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Well, here we go again - 8/18/2013 11:27:51 PM

jlf1961

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In an effort to improve fair representation in the state of Texas, the Republican controlled state house has once more brought a whole new meaning to the term "Gerrymandering."

quote:

Redistricting Plan Set, But Legal Debate Isn't Over
The Texas Legislature, trading turns with the federal courts, used this year’s first special session to approve new redistricting maps that will be in place for next year’s elections unless the courts object. Left alone, those maps will become state law in September.

Before the first round of this decade’s redistricting in 2011, 97 of the 150 House districts voted, on average, for Republicans in statewide elections. In the maps approved by the Legislature this summer, that rose to 100 districts. The Democrats, conversely, fell to 50 from 53 before redistricting.

Redistricting Plan Set, But Legal Debate Isn't Over

Back in 2001, the state did a redistricting move that turned my predominantly democrat district into a Republican District that included the city of Lubbock, way the fuck up in the panhandle. This move was to get rid of Charles Stenholm, a democrat congressman for over twenty years who made it a habit of helping farmers, ranchers, and the lower middle class.

The new district has a thirty mile stretch that is about 100 yards wide heading up to Lubbock.

And people talk about Democrats rigging the vote.

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RE: Well, here we go again - 8/19/2013 3:24:41 AM

RottenJohnny

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Voting districts is one part of American politics that I'd be happy to eliminate.

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RE: Well, here we go again - 8/19/2013 5:39:21 AM

DesideriScuri

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quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961
In an effort to improve fair representation in the state of Texas, the Republican controlled state house has once more brought a whole new meaning to the term "Gerrymandering."

quote:

Redistricting Plan Set, But Legal Debate Isn't Over
The Texas Legislature, trading turns with the federal courts, used this year’s first special session to approve new redistricting maps that will be in place for next year’s elections unless the courts object. Left alone, those maps will become state law in September.
Before the first round of this decade’s redistricting in 2011, 97 of the 150 House districts voted, on average, for Republicans in statewide elections. In the maps approved by the Legislature this summer, that rose to 100 districts. The Democrats, conversely, fell to 50 from 53 before redistricting.
Redistricting Plan Set, But Legal Debate Isn't Over

Back in 2001, the state did a redistricting move that turned my predominantly democrat district into a Republican District that included the city of Lubbock, way the fuck up in the panhandle. This move was to get rid of Charles Stenholm, a democrat congressman for over twenty years who made it a habit of helping farmers, ranchers, and the lower middle class.
The new district has a thirty mile stretch that is about 100 yards wide heading up to Lubbock.
And people talk about Democrats rigging the vote.

I have no doubts that Democrats do the same thing when they can, jlf. When they do it, it's just as wrong as when the R's do it. WTF took them so long? The census was in 2010....

Ohio R's did the same thing in 2011. In 2012, there was a new plan to make redistricting fairer that passed the Ohio Senate 32-1 (The Ohio Senate party breakdown is 23R - 9D). That should help prevent abuses in the future.

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RE: Well, here we go again - 8/19/2013 9:46:23 AM

jlf1961

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There hasnt been a democrat controlled state house or governor since god knows when. I think LBJ might have been the last one, not sure.

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RE: Well, here we go again - 8/19/2013 10:26:49 AM

DesideriScuri

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quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961
There hasnt been a democrat controlled state house or governor since god knows when. I think LBJ might have been the last one, not sure.

Wasn't limiting my comments to just the State of Texas.

Edited to add and then decided not to add....

< Message edited by DesideriScuri -- 8/19/2013 10:27:30 AM >

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RE: Well, here we go again - 8/19/2013 10:30:20 AM

Phydeaux

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quote:

ORIGINAL: jlf1961

There hasnt been a democrat controlled state house or governor since god knows when. I think LBJ might have been the last one, not sure.

The term gerrymandering was based on Aldredge Gerry - A democrat - who was the most famous first practioner of the same....

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RE: Well, here we go again - 8/19/2013 10:35:34 AM

mnottertail

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Elbridge Gerry was actually a Democrat-Republican, so ---

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elbridge_Gerry

<snip>
In 1812 the state adopted new constitutionally mandated electoral district boundaries. The Republican-controlled legislature had created district boundaries designed to enhance their party's control over state and national offices, leading to some oddly shaped legislative districts.[79] Although Gerry was unhappy about the highly partisan districting (according to his son-in-law, he thought it "highly disagreeable"), he signed the legislation. The shape of one of the state senate districts in Essex County resembled a salamander, leading a local Federalist newspaper to print a political cartoon calling it a "Gerry-mander".[80] Ever since, the creation of such districts has been called gerrymandering.[79] Gerry also engaged in partisan investigations of potential libel against him by elements of the Federalist press, further damaging his popularity with moderates. The redistricting controversy, along with the libel investigation and the impending War of 1812, contributed to Gerry's defeat in 1812 (once again at the hands of Caleb Strong, whom the Federalists had brought out of retirement).[81][82] The gerrymandering of the state senate was a notable success in the 1812 election: the body was thoroughly dominated by Republicans, even though the house and the governor's seat went to Federalists by substantial margins.[83]
</snip>

And so on. . .

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