Posted on 11/23/2007 1:10:00 AM PST by tlb
Backers of a California initiative that could significantly aid the next Republican presidential nominee said today they're still collecting signatures to qualify it for the state's ballot in June.
To qualify the measure, its supporters must obtain signatures from 434,000 registered California voters. So to ensure they reach the required mark, the initiative supporters aim to amass about 700,000 signatures.
The measure calls for California to change the winner-take-all method for its 55 electoral votes -- more than one-fifth of the total needed to win the White House. Instead, the electoral votes would be apportioned based primarily on the outcome of the presidential race in each congressional district.
Virtually every other state uses the winner-take-all approach.
The measure's main financial angel has been Paul Singer, who also is a major money man for Republican Rudy Giuliani's presidential bid. Other prominent Giuliani supporters are playing key roles in pushing the initiative, causing its opponents to file complaints with federal officials charging the Giuliani campaign with masterminding the measure.
That would be a violation of federal election law, and the Giuliani campaign has strongly and consistently denied the allegation.
With odds increasing that the initiative will qualify for the ballot, Chris Lehane, a San Francisco-based Democratic activist leading the campaign to derail it, issued the following statement today:
"The power-grabbers are pursuing a lose-lose-lose strategy: It will lose at the ballot box, where it is polling below 30%; it will be a loser for the Republican Party, as it will brand the GOP as the party of presidential hijackers; and it will be a loser for Rudy Giuliani, whose close connections to the initiative will only further define him as someone who puts the raw, crass pursuit of power before the best interests of the country."
(Excerpt) Read more at latimesblogs.latimes.com ...
More seriously, the article admits "Virtually every other state uses the winner-take-all approach." but without wondering why Chris doesn't worry about the states that do apportion the electoral vote. Somebody should ask him about that.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
I like the general idea of this iniative, but it does need to be a national change...and more refined. Unfortunately every state is saying ‘you first’. Only two states have signed on to this idea.
How can the federal government possibly restrict who can support a state ballot initiative? Would Duncan Hunter be allowed to back this initiative? And if not, then isn't that a direct violation of Hunter's First Amendment right to petition his state government for the redress of grievances?
For that matter, why assume Giuliani is behind this? It would benefit any Republican—conceivably a more conservative candidate than Giuliani might not snag all 19 of California's (R) districts, but there's at least a dozen districts that are as red as Texas. And of all the candidates, doesn't Hunter stand the most to gain from putting California electors in play?
Good question.
But remember, it was the scumbag Democrat liberals and their allies in the press who constantly harped that Reagan's missle defense system ("Star Wars") could never work, not in a million years. But they never explained why the Soviet Union feared such a system "that could never work" so much that it eventually collapsed in bankruptcy in its effort to keep up.
Liberals cannot think linearly. They have chemical imbalances in their brains.
I've heard of other initiatives, but who are the "other states"?
That there is the weenie right there.
Maine and Nebraska. Unlike California, they're smaller, more politically uniform states, and I don't remember ever hearing about such a split vote in a presidential election.
IIRC, Maine had 1 vote for GWB in 2000 and 3 for the Goracle...
That about covers it.
My understanding from a small blurb in the Fresno Daily Insect is that they ALREADY have 700K+ signatures, which is enough to get it on the ballot. They were blaming Darrell Issa for supporting it financially ( GOOD for him!). Isn’t it interesting how just a month or so ago, they were declaring this thing to be dead dead DEAD, I tell you. Can ya smell the fear from here, like I can?
I can't imagine a more accurate description of Clinton, Obama, Edwards, et. al.
http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/2000g/gen00p-c.htm
Neither congressional district went to Bush.
oops...i guess that I did not RC...
Is Chris Lehane the guy who looks like he files his teeth cannibal style?
Because they'd still have to spend lots o' money to defeat it.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
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