Electoral College Rejects Trump AND Clinton — Selects John Kasich for President
Nah. But that nightmare scenario — and some that are even sicker and scarier — could actually happen.
If the Electoral College rejects Trump:
“The election goes to Congress. They can only choose from the top three in the electoral race, so who the electors vote for matters a great deal. If Kasich or Pence is in the top three it could take several ballots to determine a winner.”
With all the fear and dread over what the Electoral College might or might not do, why don't we get rid of this albatross once and for all, and just go with the popular vote? Almost six weeks after the most polarizing contentious emotionally-draining election in decades, we're still freaking ourselves out with all these bizarre “Oh My God, what if ______” speculations.
If we went only by the popular vote, White House candidates would have to suck up to everybody, not just swing state voters. Under our current system, residents of a few large Battleground states get slathered with all the attention. If you live in a small state and/or a state that's solidly red or blue, your vote is taken for granted.
Supposedly, tens of millions of newly registered Hispanic voters were going to guarantee the White House for the Democrats this year. Trouble is, most of these newly registered voters were in California (blue no matter what), Texas and Arizona (both red come hell or high water).
Best of all: If we didn't have the Electoral College, Republican strategists at the state level would no longer have any incentive to tilt the allocation of Electoral votes into a Heads the Republican wins, Tails the Democrat loses fiasco.
So far eleven states (including Washington) have signed the National Popular Vote compact to switch to a popular vote. This would have to be signed by enough states to add up to a majority of electoral votes, in order for this law to take effect. Think the public will go for it?
For whatever it's worth, an online poll (admittedly un-scientific) in our local newspaper shows a majority being in favor of switching to the popular vote:
Total Votes: 600
Labels: Electoral College, John Kasich
posted by Tom Harper @ 9:10 PM
7 Comments:
I have to say that I think to much time and attention is put into the elections. Sure, someone has to sit in those seats, but I think the process of governance has become twisted by the machine politics and their self serving interests.
It is supposed to be about administering the needs of the populace, not an industry unto itself. We validate the goals of the self interests by playing along, and not demanding our own concerns be addressed, first and foremost.
Sure, the infotainment industry tries to keep us engaged and distracted with faux crises like Russia-is-trying-to-influence-our-democracy stories. Look how much time and energy has been expended on what, by any modern standard, is a complete non-issue. We remember all the leaked emails a year or so ago that revealed the extent to which the US has engaged on hacking the emails and internal communications of a large number of world leaders, including our own allies. On an ongoing basis. The reality, as has been discussed here, is that the US has long been "influencing" the governing structures, elections and leadership of many countries, for many years.
But, as we see over and over, the public's attention in manipulated away from discussing actual problems that affect their lives directly, and instead, we are directed to a non stop stream of false issues. And, we validate it by participating.
Should we change to a direct vote system, instead of the electoral college? Of course. But, I'm really more concerned how our country is going address climate change. Already, millions across the country, and more across the globe are being impacted. I don't need Trump or Bernie to know *I* need to take action, and change my daily activities. I choose to buy an SUV or PU or electric car, here in Port Angeles, not Trump or the electoral college. I choose to support by patronizing the system I speak against, when I shop at Walmart.
I don't need Trump or Bernie's permission to work hard, in every way I can conceive, to shift Port Angeles to a more sustainable way of life, a more sustainable economy. For my children, if they are to have a future.
I think we need to be aggressively cognizant of what we are doing, every day. Not just go through the motions, but take advantage of the opportunities.
And, as we know, "Leaders follow".
"...the process of governance has become twisted by the machine politics and their self serving interests. It is supposed to be about administering the needs of the populace, not an industry unto itself."
Absolutely. Most politicians only care about perpetuating their own power, whatever it takes, whoever they have to throw under the bus. And voters enable this by identifying closely with one party or the other, rather than specific issues. For just one example, Democratic politicians are less concerned about climate change, the environment, endangered species, etc. than they are about making absolutely certain that environmentalists will always vote for the Democrat. As long as Democratic leaders think they have millions of pro-environment voters in their pocket, they don't have much incentive to fight climate change. Keeping the issue of climate change front and center is all they need to do to keep getting elected.
I think it is telling that fewer and fewer people are actively involved in "politics". It should be something politicians *should* be paying attention to, but as we saw in this last election, they (and the industry it is) completely blew it. On both sides, they discounted the anger that Trump pandered to. They, the media, pundits, politicos and all, they the industry was so self absorbed and self confident, they just weren't seeing what "the people" were actually responding to.
Now, again, the machine tries to obfuscate and blur the "voice of the people". Don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting Trump represents the people in any of his contrived rantings. But, he sure knows how to tell the angry what they want to hear.
Instead of acknowledging that the CNN/MSNBC/FOX etc talking heads actually don't "get it", they prattle on, still trying to control the conversations and perceptions by distractions.
As that song said years ago "We got to take the power back". We can't continue to fawn over the Emperor's New Clothes. We can't continue supporting the virtual deification of our so-called "leaders".
All I want to hear come out of the mouths of politicians at all levels of governance is how they are going to help *us* get what *we* want done.
I wish they would stop with the lessor of two evils shit. It is supposedly how a lot of people picked Trump in the first place. In regards to Kacish, I am always suspicious of so called Moderate Republicans. I think they are more Good Cop to the Bad Cop of the rest, or saying that Jesse Helms is less racist than David Duke.
Remember people like George Will, Pat Buchannon, and Buckeley can now be considered Moderate. You wont catch me supporting them.
Erik
Erik: Funny you should mention Kasich. Just today he signed a bill prohibiting all city/local governments in Ohio from raising the minimum wage. And he's always been gung ho about the sanctity of the fetus. Definitely not a "Moderate," or even a Good Cop to the rest of the GOP Bad Cops.
"Raising the minimum wage?" Ever noticed that Conservatives always break their honored creed in local control and override with "Big Govment" when it suits them?
Erik
Happy Holidays while Obama is still president
Erik: Yup, it's very noticeable. States' rights and local control are just slogans, to be turned on and off as needed. Same with N. Carolina's "bathroom bill." It started when Charlotte passed a local ordinance allowing transgender to use the bathroom according to which gender they identify with. The state overrode the Charlotte ordinance, and then had a tantrum when the federal government tried to intervene.
After Obama is no longer president, anyone who says "Happy Holidays" will be sent to a Christian Re-education Camp.
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