Could the right gerrymander every state to their favor?

[secedeeconomically]

Just like what they did in Texas. I mean what mechanisms are in place to prevent them to do the same in every state in America? Just wondering.

[JHB]

1. Democratic legislatures

in some stated, at least.

[bryant69]

2. There's nothing stopping them

Other than thh power of Democrats within individual legislatures and Governorships.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[Billy Burnett]

3. Florida did it too.

Florida. Done Texas style.

[secedeeconomically]

4. I wonder is the founding fathers ever envision this scenario

Where one party controls all 3 legislative branches and effectively gerrymanders the electorate to the point where is assured a majority. That is a real possibility I think.

[bryant69]

11. In all fairness

The Democratic Party has done this two--not as blatently in Texas, certainly, but still in a really lousy way. Both parties have a vested interest in keeping their districts "safe."

[cali]

5. No. Certain states are beyond their grasp.

No way can they seize power in MA, VT, NY, RI and other states. And why would they bother? Far easier and more effective to pick off purple states to maintain or increase their majority.

[9119495]

6. Not in my state because a bi-partisan group draws up the districts

and if everystate did this we would actually have COMPETITIVE house races.

I'm in Iowa. We had four of an estimated 35 competitive house races of a total of 435.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

7. districting should NOT be in the hands of the elected...

talk about your conflict of interest...

theProdigal

[w4rma]

12. LOL. So who gets that power? The unelected?

If the folks with that power are appointed, then they have to be appointed by someone elected. So the power is still in the hands of the elected.

[ProdigalJunkMail]

13. well, that becomes a problem

i think that the best solution for this would be to select Judges (unfortunately the legislators would be the ones to select them) to make this determination. But there, you still have political affiliations so that could throw a monkey-wrench into it as well. But the system is obviously broken and getting moreso by the incumbents drawing lines that will mostly guarantee their re-election. Just pick about any state map for dictricting and look at the garbage that is done...

Too bad we can't just rely on logic to this...we have to have a party affiliation to protect...

theProdigal

[9119495]

14. In Iowa, the judges and a commitee of equal numbers of

Dems and reps sets the boundaries of district. The goal is to have approximately the same number of reps and Dems in the same district. Goal two, yet still important is to make sure the districts make geographical sense.

Thus our five reps have to fight each time. There is one district that is incredibly republican but it already makes up the western third of the state.

In the east we have the most liberal republican so there would probably be a two dem/3rep split in Iowa. Right now it's 1 d/ 4 r.

[bobbobbins]

8. They don't have to anymore...they have bbv to use instead.

[Bridget Burke]

9. Schwarzenegger wants to do it to California.

Surely their Democratic reps can prevent it.

However, California did elect the bozo Governor.....

[Lerkfish]

10. gerrymandering is based on the concept that voters are static

so mess with that concept. When they redistrict, move.

:)