candidate.

Kerry is toast!

[PermaRag]

IIRC, the dirty democRats were warning us BEFORE the 2000 election that the Electoral College was a vital and necessary thing (whether we unenlightened masses understood it or not).

The Rats thought a likely outcome of the 2000 election was that G.W. Bush would get a MAJORITY of the popular vote (by dominating low-electoral-vote "flyover" states like Kansas, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah, Nebraska, etc.), but would LOSE the Electoral College because Gore would eke out narrower victories in the "important" states like Pennsylvania, Illinois, Florida, etc.

When the outcome was exactly the opposite of the Rats' predictions (and Gore only "won" the popular vote due to massive vote fraud), only THEN did the Electoral College become a travesty.

It's a scene reminiscent of the old commies' yo-yo routine concerning the Hitler-Stalin pact: "Hitler is evil!" - then he's suddenly good! "War is necessary!" - then it's not! "The Electoral College is an important part of the U.S. Constitiution!" - Wait! We changed our minds again!

Never discount the ability of amoral idiots to perform those sorts of mental gymnastics. In that respect, Kerry is the perfect Rat candidate.

[TC Rider]

Everyone knows that Vice President Al Gore received a half-million more votes than Gov. George W. Bush, but Bush became president.

Wow! Does that include the votes bought from homeless bums for cigarettes? ..the votes trolled from nursing homes treating alzeimer patients? ..the precincts in Philadelphia that had more voters than the census numbers, including children? ..the votes bought on the Indian reservations? ..the dead?

[Veritas01]

Yah Lets get rid of it, that way california and new york can pick the prez

[Behind Liberal Lines]

I'm sure this latest article has nothing, nothing I say, to do with some recent polls that suggest Bush is tied with Kerry in the popular vote but WAY ahead in the electoral college:

http://www.federalreview.com/compositepoll.htm