Braised Lambchop
a nurse trying to work while suffering with chronic pain - she rambles a bit

Oh. My. God.

Just when I think I've heard all the goofy ideas - or that all the goofy ideas come from Oklahoma - along comes something to change my mind.

Colorado is going to place a state question on their general election ballot to change the way their electors are selected. If the initiative passes, Colorado's electors will be chosen proportionally, based on popular vote, instead of the winner-take-all method currently in place. In other words, if Kerry wins 66 percent and Bush 33 percent, Kerry will get six electoral votes and Bush will get 3, rather than Kerry receiving all nine.

The Constitution (Article II, Section 1) says that the states can appoint 'in such a manner as the Legislature thereof may direct' the electors of that state; Nebraska and Maine are two states that have done so in a manner different than most of the other states. The problem is that this is an initiative petition, the Colorado Legislature had nothing to do with it, and we could get caught up in what the meaning of 'Legislature' is. Does it mean that the Legislature has to do it as a bill, passed by both houses? Or does it mean that since the constitution of the state of Colorado was passed by the Legislature, and that constitution has a means for initiative petition, the state question is in effect the same thing as a bill?

Now that this is going on the ballot, it matters not that we even have an election. it will end up in the courts, where we all know anything is indeed possible, including a coup.

I can't even let myself judge the merits of the measure. I'm dumbstruck by the stupidity of the Colorado citizens who initiated this thing - with the intent of gaining more power - in an election year. It ensures that their votes will mean less, because the SCOTUS won't give a shit what the voters of Colorado 'intended.'

I don't know what will happen if the Supreme Court decides this election in an unconstitutional manner. And what will happen if they decide to deny cert, and Bush wins by one vote because he got that vote from Colorado? Yes, it's unlikely. So was the whole 'hanging chad' thing. (One of my cousins is a GOP pundit for MSNBC, and I never in my life thought I'd hear her call for not counting votes, but that's what she did - sold out to the man. But I did get to see her try to say 'hanging chad' with a straight face.)

Is anyone else as uneasy about this election as I am?

I don't remember feeling like we needed stored water and food when all we had to worry about was the Soviets and their missiles.

(From the most excellent Current Electoral Vote Predictor, which offers a most excellent RSS feed as well)

I didn't have a blog on September 11, 2001, or I would have written the story I've written here.

If you want to donate to the hurricane victims, please donate to a worthwhile group such as the Catholic Charities relief fund. Catholic Charities is a good group that does worthwhile work, and they won't waste your money.

Please, please, please think twice about donating to the American Red Cross. If you insist, read the fine print and be certain you're donating to what you think you're donating. The ARC is not what it seems.

From Salon, a nifty place well worth the $35 premium membership, because it not only gives me a subscription to Wired magazine in print and no ads - often there's very funny satire, this example in a Dear Abby fashion:

Dear Ms. Management,

Ever since Mr. Right came into my life, I've had a sneaking suspicion that something's different. Don't get me wrong: He's a perfect gentleman, and so thoughtful. The other day he gave me that adorable deer-in-the-headlights look and said, "A sovereign entity means that. It's sovereign. You're a ... you're a ... You've been given sovereignty - and you're viewed as a sovereign entity."

...

Sometimes, though, I miss the little things. Jobs. The environment. Civil liberties. Last week I caught him going through my purse. He said he was just testing my security capabilities. Then he tried to distract me with some heavy tax stimulus.

...

The next day I couldn't find my health insurance. When I asked him about it, he laughed and said, "Why don't you just start a health savings account?" How can I when he's spending all my money? Now my pension is missing...

Anyway, my question is, should I greet him at the door in the gingham number or just go with the bubble wrap?

And this one from a 'small business owner':

Dear Ms. Management,

If I listen to 25 speeches about the fabled $100,000 annual expenses deduction for office equipment, but I'm so broke I couldn't buy a box of used paper clips, then I add my nonexistent share of the 11 percent by which after-tax incomes supposedly increased after 2001, factor in the 50 percent decrease of tax audits on big business, and double the number of working poor being investigated by the IRS, how long will it take for a speeding bus to get from D.C. to Crawford, Texas?

I hope that second answer is "Faster than the speed of light" and not, as she suggests, "Have your documentation, receipts, your checkbook, your property, its contents, and your DNA ready for our agents at 8 am sharp."

You should read the rest of the piece yourself. Salon is free, but along with many other benefits Premium members view the site without ads.

Give yourself a Christmas gift, as I did. Salon Premium is definitely worth it.