Posted on 10/11/2011 5:43:11 PM PDT by Kaslin
Republicans supposedly revere the Constitution, but in its birthplace, Pennsylvania, they are contemplating a subversion of the Framers' institutional architecture. Their ploy — partisanship masquerading as altruism about making presidential elections more "democratic" — will weaken resistance to an even worse change being suggested.
Pennsylvania's GOP-controlled Legislature may pass, and the Republican governor promises to sign, legislation ending the state's practice — shared by 47 other states — of allocating all of its electoral votes to the candidate who wins the statewide popular vote.
Pennsylvania would join Maine and Nebraska in allocating one vote to the winner in each congressional district, with the two remaining votes going to the statewide popular vote winner.
The 2012 GOP candidate might lose the statewide vote but carry, say, nine of the 18 congressional districts, cutting Barack Obama's yield to 11 electoral votes. But if the Republican candidate carries nine of Pennsylvania's 18 districts, and the statewide vote — Obama's Pennsylvania poll numbers are poor — Republicans will have cost themselves nine electoral votes, which would be condign punishment.
Not since 1988 has a Republican carried Pennsylvania, a state described as Philadelphia in the east, Pittsburgh in the west and Alabama in between. Incongruous political cultures coexist in many states, so the temptation to which the Pennsylvania GOP may succumb could become a national contagion.
(Excerpt) Read more at investors.com ...
This is a good initiative, entirely consistent with the electoral college, and exactly the opposite direction of the preposterous NPV deal.
When did the left ever propose this?
It is hard to believe anyone who is sworn to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States would even consider this.
Where is the conflict with the Constitution?
I have a hard time believing you've given this a moment's thought.
PA has been a blue state for a long time. Unless there has been a sudden sea-change that has made it more conservative, odds are that if we win PA, we’ll have also won Ohio, Florida, Iowa, etc., and so we won’t need the extra votes.
It might also help the residents get their voice heard if the candidates stop by the swing districts.
If there’s anything in the Constitution or in the record of the debates at the Constitutional Convention that in any way suggests that apportioning electors from a State in proportion to that State’s popular vote, or in proportion to the number of Congressional districts where each candidate won the popular vote in the district, I have been unable to find it.
In fact, it seems quite clear that the Framers intened to give the legislature of each State full and non-reviewable power to select Presidential electors in any manner they see fit.
Once upon a time, I was told Pittsburgh has more lawyers per capita than anywhere except DC. Not sure if that’s true, but considering how sh*t gets done around here, it wouldn’t surprise me.
It depends. Quite often the small states have been noise and the easiest route to a majority was to concentrate on the large states. In recent years smaller states have had an advantage. I would say if PA goes this route it will lose influence. Out of 18 seats maybe 3 or 4 are tossups. However I would say there is a good chance a Republican could win statewide in ‘12 - so it could work against the GOP this time out.
It pays to eat well I suppose.
They also had the "Rotten Borough" system, and bribery was common.
Still, Britain's Parliament had set an example of allowing the broadest of representative structures.
That's just one of the reasons the Founders left it to the states to decide the who's and what's.
1789 & 1792 - Washington carried every state. VP vote split.
MD split votes 1796, 1800, 1804, 1808, 1812
PA split votes 1796, 1800
VA split votes 1796,
NC split votes 1796, 1800, 1808
NY split votes 1808
1816 first time every state was WTA. Even then it was not by statute but coincidence.
And NOW the self-proclaimed Republican Party Leadership in NEBRASKA want to go to Winner-take-All!
These kinds of acts always come back to haunt the manipulators.
"If there’s anything in the Constitution or in the record of the debates at the Constitutional Convention that in any way suggests that apportioning electors from a State in proportion to that State’s popular vote, or in proportion to the number of Congressional districts where each candidate won the popular vote in the district, was contradictory to the intent of the Framers, I have been unable to find it."
Sorry for any confusion.
The constitution does not dictate how states assign their electoral college votes. This may be stupid, but is hardly unconstitutional.
“What we will eventually amend ourselves into is a pure democracy, or rule by the mob.”
As an aside, is this not exactly how the Swiss govern themselves?
They seem to do a fairly decent job by that method.
Given the way that _Washington_ has been “governing” (and trending) the past 25-30 years, I’m wondering if I’d actually _prefer_ “rule by the mob”.
Kind of like the famous quote which I believe can be attributed to William F. Buckley. He said something to the effect that he would prefer to be governed by the first 535 names from the Boston phone directory, than by the members of Congress.
If that makes any sense at all, what difference whether it’s the “first 535 names”, or ALL of us?
By the way, George Will is completely wrong in his essay. If anything subverts the intent of the Electoral College, it is the lopsided “winner take all” contests from states like California, New York and Pennsylvania. The throngs from the cities overwhelm and make mute the political voices of those from the rest of those states.
Pennsylvania Republicans are wise to push for “the Maine electoral solution” for their state. I hope they get it done.
Just sayin’’....
With all due respect to the author, this is not correct. First of all, the Constitution only sets forth the amount of Electors per state and says the method for which they are allocated is up to the state legislatures. Second, this is practice that has been in place since very first election by some states and changed over time. Many states for many presidential elections had all Electors appointed by the state legislature and there was no popular vote.
Now, that doesn't mean this is a good idea, and it's fine for him to have an opinion that it is not, but there is nothing unconstitutional or unprecendented about it - in fact this has been done since the first election. Personally have an issue with it as it would make Electoral votes also subject to gerrymandering.
With all due respect to the author, this is not correct. First of all, the Constitution only sets forth the amount of Electors per state and says the method for which they are allocated is up to the state legislatures. Second, this is practice that has been in place since very first election by some states and changed over time. Many states for many presidential elections had all Electors appointed by the state legislature and there was no popular vote.
Now, that doesn't mean this is a good idea, and it's fine for him to have an opinion that it is not, but there is nothing unconstitutional or unprecendented about it - in fact this has been done since the first election. Personally have an issue with it as it would make Electoral votes also subject to gerrymandering.
it isn't a good idea, it is a great idea.
We are not attention whores like Iowa and New Hampshire. Many of our smaller and mid-sized cities are very nice communities and good representations of middle America. We're damn tired of having the Philadelphia tail wag the Pennsylvania dog.
George Will is due no respect. He's the token conservative for the inside the beltway crowd. He writes better about baseball than politics.
His constitutional ignorance is very much on display here. That's exactly why he is the token conservative for the inside the beltway crowd.
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