Electoral college members inundated by harassing phone calls, emails, and death threats - Polidicks

[quote]On Monday, members of the Electoral College will cast their historic votes for the next president of the United States. In the meantime, they are under siege. The nation’s 538 presidential electors have been thrust into the political foreground like never before in American history. In the aftermath of a uniquely polarizing presidential contest, the once-anonymous electors are squarely in the spotlight, targeted by death threats, harassing phone calls and reams of hate mail. One Texas Republican elector said he’s been bombarded with more than 200,000 emails. “I never can imagine harassing people like this. It’s just f----- up,” said Jim Rhoades, a Republican elector from Michigan who runs a home inspection service. “I’ve lost a bunch of business.” In recent decades, the Electoral College had become such a reliable rubber stamp of Election Day results that it was viewed as an afterthought. But with many Democrats desperate to block the all-but-certain ascension of Donald Trump to the White House, this long-neglected body has been gripped by turmoil, and its members have been subjected to pleas to upend centuries of tradition by casting their votes for someone other than the president-elect. There have been ad campaigns targeting electors and op-eds assailing their role. One Democratic member of Congress has called to delay the vote for president while an investigation of Russian involvement in the election is underway. Two others have pleaded with electors to consider Russia’s role when deciding how to vote. Progressive groups are preparing protests across the country at sites where electors will meet to cast their ballots. Personal contact information for many electors has been posted publicly — and it’s been used to bury them with massive email campaigns. Last week saw the release of a video of celebrities like Martin Sheen pleading with Republican electors to vote for someone other than Trump. On Saturday, Unite for America — the group behind the video — began sending personalized versions to electors in which Sheen and more than a dozen others call them out by name.[/quote] [url]http://www.politico.com/story/2016/12/electors-under-siege-232774[/url] [url]http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/30/politics/banerian-death-threats-cnntv/[/url]

Dear lord, I understand and agree with alot of the discontent with the Electoral College, but ad hominems and death threats are over the line. Also it sounds like its coming from people who never wrote calmly to their congressperson before.

[QUOTE=Perrine;51547841]Last week saw the release of a video of celebrities like Martin Sheen pleading with Republican electors to vote for someone other than Trump. On Saturday, Unite for America — the group behind the video — began sending personalized versions to electors in which Sheen and more than a dozen others call them out by name.[/QUOTE] Considering that Sheen voices Illusive Man in Mass Effect, this is kinda ironic :v:

[QUOTE]One Democratic member of Congress has called to delay the vote for president while an investigation of Russian involvement in the election is underway. Two others have pleaded with electors to consider Russia’s role when deciding how to vote.[/QUOTE] All indications seem to point that while Russia may have attempted influencing the election, nothing they did constitutes actual electoral fraud. I don't think the electors should turn faithless based on that.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;51547875]All indications seem to point that while Russia may have attempted influencing the election, nothing they did constitutes actual electoral fraud. I don't think the electors should turn faithless based on that.[/QUOTE] However, we value the privacy and sanctity of a citizen's vote with the rules of "If you we're bribed or overlooked while voting, your vote is tossed". Honestly, IMO, its probably wise to investigate the extent of Russia's influence on the election before we start the new administration. Foreign political influence is a deep, deep rabbit hole.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;51547875]All indications seem to point that while Russia may have attempted influencing the election, nothing they did constitutes actual electoral fraud. I don't think the electors should turn faithless based on that.[/QUOTE] No, but they should turn faithless based on the fact that trump shows every sign of being an awful leader, easy to manipulate, and prone to quick over-reactions via tantrum and shitposts.

[QUOTE=Anti Christ;51547893]No, but they should turn faithless based on the fact that trump shows every sign of being an awful leader, easy to manipulate, and prone to quick over-reactions via tantrum and shitposts.[/QUOTE] Agreed, and its not like the Republicans already have a large piece of the pie already via the Senate. Really some of the GOP wanted Trump just because of party alignment alone.

It would be pretty unusual for the electoral college to vote for anyone other than trump but it was also pretty unusual for Trump to actually win.

[QUOTE=Lambeth;51547918]It would be pretty unusual for the electoral college to vote for anyone other than trump but it was also pretty unusual for Trump to actually win.[/QUOTE] That's because it doesn't feel right either way.

[QUOTE=LoneWolf_Recon;51547891]However, we value the privacy and sanctity of a citizen's vote with the rules of "If you we're bribed or overlooked while voting, your vote is tossed". Honestly, IMO, its probably wise to investigate the extent of Russia's influence on the election before we start the new administration. Foreign political influence is a deep, deep rabbit hole.[/QUOTE] Oh I absolutely agree it's still a serious issue that needs to be investigated, and I think Republicans who disagree are extremely shortsighted. But I just don't think an elector should not cast a vote for Trump if his district voted for him unless clear evidence of tampering can be put forward.

[QUOTE=PsycheClops;51547926]That's because it doesn't feel right either way.[/QUOTE] If Trump still wins, it means the electoral college isn't serving the purpose they were created for.

the political climate in the United States is disintegrating. I feel like we are on the very precipice of some kind of revolution. something has got to give. I strongly believe I will witness the total overhaul of this country in my lifetime

[QUOTE=Coyoteze;51547941]If Trump still wins, it means the electoral college isn't serving the purpose they were created for.[/QUOTE] And we shouldn't make them fulfill the purpose by harassment.

[QUOTE=FFStudios;51547955]the political climate in the United States is disintegrating. I feel like we are on the very precipice of some kind of revolution. something has got to give. I strongly believe I will witness the total overhaul of this country in my lifetime[/QUOTE] If you're right, please be peaceful, please be peaceful... Things are quickly going wrong. Very, very wrong. The next few days are going to be very tense. More to the topic: threatening the electors like this is absolutely fucking disgusting.

I can't see how people think threatening the electors will turn the outcome into their favor. More certainly that it will result in the opposite of what they want. Also, I think all this drama about the 'influence of the election' is pretty hypocritical if you look at how often the US were involved in [url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change]changing other countries regimes[/url] making it often end up even worse.

[QUOTE=Higurashi;51548059]I can't see how people think threatening the electors will turn the outcome into their favor. More certainly that it will result in the opposite of what they want. Also, [B]I think all this drama about the 'influence of the election' is pretty hypocritical if you look at how often the US were involved in [/B][url=https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change]changing other countries regimes[/url] making it often end up even worse.[/QUOTE] still doesn't make it right and if you can do something about it well you ought to. that's not a good argument to just lay yourself down to bullshit.

[QUOTE=Higurashi;51548059]I can't see how people think threatening the electors will turn the outcome into their favor. More certainly that it will result in the opposite of what they want. Also, I think all this drama about the 'influence of the election' is pretty hypocritical if you look at how often the US were involved in [URL="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_involvement_in_regime_change"]changing other countries regimes[/URL] making it often end up even worse.[/QUOTE] It's not like the people calling for these electors to switch support that either. None of us were fucking alive in 1846.

[QUOTE=Raidyr;51547934]Oh I absolutely agree it's still a serious issue that needs to be investigated, and I think Republicans who disagree are extremely shortsighted. But I just don't think an elector should not cast a vote for Trump if his district voted for him unless clear evidence of tampering can be put forward.[/QUOTE] Russia's influence on the election is just cherry on the cake to turn faithless. If you've been reading anything the past few days, Trump has already demonstrated his complete incompetency to domestic and foreign politics. He's not even president yet, and he's already causing international incidents with China and allowing himself to get conned by Carrier for tax breaks while still cutting jobs. Now evidence that Russia purposefully meddled with the election to push him only cements him as a terrible pick. When Trump won on election day, I reluctantly accepted his victory and thought denying it would be wrong. But after these past few days, I'm starting to change my mind on that.

[QUOTE=Mechanical43;51548078]still doesn't make it right and if you can do something about it well you ought to.[/QUOTE] Didn't want to give the impression that I advocate what happened, there's just the simple rule of thumb: "You should not do to other what you would not want them to do to you". So if one country thinks it has the right to interfere with another ones domestic politics it should expect that other countries will not hesistate to do the same to them. The population has a right to be upset imo. but the government should perhaps take this as a way to improve how they approach other countries (problems).

It definitely must suck to be an Electoral College elector right now. No other election has been this divisive. It's a lot of weight to carry. I mean surely the entire point of them is to make sure potential populist tyrants like Trump don't get elected, but actually voting against what you're supposed to vote involves being bombarded with (strongly worded) "arguments" from the opposition and kind of admitting that democracy isn't entirely functional. Surely the entire reason for electors to exist is to give them a human choice, but don't think they've ever faced such a disturbing choice before?

[QUOTE=SeamanStains;51548199]It definitely must suck to be an Electoral College elector right now. No other election has been this divisive. It's a lot of weight to carry. I mean surely the entire point of them is to make sure potential populist tyrants like Trump don't get elected, but actually voting against what you're supposed to vote involves being bombarded with (strongly worded) "arguments" from the opposition and kind of admitting that democracy isn't entirely functional. Surely the entire reason for electors to exist is to give them a human choice, but don't think they've ever faced such a disturbing choice before?[/QUOTE] Correction, there has been one that has been just as divisive. The Election of 1860, which returned Lincoin. I see ominous signs, I hope it is merely a trick of history.

in a hypothetical world the electors would be independant from the parties, in the real world though, these guys are party leaders, extreme partisans and overall not going to change their vote because they do not see anything wrong with trump.

[QUOTE=Coyoteze;51547941]If Trump still wins, it means the electoral college isn't serving the purpose they were created for.[/QUOTE] What? But they weren't created to keep people like Trump out at all. They were to relegate the votes of the areas they represented, providing an indication of how parts of the country voted for candidates. They're not like super delegates, they're basically glorified messengers.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;51548274]What? [B]But they weren't created to keep people like Trump out at all. [/B]They were to relegate the votes of the areas they represented, providing an indication of how parts of the country voted for candidates. They're not like super delegates, they're basically glorified messengers.[/QUOTE] Yes, they were. That is part of their duty. [url]http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/fed68.asp[/url] [quote]It was also peculiarly desirable to afford as little opportunity as possible to tumult and disorder. This evil was not least to be dreaded in the election of a magistrate, who was to have so important an agency in the administration of the government as the President of the United States. But the precautions which have been so happily concerted in the system under consideration, promise an effectual security against this mischief. The choice of SEVERAL, to form an intermediate body of electors, will be much less apt to convulse the community with any extraordinary or violent movements, than the choice of ONE who was himself to be the final object of the public wishes. And as the electors, chosen in each State, are to assemble and vote in the State in which they are chosen, this detached and divided situation will expose them much less to heats and ferments, which might be communicated from them to the people, than if they were all to be convened at one time, in one place.[/quote] [quote]The process of election affords a moral certainty, that the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications. [B]Talents for low intrigue, and the little arts of popularity, may alone suffice to elevate a man to the first honors in a single State; but it will require other talents, and a different kind of merit, to establish him in the esteem and confidence of the whole Union[/B], or of so considerable a portion of it as would be necessary to make him a successful candidate for the distinguished office of President of the United States.[/quote] Essentially they're meant to keep demagogues out. And Trump [I]is one.[/I]

I'm going to laugh if the electors that had previously decided to be faithless change their minds out of spite for the hate and vitriol flying their way. [editline]18th December 2016[/editline] [QUOTE=FFStudios;51547955]the political climate in the United States is disintegrating. I feel like we are on the very precipice of some kind of revolution. something has got to give. I strongly believe I will witness the total overhaul of this country in my lifetime[/QUOTE] The political climate of this country disintegrated decades ago, when it stopped being about who would be the best leader and started being about the dog-and-pony-show we've been seeing on the TV news every election year. This is just the result of that disintegration.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;51548274]What? But they weren't created to keep people like Trump out at all. They were to relegate the votes of the areas they represented, providing an indication of how parts of the country voted for candidates. They're not like super delegates, they're basically glorified messengers.[/QUOTE] Not entirely- according to Federalist No. 68: [quote][B]It was equally desirable, that the immediate election should be made by men most capable of analyzing the qualities adapted to the station[/B], and [B]acting under circumstances favorable to deliberation[/B], and to a judicious combination of all the reasons and inducements which were proper to govern their choice. [B]A small number of persons, selected by their fellow-citizens from the general mass, will be most likely to possess the information and discernment requisite to such complicated investigations.[/B][/quote] Basically relegating the election largely to educated and informed individuals, rather than reactionary masses.

Those are essays on why they should ratify the constitution, not actual constitutional law.

[QUOTE=Doctor Zedacon;51548274]What? But they weren't created to keep people like Trump out at all. They were to relegate the votes of the areas they represented, providing an indication of how parts of the country voted for candidates. They're not like super delegates, they're basically glorified messengers.[/QUOTE] This is completely incorrect. The actual process contained in the original constitutional language was for the states to decide their own means of appointing electors to the Electoral College, who would then select the president. That means, for example, that the state of New York might decide to have its governor appoint all of the electors, whereas Rhode Island might have a lottery, and so on. There was no requirement for the states to allow the people to vote for President. Just because states decided to allow a general vote does not mean that the purpose of the EC was to represent the direct will of the people. For the record, I've always supported ending the EC as I feel it's outdated, so we can elect the president by direct popular vote. Despite how idiotic large parts of the country proved itself in November, the majority still made the responsible choice and picked Clinton.

Framing electoral college reform as "change this election that just happened because my side lost" dooms any chance at reform to failure.

[QUOTE=FFStudios;51547955]the political climate in the United States is disintegrating. I feel like we are on the very precipice of some kind of revolution. something has got to give. I strongly believe I will witness the total overhaul of this country in my lifetime[/QUOTE] To be perfectly honest, I welcome that with open arms. We need a major overhaul to how the US functions, and I don't think that's possible with how things are now. It'll be a shitty time but one the US could emerge better as a nation on. Also I think everyone would prefer that if we did go through revolt or revolution that it would be a peaceful one. Unfortunately, I don't imagine that being humanly possible with how the police and people are practically on the verge of war alone.