(Since a good many of you Eastern Boulder County'ites live in this Senators district....)
I always encourage constituents to contact their representatives. In an editorial by State Senator Brandon Shaffer, he asked for his constituents to “engage in a dialog” with him on issues in the upcoming legislative session. Here’s one, don’t waste time playing games with the Electoral College (EC). It was attempted in 2004 with a ballot initiative that would split up the EC votes by statewide popular vote, and lost. It’s been tried behind voter’s backs in the Senate, throwing all of our EC votes behind the national popular vote, and lost. Senator Shaffer co-sponsored this and even voted to keep it off the ballot.
Are his constituents clamoring for this change? Or does he give more of his considerations to Majority Leader Ken Gordon, who usually spearheads this pointless, and yearly, exercise?
California is considering changing how their EC votes are split up, in this case by congressional district. To be consistent, Senators Gordon and Shaffer should throw all of their support behind this, why do I get the feeling they wont? Does it not benefit them or their party? What’s good for the goose and all that, right?
It doesn’t matter if California’s idea isn’t the same as what’s been tried here. Two other states, Nebraska and Maine, already apportion their EC votes by congressional district, how many do it the way our Senates tried? (Answer zero). We should all do it the same way, whether that’s abolishing the Electoral College, or some other idea. Cherry picking states for political gain, no matter who’s doing it, is not acceptable. But more to the point, why does Senator Shaffer continually beat this drum and who’s asking for it? Who does he really represent?
Senator Shaffer said he hopes he’s proven he’s "always ready and willing to listen to constituents." I know, I’m nobody, but this is an important issue, all that’s been proven to me is that he has staffers who can throw out talking points. I know everyone has staffers and they are required, but we didn’t vote for them. If their words are representative of his words, and if his votes on the tough issues, not the feel-good issues he often raises in his editorials, kowtow more to the senior leaders in his party instead of his constituents, then he shouldn’t get any of our future votes.
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6 comments:
I contacted State Sen. Brandon Shaffer and asked him to sponsor a bill that will do away with at-large election of County Commissioners.
These commissioners supposedly represent a geographical area of the county.
The only reason to elect them at large is to dilute minority and neighborhood representation--an anti-democratic ideal that is offensive to good government.
He replied that he would think about it ...
Colorado Russ, If it did make the ballot I would support it.
As would I, but don't count on it. Shaffer won't do anything to upset his powerful supporters. No surprise to anyone on this blog, those powerful supporters are not the voters, but the Dem machine of Boulder County.
I'd vote for that too, but I don't see him getting behind it for the same reason doktor said. The fix is in, and it's just the way they want it, why change it? All he'll "think" about is ways to block it, that's all.
So, who are these powerful supporters? You can tell alot about someone by the company they keep.
I know a great deal about California and California politics. This initiative is no more than a Republican power grab. They can't win any other way in California than through tricks like this. And tell me why this group is bankrolled by a front of a front -- a man who's City Attorney of a town of 2,000 in Missouri. Give me a break. This is probably a strategy of the Council for National Policy, the rabid right's secret umbrella organization to turn the Constitution inside out.
We should simply allow the people that OWN the most land to make the rules.
It was good enough for the feudal barons, by GOD it's good enough for Amurika!
I mean, nothing succeeds like Success, right? Am I right?
Why should we even LISTEN to people that don't OWN anything? They're slackers anyway!
The wealthy are wealthy because they DESERVE to be and they should run the world!
Why people can't see that is a mystery.
Might have something to do with that pesky Constitution (and why go to so much trouble to preserve it!).
/irony
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