Well it is a "Republican power grab". The question is "is this any different than what has happened for the past 100 years when the Democrats had the majority in Texas Congress and got to draw the district lines". I've seem some lying liar Democrats say that this is being done in the middle of the decade. BS. The 2000 census results are known in 2001. Since 2003 the Democrats have fought this 3 times by stalling and then twice leaving the state. I think that these lines were planned in 2002. In the fall of 2001 there was a national catastrophe. We have a long way to go to 2006 (or even 2005).
The lines that are in effect now are from the 1990 census. Who is being unfair to the voters of Texas?
I agree. The only reason that it is a "grab" is that the Democrats won't peacefully relinquish power.
As for the fact that the courts redistricted instead of the legislature, I reject the notion that the court redistricting should stand because the legislature failed to do its job. If that were to be the failsafe, then a minority party would never agree to a new map, knowing that the courts will intervene. The only way to force the minority to deal in good faith is to take away the permanency of a court-instilled solution.
-PJ