UPDATE: I have added BoldPACs Petition and also added a link to the “Open Letter to Electors” by the Change.org petitioners. They have promised “actions” every day until the 20th, so keep watching for how you can help. See links section for these updates.
Please rec and share widely. Through the Electoral College, the Founders gave us a way to legitimately stop #trumpthefraud but we must make sure it happens!
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So as much as I find much of what they do “dumb,” I know better than to think there are many in the legislature that are truly stupid. And I am pretty sure Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell have not gotten to where they are without actually being pretty smart (after all, McConnell’s disingenuous treatment of the Obama administration, while not good for the country, has proven politically very smart.
So just where do these two stand should the electoral college elect Trump President in just over a week? Assuming they pass this hurdle they are in a win-win-win scenario.
1) The cabinet is looking very positive from the perspective of right-wing conservatism (not just for the billionaires, but also the “social conservatives”.
2) Trump may or may not play ball with the congress.
3) Trump may or may not prove to be “sincerely dangerous” by even the standards of these “not dumb” legislators.
4) If Trump refuses to play ball (for example decides not to let them eliminate Medicare and/or Social Security;
Or
Proves to be too dangerous to be acceptable;
They have the power to force him to play ball, or eliminate him. The looming possibility of IMPEACHMENT will hang around Trumps neck. He has to play ball or they will be able to impeach him in a heart beat. They have no loyalty to him whatsoever. Same thing if he proves dangerous.
5) Impeaching Trump would be political nirvana for the Republicans. They get to be:
- Saviors of the republic (if he proves dangerous)
- Endorsers of the first “true Republican,” in the eyes of the Tea Party (values) crowd, to ever get close to the white house — Pence.
- Assuming Pence kept Trumps cabinet mostly intact, the rich will do OK as well. Yes, the health insurance industry will probably get screwed badly no matter what, but big Gas/Oil, Pharma, Wall Street, Etc will all do fine.
The Conservative Base will finally get what they want (BS Social conservatism) and the entire middle and lower classes will get screwed worse than ever. Maybe they will wake up?
So yes, Trump is a no-lose scenario for McConnell and Ryan. Ordinarily they would be loyal enough not to Impeach a Republican President, but in this case that could work out best for them.
Therefore it is imperative that the Electoral College not elect Trump!
Everything I have ever understood about the basis for the Electoral College is for it to be a fire-wall in exactly a case such as we have now. Let it prove it exists for good reason!
Please support the following petitions:
1) Change.org Electoral College Petition
2) Flip the 37 site (you can contact individual electors here to ask them the change their votes)
3) MoveOns Petition for the CIA to declassify Russian Election Information to brief the Electoral College
4) BoldPACs petition to Electors
5) Letter published to the Electors in major newspapers
I am certain I got an electoral college petition email in the past week from an actual Democratic politician, but I cannot find the email. PLEASE let me know if you know of other worthy petitions to the EC and I will edit this post.
NOTE: I am not against petitions to ammend individual states rules regarding proportional vs all/nothing electoral college voting. I do not believe the electoral college should be abolished — they exist specifically for a crisis such as Trump. However I will note that the Constitution gives each elector the right to vote for anyone. This is important because some sworn Republican electors may not want to vote for Clinton. I say they should vote for anyone but Trump and I will be happy. Most of the various state rules covering electors have never been tested by the Supreme Court so they have the right to vote for ANYONE!