GOP battle plan: If you can’t compete, cheat
Taking its cue from the likes of Lance Armstrong, dozens of Atlanta Public School teachers and Bernie Madoff, the Republican Party is embracing a bold new solution to its political problems:
If you can’t compete, cheat.
And cheat big.
In Virginia, for example, Barack Obama has carried the state and its 13 electoral votes in the last two elections, becoming the first Democrat to carry the state back-to-back since Franklin Roosevelt. But rather than work harder to win back the state, or adopt policies more relevant to the needs of its voters, Republicans are advancing another solution.
Under a bill passed out of a state Senate subcommittee this week, Virginia would no longer award its electoral votes to the candidate who won the most votes. Instead, the state’s electoral votes would be allocated by congressional district, which are heavily gerrymandered to favor the GOP.*
Had the bill been law in November, Barack Obama would have been awarded just four of the state’s 13 electoral votes, even though he carried the state.
Mitt Romney, who lost the state, would have won nine electoral votes, more than twice as many as the winner. As one observer put it, Virginia is in the process of moving from a winner-takes-all system to a loser-takes-most system.
The bill now moves to a Senate committee, where Republicans hold a 10-5 advantage. It would then be voted on by the entire Senate, which is split 20-20 between the parties. A tie would be broken by the lieutenant governor, a Republican. Republicans control the Virginia House and governor’s office.
But as one GOP senator assured the Richmond Times-Dispatch, “There’s no partisan ax to grind here.”
Presumably, there is also no partisan ax-grinding underway in five other large states won by Obama, where Republicans are pushing similar legislation.
The scheme is so blatant in its election-stealing intent that it has pushed Larry Sabato, the well-known and nonpartisan elections expert at the University of Virginia, to condemn it in unusually harsh terms. The plan is “a corrupt and cynical maneuver to frustrate popular will and put a heavy thumb — the whole hand, in fact — on the scale for future Republican candidates.”
(BTW, the sheer gall of this effort adds credence to Democratic claims that the GOP has been trying to game the system in other ways, such as restricting access to the ballot box.)
The Republican Party faces a choice, Sabato writes. It can choose the Reaganesque, optimistic approach, “convinced that it can win the future by embracing it.” Or it can turn to a Nixonian attitude in which “it sees enemies everywhere, feels overwhelmed by electoral trends, and thinks it can win only by cheating, by subverting the system and stacking the deck in its favor.”
Sabato also cites the work of a colleague and fellow political scientist, Alan Abramovitz of Emory University, who has studied the potential impact of the GOP scheme. As Abramovitz notes, Obama won the popular vote, and thus the electoral votes, in Virginia, Ohio, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida and Wisconsin. In all six states, Republicans are eying passage of some version of the Virginia plan.
Had it been in place in 2012, Abramovitz concludes, the Virginia plan would have given Obama just 45 electoral votes in those states, while Romney would have reaped 61. And again, Obama carried all six states.
Abramovitz writes:
“Under current circumstances, the congressional district system could well result in a Republican victory even if the Democratic candidate were to win the popular vote by a substantial margin. Such a situation would undoubtedly lead to widespread questioning of the legitimacy of the election and, potentially, a public backlash against the victorious Republican candidate and the GOP itself. Before engaging in a cynical attempt to rig the electoral system, Republican leaders and strategists should consider the potential harm that their actions could do to our democratic form of government and to their own party.”
Once upon a time, such a scheme would have been unthinkable. Once upon a time, no major political party would have dared to be associated with it, because the bald-faced thievery is too obvious. Even Nixon would be appalled at the shamelessness of it all.
But in these times, Republican National Chairman Reince Priebus has publicly endorsed the election-stealing plan. “I think it’s something that a lot of states that have been consistently blue that are fully controlled red ought to be looking at,” he said this month.
Such is the desperation and moral bankruptcy of the party that he leads.
—-
*On Monday, Senate Republicans in Virginia took advantage of the fact that a Democratic colleague — a well-respected veteran of the civil rights movement — had traveled to Washington to attend the inauguration and for MLK Day observances. In his absence, they rushed through a surprise bill redrawing the state’s districts once again, to squeeze still further advantage from the system.
– Jay Bookman
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443 comments Add your comment
stands for decibels
January 25th, 2013
11:01 am
you clearly are spinning this as if it is a stated national strategy of the GOP when it is not.
Similar movements are afoot in PA, WI, & MI. It would directly impact the national presidential elecitons. Of course it is national strategy of the GOP.
As for “stated,” just how explicit does it have to be? the RNC chairman saying “we are going to impose an anti-democratic solution to cling to the possibility of winning the Presidential election in 2016?” and throw in a few Snidely Whiplashesque “mwah ha ha”s in for good measure?
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:01 am
gerrymandering based on past voting patterns to favor one party or group should be against the law. and congress has the power under the constitution to make it against the law.
williebkind
January 25th, 2013
11:01 am
“Under a bill passed out of a state Senate subcommittee this week, Virginia would no longer award its electoral votes to the candidate who won the most votes. Instead, the state’s electoral votes would be allocated by congressional district”
That is the way the electoral vote should be allocated if not Ca, NY, Oh,Mi, and Wi and a couple of more states who always vote democratic by majority vote disenfranchises millions of voters who do not. The election could be won by handful of votes and the state awards all the electoral votes to the one person. The other voters might as well stayed at home. Taxation without representation to some extent.
“The Electoral College gives a numeric advantage in the election of the president to the smaller states, as the minimum number of electors for the small states is three compared to one for the election of representatives. On the other hand, the winner-take-all method of voting favors the larger states. A number of constitutional amendments have been proposed seeking to alter the Electoral College or replace it with a direct popular vote.”
I guess the big states want to control who becomes president.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:02 am
VIVIAN HUNT
January 25th, 2013
10:58 am
What is seen as “cheating” in our two party system is all about timing. If the DEMS were reeling, you can’t convince me that all the liberals would not be actively pursuing similar strategies.
The pros and cons of electoral system as is can equally suit whichever party has an immediate opportunity to improve its political positioning.
stands for decibels
January 25th, 2013
11:03 am
…oh, left out OH & FL, @ 11.01. My bad.
TBS
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
godless
What is the Pink Pony?
Goldie
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
GOP = lyin’, cheatin’ Stalinistas!
Atlanta Native
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
Democrats love to tell Americans how the Democrat Party has always been on the side of black-Americans and other minorities. But that’a the big lie! It was something that Democrats learned to do early on. It has been the Democrat Party method of operating for years. It is their political philosophy. To get votes, or money, or favors, make promises with no intention of fullfilling them. Then reneg on those promises with lame excuses. It’s the way they have operated for well over a 100 years – with no change in sight. The Republican Party oversaw the saving of the union, the end of slavery, and enabled the provision of equal rights to all men.
Dr. James R. Pannozzi DOM
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
These actions represent a grave threat to our democracy and the disenfranchisment, districting tricks and other Republican tricks of voter suppression or bypass must be stopped.
The FIRST step is to ELIMINATE that obsolete throwback to the era in which most voters were landowners who held slaves and women could not even vote – the “Electoral” College.
With that gone, this particular Republican subversion of our government will be stopped for all states.
The philosophy of “heads we win, tails YOU lose” which is the Republicans’ idea of “capitalism” (sic)
cannot and will not be allowed to be carried over into our government as well. They have done enough damage already. It is time to take over our government AND our economy from whatever it is that has and is holding them hostage to their mixed up half truthed doctrinaire ideas.
OWS is another valuable step, we’ll here MORE from them soon.
gadem also known as Benghazi
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
Republicans are insane in the membrane. To think like them must be a genetic defect….
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/24/new-mexico-abortion-bill_n_2541894.html
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
CHEAT! There is no cheating if you can get away with it….. just ask Obama.
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
the scous could rule that gerrymandering violates equal representation. not sure they would want to take it up, but believe theyhave the power to
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:07 am
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:01 am
Won’t happen anymore than the NFL or NCAA eliminating the onsides kick or punt block strategies..
The issue is much more complicated than the predictable CONS v LIBS crap. Any of us who put partisan blinders on, could convincingly argue either side of the issue effectively. Unfortunately, then the CONS v LIBS shades are strapped on and each plays it in the fashion that benefits their side…
Doggone/GA
January 25th, 2013
11:07 am
“Democrats love to tell Americans how the Democrat Party has always been on the side of black-Americans and other minorities”
When you have to lie to make your point, you have no point
Erwin's cat
January 25th, 2013
11:07 am
I do recall many here in GA on this blog many a lib complaining that their vote didn’t count and the EC should be abolished or distributed by popular vote…but if the R’s takes action to the same end…its “cheating”
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 25th, 2013
11:07 am
The Republican party is in its Death throws.
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:09 am
dr. j – that’s agood idea but would take an amendment to the consitution. and that would be hard to do and take time. but agree it should be done. direct natioan popular vote to elect the president.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:09 am
Why are the Repubs in charge in Georgia? Because the voters got tired of KING Roy’s CHEATING.
TJ
January 25th, 2013
11:09 am
Yep Jay…bout time pubs did so. Dems and in particular this regime have been taking short cuts for years, so what’s good for the goose etc is way overdue.
DownInAlbany
January 25th, 2013
11:09 am
Well, this subject has about run it’s course, which as usual, didn’t take but about 15 minutes….so at the risk of hijacking the blog…
Court: Obama appointments are unconstitutional
Published January 25, 2013
Associated Press
WASHINGTON – A federal appeals court has ruled that President Obama violated the Constitution when he bypassed the Senate to fill vacancies on a labor relations panel.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit says Obama did not have the power to make recess appointments earlier this year to the National Labor Relations Board.
Obama claims he acted properly because the Senate was away for the holidays. But the court says the Senate technically stayed in session when lawmakers gaveled in and out every few days for so-called “pro forma” sessions.
GOP lawmakers used the tactic specifically to prevent Obama from using his recess power to fill vacancies in an agency they claimed was too pro-union.
The Obama administration is expected to appeal the decision to the Supreme Court.
No freakin’ way. Obama doing something unconstitutional? Well, I don’t believe it!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 25th, 2013
11:10 am
There’s part of the problem. The extreme wingnuts are so convinced, without evidence, of their various stupidity conspiracies that they can convince themselves that “cheating” is a good thing. The party of the birthers, hookers, faux newsers, dittoheads, deniers and teabaggers are willing to deceive themselves rather than put forth ideas that win the American voter.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 25th, 2013
11:10 am
I do recall many here in GA on this blog many a lib complaining that their vote didn’t count and the EC should be abolished or distributed by popular vote…but if the R’s takes action to the same end…its “cheating”
I agree just go to popular vote.
The country is center left and moving to the left anyways.
Democrats have won popular vote 5 of the last 6 ( Gore got two million more votes than W )
If we would have had it that way in 2000 the country would have been spared the disaster that was W’s presidency.
The Republicans cannot and probably will never again win a national election.
So give them what they want. Just go to popular vote.
williebkind
January 25th, 2013
11:11 am
“What’s ridiculous is that you apparently want one rural voter to count more than one urban voter does.”
Electoral votes should be awarded by districts as intended not by each vote.
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:11 am
stevie – maybe everyone should take off the blinders and think about the good of the country. that kind of thinking helpds us in the long run.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:12 am
Dr. James R. Pannozzi DOM
January 25th, 2013
11:05 am
Wow, great strategy…eliminate the party you don’t favor. Thats simply brilliant. Uncharacteristic of a scientist who I’d think would consider pros and cons before popping off. Slaves and women…you realize the electoral college actually enhances the status of minority voters.
yuzeyurbrane
January 25th, 2013
11:13 am
I disagree with Jay’s opinion re Nixon. I think he would give that little sneaky smile of admiration. You have to remember that his top aids were schooled on dirty tricks they learned stealing college student govt. elections. It was all just a kind of funny big game to them which they carried to the national scene. That amoral ethos still has a backing in part of the GOP, which is why many folks doubt their sincere commitment to democracy.
Now, as to their latest scheme, their motive is transparent. Power by any means. I will concede however that the electoral college is archaic and has led us at times to undemocratic results. One man one vote remains the best solution. But a Congressional District based system could be an improvement if: 1) Districts were not gerrymandered, and, 2) all states had to abide by the same rules. But that is not what Reince (what sort of tattletale name is that?) is pushing.
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:14 am
stevie – and why would anyone want to eliminate onsides kicks. I would have them kick off from the fit-fty to encourage more onsides kicks. good free for alls help the game better than kick off returns
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:14 am
Nothing new under the sun. The Dems are arrogant and self sure that the Repub party is dead. Same death sentence was pronounced on the Dem party when Jammy Codder was crushed in a landslide. These politicians are like roaches under the door – you can call the Orkin man but they will be BACK!
Keep Up the Good Fight!
January 25th, 2013
11:15 am
There’s part of the problem. The extreme wingnuts are so convinced, without evidence, of their various stupidity conspiracies that they can convince themselves that “cheating” is a good thing. The party of the birthers, hookers, faux newsers, dittoheads, deniers and teawhiners are willing to deceive themselves rather than put forth ideas that win the American voter.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:17 am
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:11 am
Yeah, thats my basic philosophy re politics. Since our interests are subordinated to re-election cash and private money, it won’t happen in our lifetimes. Remove the private cash..now that would be worth Constitutional amendment…
Our government is failing us more and more each year. Dysfunction only results in dysfunctional outcomes. Just look at the utterly ineffective political hand jive re gun control…won’t make a single person, certainly not kids in school safer. Look at the debt situation….on the surface, sometimes things are exactly what they appear..they do nothing well except polarize folks..
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:18 am
Congress has been cheating for decades. they colluded to raid the Social Security System to pay for other SOCIALISTS social big spending programs. IOU’s won’t pay the bills. Social Security is the largest Ponzi scheme in history.
MiltonMan
January 25th, 2013
11:19 am
“If we would have had it that way in 2000 the country would have been spared the disaster that was W’s presidency”
Yes, Gore would have been such a better president. All of us would be out hugging trees & adopting polar bears. Heck if Owl Gore would have won his home state of Tennessee – the popular vs. electoral vote would have never even been an issue.
stands for decibels
January 25th, 2013
11:19 am
I keep thinking what kind of blowback there’ll be in those states where the GOP is pulling this crap. I would like to think that general-election voters, the kind who are more likely to sit out mid-terms and who meekly accept what goes on with Congressional races and districting issues because it’s all kind of over-their-heads and/or off their radar — those people are going to be pretty pissed.
Whether this innately apathetic group will actually do anything about it–support recall/referenda that could correct the problem, etc–remains to be seen.
Orphic
January 25th, 2013
11:19 am
Awesome move.
GOP wants to put a shotgun to their face and pull the trigger, I fully support the move. Good riddance.
Will be a grand time to sit back and watch them shred each other to bits in true white american privileged wealthy christian charity when “the people” decide they don’t want to be screwed out of their vote.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 25th, 2013
11:19 am
The Dems are arrogant and self sure that the Repub party is dead
It is.
Unless they reform and move to the left.
Problem is they are doubling down on crazy.
Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Michelle Bachman, Sarah Palin, Rand Paul.
Every time they open their mouths the Democrats win votes.
The country is becoming more progressive and liberal.
If the Republicans insist on heading the other way they have ZERO chance.
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:20 am
I have to disagree on the cheating label. using the laws to you benefit is not cheating. laws should be changed if people think they bring unjust results. bad laws should be changed.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:20 am
Party of Hookers? Would that be the Slick Willie Party where business is done under the table?
stands for decibels
January 25th, 2013
11:21 am
Yes, Gore would have been such a better president.
Indeed. If nothing else, there never would have been an Excellent Iraq adventure and scores of thousands of maimed Americans, and trillions of dollars of treasure pissed away in the sand, as a result.
To say nothing of the likelihood that our citizens would be stronger, healthier and wealthier than they are today.
can’t have that. We can’t have nice things.
Cheesy Grits is gone but not forgotten
January 25th, 2013
11:21 am
Yes, Gore would have been such a better president
I agree
Frankly anyone would have been better than Bush.
Fred ™
January 25th, 2013
11:23 am
Jay
January 25th, 2013
9:12 am
Fred, I am forced to agree.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
I derive no pleasure in your agreement. I wish it were otherwise but unfortunately have been slapped in the face so many times by the blatant hypocrisy and lies that I have become very cynical and disillusioned.
I prefer your hopefulness to my cynicism.
clem
January 25th, 2013
11:23 am
even saxby is quitting the repub party
Ben
January 25th, 2013
11:24 am
Two states already do this, others have talked about it. And after every election the Dems lose, some of them talk about doing this or getting rid of the electoral college altogether.
Considering how often I hear from lefties about the importance of making sure everyone can vote, even people who have smartphones and big screen TVs but can’t seem to afford the fee for a driver’s license, you would think they would be ok with more proportional representation.
But it turns out they are just as cynical and hypocritical as they accuse the GOP of being.
Cherokee
January 25th, 2013
11:24 am
“I honestly thought that few conservatives on this blog would try to defend this.
Not a pleasant lesson to be taught otherwise.”
With all due respect Jay – I couldn’t do what you do – I’m not sure why you thought that. With a couple of exceptions, most of the ‘conservatives[\’ who comment here do nothing more than parrot what they’re told by Fox or Rush or Hannity.
“rampant voter fraud’, racial slurs… the list is long and sad.
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:25 am
if the popular vote rule had been in effect, gore would have won and we would not have had the two wars aand the debt problem we have now. I’d say we would be in much better shape all around.
Who Cares?
January 25th, 2013
11:25 am
Thanks again for the bird cage liner, Jay. I can always count on having something in the AJC to be placed where it belongs.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:26 am
DownInAlbany
January 25th, 2013
11:09 am
Now we are making progress. Perhaps we can also get rid of the no account Czars of whatever…
Ronald Reagan Parkway
January 25th, 2013
11:27 am
Does the Civil Rights Act of 1965 apply to the state of Virginia? Can the act prevent Virginia from making those changes?
AmericaShrugged
January 25th, 2013
11:28 am
There’s something fundametally wrong about the party that stole the 1960 presidential election with organized crime connections preaching morality. There’s something wrong abut the party of Bill (I didn’t have sex with that woman) Clinton preaching morality. There’s something wrong about the party of the Daley Chicago machine from whose political loins Obama sprung preaching morality.
When everyone from Jay to Jamvet, who live in a Republican dominated state in a country where the majority of the elected federal government in Washington are Republicans keep talkiong utter nonsense about the demise and impending extinction of the Repuiblican party, the delusions, wshful thinking, and yes stupidity of the liberals becomes apparent. Now just go shopping with your SNAP cards nd let the adults run the country.
Ben
January 25th, 2013
11:29 am
stands: We may not have gone in to Iraq, we still would have had 9/11 and gone in to Afghanistan, the housing crisis would not have been averted but would probably have been even worse, and an even higher percentage of the population would be living on the dole. The rest of the world would still hate us, just as they hate us with Obama as President.
But hey, we’d have a guy who was barely able to graduate with a divinity degree as President. That’s what we really needed, a stupid man in the Oval Office. Whatever you might say about Bush, or I might say about Obama, they are both smart men, We have proof of that for Bush based on SAT scores and college grades. We don’t really have that proof for Obama since he’s refused to release those things, but I will give him the benefit of the doubt.
But Gore? An intellectual moron who talks about stopping global warming while putting far, far, far more carbon into the atmosphere than just about any other single individual in the country. A dumb hypocrite, that’s what we need in office!
stands for decibels
January 25th, 2013
11:30 am
taxby SHEETZ
Common Sense isn't very Common
January 25th, 2013
11:30 am
Global warming? where the hell is it when I need it?
Snow predicted here until 8pm TOMORROW
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:30 am
Cheesy – who made you an expert on politics? Jammy Codder KILLED the Dem Party – the last rights were given for for them after Ronald Reagan crushed Codder in a landslide. Mortgage interest rates were 20% + and unemployment and inflation were through the roof. the Dem Party had an approval rating some where below Pervert Sandusky. they were DEAD……. no heart to beat. That was the prognosis by every EXPERT. It took the Dems years to recover -the Repubs will recover in due time. Meanwhile this is an excellent time for a 3rd Party of FISCAL conservatism to enter. After you go over the FISCAL CLIFF Obama and the Dems will be hated and vilified and will be the scapegoat ’cause the buck stops with Obama.
Donovan
January 25th, 2013
11:30 am
My, my! Judging from the numerous replies from Jay Bookman, he doesn’t appreciate the same shenanigans in politics that the Democrat Party likes to use.
Well, we have listened to all of you cocky Democrats crow about the Republican Party being knuckle dragging Neanderthals who refuse to adapt to the 21st century. How are we doing so far?
I kind of like the idea of being inventive and clever like you “progressives”. You all don’t mind if we share the same ball field, do you? According to Mr. Bookman…you sure do mind.
Stealing elections? We’ve put up with the likes of Harry Reid, Jon Corzine, Al Franken, Al Gore, Joe Biden, Palm Beach county, the MSM, and A.C.O.R.N for years of election antics.
Hey, when you have to roll in the same mud as Democrats you learn tricks and ploys by association. Cheers!
larry
January 25th, 2013
11:30 am
even saxby is quitting the repub party
No i doubt that, he’s just retiring ,not quitting the party.
Now , the Republican primary , as i see it will be Paul Broun vs. Tom Price.
I see maybe Jason Carter being one of the Democrats running for the Senate seat, it will be interesting.
Mad Max
January 25th, 2013
11:31 am
YAY!!!!!!! Another Bookman blog attacking the GOP!!!!! Yellow journalism at its finest. P J O’Rourke recently joked that redistribution is also known as plagiarism in journalistic circles. Pretty funny, yet really sad commentary on the state of today’s media.If there is a chance to sling some mud at the oposing party, by all means let’s do it. That’s the gist of the talking points coming out of the WH. When it comes to facing the tough problems, if you can’t blame the GOP, let’s simply ignore it. Last week Bill Gross analyzed the U.S. economy and pointed out that the CBO,OMB, International Monetary Fund, and the Bank for International Trade Settlements (all non-partisan organizations) agree that the U.S. government is one of the worst offenders globally of spending more than the Govenrment takes in. With public debt at 104.8% of GDP, Gross’ conclusion is that we need to cut spending $1 Trillion per year, not $2 T over 10 years, to balance the budget, Gutting the defense budget is not going to be enough. Entitlement reform is essential. Unfortunately, Obama does not have the abiltiy to put together a coalition strong enough to take on controversial issues and the reality is that he is is more interested in self-perpetuation and control than the long term financial health of the country. The fiscal drag of new taxes and regulatory risk coming out of Washington are the two greatest impediments to coming out of the recession. The burden of Obama’s spending programs and naivete is going to be shouldered by the middle class and their children, not the 1% and big corporations like Obama promised during the campaign. Obama won-. now you have to pay for it.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:31 am
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:25 am
I’m not sure about that. IMO, our over-reaction to 911 would not have changed regardless of who was in office. We did what any christian based government would do, we rain hellfire and destruction on a blind scale to try to make others accept our way of life.
Many high ranking DEMs, including I recall Clinton, favored both at the time. All presidents may say one thing about “defense” capabilities, but the egos always end up wanting to flex…we are seeing the vacuums left in most of those countries are filling with the same ususual suspects…100,000’s dead, trillions wasted.
What if’s are easy when they favor your side.
RAMZAD
January 25th, 2013
11:32 am
These are the people who claim to be patriotic. They are a repugnant mess.
MANGLER
January 25th, 2013
11:33 am
I recall conservatives hating the electoral college just a few months back when they lost. Now that the system is actively being changed to favor them, regardless of and in particularly in spite of the popular vote, they’re suddenly OK with the EC. Hypocrite much?
Joe Hussein Mama
January 25th, 2013
11:33 am
A. Shrugged — “a country where the majority of the elected federal government in Washington are Republicans ”
Despite the fact that Congressional Democrats drew far, far more votes in 2012 than Congressional Republicans did.
Gerrymandering and stacking the deck. It’s all y’all have.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:34 am
AmericaShrugged
January 25th, 2013
11:28 am
Yup. As much as things change, the more they remain the same. It’s the norm for the biggest splash to come from the shallowest of ponds.
Oscar
January 25th, 2013
11:36 am
stvie – could be. hard to predict what might have been.
Tom B
January 25th, 2013
11:37 am
You mean just like the lib running the country? http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/01/25/obama-labor-board_n_2550788.html?utm_hp_ref=politics
I guess you missed that one, Jay, you know, cause you’re all busy and stuff. Not because you are one-sided political hack or anything.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:37 am
Joe Hussein Mama
January 25th, 2013
11:33 am
So if the shoe was on the other foot are you confident you wouldn’t be arguing the converse to support the DEMS? Its a timing thing. The DEMS wouldn’t hesitate to do the same in the same situation.
stands for decibels
January 25th, 2013
11:37 am
oh, and thanks for that fine bit of “Al Gore is fat” rhetoric, Ben.
/headin’ upstairs
ideasbm
January 25th, 2013
11:40 am
Want to talk about Chicago and the Democrats??? How about the Chicao way is to cheat. What the heck does this guy bookman smoke….
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:40 am
stands for decibels
January 25th, 2013
11:21 am
Its wasted breath to suggest you know what would be better or worse if Bush didn’t win. You have no idea what Gores reaction would be to 911 and neither does he.
Joe Hussein Mama
January 25th, 2013
11:42 am
S. Ray — “So if the shoe was on the other foot are you confident you wouldn’t be arguing the converse to support the DEMS? Its a timing thing. The DEMS wouldn’t hesitate to do the same in the same situation.”
Nope. I wouldn’t make the same stoopid assertion as Atlas Shrugged did, even if the situation was reversed.
Frankly, with the sheer amount of aggregate votes nationwide by which Democratic Congressional candidates beat Republican ones, if I were a Republican, I wouldn’t be bragging about my side. I’d be sweating how my side was going to manage to hold onto that majority in two years given that politics, demographics, public opinion and NUMBERS are on the opposition’s side.
St Simons
January 25th, 2013
11:44 am
A. Shrugged — “a country where the majority of the elected federal government in Washington are Republicans ”
me — “a country where the majority of the votes for federal government in Washington went significantly to Democrats ”
oh snap, I don’t think that awesome AM radio talky point turned out
the way you thought it would.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:44 am
Ben – Egore never graduated from Divinity School – he was flunking and dropped out. Politicians don’t usually make good preachers…… just look at the wanna be preacher Jammy Codder as exhibit “A”.
liberalefty
January 25th, 2013
11:46 am
wow
kayaker 71
January 25th, 2013
11:46 am
How can the average Bozo voter understand gerrymandering when many of them don’t even know who the vice president is? That U Tube video of the exit voter outside that polling place in Ohio was most revealing. When asked very simple questions regarding people in very prominent government positions, their knowledge was woefully pathetic. However most knew who Sarah Palin was and that she had received an alleged 150K clothing allowance from the RNC and that also had a pregnant daughter. All courtesy of the main stream media. Most of them could probably name the judges for American Idol but couldn’t tell you who was the Sec of State. And these people breed and vote.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:47 am
Must take exception to someone’s previous opinion. You may not like him but Creflo Dollar is definitely not a liberal.
curious
January 25th, 2013
11:50 am
Anybody object to the popular vote solution?
Eliminate the EC and let everyone’s vote have equal weight.
Stevie Ray..Clowns to the left and Jokers to the right..here I am...
January 25th, 2013
11:50 am
Joe Hussein Mama
January 25th, 2013
11:42 am
It appears the GOP is doing just that. It’s a fine line. I’m concerned that BO’s sheer arrogance will be his downfall in second term. If he leaves office with the deficit as is and the debt at 20 trillion with no evidence of pressing for spending discipline..the GOP will likely flourish..
Funny how it’s generally not what is promised by one party or another, the victor seems to win due the ineptitude of the challenger. Or at least the one who professionally creates the larger amount of unfounded hysteria.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:51 am
Ooooooooooooo Contrare mon ami! We know that Jumpin’ Joe Biden is the Vice Prez of the current administration – we just think he would be better suited on “Saturday Night Live”.
Fred ™
January 25th, 2013
11:51 am
Tom B
January 25th, 2013
11:37 am
You mean just like the lib running the country?
+++++++++++++++++++++
I’m sure that somehow, in your tiny little mind that made sense and you ’scored a point.”
To the rest of us it was just more FOXBOT induced insanity that has nothing to do with the subject being discussed.
DownInAlbany
January 25th, 2013
11:52 am
kayaker 71
January 25th, 2013
11:46 am
KABOOM!
alex
January 25th, 2013
11:52 am
@Cheezy Grits: see above, the dems have supporters that use terms such as “insane in the membrane”, Stalinists”‘”party of hookers’—-with supporters like this ,I’d say we need 2 NEW parties….
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:53 am
Drop the Electoral College and let everyone’s vote have equal weight”. Now that’s a novel idea – vote by weight. I like it!
MiltonMan
January 25th, 2013
11:55 am
“…and trillions of dollars of treasure pissed away in the sand, as a result.”
oh yes, that “evil Bush running up trillions in debt while our man has kept his promise about reducing the deficit by half.”
Tom B
January 25th, 2013
11:56 am
Gee, Fred, you sure told me! rollseyes
How does Obama “cheating” not have anything to do with the subject of “cheating”? Oh, I’m sorry. It’s about cons cheating. I’ll leave you to your fist bumping party.
Fred ™
January 25th, 2013
11:56 am
<i.Ooooooooooooo Contrare mon ami! We know that Jumpin’ Joe Biden is the Vice Prez of the current administration – we just think he would be better suited on “Saturday Night Live”.
Why do you hate Saturday Night Live so much lol?
kayaker 71
January 25th, 2013
11:58 am
Stevie Ray, 11:50,
Logic and creative thought not typical liberal traits. The voters were presented with very good arguments as to why to reject Bozo and his gang of thieves during the last election and he was elected anyway. Spending discipline is not in their vocabulary it seems and a 20 T deficit?….. who cares as long as I get my government check. The ineptitude of the incumbent was as evident as at anytime in my lifetime and they still stuck him back in government housing anyway. It appears that we have changed and not for the better. There was no evidence of pressing for spending discipline and the GOP did not flourish. The libs won anyway. It will take more than failure to change their minds. We have already had a large dose of that and it didn’t seem to matter.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
11:58 am
alex – one new party of USA first and PARTY 2nd should do. That’s why I voted Perot but unfortunately he was telling us the TRUTH about our runaway spending but the voters couldn’t handle the truth.
deegee
January 25th, 2013
11:59 am
“How about hard working, self reliant, responsible patriots who don’t make excuses for their failures.”
Now that’s funny considering the post-mortem that the repubs wrote after the 2012 election. Remember the Obamaphone excuse? The repub playbook now reads, “Don’t refer to yourselves as overly-taxed job creators who are being sucked dry by the 47 percent. Refer to yourselves as hard working, self-reliant patriots.” Looks like somebody got the memo.
lovelyliz
January 25th, 2013
12:00 pm
The neo-cons do it because their version of the Bible tells them to do so
Fred ™
January 25th, 2013
12:01 pm
Tom B
January 25th, 2013
11:56 am
Gee, Fred, you sure told me! rollseyes
How does Obama “cheating” not have anything to do with the subject of “cheating”? Oh, I’m sorry. It’s about cons cheating. I’ll leave you to your fist bumping party.
++++++++++++++
My party is as an INDEPENDENT you silly little man. But as to your silly ass little article? What a load of crap. It’s what they call a straw man argument. Google it and educate yourself.
krimsonpage
January 25th, 2013
12:03 pm
Let them pass these undemocratic laws. The white race is dying out so it makes no difference in the long run. The GOP must change, or become a permanent minority party or simply fade away.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
12:03 pm
Fred (TM applied for) – It’s not so much that I hate “Saturday Night Live” – I just thought that Biden’s true calling is to be a comedian and he will cause less harm there. The only thing for us worse than Obama right now would be Biden in charge……. Lord Please keep Obama in good health!
Fred ™
January 25th, 2013
12:05 pm
curious
January 25th, 2013
11:50 am
Anybody object to the popular vote solution?
Eliminate the EC and let everyone’s vote have equal weight.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
No everyone’s vote wouldn’t have equal weight. The only folks that would count would be those in California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
gadem also known as Benghazi
January 25th, 2013
12:06 pm
“I do not believe in taking away the right of the citizen for sporting, for hunting and so forth, or for home defense. But I do believe that an AK-47, a machine gun, is not a sporting weapon or needed for defense of a home.”
~Ronald Reagan
appleseed
January 25th, 2013
12:06 pm
The old adage “never put all your crabs in one bucket”If so some pharisee will come along and steal crabs and bucket.
kayaker 71
January 25th, 2013
12:07 pm
degree, 11:59,
Your comments are most appropriate until the issue of jobs comes up. Something that Bozo and the gang have not mentioned much about lately. Their jobs taskforce had not met in over a year although our unemployment figures have changed very little in the last two or three years. You liberals demonize the creators and movers and shakers of our society while praising those who won’t lift a finger to help themselves. The Koch Bros employ about 70,000 people throughout the world with good jobs, income security, health care benefits and retirement plans but they are the enemy for supporting a system that allows them to keep doing just what they do best. Talk about screwed up priorities.
What did you expect from AJC/Bookman
January 25th, 2013
12:07 pm
Bookman is a consistent worm. What did you expect?
btull27
January 25th, 2013
12:08 pm
Another topic and another laundry list of opinions proving Democrats and Republicans are IDIOTS. The fact you jump on here daily to say the EXACT SAME THING is pathetic. 25% of the posts are legit and offer a real opinion. The other 75% appear to be coming from a think tank for morons where the object is to try and outwit their opponents with a barrage of insults. Each insult must contain one of the following to obtain a direct hit worth maximum points (neocon, con, lefty, wingnut, liar, libs, Obozo, etc)
Fred ™
January 25th, 2013
12:09 pm
Fred (TM applied for)
Freaking hilarious. I love it. Good job.
Jay
January 25th, 2013
12:10 pm
“No everyone’s vote wouldn’t have equal weight. The only folks that would count would be those in California, Texas, New York, and Florida.
That is simply not true. There is no logical means by which it CAN be true. A vote in Georgia would have exactly the same weight — one, as in 1.0 — as in any other state.
Morality?
January 25th, 2013
12:11 pm
krimsonpage – the “white” race is dieing out. All races are dieing out. That’s why there are more people on the face of the earth today than there were yesterday, last week, last month, last year, last decade, last century and so forth. True evidence we are dieing out! My GAWD – tomorrow we may be all extinct!
deegee
January 25th, 2013
12:14 pm
I think that every household with teenagers, particularly introverted teens with personality disorders, needs a few rifles, handguns and Bushmasters. I think it would lead to better parenting. The consequences of messing up the relationship go sky high when your kid knows how to shoot.
Fred ™
January 25th, 2013
12:15 pm
Jay, 50% of the population lives in 10 States. Give the federal money to those 10 States and viola, instant election.