Pubs work on plans to outright steal next election.

[O Really]

I hope they don't run into the same issue that Oregon repugs ran into when they tried that. In Oregon, they've got a law that prohibits a rep from running for re-election if their attendance record in the legislature exceeds a certain number of absences. When the repugs went on boycott, their days out exceeded the minimum and they were prevented from running again. Appealed, but lost.

[Vrede too]

I hope they don't run into the same issue that Oregon repugs ran into when they tried that. In Oregon, they've got a law that prohibits a rep from running for re-election if their attendance record in the legislature exceeds a certain number of absences. When the repugs went on boycott, their days out exceeded the minimum and they were prevented from running again. Appealed, but lost.

It sounds like TX doesn't yet have a law that specific and devious. Of course, they would need a quorum to pass such a bill, haha. This may be a mess for the courts if Abbott follows through on his threats. Then, if democracy-hating redistricting is somehow achieved there will be court fights over it, too. Hopefully, it will all be tied up until after the midterms.

Maybe if CA or IL passed a bill threatening similar gerrymandering that would be triggered by the TX bill's passage?

[Whack9]

I hope they don't run into the same issue that Oregon repugs ran into when they tried that. In Oregon, they've got a law that prohibits a rep from running for re-election if their attendance record in the legislature exceeds a certain number of absences. When the repugs went on boycott, their days out exceeded the minimum and they were prevented from running again. Appealed, but lost.

It sounds like TX doesn't yet have a law that specific and devious. Of course, they would need a quorum to pass such a bill, haha. This may be a mess for the courts if Abbott follows through on his threats. Then, if democracy-hating redistricting is somehow achieved there will be court fights over it, too. Hopefully, it will all be tied up until after the midterms.

Maybe if CA or IL passed a bill threatening similar gerrymandering that would be triggered by the TX bill's passage?

Texas attempting to gerrymander districts to add more Republican reps, liberal leaning states threatening to do the same in retaliation, except for Democratic reps. Feels like a step in a very ominous direction that can very easily barrel out of control.

[O Really]

Yeah, I think it may already be there.

[Vrede too]

Yeah, I think it may already be there.

Great minds . . . I was going to post the same thing. What's unique about this anti-democratic stupidity is that it originated with the Cheater in Chief. It's a first during my adulthood and a first ever according to some TV pundit. Of course, the MAGA Gov and GQP Leg are obedient as always. That's how it goes with cults and dictatorships.

[Whack9]

Yeah, I think it may already be there.

Great minds . . . I was going to post the same thing. What's unique about this anti-democratic stupidity is that it originated with the Cheater in Chief. It's a first during my adulthood and a first ever according to some TV pundit. Of course, the MAGA Gov and GQP Leg are obedient as always. That's how it goes with cults and dictatorships.

Looks fairly unprecedented as well. Typically redistricting is done every ten years after new census data rolls in, or per a court order. This time it's being done only five years since the last redistricting occurred.

It's a pretty brazen, obvious, move.

Rule of law and a functioning democracy (or constitutional Republic for the dummies here that like to pedantic and don't understand how language works) require that everyone respects and plays by the rules. When some begin acting in bad faith like Texas has decided to do, the edifice can fall apart pretty quickly. What follows is usually not good.

[Vrede too]

Great minds . . . I was going to post the same thing. What's unique about this anti-democratic stupidity is that it originated with the Cheater in Chief. It's a first during my adulthood and a first ever according to some TV pundit. Of course, the MAGA Gov and GQP Leg are obedient as always. That's how it goes with cults and dictatorships.

Looks fairly unprecedented as well. Typically redistricting is done every ten years after new census data rolls in, or per a court order. This time it's being done only five years since the last redistricting occurred.

It's a pretty brazen, obvious, move.

Rule of law and a functioning democracy (or constitutional Republic for the dummies here that like to pedantic and don't understand how language works) require that everyone respects and plays by the rules. When some begin acting in bad faith like Texas has decided to do, the edifice can fall apart pretty quickly. What follows is usually not good.

A guess is that the state was pretty heavily gerrymandered by the TX Leg RepuQs and Abbott 5 years ago. If so, this new map must be extreme.

[O Really]

I read even Abbot was not in favour of redistricting until Trump told him to. Dickless cowards.

[neoplacebo]

Yeah, I think it may already be there.

Great minds . . . I was going to post the same thing. What's unique about this anti-democratic stupidity is that it originated with the Cheater in Chief. It's a first during my adulthood and a first ever according to some TV pundit. Of course, the MAGA Gov and GQP Leg are obedient as always. That's how it goes with cults and dictatorships.

I saw the other day that trump is now personally interviewing all four star admiral and general promotion candidates, something that's never been done before. I think we are well and truly fucked unless this fucker is stopped.

[Whack9]

Yeah, I think it may already be there.

Great minds . . . I was going to post the same thing. What's unique about this anti-democratic stupidity is that it originated with the Cheater in Chief. It's a first during my adulthood and a first ever according to some TV pundit. Of course, the MAGA Gov and GQP Leg are obedient as always. That's how it goes with cults and dictatorships.

I saw the other day that trump is now personally interviewing all four star admiral and general promotion candidates, something that's never been done before. I think we are well and truly fucked unless this fucker is stopped.

Imagine if a major conflict breaks out with a near-peer adversary. Megalomaniacs don't have a great track record of winning large scale conflicts as they tend to place too much trust in gut instincts over rational calculation and expertise.

[neoplacebo]

Yeah, I think it may already be there.

Great minds . . . I was going to post the same thing. What's unique about this anti-democratic stupidity is that it originated with the Cheater in Chief. It's a first during my adulthood and a first ever according to some TV pundit. Of course, the MAGA Gov and GQP Leg are obedient as always. That's how it goes with cults and dictatorships.

I saw the other day that trump is now personally interviewing all four star admiral and general promotion candidates, something that's never been done before. I think we are well and truly fucked unless this fucker is stopped.

Imagine if a major conflict breaks out with a near-peer adversary. Megalomaniacs don't have a great track record of winning large scale conflicts as they tend to place too much trust in gut instincts over rational calculation and expertise.

Yeah, our adversaries know trump is full of shit and is easily manipulated. I would not be surprised at all if China decides to repossess Taiwan within the next year or so. Russia and China have been conducting joint operations in the South China Sea lately. If the shit hits the fan, trump and his idiot advisors won't have a clue what to do. Two days after that, North Korea will invade the south, and again nobody will know what to do.

[Vrede too]

I saw the other day that trump is now personally interviewing all four star admiral and general promotion candidates, something that's never been done before. I think we are well and truly fucked unless this fucker is stopped.

Imagine if a major conflict breaks out with a near-peer adversary. Megalomaniacs don't have a great track record of winning large scale conflicts as they tend to place too much trust in gut instincts over rational calculation and expertise.

He uses a tabulator app to count the statements of praise per interview and chooses who to promote accordingly. The other problem with megalomaniacs is that the experts stay silent rather than contradict them.

[Vrede too]

I hope they don't run into the same issue that Oregon repugs ran into when they tried that. In Oregon, they've got a law that prohibits a rep from running for re-election if their attendance record in the legislature exceeds a certain number of absences. When the repugs went on boycott, their days out exceeded the minimum and they were prevented from running again. Appealed, but lost.

It sounds like TX doesn't yet have a law that specific and devious. Of course, they would need a quorum to pass such a bill, haha. This may be a mess for the courts if Abbott follows through on his threats. Then, if democracy-hating redistricting is somehow achieved there will be court fights over it, too. Hopefully, it will all be tied up until after the midterms.

Maybe if CA or IL passed a bill threatening similar gerrymandering that would be triggered by the TX bill's passage?

Great minds . . . Have I ever mentioned that Gavin has asked me to cc my posts to him?

Texas redistricting move would 'trigger' new California maps, Newsom says

GoVredeGavinGo!

... But Abbott's legal options to get his redistricting bill passed, by expelling Democrats or compelling their return, appear narrow, likely forcing the governor's office to make challenges in courtrooms based in Democratic districts. Abbott has until the end of the year to secure new maps for them to be used in the state's March 3 primaries.

At a news conference last week in Sacramento, Newsom compared Trump's pressure on Abbott to add five Republican congressional seats as akin to his efforts to "find" 12,000 votes to win Georgia after the 2020 election.

"We're not here to eliminate the commission," he said. "We're here to provide a pathway in ’26, ’28 and in 2030 for congressional maps on the basis of a response to the rigging of the system by the president of the United States. It won't just happen in Texas. I imagine he's making similar calls all across this country. It's a big deal. I don't think it gets much bigger." ...

[Vrede too]

... Blue states like California, New York, and Maryland are now looking into redistricting to keep up with Texas.

... And yep, another one was flying over California's State Capitol in Sacramento

Now, let's see if these Dem leaders actually do something about it.

[Whack9]

... Blue states like California, New York, and Maryland are now looking into redistricting to keep up with Texas.

... And yep, another one was flying over California's State Capitol in Sacramento

Now, let's see if these Dem leaders actually do something about it.

Seen elsewhere:

Texas, the one star state.

[Vrede too]

Seen elsewhere:

Texas, the one star state.

Brilliant. Messing with Texas, and TACO, on X:

Governor Newsom Press Office

DONALD “TACO” TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, “MISSED” THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE “BEAUTIFUL MAPS,” THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!). BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR “MAGA.” THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! — GN

Newsom says California will draw new electoral maps after Trump ‘missed’ deadline

... The post follows a series of snarky, all-caps tweets meant to mimic Trump’s social media writing style....

Several states have waded into the redistricting wars, where Newsom and other Democratic state leaders had threatened to draw retaliatory maps if Texas were to move ahead with its redistricting scheme.

... In a letter sent to Trump on Monday, Newsom said he would prefer to leave the matter of congressional map-making to independent commissions, not partisan legislative bodies and emphasized that he would “happily” stand down if other states abandoned their redistricting effort. But, Newsom said: “California cannot stand idly by as this power grab unfolds.”

Newsom’s office summarized the letter Monday in a mocking social media post to Trump: “DONALD TRUMP, IF YOU DO NOT STAND DOWN, WE WILL BE FORCED TO LEAD AN EFFORT TO REDRAW THE MAPS IN CA TO OFFSET THE RIGGING OF MAPS IN RED STATES. BUT IF THE OTHER STATES CALL OFF THEIR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS, WE WILL DO THE SAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”

At a press conference with several quorum-breaking Texas lawmakers, as well as California’s legislative leaders, Newsom outlined his plan to ask voters to override the existing congressional maps drawn by an independent commission and accept a new proposal to create five more Democratic-leaning seats. The governor expressed confidence that voters would approve the plan and said the state legislature would act in time to get the measure on the ballot this November.

... Despite Newsom’s appeal, the White House is seeking to enlist other red states in the redistricting clash. Last week, vice-president JD Vance traveled to Indiana, where he met with state Republican leaders to lobby them on the effort. Republicans have also targeted Ohio and Missouri.

Your prediction of a nationwide Gerrymander War is coming true, Whack9. Sigh, this asshole is exhausting.

[Whack9]

Seen elsewhere:

Texas, the one star state.

Brilliant. Messing with Texas, and TACO, on X:

Governor Newsom Press Office

DONALD “TACO” TRUMP, AS MANY CALL HIM, “MISSED” THE DEADLINE!!! CALIFORNIA WILL NOW DRAW NEW, MORE “BEAUTIFUL MAPS,” THEY WILL BE HISTORIC AS THEY WILL END THE TRUMP PRESIDENCY (DEMS TAKE BACK THE HOUSE!). BIG PRESS CONFERENCE THIS WEEK WITH POWERFUL DEMS AND GAVIN NEWSOM — YOUR FAVORITE GOVERNOR — THAT WILL BE DEVASTATING FOR “MAGA.” THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER! — GN

Newsom says California will draw new electoral maps after Trump ‘missed’ deadline

... The post follows a series of snarky, all-caps tweets meant to mimic Trump’s social media writing style....

Several states have waded into the redistricting wars, where Newsom and other Democratic state leaders had threatened to draw retaliatory maps if Texas were to move ahead with its redistricting scheme.

... In a letter sent to Trump on Monday, Newsom said he would prefer to leave the matter of congressional map-making to independent commissions, not partisan legislative bodies and emphasized that he would “happily” stand down if other states abandoned their redistricting effort. But, Newsom said: “California cannot stand idly by as this power grab unfolds.”

Newsom’s office summarized the letter Monday in a mocking social media post to Trump: “DONALD TRUMP, IF YOU DO NOT STAND DOWN, WE WILL BE FORCED TO LEAD AN EFFORT TO REDRAW THE MAPS IN CA TO OFFSET THE RIGGING OF MAPS IN RED STATES. BUT IF THE OTHER STATES CALL OFF THEIR REDISTRICTING EFFORTS, WE WILL DO THE SAME. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”

At a press conference with several quorum-breaking Texas lawmakers, as well as California’s legislative leaders, Newsom outlined his plan to ask voters to override the existing congressional maps drawn by an independent commission and accept a new proposal to create five more Democratic-leaning seats. The governor expressed confidence that voters would approve the plan and said the state legislature would act in time to get the measure on the ballot this November.

... Despite Newsom’s appeal, the White House is seeking to enlist other red states in the redistricting clash. Last week, vice-president JD Vance traveled to Indiana, where he met with state Republican leaders to lobby them on the effort. Republicans have also targeted Ohio and Missouri.

Your prediction of a nationwide Gerrymander War is coming true, Whack9. Sigh, this asshole is exhausting.

Just think how much things have changed since Jan 20. All of these things have been rolled out slow and incrementally. The more the norms governing our country are broken, the more likely the whole thing comes undone. There's no way this country comes out unscathed.

[Vrede too]

Your prediction of a nationwide Gerrymander War is coming true, Whack9. Sigh, this asshole is exhausting.

Just think how much things have changed since Jan 20. All of these things have been rolled out slow and incrementally. The more the norms governing our country are broken, the more likely the whole thing comes undone. There's no way this country comes out unscathed.

All we've got at this point is the hope for small victories:

Texas Democrats Have A Plan To Disrupt The Trump-Approved Congressional Map
If everything goes Democrats’ way, Trump’s demands for five seats in Texas to mitigate losses elsewhere may not materialize.

Fingers crossed.

[Vrede too]

I read even Abbott was not in favour of redistricting until Trump told him to. Dickless cowards.

Not a coward:

Maryland Democratic Governor Keeping Options Open When It Comes To Redistricting
Gov. Wes Moore compared Trump's gerrymandering push to when he tried to overturn the 2020 election.

... “This is what people hate about politics in the first place,” Moore said on Sunday’s episode of “Face the Nation.” “The fact that the president of the United States, very similar to what he did in Georgia, where he called up a series of voter registrants and said I need you to find me more votes — we’re watching the same thing now, where he’s calling up legislators around the country and saying I need you to find me more congressional districts.”

... Moore said on “Face the Nation” that there shouldn’t be situations where politicians are choosing their voters instead of voters choosing their elected officials.

“We need to be able to have fair maps and we also need to make sure that if the president of the United States is putting his finger on the scale to try to manipulate elections because he knows that his policies cannot win in a ballot box, then it behooves each and every one of us to be able to keep all options on the table to ensure that the voters’ voices can actually be heard and we can have maps,” Moore said.

... “But if Wes Moore needs help, like Gavin Newscum did in L.A., I will send in the ‘troops,’ which is being done in nearby DC, and quickly clean up the Crime,” Trump wrote in part.

According to Baltimore’s mayor, the city has seen a historic decrease in violent crime this year. Moore said on “Face the Nation” that he is against Trump deploying the National Guard to Maryland, saying it’s not sustainable and it’s unconstitutional.

“It’s a direct violation of the 10th Amendment and for a party that talks about states rights, it’s amazing how they’re having such a big government approach in the way they’re conducting public safety,” Moore said.

He added that it’s a distraction from Trump’s economic policies, which are making everything more expensive and harder for everyday Americans.

“We know we have work to do,” Moore said. “If one person does not feel safe in their neighborhood, that’s one too many. But we also know what tactics actually work and what tactics are just theatrics.” ...

MoreMooreMore!