Reply #37

John Boehner is claiming a "split mandate" because the GOP still has a seventeen seat majority in the House of Representatives. He intends to use that power to continue the obstruction of government for at least two, and probably eight more years. Republicans have a safe majority ONLY because they have firm control of state legislatures in most red and many swing states. Re-districting after the 2010 elections was a process owned and controlled by Republican state legislators.

The ultimate irony here is that the result of that re-districting process will keep the GOP in the House majority EVEN THOUGH REPUBLICANS RECEIVED FEWER TOTAL VOTES in the 2012 election. The total count (according to the Daily KOS) was 53,952,240 Democratic to 53,402,643 Republican!

Taking back State Legislatures (which are also a product of partisan districting) must be a priority. Tom DeLay led the famous charge in 2004 to re-district Texas congressional districts as soon as they had a firm grasp on the state legislature. They boldly re-drew the map between the traditional ten year census intervals, thus grabbing six more "safe" Republican House seats.

The next political battle MUST be at the local level. If Democrats don't win local elections, minority advantage (for the GOP) will be enshrined for generations in the House of Representatives. The Electoral College already favors small rural states. Democrats must also work for a re-districting process that will make congressional seats and legislative seats more competitive.

If we don't, advances in the progressive agenda will be blocked at every turn.