Texas GOP crafts new Hill districts, Dems to lose six seats

Texas GOP crafts new Hill districts

By Hugh Aynesworth
THE WASHINGTON TIMES


DALLAS — Texas Republicans, with strong help from U.S. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, finally approved yesterday a congressional-redistricting measure they expect to cost Democrats six U.S. House seats.
As recently as last week, it was thought that bickering between state House and Senate leaders over the reconstitution of three West Texas districts might cause enough delay that current districts would have to stand for at least another two years.
But Mr. DeLay stepped in and herded the various factions together, finally agreeing at 2:30 a.m. yesterday.
Though Republicans hold every statewide elective office and control both houses of the state Legislature, they have just 15 of the state's 32 congressional seats. Mr. DeLay made no secret that he considered getting a new map in place before next year's elections a top priority.
"Majority Leader DeLay facilitated the process," said state Sen. Todd Staples, the lead negotiator for the Texas Senate, "and I think he was key to solving the West Texas part of the state."

SNIP

http://www.washtimes.com/national/20031009-114941-2059r.htm

so that this mess could happen?

Anyone thinking of recalling him?

or "Quit"mire as we refer to him here.

No recall...just vote the SOB out next time around...

I don't think the map's gonna fly...district 24 is too carved up to stand the test...I might be wrong though.

Seems it could have been much worse.

On the other hand, a less drastic plan means it is more likely the courts will approve the changes.

They already got the two new seats when TX was redistricting Waaaaaaayyyy back before the 2002 election. I'm not sure ten seats would have been possible.

Six will be bad enough added to the handfull we lost last year. Add that to a few retirements this year (we've been putting off too man congressmen retiring for too long with talk of "just one more race so we can win it all back").

I'm not giving up hope yet, but this is beginning to look like 2004 will no longer be "parity" in the House.

I can not accept Lamar Smith as a representative for
Austin. When does this farce become official anyway?

Trying to figure out how to respond.

These Republicans brazenly admit they are screwing people over for political gain, and NOBODY SAYS OR DOES ANYTHING. My proposed new district lumps me in with people I have NOTHING in common with, and removes me from a district with a Congressman that actually REPRESENTS me. I am so pissed I can't see straight.

Add this to the fact that they moved our primary date to March 9th, so Texas has ZERO impact on picking a Democratic nominee. FUCK FUCK FUCK I CAN'T STAND THESE ARROGANT REPUBLICAN ASSHOLES!!!!!

I don't advocate using the word "hate" in describing another human being, but I actively and passionately hate Tom DeLay.

Get me the fuck out of this hellish state!

They stole California with DAS REICH GROPER! They stole the 2000 election, they stole 2 seats from Colorado and now this!!!

I understand, by federal standards, it won't fly.

not.

:-)

We screwed ourselves on this one in the 70's & 80's.

If you read the last few paragraphs of any article in the paper on this subject, they'll give it a "footnote" of an explanation.

After the 1970 and 1980 censuses (censi?)we drew lines to create new majority-minority districts. This had the laudible benefit of electing minority congressmen (& women).

The Republicans fought this in court tooth and nail on a variety of grounds and pretty much lost across the board.

The problem is that to create those districts with a majority of African Americans (for instance), we ended up packing large numbers of Democrats into each district (a 55% black district could be 75-80% Democratic) thus serving the goal of minority representation in Congress, but "packing" excess Democrats into the district. There were fewer Democrats to go around in neighboring districts.

So we ended up electing more minorities to Congress but fewer Democrats (arguably hurting the cause of minority representation).


So now they draw the lines the same way. "Pack" a bunch of minorites into a single district and 1)Ensure Republican representation of neighboring districts and 2) Ensure the perception that only minorites are Democrats (which may soon be the case in Texas) and 3) often gain the redistricting support of minority Democratic representatives who hope to fill those slots (I belive tere was one in TX).

We've tried to challenge these districts before (recently in Virginia) and lost because the federal precedent has already been set by us. This map supposedly creates a new hispanic district and a new black district. Based on our own precedents, we won't be successful arguing that it violates the voting rights. That issue has already been decided... you CAN "pack" minorites if it creates a new minority represented district - despite the fact it hurts Democrats overall.

It is not a valid argument (though probably true) to say that Democrats better represent minorites than Republicans, so you can't draw lines cutting out all those Democrats.

The changes are pretty minor and proving they are an attempt or even have the de facto result looks like it will be requesting a judge to be a mind reader. The best solution is to make sure that the candidates we put up have clear programs to address the concerns of their district. We've beaten Repugs in "their" districts before and we can do it again. Texans are generally pretty ticked off with the lack of leadership out of "pretty hair" Perry and Delay's lapdog Lt. Governor. The fact that one member of the Tx House held the whole thing up for 10 days in this last Special Session proves they don't have any leadership.

Should just save themselves a whole lot of time and hastle and just kill all the democrats. I'm sure Delay has thought of it several times.

My dear friend just started a job with Lloyd Doggett. I sure hope LD isn't getting shafted.

If he's a white, male Democrat, consider him targeted.

He is too liberal to win in the new district. Austin, which I guess is more liberal than most of texas, is torn apart. There is one district that goes down to Mexico, another that connects to Houston and at least one more that goes off in another direction.


Sandlin, Turner, Lampson, Doggett, and Frost all are screwed. Charlie Stenholm will be thrown in Randy Neugebauer's(sp?) district and will have an extremely tight race. Ralph Hall may be in some trouble but he is basically a republican and may retire anyway so republicans will win there. Chris Bell and Gene Green may be able to win but they will have to move because they are redistricted out of their own districts. Bell's district, though, is the additional "black district" I believe so he may have a primary. I also believe Chet Edwards is in for some trouble.

One or more of these guys could switch to calling themselves Republicans. Not much of a change in a couple cases, but it would allow them to keep their seats. And if nothing else, they would probably be open to voting with us some in the future.

Ralph Hall could do that but he already almost 80 years old and has said in the past that he will retire and that he won't switch parties because he wants to change the democratic party to be more conservative. He is basically a republican anyway and I could see him winning reelection even as a democrat. He supported Bush in 2000 and says he will vote for Hastert for Speaker if he has to.

Charlie Stenholm is the only other one that I think ideologically could stand to be part of the republican party. He is pretty conservative but has been said to still be fairly partisan in favor of the democrats even though he often doesn't vote with the democrats. Also, he could still win reelection and can't switch because he would face a primary with an incumbent.

People like Edwards, Turner and Sandlin are certainly moderate but I don't see them ever becoming republican. They are certainly more liberal than most republicans.

His district has been chopped up and he likely will not retain his seat. This is a big loss for the State as well as his district because he has seniority in the House.

???

Fucking fascist traitor.

I can't believe the gall and arrogance of these Republican fuckers who are destroying this state and our country. I really... I don't even know what to say; these guys are unbelievable.

Things just keep getting worse and worse, piling on and piling on...

Fuck Dewhurst, Perry, Delay, Craddick, Whitmire, and the rest who are dragging Texas through the dirt more than Shrub's leadership on the national level already is.

Oh yeah, and what bullshit about the state's Congressional delegation needing to represent their Presidential vote. Have these hypocrites ever heard of split-ticket voting? It's their problem they could only carry 15 of ther 32 seats prior to their gerrymandering... 20 of the seats were majority or plurality Republican but just held on to conservative/moderate Dem congressmen because they represented them. I imagine my district, #2, is one that's going to go under... I'm sure Blue Dog Jim Turner will be replaced by some right-wing nut like the moron who "represents" us in the State House, Mike "Tuffy" Hamilton.

I'd move, and encourage other dems to do likewise.

I have a pretty decent-paying job here. It would be hard to find one comparable in another part of the country.

Unless you're willing to adopt me...:7

Seriously, though...Living in a tiny state, I've no idea how far you'd have to move to reside in a democratic district. Are they all so far away from you? Or is there a republican district nearby that could be tipped democratic by having enough people move from a hopelessly repiglican one?

I know it sounds crazy and extremist...but the times seem to indicate the need for extremism (of the non-violent variety, of course).

Rally DEMS!!!!

His crappy little assistants threw a hissy fit when Moveon.org had people calling in regarding the FCC. They forwarded the calls to a Moveon.org leader's cell phone.

Well, they're not going to pull that crap with us. Let them know JUST HOW YOU FEEL.

Besides, you can get local contact number for him here:

www.vote-smart.org

Just plug in his name and click when it comes up.

By the way, is DeLay openly breaking any laws, and even though it is lawless Texas, can't we do something about it?

was it was hung up in the Senate...Two Republicans opposed to the plan...two sitting on the fence now...and indications a vote won't happen if they can't pass the bill to transfer Strayhorn's power from the Comptroller's office to Perry...

Don't know where it stands right now...the Senate had suspended the debate a short while ago..

Maybe this thing might collapse at the last minute

Even though I would be surpised if it fell apart, it is good to know there is still a tiny bit of hope that some republicans will defeat this.

The word 'politics' is derived from the word 'poly', meaning 'many', and the word 'ticks', meaning 'blood sucking parasites'.
Larry Hardiman

There are lawsuits already poised for the courts by minority groups, the ACLU etc etc etc.... Apparently the SCOTUS is hearing a case they should decide before December on redistricting violations in another state (which one escapes me. Sorry... It wasn't Colorado, though) and based on THAT case people are speculating what the outcome of Texas will be.

It really doesn't look good for Republicans. I'm not giving up just yet.......... REMEMBER THE ALAMO. This fight is FAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRR from over.