Key Question for Supreme Court: Will It Let Gerrymanders Stand?

[Bethere]

I agree that gerrymaders are a problem.

Here is the legal definition:




It shouldn't be too hard to apply that - if a district is bizarrely or strangely shaped then the burden will be on the local or state government to explain it. I would even think strict scrutiny should be applied, as opposed to the lesser levels of scrutiny.

What more do you think is needed?

Enforcement.

[Bethere]

No one likes gerrymandering but one major purpose of gerrymandering is to keep minorities in the House of Representatives. Without gerrymandering they'd have to campaign not to a racial group but to the population as a whole and idiots would be out of luck. They'd have to run on ability and not race.

Why should this question be to the Supreme Court and not to legislative bodies or the people? Oh, right, for the same reason that election fraud continues.

Some people want fairly drawn districts and honest elections and some don't. Imagine that. Now, is the census bureau could just count dead people into the population, and why not since so many vote, we could double the size of the House of Representatives.

Please read the article.

Thanks.

[patrickt]

Who told you that load of crap? It's being used to keep minority reps out, not in.

I can see where you might want to believe that. Tell me which Representatives, besides Mia Love of Utah, are black and were elected from a predominantly white district. Then consider which gerrymandered districts were designed to have a minority majority. Democrats have what they call "black districts". Black representatives demand that once a district has a black representative it has to stay black. Remember when blacks were demanding that Barack Obama had to be replaced in the Senate by another black. Racist $#@!s.

So, how do you keep a black district black. Gerrymandering. I'd be all in favor of rational boundaries drawn without regard to race but then Democrats might have to consolidate their ghettos.

I realize being a liberal requires an element of stupidity but it can be pushed too far.

[Bethere]

I can see where you might want to believe that. Tell me which Representatives, besides Mia Love of Utah, are black and were elected from a predominantly white district. Then consider which gerrymandered districts were designed to have a minority majority. Democrats have what they call "black districts". Black representatives demand that once a district has a black representative it has to stay black. Remember when blacks were demanding that Barack Obama had to be replaced in the Senate by another black. Racist $#@!s.

So, how do you keep a black district black. Gerrymandering. I'd be all in favor of rational boundaries drawn without regard to race but then Democrats might have to consolidate their ghettos.

I realize being a liberal requires an element of stupidity but it can be pushed too far.

1. House districts are required by the constitution to be determined proportionality unless they represent a whole state. That's why we have the census.
2. Baker v carr mandated one man, one vote.
3. Ohio has 16 seats in the house,
4. Ohio is virtually split down the middle politically,
5. And yet Democrats only hold 4 of those 16 seats.

How do you explain that?

Did you read the op?

[ripmeister]

IMO the first step in addressing the gerrymandering issue which is complex is to remove the drawing of districts from the politicians and put it in the hands of some sort of bipartisan independent commission. Of course you are going to still have political motives involved but the further you can get away from the actual politicians drawing the lines the better IMO. In Ohio the legislature draws the districts and its a mess, and both sides have taken advantage of this.

[ripmeister]

1. House districts are required by the constitution to be determined proportionality unless they represent a whole state. That's why we have the census.
2. Baker v carr mandated one man, one vote.
3. Ohio has 16 seats in the house,
4. Ohio is virtually split down the middle politically,
5. And yet Democrats only hold 4 of those 16 seats.

How do you explain that?

Did you read the op?

This is quite common where you have essentially a 50/50 split in terms of the state wide vote yet one party holds 75 or 80% of the seats. Doesn't seem very democratic to me.

[patrickt]

Just for laughs I looked up a map of the district for Rep. Cedric Richmond, chairman of the CBC.
lossless-page1-1920px-Louisiana_US_Congressional_District_2_(since_2013).tif.jpg
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisi...ince_2013).tif

This district could be used as evidence in the Supreme Court case.

And, Rep. John Conyers?
lossless-page1-800px-Michigan_US_Congressional_District_13_(since_2013).tif.jpg

Wow, that on is very compact.

And, Rep. Maxine waters
lossless-page1-1920px-California_US_Congressional_District_43_(since_2013).tif.jpg

Keith Ellison
lossless-page1-1920px-Minnesota_US_Congressional_District_5_(since_2013).tif.jpg

I'm getting bored so if you want to keep looking for a district not designed to elect a black Democrat, knock yourself out.

[ripmeister]

Just for laughs I looked up a map of the district for Rep. Cedric Richmond, chairman of the CBC.
Attachment 17983
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louisi...ince_2013).tif

This district could be used as evidence in the Supreme Court case.

And, Rep. John Conyers?
Attachment 17984

Wow, that on is very compact.

And, Rep. Maxine waters
Attachment 17985

Keith Ellison
Attachment 17986

I'm getting bored so if you want to keep looking for a district not designed to elect a black Democrat, knock yourself out.

So whats your point? I think most have stipulated that there are examples on both sides. Just because a district is a "salamander" doesn't validate or invalidate it. There are many factors that go in to the drawing of the districts. IMO the less politics informs the process the better.

[Common]

Same $#@! Different Day

You two are cute as hell lol

[Safety]

You two are cute as hell lol

Sorry, but I'm taken, plus I don't swing that way.