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#19 | Posted by madbomber at 2024-03-19 10:22 AM |
It just gets tricky because it gives states the ability to eliminate candidates based on little more than perception, or even opinion.
Some may say a "slippery slope," but you have something there, it can actually simplify and speed up elections. Instead of clear (state and federacy) standards on who can and cannot hold the state and federal offices, and therefore be on the ballot - like age limits, citizenship, legal status, criminal history, etc. - we can just let the Governors or "election commissions" or state courts decide.
The hell with "democracy," let's go for efficiency - states' "election commissions" (I presume appointed by governors) will kick out the candidates they don't want on the ballot (let's say Trump is "senile, insurrectionist - January 6! Pence! Russia! Twice impeached!" and Biden is "old, senile, corrupt - Big Guy! Hunter! Burisma! Ukraine! China!")
For most states, like Colorado or South Dakota it's not important because they already know who will win and can just "let the voters decide" by going through the process and concentrate on other / local issues, so it would be mostly up to about "swing" and/or "mixed" states, which is how it is now, except the decision will already be made for voters, unless they want to write in "ineligible" candidate, and there can be upfront rules about acceptance/non-acceptance of these "rogue" votes.
Then we'll just count the states' votes total and be done and will know who our President is right after they secured their party's nominations - easy-peasy, nothing "rigged" about it, and the citizens know that when they vote for Governor (or whoever decides the ballot inclusion/exclusion) which party President (the actual candidate TBD later) they are voting for.
We'll know which party will be in the White House and govern the Senate, maybe House, well before "general" elections - eliminates the uncertainty, simple, efficient, no drama, no trauma, Putin-style.
I mean, we are not that far from that already - about half-dozen "swing" states will decide elections outcome - Trump not being on Colorado ballot wouldn't change outcome of the general election, which is why it was politically so nakedly partisan and, therefore politically stupid.
If / while we do that, maybe we can do something that really matters, and can cut corruption significantly - have an amendment that denies a single person (President and Governor) power of pardon and/or commutation - which they can use to either pardon themselves (TBD by SCOTUS) or promise pardon to people who may commit crimes on their behalf / for their benefit. I think we've seen enough of that happening... but neither major party even brings this up, apparently just awaiting their turn at the helm/trough, to use the way they see fit.
"It's good to be the King!"
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