On December 12, 2000, a book party was held in Washington D.C. for Larry King’s “Anything Goes,” a book I helped him write about his experiences covering politicians through his live radio and TV broadcasts. The title was borrowed from Cole Porter’s 1934 musical with the words about “the world’s gone mad today, and good’s bad today and black’s white today and day’s night today” and you get the idea.
For some reason, Porter’s words have stayed in the background during 2020.
The book party ended early because the Supreme Court had ruled George W. Bush defeated Al Gore in the electoral college after deciding questionable votes in Florida should go to Bush. Al Gore had won the popular vote by more than half a million. Most of those attending Larry’s book celebration worked in the media and had to leave to report on the decision.
Now, 20 years later, I think it makes sense to, again, look at the worth of the electoral college. Logic suggests the most votes win (popular vote). The electoral idea came about because America was so spread out back in the days of the founders writing the Constitution that “electors” would travel to a polling place as a representative of those who couldn’t get to the polls. Somehow, in these days of paved roads, that idea just doesn’t make sense to me.
And after the days of Cole Porter Moments since November 3rd where Joe Biden won both the popular and electoral votes, getting rid of one of the ways we decide makes a lot of sense.
Dumb’s smart today….yeah, my words.