"Redistricting in PA--Watch out!"

Email this topic to a friend Printer-friendly version of this topic Bookmark this topic (Registered users only) View All		This thread will retire to Politics and Campaigns   Previous Topic | Next Topic
Lobby Latest Breaking News (Protected)
Original message

spinbaby (417 posts) Jan-03-02, 01:37 PM (ET) "Redistricting in PA--Watch out!" Redistricting of congressional districts is being done to favor Repugs. My own Dem congressman, Frank Mascara, is going to be in some serious trouble. Looks like they're going to try to take 2002 by hook or by crook. http://www.observer-reporter.com/273909226094163.bsp T.H.E.Y. - The Hearsay Experts for You. Providing for all of your Hearsay needs since 1921   Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Table of Contents

Subject     Author     Message Date     ID    Redistricting badgolfer Jan-03-02 1    How can it affect minorities? grimdem 01/03/2002 2    Only one problem with that strategy, badgolfer RoxanneJ 01/03/2002 4  This is the way Republics die and Empires are born tom_paine Jan-03-02 3  tell me about it radfringe Jan-03-02 5  Hello neighbor bleedingheart Jan-03-02 6    Bleedingheart when and where? radfringe 01/03/2002 7        I'm changing joanski0 01/03/2002 8            Having grown up in the Pittsburgh bleedingheart 01/03/2002 11                You are right joanski0 01/04/2002 14                Come to our meeting if you live close enough.. bleedingheart 01/04/2002 22  It's a Shame AlabamaYankee Jan-03-02 9    You know what they say about PA.... Ramsey 01/03/2002 10        It's True AlabamaYankee 01/04/2002 16        No shit? I'm from Louisville. Why 01/04/2002 17            Also from Louisville Ramsey 01/04/2002 29        Except for the state workers danfrompa 01/04/2002 27  Republicans Are Sinless Christians farmboxer Jan-04-02 12  House Democratic leaders oppose reapportionment plan radfringe Jan-04-02 13    Hi, rad joanski0 01/04/2002 15        Fire your cable company. Why 01/04/2002 18  PA Democratic grass-roots organization Efilroft Sul Jan-04-02 19    Thanks for the email address... bleedingheart 01/04/2002 21  I think PA is why Tom Ridge was fingered too Triana Jan-04-02 20    I live in PA--in Borski's district fed2dneck 01/04/2002 24  REDISTRICTING - Format splitting county wins OK radfringe Jan-04-02 23    I would not be jiacinto 01/04/2002 25    Our new governer danfrompa 01/04/2002 28  I live danfrompa Jan-04-02 26

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

Messages in this topic

badgolfer (13 posts) Jan-03-02, 04:55 PM (ET) 1. "Redistricting" The Dems in PA need to do what the Repubs in GA are doing. That is bring law suits on every aspect of this. The Repubs in GA have been screaming for the past months about how unfair the redistricting is to minorities. Like they really are concerned about minorities.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

grimdem (13 posts) Jan-03-02, 05:22 PM (ET) Reply to post #1 2. "How can it affect minorities?" I've heard of redistricting before but to tell the truth, i really don't understand what they are talking about and what the deal is about it. I thought when zones were changed, it was only to increase the amount of representation due to increases in population. If not, and they are going to cut representation, how can it be said that the minorities are being discrimated against. I just can't see how that would be done but i'm pretty new to politics so i guess anything's possible.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

RoxanneJ (2035 posts) Jan-03-02, 05:24 PM (ET) Reply to post #1 4. "Only one problem with that strategy, badgolfer" The repugs in GA are gonna loose those lawsuits. The Justice Department has already signed off on the GA re-districting with one minor exception. Repukes can sue all they want, but they won't delay a single vote, nor gain any seats in Georgia. ________________________ Every mother is like Moses. She does not enter the promised land. She prepares a world she will not see. Pope John Paul VI   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

tom_paine (1280 posts) Jan-03-02, 05:23 PM (ET) 3. "This is the way Republics die and Empires are born" Soon, the Congress will wield the ineffectual sham-power of the Roman Senate (give it time...) ===================================== “Did you become disaccustomed to propaganda? You are unwise. It is time to recall old habits, or you will soon take everything you see in TV in all good faith. And this seems to have serious consequences.” --Pravda, 10-26-01 (this is not a geographical slur on Southerners--the Confederacy does not reside exclusively in the South anymore & there are good people everywhere) The Confederacy has been saying it will rise again for more than 100 years since it's anti-American agenda was defeated in 1865. If there's one thing the Bloodless Coup of 2000 teaches us, it's that when people make threats for 100+ years...they mean it. "He (W) had always listed, throughout his campaign and since, the reasons why the nation might depart from this policy, reasons he had given as acceptable for running fiscal deficits: for war, recession, or emergency. As he said to me in mid-September, 'Lucky me. I hit the trifecta.'" -- Remarks by OMB Director Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. at Conference Board Annual Meeting Oct 16, 2001 http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/pubpress/daniels_conference_board_speech10-16-01.html   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

radfringe (1251 posts) Jan-03-02, 05:28 PM (ET) 5. "tell me about it" if the Shublicans have their way then the butthole Sherwood will be my rep. enough to make me Write to your reps pennsylvanians demand fair and equal representation, not this abomination that KARL ROVE and Bunnyoants wants. Yes, you got that right - Rove has had his fingers in the Pennyslvania Pie and it's at the behest of Bunnypants. Freedom and Democracy, the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, the birth of our country started here in Pennyslyvania - and now Shrublicans want to kill it and they call it fair. BUSHIT! READ MY LIPS - NO NEW TEXANS My Paintings: http://community.webshots.com/album/24975012fTkTJvXMwF Postcards still available. Contact me for more info.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

bleedingheart (509 posts) Jan-03-02, 06:02 PM (ET) 6. "Hello neighbor" I know what you are talking about... they are messing with the districts and the Dems in our state are laying down. I am represented and repulsed by Melissa Hart and I know that they are trying to carve up the suburbs so that they get what they want. Some local reps seem okay with the districting that is going on because some of them are getting a greater majority of dems in their area...but who knows. I hear this will put Mascara and Murtha at each others throats. I know Murtha is getting up there in age. So possibly he may be retiring soon??? I belong to a local democratic club and I know that I have personally been trying to get more people involved in local politics like this because we aren't drumming up enough good candidates to run for office. Personally I am not all the satisfied with some of our Democratic choices. There is a big stink because PA Democratic Committee people were actually caught working for Republican campaigns. This is really f*cked up if you ask me. I don't understand why these people are on state committee if they want to help elect Republicans to office. Also, the Dems are spending a lot of money in Philly to help elect people and the turnout on that side is horrible. I just recently heard the stats and they were abysmal.... We need to recharge the party in our state... with Repub governor..Repub Assembly and Repub Senators...its is not good... and the worst part is that there are more registered Democrats in the state...so Democrats are putting them in office. Our next meeting is in Feb...send me a message if interested.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

radfringe (1251 posts) Jan-03-02, 07:14 PM (ET) Reply to post #6 7. "Bleedingheart when and where?" weather permitting... READ MY LIPS - NO NEW TEXANS My Paintings: http://community.webshots.com/album/24975012fTkTJvXMwF Postcards still available. Contact me for more info.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

joanski0 (1676 posts) Jan-03-02, 08:00 PM (ET) Reply to post #7 8. "I'm changing" I'm changing my residence this year from Maryland to Pennsylvania. I live in Greene County. So instead of having Mascara, I will have Murtha. So anyway, there is now one more democratic vote in PA. How in the hell did the Republicans get such a hold on this state??? The fundamendalists???   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

bleedingheart (509 posts) Jan-03-02, 09:23 PM (ET) Reply to post #8 11. "Having grown up in the Pittsburgh" area, it is hard to understand. My family is full of pro-union, fiercely Democratic types...the kind to be counted on to pull the Democratic lever whether they like the candidates or not because they hate repukes... However, there is a mix of religious catholics who are conflicted about choice, birth control, sex ed...etc..then there are the gun rights groups who really got some democrats all stirred up in the 2000 election.. The Repukes have done a great job painting the unions as the reason for the demise of steel and they are even working on trying to break the airline unions at Pgh Intl saying that they are the reason for the long security checks..etc.. it is just disgusting. This is why my husband and I are trying to help the local dem chapter revive...The worst part is watching people like me, descended from the hardworking democratic steelworkers and coalminers forgetting the lessons of the past and voting for the other side....it is just disgusting ... They go to college..get a little extra money and they vote Repuke.! In fact, a lot of older Democrats think that it is a natural progression for their kids to vote Republican because they have a bit more money... The center of the state is pretty conservative. And Philly is democratic...but they are horrible at getting voters turned out to vote. (not that our side is that much better...but the results of 2001 showed that they were pitiful at getting out the vote..) Sorry but I fail to understand why city dwellers, specifically minority city dwellers who are typically victims of social injustice do not vote. It makes no sense. Hell if the early immigrants knew it was important to vote, I can't figure out why citizens today can't figure it out.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

joanski0 (1676 posts) Jan-04-02, 07:25 AM (ET) Reply to post #11 14. "You are right" You are right, bleedingheart. "The worst part is watching people like me, descended from the hardworking democratic steelworkers and coalminers forgetting the lessons of the past and voting for the other side....it is just disgusting ... They go to college..get a little extra money and they vote Repuke.!" I have a number of cousins who were born in this area, sons of coalminers and union members, who went to college, got extra money, and now vote Repuke. They have, indeed, forgotten the lessons of the past. It's just heartbreaking! They don't seem to care about the people they left behind.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

bleedingheart (509 posts) Jan-04-02, 10:25 AM (ET) Reply to post #11 22. "Come to our meeting if you live close enough.." North Huntingdon Township Democratic Club www.norwindemocrats.com I will posting new stuff this weekend to the site.. but our next meeting is Wednesday Feb 6th..7:30pm Membership is a hefty $3/year...yes that is Three Dollars! The meeting is held in a firehall so there is a bar next door if you want to get a drink and of course are old enough to drink... The crowd is older but they have the organization set up and they love new members!...and typically we have food after the metting. The club is 50 years old! Quite an accomplishment!   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

AlabamaYankee (36 posts) Jan-03-02, 08:26 PM (ET) 9. "It's a Shame" As a lifelong Pennsylvanian until I traded the wonderful representation of Spector and Santorum for the equally sublime services of Sessions and Shelby, I feel I can weigh in a bit. Centre County (home of Penn State) is represented by Peterson, a slimeball politician by anyone's yardstick. (He took over from Bill Clinger - conservative, but one of the finest and most principled Republicans ever to serve - who cast a crucial vote to kill the flag amendment just before he retired). The current plan, as I understand it, unites Centre County completely in his district rather than splitting it right through the somewhat Democratic Centre Region. I guess they feel he's strong enough withthe Northern Pennsylvania militia-types to counter the commie pinkos at the university (heavy sarcasm here, folks) Politics has always been bitter and evenly divided in PA. I remember one session when the legislature changed parties two or three times due to deathe or retirements. This is just a more blatant manifestation of the suicidal, winner take all atitide that has infected politics in the last twenty years. To be honest, I believe the Democrats would havetried the same thing if they could have. Losing two seats is a bitch any way you cut it. Peace   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Ramsey (828 posts) Jan-03-02, 08:42 PM (ET) Reply to post #9 10. "You know what they say about PA...." The state is Philadelphia and Pittsburgh with Alabama in between. Hope that doesn't offend an AlabamaYankee, but ironically, I am a native Kentuckian (where I endured the unwonderful leadership of Mitch McConnell!) who is tranplanted to Philly, so I can relate to all sides too! *************************************************** Literal Politics "It was after the catastophe, when they shot the president and machine-gunned the Congress and the army declared a state of emergency. They blamed it on the Islamic fanatics, at the time." The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood "This is not America, no..." David Bowie   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

AlabamaYankee (36 posts) Jan-04-02, 08:28 AM (ET) Reply to post #10 16. "It's True" James Carville came up with that quote, and I use it frequently. I think he meant it as a slam on both states,but having lived in both states, I can attest to its accuracy. Interesting news item in this morning's Centre Daily Times, and probably elsewhere in the state: http://web.centredaily.com/content/centredaily/2002/01/04/news_local/04redistrictdems.htm   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Why (1963 posts) Jan-04-02, 08:34 AM (ET) Reply to post #10 17. "No shit? I'm from Louisville." East End, where I also had to endure the unremarkable leadership of Rep. Jim Bunning, whose greatest moment was against the Mets in 1962 (I wonder how many no-hitters the Mets gave up that year). Ironically, Bunning played for the Phillies that year. http://www.way2muchsense.com Smirking Chimp username: Duuuuh Motley Fool username: way2muchsense Abuzz username: Why   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Ramsey (828 posts) Jan-04-02, 06:20 PM (ET) Reply to post #17 29. "Also from Louisville" Actually, I grew up in Anchorage, KY. All my family live in Cherokee Triangle or St. Matthews now. I was just visiting over the holidays and saw a disturbingly large number of SUVs with six flag stickers each. Kentucky has gotten depressingly conservative over the past decade or so. In the 70's, it was more democratic, in the city anyway. The rural areas have always been full of yahoos. I can say that because I have a bunch of sheeple relatives from Eastern KY on my mom's side. Thank god she got all the good genes. *************************************************** Literal Politics "It was after the catastophe, when they shot the president and machine-gunned the Congress and the army declared a state of emergency. They blamed it on the Islamic fanatics, at the time." The Handmaid's Tale, Margaret Atwood "This is not America, no..." David Bowie   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

danfrompa (20 posts) Jan-04-02, 06:10 PM (ET) Reply to post #10 27. "Except for the state workers" Harrisburg PA is solidly republican....today i saw 4 pickup trucks with giant flags hanging off the back. Almost a disgrace   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

farmboxer (2627 posts) Jan-04-02, 01:47 AM (ET) 12. "Republicans Are Sinless Christians" and will only do what their god tells them to do, cheat, just like they did in Florida!   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

radfringe (1251 posts) Jan-04-02, 07:22 AM (ET) 13. "House Democratic leaders oppose reapportionment plan" House Democratic leaders oppose reapportionment plan HARRISBURG, Jan. 2 – House Democratic Leaders criticized the GOP’s congressional reapportionment plan approved today, calling it an abomination that threatens the state’s federal clout even more than stagnant population growth. The plan—which passed the conference committee, 4-2, with Democratic members Mike Veon, the House Democratic Whip, and Robert Mellow, the Senate Democratic Leader, opposing—will be voted on tomorrow by the full House and Senate. Veon, D-Beaver Falls, called the plan “the worst kind of blatant, arrogant, political selfishness, coming at the expense of the interests of thousands of citizens.” Veon added that the only hope for the people of Pennsylvania is that the plan will fail in the House or Senate, leaving the reapportionment to be handled by the Pennsylvania courts. House Democratic Leader H. William DeWeese, Greene/Fayette/ Washington, said the final plan unnecessarily splits communities throughout Pennsylvania. Montgomery County, the largest Republican county in the state, has always had its own congressional seat. It has 100,000 more people than it needs to have its own congressional district. Yet, the Republican-drawn reapportionment plan hacks Montgomery into six different pieces. more --> http://www.pahouse.com/pr/DeWeese/050010202.htm On PCN yesterday, DeWeese blasted the shrublican plan for redistricting. Trying to find a transcript of his speech, it was something to watch.... READ MY LIPS - NO NEW TEXANS My Paintings: http://community.webshots.com/album/24975012fTkTJvXMwF Postcards still available. Contact me for more info.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

joanski0 (1676 posts) Jan-04-02, 07:28 AM (ET) Reply to post #13 15. "Hi, rad" It looks like it's time for me to start watching PCN instead of CNN. I've been trying like hell for the past year to get Charter Communications to carry C-Span2. They won't even acknowledge me.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Why (1963 posts) Jan-04-02, 08:36 AM (ET) Reply to post #15 18. "Fire your cable company." That's what I did. Dish Network carries the good, bad, and ugly. Not only that, they threw a monkeywrench into NewsCorp's plan to buy DirectTV. They deserve our support. http://www.way2muchsense.com Smirking Chimp username: Duuuuh Motley Fool username: way2muchsense Abuzz username: Why   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Efilroft Sul (3 posts) Jan-04-02, 08:57 AM (ET) 19. "PA Democratic grass-roots organization" Pennsylvania DU'ers, for the gory details about the ineffectiveness of the state Democratic committee, please contact Keith Seewald (a former Republican, no less) at the Democratic Society of Pennsylvania. His grass-roots organization is rapidly becoming a burr on the behind of the do-nothings in Harrisburg. E-mail Keith at dspa@adelphia.net. Now can I get me a beer in the lounge?   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

bleedingheart (509 posts) Jan-04-02, 10:21 AM (ET) Reply to post #19 21. "Thanks for the email address..." I will have to contact him...   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Triana (575 posts) Jan-04-02, 09:24 AM (ET) 20. "I think PA is why Tom Ridge was fingered too" ..for OHS. Tom's primary purpose is to deliver PA for shrub in 2002 and 2004. I read about Repuke plans for redistricting well before the Selection. They are evidently going according to plan. I don't live in PA but urge those who do to write their Democratic reps and make your voices heard about this. Make no mistake, the Repukes want PA wrapped up in 2002 and 2004 and will TAKE it if people let them - hook or crook, they don't care. If I've learned anything about RePUKES since Selection 2000, it IS that they DON'T CARE about anything except WINNING elections - period - any way they can, even if they have to steal them. ___________ "Being actively stupid helps nothing" --Molly Ivins   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

fed2dneck (586 posts) Jan-04-02, 01:34 PM (ET) Reply to post #20 24. "I live in PA--in Borski's district" Borski is fuming at the gerrymandering designed explicitly to boost Repug power at the expense of Democrats. The thug behind this flimflam is state Rep. John Perzel (R) (I call him "Pretzel" because he's twisted), who masterminded this scheme. Borski is threatening to take the case to Federal court for what he calls "Johnnymandering" (the Third Circuit is no Tom DeLay toady). The redistricting plan threatens to put me out of Borski's district and move me into a Repug's. This I do NOT like; but I haven't lived in PA long enough to run for office, but will have in '04--I just might run and start taking out America's garbage. CONservative philosophy in one sentence: we can dish it out but we can't take it. BUSH is a four-letter word Liberal is NOT a dirty word "You're a loser because you're dead inside. And you can't live unless you make everyone else dead around you " --Paul Newman in "The Hustler   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

radfringe (1251 posts) Jan-04-02, 10:34 AM (ET) 23. "REDISTRICTING - Format splitting county wins OK " REDISTRICTING Format splitting county wins OK By STEVEN A. MORELLI smorelli@leader.net HARRISBURG - Northeastern Democratic representatives voted against their party Thursday to support a restructured redistricting plan that secured two congressional seats in the region. After the state Senate approved the plan 28-22 Thursday morning, Democratic representatives pleaded for party members to vote against it in the House. But 38 Democrats supported it to help the House pass the plan 132-59. "There was going to be no (congressional district) map that was good for all Democrats," said Kevin Blaum, D-Wilkes-Barre. "But we were able to take care of our area." Blaum was one of the first - and by some accounts one of the loudest - to protest after the Senate passed the initial redistricting plan, which broke Luzerne County into three pieces. Blaum and other Democrats turned to Republican state Sen. Charles Lemmond of Dallas for help. "Sen. Lemmond went out on a limb to get this done," Blaum said. The new Northeastern Pennsylvania districts group Democratic urban centers in one and Republican suburban and rural areas in the other. Where the old district line ran between Wilkes-Barre and Scranton, the new one runs between the cities and their suburbs. The new 11th District, represented by Paul Kanjorski, D-Nanticoke, includes Wilkes-Barre and Scranton. The new 10th District, represented by Don Sherwood, R-Tunkhannock, loses Scranton but picks up Luzerne County's Back Mountain and West Side. The new plan is a victory in the eyes of Todd Vonderheid, vice president of the Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry. "It means Luzerne County has proper representation." The first redistricting plan split Luzerne County into three parts, taking the 11th District and putting it into the 6th District, based in Reading. Scranton itself was split into three districts. "Luzerne and Lackawanna couldn't swing the three districts," Vonderheid said. "Luzerne would have gone from owning one district to having none." The new plan makes more economic sense also, Vonderheid said. "It draws a line of representation that is more in line with economic reality," Vonderheid said of uniting Wilkes-Barre and Scranton in one district. But Sen. Raphael Musto, D-Pittston Township, did not see it that way. He, like all of the other Democratic senators, voted against the plan. "It (Luzerne County) should be kept intact, as it has been as long as I can remember. There was a tremendous amount of politics in this and reapportionment is too important for that." Politics have shaped redistricting since the beginning, remaking districts to suit ruling parties into such odd configurations a Massachusetts legislator in 1812 called it "gerrymandering." The argument rages every 10 years, when states adjust the number of congressional districts to reflect the census. This year, Pennsylvania had to go from 21 to 19 districts. With Republicans in control of the House, Senate and governor's office, Democrats were going to lose the seats. The new district plan - which Gov. Mark Schweiker said he will sign - stretches the current one-seat advantage held by the GOP to seven seats, and possibly nine, according to Republicans. Democrats called the plan "political arrogance" that allowed the Republican Party to make gains on a national level. They said the plan failed to reflect that registered Democrats in Pennsylvania outnumber Republicans by hundreds of thousands. more ---> http://web.timesleader.com/content/leader/2002/01/04/news/04REDIS0A.htm This means for me Sherwood is going to my new rep - excuse me while I READ MY LIPS - NO NEW TEXANS My Paintings: http://community.webshots.com/album/24975012fTkTJvXMwF Postcards still available. Contact me for more info.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

jiacinto (1442 posts) Jan-04-02, 06:05 PM (ET) Reply to post #23 25. "I would not be " totally upset by the redistricting. It is a very bad development, but remember the Democrats tried arcane redistricting in Georgia back in 1990; and they ended up creating the G-8. Redistricting plans can backfire so I would not assume that each seat would go Republican. The key now is to just go out and register more voters. --J. Carlos Jiacinto   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

danfrompa (20 posts) Jan-04-02, 06:13 PM (ET) Reply to post #23 28. "Our new governer" LAST EDITED ON Jan-04-02 AT 06:13 PM (ET) Schwing really sucks...we need to elect Rendell   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

danfrompa (20 posts) Jan-04-02, 06:07 PM (ET) 26. "I live" in a solidly republican area just outside Harrisburg...NO HOPE for any democrat ever getting elected.   Remove | Alert Edit | Reply | Top

Lock | Archive | Remove

Lobby | Topics | Previous Topic | Next Topic

Select another forum Lobby Announcements (Conference)   |--Announcements (Protected) Top of the Page (Conference)   |--Latest Breaking News (Protected)   |--Editorials and Other Articles (Protected)   |--General Discussion Forum (Protected)   |--The DU Lounge (Protected) Hot Topics (Conference)   |--9/11, Military Affairs, and Terrorism (Protected)   |--Politics and Campaigns (Protected)   |--The Media (Protected)   |--Bush, Conservatives, and Conservatism (Protected)   |--Activism/Events (Protected) Issues (Conference)   |--Civil Rights/Equality/Privacy (Protected)   |--Economic Issues (Protected)   |--Environment/Energy (Protected)   |--Foreign Policy/National Security (Protected)   |--Health/Education/Social Policy (Protected)   |--Justice/Public Safety (Protected) Member Feedback (Conference)   |--Comments and Suggestions (Protected)