Should we consider "pulling a DeLay"?

[finecraft]

from Kos: http://www.dailykos.com/

(snip)"House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has spoken with several Democratic governors in recent weeks about the possibility of revisiting their states' Congressional lines in response to the ongoing Republican-led redistricting in Georgia, according to informed party sources.

Faced with the prospect of Republicans redrawing Congressional lines in a third state since the initial 2001 round of redistricting ended, a faction of national Democrats is urging an aggressive strategy aimed at striking back at Republican House Members in states like New Mexico and Illinois.

"We have to stop playing defense and go on the offensive," said Howard Wolfson, who served as executive director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the 2002 cycle and is now a consultant with the Glover Park Group.

Democrats believe their best opportunities lie in Illinois, New Mexico and Louisiana, where Democrats have seized control of all the levers of state government in those states since the 2001 reapportionment and redistricting." (end snip)

Hell Yeah! I think we need to go after Rodney Alexander, Bobby Jindal, Charles Boustany and Jim McCrery.

[tx_dem41]

1. I think the THREAT of it, might be a good idea, but...

I don't see how Louisiana can pull it off. Too many DINOs in the Legislature, and I don't see how there are huge pockets of pure Democrats to draw from when re-districting. For example, to "get" Jindal, you probably end up turning Melancon's district Republican.

[Hippo_Tron]

6. DINOs are still, more or less, allied with the Dem party

Since DINOs are really nothing but opportunists, and I admit that Louisiana has quite a high concentration of them, I have a feeling that they would vote for re-districting if it were to help their possibilities of seeking higher office.

[bluestateguy]

2. I don't think it would work in Louisiana

Not enough territory to work with, but Illinois would be do-able, as would New Mexico.

Heather Wilson could be targeted.That bitch keeps on winning and winning, but a little tweaking of the lines could change that.

[funkybutt]

3. wow...plenty of nay-sayers here

that's always productive

[finecraft]

4. I say go for it

You could split the seventh district and combine the northern part of the third district with it- remember the seventh used to be represented by Chris John. Boustany is the first Republican elected from the seventh district since Reconstruction. And remember Rodney Alexander USED to be a Democrat, so his district is a definite Democratic possibility. I agree with the strategy behind this move and agree that we could squeeze out one additional Democratic district. If nothing else, we need to get the turncoat Alexander out ASAP.

[tx_dem41]

5. Not being a naysayer...

just being a realist, and I realize the tremendous political capital that will be spent in the effort. And, looking at voting patterns in the state, I don't see where that capital would be well spent. The Democratic pockets in the state are Orleans parish, River parishes, Acadiana, and northeastern Louisiana along the Mississippi. You already have Acadiana and Orleans parish represented. Alexander's district is definitely in play, so maybe a little "tweaking" is possible to make it a bit more Democratic (but I think all those pockets in northeastern Louisiana are ALREADY in that district. You can't do much with district 7, without hurting Melancon's position in Acadiana. In the same way, redistricting Jindal's district would hurt Melancon as well.

Bottom line, your effort will galvanize and energize a Republican movement in Louisiana that is already growing. I think that would very possibly make Melancon very vulnerable and not help you at all in the 7th or NE Louisiana.