Maybe just maybe, a glimmer of hope and possibly GOOD news? This of course, is huge!

[PearliePoo2]

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2017/10/anthony-kennedys-questioning-suggests-extreme-partisan-gerrymandering-could-be-in-danger/

Anthony Kennedy’s Questioning Suggests Extreme Partisan Gerrymandering Could Be in Danger

snip:
Creatively drawn political maps designed to give one party an entrenched advantage could be in danger, if questioning by the Supreme Court’s swing justice on Tuesday is any indication.

The court heard a landmark challenge to partisan gerrymandering in Wisconsin, a case whose outcome could strike down extreme gerrymandering or inspire more states to adopt it. Based on his questioning, Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court’s key swing vote, gave the impression that he was looking for a way to invalidate Wisconsin’s maps and possibly set an important precedent against this type of gerrymandering.

[lovemydogs]

1. There is hope. If Gerrymandering in Wi. goes down.

That may be a beginning to better governing and better politicians.

[Greybnk48]

10. It won't take down Walker, but it possible Ryan would be gone,

just like they (repukes) got rid of Feingold.

[PearliePoo2]

2. Ugghhh. Here's from Ari Berman's Twitter on what C.J. Roberts said:

"Chief Justice John Roberts was clearly hostile to voting rights. Described arguments against gerrymandering as "social science gobbledygook”.

Here's Berman's Twitter page:

https://twitter.com/AriBerman?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

[Hortensis]

6. Those words sound corrupt. Let's hope he has concern for a respectable legacy.

[unblock]

3. just to keep some perspective here,

it would certainly be worth celebrating a 5-4 decision to restrict partisan gerrymandering.

however, there's no way partisan gerrymandering will be eliminated. at best they'll come up with some test -- maybe well-defined, maybe not -- that says when a partisan gerrymandering has gone too far.

so at best we're looking at a partial victory where maybe a gerrymander as extreme as wisconsin is not allowed, but a partisan gerrymander somewhat short of that extreme is acceptable.

this would translate to more fairness in congressional elections and a pickup of a few seats in the house for democrats on average, but it's not the holy grail of anything.

legislatures (particularly republican ones) will continue to gerrymander to the full extent of what they can get away with, it just might be a bit harder for them to get away with quite so much. until they find a creative way around it, and you can bet they'll be looking for that before the ink is dry on the decision.


i'll be thrilled with a victory here, but i'm not expecting anything earth-shattering even if we win.

[BigmanPigman]

8. I thought that this was a litmus test and would set a precedent

for others states who wouldn't be allowed to gerrymander any longer.

[unblock]

14. if they actually decide something, it may well set a precedent.

the question is, exactly what precedent?

if there's some test that says "too much" gerrymandering is unconstitutional, but a little is ok, then we'll still have the same process, just maybe not quite as egregious.

[BigmanPigman]

16. You're right. They always seem to find a sneaky way

to get around any limitations and restrictions. $$$$ speaks loudly.

[BumRushDaShow]

9. The hope is that more states adopt a non-partisan group

to draw the districts. I believe that is one of the efforts that Holder is engaged in and several states (I believe California is one) have (or planned to) implement this.

[unblock]

15. that sounds like a good idea, but i would think that needs to be legislated

that's not the sort of thing courts usually insist on.

[BumRushDaShow]

19. Yup but it is an option that should be pushed regardless of how the courts rule.

[Marthe48]

18. Look at what Ohio did to District 6

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ohio%27s_6th_congressional_district

Ridiculous, convoluted.

[BumRushDaShow]

20. Wanna see something worse? Check out PA-7

[Marthe48]

22. State of PA is listed 3rd in the 2nd link I posted

Ohio is #10th.

[Hortensis]

4. Thanks for something good. This SCOTUS case is so big, I feel a bit ill

now that it's here and haven't been watching. PTSD from November 8 perhaps.

[jodymarie aimee]

5. Oh God....I am on pins and needles here

If you guys have ever seen our map, you would be gobstruck....it is staggeringly blatant......I have been praying all day.

[PearliePoo2]

7. Here's a link to SCOTUSblog. Amy Howe writes a good analysis of today.

Argument analysis: Cautious optimism for challengers in Wisconsin redistricting case?


http://www.scotusblog.com/2017/10/argument-analysis-cautious-optimism-challengers-wisconsin-redistricting-case/

snip:
Today may have been only the second day of the Supreme Court’s new term, but it may also prove to be one of the biggest. The justices heard oral argument in Gill v. Whitford, a challenge to the redistricting plan passed by Wisconsin’s Republican-controlled legislature in 2011. A federal court struck down the plan last year, agreeing with the plaintiffs that it violated the Constitution because it was the product of partisan gerrymandering – that is, the practice of purposely drawing district lines to favor one party and put another at a disadvantage. After roughly an hour of oral argument this morning, the justices seemed to agree that partisan gerrymandering is, as Justice Samuel Alito acknowledged, “distasteful.” But there was no apparent agreement about whether courts could or should get involved in policing the practice.

[BumRushDaShow]

11. "But there was no apparent agreement about whether courts could or should get involved"

There are 4 Constitutional Amendments that relate to voting. If this gerrymandering is in violation of any of them (e.g., causes abridging of the vote by dilution of it, which was part of the reason for the VRA), then they SHOULD be "getting involved", particularly when it comes to Congressional districts, which are federal. If they want to argue "states rights", then they could try to claim that as an out and send the issue back to the state courts. But IMHO, that should ONLY be for state legislative districts.

[gtar100]

12. Oh the extremes we must go to to explain the obvious to republicans.

How would they feel if the gerrymandering were in favor of Democrats. It's ridiculous we have to go all the way to the Supreme Court just to make precinct lines represent actual neighborhoods and common areas. The shit they've pulled is blatantly obvious.

It's unfortunate their desire for power doesn't embrace having good ideas that actually help as many people as possible in their constituency. They are the party of the ultra rich and the ultra rich have proven over and over again they care for no one but themselves (seeing how they are willing to throw the whole world into the garbage to keep taking money they don't need but billions of other people do).

So republicans have to resort to deception to peddle their bullshit. And we have to go to court to attempt to get them to stop cheating. Normal people, good people don't need to be forced to work out fair rules we can all live with.

[Still In Wisconsin]

13. This is the last, best hope for the Christian* Republic of Scott Walkerstan to revert back

to its former identity: the State of Wisconsin.


* By Christian, I am referring to the Pat Robertson/Sarah Palin/Ted Cruz sense of the word.

[Greybnk48]

23. It will be a fatal body blow to the State if we lose.

I truly believe that.

[Still In Wisconsin]

24. It really will. If the SC rules in favor of Walker on this one,

then they get to make the maps even worse in 2020.

[Baconator]

17. That's been the standard for a while...

Last time this came up in a big way, they pretty much acknowledged that it existed but lacked an objective methodology to say "Yes, this is it" along with intent.

There's a new test that could balance it out but it has to be accepted.

[Marthe48]

21. Worst gerrymandering from Buzzfeed (2013) and Rant (2017)

https://www.buzzfeed.com/qsahmed/the-10-most-gerrymandered-districts-in-america-dh45?utm_term=.joB8nzOko3#.qpreAdpnZq


Here is a more recent story:

https://rantt.com/the-top-10-most-gerrymandered-states-in-america-bd962843ba1f

[a kennedy]

25. Very scary that just one Justice could change the course of this.......

Keeping fingers crossed he does the right thing.