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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsObama - Won't say it's time to dump the Electoral College
Last edited Fri Dec 16, 2016, 08:22 PM - Edit history (1)
A good man. But the wrong man for our time.
He says that when Democrats' message is strong and speaks to where the people are, the popular vote and the Electoral College vote will tend to align.
Feckless.
We have needed/need a fighter, not someone who is the perennial optimist.
We need another FDR.
pangaia
(24,324 posts)Too late for now..... if ever....
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)when there was a somewhat different vision of how the federal government should work, which to me sounded like he thinks it should be revisited. He was also correct in stating that most of the time the electoral and popular votes do align. And he also knows that changing or eliminating the electoral college would require a constitutional amendment, which just isn't gonna happen.
TheDormouse
(1,168 posts)He could have gone on from there to say that the Founders intended for the Constitution to be amended from time to time and we have reached such a moment, as happened with the Amendments that extended voting rights to former slaves and to women, and that provided for direct popular election of Senators.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)TheDormouse
(1,168 posts)that we need a leader who would say "And I am going to do everything I can going forward to fix this."
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)with no more power than you or I have. He might get involved in politics again, or he might not. There are other people who are or will be in leadership positions, and those are the ones who need to hear from us.
TheDormouse
(1,168 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)Especially about a true statement.
TheDormouse
(1,168 posts)Every generation has gotten an Amendment.
Except for Gen X.
There hasn't been a new one in a quarter-century.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(116,003 posts)An amendment to eliminate the electoral college would be even floppier because there are many states, mostly red states in the south and the plains, that benefit from the unevenly-allocated votes they got. They will not want to give up that power. A proposed amendment must be ratified by either: the legislatures of 3/4 of the states, or state ratifying conventions in 3/4 of the states. That's 38 states. No way in hell would such an amendment be approved by 38 states when so many of them benefit from the current arrangement.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Yours is what's known as "moving the goalposts."
spanone
(135,950 posts)TexasProgresive
(12,165 posts)The only way to get rid of the EC is for a large majority in nearly every state to oppose it, i.e. the amendment against prohibition of alcohol sales. FDR couldn't have done it.
MineralMan
(146,351 posts)Obama is the President. You want to change the Constitution? Start a movement to do that. Our President took an oath to defend it. I remember when he did that - twice.
TheFrenchRazor
(2,116 posts)citizens are well within their rights to push for change; obama could defend that. there is no such thing as "settled law,: as they say.
TheDormouse
(1,168 posts)LanternWaste
(37,748 posts)Revisionist history of President Obama starting already? If you're predicating your little "wrong for our time" crap on one instance (not disavowing the EC), then remain true to your own convictions instead of waffling on ethical convenience, and denounce FDR as wrong for his time as well... internment camps, you see, are un-American.
Or simply rationalize what you need, when you need and where you need it... bias can do that to a mind lacking objectivity and discipline.
TheFrenchRazor
(2,116 posts)etherealtruth
(22,165 posts)I do not, as I believe in one person one vote .... merely pointing out that there are a number of people reporting to be progressives/ liberals/ democrats that cling to the EC
ananda
(28,914 posts)This is a hard nut to swallow.
Very hard.
I cried for our nation and our vulnerable people after his speech.
It really hit home that no one will be there to fight for us.