Gerrymandering is bad and we should be supporting Texas House Democrats to continue their quorum break into next year. Help them enroll in IL schools and get them set up with jobs that include an extra $3500/week to cover fines. Certainly easier and cheaper than trying to win 3 House seats.
And in the scheme of things, it’s not a big deal. If Democrats succeed in defeating Abbott they’ll be able to force more fair maps after the census. If not, Republicans will do a new gerrymander. Same as in Florida or Ohio.
Politically, Republicans actually breaking the law and violating or bending the Constitution (incomplete list: lying in confirmation hearings, DOGE firings, tariffs, certain executive orders, national guard federalization, detainments & deportations without due process) are bigger deals.
So is Democrats not only not winning in enough states, but seen as threats in too many places. This should be a wave election. Trump is corrupt, incompetent, and causing economic hardship. Buyer’s remorse has already set in.
So if we, the public, and Democratic leaders do their job, we’ll win 20-30 House seats including the two border seats mildly targeted in this map redraw. We’ll win 3-6 Senate seats and Governors races.
If we don’t do this it will be we weren’t able to convince enough people that they should vote and should vote for us.
And if they f*** with the election(s) with this new ICE army getting created then we have bigger problems then mid-decade gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering can backfire. Districts designed to go 60-40 Republican-Democratic candidates go to 55-45 the opposite way in a wave election, which the upcoming one should be. But we must be vigilant & make sure the elections are run fairly & challenge the results of any that don't appear to be fair. Because gerrymandering is by no means the only way Republicans are trying to rig elections in their favor. Voter suppression, purges, voting machine tampering, ballot box removals, vote manipulation, etc. are some other ways they try to steal elections.
Clearly, we are on the same side of the authoritarian fence. Clearly, the people on the other side are on the wrong side. But what is the right question to be asking right now?
By virtue of subscribing to this newsletter, I’m a member of a pro-democracy group, but I am also a member of several others. With another member of a different group, we found ourselves on the opposite sides of a less important fence. So, who is on the wrong side of that fence? I think it’s the other person, but if it’s me, then I want to know. My problem is the version of the “I’m right, you’re wrong, and this conversation is over” response I received from the other person.
Maybe the other person is right. Maybe I’m on the wrong side of our less important fence, but one thing I can say for sure is that, if the other person thinks they can order me to switch sides, they do not know the first thing about who I am. I will listen carefully and with respect to people who dissent with my opinions, but I do not take orders.
If I can’t resolve a small conflict with a person with whom I have a direct personal relationship, then who am I to criticize people I don’t know who’ve decided they can’t resolve their conflicts with me?
What am I saying? Picture yourself sitting across from Lawrence Fishburne with your face reflected in his dark glasses. He’s holding both hands toward you with a pill in each hand. I’m saying, “Take the red pill.”
Shaking my weary head. Should I go on in the same direction or go back instead? Fuck it. Knowledge is power. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Keep bringing the smoke and fire mister. I have learned much in this forum and am grateful for it.
PS: Restacked!
Seeing through the smoke screens 👏
Everybody forgot about the price of eggs
Gerrymandering is bad and we should be supporting Texas House Democrats to continue their quorum break into next year. Help them enroll in IL schools and get them set up with jobs that include an extra $3500/week to cover fines. Certainly easier and cheaper than trying to win 3 House seats.
And in the scheme of things, it’s not a big deal. If Democrats succeed in defeating Abbott they’ll be able to force more fair maps after the census. If not, Republicans will do a new gerrymander. Same as in Florida or Ohio.
Politically, Republicans actually breaking the law and violating or bending the Constitution (incomplete list: lying in confirmation hearings, DOGE firings, tariffs, certain executive orders, national guard federalization, detainments & deportations without due process) are bigger deals.
So is Democrats not only not winning in enough states, but seen as threats in too many places. This should be a wave election. Trump is corrupt, incompetent, and causing economic hardship. Buyer’s remorse has already set in.
So if we, the public, and Democratic leaders do their job, we’ll win 20-30 House seats including the two border seats mildly targeted in this map redraw. We’ll win 3-6 Senate seats and Governors races.
If we don’t do this it will be we weren’t able to convince enough people that they should vote and should vote for us.
And if they f*** with the election(s) with this new ICE army getting created then we have bigger problems then mid-decade gerrymandering.
Gerrymandering can backfire. Districts designed to go 60-40 Republican-Democratic candidates go to 55-45 the opposite way in a wave election, which the upcoming one should be. But we must be vigilant & make sure the elections are run fairly & challenge the results of any that don't appear to be fair. Because gerrymandering is by no means the only way Republicans are trying to rig elections in their favor. Voter suppression, purges, voting machine tampering, ballot box removals, vote manipulation, etc. are some other ways they try to steal elections.
Great song, by the way! I recognized it by the opening notes.
Clearly, we are on the same side of the authoritarian fence. Clearly, the people on the other side are on the wrong side. But what is the right question to be asking right now?
By virtue of subscribing to this newsletter, I’m a member of a pro-democracy group, but I am also a member of several others. With another member of a different group, we found ourselves on the opposite sides of a less important fence. So, who is on the wrong side of that fence? I think it’s the other person, but if it’s me, then I want to know. My problem is the version of the “I’m right, you’re wrong, and this conversation is over” response I received from the other person.
Maybe the other person is right. Maybe I’m on the wrong side of our less important fence, but one thing I can say for sure is that, if the other person thinks they can order me to switch sides, they do not know the first thing about who I am. I will listen carefully and with respect to people who dissent with my opinions, but I do not take orders.
If I can’t resolve a small conflict with a person with whom I have a direct personal relationship, then who am I to criticize people I don’t know who’ve decided they can’t resolve their conflicts with me?
What am I saying? Picture yourself sitting across from Lawrence Fishburne with your face reflected in his dark glasses. He’s holding both hands toward you with a pill in each hand. I’m saying, “Take the red pill.”