Redistricting: Voters choosing their politicians or politicians choosing their own voters?

[Emit]

Harold Ickes (Project SuRGe - Stop Republican Gerrymandering) and Ed Gillespie (REDMAP - REDistricting MAjority) are interviewed:

Midterm Elections Play Major Role In Redistricting
by Mara Liasson

September 21, 2010

Listen to the Story
Morning Edition
(4 min 43 sec)

September 21, 2010

For all the focus on who will control the U.S. House after Election Day, it is state House and Senate elections across the country this year that may leave the most lasting imprint on the body politic. That's because the state legislatures will redraw the congressional map for the next decade.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130011228

[klook]

1. The risk of Republican gerrymandering for the next TEN YEARS

should be a big GOTV motivator this election cycle.

See http://www.uselectionatlas.org/FORUM/index.php?topic=124490.0

Until there is real electoral reform, redistricting will remain a key weapon for the party in power. So losing would have major consequences in each state where the Republicans gain control.

[Emit]

2. Scary thought, indeed!

The risk of Republican gerrymandering for the next TEN YEARS
!

[4lbs]

3. Definitely a scary thought. Michelle Bachmann was elected only after her district was redistricted

. She likely wouldn't have been elected in the old one, but after it was redistricted it swung towards the Republicans (currently R+7) and the Repukes have been pretty firmly entrenched since. Before, it was almost even in Democratic and Republican registrations.

So, if those voters that plan to stay home don't mind more Michelle Bachmanns in their own state, go right ahead, and let the state legislatures get full of Repukes that won't think twice about making as many districts favorable for Republicans as possible.

[pampango]

4. Until nonpartisan redistricting procedures becomes the norm, like in Iowa, hyperpartisanship

will continue to be the rule in Congress. When so many seats are "safe" for one party or the other, the only real contest comes in the primary when candidates appeal most to the "base" have a better chance.