Typical liberal misdirection, Unf. You conveniently leave out any mention of barometric pressure or Mars-Saturn oppositions.
This struck me: "Under the redistricting plan, Mr. Doggett's Austin district would be split into a long north-south strip from the capital to the Mexican border, a second segment running from Austin to San Antonio and a third stretching some 150 miles east to Houston. That, he said, could make Austin the largest city in the country without hometown representation."
Amazing. Did nobody think to put in an escape clause clause that would let us just give Texas back to Mexico?
It's just moronic to whinge about this in isolation. Have you ever seen the legislative districts in Los Angeles? Drawn by a Democratic legislature under a Democratic governor?
Anyone who can look at districts 39, 38, and 40, among others, and claim that the Republicans in Texas are doing something exceptional, is an idiot.
Aw, Magik, you almost had a valid point there. But not quite. The issue is not oddly shaped districts, which can be found everywhere. It is, rather, that the capital of Texas now has zero districts in which the majority of voters are residents of the Austin metro area. And that is exceptional, as it results in "the largest city in the country without hometown representation." It would probably help your case if you rebutted the actual argument being made.
What makes you such morons is that you are part of the problem. The redistricting process in the US is a generalized mess. It leads state governments of all parties to create districts that do not reflect local populations. It produces uncompetitive districts that lock representatives in power with no opposition, year after year, supporting extreme candidates who are unrepresentative of the American people. They are a form of rot in our Democracy.
But nitwits like you look at Texas and see the chance to denounce the Republicans, as though gerrymandering were a partisan matter. When people like you seize on the Texas issue as a chance for partisan cheap shots you sacrifice the opportunity to attack the fundamental problem. The right response to Texas is to say let's find a way to fix redistricting everywhere. We should be honest about the fact that both parties play their part in this process, and all of us citizens stand to benefit from a solution. The right answer is to unite people to solve the problem, not to seize the chance to drive yet more division.
And Tripp, the point isn't that the Republicans are right to do it because the Democrats do it. As I've explained, it's just the opposite! There is a fundamental problem that intelligent observers can agree is not a partisan matter.
And I quite liked Clinton. Got a problem with that?
-Magik "Cool Maps and Solving the Real Problem" Johnson
What makes you such morons is that you are part of the problem.
I'm part of the redistricting problem? Hmm, I'll quit taking the various state legislatures' calls when they come looking for my advice on it.
nitwits like you look at Texas and see the chance to denounce the Republicans
That's odd; I don't see one mention of Republicans anywhere in my comments. In fact, the only person to mention parties was . . . you. I spoke of Texas, which has a long and storied tradition of corrupt government spanning both parties' control. It doesn't matter to me whether it's Rs or Ds doing it, dividing a state capital up so that it has no representation in the state legislature is just wrong.
as though gerrymandering were a partisan matter
By definition, gerrymandering is a partisan matter, sir - the redrawing of district boundaries to aid a specific party. I agree that it hurts government, and I could go on about proportional representation or the several other potential ways to address it, but you and I both know that it is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Hence, the best we can do is condemn the most egregious instances thereof, and the one that creates the largest city in the US without representation does indeed represent that.
Once again, you'd do better if actually argued the points being made rather than the ones you wish were being made. Oh, and I realize it's great fun to revert to one's best schoolyard form and call people names, but it doesn't help your argument any either.
Pointing to Texas and its Republican leadership as the problem is missing the point. Looking at the maps of California and Texas and saying the problem is Texas is missing the point. (Or maybe it's just California & Texas -- hey, it's only 50 million out of 280 million of us, right?). The increasing sophistication of gerrymandering is gnawing the legs out from under the republic, and the exceptionalist response is a big factor keeping us from finding a solution.
Typical liberal misdirection, Unf. You conveniently leave out any mention of barometric pressure or Mars-Saturn oppositions.
This struck me: "Under the redistricting plan, Mr. Doggett's Austin district would be split into a long north-south strip from the capital to the Mexican border, a second segment running from Austin to San Antonio and a third stretching some 150 miles east to Houston. That, he said, could make Austin the largest city in the country without hometown representation."
Amazing. Did nobody think to put in an escape clause clause that would let us just give Texas back to Mexico?
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 10-14-03 7:42 PM
Impostropher,
It's just moronic to whinge about this in isolation. Have you ever seen the legislative districts in Los Angeles? Drawn by a Democratic legislature under a Democratic governor?
Anyone who can look at districts 39, 38, and 40, among others, and claim that the Republicans in Texas are doing something exceptional, is an idiot.
Educate Yourself
-Magik
Posted by Magik | Link to this comment | 10-15-03 1:32 AM
Magik
Kewl. The 'they do it too' defense is always awesome. Now can't you say something to remind me of Clinton?
Posted by Tripp | Link to this comment | 10-15-03 9:42 AM
Aw, Magik, you almost had a valid point there. But not quite. The issue is not oddly shaped districts, which can be found everywhere. It is, rather, that the capital of Texas now has zero districts in which the majority of voters are residents of the Austin metro area. And that is exceptional, as it results in "the largest city in the country without hometown representation." It would probably help your case if you rebutted the actual argument being made.
But thanks for the pretty map.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 10-15-03 10:26 AM
Impostropher & Friend,
What makes you such morons is that you are part of the problem. The redistricting process in the US is a generalized mess. It leads state governments of all parties to create districts that do not reflect local populations. It produces uncompetitive districts that lock representatives in power with no opposition, year after year, supporting extreme candidates who are unrepresentative of the American people. They are a form of rot in our Democracy.
But nitwits like you look at Texas and see the chance to denounce the Republicans, as though gerrymandering were a partisan matter. When people like you seize on the Texas issue as a chance for partisan cheap shots you sacrifice the opportunity to attack the fundamental problem. The right response to Texas is to say let's find a way to fix redistricting everywhere. We should be honest about the fact that both parties play their part in this process, and all of us citizens stand to benefit from a solution. The right answer is to unite people to solve the problem, not to seize the chance to drive yet more division.
And Tripp, the point isn't that the Republicans are right to do it because the Democrats do it. As I've explained, it's just the opposite! There is a fundamental problem that intelligent observers can agree is not a partisan matter.
And I quite liked Clinton. Got a problem with that?
-Magik "Cool Maps and Solving the Real Problem" Johnson
Posted by Magik | Link to this comment | 10-21-03 12:56 AM
What makes you such morons is that you are part of the problem.
I'm part of the redistricting problem? Hmm, I'll quit taking the various state legislatures' calls when they come looking for my advice on it.
nitwits like you look at Texas and see the chance to denounce the Republicans
That's odd; I don't see one mention of Republicans anywhere in my comments. In fact, the only person to mention parties was . . . you. I spoke of Texas, which has a long and storied tradition of corrupt government spanning both parties' control. It doesn't matter to me whether it's Rs or Ds doing it, dividing a state capital up so that it has no representation in the state legislature is just wrong.
as though gerrymandering were a partisan matter
By definition, gerrymandering is a partisan matter, sir - the redrawing of district boundaries to aid a specific party. I agree that it hurts government, and I could go on about proportional representation or the several other potential ways to address it, but you and I both know that it is here to stay for the foreseeable future. Hence, the best we can do is condemn the most egregious instances thereof, and the one that creates the largest city in the US without representation does indeed represent that.
Once again, you'd do better if actually argued the points being made rather than the ones you wish were being made. Oh, and I realize it's great fun to revert to one's best schoolyard form and call people names, but it doesn't help your argument any either.
Posted by apostropher | Link to this comment | 10-21-03 10:01 AM
Impostropher,
Pointing to Texas and its Republican leadership as the problem is missing the point. Looking at the maps of California and Texas and saying the problem is Texas is missing the point. (Or maybe it's just California & Texas -- hey, it's only 50 million out of 280 million of us, right?). The increasing sophistication of gerrymandering is gnawing the legs out from under the republic, and the exceptionalist response is a big factor keeping us from finding a solution.
So thanks for doing your part!
Cheers,
-Magik
Posted by Magik | Link to this comment | 10-21-03 1:53 PM