Dear Fellow "Joes:"

I am a resident of Trumbull, Connecticut and a recently retired middle
school American history teacher (Westport 43 years).

In the months since I left teaching I have been casting
about for some concrete activity or cause with which I could “sink my teeth
into.” Having been a history teacher and finding that my favorite lessons
centered on the U.S. Constitution, I have been particularly interested in the
election process.

Apropos of this was the November 19 New York Times editorial
calling for the abolishment of the Electoral College. To quote,

“The best way to abolish the
Electoral College is to amend the Constitution. Until that happens, a national
popular vote movement is working to get states representing a majority of the
electoral votes to agree to award their votes to the candidate who has the most
votes nationally. That would effectively end the Electoral College. Several
states, including New Jersey and Illinois, have already enacted popular vote
laws, and others are considering it.

When the 2012 presidential election
approaches, efforts to reform the electoral system will be viewed through a
partisan prism, with a focus on which party they would help or hurt. With the
next election still four years away, now is an ideal time to get serious about
abolishing the Electoral College.”

In doing research, I have found that there is a movement
underway in a number of states, The National Popular Vote bill, which would
guarantee the Presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes
in all 50 states (and the District of Columbia). The bill has been signed into law in Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, and Maryland. Twenty state legislative chambers, as well, have approved the bill.

Question: What happens at this point? Can the issue of
direct election be brought further along to the entire U.S. Congress, House and Senate during
the 2009 sessions? Is such a goal realistic?