The Dems Concentration Problem
Aug 1st, 2010 by Tennessee Walker
Michael Barone has identified one of the key structural problems of the Democrat party in terms of keeping their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives. That is The desire by Democrat office holders to keep overwhelmingly Democrat districts (such as Nancy Pelosi’s district) in the Democrat column by 80% or more. According to Barone, Keeping overwhelmingly Democrat distracts will eventually keep the Democrat party from developing and getting swing districts where Democrats could keep their majority in the U.S. House.
The reapportionment efforts of 2000 on the U.S House were impacted by Voting Rights Considerations. The law was interpreted to create districts that had at least a 65% minority advantage in certain Congressional Districts . In the end these districts more than satisfied these legal requirements.
In addition certain Liberal Democrats were drawn districts that gave them electoral immunity.
Republican candidates were given no such immunity. In 2004 , 19 Democrat Congressional Districts were carried by the Democrat Presidential Candidate by 80% or more. In 2004, zero Republican Presidential Candidates carried a Congressional District by 80% or more.
In 2008 the numbers are 29 and zero.
According to Michael Barone, Republicans have a structural advantage of about 30 seats. This is due to Voting Rights changes in reapportionment and the desire by Democrat officeholders to keep as many Democrats in their districts as possible.
This also brings us to Delaware. Liberals have done their typical whining and crying about Wayne Smith and the drawing of Legislative Lines in 2002.
The fact is that the Delaware Reapportionment lines were approved by a Democrat controlled Senate and a Republican controlled House. If any Democrat House member had a real problem with the 2002 reapportionment, all they had to do is walk across the hallway in Legislative Hall and tell their fellow party members to hold up and change this legislation.
It didn’t happen. The existing House members including the current Speaker were quite content with their increased Democrat Majorities within their own districts. Bruce Ennis got a boat load of City of Dover Democrats which really made his day.
Republicans rarely do anything smart. But taking advantage of the Democrat office holder’s desire to be reelected works at the National and State level.
Should Republicans gain control of the U.S. House, they will have the Democrats to thank.
The Michael Barone article can be found here:
http://www.american.com/archive/2010/july/the-democrats-have-a-concentration-problem
In the end, excesses are there own undoing. Mr. Paul Harvey
Let’s see. This year all eight of the ethics complaints requiring action were from African American legislators and the latest is Maxine Waters and Charlie Rangel.
The Congressional Black Caucus still defends them?
The districts are do warped but why are there no Black U S Senators? Was Obama the right amount of black?
Speaking of BO, have you noticed how many Socialist-Democrat candidates are telling him to stay away this campaign season? He is kryptonite; ask Coakley, Deeds, and Corzine.
have you noticed how many Socialist-Democrat candidates are telling him to stay away this campaign season?
Actually no I haven’t. Different presidents are popular or unpopular in different regions. That’s politics.
Same thing happened with Reagan in 1982.
Did you notice that in Delaware, from February through June, 2010, of 1,294 new voters, 608 registered as Democrats, 324 as Republicans, and 362 as Others. What is up with that? It amazes me how the smear campaign on this website against President Obama and other Democrats actually does nothing to sway how people in Delaware register to vote.
Most New voters are individuals who move to Delaware from another state. Quite a few are retirees from liberal tax and spend states such as New Jersey, or New York. People tend to register in the party they were previously registered in. The registration figures cited above are more likely a reflection of the previous states of residence for the new Delaware voters.
Of course we have already noticed Mr. Sweeney’s tenuous grasp of facts.
Actually no I haven’t.
Then you haven’t been paying attention. Here’s a start for you, one of hundreds of examples;
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/08/01/1287952/obama-wont-campaign-for-democrats.html
Like I said- Kryptonite.
Hey, that is directly from the Department of Elections:
http://elections.delaware.gov/services/candidate/regtotals.shtml
Notice it is not anecdotal and not supporting any cause, just pointing out facts so people can make informed decisions based on those facts.
A.D.D-rats! LOL!
In post number two, a comment about there being no black Senators….
That would come as a surprise to Sen. Roland Burris.
House districts can and have been gerrymandered to create more minority represented districts. I believe at present there are 38 Representatives and 2 non voting delegates in the House out of its 442 total members. That makes 9.04% of the House black (not all of African descent, hence I have not used the PC term “African American”), compared to about 12.8% of the population at large.
It’s not possible however to gerrymander an entire state. One must wonder if perhaps many black Representatives who might make fine Senators have chosen to remain safe in House districts drawn to ensure their perpetuity in office (Conyers 56 years, Rangel 40 years, Dingell 44 years…) rather than take a chance on a Senate race that is no guarantee.
That Alpha poster, Lord you gotta laugh.
He has to go all the way back to 1982 and say the same thing happened to Reagan.
1982?
that’s what…almost thirty years?
Today, 8/2/10, Obamer’s going to Georgia. Every other Democrat in Georgia’s hiding out.
Obamer sure helped Corzine, Deeds and Coakley.
Same thing happened with Zachary Taylor, in 1856.
It’s not news that Obama isn’t campaigning in states that didn’t vote for him.
Fair enough, but the examples that Rick gave all voted for him, two of them with I believe over 60% of the vote.
“Hey, that is directly from the Department of Elections:
http://elections.delaware.gov/services/candidate/regtotals.shtml
Notice it is not anecdotal and not supporting any cause, just pointing out facts so people can make informed decisions based on those facts.”
No Mr. Sweeney in comment 5 you took a swipe at this site. You weren’t just reporting the facts You implied that registration of new people was a rejection of this site. I offered an alternative explanation of registration numbers in comment 6, which comes much more closely to the actual facts. How would this site have any influence on prior residents of New Jersey or Pa. who have just moved to the state???
Obama, Rangel and Waters…the Trinity of Truth.
I can’t wait to see the ads.
Tennessee Walker, just trying to point out that sites like this one continue to rail against liberals, but the registration of new voters in Delaware still points to the fact that more people are registering as Democrats. Nothing against this site at all. I actually like to visit this site. I can get into some really cool debates here, some open my eyes, some make me gag, but all keep me informed. No offense intended, apologies if I did.
Commisioner Sweeney, I visit a variety of sites many of which offend me!!!! I get over it. I suggest you do the same.
Commissioner Sweeney, for the record I have no problem with an honest debate. Truth be told I welcome it as I believe it informs our readers. I do welcome your comments on matters of importance that include the areas where you have to make critical decisions. I welcome your input on matters that inform our Kent County Viewers (According to Dave this is a huge percentage of our readership). I wish that more County elected officials would engage in honest debate about their efforts and decisionmaking. I do applaud you in this.
I did critique your posting of registration figures. I did not believe those numbers had any bearing on this blog which you criticisized on your comment # 5. That being said it is time to move on.