Since the election, there has been much talk about the idea of "faithless electors;" that is, those in the electoral college who defy the pledge to vote for Trump and instead vote for another Republican.
They call themselves "Hamilton Electors." Alexander Hamilton wrote in Federalist #68 that "the office of President will never fall to the lot of any man who is not in an eminent degree endowed with the requisite qualifications." His argument for the electoral college in that same paper was simple: It was protection against the intervention of a foreign power or corruption of the election itself.
These most deadly adversaries of republican government might naturally have been expected to make their approaches from more than one querter, but chiefly from the desire in foreign powers to gain an improper ascendant in our councils. How could they better gratify this, than by raising a creature of their own to the chief magistracy of the Union? But the convention have guarded against all danger of this sort, with the most provident and judicious attention. They have not made the appointment of the President to depend on any preexisting bodies of men, who might be tampered with beforehand to prostitute their votes; but they have referred it in the first instance to an immediate act of the people of America, to be exerted in the choice of persons for the temporary and sole purpose of making the appointment.
There is uncontrovertible evidence, apparently, that there was indeed foreign intervention in our elections, either directly or indirectly.
There is also no question that Donald Trump is unqualified to hold the office of President and always has been. The popular vote bears this out.
The best outcome we could possibly hope for right now would be that enough electors would choose to cast a vote of conscience -- a moral choice -- not to elect Donald Trump.
That would toss the election into the House of Representatives, where there are more than a few Republicans who stand in opposition to Trump and his fascist ways.
Even if, in the end, Trump prevails through this process, it sends a clear message to Trump, his supporters, and the world: He has no mandate. He lost the popular vote by huge margins, electors do not see him as a moral choice, and his fascism will not stand.
I have been wrestling with this question since I first heard about the effort. I, like most people, have no desire to see the greatest democracy in the world undermined by invalidating the votes of millions.
However, it could be that we are called to get past our prior civics lessons and take one from Alexander Hamilton, who clearly foresaw the possibility of a Donald Trump election two and a half centuries ago, and warned against it.
The electoral college is not a mere formality. They are charged with casting the final votes to determine whether this country will descend into fascism and anarchy, or continue.
This effort will not make Hillary Clinton President. That's not the goal. The goal is to make sure a fascist doesn't take over the levers of power, including our military and nuclear arsenal.
Watch the video, and if you agree, share this post with as many people as possible. If I find a full list of electors, I will update this post.
