tvashtarkatena

The absolute simplest option is to do what NE and ME have already done - shitcan the winner takes all approach entirely at the state level and apportion electoral votes by district. This is still an imperfect system given the significant population changes that can occur between each 10 year census as compared to a popular vote. It would rectify the inordinate political power currently enjoyed by a few swing states, however.

Federal constitutionality is certainly in question and it would be challenged...nevermind the state level clusterfuck. Gregoire signed it - as a former AG I assume it went through at least a preliminary constitutional review. An analysis: A Constitutional Law Professor Weighs In "The constitutional foundation of NPVIC is Article II, Section 1 of the Constitution, which provides that states shall appoint electors "in such Manner as the Legislature thereof may direct." Advocates of the compact point out that the plain language of this text appears to provide legislators with plenary authority over the method of selecting electors, an interpretation endorsed by the US Supreme Court more than a century ago in McPherson v. Blacker in 1892 and again in 1969, Williams v. Virginia Board of Elections. Like all provisions of the Constitution, however, this section must be read in context and in conjunction with other provisions of the Constitution. The principal constitutional impediment to NPVIC probably is the so-called "Compact Clause" in Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution, which provides that "No State shall, without the Consent of Congress ... enter into any Agreement or Compact with another State." Although the US Supreme Court has concluded that the Compact Clause does not require Congress to consent to compacts that affect only the internal affairs of the compacting states, it has indicated in US Steel Corporation v. Multistate Tax Commission that the Compact Clause requires Congress to consent to an agreement that "would enhance the political power of the member States in a way that encroaches upon the supremacy of the United States," or "impairs the sovereign rights of non-member states." There's more in the article.

The GOP opposes any change to the current electoral college system, presumably because: 1) The electoral college was created so conservative slave owners would garner more representation, their black charges equaling 1/3 of a person. The link between modern conservatism and the movement of that time remains unbroken, if somewhat altered, based on the striking similarity of both rhetoric and political maps. 2) The national popular vote difficult to game. The GOP has been involved in various forms of voter suppression from the very beginning. Such programs, whether illegal (poll watchers telling blacks they've got to pay their rent before voting - OH, 2000) or 'legal' - the new voter ID requirements that accept IDs from groups that typically vote conservative - concealed weapons licenses, but deny IDs from groups that do not - student IDs. 3) Registered Democrats have outnumbered Rs in recent times: there. Ltards, Rfucks, Loons since 1990 Interestingly, the growth in independents indicates that a 3rd party is possible, but building that infrastructure and herding those cats would be no small task.

Or eight tracks. Those were so fkn kewl.

No, diagnosis rates haven't gone up more than 10 fold. The increase is due to better diagnosis. States with vigorous programs have higher autism rates. "What we're looking at is mostly due to practices and infrastructure and culture rather than some underlying biological phenomenon," said Dr. Daniel Geschwind, an autism expert at UCLA, explaining the patterns." FYI: there aren't more extra solar planets than there were 20 years ago, either, so that rules that out as a cause for autism.

I suspected the GOP Platform might oppose vote by mail (because it prevents voter suppression - their favorite game and provides the greatest access to all voters - not good for a party that's chronically outnumbered) and lo, it does: "States or political subdivisions that use all-mail elections cannot ensure the integrity of the ballot."

One more reason to support it: "We oppose the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact or any other scheme to abolish or distort the procedures of the Electoral College. We recognize that an unconstitutional effort to impose “national popular vote” would be a mortal threat to our federal system and a guarantee of corruption as every ballot box in every state would become a chance to steal the presidency." 2012 GOP Platform Watch out for those evil ballot boxes! Voter suppression, anyone?

Voting is managed at the state level, so recounts would still happen at the state level. A national recount would never be necessary. Only an electoral vote count of 270 is required for the new system to take effect, so not all states need sign on. Remember, its based on the national, not state level popular vote. Right now the count is 132 -so 138 more are needed. MI, TX, NY, IN and a handful of non-swing southern states would do it - no swing state required.

A simple fix to an antiquated, unfair system - without a constitutional amendment. States would assign electoral votes based on the national popular vote: National Popular Vote Plan

No autoz, so no autizm back den!

Ah lernt me inna MBA skew dat risk 'nalasys gotz two factuhz - prob'bilteh uv o-ccurance tahmes harm of outcome, not jus da fiost one - so not gettin' yo kidz vaccnated gainst deadly germs dat could kill dem n spread to othuhz seem lahk a bad idee to me! Nah, 'f yoo'll 'xuze me, Ah gotz me sum noodlin' ta do.

Ah do loves me sum channel cat!

Viagra may have found its new spokesman.

Back to cancer prevention: The best way to minimize the risk of the most common cancer is to have a penis. The best way to eliminate the risk of the second most common cancer is to do the opposite. Death from either eliminates the risk of vaccine complications, so there's that.

Bipolar's more common than you might think.

Bugs is totally smarter than Mighty Mouse.

Well, that saved me a googlez. How does one type and flap one's arms simultaneously? I'm guessing two little keyboards and a lot of duct tape. There's genius in that.

Kind of funny how all those lazy Democratic governors are ready for Obamacare - and planning their own state level health exchanges (a huge amount of extra work) while those hard working Republican governors are either a) just taking whatever the feds come up with or b) asking for more time and "need more questions answered". HARD WORK, PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY.

Mitt could have upped that ante by designating all of Mars a National Park.

Mittenz explains defeat with characteristic circumspection and grace: "The Obama campaign was following the old playbook of giving a lot of stuff to groups that they hoped they could get to vote for them and be motivated to go out to the polls, specifically the African American community, the Hispanic community and young people," Romney told hundreds of donors during a telephone town hall Wednesday. "In each case they were very generous in what they gave to those groups." Be not sorrowful, my Little Brown Children, the Great White Father has not forgotten you!

Not to mention the I 502 Bridge!

You'd never be able to afford the pot sniffing border dogs, Oregon! Bridge of the Dogs, indeed!

I never realized just how badly Rush sucked until I started cutting and pasting their lyrics.

Well, I see you standin' there With your finger in the air Everything we do, you wanna leave it up to you Who do you think you are? You think you are a star? Tryin' to run the town Always tryin' to put us down Well, you think that you're right You think you're out of sight Tell me something, mister Why'd you have to make us so uptight? Well, you say you've been tryin' You know that you're lyin' I think you need some groovin' Who do you think you're foolin', now? Well, you better start changin' Your life needs rearrangin' You better do some talkin' Or you better do some walkin' now

CROSS POST ALERT! Small wonder why Rfucks consume so much of their own bullshit. They don't even know what it is anymore: "We will strongly enforce anti-discrimination statutes and ask all to join us in rejecting the forces of hatred and bigotry." "...Congressional Republicans took the lead in enacting the Defense of Marriage Act, affirming the right of States and the federal government not to recognize same-sex relationships licensed in other jurisdictions." 2012 GOP Platform