In the face of endless reports that a Trump Presidency would be disastrous to global socioeconomic conditions, the faithless electors are rapidly swelling in rank. Politico reports:
Backers of Hamilton Electors are also preparing a wave of lawsuits challenging 29 state laws that purport to bind electors to the results of the statewide popular vote. These laws have never been enforced or tested, and many constitutional scholars believe they conflict with the Founders’ vision of the Electoral College as a deliberative body. Courtroom victories, they hope, will embolden other electors to join their cause.All 538 members of the Electoral College will meet on Dec. 19 in their respective state capitals to cast the formal vote for president. Trump won the popular vote in states that constitute 306 electors — easily above the 270-vote threshold he needs to become president if all Republican electors support him. That’s why anti-Trump electors are working to persuade at least 37 Republican electors to ditch Trump, the minimum they’d need to prevent his election, and join them in support of a compromise candidate, which could send the final decision to the House of Representatives. Clinton won the popular vote in states that include a total of 232 electors. As of Monday, she led in the popular vote nationwide by more than 2.6 million votes.At least eight Democratic electors are promising to defect from Clinton and support a Republican alternative to Trump.While Trump’s lawyers have been working to stymie the recounts, his campaign has paid little attention to the Electoral College initiative.
And who is that Republican alternative? Politico and The Hill report that it is none other than John Kasich. Kasich is far from a great candidate but he's better than Trump, Pence, or Ryan. And, of course, it would also sew a lot of discontent amongst Republicans that could stymie efforts to begin disemboweling the social safety net on day one. And every delay counts as we look toward 2018 and 2020.
