BREAKING NEWS: In unusual show of independence, GOP lapdogs on Wisconsin Supreme Court bare teeth, bite Robin Vos in the ass

Headline from Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 5/14/2021

State Supreme Court justices on Friday rejected a plan meant to ensure lawsuits over new legislative and congressional district boundaries go to them instead of federal judges. The court voted to deny a request filed last summer to change state court rules from former Republican Assembly Speaker Scott Jensen and conservative legal firm Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty. [emphasis added]

1/25/2020 update, "GET ME REWRITE:  Wisconsin Republicans like the current shape of things when it comes to redistricting", starts here.

Reported in Wisconsin Republicans dismiss nonpartisan redistricting plan.  (Washington Post, 1/23/2020)

Original 1/9/2019 post, "Which begs the question, how many GOP voters are naturally dispersed across the head of a penis?", starts here.

Reported in Assembly Republicans ask court to halt proceedings in redistricting case.  (Madison.com, 1/9/2019)

Related posts:
Deranged former governor with hair on fire.  (7/19/2019) 
Broken record: The WIGOP gerrymander messaging of power-mad Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (12/2/2018)
In a close vote, male-dominated Columbia County Board of Supervisors endorses gerrymandering of state and congressional legislative districts.  (1/22/2018)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 1.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 2.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 3.  (1/28/2017)
Transparency is not a word in Robin Vos's vocabulary.  (1/1/2019) 

The art of the overruled North Carolina gerrymander

That was then (pre-2016):  a classic case of gerrymandering.

Vox

That was then (up close and ugly NC 4th CD)

GOP sez, "Let's try that again."  (Still a lot of squiggles and bump-outs)

Up close and personal.  (" I understand to be embraced within that shorthand description; and perhaps I could never succeed in intelligibly doing so. But I know it when I see it...")

Democrats Could Gain At Least 2 House Seats Under New N.C. Redistricting Plan.  (NPR, 11/15/2019)

If the court that ruled the old maps unconstitutional approves the new maps, Republicans could have an even steeper path to regaining the House majority in 2020. More than 20 members of the House GOP are retiring or running for other offices, several in highly-competitive districts. 

Since Republicans won control of North Carolina's legislature in 2010, the state has been the epicenter of voting rights disputes around gerrymandering, the practice of drawing political boundaries to benefit one party. Both state and federal courts have repeatedly ruled against GOP-drawn maps.

This is now.

Raleigh News-Observer

Meet the GOP lemmings of Congress (the Steve Stivers edition)

Quoted in Where House members stand on impeaching Trump. (Washington Post) 

One of Stivers' greatest hits: "One Man, One Woman".

Other Steve Stivers posts:
Meet the members of the Republican Study Committee.  (7/28/2015)
No friend to the environment.  (3/28/2015)

Other GOP lemmings posts:
Bradley Byrne, Alabama.  (10/10/2019)
Martha Roby, Alabama.  (10/10/2019)
Mike Rogers, Alabama.  (10/10/2019)
Robert Aderholt, Alabama.  (10/10/2019)
Mo Brooks, Alabama.  (10/10/2019)
Gary Palmer, Alabama.  (10/10/2019)

Don Young, Alaska.  (10/10/2019)

Paul Gosar, Arizona.  (10/10/2019)
Andy Biggs, Arizona.  (10/10/2019)
Debbie Lesko, Arizona.  (10/10/2019)

Rick Crawford, Arkansas.  (10/10/2019)
French Hill, Arkansas.  (10/10/2019)
Steve Womack, Arkansas.  (10/11/2019)
Bruce Westerman, Arkansas.  (10/11/2019)
Tom Cotton, Arkansas.  (10/16/2019)

Doug LaMalfa, California.  (10/11/2019)
Tom McClintock, California.  (10/11/2019)
Paul Cook, California.  (10/11/2019)
Devin Nunes, California.  (10/11/2019)
Kevin McCarthy, California.  (10/12/2019)
Ken Calvert, California.  (10/12/2019)
Duncan Hunter, California.  (10/12/2019)

Ken Buck, Colorado.  (10/13/2019)
Doug Lamborn, Colorado.  (10/13/2019)

Matt Gaetz, Florida.  (10/13/2019)
Ted Yoho, Florida.  (10/14/2019)
Daniel Webster, Florida.  (10/14/2019)
Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida.  (10/14/2019)

Buddy Carter, Georgia.  (10/15/2019)
Rob Woodall, Georgia.  (10/15/2019)
Doug Collins, Georgia.  (10/15/2019)
Jody Hice, Georgia.  (10/16/2019)
Barry Loudermilk, Georgia.  (10/17/2019)
Rick Allen, Georgia.  (10/17/2019)
Tom Graves, Georgia.  (10/17/2019)

Mike Bost, Illinois.  (10/18/2019)
Rodney Davis, Illinois.  (10/18/2019)
John Shimkus, Illinois.  (10/18/2019)
Darin LaHood, Illinois.  (10/19/2019)

Jackie Walorski, Indiana.  (10/19/2019)
Jim Banks, Indiana.  (10/19/2019)
Larry Bucshon, Indiana.  (10/20/2019)

Steve King, Iowa.  (10/20/2019)

James Comer, Kentucky.  (10/20/2019)
Brett Guthrie, Kentucky. (10/21/2019)
Thomas Massie, Kentucky.  (10/21/2019)
Hal Rogers, Kentucky.  (10/21/2019)
Andy Barr, Kentucky.  (10/22/2019)

Steve Scalise, Louisiana.  (10/22/2019)
Mike Johnson, Louisiana.  (10/22/2019)

Andy Harris, Maryland.  (10/22/2019)

Jack Bergman, Michigan.  (10/22/2019)
Tim Walberg, Michigan.  (10/22/2019)

Tom Emmer, Minnesota.  (10/22/2019)

Steve Palazzo, Mississippi.  (10/23/2019)

Ann Wagner, Missouri.  (10/23/2019)
Blaine Luetkemeyer, Missouri.  (10/23/2019)
Vicky Hartzler, Missouri.  (10/23/2019)
Sam Graves, Missouri.  (10/24/2019)
Billy Long, Missouri.  (10/24/2019)
Jason Smith, Missouri.  (10/25/2019)

Greg Gianforte, Montana.  (10/24/2019)

Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska.  (10/24/2019)
Don Bacon, Nebraska.  (10/25/2019)
Adrian Smith, Nebraska.  (10/25/2019)

Lee Zeldin, New York.  (10/25/2019)
Peter King, New York.  (10/25/2019)
Tom Reed, New York.  (10/25/2019)
John Katko, New York.  (10/25/2019)

George Holding, North Carolina.  (10/27/2019)
Virginia Foxx, North Carolina.  (10/27/2019)
Mark Walker, North Carolina.  (10/27/2019)
Richard Hudson, North Carolina.  (10/27/2019)
Mark Meadows, North Carolina.  (10/27/2019)
Ted Budd, North Carolina.  (10/28/2019)

Steve Chabot, Ohio.  (10/28/2019)
Brad Wenstrup, Ohio.  (10/28/2019)
Jim Jordan, Ohio.  10/29/2019)
Bob Latta, Ohio.  (10/29/2019)
Bill Johnson, Ohio.  (10/30/2019)
Bob Gibbs, Ohio.  (10/30/2019)
Warren Davidson, Ohio.  (10/30/2019)
Michael Turner, Ohio.  (10/31/2019)

Marsha Blackburn, Tennessee.  (10/16/2019)

Nerf guns in the Wisconsin war on gerrymandering

Photo source:  UW-Madison

In the War Against Gerrymandering, an Army of Voters Meets a Dug-in Foe.  (The New York Times, 8/14/2019)

Moreover....... 

Is there any evidence that anyone has lost an election because they oppose a nonpartisan redistricting process?” he asked. “When people start losing their seats because of a policy position, that’s when they get religion. And I don’t think there’s much evidence that that has happened.

Related posts:
Deranged former governor with hair on fire.  (7/19/2019)
Which begs the question, how many GOP voters are naturally dispersed across the head of a penis?  (1/9/2019)
Transparency is not a word in Robin Vos's vocabulary.  (1/1/2019)
Broken record: The WIGOP gerrymander messaging of power-mad Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (12/2/2018)
In a close vote, male-dominated Columbia County Board of Supervisors endorses gerrymandering of state and congressional legislative districts.  (1/22/2018)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 1.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 2.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 3.  (1/28/2017)

NEW SERIES: Deranged former governor with hair on fire

Trump fanboy takes hyperbole to new levels.  The Think Progress article, of course, does no such thing.

What it does, and quite effectively, is call out Walker for his undiluted hypocrisy and self-serving dishonesty.  

Related posts:
Which begs the question, how many GOP voters are naturally dispersed across the head of a penis?  (1/9/2019)
Transparency is not a word in Robin Vos's vocabulary.  (1/1/2019)
Broken record: The WIGOP gerrymander messaging of power-mad Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (12/2/2018)
In a close vote, male-dominated Columbia County Board of Supervisors endorses gerrymandering of state and congressional legislative districts.  (1/22/2018)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 1.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 2.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 3.  (1/28/2017)

The pretzel logic of Supreme Court Justice John Roberts

Quoted in Supreme Court says federal courts cannot strike down partisan gerrymandering.  (USA Today, 6/27/2019)

What about these doggy lines, CJ.

Source:  govtrack

Related reading:
North Carolina’s extreme gerrymandering could save the House Republican majority.  (5/8/2018)

Welcome to North Carolina, “ground zero” for gerrymandering. North Carolina is a purple state. Politically, the state is about 50 percent Democrat and 50 percent Republican — it went for Barack Obama in 2008 but for Republicans in 2012 and 2016 (although voters elected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper). In a competitive election year like 2018, Democrats should have the opportunity to pick up plenty of congressional seats. 

But if you look at its congressional maps, Republicans have an incredibly lopsided advantage. That’s intentional; Republican state Rep. Dave Lewis admitted as much in 2016, during the redistricting process.

Source:  Wake Forest Review

Related post:
The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is blind and deaf.  (6/28/2019)

The Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court is blind and deaf

Map source:  govtrack

Reported in Supreme Court Bars Challenges to Partisan Gerrymandering.  (The New York Times, 6/27/2019)

Related reading:
What’s Stronger Than a Blue Wave? Gerrymandered Districts.  (The New York Times, 11/29/2019)

In a year in which Democrats picked up as many as 41 House seats elsewhere, including in places as conservative as Oklahoma and Utah, they appeared to lose all three of their targets for pickups in one of the nation’s most closely divided states. Democrats in North Carolina earned 48.3 percent of the total vote cast in House races but appeared to win only three seats; Republicans had 50.4 percent of the vote and won at least nine seats.

Related posts:
UPDATE. The art of the Ohio GOP gerrymander: Climate deniers get their own district.  (5/7/2019)
Which begs the question, how many GOP voters are naturally dispersed across the head of a penis?  (1/9/2019)
Transparency is not a word in Robin Vos's vocabulary.  (1/1/2019)
Broken record: The WIGOP gerrymander messaging of power-mad Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (12/2/2018)
Rhetorical question posed in election article headline.  (11/9/2018)
UPDATE. Say goodbye to Goofy kicking Donald Duck, Pennsylvania's wildly gerrymandered 7th congressional district.  (3/20/2018)
In a close vote, male-dominated Columbia County Board of Supervisors endorses gerrymandering of state and congressional legislative districts.  (1/22/2018)
Suitable for framing: The art of the North Carolina gerrymanders.  (1/12/2018)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 1.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 2.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 3.  (1/28/2017)

UPDATE. The art of the Ohio GOP gerrymander: Climate deniers get their own district

Ohio's gerrymandered 6th Congressional district.

Home to the largest percentage of GOP climate deniers than any other district.  That's cuz it's coal country -- Trump's America.

Source:  How Republicans Think About Climate Change — in Maps.  (The New York Times, 12/14/2017)

Over the past two decades, Republicans have grown increasingly doubtful about climate change, even as Democrats have grown increasingly convinced that it’s happening and is caused by humans. But recent research published in the journal Climatic Change reveals greater nuance in partisan climate opinions across the country.

5/6/2019 update, "The art of the Ohio GOP gerrymander:  Diluting the Democratic vote", starts here.

Source:  Wikipedia

Ohio Congressional Map Is Illegal Gerrymander, Federal Court Rules.  (The New York Times, 5/3/2019)

{OH CD 1} Hamilton County and the city of Cincinnati, for example, were split in a “strange, squiggly, curving shape” to divide Democrats, the judges wrote. Meanwhile in Franklin County, [OH CD 3] which includes Columbus, Democrats were concentrated in a “sinkhole” that allowed mapmakers to “secure healthy Republican majorities” in two suburban districts.

Original 5/4/2019 post, "The snake on the lake:  When it comes to chutzpah in GOP congressional gerrymandering, Ohio takes a back seat to no one", starts here.

Maps:  Ballotpedia (above, text boxes added), 

League of Women Voters of Ohio (bottom)

The shameless art of the Ohio gerrymander

Based on my many trips on the Ohio Turnpike, I'd say the average north-south distance of Ohio's 9th CD is a generous 10 miles.

Ohio Congressional Map Is Illegal Gerrymander, Federal Court Rules.  (The New York Times, 5/3/2019)

Representative Marcy Kaptur, a Democrat from Toledo, testified at the two-week trial that her district, which winds along the shore of Lake Erie all the way to Cleveland and is derisively nicknamed “The Snake on the Lake,’’ was the epitome of extreme gerrymandering. The trial revealed that Republican mapmakers operated out of a hotel room they called “the bunker,’’ and in one email, a national consultant referred to downtown Columbus, which is heavily Democratic, as “dog meat” territory.

Who's running in the 64th Wisconsin Assembly District (2019 special election edition)

Source:  LinkedIn, Walkington for Wisconsin

Gina Walkington to seek Barca's seat.  (Kenosha News, 1/18/2019)

Walkington, a longtime resident of Bristol who ran against state Rep. Samantha Kerkman, R-Salem Lakes, in last fall’s election for the 61st District Assembly seat, said if elected she would move into Barca’s district. 

“As a mother, activist and organizer I have always been committed to creating meaningful change. Now I’m ready to bring my advocacy to the Wisconsin state Assembly where I’ll work every day to create meaningful change for Wisconsin families,” she said. “I want to thank Peter Barca for his many years of service to the 64th District, and I look forward to meeting and hearing the concerns of voters in the coming weeks and months.”

Majority Caucus Sergeant at Arms Samantha Kerkman (R-Powers Lake) was first elected to the Assembly in 2001.  Gerrymandering in the guise of redistricting not only created a safe space for her but also squeezed an incumbent Democrat out of a job.

Source:  Ballotpedia

Related reading:
How redistricting changed Wisconsin politics.  (NPR, 10/1/2017)

JOHN STEINBRINK: I think we're losing the middle-of-the-road people, unfortunately - those that really feel comfortable working with both sides. 

JOHNSON: Steinbrink counted himself among those middle-of-the-road lawmakers. He'd sometimes vote with Republicans on gun bills, for example. But the 2011 redistricting plan put him in a more Republican district against a Republican incumbent. Steinbrink ran anyway. 

STEINBRINK: And a lot of the farmers I knew - they said, gee, you know, we know you. We like you. But you're a Democrat. And we can't vote for a Democrat.

The stackable, jigsaw art of Wisconsin gerrymandering:  The 21st Wisconsin State Senate District, which includes the 61st, 62nd, and 63rd Assembly Districts. 

And how it corrals the Democratic vote in the urban areas of Racine and Kenosha, i.e., the 22nd Senate District (64th, 65th, and 66th Assembly districts).

Source:  Ballotpedia

Related post:
Wisconsin 2018 elections UPDATE: Who won in the 64th Assembly District? (11/26/2018)

Transparency is not a word in Robin Vos's vocabulary

Reported in Assembly Speaker Robin Vos refuses to release redistricting legal contract.  (Wisconsin State Journal, 1/1/2019)

Related posts:
Broken record: The WIGOP gerrymander messaging of power-mad Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (12/2/2018)
In a close vote, male-dominated Columbia County Board of Supervisors endorses gerrymandering of state and congressional legislative districts.  (1/22/2018)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 3.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 2.  (1/28/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 1.  (1/28/2017)

Broken record: The WIGOP gerrymander messaging of power-mad Assembly Speaker Robin Vos

Ay caramba!  Welcome to the Woodman's approach to state government.

Photo credit:  Wisconsin State Assembly

Sources:
Court says Republican gerrymandering in Wisconsin was unconstitutional. (Reuters, 11/22/2016)
Key Question for Supreme Court: Will It Let Gerrymanders Stand?  (The New York Times, 4/27/2017)
Republicans, Democrats prepare for redistricting fight.  (Racine Journal Times, 11/20/2018)

Related posts:
Meet that gasket-blowin', governor wannabee Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (11/3/2017)

Get me rewrite: In Wisconsin, Democrats have developed a problem among white, rural voters

Fueled by the 2010 Tea Party election and 2011 WIGOP gerrymandering.

Rhetorical question posed in election article headline

Headline (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel): photo (Uncyclopedia)

Related posts:

Meet that gasket-blowin', governor wannabee Assembly Speaker Robin Vos.  (11/3/2017)
Wisconsin redistricting: Judges saw evidence, reached obvious conclusion, part 1.  (1/28/2017)
Part 2.  (1/28/2017)
Part 3.  (1/28/2017)

According to Robin Vos, the Wisconsin Constitution is Inviolable When It Comes to Redistricting.  (12/26/2013)

Any dickhead knows this is true

PolitifactWisconsin, 6/18/2018

See for yourself

Speaking of.......

Pennsylvania's 12th Congressional district goes from leans Republican to toss-up

Rep. Keith Rothfus was first elected to Congress in 2010, represented the 4th congressional district.   Redistricting moved him into a much realigned 12th district.

Source:  Ballotpedia 

The art of the Pennsylvania gerrymander

Source:  govtrack

The new map for the 2018 election

Not  a flippable seat, strictly speaking.  More like a whole new ballgame.

Other flippables:
Martha McSally, Arizona 2nd.  (10/8/2017)
Jeff Denham, California 10th.  (10/9/2017)
David Valadao, California 21st.   (10/10/2017)
Steve Knight, California 25th.  (10/11/2017)
Ed Royce, California 29th.  (10/12/2017)
Mimi Walters, California 45th CD.  (2/12/2018)
Brian Mast, Florida 18th.  (10/13/2017)
Carlos Curbelo, Florida 26th.  (10/14/2017)
Mike Bost, Illinois 12th. (10/15/2017)
Rod Blum, Iowa 1st CD.  (2/12/2018)
Kevin Yoder, Kansas 3rd.  (10/16/2017)
Andy Barr, Kentucky 6th CD.  (2/12/2018)
Mike Bishop, Michigan 8th CD.  (2/12/2018)
Erik Paulsen, Minnesota 3rd.  (10/17/2017)
Don Bacon, Nebraska 2nd.  (10/18/2017)
Tom MacArthur, New Jersey 3rd.  (10/19/2017)
Leonard Lance, New Jersey 7th.  (2/14/201)
Lee Zeldin, New York 1st CD.  (2/12/2018)
John Faso, New York 19th CD.  (2/12/2018)
Claudia Tenney, New York 22nd.  (10/21/2017)
John Katko, New York 24th CD.  (2/12/2018)
Steve Chabot, Ohio 1st CD. (2/12/2018)
Ryan Costello, Pennsylvania 6th.  (10/23/2017)

UPDATE. Say goodbye to Goofy kicking Donald Duck, Pennsylvania's wildly gerrymandered 7th congressional district

Reported in Supreme Court rejects Pennsylvania Republicans' fight over maps for U.S. House.  (USA Today, 3/19/2018)

The redrawn map

Source:  Supreme Court Issues New Congressional District Map.  (CNN, 2/19/2018)


1/28/2018 update, "Pennsylvania's 7th congressional district, a.k.a. Goofy kicking Donald Duck", starts here.

The Art of the Pennsylvania Gerrymander

In a Comically Drawn Pennsylvania District, the Voters Are Not Amused.  (The New York Times, 1/26/2018)

Residents of the Seventh tell tales of confusion among next-door neighbors who have different House representatives. Rather than keep communities intact and follow natural borders, the district slices and dices pieces of five counties and 26 municipalities, and tosses them together in a crazy salad. 

What the mapmakers were trying to do was to link up enough pockets of conservative voters to ensure that a Republican would keep the seat, no matter the insult to geography or common sense.

Original 1/23/2018 post, "Pennsylvania Supreme Court gerrymandering summary decision:  Just one look, that's all it took", starts here.

Source:  govtrack

Pennsylvania Must Redraw Congressional Map: State Supreme Court.  (NBC 10 Philadelphia, 1/22/2018)

The court said the boundaries "clearly, plainly and palpably" violate the state's constitution, and blocked it from remaining in effect for the 2018 elections. The deadline to file paperwork to run in primaries for the state's congressional seats is March 6.  [emphasis added]

 Related reading:
It just looks weird, know what I mean?’ Efforts to reform redistricting in Pa.  (WHYY, 11/28/2017)

In a close vote, male-dominated Columbia County Board of Supervisors endorses gerrymandering of state and congressional legislative districts

Columbia County supervisors narrowly nix redistricting resolution.  (Portage Daily Register, 1/17/2018)

“Every two years,” Rohrbeck said, “if the people want to overthrow the government, they can. An election is fair, in that the citizens are given the right to vote.”

So sez the supervisor whose wife has made 4 campaign contributions to Republican Assembly rep Keith Ripp.

Source:  Grassroots North Shore

Suitable for framing: The art of the North Carolina gerrymanders

Map source:  govtrack

N.C. Dealing With Chaos After Ruling That Districts Are Illegal Partisan Gerrymanders.  (NPR, 1/10/2018)

North Carolina's congressional candidates can officially file to run just one month from now. That date is important if the state is to hold its May 8 primary on schedule. North Carolina's Republican-controlled General Assembly has been given just two weeks to redraw all the state's congressional districts.

Related posts:
AP analysis indicates that redistricting benefits GOP, and here's Exhibit A,  (6/26/2017)

A good night for Democrats in Georgia House elections (part 2)

As in the 117th, Democrats had not run a candidate in the 119th House District in (at least) the previous 4 election cycles, (i.e., including 2010).

Sources:  Ballotpedia 

Georgia Democrats pick up three legislative seats in special elections.  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 11/7/2017)

Jonathan Wallace for State House District 119

The art of the Georgia gerrymander

Related reading:

Lawsuit claims GA House districts drawn to remove minority voter.  (Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 10/3/2017)

The lawsuit claims the bill “specifically targets districts where white Republicans have become increasingly vulnerable to challenge by African-American Democratic candidates, moving voters in and out of House districts based on their race so as to shore up the incumbent Republicans’ prospects in future elections.”

Related post:

Part 1.  (11/8/2017)