Some Republicans have been defensive that the party has a strong anti-democratic bent. But the state GOP convention embraced it, writes columnist Danny Westneat.
A resolution called for ending the ability to vote for U.S. senators. Instead, senators would get appointed by state legislatures, as it generally worked 110 years ago prior to the passage of the 17th Amendment in 1913.
“We are devolving into a democracy, because congressmen and senators are elected by the same pool,” was how one GOP delegate put it to the convention. “We do not want to be a democracy.”
I trust the Texas Legislature even less than the average Texas voter. This seems like a way to intensify the radicalness of the pool that goes to Washington but admittedly, I am not familiar enough with this kind of system to have an informed opinion on it.
Until about eight years ago, I would’ve said this seemed like a way to decrease the radicalness of the Senate by forcing candidates through a filter of party establishment support. Now, though, the whole Republican Party establishment is radical so it’s more a way to reinforce that and prevent deradicalization.
I trust the Texas Legislature even less than the average Texas voter. This seems like a way to intensify the radicalness of the pool that goes to Washington but admittedly, I am not familiar enough with this kind of system to have an informed opinion on it.
Until about eight years ago, I would’ve said this seemed like a way to decrease the radicalness of the Senate by forcing candidates through a filter of party establishment support. Now, though, the whole Republican Party establishment is radical so it’s more a way to reinforce that and prevent deradicalization.