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Swift Boaters Now Trying To Steal California
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| Swift Boaters Now Trying To Steal California
- Click HERE to go to the original thread with graphics
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| gofyaself |
http://thinkprogress.org/2007/09/04/ca-ballot/
GOP Power Grab For California Votes Linked To Swift Boat Funder
This summer, a group of California lawyers filed a ballot initiative that would apportion the state’s presidential electors on a district-by-district, rather than statewide, basis. The ballot initiative “would rig elections in a way that would make it difficult for a Democrat to be elected president, no matter how the popular vote comes out.” The New York Times notes:
The net result of the California initiative would be that if the Democratic candidate wins in that state next year, which is very likely, the Republican candidate might still walk away with 20 or more of the state’s electoral votes. The initiative, backed by a shadowy group called Californians for Equal Representation, is being promoted as an effort to more accurately reflect the choices of the state’s voters, and to force candidates to pay more attention to California, which is usually not in play in presidential elections. It is actually a power grab on behalf of Republicans. […]
If California abandons its winner-take-all rule while red states like Texas do not, it will be hard for a Democratic nominee to assemble an Electoral College majority, even if he or she wins a sizable majority of the popular vote. That appears to be just what the backers of the California idea have in mind.
As more evidence of the initiative’s partisan motives, today the AP reports that the law firm behind the ballot initiative, Bell, McAndrews & Hiltachk, LLP, has strong ties to a major donor of the 2004 PAC, Swift Boat Veterans for Truth:
Charles H. Bell and Thomas Hiltachk’s law firm banked nearly $65,000 in fees from a California-based political committee funded almost solely by Bob J. Perry that targeted Democrats in 2006. Perry, a major Republican donor, contributed nearly $4.5 million to the group Swift Boat Veterans for Truth that made unsubstantiated but damaging attacks on Kerry three years ago.
Bell is also the General Counsel for the California Republican Party and the Vice President of the Federalist Society’s free speech and election law practice group. Thomas Hiltachk serves as legal counsel to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger (R-CA), who has so far given the proposal “a chilly reception.”
There’s no doubt that the Electoral College needs reform. But as Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-CA) put it: “We are all for reforming the Electoral College but that must be done in ALL of the states, not just California.”
As far as proponents of this little scheme are concerned, if the measure passes, they’ve successfully pulled off a scam that will deliver the next presidential election to the GOP. If the measure fails, Dems will still have to invest a lot of resources into defending the status quo, resources that could be spent elsewhere. For the right, it’s a win-win. |
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| Halcyon |
| Sad story. Partisan politics at it's finest. |
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| Bongo |
| They are just jealous Delay was able to pull it off in Texas. Notice this story isnt making the news..... it ought to! |
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| Crazytree |
the Dems were floating an idea to give the state's votes to the winner of the popular vote.
won't happen. |
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| Reed Rothchild |
Quote: Originally posted by Bongo
They are just jealous Delay was able to pull it off in Texas. Notice this story isnt making the news..... it ought to! |
Texas' electoral votes aren't awarded proportionally, it's winner take all like the rest of the states (Maine and Nebraska excluded). |
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| Rike |
| would be nice to actually have a reason to vote in california |
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| Kill Van Kull |
Quote: Originally posted by Reed Rothchild
Texas' electoral votes aren't awarded proportionally, it's winner take all like the rest of the states (Maine and Nebraska excluded). |
Really?
Than why do the districts now look like a rorschach ink blot test on the map?
Admitedly, I'm not all that familiar with texas politics but even a retard can see there's something fishy going on there...
:( |
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| Mr. PC |
| They are waaay too late.The Wetbacks have already stole it :mad: |
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| JTProcess |
Quote: Originally posted by Mr. PC
They are waaay too late.The Wetbacks have already stole it :mad: |
assuming you're talking about your daughters virginity here. |
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| Reed Rothchild |
Quote: Originally posted by Kill Van Kull
Really?
Than why do the districts now look like a rorschach ink blot test on the map?
Admitedly, I'm not all that familiar with texas politics but even a retard can see there's something fishy going on there...
:( |
Their congressional districts are all fucked up, but that's different from how their electoral votes are allocated in the presidential election. This deal in California would change the rule from the winner gets all 55 electoral votes, to the votes being awarded by who won respective congressional districts. In the last election, this would have given Bush an additional 20 or so electoral votes. |
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| johnsonrod |
Quote: Originally posted by Halcyon
Sad story. Partisan politics at it's finest. |
I believe there are several states that already apportion their votes not in a "winner take all" manner. This is completely legit.
The other plan bouncing around is for California to pledge to ignore the wishes of the state results if the national popular vote goes to the other guy. Guess who is in favor of that one?
How do you like the other plan Hal? |
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| Halcyon |
Quote: Originally posted by johnsonrod
I believe there are several states that already apportion their votes not in a "winner take all" manner. This is completely legit.
The other plan bouncing around is for California to pledge to ignore the wishes of the state results if the national popular vote goes to the other guy. Guess who is in favor of that one?
How do you like the other plan Hal? |
My vote is to abolish the electoral college. Whats yours? |
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| twaticus |
I never understood the electoral college. Seems like a travesty to me.
Also, the whole 2 party system is a travesty. That's how someone like a Jesse Ventura gets into office when a majority of the people voted for someone else. Need to have runoffs until someone gets more than 50% of the vote. |
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| johnsonrod |
Quote: Originally posted by Halcyon
My vote is to abolish the electoral college. Whats yours? |
I like the EC. It provides a regional check against direct democracy.
The Senate is also operated on the same principle BTW. I also support the existence of the Senate. |
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| johnsonrod |
Quote: Originally posted by twaticus
I never understood the electoral college. Seems like a travesty to me.
Also, the whole 2 party system is a travesty. That's how someone like a Jesse Ventura gets into office when a majority of the people voted for someone else. Need to have runoffs until someone gets more than 50% of the vote. |
There are many types of democratic process. I took a class in college that only dealt with comparative democratic processes. Fun Stuff.
Louisiana forces runoffs like you suggested. I think it is the only state that does it that way. |
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| Halcyon |
Quote: Originally posted by johnsonrod
I like the EC. It provides a regional check against direct democracy.
The Senate is also operated on the same principle BTW. I also support the existence of the Senate. |
Edit: Delete |
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