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what is the purpose of the Electoral College ?


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  • that guy in AZ
    2016-11-19 11:41:53 AM
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    We've all seen peitions lately to abolish the Electoral College. Due to the fact that both houses of Congress are now controlled by Republicans, that is not likely to happen. More importantly, the purpose of the Electoral College, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED, would prevent people like Donald Tump from becoming President. Alexander Hamilton is the individual who is given credit for the idea, so it's fitting that the cast of "Hamilton" harassed Mike Pence last night in New York when he was in town to see the play. Naturally, our groper in chief quickly demanded that the cast apologize to Pence.

    Don't hold you breath, Donald.

    Here's the key phrasing:

    Although the Founding Fathers wanted the people to have a say, there was concern that a charismatic tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come into power.

    Since that is precisely what just happened, the only logical approach for the Electoral College to take is to vote for Hillary Clinton. The electors in Arizona are being bombarded with requests for them to NOT vote for Trump. Two electors in Colorado have already stated that they are not voting for Trump, and it is possible that electors in other states will do the same thing.

    Here is the rest of the article:

    http://www.reference.com/government-politics/purpose-electoral-college-c9f12a8548d434ee#

  • Dutch
    2016-11-19 12:03:14 PM
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    that guy in AZ Wrote:

    We've all seen peitions lately to abolish the Electoral College. Due to the fact that both houses of Congress are now controlled by Republicans, that is not likely to happen. More importantly, the purpose of the Electoral College, AS IT WAS ORIGINALLY DESIGNED, would prevent people like Donald Tump from becoming President. Alexander Hamilton is the individual who is given credit for the idea, so it's fitting that the cast of "Hamilton" harassed Mike Pence last night in New York when he was in town to see the play. Naturally, our groper in chief quickly demanded that the cast apologize to Pence.

    Don't hold you breath, Donald.

    Here's the key phrasing:

    Although the Founding Fathers wanted the people to have a say, there was concern that a charismatic tyrant could manipulate public opinion and come into power.

    Since that is precisely what just happened, the only logical approach for the Electoral College to take is to vote for Hillary Clinton. The electors in Arizona are being bombarded with requests for them to NOT vote for Trump. Two electors in Colorado have already stated that they are not voting for Trump, and it is possible that electors in other states will do the same thing.

    Here is the rest of the article:

    http://www.reference.com/government-politics/purpose-electoral-college-c9f12a8548d434ee#

    Guy, they call that in Dutch: "presenting mustard after the meal" The Electoral College has given their input and Trump is nominated; no one is going to change that, unless you want an total "war" in this government. Hopefully they change this weird thing in 2020, but I'm sure the GOP can influence this College to win again. Thus an nice "story" but we are sitting with the shit now and no one dares to change this. Trump is now King and everyone bows to him or crawls up his butt!! Amen
  • Schmidt
    2016-11-20 11:10:42 PM
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    If you wanted a wake up call to Americans to get rid of the Electoral College, that would be it...elect Hillary Clinton. That would create a Constitional crisis, but the margin is probably too large to make it happen this December. And in any case, the Republican controlled House would immediately impeach her.

  • Scytale
    2016-11-20 11:53:17 PM
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    The GOP will be forced to improve their rapport next year, because the current protests and unpopularity of Trump spell defeat for them if they don't.

    On top of that, they're going to take every precaution they can to ensure they maintain power. This is what Bannon said in CNN's interview with him: "The globalists gutted the American working class and created a middle class in Asia. The issue now is about Americans looking to not get f---ed over. If (the Trump White House delivers), we'll get 60 percent of the white vote, and 40 percent of the black and Hispanic vote and we'll govern for 50 years. "

    But even if the electoral college dropped the ball on Trump, it would surely incur a Civil War, if not a Republican movement even more rabid than the Tea Party and alt-right combined.

    So, either way, buckle up, boys.

    I still think the most likely scenario is that the electoral college supports Trump, but he becomes impeached. He doesn't appear invested in the main POTUS responsibilities, so he'll basically just act as a cheerleader for the GOP until he suffers from too many liabilities.

  • jaredsxtn
    2017-06-19 03:05:01 PM
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    I'm resurrecting this thread because it frustrates me to no end when threads are hijacked and turned into something that the original thread has nothing to do with.

    Here's my two cents.

    I hate the electoral college because I don't like that the will of the people can be overruled by a handful of so called swing states. The President should be directly elected by the people of all 50 states and not the people in a handful of swing states. The system encourages Presidential candidates to completely ignore the vast majority of the country and instead focus all of their attention on a select few "special" states that will decide the election.

    I also understand that it would take a Constitutional Amendment to do away with the electoral college and that it is extremely unlikely to ever happen because the system as we now have it heavily favors the Republican Party. Why in the world would the Republicans ever shoot themselves in the foot and actually allow the people to decide who our leader would be?!

  • Schmidt
    2017-06-19 05:10:06 PM
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    I agree. In addition, as per the last election, those electors can switch and cast votes to whoever they want. What if Hillary had won a couple more key states with a very small majority...say one or two. There will then be enormous temptations and pressure made for some of those electors to switch their votes...if not bribery, then perhaps extortion or blackmail.

    Or vice versa...

    The winner of the popular vote should be the president...period.

  • Dockadams
    2017-06-21 10:42:41 AM
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    Why bother to even vote for your favorite candidate at all? This must be a waste of time and effort. Taking time off work, standing in long lines, and your candidate wasn't elected by your vote, what's next? We're stuck with this asswipe for 4 years, and stuck with a majority of cons. now what?

  • Dutch
    2017-06-21 11:02:19 AM
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    Shaking my old head; I've been hammering on this forever. But yeah like Schmidt says "this country" as well the naive stupid population does not want such change, because they only want changes which harms them, like electing Trump.

    Thus we will be stuck with the "electoral college" forever as well the "second Amendment" and some other stupid laws or non-laws, like not "vetting" an President, protecting the lobby system; pouring in billions into elections so you can corrupt it; protecting the healthcare industry, so they can get rich over your dead body; giving tax breaks to the rich instead of the poor or middle class; refusing an sliding scale of taxing etc. A lot has to change in this country to make it livable for the common people.

  • jaredsxtn
    2017-06-22 02:51:24 PM
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    Dutch Wrote:

    Shaking my old head; I've been hammering on this forever. But yeah like Schmidt says "this country" as well the naive stupid population does not want such change, because they only want changes which harms them, like electing Trump.

    Thus we will be stuck with the "electoral college" forever as well the "second Amendment" and some other stupid laws or non-laws, like not "vetting" an President, protecting the lobby system; pouring in billions into elections so you can corrupt it; protecting the healthcare industry, so they can get rich over your dead body; giving tax breaks to the rich instead of the poor or middle class; refusing an sliding scale of taxing etc. A lot has to change in this country to make it livable for the common people.

    How do you suggest we get rid of the electoral college outside of passing a new amendment to the Constitution?

    We get it. You don't like our Constitution. But what are you suggesting we do? Ignore it?

    I want nothing more than to get rid of the Electoral College, but I also understand that would require the passage of a new amendment to the Constitution. And if so called liberals can't bother to get off their ass to vote in Federal elections then why should anyone expect them to take time out of their busy day to actually vote to get rid of the Electoral College they profess to hate?

    If people actually got off their ass and voted for once then maybe we would have a federal government that reflects the will of the people. But when people vote for candidates who could never win or, even worse, don't vote at all, then we get the government we deserve.

    Republicans are good at one thing - getting their people out to vote no matter how shitty their candidate is. That's because Republicans would rather vote for the devil himself than a Democrat. Democrats, on the other hand, would rather vote for someone who never stands a chance of winning because they just can't bring themselves to vote for someone who doesn't share 100% of their political views. How is that working out for us?

  • Dockadams
    2017-06-22 02:58:22 PM
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    There is a handful of democrats working on getting rid of the electoral college, believe it or not, that win in the peach state was won with the help of republican gerrymandering, and believe it or not, whilst Trump basks in that victory, some say it wasn't a win for him, but for the republicans, although many republicans a cuddling up to the dirty bastard as of late.

    Barbara Boxer doesn't realize that the electoral college favors democrats, but I find that hard to believe.

    washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2016...

  • Dutch
    2017-06-23 08:58:56 AM
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    It is nice to write about this, however getting to know this country, certainly they will continue in their stupid ways. I bet the "electoral college" will stay forever here as well the non vetting of Presidents and his cabinet. Don't forget the lobby system as well the billions spent to elect an useless prick; just act like as an "no brains" country. Don't change the corruption here; it so much fun (for the corrupt rich) Keep sticking your head in the sand and run like hell towards the cliff . If you are in an wheelchair forget it all together; you won't make it to the cliff.
  • Dutch
    2017-06-23 12:32:12 PM
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    jaredsxtn Wrote:
    Dutch Wrote:

    Shaking my old head; I've been hammering on this forever. But yeah like Schmidt says "this country" as well the naive stupid population does not want such change, because they only want changes which harms them, like electing Trump.

    Thus we will be stuck with the "electoral college" forever as well the "second Amendment" and some other stupid laws or non-laws, like not "vetting" an President, protecting the lobby system; pouring in billions into elections so you can corrupt it; protecting the healthcare industry, so they can get rich over your dead body; giving tax breaks to the rich instead of the poor or middle class; refusing an sliding scale of taxing etc. A lot has to change in this country to make it livable for the common people.

    How do you suggest we get rid of the electoral college outside of passing a new amendment to the Constitution?

    We get it. You don't like our Constitution. But what are you suggesting we do? Ignore it?

    I want nothing more than to get rid of the Electoral College, but I also understand that would require the passage of a new amendment to the Constitution. And if so called liberals can't bother to get off their ass to vote in Federal elections then why should anyone expect them to take time out of their busy day to actually vote to get rid of the Electoral College they profess to hate?

    If people actually got off their ass and voted for once then maybe we would have a federal government that reflects the will of the people. But when people vote for candidates who could never win or, even worse, don't vote at all, then we get the government we deserve.

    Republicans are good at one thing - getting their people out to vote no matter how shitty their candidate is. That's because Republicans would rather vote for the devil himself than a Democrat. Democrats, on the other hand, would rather vote for someone who never stands a chance of winning because they just can't bring themselves to vote for someone who doesn't share 100% of their political views. How is that working out for us?

    Jared, just look at the history since WWII; have we learned anything from our mistakes? Guess what; did we learn from Vietnam, Korea etc. no we've got more wars than ever (some already 14 years!!). Did we learn that the 2nd Amendment kills more people than ever because the idiots interpret that document wrong? Did we learn even after 45 Presidents that you have to screen/vet them properly? By stating that Republicans rather vote for the devil, that is true, but what are the Democrats offering? Mother Theresa? Don't forget 40% or more vote Republican; why? INDOCTRINATION by the churches, lobbyists, army, dumb area's like "coal belt, bible belt, rust belt, grain belt, cowboy belt, dirt belt, sand belt, naive belt, slave belt., and of course Fox news as well Breitbard B.S. etc.

    Thus what can you do other than have about two persons ( Pelosi and Schumer) defend something which is normal common sense? Why even loose an district in Georgia if you don't have an strong working plan to support the DNC candidate. Guess why?, because the GOP makes sure their indoctrination of lies etc. keeps working for them, even an fat ass dumb woman can win. Wow, Let alone in Montana; beat up an reporter and he still wins. And you still believe in this country? Honestly?

  • Chet Ruminski
    2017-06-23 02:48:26 PM
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    The 12 step rehabilitation program has a very smart point. It says something like "there are things you can do something about and things you can't. The ones you can't you don't worry about." Look how many times the electoral college has elected the minority candidate. If people by now aren't smart enough to think of something to win those small population states then maybe they don't deserve the office. The reason it is impossible to get enough votes to get rid of the electoral college is ultimately representatives realize the bad effects by getting rid of it. Without representation those small states would not get any recognition. Cut back or elimination of government programs. Once the logic of the most people getting the most representation the apportioning of Senators would get attacked. Why should California with 39,000,000 people get only two votes just like Wyoming with 585,000 .
  • jaredsxtn
    2017-06-23 04:28:58 PM
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    Chet Ruminski Wrote: The 12 step rehabilitation program has a very smart point. It says something like "there are things you can do something about and things you can't. The ones you can't you don't worry about." Look how many times the electoral college has elected the minority candidate. If people by now aren't smart enough to think of something to win those small population states then maybe they don't deserve the office. The reason it is impossible to get enough votes to get rid of the electoral college is ultimately representatives realize the bad effects by getting rid of it. Without representation those small states would not get any recognition. Cut back or elimination of government programs. Once the logic of the most people getting the most representation the apportioning of Senators would get attacked. Why should California with 39,000,000 people get only two votes just like Wyoming with 585,000 .

    Your argument makes zero sense. Swing states are not and never have been low population states.

    If that were the case then candidates would be spending time in Montana, Wyoming, and North Dakota.

    No one is calling for the elimination of the Senate, a place where small states are able to play a big role. What we are calling for is the elimination of a system that allows the will of the majority of the country to be thwarted by a handful of so called swing states.

    Do you understand the difference?

  • TJ
    2017-06-23 04:40:00 PM
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    I hate when my wife says your vote doesn't matter. With the president being a minority of the total popular vote it almost makes sense. I have voted since 18 but I would like to see improvements. Perhaps a new thread should be started to discuss improving voter participation and see if there's hopes of our party getting a substantial increase in numbers.
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