Republicans are in full-flex as the majority party. Yesterday, GA Republicans introduced legislation for the purpose of redistricting the congressional seats. There are competing versions, but no matter: each would likely end in a 10-3 GOP advantage, replacing the current 7-6 GOP-split. For good measure, both specifically target US Representative John Barrow. Barrow, you'll recall, offended the GOP this past November by having the audacity to knock off the incumbent, Republican Max Burns. Burns himself would be left with an open district squarely in his region of GA.
I don't know how we can fight this. This should be a benchmark battle, however. If we let the Republicans get away with this power grab, the one in California will advance, and others will take hold across the country (Note, however, that probably none will ever occur in states with a Democratic governor and a Democratic legislature). Not to mention we could lose 3 seats in Congress, further eroding our already slimming caucus.
Let's dicuss what moves we can make to counter this proposal. Should we take it to the people of GA? Doubtful. After all, the good citizens of Georgia reversed a Democratic dominated legislature with a Republican dominated one in the space of four years. And past efforts by Democrats to redistrict themselves seats only turns these volleys into flattened balls.
On a broader level, can an authority on GA politics explain to me what has brought about this sudden shift to the right? No one expected, in 2000 or 2004, for Georgia to select the Democratic presidential nominee. But for the legislature to turn so dramtically to the GOP, and for the last two senate races and the governor's race to go as they have is a bit confounding. What regions should Democrats focus on in a rebuilding effort? Have we been decimated in rural southern GA, once a Democratic stronghold? Are ANY Atlanta suburbs (aside from ones with majority-black populations- Dekalb, Clayton, S. Fulton) ripe for Democratic growth? Cobb county, perhaps?
We need some answers here. But first we have to stop the GOP from redistricting mid-cycle with the intent on ousting Democratic seats.