Fight Fire with Fire: Time to Redraw All the Blue States

Email Print posted by Cenk 06/29/2006 02:59:33 PM EST

Google Technorati del.icio.us digg reddit
If you like this story, digg it!
You build leverage and you impose your will. If Democrats don't strike back immediately in redistricting blue states as soon as humanly possible, they are pathetically weak and hopeless. We're not playing badminton here. It's crazy to have one side redrawing all their states to their advantage and the other side sitting back and politely getting creamed.

The Supreme Court ruled yesterday that it is acceptable to redraw congressional districts anytime within a decade, not just after the US Census comes out. Fine. In fact, great! Right now, Democrats have sole control over the governorship and legislatures of Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington and West Virginia. We should redraw districts in those states in a way that is most favorable to Democrats - tomorrow.

And after the 2006 elections, New York, California, Maryland and Michigan can also very easily be under the control of the Democratic Party. We should redraw districts in those states in a way that is most favorable to Democrats -- the day after the election.

It's legal. The Republicans have been saying how perfectly ethical it is for the last several years. So, it would be political negligence for the Democrats to not to do likewise. It would be the equivalent of unilateral disarmament.

The reality is we need to get MAD before we get sane. MAD is the acronym for Mutually Assured Destruction. It got us through the Cold War because the Soviets knew that if they launched their weapons, we would launch ours and everyone would get wiped out.

In redistricting we need the same deterrent. The Republicans have already picked up six seats in the US Congress by redistricting Texas. So, the Democrats should pick up that much or more by redistricting every blue state they control.

Then and only then, will Republicans be forced to sit down at the negotiation table and come up with a sane plan for redistricting by impartial bodies so we can actually have real and competitive districts that reflect the true will of the people. That is the end goal. But if you think we're going to get there by politely asking the Republicans, you're so naive it hurts. Anyone who thinks politicians will do the right thing on principle has no business in politics.

You build leverage and you impose your will. If Democrats don't strike back immediately in redistricting blue states as soon as humanly possible, they are pathetically weak and hopeless. We're not playing badminton here. It's crazy to have one side redrawing all their states to their advantage and the other side sitting back and politely getting creamed.

Get up, it's time to get 'em back. Somebody get me a pen, I'm in a redrawing kind of mood.

< Peace Deal in Iraq: Is this what we've been looking for? | A liberal and a conservative started talking imigration... >
 Display:
Fight Fire with Fire: Time to Redraw All the Blue States | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
All the rope they need to hang themselves (none / 0)
I'm having a hard time getting fired up about this decision (pun intended).  Ultimately I believe the old saw "absolute power corrupts absolutely."  For example, look what happened to the Texan slime who catalzyed this whole string, Tom DeLay.  This "victory" in the Supreme Court is his last.  And as much as I hate it on the gut level because its a blatant power grab, its inevitably going to backfire on itself.

The intuitive, apparent danger here is that representatives from "safe districts" won't have to be accountable to their constituents as long as the district lines are constantly maintained, redrawn, to match the red/blue demographics necessary for their re-election.  That might be a great plan if it were practicable.  Leave it to a Texan politician to come up with an accountability dodging plan that can't succeed!

The problem is constituents in all districts eventually demand accountability.  There is a rising tide in American politics and the force behind it is accountability.  Ultimately, no matter where the district lines are drawn, representatives are going to have to make the votes, bring home the pork and do the casework necessary to get re-elected in their districts.  Constant redrawing of districts is going to lead to breakdowns in competent representation and higher incumbent turnover.  The Supreme Court has given Legislatures all the rope they need to hang themselves.  Let Texas swing first, what state is more deserving?

by Trog96743 on 06/30/2006 01:01:19 AM EST

California (none / 0)
California is already set up to the advantage of the Democratic Party. But is it in the best interests of the people to not have competitive elections? I think not. There is little effort made by candidates to adopt positions that appeal to mainstream Joe Sixpack, instead the positions seem to be designed to secure the vote of either Sally Socialist or Billy Bob Biblethumper.

However, aside from statewide contests, the concept of competitiveness in November, let alone suspense, has become laughable. There are 153 legislative and congressional seats at stake in California every two years -- 80 in the Assembly, 20 in the state Senate and 53 in the U.S. House of Representatives. In 2004, not a single one of the 153 seats changed party hands. In the words of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger: "The current system is rigged to benefit the interests of those in office and not those who put them there. We must reform it." [LINK]

by Twba on 06/30/2006 05:44:48 AM EST

Texas History (none / 0)
"Right now, Democrats have sole control over the governorship and legislatures of Illinois, Louisiana, Maine, North Carolina, New Jersey, New Mexico, Washington and West Virginia. We should redraw districts in those states in a way that is most favorable to Democrats - tomorrow."

There is a slight problem with your suggestion. Democrats have already gerrymandered congress ional districts in these states so much that they can't possibly squeeze out another Democrat seat.

The Texas situtation was unique because state legislative power changed hands (Democrat to Republican) for the first time since Texas became a state in 1845.

As you know, Texas votes overwhelmingly Republican in presidential and senatorial elections. And yet, prior to the Tom Delay redistricting, the Texas congressional delegation was overwhelmingly Democrat.

This mid-census redistricting action made the number of GOP congressmen in Texas proportional to the percentage of GOP voters in Texas. That's why the Supreme Court said the action was totally fair.

by KenTX on 07/01/2006 04:31:54 PM EST

Fight Fire with Fire: Time to Redraw All the Blue States | 3 comments (3 topical, 0 hidden)
 Display: