Different day, same GOP cheating…
Maryland should also toss out its map, but neither side is going to unilaterally disarm. The ideal outcome is the courts settling this matter before the next round of redistricting.
You know how we know that there isn’t an old-testament-style god? Because otherwise saying “[Democrats] are attempting to achieve through the courthouse what they could not in the voting booths.” in a state where more than half of the votes garner less than a third of the seats would leave a small pile of ashes where the speaker was.
It all makes sense if you subscribe to the 3/5th rule.
The only way Rs can win in a place like Pennsylvania is cheating. By all rights, there should be 10 Ds and 8 Rs in the delegation for PA in the House of Representatives, and the Ds should also control at least one side of the state legislature, too. But the Rs gained control and have set things up to desperately hold on to power to help their friends and punish the enemies (e.g., large cities with large minority populations such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh), and to stay in charge.
Meanwhile, they try to pass voting restrictions and don’t allow early voting. Basically they block anything that might assist the D majority among voters. Still, this only works because swing voters oscillate between voting for Ds and voting for Rs in PA, and that’s finally changing where it matters in the Philadelphia suburbs. (Where I’ve lived for nearly 4 decades.) In 2016, not enough of them shifted to Hillary based on solely on personality even though they shared her goals and policies. Meanwhile, rural voters went in a bloc for Trump, which just happened to be enough to swing the state for him. That would not happen with another D, unless that D otherwise offended swing voters. Instead, Trump has offended them – even many who held their noses to vote for him – which has resulted in formerly solid (but moderate) R areas around Philly to become solidly D even in local races in 2017. Expect a similar realignment for 2018. The Ds WILL achieve what they need at the voting booths, despite the Rs cheating.
I doubt that reasoning will hold up if this moves on. Essentially the Judges said the process is corrupt but corruption is the rule so it’s OK. The ruling sets precedent for allowing politics to override the intent of the law.
See I told you there were a lot of racist above the Mason Dixon line!
[quote=“coprophagoussmile, post:3, topic:67199”]
The ideal outcome is the courts settling this matter before the next round of redistricting.
[/quote]Not only is it the right thing to do, but despite the situation in Maryland, the GOP gerrymandering has been much more egregious. There’s no doubt that there would be a significant Democratic gain in the House for this reason alone.
It’s not just Pennsylvania.
It is sooo over, folks. SCOTUS will not only uphold gerrymandering, they will quite possibly articulate some new “test” that green-lights the practice everywhere. The GOP will then use its existing domination to cement those gains.
It’s all about Kennedy it would seem.
As long as you’re pontificating, how about giving us the winning Powerball numbers?
Here’s what looks like a pretty reliable analysis on the total gerrymandering impact on the House. It uses the same approaches that hopefully will convince Kennedy that a science-based approach should prevail. Looks like a 17 seat swing on gerrymandering alone if I counted correctly:
Yeah, eventually the sun will expand and encompass earth’s orbit. Whatever.
“The task of prescribing election regulations was given, in the first instance, to political actors who make decisions for political reasons,” Circuit Court Judge D. Brooks Smith wrote in the majority opinion in the case delivered by a court that was split 2-1. “Plaintiffs ignore this reality.”
Dear God Almighty! This judge believes “political actors,” i,e, representatives of the people, are elected to further partisan political objectives as opposed to serving their constituents, i.e., we the people. Gerrymandering the election of our representatives to further partisan political objectives is an inherent “reality” in our system of government. We have built a system where we elect people to serve interests other than our own. Party first. Fuck the people! I’m going to assume this judge is a registered Republican agent, and is representative of the Republican ideology.
Ultimately, gerrymandering, voter suppression, and other attacks on democracy and the right to vote must become subject to federal criminal sanctions. Otherwise it will go on forever.
Perfect.
Long before then, any liquid water on earth’s surface will boil away. So he’s right on two counts.
Although disappointing, this was expected, and the unanimous NC decision is encouraging. SCOTUS can go either way on this.
However, I always thought the League of Women Voters lawsuit had a better chance based on the PA constitution and equality.
“LWVPA lawsuit is structured to make a particular constitutional case based on provisions of the Pennsylvania constitution guaranteeing freedom of expression, freedom of association and equal protection.”
Edit: On January 17 the Pennsylvania Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the case.
Good luck with both lawsuits. We sure need it.