Fire with fire: Congressional districts could be redrawn in Illinois

[Tweed]

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-0503070114mar07,1,1593276.story?coll=chi-newslocal-hed

Drawing new lines in sand for votes

"WASHINGTON -- Two Democratic U.S. House members from Chicago have begun talking up the idea of trying to flex their party's might in Illinois to redraw congressional districts years ahead of schedule.

U.S. Reps. Rahm Emanuel and Jan Schakowsky are floating the idea of creating more Democratic-leaning districts in retaliation for similar Republican efforts elsewhere.

Any plan would have to be approved by the Illinois General Assembly, which is controlled by Democrats. However, key party leaders in Springfield have shown little enthusiasm for an idea that would inflame Republicans and complicate efforts to reach accords on the state budget and other legislation.

Still, the attempts by Emanuel and Schakowsky to promote a remap before the 2010 census illustrates a growing partisan split among the once-collegial Illinois congressional delegation.

Amplifying an increasingly personal battle between himself and House Speaker Dennis Hastert of Plano, Emanuel said last week that Illinois Democrats who favor a new map are simply playing by the rules Republican leaders set in redistricting Texas and attempting to redistrict Colorado and Georgia."

I think this is a bad idea. The Illinois GOP has been faltering so poorly, why do this? This gives something for the moderates and the conservatives to unite over. Plus, the current congressional delegation represents Illinois the way it voted. The article points out that the Democrats got 53% of all of the Congressional votes and they have 53% of the Congressional delegation. The polls for Bush are showing that people are trusting his plans less and less, it's not like we won't have ammo for 2006. This gives Republicans a one issue platform for ALL 2006 races: Democrats are trying to take over the state. Without that, the Republicans have nothing. I think this is a bad idea that has nothing to gain for us.

[CubsFan1982]

1. I like the idea if only for the simple fact that we could get rid of some

Major league GOP douchebags in a hurry. I would love to see a Democrat come up and beat Manzullo in the 16th District, but as long as McHenry County remains in the district, he'll keep coming back every two years.

[seventythree]

5. I'm with you

, although I hate the use of the word "douchebag" -- prefer "enema bag" to keep it gender neutral:) How's your township race going? Is it this April?

I advocated for this in another forum as soon as Texas did it -- we need to get a hint -- we had one and maybe, two, Presidential elections stolen -- then the republicans decided to redistrict 8 years early to lock Congress. You fight fire with fire, end of story. The combine has played nice, redistricting to keep incumbents safe, even though we backed down in our state legislative redistricting -- Currie I was better than what we ended up with under the Bilandic (?) map. Problem is -- how many more democratic districts can we carve out -- it has to be worth the candle.

[CubsFan1982]

6. Yep, this April.

I'm not doing very much campaigning, simply because of expenses, but hopefully I can get my name in the paper enough for people to remember come voting time.

The way I see it is, the IL GOP is already down. Redistricting would be a way to make sure they stay down.

[seventythree]

14. shoe leather -- it's free

best of luck

[Tweed]

9. Here's my problem

Illinois is leaning Democrat these days. The two biggest 'manager-politicians' in Illinois, Daley and Blago have provided great leadership. We have Obama who while running against a cream puff received 75% of the vote. The people have media 'stars' who are good examples.

The most prominent Republican in Illinois could be going to jail. Bush's Social Security plan is falling down, the deficit is increasing, the people are going to want to place checks on him.

I would say that Weller, Hyde (or his seat), possibly Johnson and even Biggert are vulnerable in 2006. If we redistrict in '05, this gives the Republicans a bogeyman. They can drone on about redistricting and about how it's unfair, Democrats are corrupt, and that 'we won't let the Democrats write us out of Congress'! Without re-districting, what the hell do they have to talk about? Republicans have nothing.

I say the Republicans are down and out and a simple punch will knock them out for the count. Why take a shot below the belt and risk being disqualified?

[kevsand]

11. Let 'em bitch.

If the map's drawn right, it won't matter.

I helped to draw our new county board districts in 2001. We got to do this because, through plain old hard work (and a couple of local scandals) we'd taken control of the board for the first time ever in 2000.

We based the new map on the worst-possible-case, most conservative benchmark; i.e., low-turnout gubernatorial year. The local repubs whined and moaned to high heaven, but four years later, we're still in charge, and with a bigger margin than we had in 2000.

This isn't some parlor game, or an academic exercise. This is about the direction of our state and federal government for the next generation. This is about the quality of people's lives. Real people. Your neighbors. Your friends. Your family.

We didn't start this, but we are honor bound to help finish it. As long as it's legal, and done in plain sight, we need to seize the day and press the advantage. Anything less is a failure of will and a betrayal of our hope for the future.

Now if someone will help me down off this soapbox, I need to catch my breath and check my blood pressure... :)

[seventythree]

13. applause, applause

[seventythree]

12. You have a lot more faith than I do

Consider it this way -- what are we going to lose if we do it? We're very solid at present. We'd only be changing Congressional districts -- making R's, D's or at least competitive -- we can't get worse than we have and we could get better. State house races won't be affected, so who you going to tick off -- republicans in heretofore, rock solid republican Congressional districts? Do we care? What we have was, as Hastert says -- agreed to by both sides --times are different, we don't have to agree with them any more, nor should we. It is precisely now that the republicans can't whine about corrupt democrats because Ryan will be all over the front page, in what, July? The only down side is years hence when it is pulled on us in Illinois, but maybe by then Congress will get their act together and prevent what happened in Texas. Don't be too sure that this isn't a ploy to call off the dogs in Georgia, either.

[Tweed]

15. You are much more knowledgeable about the Illinois political scene than I

So I will heed your advice.

That's an interesting thought on Georgia too. It was in the article, but I didn't even tie it in here. If that is the case too, that shows that Illinois is the most pivotal Democratic state in the Union. I don't think you could do much with New York or California. Plus I don't think our grip on those state legislators are as solid?

[beyurslf]

2. I have no problem with it really. If they can do it so can we.

[kevsand]

3. It's not just for us.

It's for the nation. The Repubs have changed the rules and stolen seats mid-decade; we have to fight back, or continue to lose ground.

Besides which, the map we have is an abomination, anyway. Lane Evans' district looks like a dragon's claw that covers a third of the state, and Tim Johnson's is only marginally better.

There's not a single Illinois Repub congressperson I would miss. And I don't think they'll get much traction by whining that "Democrats are trying to take over the state." We already have. The people have spoken.

This is a classic test of the will to wield the power. As I said in a similar thread elsewhere, it's self-defense, which makes it justifiable Republicide.

[mopinko]

4. i always hate to get down in the mud

i have a little poster that says, never wrestle with a pig. you both get dirty, and the pig likes it.
of course, these guys are not garden variety pigs, so i can see bending that rule. i'd like to have a problem with it, but if rahm wants to stick a knife in hastert the bastert, i'd sharpen it up for him.

i think you are right that we have them on the ropes, and don't need to hurt ourselves. but if they are close enough to take a good poke, why not.

[dogman]

7. I'd be for it but I think it's a lost cause.

The reasons you state are food for thought. I also don't see the unity in the ranks required for this move. If it could unite the Party to a common cause I'd say who cares if it offends the GOP. But if there is a move to undercut Rod and if the Chicago vs. downstate crap doesn't stop, we'll end up on the receiving end first. This is the number one card the GOP plays over and over.

[JohnnyCougar]

8. I would do it only if we could get rid of Hastert and Hyde...

This is the kind of move that would help us in the short run and hurt us in the long run, though. It's gonna take some consideration to arrive at the right conclusion here. I am assuming DeLay will be gone...if not in the Republican primary, than the general election. His situation is getting worse by the minute. If we could take out Hastert and DeLay in one election, it could send a jolting message to the Republicans that we absolutely won't mess around.

It could, however, create backlash that would cost us in 2008 and beyond.

[Walt Starr]

10. I suggested this a couple of months ago

:evilgrin:

[davsand]

16. Yes, Walt, you did. I agreed loudly then AND now.

The IL GOP is such a CF right now I doubt they could put up much of a struggle if we DID re-district. Hell, even if we DID piss them off, it's gonna be a while before they can do a whole hell of a lot about it anyhow. I say go for it and don't wait too long to do it.

Hyde needs to be taken out of the game and so does Hastert. Send them both into the political oblivion they deserve. I'd be mighty happy to see Tim Johnson (Unca Timmy to many of us who have disliked him since his State Rep days) out of the game too. However, I do think just making this district contiguous and clean probably will be enough to open the door for a David Gill win in 06. That accomplishes a good thing simply because I REALLY want to see Unca Timmy get hosed in an election.

Nah, I'm not bitter. I don't carry a grudge...


Laura

[tritsofme]

18. In the unlikely scenario that redistricting does come to pass

There is no way they would put Hastert in a district he couldn't win.

There are certain advantages to having members of your state's congressional delegation in leadership positions.

The people of South Dakota certaintly aren't better off now that they ousted the minority leader.

And I gotta think this is Hyde's last term.

[minvis]

17. Do it!!

If this helps in some small way to increase Democrats in the House, I'm all for it. Redistricting, like it or not, is controlled by whose in power at the time. Since we are in control right now, I see no reason not to take advantage of it. If the tables were turned, don't think for a minute, the GOP wouldn't do the same thing.

[Tweed]

19. Welcome to the DU Illinois Forum!

Thanks for stopping by and keep up the posting here. It's a great little liberal community we have here. Be sure to check in on the County by County roll call post.