Senator Barbara Boxer of California took a “nearly unprecedented” action when W. Bush was re-elected in 2004, in an effort to stop, or at least protest, his becoming President. In doing so, she said she regretted not persuing it when he “won” in 2000, when it would have made more of a difference. Considering our situation today in 2016 vs. 2000, I believe we would be idiots not to use this strategy again.
What was it she did?
She lodged an objection to the electoral votes from Ohio based on voting irregularities in that state (www.sfgate.com/...). It was nicknamed “Boxer’s Rebellion”.
On January 6, 2017, the electoral votes are formally delivered to a joint session of Congress, and the President of the Senate, Vice President Joe Biden, will read them. At that time, one Senator and one Representative may lodge an objection to one or more electoral votes. When this occurs, each body must deliberate separately on the objection and then come together to rule on the objection. If both bodies concur, the electoral votes are rejected. (www.archives.gov/...)
While her objection was not successful in 2004, she stalled the confirmation of Bush’s official re-election by 4 hours and annoyed the Republicans.
Just imagine Trump’s annoyance if this happens to him again, and he again has to face his own illegitimacy?
Over the holiday season, call your Senators and Congresspeople (make sure they got re-elected!) to tell them that you want an objection lodged against the electoral votes in states that Trump narrowly won and which were affected by voter suppression (Crosscheck, polling places), electoral irregularities, or were close enough to swing based on the FBI’s unprecedented actions or the Russian disinformation campaign. Good candidates could be Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Florida, or North Carolina. If you have other ideas or more specific plans, please let me know in the comments.
It is unlikely that this will succeed in tossing one electoral vote, let alone 37. However, throwing debris in his path to the Presidency is a success in itself. It distracts Trump and his team, it forces the Republicans to once again take ownership of what they are about to inflict on America, and it shows the world that we are not taking the rise of an authoritarian regime lying down.
So please, join me in trying to give Trump a belated Christmas present of showing just how ‘unpresidented’ he really is with another Boxer’s Rebellion on January 6, 2017.
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P.S. To the Perpetual Naysayers: There is room for us to be active on multiple fronts. Not all will be successful. We need to act both together and in parallel here. Some are preparing for Trump to take office, like rugbymom, and that’s great! Others, like myself, will be focusing one step at a time along the way. We’ll rejoin forces when the time comes.
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P.P.S. I first alluded to this last night in my post-Electoral College perspective, Onward: www.dailykos.com/...