# Count down to December 19th ... Electorial College voting day **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 10, 2016, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359 "2016-11-10T14:31:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/141 "2016-12-16T23:08:14Z")
**Sherrerd** , don’t worry though, you’re not alone in these hopes and dreams. CNN published [this opinion piece by Scott Piro](http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/15/opinions/faithless-electors-save-america-piro): > [@](#): > > Swing voters, centrists and moderate Republicans, you have less than a week to join fed-up Democrats in raising hell to persuade 38 Trump electors to vote for Clinton, putting enough pressure on them that they risk whatever fallout may come from their actions. In the short term, it would elect Hillary Clinton, whom you may not support. Personally I think it’s a pretty shitty thing to do, harassing the electors that for the past 100+ years have been nothing but a symbolic gesture, but whatever, I’m not the least bit worried it’ll succeed. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/142 "2016-12-16T23:32:24Z")
I have posted quite a few times that I think Clinton should urge her own electors to vote for a moderate Republican–because I am guessing that getting 38 GOP electors to vote for a Republican other than Trump is far more likely to happen than would be getting 38 GOP electors to vote for Clinton. (It’s _particularly_ likely to happen if those GOP electors have reasonable assurance that the moderate Republican in question will be getting 232 votes (from the Democrats).) The GOP electors are not all Trump fans. But they are all Republicans. In any case, I would suspect that the electors of all parties are able to withstand editorials, blogs, Tweets, and even personal contacts asking them to vote in particular ways. They don’t need you to protect them. They _volunteered_ for this engagement with public life. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/143 "2016-12-16T23:44:49Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > In any case, I would suspect that the electors of all parties are able to withstand editorials, blogs, Tweets, and even personal contacts asking them to vote in particular ways. They don’t need you to protect them. They _volunteered_ for this engagement with public life. Yes, they volunteered for it, but that was probably before they knew that there public service would be accompanied by [death threats](http://www.cnn.com/2016/11/30/politics/banerian-death-threats-cnntv/). ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/144 "2016-12-16T23:45:59Z")
Death threats are not acceptable. They are not acceptable when made by Trump’s fans, nor are they acceptable when made by his opponents. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2016, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/145 "2016-12-16T23:49:56Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > Death threats are not acceptable. They are not acceptable when made by Trump’s fans, nor are they acceptable when made by his opponents. I’m delighted we agree on this. Perhaps there’s hope for a return to civil society yet. ---
**Author:** ![Yersenia\_Pestis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e495f1/32.png) [@Yersenia\_Pestis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersenia_Pestis)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 2:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/146 "2016-12-17T02:57:09Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > I’m saying it’s fantasy-land quackery to > think anything but “President Trump” will be the result. You are probably right - What a shame ---
**Author:** ![Yersenia\_Pestis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/e495f1/32.png) [@Yersenia\_Pestis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yersenia_Pestis)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 3:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/147 "2016-12-17T03:04:39Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > **Sherrerd** , don’t worry though, you’re not alone in these hopes and dreams. CNN published [this opinion piece by Scott Piro](http://www.cnn.com/2016/12/15/opinions/faithless-electors-save-america-piro): > > Personally I think it’s a pretty shitty thing to do, harassing the electors that for the past 100+ years have been nothing but a symbolic gesture, but whatever, I’m not the least bit worried it’ll succeed. Oh please gimme a break - the guy that held openly racist views against Latinos, immigrants and Muslims, freaking dog whistle city during his rallies won. His base consisted of the most deplorable scum in the face of our country, and you wonder why people here are still hoping for a miracle? Google videos and images of some of the “fine folk” that were his strongest cheerleaders… You have become so ingrained in your “haha my party won” mindset that you have become completely blinded to a what a giant shitbag just got elected. Yeah, it’s silly to hope for this, but when things are this bad, it’s what decent people do. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/148 "2016-12-17T17:42:57Z")
On our way to Monday December 19th (noticed this oddity) December 19, 1998 President Clinton impeached > **[President Clinton Impeached](https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/president-clinton-impeached)** > > President Bill Clinton became the second president in history to be impeached. He was charged with lying under oath to a federal grand jury and obstructing justice. He was later acquitted in the Senate trial. ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/149 "2016-12-17T19:03:14Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > Yeah, it’s silly to hope for this, but when things are this bad, it’s what decent people do. So all that talk about reality-based worldviews goes out the window when you lose an election? Now it’s suddenly ok to stick your head in the sand and pretend the real world isn’t the real world? ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/150 "2016-12-17T21:13:07Z")
> [@HurricaneDitka](#): > > So all that talk about reality-based worldviews goes out the window when you lose an election? Now it’s suddenly ok to stick your head in the sand and pretend the real world isn’t the real world? The _reality_ is that the electors may choose to exercise their constitutional right to vote as they see fit. Then again, they may not. But if we are talking about facing reality, why not partake of the _facts_ about what’s possible, instead of clinging to your desperate _wishes_ about what’s possible? ---
**Author:** ![Bricker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@Bricker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bricker)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 10:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/151 "2016-12-17T22:48:55Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > Oh please gimme a break - the guy that held openly racist views against Latinos, immigrants and Muslims, freaking dog whistle city during his rallies won. His base consisted of the most deplorable scum in the face of our country, and you wonder why people here are still hoping for a miracle? Google videos and images of some of the “fine folk” that were his strongest cheerleaders… > > You have become so ingrained in your “haha my party won” mindset that you have become completely blinded to a what a giant shitbag just got elected. > > Yeah, it’s silly to hope for this, but when things are this bad, it’s what decent people do. You described Trump’s views as “openly racist.” So how would you describe an actual open racist, someone who came along and said, “I am asking for your vote so we can transform the United States into a country by and for white Anglo-Saxons. Black people will be sent back to Africa. All the mud people will be exiled. Jews will be deported, too, no matter the color of their skin.” That’s also an open racist, yes? Would you call him extra-open, or something? ---
**Author:** ![octopus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/octopus/32/3716_2.png) [@octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/octopus)\ **Post date:** [December 17, 2016, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/152 "2016-12-17T23:41:24Z")
> [@Yersenia\_Pestis](#): > > Oh please gimme a break - the guy that held openly racist views against Latinos, immigrants and Muslims, freaking dog whistle city during his rallies won. His base consisted of the most deplorable scum in the face of our country, and you wonder why people here are still hoping for a miracle? Google videos and images of some of the “fine folk” that were his strongest cheerleaders… > > You have become so ingrained in your “haha my party won” mindset that you have become completely blinded to a what a giant shitbag just got elected. > > Yeah, it’s silly to hope for this, but when things are this bad, it’s what decent people do. Enforced borders is not racism. If it is, practically every country in the world is “racist.” ---
**Author:** ![HurricaneDitka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/96bed5/32.png) [@HurricaneDitka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HurricaneDitka)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/153 "2016-12-18T01:18:05Z")
> [@Sherrerd](#): > > The _reality_ is that the electors may choose to exercise their constitutional right to vote as they see fit. Beyond that mundane observation, do you think it’s possible to make any predictions about what’s likely to occur on Monday? Or are we just going to have to wait and be surprised because ‘anything’s possible’? This isn’t a tricky one like the November election. It’s practically a ‘gimme’ in the prediction business. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/154 "2016-12-18T12:08:00Z")
> [@octopus](#): > > Enforced borders is not racism. If it is, practically every country in the world is “racist.” Enforcing the borders based on religion is the definition of bigotry. ---
**Author:** ![Mr\_Quatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc8723/32.png) [@Mr\_Quatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr_Quatro)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 1:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/155 "2016-12-18T13:13:25Z")
This is the big game coming up tomorrow. uh? The Electoral College Bowl GOP vs DNC the score so far is GOP 306 to DNC 232 The GOP could go all the way unless they fumble the ball causing the game to go into overtime. All replays will be reviewed by the US Congress and the Senate. This game could last till January 20th making it the best Super Bowl in American history. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/156 "2016-12-18T17:00:15Z")
Here’s SNL’s _Love Actually_/Electoral College spoof: [Watch Hillary Clinton Meet Love Actually in S.N.L. Christmas Sketch | Vanity Fair](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/snl-hillary-clinton-love-actually-kate-mckinnon) ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 5:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/157 "2016-12-18T17:18:25Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Here’s SNL’s _Love Actually_/Electoral College spoof: [Watch Hillary Clinton Meet Love Actually in S.N.L. Christmas Sketch | Vanity Fair](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/snl-hillary-clinton-love-actually-kate-mckinnon) I haven’t seen the movie, but I still laughed my ass off. Very good. Very, very good! ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/158 "2016-12-18T17:34:27Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Here’s SNL’s _Love Actually_/Electoral College spoof: [Watch Hillary Clinton Meet Love Actually in S.N.L. Christmas Sketch | Vanity Fair](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/snl-hillary-clinton-love-actually-kate-mckinnon) Thank you. Humor is a nice choice away from people screaming and trying to get in peoples faces on this topic and in this thread. None of us are electors. Tomorrow will come, as will the day after… and no matter what happens, all sides will roll with it. Happy Holidays! ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [December 18, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/159 "2016-12-18T20:19:55Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Here’s SNL’s _Love Actually_/Electoral College spoof: [Watch Hillary Clinton Meet Love Actually in S.N.L. Christmas Sketch | Vanity Fair](http://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/snl-hillary-clinton-love-actually-kate-mckinnon) Speaking of that magazine (and site): in the opening sketch, while the grown-ups (Putin and his pal Rex Tillerson) are figuring out where they’ll drill first after the US sanctions are lifted, little Donald’s main concern was being allowed to “destroy _Vanity Fair_.” > **[S.N.L.: Watch John Goodman & Alec Baldwin’s Trump Celebrate a Very Putin...](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/12/snl-trump-alec-baldwin-putin-john-goodman-vanity-fair-kanye)** > > Trump’s Vanity Fair feud and Kanye meeting also got the Baldwin treatment. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [December 19, 2016, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359/160 "2016-12-19T05:17:22Z")
> [@John\_Mace](#): > > I haven’t seen the movie, but I still laughed my ass off. Very good. Very, very good! The movie’s worth a look - British romantic schmaltziness and jokes with a Christmas backdrop - and will make the SNL skit all the funnier for you. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/count-down-to-december-19th-electorial-college-voting-day/771359.md?page=9)