The arcane process of congressional redistricting has always been a political and partisan process. But, as with so many of the power-grabbing assaults on our constitutional system of checks and balances and representational democracy, the Rove/DeLay Republican Party pushed the partisan power-grabbing to new lows.
The mid-decade redrawing of Texas districts made headlines when Austin's shrinking democratic caucus fled the state to prevent the Lone Star GOP from shoving a GOP-created plan down their throats. The subsequent manhunt included DeLay appropriating Homeland Security resources to search for the AWOL legislators. Ultimately, the controversy and allegations of a DeLay-led conspiracy to expand the GOP Texas congressional numbers contributed to the downfall of DeLay and, arguably the GOP's return to minority status in the 2006 midterm election.
With Democratic resurgence in Congress and redistricting fast approaching, are the Dems poised to solidify our newly-won majorities? Or can the GOP make a comeback by taking advantage of the nation's changing demographics in 2012? Right now, the GOP has a good shot at closing the narrow gap.
Join me below the fold as I look at the redistricting ahead (and as an added enticement, there's an interactive game to play!)
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