Monday, December 5, 2016

What did Donald Trump do today?

He lost the electoral vote of Chris Suprun, a Republican paramedic from Texas.

Suprun cited Alexander Hamilton's argument that electors should ensure that presidents are "qualified, not engaged in demagogy, and independent from foreign influence" He said that Trump failed on all three counts, citing (among other things) the help that Trump's campaign received from hostile foreign governments and Trump's unwillingness to separate his business and political interests.

Suprun praised George W. Bush and Ronald Reagan as leaders who united the American people, while Trump "chooses to stoke fear and create outrage."

Trump has now lost two electors. Art Cisneros of Texas resigned rather than vote for Trump. Electors who refuse to vote for their pledged candidate are not unheard of in the modern era, but no elector had intentionally refused to vote as a protest against the candidate himself since 1976.

Why should I think this is a bad thing?

  • If a president-elect loses the support of two party members chosen for their loyalty during his transition, it might be a sign he's off to a bad start.