So who do you like for President? (Obviously, a political thread!)

[Flick James]

I think Cain is able.

The jokes are very high-brow lately. Cain is "Abel?" Very good, sir. Very good.

[Psycho Circus]

Hmm, President Newt Gingrich. That has a good ring to it... 

[tracy]

That would mean that New York, Texas, and California would pretty much choose every President.  I'm a Texan, but I still don't like that idea.  I'm a big believer in Federalism, and the Electoral College was made to reflect that - to give smaller states at least something of a voice beyond their population.  

That being said, if we did not change the electoral system after the boondoggle in 2000, I don't think we ever will.

Also, to be perfectly honest, I do believe there is such a thing as too much democracy. We are, after all, a Republic.  If it were not prone to such vile manipulation by both sides, I would still favor a literacy test for voters.  I mean, do we really want someone who CAN'T EVEN READ to have a voice in choosing the leader of the free world?  The less stupid people go to the polls, the more intelligent the eventual choice becomes.

Well,then....maybe they could give each state the exact same  number of electorial votes to prevent such a problem. Although I think there would be enough states to counter this. The state where my husband is from,Ohio,is actually the 4th most populace state. I'm pretty sure.

[indianasmith]

The debate between large and small states over political power was at the heart of our Constitutional convention.  The smaller populated states did not want a legislators apportioned by population, but wanted an equal voice.  The large states said it was ridiculous for a state with 50k people to  have the same voice as a state with 500k people.  So they split the difference and created a proportional House of Representatives, and a Senate where every state has two votes regardless of size.  And the electoral college is based on that same formula.  It's worked pretty well for 220 years, so I'm not ready to discard it yet.

[Flick James]

The debate between large and small states over political power was at the heart of our Constitutional convention.  The smaller populated states did not want a legislators apportioned by population, but wanted an equal voice.  The large states said it was ridiculous for a state with 50k people to  have the same voice as a state with 500k people.  So they split the difference and created a proportional House of Representatives, and a Senate where every state has two votes regardless of size.  And the electoral college is based on that same formula.  It's worked pretty well for 220 years, so I'm not ready to discard it yet.

Oh please. I know that the real reason you don't want to get rid of it is because the popular vote would have made Al Gore president 11 years ago. You can't fool me.

[HappyGilmore]

The debate between large and small states over political power was at the heart of our Constitutional convention.  The smaller populated states did not want a legislators apportioned by population, but wanted an equal voice.  The large states said it was ridiculous for a state with 50k people to  have the same voice as a state with 500k people.  So they split the difference and created a proportional House of Representatives, and a Senate where every state has two votes regardless of size.  And the electoral college is based on that same formula.  It's worked pretty well for 220 years, so I'm not ready to discard it yet.

Oh please. I know that the real reason you don't want to get rid of it is because the popular vote would have made Al Gore president 11 years ago. You can't fool me.

Not for nothing, but damn it, he should've had that.

[HappyGilmore]

Everytime someone brings up voting, it reminds me of this:
Homer Simpson 'votes' for Obama.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1aBaX9GPSaQ

On a side note, I have registered Libertarian.  I'll never see a full on president from my party.  Likely the closest we'll get, in most people's eyes, is however far Ron Paul gets with his Republican Party thing.  He could still run as an Independant.  Eh.  I like a lot of his policies and those of the LP.

[indianasmith]

The debate between large and small states over political power was at the heart of our Constitutional convention.  The smaller populated states did not want a legislators apportioned by population, but wanted an equal voice.  The large states said it was ridiculous for a state with 50k people to  have the same voice as a state with 500k people.  So they split the difference and created a proportional House of Representatives, and a Senate where every state has two votes regardless of size.  And the electoral college is based on that same formula.  It's worked pretty well for 220 years, so I'm not ready to discard it yet.

Oh please. I know that the real reason you don't want to get rid of it is because the popular vote would have made Al Gore president 11 years ago. You can't fool me.

The classic line from HEART OF DARKNESS comes to mind:

"The Horror!! The Horror!!!"

[RCMerchant]

 I think there all salesmen who will lie to get into office to promote their own agenda. Which is usually based on MONEY.
Gimme anarchy.
I dont care if it dont work. But at least I can understand destruction. I LOVE destruction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iT1muWE8RzA&ob=av2e

[indianasmith]

We all love destruction when it is visited on people we don't like.
When it hits close to home, though - that's another matter.

[Mofo Rising]

On a side note, I have registered Libertarian.  I'll never see a full on president from my party.  Likely the closest we'll get, in most people's eyes, is however far Ron Paul gets with his Republican Party thing.  He could still run as an Independant.  Eh.  I like a lot of his policies and those of the LP.

I'm registered as independent, mostly because there is no party-line I can toe. There's stuff I agree with and stuff I don't, and I reserve the right to make up my own mind.

But the only "benefit" I've seen from being an independent is a self-disenfranchisement from being able to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. Hey, I've got candidates in both parties I'd like to see be the forerunners in every election. Can I vote for them? Nope, I'm "independent."

Hooray.

[Flick James]

We all love destruction when it is visited on people we don't like.
When it hits close to home, though - that's another matter.

That's where you and I differ. I find destruction repellant no matter the motivation. I simply accept motivation when it is justified, but I never love it.

[Vik]

I've been looking into Ron Paul more, because he has so many supporters. Excluding his stance on war and drugs I don't find anything I like, at all, to be honest.

[tracy]

On a side note, I have registered Libertarian.  I'll never see a full on president from my party.  Likely the closest we'll get, in most people's eyes, is however far Ron Paul gets with his Republican Party thing.  He could still run as an Independant.  Eh.  I like a lot of his policies and those of the LP.

I'm registered as independent, mostly because there is no party-line I can toe. There's stuff I agree with and stuff I don't, and I reserve the right to make up my own mind.

But the only "benefit" I've seen from being an independent is a self-disenfranchisement from being able to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. Hey, I've got candidates in both parties I'd like to see be the forerunners in every election. Can I vote for them? Nope, I'm "independent."

Hooray.

I've run into that for years....I consider myself an Independent as well. And a Moderate which has gotten me called "indecisive" or "fence-sitter" or "waffler"....but that's just not the case. Sometimes it's a tough haul to be one who has many facets to their political beliefs. I just can't be forced into a specific pigeon hole.

[Leah]

On a side note, I have registered Libertarian.  I'll never see a full on president from my party.  Likely the closest we'll get, in most people's eyes, is however far Ron Paul gets with his Republican Party thing.  He could still run as an Independant.  Eh.  I like a lot of his policies and those of the LP.

I'm registered as independent, mostly because there is no party-line I can toe. There's stuff I agree with and stuff I don't, and I reserve the right to make up my own mind.

But the only "benefit" I've seen from being an independent is a self-disenfranchisement from being able to vote in either the Republican or Democratic primaries. Hey, I've got candidates in both parties I'd like to see be the forerunners in every election. Can I vote for them? Nope, I'm "independent."

Hooray.

I've run into that for years....I consider myself an Independent as well. And a Moderate which has gotten me called "indecisive" or "fence-sitter" or "waffler"....but that's just not the case. Sometimes it's a tough haul to be one who has many facets to their political beliefs. I just can't be forced into a specific pigeon hole.

Consider me as well. Always split the deal down the middle is my way I view stuff. Don't have the Republicans in office, they f'ed  up the economy which caused people to be out of jobs which is killing the US. Also, the reason (as I see it) that the Republicans wants to keep the electoral colleges is that their state with the most Republicans is Texas, where as California is Democratic, so the majority of the votes (to them) is that California will always triumph Texas. I don't care if Indy or any other Republicans on the board wants to hang me (or give me negative karma) but I'm sticking by it and even if Andrew has to delete this post, I'm still sticking by my motivations, I may be blinded by hatred but I had to suffer the last Republican in office who f**ked up so many times that it painted the way I see things. True that there are chilled Republicans that speaks out their minds and I'm for them, the problem is that the ones controlling the US doesn't tell the truth and lies to get more money and goes to their mistresses/ wives to make their lives better at our suffering. thank you.

@tracy1963- Ohio is the 7Th most populace state, Florida is number 4