latest petition:

https://www.change.org/p/electors4sanders

for some reason the picture doesn't show up in social media for this petition, (I don't know how this social media stuff works -- I'm new to it) so I've got two others that seem to have pictures that work:

https://www.change.org/p/considerbernienow

or

https://www.change.org/p/godwantsbernienow

...

(I hear the sound of The Rolling Stone's "Can't Always Get What You Want" ... but if you try some time, you get what you need: -- then again, maybe not; that's protected under copyright... )

...

It seems like when we voted in November, "the people" were actually electing other people called "the electors" and the electors can vote for anybody, (like a safety valve) on Dec 19th.

Yes, I know it sounds absurd, but there's a very real possibility to get them to vote for Bernie as VICE president especially if Trump says he would _consider_ it, and a bigger probability if he actually decides to select Bernie

(which is completely legal, by the rules of the game)



The show's not over, we're just in a commercial break.

It looks like the petition is playing to Trump's game-show sensibilities. The rules of the game (the constitution) say the electors can vote for anybody.

Trump wants to be a popular guy, having Bernie as VP would make him -way- more popular... right?

...

Looking at the calendar, Dec 19th is a couple weeks away.

Maybe it's worth a shot?

(If you're not interested in the details, you can stop reading now...)

(The "Populist Compromise" of 2016?)

...

(Or maybe: How to run for Vice President when it's never ever been done before?)

Wow, coming to you from Portland here.

I think we can all agree that this has been quite an experience...

So far, Donald Trump has shown himself to be a "bold", "unconventional", "out of the box" thinker...

But let's stop and think a bit: although he's run his campaign under the Republican banner, he's consistently expressed that his ultimate desire as President lie in the "good fortune of ALL the _American_ People".

In particular, the "Forgotten Man" that really does span regional differences and party lines.

(being marginalized in the primaries, Bernie is very much a forgotten man)

Personally, I need to believe that he really, truly, does want to:

"MakeAmericaGreat"

(see what I did there? I made it a little more "forward looking" -- ya know, more "progressive")

Now I've been hearing about this, electoral college, and I'm not a lawyer or some politician, but it seems like from what I've heard, the electors have the flexibility to vote for pretty much anybody, and although traditionally, in modern history, the party's electors vote for the candidate's campaign's selected running mate, it is constitutionally very possible for the electors to vote for any vice president. Then again, I'm also not some constitutional scholar...

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS A SAFETY VALVE!!!

Might be good to figure out how to use it?

In this polarized state it's a waste of time with excessive meddling in the POTUS - the pressure may cause an explosion (vote splitting the Red Team would send it to the House where it becomes a whole other kind of mess) - but there's probably enough "political activation" to sweep Bernie into VPOTUS

(Easier to flip "Red Team" to Bernie as he's only been "Blue Team" for a year, and now, what, he's "Purple Team" again?)

[It does sound like that in some states, there are fines for electors who don't vote the party ticket... Maybe a crowd funding campaign to pay those bills?]

Like I said, Trump is an out of the box thinker, a tremendous force for change and proven that he's unafraid to "break with convention".

(the same, it seems, can be said about Bernie, too?)

I'm not asking for him to _select_, or _endorse_ Bernie, who, it appears to me, was bruised and abused by a party that appears to not be his own and was marginalized by the media, not unlike Trump himself.

(Although that would be faster and easier...)

I'm asking Trump to see if he might _consider_ accepting Bernie as Vice President if by some chance happening the appointed electors choose to vote that way.

I know this might sound outrageously improbable, but I believe the Trump story is an unconventional accomplishment.

(plus I've seen some of his television programme, and if he did say he would be "open to considering it"; it would be a great element to an undeniably _amazing_ story...)

Please don't stop being extraordinary now!

I should also add that I'm not asking Bernie to accept this improbable selection, even if Trump says he'd consider him. He's free to refuse this laurel and pick up his leadership role in the minority of the senate.

I'm asking that the electoral college have a "confident option" (Or some far more elegant turn of phrase) to write down in history that looking through the smoke and rage of this modern divisiveness and in their personal considered deliberations they could still recognize and honor the shadow of the forgotten man.

Yes, Trump, please, the people everywhere are looking for a bold leader to bring america together.

Please be that leader.

Thank you for listening,

#Bernie4VP

----------------------------

Stake Holders (talking points?)

The Democratic Party

A last ditch effort.

He's an advocate and voice from their caucus inside the executive branch (inside the formulation of the developing echo chamber)

"The Blue Wall" unified support for Bernie. (or maybe it's a fence?)

The Republican Establishment

A concession without much real power (President of the Senate?)

An appeasement to the rabble...

don't need to be sour winners (be the bigger man)

pity on the civic victims of psychic warfare (crying in the streets)

The anti-establishment right

coopt the useful bits of his populism

stick it to the DNC

The Donald

the benefit of the tremendous wealth of his years of respected wisdom

A generous sense of understanding about how it feels to be marginalized

Gains a popular voice on his inner council (a voice of the people)

(sounds like) Mr. Trump was a Democrat for a long time, until he recognized their complacency to reforms.

The Media

A Hero's story is epic to tell, marginalized but reborn!

A chance for self examination, (a rebirth of journalistic integrity)

The People

Hope and redemption

The World

A symbolic counterbalance

-------------------------

Activism

It should be noted that you're campaigning to the REPUBLICAN electors, so slanderous tones are unlikely to persuade them. Try to keep divisive slogans to a minimum. Stay on message.

hats of many different colours with "Make America Great" on them

signs that say "Bernie4VP"

break out old campaign paraphernalia: signs, buttons and banners - put 'em in the front lawn.

"A Future To Believe In"

"A political revolution is coming!"

(I'll give you a hint, it's already here)

(There's also a media strategy, but the proposal is already pretty long)

----------------------------

Outcomes:

Bernie Sanders is elected as Vice President (VPOTUS)

neither POTUS candidate has 270, which sends it to the house, where they elect Trump

Call for some kind of "constitutional congress" to maybe ratify a few new amendments?

(I've got ideas. How about you?)

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS A SAFETY VALVE!!!

the constitution is real! the electoral college is real!

(Might be good to figure out how to use 'em?)

(There's also a media strategy, but the proposal is already pretty long)

Here's the basis of the gag:

independent media types get footage of either Trump or Sanders saying that he (Donny or the Bern) would _consider_ the appointment if by some chance happening the electoral college votes that way.

That's the hook. That chums the water for the celebrity class to eat it up and poop it out to the public.. (they are hungry for some kind of good news)

"Did you hear? Trump said that he would consider Bernie for VP!"

The trick is that Trump (or Bernie) are legally obligated to answer in the affirmative -- if the electoral college votes that way, Trump has no power to change that. It's not something that he gets to decide; same with Bernie, he can refuse it, but if the college votes that way, he's forced to at least consider it.

(I believe it's called a leading question)

(It also feeds Trump's game show sensibility: will Bernie make it?

Find out next week!)

If they don't follow the lead then, draw them to the conclusion:

(things like)

"you know about the electoral college, right? you understand that their discretion is protected by the constitution, right? if they were just a rubber stamp, then why are they described in the constitution? do they people have the right to voice their choice of vice president? is that voice limited in the constitution? are you saying that you're not will to consider the choice of the people?"

Once the hook is set, then you spin it as reconciliation, prop Bernie up to represent "the Forgotten Man" and feed the sympathy in the Republican Electors. (some of them are actually real people!)

Late Night Talk show hosts draw the narrative and lead Main Stream Media into the story. That draws public attention to the idea, and delivers the message to the Republican electors. (no harassing phone calls necessary)

"Trump V Clinton" is a really major controversy, by comparison "Sanders V Pence V Kaine", virtually not at all...

...

The electors have, in general -- by the constitution, the freedom to write anybody down as Vice President. They just need to be pointed in that direction.

Build a case for it, stoke the fire.

If the case is strong enough, and enough electors vote for him, even if he doesn't hit the threshold it might muddy the waters enough to force the decision into the Senate on Jan 6th, and what does he need there?

Four or Five votes...

(how many friends does Bernie have in the Senate? How many would like to stick it to Trump? -- or Clinton?)

It's a position with limited legislative power, and could be justified as appeasement in an effort to help legitimize the populist appeal of Trump.

------------------------------

(Constitutional argument?)

just a quick reminder as this is a time sensitive historic situation:

THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IS A SAFETY VALVE!!!

regardless of whether you think there shouldn't be a safety valve or don't care for the way that the safety valve is currently implemented:

still, probably a good time to at least try to figure out how to actually use it?

(for others a good time to realize that it's there.)

...

now that that's out of the way...

I've been reading the tea leaves and I agree with Bernie that the electors of each state should (in general) vote according to the will of the voting people in the state.

(you think blue team were cry-babies with the current upset? Just think what kind of cry-babies the red team will be if Trump isn't allowed to become president... remember these people have guns...)

The trouble I have is that I sense that I get is that he's proposing that the electors just rubber stamp the expected outcome, and neglect the express purpose of the college.

(it's role in state's powers as it relates to federalism, and that it's a freaking safety valve.)

I see this as a conflation between how it's been traditionally implemented and what it's express form and purpose is, as it is set forth in the language of the constitution and is elaborated on in the supporting arguments provided. (the federalist papers)

Let me stress: The electoral college is NOT one thing, it is 51 things (DC has rules about their 3 electoral votes, I assume)

It is a right, very much, expressly provided in the constitution to the states in an attempt the balance the co-equality of the federal system.

it is a thing, explicitly placed as a venue for compromise.

(The people of the state have the right to cast their electoral vote however they see fit, regardless of a federal dictate, limited by none other than the constitution itself -- that is, the freedom of the electors to vote is protected by the constitution)

...

I caught Bernie saying something along the lines: electors should vote for the candidate that the people of that state voted for.

That is very agreeable logic. (although, personally I feel that the system was expressly set up as an ethical framework to give them moral leeway)

Clinton voters, were voting for Clinton, Trump voters were voting for Trump...

yes, very logical..

But are "the American people" voting for Pence and Kaine? (or is it someone else who made that selection?)

...

Do we have _any_ choice in _that_ decision?

Or is it a decision made that has been traditionally, just made _for_ us?

Do we have the right to bring a voice to our will?

If we have the right, but are unable to voice that right, is this a kind of disenfranchisement?

...

Do the people of the american states have the right to voice who they want to vote for?

Is the electoral college the institutional mechanism that allows them to voice that choice?

Can the electoral college be used as a kind of a safety valve?

...

personally, I think it does, is, can -- and should.. (how about you?)