Posted on 12/18/2010 6:31:35 AM PST by randita
Illinois: Democrats' lone redistricting prize is a big one
When it comes to redistricting, Illinois is Democrats' prize pig. And it might be the biggest prize on the map for either party.
The Democrats control the drawing of the map in only seven states this year. But none of them compare in size or influence to the Land of Lincoln.
In fact, in the other six -- Massachusetts, Maryland, Connecticut, Arkansas, West Virginia and Rhode Island -- the Democrats already control 25 of 32 congressional seats. That doesn't leave much room for map expansion.
Illinois is another story. Republicans just won four seats from Democrats this November and now hold an 11-to-8 edge in the state's congressional delegation. That means lots of room for gains for the other guys.
"This is really the one state where Democrats can do something," said David Wasserman, a redistricting expert at the Cook Political Report.
Illinois Republicans are scared. And they should be.
Those who should be most concerned are four new members -- Reps.-elect Joe Walsh, Bob Dold, Bobby Schilling and Adam Kinzinger -- and a member who just won his second term, Rep. Aaron Schock.
Walsh and Dold just won districts in the northern Chicago suburbs/exurbs near the Wisconsin border. And there's plenty of Democratic territory that can be added to both of their districts by drawing in parts of the Rep. Jan Schakowsky's (D) 9th district and some of the more Democratic areas of Rep.-elect Randy Hultgren's (R) 14th district.
(Be sure to follow along on the congressional map here and, for a closer look at the Chicago area, here.)
Besides the maneuvering in the Chicago area, the main change will be the likely loss of a district somewhere in the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at voices.washingtonpost.com ...
Lots of options - none of them good for the GOP.
I can’t believe that a process where politicians with a huge conflict of interest are allowed to chose their voters instead of the other way around. I have a problem with this even if it helps the GOP. It is wrong on so many levels, and a slap in the face of Democracy.
The people of Illinois keep electing liberals despite their horrible economy, high crime rates and corrupt government.
They deserve this.
Meanwhile, Republican gains in other states will more than offset anything the liberals can carve out of Illinois.
Providing Republicans deliver on smaller government and reduced deficits, we will see the GOP make more gains in 2012, just from redistricting.
I agree.
Send more crooks, numbskulls, and outright liars to congress.
After all, Jesse Jackson, Jr. needs company.
The wins mentioned were by squishy RINO's who would never last anyway. In this zero-sum game, the Dim's will only find themselves back where they started with no net gain.
Illinois' problem is a Republican party in total disarray and a Democrat machine without comparison.
I must say, the people of Illinois are NOT electing these screwballs, but the voters of Chicago sure are. The entire state of Illinois is red, minus Chicago.
I wonder how long it’s going to take for the rest of the state to figure out how to secede. My sweetie lives on the north side, teaches on the southside, so I’ve been there many times.
The amount of corruption, self-dealing, and outright crime in gov’t is something to behold, especially if you come from a “good gov’t” kind of state.
It’s absolutely stunning. And the people in Chicago have given up.
Exactly. There is no saving Illinois. It will have to implode.
Meanwhile here in North Carolina, now hat the Republicans control both the state House and Senate for the first time in 100 years, the rat governor wants to take redistricting out of the legislature’s hands and leave it up to an “independent commission”....
You’re involved in a “what comes first - the chicken or the egg” argument.
The voters choose their Governor and State Legislature, the Governor and Legislature determine the make up of the U.S. House of Representatives districts to favor the party the voters have just elected to the Governorship and State Legislature. Wash, rinse, repeat.
It works both ways. Terxas will gain FOUR congressional seats, and with the GOP now firmly in control of the state legislature, and Gov Perry just re-elected, some estimates have it that with careful redistricting, the GOP could gain as many as EIGHT seats in the the Texas congressional delegation..the four new ones, plus four at the expense of sitting Dems. It works both ways. The people of each state elect their state represntatives,a nd they thus get the government they’ve chosen, Texas’ economy is BOOMING..Illinois’ is in the septic tank...wonder why?
It works both ways. Texas will gain FOUR congressional seats, and with the GOP now firmly in control of the state legislature, and Gov Perry just re-elected, some estimates have it that with careful redistricting, the GOP could gain as many as EIGHT seats in the the Texas congressional delegation..the four new ones, plus four at the expense of sitting Dems. It works both ways. The people of each state elect their state represntatives,a nd they thus get the government they’ve chosen, Texas’ economy is BOOMING..Illinois’ is in the septic tank...wonder why?
This situation where Dem states continue to lose electoral votes to Repub states will cause increasing scrutiny (which really never died since Gore lost in 2000) of the electoral college system. Texas will become the electoral powerhouse that California had been, and CA, NY, NJ will continue bleeding influence; it a situation the Dems must stop to remain relevant.
The Republican House should defund anything beneficial to this state, period - make them disperse to Wyoming or something.. Something is seriously effed up there. They and Ohio play far too big a part in election strategies.
This is the most pathetically sad attempt to find microscopic silver lining in a giant cloud of gloom for the Dems. So the Dems have one state to gerrymander, that was probably already pretty much drawn to benefit them anyway. The Repubs are getting to redraw states that were originally drawn to benefit the Dems. That is twice the change.
Yes, out of 102 counties in Illinois, only 4 voted democratic. Chicago wins out over the rest of the state. That’s why so many are leaving Illinois, including my family when I retire in 3 years.
However, this commission will likely be corrupted by the commies.
Not that it would be a significant change from the current state...
The state is a dump; I’m glad I left.
http://www.chicagonow.com/blogs/dennis-byrne-barbershop/2010/01/illinois-worst-state.html
It was also mentioned in Forbes as the worst state for retirement.
http://emergingcorruption.com/2010/10/the-best-and-worst-state-debt-disasters/
It isn’t just that there is corruption, there is a sense of entitlement towards corruption. It’s actually multigenerational.
Makes me sick. Only a miracle from the courts could save us.
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