Reply #25: What a dilemma [View All]

[lakercub]

This issue is brutal for me. Unlike some of you apparently, I got my absentee form 3 days ago. But I haven't sent it yet, because I am still debating this one with myself.

Pros:
1. Bush wins CO, but state gets split almost in half (could give Kerry the election, until the Supreme Court says what we did is illegal (whores)).
2. As a citizen of El Paso County (help me), I always see this state as a red state. This year may be different, but I am not convinced the state is shifting to the center ideologically. I think the only reason CO is close this year is because Bush is such a bungling fool. We may be able to cut into the the national republican power in this state for years to come with this amendment.
3. If Bush is selected again this time around, just imagine the 2008 election. It could be Jeb Bush running, God help us all. I'd rather think Colorado would do him no good. We are calling this the most important election ever. But if Bush wins, and Jeb runs in 08, that one could be even more important.
4. Maybe more states would consider it. If just a FEW of the southern states were doing this, the election would be a whole new ballgame. As a democrat, I don't want CA, IL, MA, or NY to even think about it until all the southern and midwest states do it. But if the southern and midwest states follow our lead, a lot of good can come from it.
5. The electoral college sucks.

Cons:
1. What if Kerry wins this state this year? We will have shot him in the foot. If that results in losing the election to Bush, the shame may be to much to handle.
2. Colorado would be marginalized if it passes. 9 electoral votes doesn't make the state a national powerhouse, but it is a decent total, and it will grow more than some other large states in the future. If we did get back to the center (at least), this state could be supremely important with a winner-take-all system. Colorado could benefit greatly from this (it would also suck come national election time, the commercials would be brutal).
3. Denver and Boulder are large, and somewhat more liberal than my Colorado Springs hellhole. If their liberal influence expands, this state could at least become similar to OH, PA, and MI in that democrats may have a decent shot at it every four years. This would also help local democrat candidates as it would get out the democrat vote. I know a bunch of democrats who didn't vote in 2000 because they knew Gore wouldn't win here, and they didn't care about the state and local elections (misguided, but thats how it is).

As you see, I'm torn. When I count up the electoral votes, I usually assume all of CO's going to Bush. But Kerry, if he gets MI, OH, PA, WI, IA, and NJ would still win without Colorado (and I think he can get all of these, especially MI, NJ, and PA). If he loses on any of these he probably needs all 9 of ours (and maybe Nevada as well). So, for the sake of this election, I am currently leaning against this (and I hope I'm right, this could really screw the future of this state, and country, badly).