Comments on: Will Dems Redraw Districts? http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/ & Home of Lawn Mower Repair Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:48:05 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.5 by: Don http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3809 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 22:34:26 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3809 Danny, placing the blame, I guess, depends on the perspective of whoever is placing it. If they consider the rules changes fair and in the interest of good government they will blame the minority coalition. Otherwise they will blame it on the Democrat majority, I would expect. As to what it would take to work through this mess: good will, and having an honest interest in what is best for the people who pay the salaries of the senators. In my opinion, both of those qualities are sadly lacking in the senate. Danny, placing the blame, I guess, depends on the perspective of whoever is placing it. If they consider the rules changes fair and in the interest of good government they will blame the minority coalition. Otherwise they will blame it on the Democrat majority, I would expect.

As to what it would take to work through this mess: good will, and having an honest interest in what is best for the people who pay the salaries of the senators. In my opinion, both of those qualities are sadly lacking in the senate.

]]> by: Danny http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3807 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 21:04:34 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3807 <i>"Some people will fault the minority coalition for this, but this squabble could have been avoided or already ended by the Democrat majority."</i> Don, you touch on a good point that has been percolating in my head as a future blog post. What you say could be true of either side, and there is an interesting question to be raised on who will and who should bear the blame for the slowdown. (That's really two questions.) A more important question is what will it take to work through it because, as you said, there are some good bills that are not being considered. “Some people will fault the minority coalition for this, but this squabble could have been avoided or already ended by the Democrat majority.”

Don, you touch on a good point that has been percolating in my head as a future blog post. What you say could be true of either side, and there is an interesting question to be raised on who will and who should bear the blame for the slowdown. (That’s really two questions.)

A more important question is what will it take to work through it because, as you said, there are some good bills that are not being considered.

]]> by: Don http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3806 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 20:50:51 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3806 Danny, your point about the nature of debates is on point, but you seem to be talking about some future time. For the first half of the current session debate on bills in the senate has been stifled because of the changes to the rules, this being one. The way things are going some good bills will die because of this, and even the ones that are rushed through at the last hour won’t get the debate they deserve and we may end up with more flawed legislation. Some people will fault the minority coalition for this, but this squabble could have been avoided or already ended by the Democrat majority. Just to be clear, I don’t consider myself either a Republican or a Democrat. Danny, your point about the nature of debates is on point, but you seem to be talking about some future time. For the first half of the current session debate on bills in the senate has been stifled because of the changes to the rules, this being one. The way things are going some good bills will die because of this, and even the ones that are rushed through at the last hour won’t get the debate they deserve and we may end up with more flawed legislation. Some people will fault the minority coalition for this, but this squabble could have been avoided or already ended by the Democrat majority.

Just to be clear, I don’t consider myself either a Republican or a Democrat.

]]> by: Danny http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3803 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:52:27 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3803 Jamy, you are right that there are no state legislative elections in 2008. The only elections to be affected in 2008 would be the U.S. House districts. There has been some speculation that districts might be redrawn to increase the chances that a Democrat would be elected in CD-6 (represented now by Republican Mike Rogers). Don, your point is a good one. The natural assumption is that they created a rule to make it easier to redraw district lines because they wanted to create new district lines. Maybe Jason is on to something. And Susan's point is duly noted. My take is that having districts lean left or right by the way they are drawn stifles real debate. A few more evenly divided districts, and we would have some honest policy discussions about what is best for the state or country. (I can dream, can't I?) Jamy, you are right that there are no state legislative elections in 2008. The only elections to be affected in 2008 would be the U.S. House districts. There has been some speculation that districts might be redrawn to increase the chances that a Democrat would be elected in CD-6 (represented now by Republican Mike Rogers).

Don, your point is a good one. The natural assumption is that they created a rule to make it easier to redraw district lines because they wanted to create new district lines. Maybe Jason is on to something. And Susan’s point is duly noted.

My take is that having districts lean left or right by the way they are drawn stifles real debate. A few more evenly divided districts, and we would have some honest policy discussions about what is best for the state or country. (I can dream, can’t I?)

]]> by: Susan http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3799 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 19:06:29 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3799 Jason, if what you are saying is true, and the redistricting rules change was just to "mess with" the minority coalition, it is further proof that the Mitchen/Barron faction of Senate Democrats are unfit for leadership. Jason, if what you are saying is true, and the redistricting rules change was just to “mess with” the minority coalition, it is further proof that the Mitchen/Barron faction of Senate Democrats are unfit for leadership.

]]> by: jason http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3798 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 18:59:21 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3798 I don't believe their serious about this. I had one "prominent" Democrat in Cullman tell me exactly that over the weekend. She said Zeb is just doing this for kicks because he knows the GOP and their talk radio friends literally flips out anytime him and Lowell opens their mouth. I don’t believe their serious about this. I had one “prominent” Democrat in Cullman tell me exactly that over the weekend. She said Zeb is just doing this for kicks because he knows the GOP and their talk radio friends literally flips out anytime him and Lowell opens their mouth.

]]> by: Don http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3792 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 16:16:21 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3792 What I'm missing is why would the Democrats change the rules effecting redistricting procedures and create the furor it has caused if they don't plan to use it to their advantage, and if they don't plan to use it, why don't they give in to the minority coalition on at least this one change in the rules? What I’m missing is why would the Democrats change the rules effecting redistricting procedures and create the furor it has caused if they don’t plan to use it to their advantage, and if they don’t plan to use it, why don’t they give in to the minority coalition on at least this one change in the rules?

]]> by: jamy http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3789 Mon, 30 Apr 2007 15:26:02 +0000 http://www.politicalparlor.net/wp/2007/04/30/will-dems-redraw-districts/#comment-3789 2008? If you're talking about state legislative elections, the next ones aren't until 2010. 2008?

If you’re talking about state legislative elections, the next ones aren’t until 2010.

]]>