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Winner Take All?
Topic Started: Aug 10 2007, 05:22 AM (155 Views)
QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
From the Wall Street Journal:

Quote:
 
Frustrated at Democrats’ lock since 1992 on the Golden State’s 55 electoral votes for president — by far the biggest state total — Republicans want a ballot initiative to end the winner-take-all system.
Their proposal, filed by attorney Thomas Hiltachk, whose firm represents the state party and once represented the governor, would allocate electoral votes by the winner of each of the 53 congressional districts.

Since about 20 districts are pro-Republican, “it’s certainly an interesting idea,” says state party Chairman Ron Nehring.


Of course, if every state were to take that approach, it would be virtually the same as the Presidency being decided by the majority party in the House of Representatives. The first step toward a British Prime Ministry!
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
I don't suppose they are pushing this type of thing in Texas.

If it ain't broke...
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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JBryan
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I am the grey one
This seems like an extremely difficult thing to push through in any state. The majority political party has no interest in dividing up the electors when they feel reasonably certain they can have them all.
"Any man who would make an X rated movie should be forced to take his daughter to see it". - John Wayne


There is a line we cross when we go from "I will believe it when I see it" to "I will see it when I believe it".


Henry II: I marvel at you after all these years. Still like a democratic drawbridge: going down for everybody.

Eleanor: At my age there's not much traffic anymore.

From The Lion in Winter.
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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
The one place it might fly, though, is in California.

Because you can pitch it as a referendum, which won't have to go through the legislature, and the voters are just ornery and fickle enough to vote for it, if Ahhnold tells them to.
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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Mikhailoh
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If you want trouble, find yourself a redhead
Schwarznegger has earned his respect in California. Unlike so many other politicians, he learned and adapted when he found his approach was not working. According to my brother who lives there he is pretty universally respected.

He has distanced himself from the GOP in the Federal government pretty handily. I doubt he would expend a lot of political capital for this.
Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead - Lucille Ball
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Horace
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HOLY CARP!!!
having this in place in some states and not in others would create a huge imbalance in the electoral votes in favor of the party which doesn't historically win in those states. If only red states had this then the dems would be impossible to beat, if only blue states had it then repubs would be impossible to beat. This seems like a disaster for fair elections unless it is a national thing.
As a good person, I implore you to do as I, a good person, do. Be good. Do NOT be bad. If you see bad, end bad. End it in yourself, and end it in others. By any means necessary, the good must conquer the bad. Good people know this. Do you know this? Are you good?
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ivorythumper
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Horace
Aug 10 2007, 09:11 AM
having this in place in some states and not in others would create a huge imbalance in the electoral votes in favor of the party which doesn't historically win in those states. If only red states had this then the dems would be impossible to beat, if only blue states had it then repubs would be impossible to beat. This seems like a disaster for fair elections unless it is a national thing.

The Constitution leaves it to the state legislature to determine how electors are appointed and apportioned. I don't see how there "could" be a national standard under the present terms of the Constitution.
The dogma lives loudly within me.
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Daniel
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HOLY CARP!!!
ivorythumper
Aug 10 2007, 08:23 AM
Horace
Aug 10 2007, 09:11 AM
having this in place in some states and not in others would create a huge imbalance in the electoral votes in favor of the party which doesn't historically win in those states.  If only red states had this then the dems would be impossible to beat, if only blue states had it then repubs would be impossible to beat.  This seems like a disaster for fair elections unless it is a national thing.

The Constitution leaves it to the state legislature to determine how electors are appointed and apportioned. I don't see how there "could" be a national standard under the present terms of the Constitution.

That's true. This is still a plan to elect a Republican in 2008 by splitting the votes in California.
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QuirtEvans
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I Owe It All To John D'Oh
Horace
Aug 10 2007, 11:11 AM
having this in place in some states and not in others would create a huge imbalance in the electoral votes in favor of the party which doesn't historically win in those states. If only red states had this then the dems would be impossible to beat, if only blue states had it then repubs would be impossible to beat. This seems like a disaster for fair elections unless it is a national thing.

Am I imagining it, or is this type of system already in place somewhere?

I know it's in place for the nominating conventions ....
It would be unwise to underestimate what large groups of ill-informed people acting together can achieve. -- John D'Oh, January 14, 2010.
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