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California Democrats secretly influenced drawing of new political district boundaries
MecuryNews.com ^ | 12/21/2011 | Lisa Vorderbrueggen

Posted on 12/22/2011 5:18:57 AM PST by 11th_VA

California's congressional Democrats ran a secret effort this year to manipulate the work of the independent citizens panel that drew the state's new political districts, foiling the intent of reformers who sought to remove the redistricting process from the control of party bosses.

Democrats met behind closed doors at the party's Washington, D.C., headquarters, hired consultants, drew their ideal districts and presented maps to the panel through proxies who never disclosed their party ties or "public interest" groups created specifically for the purpose. In many cases, the panel responded by doing just what the Democrats wanted.

The New York-based nonprofit investigative foundation ProPublica released findings Wednesday from a months-long reconstruction of the Democrats' stealth redistricting strategy, relying on internal memos, emails, interviews and map analyses.

The success of the strategy has Democrats projecting they might pick up as many as seven congressional seats in 2012 under new district boundaries adopted in the summer, far more than had been expected.

"Every member of the Northern California Democratic Caucus has a ticket back to D.C.," crowed one internal memo. "This is a huge accomplishment that should be celebrated by advocates throughout the region."

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Front Page News; Politics/Elections; US: California
KEYWORDS: cultureofcorruption; gerrymandering; redistricting
No news here, keep moving along folks ... But seriously, I wonder if Lisa is gonna have a job next year after writing this story ...
1 posted on 12/22/2011 5:19:03 AM PST by 11th_VA
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To: 11th_VA
Democrats doing what Democrats do:
Lying, cheating, obstructing justice, being an affront to all things civilized, and generally being a scourge on the earth.
2 posted on 12/22/2011 5:26:33 AM PST by grobdriver (Proud Member, Party Of No! No Socialism - No Fascism - Nobama - No Way!)
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To: 11th_VA

Off with their heads!


3 posted on 12/22/2011 5:32:42 AM PST by CPT Clay (Pick up your weapon and follow me.)
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To: 11th_VA

It is my opinion that the most aggravating part of the Political scene in this country is the simple well known fact the Democrats have a couple of hundred years track record doing just exactly this sort of underhanded, skullduggery, and yet the Republicans are never ever prepared to counter their very obvious, and really not so clever little tricks.

It’s almost like it’s staged ie; Carol Burnett in “Annie” sort of obvious.


4 posted on 12/22/2011 5:34:34 AM PST by rockinqsranch (Dems, Libs, Socialists, call 'em what you will, they ALL have fairies livin' in their trees.)
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To: Owl_Eagle; brityank; Physicist; WhyisaTexasgirlinPA; GOPJ; abner; baseballmom; Mo1; Ciexyz; ...

Just to give you something to throw back at Dem acquaintances regarding Pa.’s looming redistricting.


5 posted on 12/22/2011 5:36:46 AM PST by Tribune7 (Vote Perry (or Gingrich maybe))
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To: 11th_VA

In Arizona, we just turned over the redistricting to Obama’s people. Once it was found out who they were, the “courts” said it was great that Barry’s people are now running the state.


6 posted on 12/22/2011 5:47:16 AM PST by FlingWingFlyer (Stop BIG Government Greed Now!!!!)
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To: grobdriver

Throw it out or tie it up in court like the dems did here in TX!!!


7 posted on 12/22/2011 6:19:25 AM PST by CPT Clay (Pick up your weapon and follow me.)
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To: 11th_VA

Why is anyone surprised ?


8 posted on 12/22/2011 6:21:25 AM PST by Eric in the Ozarks (Gimme that old time fossil fuel.)
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To: 11th_VA

Politics used to be about finding the best person for a job, and that person was the one who would get the most effective and efficient use out of the taxpayer’s hard-earned dollars. Why do the Democrats pull all these shenanigans for government jobs?


9 posted on 12/22/2011 6:27:48 AM PST by blueunicorn6 ("A crack shot and a good dancer")
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To: blueunicorn6
Why do the Democrats pull all these shenanigans for government jobs?

They get to boss around their countrymen and, a distant second, job security.

10 posted on 12/22/2011 6:58:59 AM PST by newzjunkey (Republicans will find a way to reelect Obama and Speaker Pelosi.)
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To: grobdriver

How much more cheating can they do when they control 70 percent of that sick state? Oddly, the “informed” people have left CA but taken their liberalism with them too! There’s just too much liberalism to go around in CA.


11 posted on 12/22/2011 8:01:35 AM PST by Theodore R. (I'll still vote for Santorum if he is on the April 3 ballot.)
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To: 11th_VA
Thank you Carl Rove, for foisting Arnold.
12 posted on 12/22/2011 8:17:18 AM PST by Carry_Okie (The RNC would prefer Obama to a conservative nominee.)
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To: rockinqsranch
It is my opinion that the most aggravating part of the Political scene in this country is the simple well known fact the Democrats have a couple of hundred years track record doing just exactly this sort of underhanded, skullduggery, and yet the Republicans are never ever prepared to counter their very obvious, and really not so clever little tricks.

Unfortunately the Democrats have utterly white-washed their history. Most people are completely unaware that the Democrat party was founded by Van Buren specifically for the purpose of committing political malfeasance vis-a-vis the spoils system.

13 posted on 12/22/2011 8:22:18 AM PST by Thane_Banquo
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To: 11th_VA

didn’t Tom Delay get charged or maybe going to jail because of this?


14 posted on 12/22/2011 12:59:35 PM PST by 4rcane
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