Columbus Dispatch District lines in Ohio foil Democrats by Jonathan Riskind and Jim Siegel Sunday, December 3, 2006 A clear majority of Ohioans who voted in the Nov. 7 election preferred a Democratic congressional candidate.
So did Franklin County voters, where Democratic House candidates drew in excess of 10,000 more votes than Republicans.
The result?
While Democrats won nearly 53 percent of the congressional votes statewide, only about 39 percent of Ohioans will be represented next year by Democrats in Congress.
also mentioned in the Dispatch news story Fair Vote.org Special Report: 10 Stories About Election '06
The Constitution was framed upon the theory that the people must sink or swim together, and that prosperity and salvation are in union. Benjamin Nathan Cardozo
Sunday, December 03, 2006
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Why your vote doesn't matter as much
If gerrymandering has been around for such a long time, why are its most extreme effects being felt only now?
Three reasons: Mapping. Connecting. Cultivating
Scientific gerrymandering, and the astute use of other advantages that accrue to incumbents, have resulted in an electoral sea wall around the House of Representatives that can withstand all but the most powerful political tsunamis.
USAToday Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006 by Ross K. Baker
Three reasons: Mapping. Connecting. Cultivating
Scientific gerrymandering, and the astute use of other advantages that accrue to incumbents, have resulted in an electoral sea wall around the House of Representatives that can withstand all but the most powerful political tsunamis.
USAToday Tuesday, Oct. 17, 2006 by Ross K. Baker
Thursday, October 12, 2006
Voting System Security & Suppression Strategies
Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of LawMission Statement
The Machinery of Democracy: Voting System Security, Accessibility, Usability, and Cost. The report is the final product of the first comprehensive, empirical analysis of electronic voting systems in the United States. It comes after nearly two years of study with many of the nation’s leading academics, election officials, economists, and security, usability and accessibility experts.
Cast Out: New Voter Suppression Strategies in 2006 and Beyond We are well-informed of Election Day problems, but disenfranchising policies silently affect hundreds of thousands of voters long before then. These new voter suppression strategies will have an enormous impact on elections in 2006 and beyond.
The Machinery of Democracy: Voting System Security, Accessibility, Usability, and Cost. The report is the final product of the first comprehensive, empirical analysis of electronic voting systems in the United States. It comes after nearly two years of study with many of the nation’s leading academics, election officials, economists, and security, usability and accessibility experts.
Cast Out: New Voter Suppression Strategies in 2006 and Beyond We are well-informed of Election Day problems, but disenfranchising policies silently affect hundreds of thousands of voters long before then. These new voter suppression strategies will have an enormous impact on elections in 2006 and beyond.
Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Gov. of California vetoes AB 2948
LA Times by Jordan Rau, Times Staff Writer October 1, 2006
The governor rejected legislation to have California join a campaign by states to elect presidents by a national popular vote instead of by the Electoral College. AB 2948 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Anaheim) was intended to compel contenders to campaign everywhere and not just primarily in swing states.
The governor rejected legislation to have California join a campaign by states to elect presidents by a national popular vote instead of by the Electoral College. AB 2948 by Assemblyman Tom Umberg (D-Anaheim) was intended to compel contenders to campaign everywhere and not just primarily in swing states.
Saturday, September 09, 2006
Bush is right for the wrong reasons
Yahoo News Sat. Sept. 9, 2006 Bush Confident GOP will hold Congress
President Bush is right for the wrong reasons.
I think Gerrymandered congressional districts will be the reason the Republicans hold onto the Congress.
Safe Seats Democrats = 183
Safe Seats Republicans = 174
Leans and Favors Democrats = 20
Leans and Favors Republicans = 46
No clear favorite = 12
CQ Politics 2006 Election Forecast Detailed Forecast Charts
President Bush is right for the wrong reasons.
I think Gerrymandered congressional districts will be the reason the Republicans hold onto the Congress.
Safe Seats Democrats = 183
Safe Seats Republicans = 174
Leans and Favors Democrats = 20
Leans and Favors Republicans = 46
No clear favorite = 12
CQ Politics 2006 Election Forecast Detailed Forecast Charts
Friday, September 01, 2006
California to quit electoral college?
August 31, 2006 Los Angeles Times by Nancy Vogel
A Vote to Quit the Electoral College
Lawmakers sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a bill, AB 2948, on Wednesday that would make California the first state to jump aboard a national movement to elect the president by popular vote.
Under the legislation, California would grant its electoral votes to the nominee who gets the most votes nationwide — not the most votes in California.......read more
This bill was introduced by a Democrat who maybe didn't stop to think who won the popular election in 2004.
Stuck on 2000 I reckon.
A Vote to Quit the Electoral College
Lawmakers sent Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger a bill, AB 2948, on Wednesday that would make California the first state to jump aboard a national movement to elect the president by popular vote.
Under the legislation, California would grant its electoral votes to the nominee who gets the most votes nationwide — not the most votes in California.......read more
This bill was introduced by a Democrat who maybe didn't stop to think who won the popular election in 2004.
Stuck on 2000 I reckon.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
How many Congressional Districts Should America Have?
how much does a congress member earn in a year? $165,200.
how many districts are there? 435
how many constituents in each district? average = 688,749
how does that rate of pay work out per constituent?
$165,200 per year
...........divided by 688,749 = 0.2398552 cents per constituent.
It would require 1.69 constitutents to pay for one .39 cent postage stamp.
From the Home page of theOffice of The Clerk U.S. House of Representatives click on Member Information then Member FAQS
Maybe it is time for us to think about making more congressional districts. The current number, 435, was determined almost one hundred years ago. America has added states and the population has grown and keeps on growing.
Yet, we have stuck with a formula devised in 1911. Like when Alaska and Hawaii came in, we didn't add representatives.
Our Constitution talks about the number 30,000 per district. Yeah it does. I know most folks don't think about it but that is the number mentioned in the Constitution. Article 1: Section 2, part 3 goes like this:
"...........within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one representative;........"
What I get out of that is, we could if we wanted to, have more representatives apportioned to the population. The founding fathers seemed to think the population shouldn't be diluted beyond 1 to 30,000. IF we took the current population and divided that by 30,000 the answer would = 9986.
Of course that is way too many representatives. They would never get anything done. That said, I still think we ought to think about adding congressional districts for these reasons:
1. States could use GPS and micro targeting to work out more representation for more ethnic races.
2. The power of the representative would be diluted, but his constitutents would gain some influence.
3. Elections could be done cheaper with smaller districts and fewer constitutents.
4. Adding representatives would close the gap between lobbyists on the hill and the congressional members who are now pretty badly outnumbered. I read there about 30,000 registered lobbyists in Washington DC.
5. There are too many safe seats now, adding districts would give us more honest elections.
6. IF districts are more ethnically diverse that would better reflect our country.
7. Current legislators work way to hard and get paid not enough when you think how many folks they are responsible for.
8. Constituents will find it easier to keep an eye on their Congress member.
9. Congress members would be able to go to Washington DC and work for the people instead of having to work on getting reelected and building up their campaign funds.
10. If campaigns were cheaper to run, maybe members could get reelected without all these 527's and swift boat guys and move on folks. Corporations wouldn't be running the country.
how many districts are there? 435
how many constituents in each district? average = 688,749
how does that rate of pay work out per constituent?
$165,200 per year
...........divided by 688,749 = 0.2398552 cents per constituent.
It would require 1.69 constitutents to pay for one .39 cent postage stamp.
From the Home page of theOffice of The Clerk U.S. House of Representatives click on Member Information then Member FAQS
Maybe it is time for us to think about making more congressional districts. The current number, 435, was determined almost one hundred years ago. America has added states and the population has grown and keeps on growing.
Yet, we have stuck with a formula devised in 1911. Like when Alaska and Hawaii came in, we didn't add representatives.
Our Constitution talks about the number 30,000 per district. Yeah it does. I know most folks don't think about it but that is the number mentioned in the Constitution. Article 1: Section 2, part 3 goes like this:
"...........within every subsequent term of ten years, in such manner as they shall by law direct. The number of representatives shall not exceed one for every thirty thousand, but each State shall have at least one representative;........"
What I get out of that is, we could if we wanted to, have more representatives apportioned to the population. The founding fathers seemed to think the population shouldn't be diluted beyond 1 to 30,000. IF we took the current population and divided that by 30,000 the answer would = 9986.
Of course that is way too many representatives. They would never get anything done. That said, I still think we ought to think about adding congressional districts for these reasons:
1. States could use GPS and micro targeting to work out more representation for more ethnic races.
2. The power of the representative would be diluted, but his constitutents would gain some influence.
3. Elections could be done cheaper with smaller districts and fewer constitutents.
4. Adding representatives would close the gap between lobbyists on the hill and the congressional members who are now pretty badly outnumbered. I read there about 30,000 registered lobbyists in Washington DC.
5. There are too many safe seats now, adding districts would give us more honest elections.
6. IF districts are more ethnically diverse that would better reflect our country.
7. Current legislators work way to hard and get paid not enough when you think how many folks they are responsible for.
8. Constituents will find it easier to keep an eye on their Congress member.
9. Congress members would be able to go to Washington DC and work for the people instead of having to work on getting reelected and building up their campaign funds.
10. If campaigns were cheaper to run, maybe members could get reelected without all these 527's and swift boat guys and move on folks. Corporations wouldn't be running the country.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Voting News Websites and Blogs
Equal Vote Blog - Dan Tokaji
Project Vote Smart
Earlyvoting blog has merged with Election Updates (see next item)
Election Updates
Votelaw
Election Law
Project Vote Smart
Earlyvoting blog has merged with Election Updates (see next item)
Election Updates
Votelaw
Election Law
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Electoral Alternative
A Stanford University computer science professor has come up with an idea ....for an interstate compact that would require states to throw all of their electoral votes behind the winner of the national popular vote, regardless of which candidate wins in each state. Stanford professor stumps for electoral alternative SFGate.com by Matthew Yi, Chronicle Sacramento Bureau July 24, 2006
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
GOP Sees Disturbing Reflection in The Mirror
Washington Post.com by Jim VandeHei and Juliet Eilperin April 9, 2006
Gingrich said the party became too preoccupied with creating and maintaining safe GOP districts as part of an effort to cement a lasting majority. Gingrich, who originally championed the idea, said he now thinks the tactic has had the effect of undermining democracy and distancing House members from their roots.
Democrats "get to rip off the public in the states where they control and protect their incumbents, and we get to rip off the public in the states we control and protect our incumbents, so the public gets ripped off in both circumstances," Gingrich said. "In the long run, there's a downward spiral of isolation."
When I read that Gingrich quote my first thought was, 'at last, somebody in the GOP gets it and will say so.
And then I came to this:
...During the last Congress, the 108th, only 22 percent of legislation was considered with an open rule allowing the minority to offer amendments from the floor, compared with 30 percent under the Democrats' 103rd Congress. When Democrats offered 29 amendments to a medical malpractice bill last Congress, GOP leaders blocked all of them from coming to a vote.
Well that casts a new light on the Republican complaint, 'Democrats don't have a plan'
read more
Gingrich said the party became too preoccupied with creating and maintaining safe GOP districts as part of an effort to cement a lasting majority. Gingrich, who originally championed the idea, said he now thinks the tactic has had the effect of undermining democracy and distancing House members from their roots.
Democrats "get to rip off the public in the states where they control and protect their incumbents, and we get to rip off the public in the states we control and protect our incumbents, so the public gets ripped off in both circumstances," Gingrich said. "In the long run, there's a downward spiral of isolation."
When I read that Gingrich quote my first thought was, 'at last, somebody in the GOP gets it and will say so.
And then I came to this:
...During the last Congress, the 108th, only 22 percent of legislation was considered with an open rule allowing the minority to offer amendments from the floor, compared with 30 percent under the Democrats' 103rd Congress. When Democrats offered 29 amendments to a medical malpractice bill last Congress, GOP leaders blocked all of them from coming to a vote.
Well that casts a new light on the Republican complaint, 'Democrats don't have a plan'
read more
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Proposal would subtract non citizens from redistricting count
Proposal would subtract illegal aliens from redistricting count The Beacon Journal Associated Press March 7, 2006
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Republican Study Committee Members
| Member Name Anne Northup Barbara Cubin Bob Beauprez Bob Goodlatte Bob Inglis Bobby Jindal Buck McKeon Cathy McMorris Charles Taylor Charlie Norwood Chris Cannon Chris Chocola Cliff Stearns Connie Mack Dan Burton Dan Lungren Dana Rohrabacher Darrell Issa Dave Camp Dave Weldon Denny Rehberg Don Manzullo Duncan Hunter Ed Royce Eric Cantor Ernest Istook Gary Miller Geoff Davis George Radanovich Gil Gutknecht Henry Brown J. Gresham Barrett J.D. Hayworth Jack Kingston Jeb Hensarling Jeff Flake Jeff Miller Jerry Moran Jim Ryun Jo Ann S. Davis Joe Barton Joe Pitts Joe Wilson John Boozman John Campbell John Carter John Culberson John Doolittle John Hostettler John Kline John Linder John Shadegg John Sullivan Kevin Brady Lee Terry Louie Gohmert Luis Fortuno Lynn Westmoreland Mac Thornberry Marilyn Musgrave Mario Diaz-Balart Mark Green Mark Souder Marsha Blackburn Michael Burgess Michael McCaul Mike Conaway Mike Pence, Chairman Mike Sodrel Patrick McHenry Paul Ryan Pete Sessions Phil Gingrey Randy Forbes Randy Neugebauer Richard Pombo Rob Bishop Robert Aderholt Rodney Alexander Roger Wicker Ron Lewis Roscoe Bartlett Sam Johnson Scott Garrett Spencer Bachus Steve Chabot Steve King Sue Myrick Ted Poe Tim Murphy Todd Akin Todd Tiahrt Tom Cole Tom Feeney Tom Price Tom Reynolds Tom Tancredo Trent Franks Virgil Goode Virginia Foxx Wally Herger Walter Jones Zach Wamp | District KY 3rd Wy AL CO 7th VA 6th SC 4th LA 1st CA 25th WA 5th NC 11th GA 9th UT 3rd IN 2nd FL 6th FL 14th IN 5th CA 3rd CA 46th CA 49th MI 4th FL 15th MT AL IL 16th CA 52nd CA 40th VA 7th OK 5th CA 42nd KY 4th CA 19th MN 1st SC 1st SC 3rd AZ 5th GA 1st TX 5th AZ 6th FL 1st KS 1st KS 2nd VA 1st TX 6th PA 16th SC 2nd AR 3rd CA 48th TX 31st TX 7th CA 4th IN 8th MN 2nd GA 7th AZ 3rd OK 1st TX 8th NE 2nd TX 1st PR RC GA 8th TX 13th CO 4th FL 25th WI 8th IN 3rd TN 7th TX 26th TX 10th TX 11th IN 6th IN 9th NC 10th WI 1st TX 32nd GA 11th VA 4th TX 19th CA 11th UT 1st AL 4th LA 5th MS 1st KY 2nd MD 6th TX 3rd NJ 5th AL 6th OH 1st IA 5th NC 9th TX 2nd PA 18th MO 2nd KS 4th OK 4th FL 24th GA 6th NY 26th CO 6th AZ 2nd VA 5th NC 5th CA 2nd NC 3rd TN 3rd | Opponent Miller Ladd Thomas unopposed Brown not determined Willoughby not determined Keever Ellis Babka Donnelly Bruderly Neeld Carr Castillo Brandt Byron Huckleberry Pristoop Velazquez Kutsch Keliher Williams unopposed Smith Myers Clooney Bufford unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed unopposed Bernstein unopposed Coutu unopposed Boyda Davies Meyer Herr Ellisor Judy Graham Porter Martinez Winters Jennings Luther unopposed unopposed Dodd Wright Thompson Sandlin ??? Delamar unopposed Matsunaka unopposed unopposed Parra unopposed Reyes Sadun Raasch Fox Hill Fischer unopposed Frost Crawford Menefee Stenholm McNerney Thomson Cole blakes unopposed Smith Bosley unopposed Wolfe unopposed Harris Schulte Flynn Lampson Boles weber Mork unopposed unopposed unopposed Davis Conti unopposed Weed Harrell Johnson Eaton Wolfe | sign ATR pledge yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ??? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes ??? yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes |
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- It's not the size of the dog in the fight that matters........ it's the size of the fight in the dog that determines the winner. Mark Twain