(01-28-2020 09:03 AM)RiceLad15 Wrote:  

(01-28-2020 08:27 AM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  

(01-28-2020 02:20 AM)mrbig Wrote:  

(01-27-2020 09:30 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  But the Constitution outlines the legal way to elect the president. Are you saying the Constitution is unconstitutional?

I didn't say anything about the constitution or even profess any opinions. I was just stating facts.

(01-27-2020 09:30 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  A very technical and hair-splitting argument.

The best kind! Isn't that what political and policy discussions are for?

(01-27-2020 09:30 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  I would argue that the voters DID decide 2016 and every other Presidential election by voting for the electors pledged to a given candidate. It the voters did not elect the electors, then who did?

A fair point. The counter-argument is that the electors are not bound to vote for the candidate chosen by the voters in their state.

(01-27-2020 09:30 PM)OptimisticOwl Wrote:  This old tired argument about the electoral college is like one football team with two touchdowns complaining because the victory was awarded to a team with no TDs, but 5 FGs, on the grounds that TDs are what should count. If you don't like the game, or cannot play within the current rules, change the rules. Legally.

Again, I didn't make any arguments about the value or merits of the electoral college system or the popular vote. So while you may think the argument old and tired, I wasn't making an argument about the system used to elect the president in this country.

Well, my bottom line is that the voters went to the polls, and through their votes elected a president.

Your bottom bottom line is that the voters did NOT select a president.

In the absence of any other action other than the voting, I would say and do say, the voters selected a President. If not the voters, then who?

The only argument here is Electoral College vs. direct election. The EC is in the constitution. Direct election is not.

This debate highlights one of the downfalls of the EC, that a pretty sizable margin of votes can essentially be wiped out. But like most things, pros and cons exist.

This debate highlights the upside of the EC, we are still nominally a nation of states. States each and to their own right a sovereign. Much to the chagrin of most liberals.