The notorious RBG is not a fan of the Electoral College which concerns me. It is one of the few remaining checks that keep our nation a Republic. But while she is not a fan, she is a realist.
Related: Did The Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals Just Save the Electoral College From Meddling Democrats?
“That would require a constitutional amendment and amending our Constitution is powerfully hard to do.”
Damn straight.
We’ve already created more problems than we solved with the 17th amendment. Any Senate candidate we interview better know what that is because I’m going to ask. Would you support repealing it?
It provides for the direct election of US Senators which turned the upper house from one that answers to the people into one that answers to money and lobbyists. I don’t expect it will ever get repealed. It is a machine to turn Senators into millionaires and mere human flesh is far too weak to buck the swamps love affair with this relationship.
But it’s still on the bucket list.
As for the Electoral College, the Left has been moving against it for years. National Popular Vote is looking to convert the popular vote into an electoral win if enough states sign on to get them over 270. The number needed to secure a Presidential victory. We’ve written extensively on why that would erase New Hampshire politically along with all the fun that comes with our First in the Nation Primary.
Democrats in the state want direct democracy more than to know who Granite Stater’s would choose. They’ve proposed a bill to join the compact.
And it all appeared to be doing rather well. But the Tenth Circuit tossed a rather large wrench into their works.
It turns out that no state can force an elector to vote for whom they say. No matter how many agreements they pass or sign. Because of the Constitution!
Momma’s-basement-dwelling mustache-twirling villains shout curses!
You can sign all the compacts you want but you can’t make Electors vote for anyone but whom they decide to choose. It’s in the Constitution.
“Article II and the Twelfth Amendment provide presidential electors the right to cast a vote for President and Vice President with discretion. And the state does not possess countervailing authority to remove an elector and to cancel his vote in response to the exercise of that Constitutional right.”
And as the good Justice notes, “It’s largely a dream because our Constitution is … hard to amend.”
Amen, sister!