Even If You Live in a DEEP RED Congressional District, It's Important To Vote. Here's Why...

[TrollBuster9090]

Every time the POPULAR VOTE for Democrats far exceeds the popular vote for Republicans, it highlights the fact that they're continuing to hold the House through GERRYMANDERING (aka CHEATING).

WE know that the Republicans are continuing to cling to power in the House largely because of the GERRYMANDERING they did in State governments after the 2010 sweep. But the general public doesn't know it, unless somebody (correctly) mentions that about two million more votes are cast for Democrats than Republicans in these House Races, but the GOP still wins because of gerrymandering.

We have to continue to run up that POPULAR VOTE score for the Democrats to HIGHLIGHT the fact that the GOP is winning by CHEATING.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-apps/imrs.php?src=&w=1484

[lpbk2713]

1. I do ... and I will.

[BillZBubb]

2. Stuck in an uber red district, but I always vote.

It's my way of giving them the finger if nothing else.

[nc4bo]

3. Geez - parts of NC are so red they're almost black, including my county.

And the only hope of getting any sort of correction is for us to............exactly what?

Hope for McCrory and the 'baggers to screw the pooch so badly they self-destruct?

[TrollBuster9090]

8. Yep, NC is pretty bad. But the way to untangle this mess is to do two things.

1. Try to get BALLOT INITIATIVES put on local State ballots regarding "fairness" in districting. That's why Florida had to re-draw a couple of their districts this time. Because they passed a ballot initiative against gerrymandering. And,

2. Make sure there are as many Democratic STATE governments as possible by 2020, when the next Census comes. That's how Republicans were able to gerrymander the districts in the first place. You're only allowed to re-draw the boundaries in a Census year, so they got to re-draw half the maps in the Country by being in charge of so many State governments in 2010.

[Jenoch]

4. There are a lot better reasons to vote than this.

There are many other races on the ballot. In Minnesota, all of our statewide offices are up for election except for one U.S. Senator. We also have the MN legislative races, not to mention city ekections, school board, and judge races.

[TrollBuster9090]

6. Yep, you basically answered the question for the person who commented above you.

Top on the list of important state government elections are the Secretary of State positions. ie-the people who "Control the Voting Mechanisms," as Chris Christie puts it.

The State Government positions are CRITICAL, as THAT'S how the Republicans got to gerrymander these districts in the first place. By taking over State Governments in a CENSUS year. The next chance we'll have to reverse that nonsense is in 2020. We've got to make sure Democrats are in charge of as many State governments as possible by then.

There's also the issue of electing Judges. Contrary to the GOP propaganda, ALL of the "activist judges" are either elected or appointed by Republicans.

And finally, we have to elect good, high profile Democrats to local governments, because THOSE are the people you go to and ask to run for NATIONAL office.

Thanks!

[Jenoch]

12. In my state of Minnesota,

whenever redistricting comes along, usually it gets thrown back to the courts and a panel of judges decides the boundaries.

What happened one time in redistricting, is that Minnesota Democrats had control of the legislature and they made a move to move the district boundaries for a Republican representative. The Democrats did a horseshit job on research and when the boundaries were changed. The incumbant Republican actually lived a 1/2 mile north of the new boundary and beat an incumbant Democrat in his new district.

[TrollBuster9090]

13. They should find some mathematical algorithm, and let a computer do it. nt

[Cha]

5. Thanks T!

[SickOfTheOnePct]

7. Gerrymandering has been around forever

Both parties do it, and in fact, it's sometimes necessary in order to ensure that minority groups have elected representation.

[TrollBuster9090]

14. The fact that it's been around forever, and that both parties do it doesn't make it right. And

there are other ways to ensure minority representation. (Better ways than voter caging, that is.)

[SickOfTheOnePct]

16. Fair enough

What do you believe is better way to ensure minority representation?

[Bluenorthwest]

19. Voter Caging is not about district lines,

Voter caging
Voter caging is a means of calling the voter rolls into question and can lead to unwarranted purges or challenges of eligible citizens.

[treestar]

9. Yep. No excuse exists for not voting

If anything, it at least says there are some liberals in the district.

[onecaliberal]

10. I definitely do and always vote

No matter what.

[ffr]

11. K&R. It's the only way to turn purple.

Love the enthusiasm coming out tonight on here.

[TrollBuster9090]

15. I've noticed that even some of our favorite leftie pundits stopped talking about winning on TV today

and started talking about which Republicans are going to chair which committees in the (likely) event they win. Chris Matthews and Rachel Maddow both did that today.

SCREW EM! We haven't even HAD the election yet, and it's EXTREMELY CLOSE! Please stop writting us off, you idiots!

[Jim Lane]

17. I've seen similar discussions but as a warning, not a prediction.

It's one more way to GOTV. Some "maybe" voters will be motivated to make the effort by thinking about some RWNJ chairing an important committee.

[butterfly77]

18. Kick...

[TBF]

20. Way down there in deep red

South Texas along the coast. I voted for dems/greens today.

[ileus]

21. I only had an R and I on my congress ticket.

I started to write in my name, but instead hit I.