Will Kasich Step Up, or Will He Be Used to Smear the Next President?

 

By now, everyone knows that a Texas elector (whom I will not dignify by naming) has decided to violate his pledged commitment to Texas voters by elevating his conscience over theirs (core questions are debated in two lively conversations posted here and here). This faithless elector’s conscience also led him to trumpet his decision on The New York Times opinion page.

Fulfilling his duty by casting a conscientious vote was apparently not enough to satisfy his conscience. He had to openly declare a campaign against the President-elect, calling for other electors to also follow his conscience. With enough GOP defectors (37), the President-elect could be held under the required 270 vote threshold. The likelihood of pulling this off is infinitesimally small, but even if the stunt were to succeed the election would then be determined by a vote in the House (with one vote per state), and Donald Trump would certainly emerge the winner. In other words, this faithless elector is exploiting his position to lead a campaign for the purpose of creating controversy around the President-elect. Some conscience.

It gets worse. The Texas faithless elector, employing the rhetoric and lies of the Far Left (and That Guy from Utah) is plugging in to the strategy of his Democrat faithless elector allies, who have designated John Kasich as their ballot choice. Remember him? He was the candidate who had no path to winning the primaries yet lingered until the bitter end to serve as the “Trump alternative,” hoping to emerge from a smoke-filled room as the nominee of a brokered Republican National Convention. Now he is the darling of a bipartisan faithless electors campaign. As I mentioned before, this campaign has exactly no chance of denying Trump the presidency. Kasich can’t possibly be so delusional as to think that there is anything positive in this for him, can he? So why hasn’t he loudly and definitively disassociated himself from this radical movement?

The political campaign of the Texas Republican faithless elector is primarily a preemptive strike on the Trump presidency. That is bad enough. What’s worse is that it also bolsters the Democrats’ strategic mission of undermining the Electoral College and laying the groundwork for replacing it with the popular vote. Gov. Kasich has a unique opportunity to denounce this potentially destructive movement. Will he?

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  1. Xennady Member
    Xennady
    @

    One small disagreement- I think Kasich’s capacity for delusion is such that he may well think he could become God-Emperor President thanks to this.

    Not a fan.

    • #1
  2. Valiuth Member
    Valiuth
    @Valiuth

    After all of the melodrama of the election and primaries what is a little more melodrama between friends? At least there will finally be a reason to cover the meeting of the electoral collage. I like to think of all of this as an impromptu civics lesson for the country.

    “Hey little Billy, do you know how we elect a President?”

    “Why yes I do Miss Teacher, thanks to the election of Donald Trump I now understand the finer details of our electoral collage. It’s traditions, duties, and responsibilities.”

    Everyone just relax and clam down. Remember all publicity is good publicity for Donald Trump. You didn’t worry about P**** Gate why worry about this?

    Here is to letting the cookie crumble as it may. They can be faithless, and he can sue, and we all get to watch it on TV.

    • #2
  3. Fred Cole Inactive
    Fred Cole
    @FredCole

    God help me, you’re gonna make me defend John Kasich. (Side note: My autocorrect just changed “kasich” to “masochist.”).

    If all Kasich wanted was power, he would have just signed on with Trump when he was offered the vice presidency.

    • #3
  4. Xennady Member
    Xennady
    @

    Fred Cole:God help me, you’re gonna make me defend John Kasich. (Side note: My autocorrect just changed “kasich” to “masochist.”).

    How did autocorrect know? Hilarious!

    If all Kasich wanted was power, he would have just signed on with Trump when he was offered the vice presidency.

    That sounds dubious, because Masochist strikes me as just that sort of person who would accept such an offer because his loopy ambition informed him that Trump would be killed by a meteorite wrecking Trump tower.

    But again I’m not a fan, of Masochist.

     

    • #4
  5. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Fred Cole:God help me, you’re gonna make me defend John Kasich. (Side note: My autocorrect just changed “kasich” to “masochist.”).

    If all Kasich wanted was power, he would have just signed on with Trump when he was offered the vice presidency.

    IF he even was. He has to come out with a strong statement to demand this nonsense stop. IF he doesnt this should be the end of his career as any kind of elected official.

    • #5
  6. Fred Cole Inactive
    Fred Cole
    @FredCole

    OccupantCDN: IF he even was. He has to come out with a strong statement to demand this nonsense stop. IF he doesnt this should be the end of his career as any kind of elected official.

    I don’t see why? At this point he has nothing to lose by being silent.

    You have to understand kasich’s premise: Trump shouldn’t be president. That explains all of Kasich’s actions to this point. So operating on that premise, it makes perfect sense to stay silent.

    • #6
  7. OccupantCDN Coolidge
    OccupantCDN
    @OccupantCDN

    Fred Cole:

    OccupantCDN: IF he even was. He has to come out with a strong statement to demand this nonsense stop. IF he doesnt this should be the end of his career as any kind of elected official.

    I don’t see why? At this point he has nothing to lose by being silent.

    You have to understand kasich’s premise: Trump shouldn’t be president. That explains all of Kasich’s actions to this point. So operating on that premise, it makes perfect sense to stay silent.

    Yes, but the rest of the country disagrees. There is a huge valley between Trump shouldnt be president and I should be.

    • #7
  8. Fred Cole Inactive
    Fred Cole
    @FredCole

    OccupantCDN: Yes, but the rest of the country disagrees. There is a huge valley between Trump shouldnt be president and I should be.

    And he’s not saying he should be. He’s just leaving the option open.

    • #8
  9. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Fred Cole:

    OccupantCDN: IF he even was. He has to come out with a strong statement to demand this nonsense stop. IF he doesnt this should be the end of his career as any kind of elected official.

    I don’t see why? At this point he has nothing to lose by being silent.

    You have to understand kasich’s premise: Trump shouldn’t be president. That explains all of Kasich’s actions to this point. So operating on that premise, it makes perfect sense to stay silent.

    Nothing to lose, other than his integrity and a large share of the public backlash that would result from egregious manipulation of the EC. But you may well be correct that his personal ambition has rendered him oblivious to that.

    • #9
  10. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    I doubt Kasich or HRC are taking the “Faithless Electors” effort seriously. So why would they want to elevate it by responding?  The Secretary of State in each state will deal with any “Faithless Electors” in their state according to that state’s law.

    I lived in Washington State for work related reasons at one time. They can impose a fine ($1,000) on an elector that fails to carry out their obligation (yes, they sign a pledge). Half the state’s do not have state laws about “Faithless Electors” but the state’s party leaders have some discretion in replacing electors.

     

    • #10
  11. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Sweezle:I doubt Kasich or HRC are taking the “Faithless Electors” effort seriously. So why would they want to elevate it by responding? The Secretary of State in each state will deal with any “Faithless Electors” in their state according to that state’s law.

    I lived in Washington State for work related reasons at one time. They can impose a fine ($1,000) on an elector that fails to carry out their obligation (yes, they sign a pledge). Half the state’s do not have state laws about “Faithless Electors” but the state’s party leaders have some discretion in replacing electors.

    Sure, Kasich doesn’t want to elevate this conspiracy, but it is already a national story. If he remains passive about having his name bandied about as a component of the scheme he starts to look complicit. We’ll see.

    • #11
  12. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    Sweezle

    rico:

    Sure, Kasich doesn’t want to elevate this conspiracy, but it is already a national story. If he remains passive about having his name bandied about as a component of the scheme he starts to look complicit. We’ll see.

    So far the states that are getting some attention are Washington, Colorado and Texas. And all three have rules in place that can replace the “Faithless Electors” or fine them.

    I am probably wrong about Kasich and HRC. They might very well be pleased with anything that discredits the Trump Presidency. And there are a number of people donating small sums of money that want to do away with the Electoral College. Which will not happen in my opinion.

     

    • #12
  13. The King Prawn Inactive
    The King Prawn
    @TheKingPrawn

    • #13
  14. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    rico: Governor Kasich has a unique opportunity to denounce this potentially destructive movement. Will he?

    It appears so.

    Ohio governor John Kasich has asked presidential electors not to cast votes for him later this month, a response to news that a group of Democratic Electoral College members was planning to back him when they gather December 19.

    “I am not a candidate for president and ask that electors not vote for me when they gather later this month. Our country had an election and Donald Trump won,” Kasich said in a statement. “The country is divided and there are certainly raw emotions on both sides stemming from the election. But this approach, as well-meaning as it is, will only serve to further divide our nation, when unity is what we need.”

    • #14
  15. Roberto Inactive
    Roberto
    @Roberto

    Scooped by the @thekingprawn I see.

    • #15
  16. Mike-K Member
    Mike-K
    @

    Sweezle: Half the state’s do not have state laws about “Faithless Electors” but the state’s party leaders have some discretion in replacing electors.

    I’m kind of interested in this fellow’s motives. I know very little about him but he spouts DNC talking points and it occurs to me that he is a plant. Trumps ground game was not strong and I wonder if he just slipped in as a plant.

    • #16
  17. Xennady Member
    Xennady
    @

    Roberto:

    rico: Governor Kasich has a unique opportunity to denounce this potentially destructive movement. Will he?

    It appears so.

    Ohio governor John Kasich has asked presidential electors not to cast votes for him later this month, a response to news that a group of Democratic Electoral College members was planning to back him when they gather December 19.

    “I am not a candidate for president and ask that electors not vote for me when they gather later this month. Our country had an election and Donald Trump won,” Kasich said in a statement. “The country is divided and there are certainly raw emotions on both sides stemming from the election. But this approach, as well-meaning as it is, will only serve to further divide our nation, when unity is what we need.”

    Good for him.

    I now think just a little better of Masochist.

    • #17
  18. Steve C. Member
    Steve C.
    @user_531302

    Look at me. Look.

     

    • #18
  19. Sweezle Inactive
    Sweezle
    @Sweezle

    Mike-K:

    Sweezle: Half the state’s do not have state laws about “Faithless Electors” but the state’s party leaders have some discretion in replacing electors.

    I’m kind of interested in this fellow’s motives. I know very little about him but he spouts DNC talking points and it occurs to me that he is a plant. Trumps ground game was not strong and I wonder if he just slipped in as a plant.

    Well there is a post below

    http://ricochet.com/394428/republican-elector-wont-vote-trump/

    on (page 12) #343 that explores the dark side.

    However I think the consensus of posts think Suprun is an attention seeker, arrogant and deserves to be ignored by the other Texas electors.  My opinion is he should not be paid any attention at all.

     

    • #19
  20. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    rico:

    Sure, Kasich doesn’t want to elevate this conspiracy, but it is already a national story. If he remains passive about having his name bandied about as a component of the scheme he starts to look complicit. We’ll see.

    I remember being told repeatedly that to denounce something is to own it. It was one of the reasons given for Trump not denouncing the attacks on David French. When did this change?

    • #20
  21. EugeneKriegsmann Member
    EugeneKriegsmann
    @EugeneKriegsmann

    I was not a fan of Trump, but he was duly elected, and I am more than tired of the drama. We have had eight years of incredible arrogance and incompetence, and Trump is looking like he may prove all of us cynics wrong. I like most of his cabinet choices. He is putting together a team with real gravitas which represents a major change and creates real hope. The buffoon in Texas and any who choose to follow his example are operating on pure ego. Kasich seems to have developed something resembling wisdom in the interim period since the convention. There is enough garbage coming from the left. Trump and his new administration doesn’t need it coming from his own side. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and settle down and let the man have a chance to prove that he can do the job.

    • #21
  22. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Roberto:

    rico: Governor Kasich has a unique opportunity to denounce this potentially destructive movement. Will he?

    It appears so.

    Ohio governor John Kasich has asked presidential electors not to cast votes for him later this month, a response to news that a group of Democratic Electoral College members was planning to back him when they gather December 19.

    “I am not a candidate for president and ask that electors not vote for me when they gather later this month. Our country had an election and Donald Trump won,” Kasich said in a statement. “The country is divided and there are certainly raw emotions on both sides stemming from the election. But this approach, as well-meaning as it is, will only serve to further divide our nation, when unity is what we need.”

    This is a good first response in that it was timely. And although it clears his own name, it doesn’t really do anything to discourage the faithless electors from continuing their political activism. Sure, that’s not really his responsibility and the movement may not spread any further. But I’d like to think that he is prepared to go in front of cameras to defend the Electoral College and to denounce these Leftist activists if the media start granting them credibility with sympathetic reporting.

    • #22
  23. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Umbra Fractus:

    rico:

    Sure, Kasich doesn’t want to elevate this conspiracy, but it is already a national story. If he remains passive about having his name bandied about as a component of the scheme he starts to look complicit. We’ll see.

    I remember being told repeatedly that to denounce something is to own it. It was one of the reasons given for Trump not denouncing the attacks on David French. When did this change?

    I don’t see a parallel, but if you’d like to explain your reasoning I’ll try to answer your question.

    • #23
  24. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Sweezle:

    Mike-K:

    Sweezle: Half the state’s do not have state laws about “Faithless Electors” but the state’s party leaders have some discretion in replacing electors.

    I’m kind of interested in this fellow’s motives. I know very little about him but he spouts DNC talking points and it occurs to me that he is a plant. Trumps ground game was not strong and I wonder if he just slipped in as a plant.

    Well there is a post below

    http://ricochet.com/394428/republican-elector-wont-vote-trump/

    on (page 12) #343 that explores the dark side.

    However I think the consensus of posts think Suprun is an attention seeker, arrogant and deserves to be ignored by the other Texas electors. My opinion is he should not be paid any attention at all.

    Yes, here’s the relevant link. It shows that this guy is associated with a Van Jones outfit called Megaphone Strategies. (h/t @kozak)

    • #24
  25. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Eugene Kriegsmann:I was not a fan of Trump, but he was duly elected, and I am more than tired of the drama. We have had eight years of incredible arrogance and incompetence, and Trump is looking like he may prove all of us cynics wrong. I like most of his cabinet choices. He is putting together a team with real gravitas which represents a major change and creates real hope. The buffoon in Texas and any who choose to follow his example are operating on pure ego. Kasich seems to have developed something resembling wisdom in the interim period since the convention. There is enough garbage coming from the left. Trump and his new administration doesn’t need it coming from his own side. Everyone needs to take a deep breath and settle down and let the man have a chance to prove that he can do the job.

    Words of wisdom^. Thanks for helping make Ricochet great again!

    • #25
  26. E. Kent Golding Moderator
    E. Kent Golding
    @EKentGolding

    Fred Cole:God help me, you’re gonna make me defend John Kasich. (Side note: My autocorrect just changed “kasich” to “masochist.”).

    If all Kasich wanted was power, he would have just signed on with Trump when he was offered the vice presidency.

    Why did you change it back to Kasich?   Maybe AI is getting wiser than we know.

    • #26
  27. Larry Koler Inactive
    Larry Koler
    @LarryKoler

    Never mind — TKP set my mind to rest on this.

    • #27
  28. Umbra Fractus Inactive
    Umbra Fractus
    @UmbraFractus

    rico:

    I don’t see a parallel, but if you’d like to explain your reasoning I’ll try to answer your question.

    The question was mostly snark, so there’s no real need to answer.

    During the campaign a common response to the calls for Trump to denounce the more odious elements of the alt-right was that it was better to ignore it because to denounce it would mean accepting the premise that he was responsible for it in some way.

    And now I see calls for Kasich to denounce something he similarly is only tangentially related to. It seems like a double standard to me.

    Don’t get me wrong, I agree with everything @EugeneKriegsmann said. The Texas Republican Party should bar this man from ever running for elected office as a Republican.

    • #28
  29. rico Inactive
    rico
    @rico

    Umbra Fractus:

    rico:

    I don’t see a parallel, but if you’d like to explain your reasoning I’ll try to answer your question.

    The question was mostly snark, so there’s no real need to answer.

    During the campaign a common response to the calls for Trump to denounce the more odious elements of the alt-right was that it was better to ignore it because to denounce it would mean accepting the premise that he was responsible for it in some way.

    And now I see calls for Kasich to denounce something he similarly is only tangentially related to. It seems like a double standard to me.

    Don’t get me wrong, I agree with everything @EugeneKriegsmann said. The Texas Republican Party should bar this man from ever running for elected office as a Republican.

    I guess one difference is that in Trump’s case denunciation would invite an endless stream of frivolous criticism, hindering his campaign, while Kasich’s denunciation actually removes the burden of association with the Leftist activists.

    • #29
  30. A-Squared Inactive
    A-Squared
    @ASquared

    Would you be upset if a faithless elector announced that he would not vote for Clinton and called for others to do the same?

    • #30
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