CA: Power death-grip (Incumbent disease & Political self-preservation)

Press-Enterprise ^ | 2/10/05 | Op/Ed

[NormsRevenge]

What principle does Rocklin Rep. John Doolittle say he'll "fight to the death" to defend? Political self-preservation. He's one of the influential California congressmen more interested in incumbency than in the public good of redistricting reform.

But the reform's goal is more effective government, not the protection of parties or incumbents -- something not all congressmen understand, apparently.

Doolittle, like fellow Republican David Dreier of San Dimas, opposes Gov. Schwarzenegger's plans to change how the state draws political districts. They worry it might cost the state as many as four Republican seats in Congress, and not coincidentally, make their own re-elections more chancy.

Schwarzenegger wants to take the power to draw voting districts away from the Legislature and hand it to a panel of retired judges, much like the nonpartisan panel that devised new districts in 1990. That would remove political self-interest from the equation, making the process fairer to voters.

The 2000 redistricting made life safe for incumbents of both parties at the expense of competitive elections. As the governor likes to emphasize, not one of California's 153 legislative and congressional districts changed parties in the November 2004 vote.

The result of incumbent safety is poor accountability. When incumbents face only token opposition, they can ignore the public interest as long as they don't cross the party activists whose votes decide the primaries. That leads to badly polarized legislatures that have no incentive to cooperate or compromise.

Some in Congress say the governor should focus on resdistricting for the Legislature, and leave congressional seats alone at least until the next census. But why should safe seats for congressmen be more acceptable than safe seats for state legislators?

California's current redistricting system subordinates the public interest to the politicians' interests, and that's wrong at any level of government. A campaign to turn that dynamic right-side-up deserves support from everyone invested in good government -- even congressmen.

[goldstategop]

If the Republican Party can't win a majority in a competitive election, perhaps it ought to close up shop. We shouldn't be content with whatever crumbs the Democrats deign to throw to us.

Denny Crane: "There are two places to find the truth. First God and then Fox News."

[churchillbuff]

If the Republican Party can't win a majority in a competitive election, ..."

Haven't Dreier and Doolittle been in Congress since the Earth cooled? Why do they resist the possibility of doing something else with their lives, stepping aside and letting some new blood into the House of Reps?

[NormsRevenge]

We'll see how fractured the state 'party' is after its love-fest coming up this week-end.

The CA GOP effectively offed itself when it bought into the appease the middle of the roaders mentality.

RIP CAGOP