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Texas Redistricting Battle Ends.. GOP to gain 6-7 Seats

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by Murdock, Oct 13, 2003.

  1. Murdock

    Murdock Member

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    Texas redistricting battle ends

    Senate OKs plan; Gov. Perry expected to sign


    ASSOCIATED PRESS

    AUSTIN, Oct. 12 — A six-month battle in the Texas Legislature ended Sunday when the Senate passed a congressional redistricting plan in a third special legislative session

    THE BILL now goes to Republican Gov. Rick Perry, who is expected to sign it into law.
    The new map, approved 17-14 in the Senate, likely will give Republicans the majority in the Texas congressional delegation that is now ruled 17-15 by Democrats.
    Democrats have opposed every attempt by Republicans to pass a new plan, saying the current congressional boundaries drawn by a court in 2001 should remain in place. Republicans say current voting trends show Texas should have more GOP representation in Washington.
    Republicans have said they could gain as many as six additional seats in the delegation. Democrats said the map would add seven Republicans.
    The bill’s passage ends six months of strange twists, including two walkouts by Democrats, three special sessions and harsh Republican infighting.
    While the legislative battle over congressional redistricting is over, the feud continues. Democrats have pledged to take their fight to court.
    Republicans were hoping to end the redistricting debate last week, as the House moved swiftly to approve the map Friday. But the Senate held off its vote to wait for the House to approve an unrelated bill to reorganize some parts of state government.

    http://www.msnbc.com/news/979592.asp
     
    #1 Murdock, Oct 13, 2003
    Last edited: Oct 13, 2003
  2. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Contributing Member

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    Excellent news.
     
  3. Desert Scar

    Desert Scar Contributing Member

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    Since nationally there are more democrats than republicans maybe the states should be redistricted to reflect proportional representation. How about the White House too (seeing how the Demo candidate got the most votes last election).

    I am not serious, but just making fun of the argument from Delay and Co.
     
  4. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    Even though it'll never happen, if the Democrats ever take back control of statewide offices or the legislature, I hope they don't do the same thing that the Republicans did and simply wait until the traditional time to do it.

    They are politicians though.

    Luckily California exists and Texas isn't the laughing stock of the nation.
     
  5. El_Conquistador

    El_Conquistador King of the D&D, The Legend, #1 Ranking
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    The interests of Texas voters have been served. The debate was held on the floor of the State House, as it should have been. The Republicans had the votes, and like all laws, this is how it was passed. Don't let the liberals lie about the 'traditional time'. There is no 'traditional time'; the proper time is when it is brought to the floor, as it was here. Yet another

    REPUBLICAN VICTORY
     
  6. Maynard

    Maynard Member

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    which is it?

    "interests of Texas voters have been served"

    or

    "REPUBLICAN VICTORY"


    they are not both one and the same


    there will be millions of Texas voters not properly represented anymore
     
  7. El_Conquistador

    El_Conquistador King of the D&D, The Legend, #1 Ranking
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  8. Maynard

    Maynard Member

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    this just further examplifies that you deep down have zero interests in what is best for Texans

    it is all a big pissing match to you
     
  9. Cohen

    Cohen Contributing Member

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    Austin got SCREWED

    Go Democrats!
     
  10. El_Conquistador

    El_Conquistador King of the D&D, The Legend, #1 Ranking
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    Actually, Maynerd, today's Republican victory ensures that the districting map accurately reflects the political preference of the majority of Texas voters. Nice try though. The democrats had unfairly held a majority of the congressional seats, a problem that has been remedied by today's just actions.

    VICTORY IS SWEET AND DELICIOUS
     
  11. Batman Jones

    Batman Jones Contributing Member

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    I wonder how many BBS members are voting for Bill White as a direct result of Trader_Jorge's signature. Probably not many, but I'd venture a guess it's more than those voting against him for the same reason.
     
  12. Cohen

    Cohen Contributing Member

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    [​IMG]
     
  13. Rocketman95

    Rocketman95 Hangout Boy

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    I believe there were five Republican districts that voted for Democratic congressmen last election.
     
  14. GreenVegan76

    GreenVegan76 Contributing Member

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    Another example showing that Republicans can only win when they cheat.
     
  15. GreenVegan76

    GreenVegan76 Contributing Member

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    This leaked memo shows just how non-partisan the Republicans were in the case. It had nothing to do with "representing the people." It was about stealing more votes. Nice.

    http://www.texas10.org/fortsonmemo.php



    The Joby Fortson Memo

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    As the Washington Post reported on Saturday, October 11, 2003, Joby Fortson is legal counsel for Texas GOP Congressman Joe Barton. Fortson sent out a detailed by-the-numbers description of exactly how the GOP intended all along on robbing Texas Democrats of their representation, while doing the bare minimum needed to avoid trouble from the U.S. Department of Justice. We have obtained the text of the entire memo.
    You might find it hard to read due to the horrific lack of proper spelling or punctuation, but the message is clear: Tom DeLay, Tom Craddick, Rick Perry and their rich cronies care only about themselves and their own power. The well-being of the state of Texas was never a consideration.

    --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    [The full memo text]

    A quick rundown

    1 - Sandlin - it gets more republican by throwing Tyler into the district. The heart of Turner's district goes to this distrioct. A solid state rep or senator could bat Sandlin/Turner in a tight race. The district is over 60% GOP but Sandlin has roots. (prediction lean staying Dem)

    2- Turner - the distrcit is moved to the Houston area in an open Republican seat in northeat Harris County. It is new territory made of Brady, Lampson and a little Turner land.=

    but over 60% Republican (switches to Republican)

    3 - Johnson - this Plano based diestrict stays the same (remains R)

    4 - Hall - Hall will win this distrcit again IF he runs. However, having the area around Texarkana instead of Tyler ight discourage him. If he retires (as inidcations are he will) this will flip. (switches to R)

    5- Hensarling - the district is shrunk and becomes more urban picking up East Dallas and becomes more republican (stays R)

    6 - Barton - my boss actually was drawn into a district with both Frost's and Turner's homes however, if they would like to commit political suicide, be my guest. The district has gone from 57% R to 63% adding more Republican territory in Tarrant County. (remains R)

    7 - Culberson - the Houston Memorial "old money" dsitrict remains the same (remains R)

    8 - Brady - Brady keeps staunch Republican Montgomery County as his base north of Houston and goes north tyo chop off the other half of Turner's rural district that the 1st gobbled

    up. Montgomery County keeps this VERY republican (remains R)

    9 - Lampson - This is a new majority minority african American district drawn for Rep Wilson around Houston Hobby Airport. Lampson is not in it and Bell is effectively drawn out

    in favor of Wilson (Remains D)

    10 - Doggett - ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha - The district goes from North central Austin (NOT liberal Hyde Park but more north conservative Plugerville area) and stretches to Katy Texas outside of Houston. Robert called this the 290 district. It is very Republican

    and will be where my friend Brian Walters will be likely running. Littelfield already is a consultant. (sweitches to R)

    11 - Edwards - This is the "new" Midland seat drawn for Speaker Craddick protege Connaway who lost a close one of Neugebauer in the Combest open seat. This is very Republican.

    (Switches to R)

    12 - Granger - Granger's district continues to be a dafe Ft. Worth R seat (remains R)

    13 - Thornberry - Thornberry remains pretty muich the smae but the map is very wacky at points to appease Speaker Craddick and State Senator Duncan. (remains R)

    14 - Paul - Ron Paul and Nick Lampson are drawn together in a republican district. This could be trickier than thought given Paul's unusual behavior. It IS republican

    though centered around Lake Jackson south of Houston, but Brandon can attest that Galveston is a lean D area. Lake Jackson and points south though are HEAVY R. Tus, the district is 60% R. (remains R)

    15 - Hinojosa - I do not know if if Hinojosa will take this one or another of the "stripe" districts. One of these is new and part of the voting rights protection element. They run from Austin area to the border side by side. (remains D)

    16 - Reyes - this El Paso seat remains relatively unchanged (remains D)

    17 - Stenholm - Really its the one Chet Edwards will run in and . . . bye Chet. Chet loses his Killeen-Ft. Hood Base in exchange for conservative Johnson County. They will not like the fact he kills babies, prevents kids from praying and wants to take their guns. State Rep Arlene Wohlgemuth come on down, you are the next Congressman from Texas. To be fair, while Edwards will likely lose, at least he has a fighting chance as Waco is the population center (but hasn't he been LOSING Waco lately - yep!) (switches to R)

    18 - Jackson-Lee - as much as we despise her, she cannot be drawn out. She still has the 5th ward and downtown Houston. The Queen lives!!!! (remains D)

    19 - Neugebauer - thsi is easily the wackiest district and evidently was the last one drawn. It places Stenholm and Neugebauer in the same seat but most of it is Neugebauer's Lubbock based territory. Stenholm has a chnace because it is very Ag oriented. Abilene just simply replaces Midland as the other population center. Once you see the map, you will shake your head at this one. The overwhelming R nature of it gives the freshman the edge, but Tim Holden in Pennsylvania showed that is not necessarily all it takes. (remains R in a close member-member battle)

    20 - Gonzalez - The Alamo still will keep its rep in a similar district. Tony Zafirini's boss is safe (Remains D)

    21 - Lamar Smith - this district still has Alamo Heights (rich San Antonio), Westlake (rich west Austin) and San Marcos - (remains R)

    22 - Tom DeLay - DeLay, the supposed architect of this map according to Dems, still has his strong R base in Sugarland but gives away enough R's to give Paul and even greater edge in the 14th. (remains R)

    23 - Bonilla - half of Webb County (laredo) goes to Hispanic districts and he gets more of Bexar Copunty (north San Antonio) in return to shore up this slowly more Dem growing seat. (remains R)

    24 - Frost - ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha. Hello Congressman Marchant (a state Senator). His distrcit disappeared as Burgess takes inner city Ft. Worth, Eddie Bernice Johnson takes his part of inner city Dallas, Sessions takes his hispanic voters in central Dallas and Barton takes his home in north Arlington. It simply disappears in a Coppell centered district in the VERY republican mid-cities area between Dallas and Ft. Worth. This is the D's best legal challenge as inner city Ft. Worth will now be outnumbered in a Rpublican suburban district (see CD 26). However, the creation of a new african american seat in Houston so that new map should pass the challenge. (switches to R)

    25 - Bell - this seat is removed from the Houston area (in its place is the new african american district) and this is one of the new "stripe" districts running from Austin to the border. It takes hispanic east Austin and runs to the border. (remains D)

    26 - Burgess - the old Armey seat takes on 150,000 inner city Ft. Worth residents but is paired with 450,000 fervent republicans in Denton County. Lewisville, Denton and other VERY republican areas north make it, over 60% R despite the presence of inner city Ft. Worth. (remains R)

    27 - Ortiz - This district still has the Texas coastline from Corpus Christi to Brownsville in the beginning of the strpie districts. (remains D)

    28 - Ciro Rodriguez likely will still run in the final "stripe" district that runs from Chinagrove (the little town outside of San Antone from Doobie Brothers fame) all the way to the border. (remains D)

    29 - Gene Green - this is still a hispanic seat that gets even more hispanic in Houston. I expect Gene Green to keep it but watch for the primary challenge (remains D)

    30 - Eddie Bernice Johnson - she takes Frost's african American population in Dallas and lets her republican precincts (like las colinas) go. Her district finally for the first time make perfect sense geographically. (remains D)

    31 - Sessions - still has the Park Cities (rich Dallas) and north Dallas. However, he pciks up some hispanic voters from the old Frost district. This is still a VERY republcian seat as people from the Park Cities vote in great numbers. remember this is the infamous 75225 zip code which raise alomst 20% of Bush's presidential money and voted in the largets precinct 97% Bush-3% Dukakis. This district does not just have people who vote republican but people who ARE republican. (remains R)

    32- Carrter - the final district is another gem. Edwards loses the republicans that suppiort him and they now are with John Carter in a Williamson County centered district. This is made for Carter and is still very safe republcian territory. (remains R)


    [end memo text]
     
  16. El_Conquistador

    El_Conquistador King of the D&D, The Legend, #1 Ranking
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    GreenVegan -- I hope you can provide proof that that memo is what you say it is. You indirectly link it to the Washington Post, but it says it was only 'mentioned' in the Post (not posted ver batim). Unless you can prove that it is not a sham, we will be forced to regard it as partisan trash.

    Batman -- the people deserve to know that Bill White runs in the same circles as people like Jesse Jackson. The people should realize that Jesse will have access to Bill White's ear. Not many independents are sympathetic to Jesse's cause. He is the torch-bearer for only the most liberal of voters. Even MacBeth hates him. Your hypothesis is in question, to say the least.

    VICTORY IS SWEET AND DELICIOUS
     
  17. Desert Scar

    Desert Scar Contributing Member

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    Sure go ahead and enjoy this day, sorry moderate and left Texas folks, I feel for you but I now live in right leaning state with a Democrat gov so this doesn't disenfranchise me.

    TJ--I am sure you won't be so happy when the elected federal officials accurately reflect the political preference of the majority of American voters.
     
  18. Mrs. JB

    Mrs. JB Member

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    More info here: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/metropolitan/2150507 The quoted text appears to match-up with the Chron story. It's partisan trash alright -- just from the other side. ;)
     
  19. bigtexxx

    bigtexxx Contributing Member

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    It's not a crime to be happy about providing more accurate representation of the citizens of this great state.
     
  20. FranchiseBlade

    FranchiseBlade Contributing Member
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    The memo doesn't talk about accurately representing the state though. It does talk about how to get seats away from Democrats and for Republicans. In fact it talks about how to counteract the desired representation of citizens likely to vote democratic.
     

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