Redistricting message from Lloyd Doggett

[Melissa G]

Hope some folks can make it down to testify!

Message from Congressman Doggett:


With the State Capitol in session, the headlines are about the damage Republicans will inflict in the next fiscal year on schools and working families. But there is another enormous challenge as the Republicans begin redistricting. You probably recall prior efforts to deny Austin, a very blue oasis in a red desert, its voice in Washington.


Time to Act.--Let State leaders know that you do not support a map that draws and quarters Austin, linking it up with distant populations. Remember the GOP map that linked Austin to the Mexican border? Here is your chance to make a difference. This Thursday, April 7 at 9 a.m. in the Capitol Extension Auditorium the House Committee on Redistricting will discuss our new Congressional lines. I invite you and encourage you to join the conversation and let your voice be heard.

http://www.legis.state.tx.us/tlodocs/82R/schedules/html/C0802011040709001.htm

[FBaggins]

1. Austin is already "drawn and quartered"

This is really little more than Doggett atteping to use public pressure to keep a seat that he can win.

Republican majorities are too large in TX for there to be much hope of influencing them with something like this... but that doesn't mean that he can't keep a seat. Republicans will have a tough time drawing four NEW republican districts AND drawing out Doggett. In fact, it might be just the opposite. They may very well "pack" democrats into his district to leave room for more/safer republican seats elsewhere.

[Melissa G]

2. This is those of us in Austin protesting being

cut up into an area of no relevant representation. I asked Doggett's office to keep me posted as to when the hearings would be.

The Republicans may try to cut up Austin into pie shaped wedges that extend to the borders once again, but I for one, will register my protest. Austin's district deserves to be contiguous and have representation for it's issues with an outstanding legislator representing us. I hope that continues to be Lloyd Doggett as my Congressman.

edit to ask what is your interest in Texas politics?

[FBaggins]

3. You're already cut up. He's more interested in whether new cuts endanger him

And can you blame him?

The Republicans may try to cut up Austin into pie shaped wedges that extend to the borders once again,

They might not. They might take all of the blue areas and make one nice clean district out of it. That creates a really safe blue seat, but also gives them lots of voters to shift to new/safer districts. They failed a few years back to knock him off by forcing him to run against an hispanic candidate in a majority-hispanic district, but they might try again here.

edit to ask what is your interest in Texas politics?

Congressmen from Texas get to vote in Congress too, don't they? :)

While I do have some relatives in the DFW area, my interest is in redistricting in general, rather than TX in particular... but that's where the action has been over the last couple cycles.

[Melissa G]

4. You don't know Texas Politics, if you think they are going to make a nice safe district for Lloyd.

I've worked for Doggett almost every election since I was in my late teens and I'm over half a century old now.

Maybe you don't intend to sound as snarky as you type, but as someone who has worked hard to keep Travis intact and Blue, I find your tone offensive.

[FBaggins]

5. Actually... I know quite a bit about the subject.

It all comes down to who wins the fight between Smith and Barton. If the GOP splits the four new seats 2D+2R, then they'll have room to play games elsewhere. If they try to carve out three or even four new seats for themselves, then the games they play in the rest of the state get far more complicated.

Doggett's district is one that they've played games with for some time now. He's always managed to thwart those designs.

Maybe you don't intend to sound as snarky as you type,

I don't see anything "snarky" in there are all... and can't imagine how you can read it that way. He's playing the game. He's trying to ensure himself the safest possible seat. That's neither "pro" not "anti" Doggett... it's just the way redistricting works. You sometimes see very strange bedfellows. You'll see an African American congressman side with republican gerrymandering because it draws him a safe district... and you'll see a white democrat lambaste the exact same plan because it packs minorities into the other district and makes him vulnerable.

I recommend that you check into what Matt Angle has been saying about the district. He was Frost's lead guy in the last rounds of redistricting in TX and this is his area of expertise. You'll find that his comments are pretty close to mine. He's worried that Doggett will be drawn into an hispanic-majority district (which means safe blue... not necessarily safe for Doggett).

[Melissa G]

8. What Angle is saying is what I was saying.

"So Doggett will face a tough race. Either they'll get rid of him by putting him a Republican district or they'll make him run in a Hispanic district. Doggett's been elected in a Hispanic district before; maybe he can do it again. But it keeps Democrats from netting up seats. So then, in effect, what they will have done is created three new Republican districts."

In other words, No Way the republicans will draw Doggett a safe district.
Not at all what you said, but nice try for cover. As I said I've lived in Doggett's district since my teens and worked his campaigns. No need to quote history to me, or try to rewrite it.

[FBaggins]

9. Did you read my #3?

I didn't say they would draw a district that was safe for HIM (though they certainly could), I said they would draw a safe BLUE district, but that it would be minority-majority which could draw him an hispanic primary opponent.

I think you would have more success if you read posts before you reply to them... rather than read IN to them what you think they're saying.

[Melissa G]

10. I'm going to stop feeding you now...

I read you and you tell me not to feed you. Have fun.:hi:

[FBaggins]

12. Oh look...

...they're drawing a safe blue seat but majority hispanic in a repeat attempt to knock him off.

Better stop there before I sound snarky, eh? :)

[northoftheborder]

6. Austin and Travis County are in 4 quarters right now. Hate it.

[northoftheborder]

7. Love Doggett, he used to be my Congressman. One of the best.

[Melissa G]

11. Message from Alfred Stanley

Dear Melissa,
Please attend this important hearing on Congressional redistricting

Thursday, April 7th, 9:00 AM – noon

House Redistricting Committee
Capitol Extension Auditorium
E1.004 (upper level of extension across from cafeteria)

Show your support for Congressman Lloyd Doggett
by wearing an Austin Together lapel sticker.
(Stickers will be passed out at hearing.)

Remember what happened in 2003? This is round one of this year's effort to keep Austin and Travis County from being (further) cut up into multiple districts and depriving us of the representation we want in Congress. You do not need to sign up and testify, but please come and show your support.

RSVP, forward to friends, and visit our facebook page to join Austin Together.

Thanks!—Alfred Stanley