The Voter Redistricting Gambit

[Beebo Brink]

It all started with Texas. Soooo how's that working out now?

 

[Dancien]

Just from what I am noticing here in Texas, the redistricting (if it goes through) is going to backfire. A lot of the redistricting was done to beef up the Hispanic Vote which went heavily for Trump last election. He is losing numbers rapidly in that demo. Also...beef and oil prices are fucking with a lot of people out here.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

I think one of the most important things to gleam from that video is that a lot of right wing judges value the nonsense propaganda they get out of the media over the facts presented in court cases. This is proven by the judge's belief that George Soros was who he was trying to rule against.

 

[Beebo Brink]

I think one of the most important things to gleam from that video is that a lot of right wing judges value the nonsense propaganda they get out of the media over the facts presented in court cases. This is proven by the judge's belief that George Soros was who he was trying to rule against.

For a judge that was appointed by REAGAN, my first thought is that the paranoia and anger of that dissenting "opinion" was the ravings of a man slipping into dementia.

 

[Dancien]

The fact the judge that said "Hey Texas, this is bullshit" was appointed by Trump made me giggle a little bit.

 

[Free]

One good Republican is not enough.

Sen. Greg Walker declines Oval Office visit, accuses White House of violating Hatch Act

Sen. Greg Walker, R-Columbus, said he turned down an invitation to visit the Oval Office last week and is accusing the White House of violating federal law in its push to pressure Indiana Republicans to redraw the state’s congressional districts ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

Walker, a Republican who has been an outspoken critic of early redistricting, said he was contacted by a White House official on Nov. 17 and was invited to visit President Donald Trump in the Oval Office on Nov. 19, the day after the Indiana General Assembly’s Organization Day.

The state senator said he declined the invitation and believes it violates the Hatch Act, which restricts certain political activities by federal employees.

Walker said he would have reported the alleged violation to federal authorities “if I thought that there was anyone of integrity in Washington that would follow through on my accusation and actually cause someone to lose their job over it.”

“I refused (the invitation), but the underling who reached out to me is trying to influence the election on my dime,” Walker told The Republic. “That individual works for me. He works for you. He’s on my payroll, he’s on your payroll, and he’s campaigning on company time. That’s a violation of the Hatch Act. He’s a federal employee. He works in the White House. But does anyone care about the rules anymore? Not that I can tell.”

I do like this slow burn comment from State Sen. Walker:

“How does (Trump) have the time to mess with a nobody like me with all of the important matters that are to take his attention as the leader of the executive branch in this nation?” Walker also said. “There is no way that he should have time to have a conversation with me about Indiana mapmaking when that’s not his business, for starters. But secondly, doesn’t he have anything better to do? I can make a big list of things that are more important for him to focus on.”

 

[detrius]

One good Republican is not enough.

Sen. Greg Walker declines Oval Office visit, accuses White House of violating Hatch Act




I do like this slow burn comment from State Sen. Walker:

He's been the target of a swatting attempt:

State Senator Greg Walker targeted by ‘Swatting’ incident in Columbus

COLUMBUS, Ind. - Investigators with the Columbus Police Department (CPD) are looking into an attempted swattin...

www.localnewsdigital.com

I still wouldn't call him "good" for what should be common sense, though.

He's just another Republican who will not run for reelection and step aside, which makes him mediocre at best.

 

[Free]

I still wouldn't call him "good" for what should be common sense, though.

"Principled," then?

Honestly, I may have given up on a descriptive adjective for the few Republicans who aren't maniacal motherfuckers devoid of human empathy. Tired of the nitpicking.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

"Principled," then?

Honestly, I may have given up on a descriptive adjective for the few Republicans who aren't maniacal motherfuckers devoid of human empathy. Tired of the nitpicking.

I agree. It is good politics to praise the other side when they do something good, even if they aren't perfect.

EDIT: I'm mostly talking about cases where one breaks ranks. It is brave to go against your "tribe" to do the right thing.

 

[Free]

The gambit has paid off.

US supreme court approves redrawn Texas congressional maps

Texas can use a redrawn congressional map that adds as many as five Republican-friendly congressional districts, the supreme court ruled on Thursday, handing Donald Trump a major win in his push to boost Republican seats ahead of next year’s midterm elections.

In an unsigned order, the 6-3 conservative majority court granted a request by Texas to lift a lower court’s ruling that struck down the state’s new map in November. The supreme court’s three liberal justices dissented.

Fuck Texas, fuck Trump, and fuck you up the ass, conservative SCOTUS majority.*

* I say that with all the love I can muster from my sickened soul.

 

[Katheryne Helendale]

The gambit has paid off.

US supreme court approves redrawn Texas congressional maps


Fuck Texas, fuck Trump, and fuck you up the ass, conservative SCOTUS majority.*

* I say that with all the love I can muster from my sickened soul.

Thankfully, California Governor Newsom saw that coming. Now that SCrOTUS gave Texas its blessing, it's game on for all the other blue states.

 

[Free]

 

[detrius]

Thankfully, California Governor Newsom saw that coming. Now that SCrOTUS gave Texas its blessing, it's game on for all the other blue states.

What makes you think they won't block it when blue states redraw their congressional maps?

 

[Cindy Claveau]

What makes you think they won't block it when blue states redraw their congressional maps?

Other states (Indiana to name just one) are now redrawing their districts and it's not always going to help the Cons.

 

[Beebo Brink]

Democratic candidates are winning by substantial margins. Gerrymandering -- by its very nature -- means diluting the Republican majority within the new districts. The recent special election in a deeply red district shows that GOP candidates need much larger margins to stay safely in their seats, and that's with conditions as they are now. Assuming that conditions worsen, which seems the most likely possibility, those GOP voter margins are going to erode even more.

"Be careful what you wish for." Winning the fight to keep those new maps may not be the flex the GOP expects come the midterms.

 

[Noodles]

Democratic candidates are winning by substantial margins. Gerrymandering -- by its very nature -- means diluting the Republican majority within the new districts.

If every eligible person voted and their votes all counted equally, the Republicans would win zero seats, anywhere, at any level.

It feels like they have forgotten this.

 

[GoblinCampFollower]

If every eligible person voted and their votes all counted equally, the Republicans would win zero seats, anywhere, at any level.

It feels like they have forgotten this.

I agree with you in spirit, but I got to comment that you're exaggerating quite a bit. Oklahoma would still have no chance of electing democrats to state or most local elections for example. But I do agree the long term push is for more progressive policies. One of the greater challenges faced by democrats is herding all those cats.

 

[Soen Eber]

I seem to recall something about special elections being non-representative for regular elections because ... I think it might be something about the propaganda orchestra not being fully functioning during special elections? Can anyone confirm this? Haven't we had special elections before where everyone got excited and then losing elections in a blow out later on?

 

[Free]

Already mentioned on the boards, but wanting to tie it all up together in a big bow.

Indiana Senate votes down redistricting bill, breaking with Trump

The Indiana Senate rejected mid-decade redistricting today, capping off a bitter state fight for control of Congress that has divided the GOP, spurred violent threats and dramatically changed the political landscape ahead of the midterm elections.

The failure will likely be seen by President Donald Trump and his allies as a rebuke of his vision for cementing a congressional majority at all costs. Several groups have promised to spend top dollar on unseating those who oppose redistricting, setting the stage for a messy primary if the Senate did not pass the bill.

I'm honestly surprised by the Indiana GOP reps willing to fight Trump on this, considering the expected MAGA behavior when dear leader is making demands.

 

[Free]

"Nice state you got here, senators. It would be a real shame if something happened to it..."