If you're just joining us, I suggested in Part 1 that we stop acting like the rabbits of the political world and proudly own the name we once used on ourselves: LIBERAL. Now I have an idea for how to have a HUGE difference in the political landscape. You with me? After the jump...
The Republicans have proven quite adept at running from OUT of power, to scare the American people into voting for them before those bastard Democrats can induce us all into bankrupt, godless communism. And did you notice...? They're REALLY good at getting themselves back into power at the beginning of each decade. Which means.....
Oh yeah. Redistricting power.
Republicans won more than 600 state legislative races, taking control of at least 18 chambers across the country and positioning themselves for years of electoral advantage through control of redistricting.
The ones holding the pens get to draw the lines for Congressional and legislative districts, and as past experience shows, all kinds of hanky-panky can ensue. As the party out of power in many states, we can greatly influence this process AND create some serious goodwill while doing a good job.
The Democrats must be the FIRST to say "the old ways of drawing districts to create partisan advantage are over," and mean it. This is the kind of issue people of all political stripes can get behind; tea party types who want the end of majority-minority districts will rally behind this, as will liberals who want the end of hardcore safe-conservative districts. This is a good strong case, and I think our side should make it:
Americans are none too pleased with the political outcome of partisan-minded redistricting. Eighty-two percent of Americans this spring said they were fed up with partisan bickering, a jump from 77 percent in 2005, according to Fox News poll comparisons.
Please hold the gagging on the poll source.
Look, we just watched the GOP regain the house because it's EASY to run against the people in power. Let's do this! Spread the word, fire up the grassroots groups, get everybody on the same page: no more safe districts. No more districts 60 miles long and 60 feet wide. No more towering advantage in incumbency. Just draw square districts and adjust for population and landforms ONLY. It's good for the country, and we force the GOP onto the defensive by grabbing the standard first.
Oh yeah, and last I looked there were far more registered Democrats than Republicans. It can't hurt, right?