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Calif. could throw support to popular vote winner
AP via SFGate ^ | 8/14/8

Posted on 08/14/2008 3:46:44 PM PDT by SmithL

California legislators have approved legislation to circumvent the Electoral College.

But the measure could face a veto from Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The bill by Senator Carole Migden, a San Francisco Democrat, would ratify an interstate agreement in which states award their electoral votes to the winner of the national popular vote.

That would avoid a repeat of the 2000 election, when George Bush won the presidency but not the popular vote.

(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...


TOPICS: Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: callegislation; electionpresident; electoralcollege; electoralvote; electoralvotes; mccain; nationalpopularvote; obama; schwarzenegger; vetobait
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1 posted on 08/14/2008 3:46:45 PM PDT by SmithL
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To: SmithL
we got nothing to lose if CA did this. We won't win that state's popular vote for the foreseeable future.
2 posted on 08/14/2008 3:48:42 PM PDT by ilgipper
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To: SmithL

There would go my theory that McCain can’t win California. ;-)


3 posted on 08/14/2008 3:49:24 PM PDT by CounterCounterCulture (Abortion is a weapon of mass destruction)
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To: SmithL

I hope Arnold S. Kennedy vetoes...


4 posted on 08/14/2008 3:52:42 PM PDT by Old Sarge (CTHULHU '08 - I won't settle for a lesser evil any longer!)
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To: ilgipper

It’s national popular vote. I don’t know about this though.


5 posted on 08/14/2008 3:53:14 PM PDT by Mark (Don't argue with my posts. I typed while under sniper fire..)
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To: ilgipper
ilgipper said: "we got nothing to lose if CA did this. "

I disagree. If this becomes the norm, then the Democrats will be able to win national elections by stealing votes in Democrat dominated cities throughout the nation. There will be no necessity for them to steal votes in conservative states. The Electoral College is, among other things, an anti-fraud device.

6 posted on 08/14/2008 3:55:39 PM PDT by William Tell (RKBA for California (rkba.members.sonic.net) - Volunteer by contacting Dave at rkba@sonic.net)
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To: SmithL

That’s all well and good....until it elects a Republican over the wishes of California voters. Then what, Hmmmmm?

You will have taken the wishes of your voters and put them in the trash, AKA disenfranchisement I believe is the word....this is clearly unconstitutional on its face.

Typical California stupidity.


7 posted on 08/14/2008 3:56:01 PM PDT by Ouderkirk (I will not vote for Obama not because he is black, but because he is RED)
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To: SmithL

Bad and stupid plan. CA needs to leave it alone.


8 posted on 08/14/2008 3:58:36 PM PDT by Conspiracy Guy (I voted Republican because no Conservatives were running.)
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To: Mark

I have no objection but the idea sounds kind of absurd. Didn’t NJ do the same thing? If these states go Democrat but the Republican wins nationally, the majority of voters in these states essentially have their votes canceled out. Doesn’t sounds right even though it probably would benefit the Republican candidate. How ironic would it be if McCain wins the national popular vote and the presidency based on electoral votes from CA? In a case where if CA’s votes had gone to Obama he would have been elected, then we’ll see how popular this law is then! I suspect the Dems will be screaming bloody murder.

And we’d enjoy watching that!


9 posted on 08/14/2008 3:59:30 PM PDT by TNCMAXQ
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To: William Tell

I agree. Remember, we are not a democracy, we are a representative republic. There is a profound difference and why this country still exists.


10 posted on 08/14/2008 3:59:47 PM PDT by Redleg Duke ("All gave some, and some gave all!")
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To: William Tell
The Electoral College is, among other things, an anti-fraud device.

Yup. Exactly why the Dems want to get rid of it. The sheeple are beginning to figure out that everything they do and stand for is a fraud.

11 posted on 08/14/2008 4:00:04 PM PDT by JennysCool (A man who served his country well vs. a walking Che poster. Is it really that tough a choice?)
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To: William Tell

the Democrats will be able to win national elections by stealing votes in Democrat dominated cities throughout the nation

B I N G O.

12 posted on 08/14/2008 4:00:19 PM PDT by NativeNewYorker (Freepin' Jew Boy)
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To: SmithL

clinton never won the popular vote.


13 posted on 08/14/2008 4:02:31 PM PDT by sappy
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To: William Tell
Agreed.

Two other problems with eliminating the Electoral College:

1) What happens if the popular vote is so close that a recount is required? State recounts are bad enough. Imagine a national one!

2) Urbanites win out over rural voters. If candidates forego electoral votes for the popular vote, then the most efficient way to do this is limit their campaigns to the big market urban areas. States like California have the laws we do because of the values (or lack thereof) of the people living in LA and SF. Do we want the entire country run on the values of those who live in NY, LA, SF, and Miami?

14 posted on 08/14/2008 4:03:02 PM PDT by who_would_fardels_bear
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To: NativeNewYorker
I'm astonished at the number of friends and co-workers who believe the Electoral College should be abolished and can't seem to grasp WHY the Founding Fathers implemented it.

Even if you set aside Democrat voter fraud, elections would still focus completely on the populations centers, totally excluding the interests of those in flyover country.

Something I think the Founding Fathers understood long before our cities had grown to their present sizes.

15 posted on 08/14/2008 4:05:58 PM PDT by daler
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To: sappy
clinton never won the popular vote.

and the argument then was (surprise, surprise) that the presidency wasn't decided on the basis of the popular vote, but by the EC. No PROBLEM then.

But when they lose, get rid of the EC! They've been pushing that for 8 years! And if they change it and still lose, they'll want to change it again. Make book on it.

16 posted on 08/14/2008 4:07:11 PM PDT by Christian4Bush (About Obama: "Overinflated balloons pop suddenly and catastrophically." - Bill Dupray)
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To: SmithL

I believe if they do that, it will be strongly challenged in court. And I would support that action with money, all the way to the SCOTUS.


17 posted on 08/14/2008 4:08:00 PM PDT by papasmurf (This space left blank intentionly.)
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To: daler

Every obstacle to direct public rule filtered through Democrap lawyers is systematically ridiculed in the MSM.


18 posted on 08/14/2008 4:09:56 PM PDT by NativeNewYorker (Freepin' Jew Boy)
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To: SmithL
According to Article 1 Sec.10 of the US Constitution

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.

So it ain't gonna happen!

19 posted on 08/14/2008 4:11:35 PM PDT by Roccus (Someday it'll all make sense.....maybe.)
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To: Christian4Bush

Clinton got a plurality of the popular vote each time, but never got over 50%. Ross Perot got 19% of the popular vote in 1992 and 8% in 1996.

Clinton carried a number of states with less than 50% of the popular vote within individual states. So he got all of their electoral votes. Which was fine with the Dems. then because it helped elect a Democrat.


20 posted on 08/14/2008 4:12:57 PM PDT by Dilbert San Diego
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