Here is the problem with doing away with the Electoral College, which seems for the most part addressed above, but I will try to reiterate it into as clear and precise as possible.
When the nation was founded they had a continental congress, in fact this was the second major congress, the first was the one that founded the Articles of Confederation, which gave the states too much power, and the Federal Government too little power. So they reconvened and came up with the Constitution, which despite some flaws, was and still is a very well written document that outlines a government both state and federal and how it should be run, except for the part about slaves and how they should be counted in overall populace count, which was gotten rid of by the first Republican President Abraham Lincoln or at least the ground work was laid by him, even though all the emanication Proclamation only freed slaves in the slave states, but I am getting off topic here.
The Electoral College was designed, keep with me now, for one reason in mind, still with me, and that was so that one state could not rule over other states, i.e. New York ruling over all 49, but your saying no, that can't be, because more people support so and so, well, what about the rest of the people, do their states count less because they have less people? Should we just ignore all state governments and give all power to Federal? So, in order to keep from one state ever deciding on who is president, they decided on the Electoral College, which gives all states no matter what their size, a voice (No Taxation without Representation, cough). The Federal President cannot be decided by one state but by the majority of states, just like a Constitutional Amendment, which takes 2/3 of all states to ratify into an amendment, BUT to be fair to states who have larger populations, they gave that state more electoral votes, so that even though each state has one voice, that state's voice is a heavier one than a smaller neighbor state, i.e. Connecticut, and Rhode Island. All in all, despite candidates losing popular votes but when electoral votes is more a strategy to their campaigning, and may seem unfair but that is how it is, change it to Popular vote, which by the way to happen would once again take the ratification of 2/3 of all states, would just not happen, every state that does not possess the population size of New York and California would be against cause their voice would not be heard in that system.
Hope that clears up some of your confusion on it, and realize despite it's flaws, that the Electoral College was one hell of good idea to give each state a sort of equal standing with other states. I felt the same way like you did, but back in '93 before I learned better, that the Electoral College was bad because they gave us a President Clinton, which for our national security brought us way down in security wise.
As for Bush stealing the supposed election, he did not, if anything what sickens me to no living end, the number of United States Soldiers, from Active Duty to Reserve to National Guard, who did not have their votes counted, due to that the military as whole is conservative, from Buck Private to Most Generals, but with Generals you never know what they are thinking, and sometimes neither do they. At least 1500 National Guardsmen from the wonderful state of Florida were called on surprise maneuvers and did not get to vote in the election unless they already turned in a absentee ballot, which most if not all did not, because it was a last second thing, which from serving with the United States Army for 2 years, can and does happen, but still kind of strange for something like that to happen unless someone wanted it too, most soldiers I meet do vote, because as we serve, we recognize every freaking right we get and take advantage of everyone.
I gotten to the point as long as are soldiers if dieing are dieing for a noble cause befitting the United States of America, and whatever President is good for that cause, is good by me, soldiers die, we knew that, when you VOLUNTEER you always know that could be more of fact of life than being a civilian after all that is a part of our DUTY, to live and die for America, going wherever Uncle Sam commands us, as long as the cause is just, our resolve shall stay unwavering. WE VOLUNTEERED TO PUT OUR LIFE ON THE LINE SO THAT OTHERS COULD BE FREE NOT JUST AMERICA, BUT HUMANS EVERYWHERE, the motto of the Green Berets is appropriate "De Oppresso Liber" (To liberate the oppressed). Granted we will bitch and moan about going to hellholes and doing the job, but that's just natural, hell we bitch about doing P.T. (Physical Training), doing manuvers, etc. That's because we are humans, and we are doing our DUTY, but heck only certain people LOVE to trounce through the mud for 30 Miles, just to shoot a couple of magazines, than camp in the mud. Sorry, about all the military commentary, but I guess I got more brainwashed than I thought.
Well I think I typed more than my fill, sorry if I ranted about the military, I just care about Military personnel and making sure they get their say.
