>>16
Ubie, there have been no serious problems with the Electoral College, which I've mentioned in previous postings. 99.99% of the electors throughout history have voted in line with the popular vote that drove them. The last time an elector didn't do what was expected of them was in 2000, when the DC elector for Gore didn't cast her vote, or something like that. Ooooh, scary!
As for arguing a foregone conclusion, you'll have to explain that one. Obama is a clear Black/young voter collector, and that's what I've been arguing. McCain is likely (but not guaranteed) to win the Presidency anyway. What about any of that is foregone?
As for a judgment of fail, yes, once again about 95%+ of voting Americans have had their practical choices removed entirely, and they will end up voting for a pro-corporation, rich, White, globalist, pro-war, anti-worker, anti-middle-class motherfucker. 95%+ of the vote will be narrowed to either Clinton or McCain, which isn't a choice at all. Of course, the vote majority could be 80% and still wind up with the same set of non-choices. I recall the 1992 election very well, and even with 19% of the popular vote, that nutty Texan still ended up with ZERO electoral votes. There wasn't any particular fraud in that, either. The person with the largest share of each state's popular vote (for the most part, as there are a few states that apportion) gets ALL the electoral votes for that state. So being a significant 3rd runner meant absolutely ZERO for the nutty Texan. The system is setup to reward only ONE party, and that's the party that pulls in the largest block of voters. From there, a simple coalition of two parties could lock up American politics forever, as they use feigned differences to give Americans (ever "stupider" in each successive generation) the minor choice while the major choice has been obliterated.
Well, you know all that. But Americans love to vote for the winner, and the weakness in the system is best represented by pointing at the average voter and laughing my fucking ass off.