Due to the unfettered gerrymandering of districts that the Republicans did behind closed doors, it is almost assured that the state GOP will continue to control the Legislature for the next 10 years.
Republicans made sure that as many Democrats were squeezed into as few districts as possible, leaving the majority of the districts as easy wins for Republicans.
In this past Nov. 6 election, the Republicans took control of both state houses with 200,000 fewer statewide votes than the Democrats received.
From Urban Milwaukee, online magazine, on Wednesday 11/21/2012:
"Republicans won 56 of the 76 contested Assembly seats in the Nov. 6 election. That’s 74 percent of the seats — which they won with just 52 percent of the 2.2 million votes.
The Democratic Party of Wisconsin furnished the Center with data showing that if uncontested races were included in the analysis, Democrats actually received 200,000 more Assembly votes than Republicans. Most uncontested races were in Democratic districts."
“There is no question — none — that the recent redistricting effort distorted the vote,” said Ken Mayer, a professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “Nobody takes seriously the notion that the legislative plan for congressional districts wasn’t politically motivated.”
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What does this mean for Wisconsin voters and government?
First of all, since all foreseeable Legislative races for the next 10 years are virtually assured of having Republicans controlling both houses, the only way for Democrats to have any input is to concentrate on statewide races, which are decided by the total popular vote.
Statewide races include among others, governor, state attorney general, Supreme Court justices, and both U.S. Senate seats.
Unfortunately, even if the Democrats are successful in electing Democrats as governor, if the Republicans follow their federal strategy of obstructionism and non-compromise, as they have with President Obama, gridlock may become the Wisconsin government status quo.
The courts have long ruled that there is nothing wrong with politicians engaging in politics. The state GOP has presented an opportunity to state Democrats. There are alot of districts that are nominally GOP and can be won by state Dems with a candidate and message that fits that district and if people develop a distrust of the Republican who currently holds that seat. It is up to state Democrats to find those candidates and message and build from the ground up. It is quite possible to do because supposedly locked-in majorities tend to make that party complacent after a few years. It also exposes internal divisions. However, state Democrats will not find that message, nor those candidates, if the likes of Sen. Chris Larson becomes the ideological lead of the party. There is a reason why state GOP senators openly applauded when he was selected as senate minority leader. He will keep his own party divided while he becomes a party power broker rather than a leader. Sen. Taylor should vote with the GOP on an issue here and there just to mess with Larson's head.
http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/purple-wisconsin/180886781.html
I am confused by these Republicans who insist that everything be done at the local level -- and then pass on controlling the Health Exchange in Wisconsin in lieu of the Fed's taking control. If you are inferring that it would cost WI to run it as an unfunded mandate --- it is paid for by the participating insurance companies. Just as the County owns the airport but we Don't pay for it with tax money --- the airlines pay the fees ....... which is why David Clarke was actually correct when he said it costs nothing for the Sheriff to patrol the airport -- the airlines are footing the bill.
I would be in favor of eliminating filibusters, and even having rules considering when the lack of quorum is legal and not legal -- but for now, all is fair when following the rules as they exist.
ScooterChrist Walker @ScooterChrist 2m "Gov. #Walker is hopeful #JohnDoe probe will end soon, maybe this week" Without an indictment!!! po.st/VSuNew #wiunion
Your greater point about the impact of gerrymandering is quite valid, not only here in WI. In Ohio, a state the Obama won by 3 points, 75% of the US Representatives elected were Republicans. Again, adding up all the votes for US Reps, the Democrats got more votes, but nowhere near half the seats. This gerrymandering is seriously harming US policy, as these "safe" republicans are more worried about getting tea bagged in their primaries than they are about a moderate Democratic challenge in the general.
Perhaps you believe - as Alberta Darling does - that Obama won Wisconsin due to voter fraud. Clearly, a scheme that resulted in over 200,000 fraudulent votes would be big enough for even the colossally incompetent Walker administration to sniff out! (Your argument is a joke, albeit a sick, anti-democracy kind of joke)
Wisconsin's new assembly districts stood up to a court challenge with one exception. The court took two Milwaukee districts that likely would have both gone to Hispanic candidates, and made one more predominately Hispanic. This guaranteed one Hispanic victory, but reduced the odds in the other. Look at New York or Illinois if you really want to see what Gerrymandering looks like!
I think you are just pissed you didn't get your corporate welfare Obamabucks.
@Lyl --- OMG they figured out we both live in Shorewood !!! BTW have I ever met you, at least not that I can recall --- maybe we can meet with Richard somewhere for a drink and he can learn us up on all that conspiracy stuff -- of course only if he buys LOL
I would be in favor of eliminating filibusters, and even having rules considering when the lack of quorum is legal and not legal -- but for now, all is fair when following the rules as they exist.
http://menomoneefalls.patch.com/blog_posts/why-we-should-legalize-drugs http://menomoneefalls.patch.com/articles/will-wisconsin-ever-have-a-vote-on-legalizing-marijuana
I simply noted the consequences of what that means for the future, and that the most viable ways of restraining the Radical Right is working on elections that are state wide. Having said that --- in the future I would love to see "non-political" districts drawn, but it will be another 10 years before that will be an issue again, and unless our politicians, on both sides, would miraculously agree to a non-political process, whichever side has the advantage will probably make use of it
Gerrymandering which impacts protected classes however are illegal and that is why the courts acted as they did -- only as pertained to protected classes.
Do you understand the difference between advocating for something without actively engaging in it? BTW -- I run two successful businesses and haven't been in real estate full time for years now since I had a knee injury that kept me on the sidelines for quite some time --- hard to show houses when using a walker!! What do you do Craig? I would guess not much as you spend a lot of time on here, much more than I could ever spend while having a life.
'sal good if it is medicinal huh
But this is not as direct a comparison as you would wish it in any event. The Filibuster is a administrative rule that is pretty much limited to the Federal congress. I don't believe there is an administrative rule at the state level that would allow that to be legal either. Could be wrong on that though, but if that was a legal option available to them, then why not use that instead of fleeing the state?