Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

A model redistricting plan from the Maryland GOP
The Washington Post ^ | July 15 | The Washington Post

Posted on 10/19/2011 7:03:06 AM PDT by TBP

Maryland is home to some of the most gerrymandered congressional districts in the country. But the decennial redistricting getting underway gives Democratic Gov. Martin O’Malley and state leaders a chance to remake the partisan, unrepresentative districts created 10 years ago under Gov. Parris Glendening, another Democrat — districts that have harmed Democratic and unaffiliated voters as much as they have Republicans.

And the good news is officials don’t have to spend much time reviewing voter rolls and computer data to achieve this good-government outcome. All they have to do is adopt the plan offered by Maryland Republicans. Yes, you read that correctly.

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


TOPICS: Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Maryland
KEYWORDS: congress; gerrymander; omalley; redistricting; republican
This plan features nice, contiguous, compact districts, not the ridiculous blobs held together by a string that is a cornerstone of Gov. O'Malley's very partisan plan.

Interestingly, the plan would also wind up creating three minority districts, whereas O'Malley's plan only has two -- and their minority population is diminished. Yet the Democrats will claim that the GOP plan is anti-minority.

1 posted on 10/19/2011 7:03:11 AM PDT by TBP
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TBP

Current districts stretch imagination.

2 posted on 10/19/2011 7:08:15 AM PDT by Paladin2
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Personally, in the age of computers, I don’t see why it would be so hard to do a completely nonpartisan redistricting by using a computer algorithm to draw boundaries around N geographic regions (where N is the number of Congressional districts) such that each region has roughly (within a specified margin of error) the same population, bearing in mind not to split residents of the same street address into different regions, with the minimum combined perimeter size around all regions.


3 posted on 10/19/2011 7:11:05 AM PDT by kevkrom (This space for rent.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP
I live in what could become the 4th Congressional District if O'Malley's plan is adopted. It takes the art of gerrymandering to a new level.

Lamh Foistenach Abu!
4 posted on 10/19/2011 7:12:25 AM PDT by ConorMacNessa (HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines RVN 1969 - St. Michael the Archangel defend us in Battle!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: kevkrom
Personally, in the age of computers, I don’t see why it would be so hard to do a completely nonpartisan redistricting by using a computer algorithm to draw boundaries around N geographic regions (where N is the number of Congressional districts) such that each region has roughly (within a specified margin of error) the same population, bearing in mind not to split residents of the same street address into different regions, with the minimum combined perimeter size around all regions.

Considing existing political & geographic boundaries (street, precinct, city, county lines) and compliance with the Voting Rights Act and the "one man, one vote" standard.

5 posted on 10/19/2011 7:15:54 AM PDT by Crichton
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: TBP
All they have to do is adopt the plan offered by Maryland Republicans.

Both of them?

6 posted on 10/19/2011 7:17:39 AM PDT by Vigilanteman (Obama: Fake black man. Fake Messiah. Fake American. How many fakes can you fit in one Zer0?)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

Hah....I used to live right in the middle of district 6. Never paid attention to its shape. No wonder it was the only conservative place in MD. There’s that one small section of Montgomery Co staving off the poison from the rest of it in district 4. Since leaving in 2007, however, I’ve heard about the leftist incursions into Frederick. Funny how they’re fleeing the mess THEY created in Montgomery through their policies.


7 posted on 10/19/2011 8:07:06 AM PDT by edpc (Former Normalcy Bias Victim)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2
Thats nothing. Look at the proposed lines for next year.
8 posted on 10/19/2011 8:12:38 AM PDT by Towsoncrs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Paladin2

The proposed districts (in the Democrat plan) are even worse.


9 posted on 10/19/2011 8:57:37 AM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 2 | View Replies]

To: Towsoncrs

The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th are held together by pieces of string.


10 posted on 10/19/2011 9:01:05 AM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: edpc
Funny how they’re fleeing the mess THEY created in Montgomery through their policies.

They're doing the same thing by fleeing Prince George's County south into Charles County, bring their ideologies and pathologies with them.

11 posted on 10/19/2011 9:19:04 AM PDT by doc11355
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 7 | View Replies]

To: Towsoncrs
In contrast, here is "The Maryland Fair Representation Congressional Plan”, backed by the Maryland Republicans and by the Fannie Lou Hamer Political Action Committee, a black group in the state.
12 posted on 10/19/2011 9:29:38 AM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: TBP

Sad to say, I actually benefit from the rat plan. Andy Harris would become my rep. I just moved to MD, but it will be the first time in my life I was represented by someone who represented my interests. Either way, the republican plan is far better and more equitable.


13 posted on 10/19/2011 9:52:33 AM PDT by cyclotic (People who live withing their means are increasingly being forced to pay for people who didn't.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


*LOOKIN' FOR MORE MONTHLY DONORS*



Click Here To Support Free Republic

*Thank You To All Donors*

14 posted on 10/19/2011 10:22:06 AM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | View Replies]

To: TBP

The House of Delegates approved the O’Malley Gerrymander. Hopefully, we can stop it in the Senate. Maybe, since it reduces the minority presence in the two minority districts, we can file a Voting Rights Act suit.


15 posted on 10/19/2011 9:15:12 PM PDT by TBP (Obama lies, Granny dies.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: TBP; Abundy; Albion Wilde; AlwaysFree; AnnaSASsyFR; bayliving; BFM; cindy-true-supporter; ...

But the legisl00ture went ahead and picked the O’Malley map, anyhow.

Maryland “Freak State” PING!


16 posted on 10/20/2011 12:17:39 AM PDT by Tolerance Sucks Rocks (Occupy DC General Assembly: We are Marxist tools. WE ARE MARXIST TOOLS!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson