re: Why aren't these conservative geniuses talking about repealing the 17th?

5th Tiger is absolutely right.

The people who get appointed would be the biggest arse kissers and schmoozers of their respective parties or, perhaps in some cases, "elder statesmen" getting one last gig in.

Again 5th Tiger nails it. No more Rand Paul. Tea Party? Forget it. Mike Lee of Utah who defeated GOP senator Bennet? Forget it.

You guys know that Ted Cruz was almost completely opposed by the Texas GOP, right? The GOP establishment wanted a "don't rock the boat" guy.

LINK

There are threads on this board every day about how there needs to be a third party about how the GOP sucks and then you would have this amendment repealed which would give tremendous powers to establishment politicians.

And please spare me the talk about how - in political theory - these Senators are supposed to be the voice of their states. In practice they will be the voices of the elites of their respective parties of their states. Welcome back cigar rooms and backroom deals. Okay you get to be Senator but have to promise to vote to end such-and-such (like term limits).

Let the people decide.

Don't you guys also realize how this would crash and burn in polling ad elections.

SPOT
Video - US Flag over farm. Sunrise. A school bus.

Deep voiced announcer - "America. Home of the brave and free and fair elections. But the Republicans want to take that away. Their latest proposal would have Senators not voted in by the people, but settled on in back room deals under murky conditions".

Deep voiced announcer (continues) - "The Democrats want to keep things the way they are. The Democrats want the people to decide who their representatives shall be."

"So let's decide. Who should elect our Senators. The back room political elites, or the people of our country?"

You really want that ad run against the GOP in 50 states?

Remember Obama lost 1000 seats of all kinds over his 8 years. Thanks for giving them all back.