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November 12, 2004
A Little More
I'd like to add to what's below that after the court maps were released, many House Democrats advocated passing a new House map and making a "dirty deal" with the Republican Senate, who were hawking their own gerrymander. I argued against this at the time, and was not the most popular person among House Democrats. I still think I did the right thing, and not only because Glenn Richardson was hawking his own map and it was no secret to most of us that he had the votes to amend his version in place of the House Democrats'. Fair maps are the right thing to do. Now let's get started defining the word "fair".
Update: A commenter seems to argue that the Republicans are now entitled to the spoils of victory, including redistricting and anything I say to the contrary is just loser's whining. I would point out to the commenter that I had nothing to do with the 2001 redistricting. In fact, my personal residence was placed in a district gerrymandered to be extra-Republican. I ran for that district and lost badly. Under the court map, my house was put in a highly competitive district and actually will now be represented by a freshman Democrat.
Additionally, and more importantly, I think, is that the one opportunity I had to work for a Democratic gerrymander, I argued against it. Had the House Democrats passed a new map in the 2004 session, they most surely would still be in power. But it wouldn't be "fair."
When I say it's time to define the word "fair" I do not mean gerrymander/not gerrymandering. To me that is settled in favor of not doing it. By fair standards I mean whether and how much a reapportionment process should consider incumbency, county lines, political competitiveness and so forth.
Posted by Chris at November 12, 2004 09:28 PM
Comments
Fair. Let's see. Fair when the Dems are in power is to gerrymander the maps in their favor. Fair when they aren't is that the Republicans shouldn't. Come on, you lost, play the game straight up. You want to be in charge again then do the same thing the republicans did. Convince the electorate that you have a better idea, a better agenda, that you can be trusted to govern.
After all, that's why you aren't in charge now.
Posted by: davenfl ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.chrisishardcore.com//nav-commenters.gif)
at November 12, 2004 10:50 PM
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