Do you support the re-redistricting of Illinois?

[mndemocrat_29]

Here's the article from www.politics1.com:

IL DEMS THREATEN CONGRESSIONAL REMAPPING. State Senate President Emil Jones (D-IL) this week filed a bill to have Illinois redraw congressional districts in the state for the 2004 elections to create more Democratic seats. The bill has no specifics yet -- and Jones conceded to the Chicago Sun-Times that he filed it "in case we want to do something." He said the move would be in direct response to the recent Texas redistricting plan adopted at the request of US House Majority Leader Tom Delay (R-TX). Congressman Luis Gutierrez (D-IL) joked to the newspaper that the bill should be entitled "The Tom DeLay Retribution Act." A mirror opposite of Texas, in Illinois the Democrats control the governorship and both houses of the state legislature. The current Illinois Congressional delegation is 10 Republicans and 9 Democrats. Experts believe a plan could be crafted that could possible shift the state to as much as 11 Democrats and 8 Republicans under redrawn lines. The new Texas map is designed to give the GOP 5-7 additional seats in that state. The new Illinois plan could be presented as early as January 2004.

[mndemocrat_29]

1. By the way, the article doesn't say which seats will be vulnerable

Does anyone know which Republicans would be sent out of their districts? It says two, which two?

[Walt Starr]

4. If they do things right, my Repuke asshole Congressperson

could lose it. Herr district has been altered irrevocably in the past two years with urban sprawl. Lots of people from the city are now suburbanites in Judy Biggert's district.

I can hope. I was represented by Schakowsky and then Emanuel whilst living in the city. I'm now in Repuke country.

[Walt Starr]

2. The Republicans started this crap

We have no choice. They declared war, now we must counter attack even more brutally than we were originally attacked.

[goobergunch]

3. I concur. (n/t)

[JohnLocke]

5. Do not stoop to their level.

I propose a law forcing all congressional districts to have no more than six sides.

[arewethereyet]

24. advantageous redistricting started way before Texas guys

so if they want to, have at it. it'll be subject to federal review but so is Texas.

[Eric J in MN]

6. ideally, neither Texas nor illinois would be redistricted

Ideally, neither Texas nor illinois would be redistricted mid-decade, but since the Repbulicans started this, the Democrats need to respond.

[davsand]

7. You know, I'd wondered about that...

Seemed like they opened a whole can of worms down there in Texas. I have to admit, I'd love to have my district redrawn. They redid the map to give up David Phelps (A conservative Dem by most standards) and to render the 15th District a gawd awful mess.

If Emil is feeling froggy--then let him jump. I'd support it completely.

Laura

[ibegurpard]

8. I don't believe that Tom Delay's little scheme will stand up in court

But if by chance it does then you better believe I would support redistricting in Illinois and anywhere else we can do it.

[rucky]

9. The Census should determine districting.

Gerrymandering should be eliminated as a practice. period.

[ibegurpard]

10. The census DID determine it

until Tom Delay decided that Texas should be re-redistricted.

[rucky]

11. So Delay broke the rules, should we toss out the rule book?

Or keep the fight in Texas?

[ibegurpard]

13. If the courts throw it out, as the should, then NO we should not

However, if they don't then the gloves are off.

[alcuno]

14. Do both.

Fight the Texas re-districting in court while trying to re-district Illinois. The best defense is a good offense.

[alcuno]

12. What are all those Republicans doing in our congressional

delegation? It's an outrage, I tell you. Where do they think this is? Texas?

I vote for Mark Kirk. Don't know where his district is, but he irritates me. Too bad we can't re-district the House Speaker, Hastert.

[never cry wolf]

15. Please, Please, Please do this!!

My rep is not only the repuke Crane, he's TOTALLY worthless!! Fight fire with fire, I say!!

[tritsofme]

19. Hes my rep too, probably one of the worst repukes in Congress!

Lets send him packing!

But I read that Mike Madigan doesnt want it done, so I dont think anything will happen.

[madrchsod]

16. if there was

someway to get rid of my wonderful rep,denny know nothing hastrett, well that would be fine. but then my state rep might be changed and that wouldn`t be good,even though he`s a republican, he`s not a norquist stormtrooper.the truth be know many of the republicans in this state are not neo`s but regular republicans..but that`s il politics

[The Magistrate]

17. This Is War

All weapons available must be used to destroy the Republican reactionaries grip on the Congress.

[nemo137]

18. no.

if we're trying to save the constitution, why go against it so flagrantly?

[hedda_foil]

20. You damn betcha!

In fact, it's a survival imperative. Screw Mike Madigan! This is war.

[GinaMaria]

21. Yes!

Not to really succeed in doing it, but to show the repubs the error of their ways. They started down a path that will have many consequences. Illinois redistricting is only one of them. Keep them busy trying to defend their position.

[dansolo]

22. No, that is the wrong approach

I don't like the idea of redistricting, but I do like the threat of a redistricting. I would like to see a very public spectacle of it, because I think that the Texas redistricting was probably not understood by most people. But if the Democrats threaten to do this, especially in Dennis Hastert's own state, I would expect the GOP to complain very loudly, which will hopefully garner more public attention to what they have been doing. Unfortunately, I am stuck in Henry Hyde's district, and no amount of redistricting will get rid of that asshole.

[last_texas_dem]

23. Only in honor of Tom Delay

In principle I believe redistricting should only occur, as has traditionally been the case for years, once a decade. But Dems can't keep laying down when pricks like Delay are coming at us with both barrels. IL should re-redistrict and so should any states with Democratic-controlled legislatures that can feasibly manage it. Should the TX travesty hold up in court the Dems are going to need to pick up several seats wherever they can; if breaking custom is necessary- especially considering the break was initiated by the Re:puke:s in the first place, so be it.

[elperromagico]

25. As long as the districts are "compact and contiguous."

I hope the Illinois Dems follow the Texas model to the letter in that regard...

[Doomsayer13]

26. No

it makes us look like a bunch of hypocrites.

[The Zanti Regent]

27. Do it! Get rid of Hyde and Hastert!

Send Dickhead De Lay a nice message from the Land of Lincoln!

[Padraig18]

28. I do *not* support re-districting.

IL lawfully re-drew its districts following the 2000 Census, and the commission had a majority of Democrats on it; the map was upheld by the courts.

To now re-district would set a precedent which could easily come back to bite Democrats in the a**, if it were permitted.