How likely is it that California will be redistricted???

[ailsagirl]

I can't believe I'm even asking this because I find the whole notion positively revolting but I need to know-- is it likely?

I am not familiar with the way these things work-- I know that it was done (illegally) in Texas... is it likely this beautiful blue state will fall to it as well???

[Blue_State_Elitist]

1. It depends how it is done.

If it happens as a result of the census, California is okay because we will simply gain a seat. But if Arnold successfully gerrymanders in the next few years, we could actually lost at least some power in the state legislature.

[ailsagirl]

4. I despise him-- he's a monumentally stupid puppet

We've got to stop this-- is there anything we can do at this point?

Are the repugs trying to redistrict ALL the blue states??

This is insane.

[zann725]

6. I just read another thread where an E. Washington Senator wants to split

the State in two. Guess that's "redistricting" taken to a whole new level.

These guys are nuts.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

7. Arnold is a bastard.

He will attempt to gerrymander, it's just a matter of how hard the state legislature fights. North Orange County was fucked up back in the early 90's under Pete Wilson and they picked up an extra seat. They linked La Habra, Cerritos, La Palma, and one other city in order to eliminate a dem. They also added Newport Beach to the costa mesa/Tustin area in order to provide Chris Cox with a safe seat.

It's just politics as usual, but still, fuck Arnold.

[ailsagirl]

9. You said it!! I can't believe he's here, poisoning our state

What Maria sees/saw in him is a mystery to me.

I know her brothers don't like him-- they said as much on a program I saw in December.

Yet another corrupt liar in a position of power.

:puke:

[rinsd]

15. You do realize Dems drew up that plan.....

Dems drew up that plan and the pubbies accepted it because it gave them guaranteed seats even if they were to enshrine themselves as the minority party.

I rather have more competitive districts so maybe we can get more pubbies like McPherson instead of asshats like Issa and Cunningham.

[Blue_State_Elitist]

21. Thanks for the info...

I'll do some more research on it

[xxqqqzme]

22. only the ones w/ BIG electoral numbers

n/t

[tcfrogs]

2. It wasn't done illegally in TX

The districts were just suspiciously drawn. Both parties do it, creating "automatic" winners for their party. The redistricting in Texas was not illegal, as the party in power can help shape the districts. Happens in every state, and it has been & does in the beautiful state of California.

[ailsagirl]

5. That's OK-- you're not horning in

But I had thought that there was some "funny business" as to the Texas redistricting-- after all, DeLay was the guy who initiated it, wasn't he? And anything he's involved in, frankly, I have heard to be illegal.

[Liberty Belle]

8. Texas did theirs midterm, I believe, which is why the Dems

objected and bolted from the state, until the REPs forced them to come back under threat of arrest.

[tcfrogs]

10. Both parties do it equally "funny"

Which is partially why 95% of incumbent congressmen win every election.

Not being a Californian, I would suspect it would be quite difficult for the Governator to gerrymander CA. Plenty of Democratic influence to prevent that, I'd suspect.

Anyway, I'm out of here - I didn't originally see the thread was in a state forum. Just throwing in my 2 cents.

[mitchtv]

19. they intend to take this away from the legislature

and place it into the Judiciary panel(appointed by Ahnuld, I presume)
castrating the Dems.

[tcfrogs]

3. Oh, and sorry to horn in on your state's forum

My apologies - just lending my limited expertise...

[bemildred]

11. Ahnuld will have to pass an initiative.

The legislature will not disempower itself voluntarily.
Whether Ahnuld will be able to pull that off with the help of the
state propaganda organs is not clear, but I would bet against it.
Still, I'm wrong a lot.

[rinsd]

18. I think an intiative would do well...

...alot of people feel disenfranchised by the district they live in.

Now as far as the legislature, here's a thought. Work with Ahnuld on the process, who the judges will be etc etc. but with the caveat that he must support an initiative getting rid of term limits or at least raising them beyond their current levels.

Of course the chance of something reasonable like that happening are slim and none.

[NEOBuckeye]

12. If I were a Californian, I would really be hammering the "Gubernator"

It doesn't seem likely that he will succeed, given that California is predominantly Democratic Blue, and the Dems own the State Legislature. Still, I say don't take anything for granted. Who thought Arnold would be Governor five years ago? And yet he is today.

You guys need to find a way to oppose and challenge him on everything. Make him work up a sweat and get angry about having to face opposition on everything he proposes. Remember when the called California legislature Democrats "girly men?" He's been used to bossing people around and getting his way. He doesn't like it when people brush him off or dismiss his ideas. But even more important to Arnold than the balance of power in the California state legislature is public opinion. Arnold wants the public to regard him as some kind of a godlike hero.

Stand up to him. Oppose him. Protest him. Challenge him. Do it often. Do it everywhere. Make him face you everywhere he goes. That will damage his ego and his ability to govern more than you can possibly imagine.

[JDPriestly]

13. We need a candidate with charisma

and I haven't seen anyone who fits the bill yet.

[rinsd]

14. Every single incumbent was re-elected and you find it revolting?

Now I can understand being anxious with Ahnold at the helm but I for one would like more competitive districts.

Maybe we can get Ahnold to trade term limits for this.

[bemildred]

16. A question.

If the state is overwhelmingly progressive, what does it mean for
districts to be "competitive"? Is it about fair and honest voting,
or making sure the Republicans are not run out of the state? The
fact that in California, when given a choice between a Democrat and
a Republican, the voters repeatedly choose the Democrat does not
mean anything unfair is going on.

The thing that concerns me is to get more progressive democrats to
run and win in the Primaries, and then the have them kick some
Republican ass. That is fair and honest and "competitive".

[rinsd]

17. My definition of competitve....

Districts that are drawn that are not safe. Where each party has to compete both within themselves and for that seat. As it is now, the incumbent's can hardly be challenged from within the party let alone in the general election. Also in CA particularly I think we can push the GOP left with more McPhersons and less Cunninghams. Sure you would still have your more partisans candidates but the current system encourages it.

"The
fact that in California, when given a choice between a Democrat and
a Republican, the voters repeatedly choose the Democrat does not
mean anything unfair is going on."

Not at all. But when you live in a district where there's no hope in hell that a Dem would win or you live in a district that there's no way the Dem would lose, it's not really much of a "choice" for the voters.

[bemildred]

20. OK. Thanks for the answer.

I'm not defending gerrymandering, districts should be compact and
logical in the sense that they encompass "related" geographic areas,
subject to the practical limits of that.

I'm asking you to think carefully about what "safe" means. It might
mean the voters really like the guy they have, and it might mean that
the state parties have an agreement not to contest the district.
Both these situations are common.

I am reluctant to take control of redistricting from the legislature
unless the replacement is some form of "objective" procedure. I have
doubts that simply taking it from the hands of one set of people and
giving it to another will prevent games from being played in the
future.

Another suggestion that I think has merit is to have elections statewide
based on population, where parties put up slates that are seated
according to the votes the parties get. That way the geographical tie
is removed, and the duty and responsibility is the party's. Also,
minor parties that can get a substantial statewide vote would get some
seats and have greater influence as swing votes. This would ensure
that minor points of view get a better public airing.

And, of course, I have little confidence that Ahnuld is out to serve
the public good.

[JDPriestly]

23. My district is solidly Democratic

not because it is gerrymandered but because it is on the eastside of Los Angeles where people are working to maybe middle class. I suppose our district could be gerrymandered to bring in more Republicans, but that would be very difficult. LA is just huge and overwhelmingly liberal/progressive. People in the westside and the suburbs tend to have a lot, and I do mean a lot, of money. As a result, those areas have more Republicans. Schwarzenegger is just going to have to face reality. This is a Democratic state. He only got elected because of his tricks and his famous personality.