Robb's vote may not go to Bush (WV Republican Elector)

[tritsofme]

GOP mayor may use Electoral College to lodge protest against president

South Charleston Mayor Richie Robb said today he may vote against George W. Bush in the Electoral College, even if the president carries West Virginia's popular vote.

Robb, long known as a maverick Republican, said he is considering using his position as one of the state's five Republican electors to protest what he believes are misguided policies of the current administration.

"It's not likely that I would vote for Kerry," Robb said. "But I'm looking at what my options are when it comes time to cast my vote."

<SNIP>
http://www.dailymail.com/news/News/2004090817/

[cthrumatrix]

1. my my my .... the troops are breaking ranks on shrubya

[Renew Deal]

2. He's a dead man.

and if not, imagine it goes 269-268 Kerry,

[Walt Starr]

4. In your scenario, Bush wins.

Sorry, but anything short of 270 electoral votes pushes it to the House. Each state gets one vote. The Republicans would control that vote overwhelmingly.

Kerry must get 270 votes to win, all * needs is 269. Them's the rules.

[Renew Deal]

13. I know.

What I mean is imagine the outrage. Kerry wins the poular vote and gets more electoral votes and still loses.

[GiovanniC]

18. I'm Not Doubting This

But can you show me where that rule is? I always assumed that it was whoever got a majority of electoral votes. I know how ties work, but in this case I would've thought a 269 Kerry 268 Bush electoral vote would be considered a Kerry victory. I'm just trying to find the place where it says 270 is essential even if 269 is a majority.

[Yuna]

27. Amendment XII

"the person having the greatest number of votes for President, shall be the President, if such number be a majority of the whole number of electors appointed; and if no person have such majority, then from the persons having the highest numbers not exceeding three on the list of those voted for as President, the House of Representatives shall choose immediately, by ballot, the President."

[yellowcanine]

6. Imagine if it goes 270-268 Kerry. All hell would break loose.

Chances are there will be much arm twisting of this gentleman. He should have kept his mouth shut until after the election. Rove is likely to try to have him replaced as an elector before Nov 2.

[shawn703]

36. It sounds like it would go 269-268-1

Since he's not saying he'd vote for Kerry either. But I think if the BFTM new that was going to happen if he didn't cast his vote the right way, they'd make phone calls to make sure he votes as he's told.

[phantom power]

3. I can't think of a quicker way to put an end to the electoral-college

Not that I'd shed any tears, either.

[denverbill]

5. I bet the freepers are up in arms over this one.

After spending the last 4 years extolling the virtues of the EC.

[IndianaGreen]

24. A rogue Elector is not what we need at the present time

Remember that this shit can cut both ways, and one could have a Democratic Elector throwing his vote to Bush, someone like Zell Miller for example. Both major parties have taken pains to screen potential Electors to prevent things like this from happening, which considering how deeply divided our country is, it could lead to civil unrest.

I don't know why our glorious Congress failed to consider a Constitutional Amendment to scrap the Electoral College after the 2000 judicial coup. I can only speculate that the mere existence of the Electoral College guarantees the undemocratic monopoly that the two major parties have on the election process.

[phantom power]

31. It allows candidates to focus on "swing" states.

If we had a true popular vote, then each candidate would have to worry about every voter in every state. In our current "winner-takes-all" electoral system, the candidates can ignore the states that are effectively guaranteed to vote one way or another, and focus their effort and money on the "swing" states.

I think the best way to improve representation of third-party candidates would be either to adopt a parliamentary system (nearly impossible), or to adopt instant-runoff voting (feasible).

[yellowcanine]

7. The way to solve this is to have Kerry win West Virginia.

Then we don't need to hang our hopes on faithless electors. If I remember correctly the 269-269 scenario included Kerry taking WV but I could be wrong - and no doubt there is more than one way to get there, though some are probably more likely than others.

[MountainLaurel]

10. Just might be possible

I've been reading in my hometown paper (I'd provide a link but you have to have a pay subscription. Fuckers.) on a daily basis LTTE trashing Bush for his lies to the American people, his treatment of the troops and veterans, the corruption of his administration, etc. It warms the cockles of my heart.

[Emboldened Chimp]

8. Hmm, is Robb bucking for a job in the Administration?

Looking to strike a deal, eh Richie?

[Zhade]

9. Actually, what I first thought was "trial balloon?"

Is this a way to test the waters for changing electoral votes despite popular vote - say, a popular vote that favors Kerry?

I don't know much about this guy, so I could be way off.

[Catfight]

11. Better get on the clue bus, because November America is going

to scream the message to the world, WE DO NOT CONDONE THE CHENEY/BUSH REGIME!

[onehandle]

12. Freeps not so thrilled...

Post 51 claims to not be a death threat, with a wink.

And this photo:



http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1210228/posts

[Hornito]

14. This is what the NRA, Rush Limpuke, Michael "Weiner" Savage,

et al, have spawned. These violent fascists, nearly all fat neanderthals, will be surprised to find out a number of liberals also support the 2nd Amendment, and are quite willing and able to defend themselves, and our democracy. Count me as one of them.

[fob]

16. Allow me to translate the writing on the baseball cap...

MORAN HERE

[JohnnyCougar]

22. damn

someone should call the seceret service about this one. drag this freeper to jail screaming "my gun rights....my gun rights!!!!"

[Supersedeas]

32. See this IMAGE for a reality check!!!!

Democracy is under attack.

The intergrity of electoral delegates be damned.

[EST]

35. I used your link...

not much joy over there in mudville, is there?

[cosmicone]

15. This won't be necessary

Kerry will get more than 290 EC votes.

[UrbScotty]

34. Hopefully, he'll get even more than that. (nt)

[West Coast Democrat]

17. Is this another one of the b.s. stories like the guy from Arizona...?

the Republican elector who tried to get a bunch of attention by saying he wouldn't vote for Bush* either? His story was b.s. too.

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

20. no, this is HIGHLY credible-i know the guy well

he was a neighbor of my best friend in high school. a very good man. strong on abortion rights, working for election reform, etc. he's not at home with the GOP at all

if you need more proof just check out the charleston gazette's story yesterday on the labor day rally with the unions that willie nelson and jesse jackson organized. robb was a prominant speaker at that one

[Adenoid_Hynkel]

21. his old campaign website

for more info on my favorite republican:
http://www.robb4governor.com/meet_richard.html

if he'd received the nomination, i would have gladly supported him over the rightwing religious nut DINO, Joe Manchin, the the dem. establishment coronated in the primaries

[PROGRESSIVE1]

19. Kick

[leesa]

23. Well, at least part of his pink tutu has come off.

Republicans are such enormous cowards.

[goforit]

25. 1776....is a must for 2004!!!...Hats off to Richie Robb!!!

:bounce:

[Yuna]

26. How is this constitutional?

And I don't mean his change of vote which of course would be.

I'm talking about Article 2 of the constitution

"Each state shall appoint, in such manner as the Legislature thereof may direct, a number of electors, equal to the whole number of Senators and Representatives to which the State may be entitled in the Congress: but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector. "

specifically

"but no Senator or Representative, or person holding an office of trust or profit under the United States, shall be appointed an elector."

So how is a repub elected official an elector?

Oh well - yet another constitutional check on the elite/powerful is removed by the repubs I see.

[S_B_Jackson]

28. Because the elective office that Robb holds isn't under the United States

As the elected mayor of South Charleston, WV, Robb holds office under the auspices of the State of West Virginia.

If Robb were the elected US Senator from WV, or if he were a federal employee - say Post Master for South Charleston, WV - then he would be barred from appointment as an elector.

Nice to see a Repube with a conscience for once...I'm sure they'll drum him out of the party - probably tar & feather him when they do.

[Gore1FL]

29. This guy is going to be swarmed with staffers

they will convince him one way or another to vote witht he salte if that slate is elected.

There was a woman in FL that made the same threat during trhe recount, and all electors from FL voted Bush.

[robcon]

30. This undemocratic and unwise

No matter what happens, the idea that voters, not electors, decise is paramount.

[Zero Gravitas]

33. Just goes to show

what a stupid, useless institution the Electoral College is.