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* Bill Brady…
Chicago Dem @BarackObama blames gerrymandering for our nation's problems. Isn't that why IL is suffering? http://t.co/2cjeTq7ka8 #ironic
— Bill Brady (@Bill_Brady) October 8, 2013
Gee, I wonder what Republican gubernatorial candidate in an historic Republican landslide year could’ve prevented such a remap outcome by simply winning like almost everybody else did?
Wait. It’ll come to me. Don’t tell me.
Hmmm…
* Brady also tweeted this pic of him smiling with Joe Walsh…
* Meanwhile, an Illinois Democratic legislator is holding a seminar on shredding paper documents. The wrong message, perhaps?…
If you have any paper documents you would like to shred in bulk or recycle any electronics - come join Team Hastings! pic.twitter.com/W6XWFpjuNb
— Michael E. Hastings (@HastingsforIL) October 8, 2013
* I did not know this…
Today in 1818, #IL #GeneralAssembly by joint ballot elects first #SupremeCourt; did so until 1848. @illinoiscourts #LegisResUnit #TIH
— John O'Connor (@APOConnor) October 9, 2013
* Not much impact…
Since it looks like back pay will be approved, several dozen federally funded state workers who were temporarily laid off are back on clock.
— Monique Garcia (@moniquegarcia) October 9, 2013
As it stands, just 28 federally-funded state workers have been told to stay home. Quinn admin says more layoff still could come next week.
— Monique Garcia (@moniquegarcia) October 9, 2013
* Same as it ever was…
Lawmaker: Chicago schools get too much state money http://t.co/KRw7VvedkX via @SJRbreaking
— Illinois House GOP (@ilhousegop) October 9, 2013
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 12:18 pm
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===Gee, I wonder what Republican gubernatorial candidate in an historic Republican landslide year could’ve prevented such a remap outcome by simply winning like almost everybody else did?===
lol, Rich if you think of it let me know, I will be out measuring drapes, ignoring Cook or a Ground Game …. or maybe hiding in the downstate border counties…
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 12:33 pm
I will say I agree with the president that gerrymandering is a HUGE problem… But for some reason pols (on both sides) only dislike gerrymandering when there party is not in charge of the state at the time.
Comment by RonOglesby Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 12:35 pm
Brady is going nowhere even faster this time around than he ended up the last time he ran for Illinois governor .
Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 12:37 pm
Today’s twits.
Comment by Ray del Camino Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 12:39 pm
Getting rid of gerrymandering is easy: All you have to do is convince the people who came to power under the current system to try a different system.
Simple!
– MrJM
Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 12:39 pm
Brady blundered badly in 2010. It was inexcusable.
Regardless, the accuracy of his point stands.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/08/06/1115538/-What-if-We-Had-Non-Partisan-Redistricting-Nationwide#
“Illinois was Democrats’ best state in terms of being able to gerrymander districts, so it should come as no surprise that a fair map causes us to take a huge hit.”
While both parties are guilty of this in various states, Brady is accurate in noting the irony of the President’s comments decrying gerrymandering.
Comment by Formerly Known As... Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 12:53 pm
Yup, we’ve been fighting for merit selection in Illinois literally since the time of Lincoln.
Abe Lincoln in 1841 signed a Whig party circular against the new practice of electing judges in Illinois. Lincoln’s circular attacked the partisan desire to put “party men” in charge:
“the change in the judiciary was intended to produce political results favorable to their party & party friends. The immutable principles of justice are to make way for party interests, and the bonds of social order are to be rent in twain, in order that a desperate faction may be sustained at the expense of the people.”
http://quod.lib.umich.edu/l/lincoln/lincoln1/1:257?rgn=div1;view=fulltext
Unfortunately, Speaker Madigan and Ed Burke are so entrenched that they may be able to ensure that the current system remains for another century or two.
Comment by Keyrock Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 1:07 pm
I did find the President complaining about gerrymandering a bit entertaining….
Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 1:10 pm
Shredding seminar, please see Fawell, Scott.
Comment by The Captain Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 1:11 pm
Here are 2012 numbers for the US House from Wikipedia:
=== House Democrats won a plurality nation-wide by over 1.6 million more votes (1.4%) but the Republicans were able to retain a 33-seat majority ===
Has anyone tallied similar numbers for aggregate Democratic votes versus aggregate Republican votes for the Illinois General Assembly?
Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 1:11 pm
Joe Walsh shows off his new life-size Bill Brady doll.
Comment by Nearly Normal Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 1:25 pm
Is Joe Walsh’s support helpful in a four-way GOP primary? I’m undecided.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 1:54 pm
Yes gerrymandering is hurting Illinois just like it is our nation, we draw districts that make our government more partisan. But, besides Rich’s point that Brady should have won the election, the current Illinois Republican’s aren’t going to figure out how to win in Illinois anyway.
Comment by Ahoy! Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 2:01 pm
“Let’s shred some docs!” Great PR move…
Comment by Statey McGrady Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 2:01 pm
Did Bill Brady get the shakes when he entered Cook County?
Comment by OurMagician Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 2:05 pm
Apropos of nothing, Girardi re-signs with Yankees.
Oops.
Is there a Plan B, Theo?
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 2:18 pm
Bill White
Here’s your numbers:
Il Senate 2012
Raw Vote
Democrats 2,476,279 54.16%
Republican 2,096,219 45.84%
Seats
Democrats 40 67.8%
Republicans 19 32.2%
Illinois House:
Raw Vote
Democrats 2,337,041 52.34%
Republicans 2,128,255 47.66%
Seats
Democrats 71 60.17%
Republicans 47 39.83%
Take it for what it’s worth
train111
Comment by train111 Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 3:03 pm
Train, that’s good stuff. Thank you.
The art and science of gerrymandering has become undemocratic. You see it in Illinois, you see it in Congress.
The business community in NC is going apey over the far-right agenda of their gerrymandered legislature. It’s not the image they want to present to the world as they build on their hard won gains in research and finance.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 3:10 pm
Thanks, train111!
After my comment I downloaded results from the IL Board of Elections and started doing the Excel thing until other matters distracted me.
One take away from your numbers is that the IL Democrats were pretty effective at actually doing the gerrymandering.
Yes, I agree with Word that this is undemocratic and should be stopped. On the other hand, I do not want Illinois to unilaterally step back from such map making unless and until the GOP controlled states step back from doing it as well.
Q: A bi-partisan stand down from gerrymandering?
A: Absolutely!
Q: IL stands down but OH (for example) does not?
A: Eh, that makes me nervous.
Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 3:37 pm
word–
You know I forgot congressional elections–which are a better measure since there was a Democrat and a Republican running in every district.
Democrat 2,743,702 55.41%
Republican 2,207,818 44.59%
Seats
Democrats 12 66.7%
Republicans 6 33.3%
train111
Comment by train111 Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 3:41 pm
Whether its good map-making or a weak IL GOP, it is interesting to note that at least a few top tier IL House races could have the GOP defending, not attacking.
House 20 (McAuliffe) for example. If he bungles marriage equality issue and his young Democratic opponent is adequately funded, that could be a GOP loss.
IL Observer had a piece on that over the weekend.
Comment by Bill White Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 3:43 pm
train111, thanks for the numbers. But keep in mind that there are some one-party population clusters in Illinois. Even with a “fair map,” there are still gonna be several Dems from Chicago, for example.
Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 3:47 pm
More good stuff, Train. Thanks.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 3:55 pm
I agee, a ‘fair map’ will not get rid of all the 1 party districts no matter how you do it. Chicago is a case in point about that.
However, a fair map may get rid of the monkey business in Chicago of Democratic incumbents having potential primary opponents drawn out of their districts
Look at Bobby Rush did to Barack Obama in the 2001 redistricting.
The northeast portion of Anazette Collins’ 5th Senate district redone between the 1st and 2nd iterations to have Goldman or Goldberg–whoever ran against her in the prior assembly contest and could self fund out of her district (which she subsequently lost –ha ha!!!!)
Jusat because 1 party has control, doesn’t mean there isn’t any hinky dink business going on with resistricting.
train111
Comment by train111 Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 4:03 pm
Lawmakers in both houses, both parties host local shredding/recycling events routinely. Non-story.
Comment by Really Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 4:13 pm
–Lawmakers in both houses, both parties host local shredding/recycling events routinely. Non-story.–
C’mon, in historic context, it’s a little funny, don’t you think?
Next week: The Easy Way to Frisk for a Wire.
Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 4:23 pm
*Always the nerd, scratches her head while comparing her current, personal documentation retention policies and procedures against the kind invitation to shhhhhhhhhhred! The thought of obsoleting the former is becoming overwhelming.*
*Giddiness is being to set in.*
*A yelp for intervention from fellow nerds is released.*
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Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Oct 9, 13 @ 7:07 pm