Saturday, July 25, 2015

State GOP: stop fighting redistricting! ... by gimleteye

"... lawyers for the Legislature, which has spent more than $8.1 million in legal fees defending its redistricting efforts, told Reynolds they are not prepared to accept that lawmakers were at fault in the Senate maps."

The Miami Herald can't say for certain how many millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent by GOP leaders to fight redistricting in Florida.

For a second time, the state supreme court ruled that the Congressional district map in Florida, drawn by state republicans, is illegal. Illegal, as in "violates the law". Republicans are fomenting anger and resentment among voters. An important election year is on the horizon. To come: another legal battle along the same lines decided by the supreme court on Senate district boundaries in Florida.

There are a few explanations for the continued intransigence by Republicans. 1) The fight against redistricting has become a cottage industry for top consultants and party insiders, generating fees that ensure the fighting doesn't stop, 2) The state GOP sees fairly drawn districts as an existential threat, 3) There is no GOP leadership, only a thirst for power and wealth, and 4) GOP leaders aren't afraid of alienating voters, because the GOP does a better job motivating their base and the GOP base doesn't care about districts.

Whatever the case, the GOP should be concerned how the redistricting fight, ignoring the state supreme court, is affecting the party's chances in the 2016 election. The GOP primary circus festival has already robbed dignity from the key voting bloc of Hispanics. This is the advice from a critic: drop the battle axes and get your own house in order.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

This lifelong Republican wants to know WHO is getting paid HOW MUCH to fight the district battle.

cyndi said...

". lawyers for the Legislature, which has spent more than $8.1 million in legal fees defending its redistricting efforts, told Reynolds they are not prepared to accept that lawmakers were at fault in the Senate maps."
ahahahahahahahhah hysterical. These folks are pathological. They really believe this stuff and they have NO idea how wicked they were especially this last session. Talk about drinking to cool aid. They really are drinking it!