BOB HERBERT: G.O.P.’s Dirty Tricks Begin

[kevinmc]

The folks who gave us the Willie Horton ads, the Swift boat campaign, the purges of black voters in Florida and endless other dirty electoral tricks are at it again.

Like crack addicts confronting the irresistible vial, the evil geniuses of the G.O.P. can’t seem to help themselves. This time — with an eye toward seizing the White House again next year, even if they lose the popular vote — they’re trying to rewrite the rules for the distribution of electoral votes in California.

Under current law, all of California’s 55 electoral votes go to the presidential candidate who wins the popular vote statewide. This “winner take all” system is the norm in the U.S. It’s in place in all but two states, Maine and Nebraska, which have just four and five electoral votes, respectively.

Now comes a move, from lawyers with close ties to the Republican Party, to scrap the current system in California and replace it with one that would divide up the electoral votes in a way that would likely give 20 or more of them to the candidate who loses the popular vote in the state.

Democrats fear, correctly, that this maneuver could checkmate even their best efforts to win back the White House next year.....


http://freedemocracy.blogspot.com/2007/09/bob-herbert-gops-dirty-tricks-begin.html

[Vincardog]

1. Fortunately the LEgislature is required to change the EVs it can not

be changed by a popular vote referendum. The Constitution says so.

[habitual]

3. don't know what EV's are, perhaps you could mention what they are so I can

understand what you are trying to say.

[HootieMcBoob]

5. electoral votes n /t

[gateley]

2. K&R nt

[RedEarth]

4. KR

[johan helge]

6. So the Republicans can't achieve this before the 2008 election? (nt)

[suston96]

7. Ballot initiative replace the legislature in California - or anywhere?

Good question. US Constitution says:

"Clause 2:

Each State shall appoint, in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a Number of Electors, equal to the whole Number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or Person holding an Office of Trust or Profit under the United States, shall be appointed an Elector."

Now does the ballot initiative process replace the "Legislature thereof..."?

Other states have done this but, through their legislature. This would be the first time a state ballot initiative - changes the US Constitution. (It's been tried before and USSC overturned - US Term Limits v Thornton).

[Hawaii Hiker]

8. I'm hoping some constitutional law expert can get this

fucking Republican initiative thrown out, etc....Some big donor Democrats are gearing to fight this, including Hollywood producer Steve Bing, whose worth over $500 million....Whether it gets tied up in court, whatever, so as long as it's defeated before getting to the ballot on June 3...Yes, June 3rd., 3 months AFTER the CA. primary...See, the shit working here...The Re-thugs want to have it when no one will turn out...Plus the law firm behind this has ties to the Swift Boat Drunks; everything about this initiative stinks to high heaven....

But this initiative must be defeated, OR Democrats need to get the ball rolling & SPLIT the electoral votes of Ohio, Florida, & Texas...