In Cool Hand Luke, Paul Newman’s character famously bluffs in a hand of poker and later explains, “Yeah, well sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand.” It is a great scene and a great movie. The problem is that sometimes nothing can be . . . well . . . nothing. Democrats are learning that lesson this week after some Texas legislators indicated that they will be headed home and opponents are calling the bluffs of figures from California Gov. Gavin Newsom to Texas’s Beto O’Rourke.
There is a key poker tip left unstated in the movie: You cannot bluff when the other players already know your cards.
After a couple of weeks of posturing in exile in blue states, Texas Democrats returned home as expected, allowing the state to move forward with its redistricting plan. There was never any doubt about what would happen because it has happened before with Democrats —lacking the votes to defeat legislation, they flee the state to prevent all legislative business.
The media predictably lionized the Democrats as stateless freedom fighters while repeating unfounded claims that the state was about to wipe out minority representation, a move that not only contradicted the GOP plan but would contravene federal law.
It was another “I am Spartacus” moment for Democrats seeking recognition as the leaders of the resistance movement. It did not work out particularly well due to the chosen safe harbor for the Democratic political refugees: Illinois.
Illinois is arguably the most gerrymandered state in the union, where Republicans were reduced to just three of the state’s 17 congressional seats, even though they won nearly half the votes in the last election. The districts resemble an electoral Rorschach test, with Democrats snaking dozens of miles to capture pockets of Democratic voters to deny Republicans seats. Standing next to Gov. JB Pritzker (D) (who signed the gerrymandering legislation) as he bellowed about “stealing” congressional seats became an instant punchline.
For Pritzker, the penalty was merely being denounced as a hypocrite, which rarely bothers politicians playing to the extreme parts of their parties. While Pritzker proclaimed that the Texas Democrats would remain safe under his protection in Illinois, the media just shrugged when the resistance collapsed and they returned home to collect their frozen salaries.
For others, it will prove more costly.
In California, Gov. Gavin Newsom tried nightly to out chestpound his fellow Democrats like Pritzker. Lacking the props of actual legislators used by his fellow presidential aspirant in Illinois, Newsom pledged that he would match Texas district for district if they went forward with their redistricting plan.
He then discovered that you cannot bluff with your cards facing the opposing players.
The problem is that states like California and Illinois are already heavily gerrymandered as are many Democratic states. In California, Republicans constituted roughly 40 percent of the congressional vote in 2024 but received only about 17 percent of the House seats. Pushing Republicans to near zero would be expensive and require districts that defy the laws of nature in their bizarre shapes. In comparison, Texas and many GOP-controlled states are largely untapped and can produce many more GOP districts with relatively easy changes.
Nevertheless, Newsom pledged that he would do it if they called his bluff. That will cost over $200 million to a state with a crippling deficit. In the meantime, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott pledged that he could just as easily produce ten districts if California creates five new democratic seats. He could do it.
Newsom would also have to get around state law and the redistricting commission. Otherwise, his plan would go down in flames in the courts.
What Newsom lacks in authority, he has made up in volume. He went all caps with a threat to Trump: “STAND DOWN NOW OR CALIFORNIA WILL COUNTER-STRIKE (LEGALLY!) TO DESTROY YOUR ILLEGAL CROOKED MAPS IN RED STATES.”
The same is true for Gov. Cathy Hochul, who called such redistricting a “legal insurrection” and then pledged to lead her own insurrection. The problem, again, is that New York is already heavily gerrymandered. Harris received only 56% of the vote in 2024, but Democrats hold 73% of the state’s 26 House seats. Prior Democratic efforts at gerrymandering have been so extreme that courts struck them down.
Of course, Hochul is still better off in her bluff than Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey who pledged to retaliate if Texas moves forward despite the fact that the state’s prior gerrymandering has already reduced Republican districts to zero.
Similar efforts in states like Maryland have led to sharp rebukes from courts. Previously, Democrats turned to Marc Elias, who gained infamy as a key player in the Russian collusion hoax, to defend an outrageously gerrymandered redistricting. A court found the effort not only in violation of Maryland law but also of the state constitution’s equal protection, free speech, and free elections clauses. The court declared that the map pushed by Elias “subverts the will of those governed.”
Perhaps the worst bluff was made by Beto O’Rourke, who has repeatedly tried and failed to get elected as senator, governor, and president. With each defeat, O’Rourke seems to get more extreme and profane. After recently losing a court case barring him from continuing to raise money to fund the unlawful flight of the Democratic legislators, O’Rourke proclaimed he did not care what the law or the courts may say: “F**k the rules, we are going to win whatever it takes.”
O’Rourke is following the John McEnroe school of appealing court rulings, but the difference is that tennis officials cannot put you in jail for a court tantrum.
After his recent speech, I noted that O’Rourke appeared to be not only undermining his own appeal but begging for a contempt sanction.
Now, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is calling his bluff and asking for a contempt ruling. His main witness is likely to be O’Rourke himself in delighting a Democratic rally with statements like this:
“He [Paxton] tried to stop us from holding this rally here today in Fort Worth, he tried to stop us from raising money to support these Democrats in the fight—he lost—and one of the worst things that we could do to Ken Paxton is to right now choose to donate, to have the backs of these fighters… He is trying to stop us from raising the resources they [the Democrat statehouse fugitives] need to ultimately prevail and come through and we are not going to let him stop us. Are you with me on that?”
“F**k the rules” is not exactly a good argument to make to any judge.
Courts may soon explain to figures like O’Rourke what the “Captain” explained in Cool Hand Luke: “What we’ve got here is… failure to communicate. Some men you just can’t reach. So you get what we had here last week, which is the way he wants it… well, he gets it.”
Jonathan Turley is the Shapiro professor of public interest law at George Washington University and the author of the best-selling book “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage.”
Here is a biological analogy: If there are 37.2 x 10^12 trillion cells in a human body and 86 x 10^9 billion brain cells, = .43 x 10^3 = 430 brain cells per body cell.
If there are 174 million voters, then there should be 404,651 representatives.
This is so blatantly false from Turley:
“In comparison, Texas and many GOP-controlled states are largely untapped and can produce many more GOP districts with relatively easy changes.”
Wow. Texas is “largely untapped”? Texas is already extremely gerrymandered. My state of North Carolina is too. Absolute rubbish.
Why are you such a liar? From Verdict with Ted Cruz: Texas Dems Surrender-Explaining Dem Redistricting Hypocrisy Nationwide, Aug 13, 2025
“Now Texas, Texas right now today, Texas, 56% of the state in 2024 voted Republican. Our map, we have 38 seats in it, 24 Republicans, 14 Democrats. That means that right now in Texas, 54% of the Republicans elect 63% of the congressional delegation.
So it’s slightly more than the statewide percentage, but not nearly as egregious as the other states. Now what Texas is doing is redrawing the districts so that five new Republicans are likely to be elected. So instead of breaking down 24-14, it is likely to break down 29-29.
That means that we would go from 63% of the congressional delegation being Republican, we would go from that to 76%. Now 76% is still lower than California, which is 83%. It is lower than Illinois, which is 82%, and it’s obviously lower than Massachusetts, which is 100%.”
https://gerrymander.princeton.edu/
https://gerrymander.princeton.edu/redistricting-report-card?planId=recL5EF85h0ILukMA
Here is the gerrymander report card. District 35 is a clear example. Packing in Dems in a sliver that connects Austin and San Antonio.
In order to accurately determine whether gerrymandering exists, you have to actually look at how the map was drawn. A completely geometric pattern for example may mean that the numbers could favor one side or the other, but it wouldn’t be gerrymandered. You clearly don’t know what the term means
Seriously you moron. If Texas is “extremely gerrymandered” how are they switching five seats? Do you even think before you open your fat mouth?
The Supreme Court literally found that Texas engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering last time they conducted a mid-decade redistricting.
How many states can you name have engaged in mid-decade redistricting? This is the second time TX has done it.
This redistricting effort is meant to maximize the changes to the GOP coalition post MAGA. Just because they are gerrymandered once does not mean they are forever drawn in a way that creates max advantage to a party.
“The Supreme Court literally found that Texas engaged in unconstitutional racial gerrymandering last time they conducted a mid-decade redistricting.
How many states can you name have engaged in mid-decade redistricting? This is the second time TX has done it.
This redistricting effort is meant to maximize the changes to the GOP coalition post MAGA. Just because they are gerrymandered once does not mean they are forever drawn in a way that creates max advantage to a party.”
Gibberish. You have no point. Just screeching at the sky.
Don’t care. Cry harder.
^^^^Complete LIE. This is why anonymous posts at 9:42 p.m., thinking no one will call out his lie;
The Supreme Court UPHELD the districts against a charge of racial gerrymandering.. Even left-wing PBS had to admit it:
ww.pbs.org/newshour/show/supreme-court-upholds-texas-voting-districts-in-racial-gerrymandering-case
KEEP YOUR LIES OUT OF THIS BLOG SITE OR WE WILL CONTINUE TO CALL YOU OUT.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/supreme-court-upholds-texas-voting-districts-in-racial-gerrymandering-case
The Supreme Court held that the Texas Legislature’s redistricting plan did not violate the Constitution, but that part of the plan violated the Voting Rights Act. Justice Anthony Kennedy, writing for a majority of the justices, stated that District 23 had been redrawn in such a way as to deny Latino voters as a group the opportunity to elect a candidate of their choosing, thereby violating the Voting Rights Act.
https://www.brennancenter.org/our-work/analysis-opinion/breaking-down-supreme-courts-texas-redistricting-ruling
Are you referring to Rucho? Abbott v Perry? You need to update yourself and stop reading the Sunday newspapers. Let’s wait and see what happens with the Callais cases, then you can try again.
No. Anonymous is referring to the League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry,- a 2006 case that I cited yesterday –and very likely that “Anonymous” had never even heard of it prior to my citing it. ((I had only cited the case NOT based on any ruling therein, but rather, because it summarized the relevant re-districting history in Texas up to that point.)
In any event, the case only involved District 23 in Texas and has little to no bearing on the overall issue here.
(my laptop Internet connection screwed up and this may be sent twice. apologies in advance.)
No, anonymous is referring to a 20-year-old case I cited yesterday, League of United Latin American Citizens v. Perry, –a case that “Anonymous” likely never heard of prior to my reference.
However, my reference was only because the opening discussion of its plurality ruling summarized the state of Texas’ redistricting history up to that point. It does not appear that “Anonymous” understands that the case refers to the redistricting of District 23 and the weakness in a new District 25, –and has little to no bearing on the issue here–and subsequent SCOTUS cases .
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2003_Texas_redistricting
The 2003 mid-decade (i.e. blatantly partisan because there was no census) redistricting created extreme gerrymandering that was partially deemed unconstitutional by SCOTUS. That resulted in 66% of seats going to GOP despite only 56%/ of votes cast for GOP.
What you fail to understand is that the MAGA GOP of 2025 is very different from the traditional Bush era GOP, and this latest push by Trump is to gerrymander again to more closely align with his restructured party.
https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/supreme-court-upholds-texas-voting-districts-in-racial-gerrymandering-case
What is the optimal ratio of voters to representatives?
2 per State. Cheaper.
The Democrats in Texas have dealt themselves a losing hand even after stacking the deck. The circular firing squad continues with Kamala providing her Glock to facilitate the carnage. They keep doing the same things even when their approval rating is the lowest it’s ever been. Only the Bard could have written such a comical plot. It’s so absurd that he would have written it under a pen name. More intelligence was displayed in the movie Dumb and Dumber. Somehow people keep voting for them but there weren’t quite as many as there was a while ago.
The underlying irony is that Texas tried to gerrymander “majority-minority” districts with Hispanics.
I guess Democrats really lose their minds when the minority that is in the majority in those districts overwhelmingly votes Republican. The Democrats cannot even use the Voting Rights Act as a pretense for their outrage.
At one time, a person learned self-restraint under the “tit for tat” rule. Don’t do to others what you don’t want them to do to you.
Oops!
As I have said on previous articles about this redistricting effort, Congress could (and should, in my view) do away with these partisan battles by passing an act that says districts must be equal population, contiguous, and as compact as reasonably possible. There are several mathematical measures of compactness – e.g., Polsby-Popper, Schwartzberg, Reock, Convex Hull, Population-Polygon, and Cut Edges – and a map can be measured on all six models to get a composite score. Then someone can challenge the map by coming up with another map that satisfies the legal criteria of contiguity and equality of population, but has a better composite compactness score.
What’s the ratio of population to reps? Cut the map into that number of districts and use longitude and latitude, compact and contiguous? Should be simple. Population is general and not cut into special categories assuming all people in a population have the same interests, needs etc and laws should be general only leaving maximum freedom to each person.
It will always split into the poor and not-poor. It’s a problem as the bottom half are reliant upon social welfare and subsidies. The representation will naturally represent both halves. The idea of compact should work.
I’ll think about it. Math might work by econ status for percentages . Jolanda Jones would represent the percentage rendered by irs status. Wouldn’t need a physical map in such a case. Go back to olesmithy.
Cheers
The problem with your simple solution is that one of the key four factors to consider is not breaking up
‘political subdivisions” defined as counties, cities, etc. Just like the woman who suggested dropping a checkerboard map over the state and drawing the squares or something like that. I think you liked her comment?
Can’t have a county or a town on a fence between two legislative districts, and you know that many counties, particularly historic ones, are not conveniently of a recognizable character (square, oval, circular, triangular, etc.) THis is much more complicated than you suggest.
I admit that is a downside. But the Supreme Court has mandated equal population districts, and that means many political subdivisions are going to have to be split up. There is simply no way to avoid that, as unfortunate as that is, unless and until Scotus overturns its one-man-one-vote precedent.
What I’m suggesting is there is a tradeoff: more subdivisions will be split than are already split, but partisan gerrymandering will be eliminated. Particularly since we’re already splitting so many political subdivisions as it is, in my view the trade off is worth it.
It seems like this should be doable. Start with the geometric patterns and allow for variation for county lines.
I agree with Old Man that Congress will need to act. A global solution is the only one which can win wide acceptance. But it might be necessary to appoint a Presidential Commission, comprising equal representation from both major parties and a few smaller ones, to examine the gerrymander problem and propose a solution.
They can overlap on mylar sheets 😂
Ballots can reflect such as city, county etc. There can be more than one map. Isn’t this about federal maps? I’m failing to see the problem. Isn’t Georgia having a problem with that? Have your little city map and vote for school board on the ballot. People should know the difference.
So dumb… entire towns are foreign nationals. Such bs.
I’m curious, can the Federal government interfere with how states determine their districts?
Yes, Congress has the authority to dictate everything about federal elections, except the location of polling places for senate elections. So if a state wanted to make a point and defy Congress it could declare that some polling places will only hand out ballots for the House, and if you want to vote for the senate you need to go somewhere else. But that would be a d**k move and achieve nothing.
I said from the start the Democrat’s threat to redistrict was an an idle threat. If most blue states actually redistricted it would end up in more GOP seats they are so heavily gerrymandered.
Newsom is the biggest buffoon of the bunch of Democratic governor buffoons
“Newsom is the biggest buffoon of the bunch of Democratic governor buffoons”
That’s a tough call, only because on the left it’s a race to the bottom.
“Illinois is arguably the most gerrymandered state in the union, where Republicans were reduced to just three of the state’s 17 congressional seats, even though they won nearly half the votes in the last election.”
– Professor Turley
_____________________
Absolutely! And America is the most “gerrymandered,” or subjugated, nation in the ostensibly free world. Merriam-Webster states that gerrymandering is “to divide or arrange (a territorial unit) into election districts in a way that gives one political party an unfair advantage.” The communist (liberal, progressive, socialist, democrat, RINO, AINO) party has had an unfair advantage for eight score and five years. There is no passage in the constitution that allows communist Central Planning (i.e. the Fed), Control of the Means of Production (i.e. unconstitutional regulation), Redistribution of Wealth, and Social Engineering. There is no passage in the Constitution that allows, “From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.” And there is no passage in the Constitution that allows a “dictatorship of the proletariat.” But America is totally enslaved by those communist concepts and principles.
How did Americans develop a sense of freedom sufficient to conduct the American Revolution, but Americans can’t grasp that they have lost those very natural and God-given rights, freedoms, privileges, and immunities—that they have lost their Constitution?
$37 trillion in debt and $300 trillion in unfunded obligations, for what?
For irrefutably unconstitutional admissions affirmative action, grade-inflation affirmative action, employment affirmative action, quotas, welfare, food stamps, minimum wage, rent control, social services, forced busing, public housing, utility subsidies, CRT, DEI, WIC, SNAP, TANF, HAMP, HARP, TARP, PBS, NPR, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Environmental Protection Agency, Agriculture, Education, Labor, Energy, Obamacare, Social Security, Social Security Disability, Social Security Supplemental Income, Medicare, Medicaid, “Fair Housing” laws, “Non-Discrimination” laws, etc., and a simultaneous forfeiture of the absolute 5th Amendment right to private property.
Congress has no power to tax for, fund, or regulate the welfare state, BUT IT HAS.
The singular American failure is the judicial branch, with emphasis on the Supreme Court, which must have struck down the communist American welfare state at each step of its creation.
The singular American failure is the judicial branch, with emphasis on the Supreme Court, which must have struck down the communist American welfare state at each step of its creation.
George, the singular failure of the American Republic is it’s refusal to eradicate and exterminate your villainous (first Confederate and now Soviet) totalitarian central-planning Democratic Party – rather than accept your excuses that the judicial branch forced you vermin to do every evil thing that you have done up to current day.
$37 trillion in debt and $300 trillion in unfunded obligations are not a problem for you communist (liberal, progressive, socialist, democrat, RINO, AINO) parasites, right, comrade?
Uh, oh, it’s “Thee Incoherent Caterwauling Karen” again!
You go, girl!
Uh, oh, it’s “Thee Incoherent Caterwauling Karen” again!
Make Robert “Beto” O’Rourke eat 50 hard boiled eggs.
Djt to zelensky—> you don’t have the cards.
The hard way!
Good! That was dereliction of duty, a modern left, elitist, temper tantrum, and boo-hoo – they don’t get to turn Texas blue through their usual means. The theatrics coming from the left are getting very, very old; everyone can see that they are too infantile to govern. All I personally see anymore with them are a bunch of spoiled children that are losing their grip on the status quo they think they somehow ‘deserve’.
Sorry/not sorry that people are not nearly as stupid as they imagine us to be. No one thought this was an act of anything but cowardice and absurd entitlement on the part of these legislators, and in the end, it was their freaking pay checks that brought them back (but only after the likes of Beto were found to be involved – so much for ‘organic’, just like everything else invlving the modern left, it’s just moving wealth around amongst a bunch of very wealthy people). Yawn, and pathetic. Never voting dem again for anything whatsoever. Not even the PTA.
Dare I say the only thing turning blue in Tejas is Senor Betos huevos!
I couldn’t agree more with you! I said almost the same thing! They make me yawn too! Their boorish behavior is no different than a two year old’s tantrums–annoying everyone to no avail. They truly look silly now.
Rise up peoples, rise up in a popular grass roots demonstration of pro-crime, anti-Trump resistance to civility and express your freedom and liberty in this dictatorship land of fascist rule without rights.
What could be more Democratic?!? The people speak…
Alright! Everyone on set. Hold up your signs. Put on your hate Trump hats. And don’t burn the American flag until the cameras roll. Now – everyone quiet.
Take 2: The peoples speak.
Like most everything else the leftists do, it’s all paid for by someone else’s money.
“ASTROTURF: Company That Provides Paid Protesters Reports 400 Percent Increase as Trump Cracks Down on DC Crime”
by Mike LaChance Aug. 12, 2025 10:30 pm
“DC paid protester requests surge 400% amid Trump’s federal takeover of city police: crowd company”
Excerpts:
“A crowd rental company has seen a massive uptick in inquiries regarding its services in Washington, D.C., amid President Donald Trump’s move to federalize the police force in the nation’s capital. Right now, D.C. inquiries are up roughly 400% compared to the same period in 2024.
“Most people don’t know this, but many protesters are literally on the payroll – Capitol Hill staffers from both parties are often expected to show up at rallies and protests on their own time,” he said. “So yes, most attendees are being paid or are there because it’s part of their job. That doesn’t mean they don’t support the cause – but it does mean these crowds aren’t as ‘organic’ as they appear on TV.”
https://www.thegatewaypundit.com/2025/08/astroturf-company-that-provides-paid-protesters-reports-400/
—————————————————–
–Oddball
“Take it easy Big Joe, some of these people got sensitive feelings.”
Do it for Kevin Dubrow!
Not to get into the elements of law but to address respect of others who differ about how society and government are conducted. In the zeal to control the rudders of government Conceited Zealots draw boundaries in their favor as exampled in Massachusetts: having eleven congressional seats all held by one party out of a population of 7.1 million and receiving 3.5 million votes in 2024. Is this lopsided representation the fault of the minority parties’ unwillingness to confront the issue, or the majority party stacking the voting districts which include all levels of government with partisan loyalists? Or is the result the fault of the electorate and their disrespect of those disinclined to their views? America is becoming more and more balkanized, race-gender-eye color-politics and so much more including the basic understanding of our founding documents.
George W
Of course , GW, it makes it a big game. It’s football mentality. Luke wanted all the eggs and put on quite a show. Con artists one and all.
After I die I’m not coming back here. All the hand waving gives me a headache.
In defense of those who may not always follow the legal and political news and history and are therefore more susceptible to suggestions by various “Anonymous” posters on this site, May I respectfully submit a general comment:
(1) Please notice the historical reliance on “mid-decade” redistricting by Democrats:
“— In North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, and Pennsylvania, Republican-friendly maps were thrown out mid-decade in favor of plans that were more amenable to Democrats.”
excerpted from: “How Mid-Decade Redistricting Saved The Democratic House Majority,” https://democracychronicles.org/how-mid-decade-redistricting-saved-the-democratic-house-majority/
(2) Regarding Texas’ history, while we’re at it, you might want to take a look at this:
“The 1990 census resulted in a 3-seat increase over the 27 seats previously allotted the Texas congressional delegation. Although the Democratic Party then controlled 19 of those 27 seats, as well as both state legislative houses and the governorship, change was in the air: The Republican Party had received 47% of the 1990 statewide vote, while the Democrats
had received only 51%. Faced with a possible Republican ascent to majority status, the legislature drew a congressional redistricting plan that favored Democratic candidates. ”
LEAGUE OF UNITED LATIN AMERICAN CITIZENS
et al. v. PERRY, GOVERNOR OF TEXAS, et al. 548 U.S. 399 (2006)
Hope that might shed some light and balance in assessing this very complicated and convoluted issue.
thanks
yours truly, lin.
Lin,
Thank you for pointing out those historical facts.
@lin
appreciate it. I guarantee that is information that is absent for even dem representatives these days.
Very interesting! Did not know this recent history!
DEar Prof Turley,
‘I’m shaking the bush, boss’ ~ cool hand Luke
Texas will show these Illinois Yankee Democrats how to gerrymander proper. .. and the South will rise again,
*I’m all in.
I’m with you!
So you admit. You have kept that white sheet get up for years.
I didn’t want to waste it so I made a burqa out of it for my friend in Minnesota…
I’m shaking it boss!
What ARE you talking about?? Why do the Dems always cry racism?? Let it go, man!
Let me help you political geniuses understand why redistricting and gerrymandering is impossible in a democracy, and All democratic and republican forms of government!
A “Simple” republic is one single district assembled in a unicameral legislature, assembled as an exact representation of ALL THE PEOPLE that reside within that district. How many representatives does it take to form a representation? That number of Representatives to form a Representation is the “Representative Density” and it calculates the number of Representatives exactly, the fractional representative is truncated to determine the Whole Number of Representatives!
A “Compound” republic is a confederation of republics assembled in a bicameral legislature. Each republic is a district of the compound republic, which already has its own representative density for their district, however, a representative density for the resulting compound republic must be determined to form an exact representation of the ALL THE DISTRICTS which are “members” of the compound republic, which then is a “representation” of ALL THE PEOPLE of the compound republic. Each district is then apportioned representation in a proportional branch based upon their proportion of the aggregate population that resides within their district based upon an enumeration, a census, and each district is apportioned equal representation and suffrage in an equal branch, and the districts for both are the same districts that are joined to form the compound republic!
The simple republic cannot be divided into multiple districts, and the districts a compound republic cannot be assembled in a unicameral legislature. There cannot be any “redistricting”, there must be “reapportionment” to address population growth and migration between districts based upon a periodic enumeration, a census, but the districts themselves can never be redrawn! You can add districts to the compound republic, and reapportion based upon that district’s addition to the compound republic, but once determined, the districts are immutable!
The reason for this is that the legislative process is different for a simple republic assembled in a unicameral legislature than it is for a compound republic assembled in a bicameral legislature, and they are not interchangeable and they cannot be blended to form a hybrid legislative process!
Now you have enough information to understand the fallacy of this totally inappropriate fight for Power and Control between our political factions which have no authority to assemble or participate in our legislative assemblies, State or Federal!
I’ve already explained that here. .. without much success.
These private, proprietary, for-profit ‘political factions’, as you put it, have no constitutional or legal authority to control U.S. elections or the levers of power . .. and to the extent that they do constitutes a [RICO] crime imo.
*remember the Alamo
I was hoping for less spastic and retarded left-wing crap here today, but it looks like the insane asylum is still letting the inmates have computer access.
look forward to the White House’s review of Smithsonian exhibits. For too long, we have ignored American exceptionalism through our great history.
https://x.com/RepJackKimble/status/1955639527067816346/photo/1
Oh look, spaz is back with the same rant as yesterday. Are you going to give us links to left-swing safe space Blue Sky this time too?
Truly, a special time in our history.
https://x.com/Mesnia1016/status/1955646300139167999/photo/1
I love the image of George Washington crossing the Delaware by airplane.
Not many people know that George Washington was an accomplished fighter pilot.
If you want to sound funny, you should try comedy.
https://x.com/Monte_Alto/status/1955647463337111657/photo/1
Spaz going to spaz. News at 11.
Why do you bother with the same copy and paste job that you did yesterday, when literally nobody gave a damn?
Uh huh. You posted this yesterday. Nobody cared then.
Enjoy your ramen!!
@Anonymous
Really: how desperate are you people? And how deep are the coffers that this can continue every day?
James
I presume you are referring to the MAGA slop that continues endlessly here every day ??
Why don’t you call up President Harris and ask her how many votes the MAGA MAGA MAGA rhetoric earned her. The number is 202-456-1414. Tell us how it goes please.
“I presume you are referring to the MAGA slop that continues endlessly here every day ??”
HI GIGI!!!! You still turning tricks for ramen under the highway overpass?
“James
I presume you are referring to the MAGA slop that continues endlessly here every day ??”
@James
This level of desperate 🤣
We could cut down on gerrymandering if the courts would implement the mathematical definition of compact for congressional district boundaries. In mathematical set theory, a set is compact if a line drawn between any two points in the set doesn’t leave the set. So this would mean that a line drawn between any 2 points in a congressional district wouldn’t leave the district.
Exceptions would be made for geographical blocks to roads. For example, if pieces of a congressional district were connected only by a road that leaves the district, the district wouldn’t be compact. For example, a congressional district including both the North and South Rims of the Grand Canyon would fail unless it included a road that connected them.
State borders would be exempt. Also remote areas reached only by airplanes would be exempt from the road requirement.
Ok, b52.
Frankly, despite my having Black friends (two of whom I am very close to) and being quite color-blind in my own beliefs, I must admit that I’m getting a little tired of “oppression” and “slavery” working its way into every pot. One of the Texas House Democrats (Jolanda Jones) who left the state to avoid quorum voting had this to say:
“We are resolute. We’re not going anywhere. Why would I come back there? You think I’m gonna be complicit in my own oppression? Not happening. Do you think I’m going to be complicit in the oppression of my granddaughter? Not happening,” she said. “I’m sitting here. You’re playing checkers. We’re playing chess.”
https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/jolanda-jones-sylvester-turner-congress-texas-legislature/
https://www.allsides.com/news-source/texas-tribune-media-bias
lin
Anyone who feels the need to say, “some of my best friends are black”, is by definition a racist.
You have no credibility.
Go away.
You sound triggered. Maybe you should take a stress pill and calm down.
Don’t care what you think, really. Get a life and stop attacking everyone else.
Perhaps anonymous @11:42 needs to look up the definition of “racist.”
I challenge him or her to do so, then retract or reword his/her comment.
(It’s not a very strong sign of mental strength/skill to use one’s own personal perceptions as literal definitions.)
thanks anyway.
I truly wish YOU would go away–or say SOMETHING intelligent for once. I scroll through your rancor every day when I seek some intelligent comments. Very few people would miss you. Honestly.
Anyone who feels the need to say, “some of my best friends are black”, is by definition a racist.
That is often asserted, but is just not true, and it doesn’t become any truer by asserting it more often.
(I was referring to the invoking and use of “oppression” (like slavery) as a coded trigger word.
That should have been an easy inference to draw.)
The more you try to rationalize your comments, the more you reveal yourself as a racist.
Only racists feel the need to say “some of my best friends are black”.
When challenged, only racists then feel the need to rationalize that statement with convoluted reasoning.
It’s like saying I can’t be a misogynist because some of my best friends are women.
Your comments are a defense mechanism to attempt to conceal your racist attitudes.
“Your comments are a defense mechanism to attempt to conceal your racist attitudes.”
Take your “unconscious racism” trash and shove it. Nobody cares anymore.
It’s not “unconscious racism”.
It is overtly conscious racism on the part of lin.
Only racists say “some of my best friends are black, but ……” and then go on to make racist comments.
And only racists feel the need to come to the defense of their fellow racists.
“And only racists feel the need to come to the defense of their fellow racists.”
You’re quite the expert in logic, aren’t you.
The charge of racism has basically zero currency anymore, primarily thanks to losers like you who toss it around excessively.
WHO the hell are you to judge someone else?? GO AWAY.
“It is overtly conscious racism on the part of lin.”
You’re giving projection a bad name.
Please. Just GO AWAY. You’re opinions are appreciated by NO ONE.
“Your comments are a defense mechanism . . .”
Notice the sophistical trap — used by intellectual bullies and manipulators, first set by Freud:
Silence means you’re guilty.
Speaking means you’re repressing your guilty.
In other words: Heads, you’re a racist. Tails, you’re a racist.
No worries Lin, you just have gimmedatfatigue, even prevalent in the aspiring black communities. They just be different than white folk, can’t be helped. That doesn’t make you a racist, it makes you human. It’s all up to them now.
Oppression, slavery is called up because it’s a crime and the US doesn’t deserve to exist because of it. That’s my take on Jolanda Jones and she intends to punish and destroy.
Glad you have friends, Lin. People assemble with their friends everyday and it’s not my business. Racists exist. They simply can’t act on it as jolanda does.
alling everything “oppression” and “slavery” is what has made you and YOUR friends come across as pure undereducated clowns. Instead of good argument, it is YOU who comes off as dense. BTW,
“Rep. Jolanda Jones shares journey as lesbian in politics”
https://defendernetwork.com › people › dn-news-profiles › lessspan-stylecolorrgb255-0-0greaterrep-jolanda-jones-shares-journey-as-lesbian-in-politicsless-spangreater
“Texas State Representative Jolanda Jones is making waves in the political landscape as a trailblazer breaking barriers. As the first openly LGBTQ Black representative in the Texas Legislature, she is reshaping the narrative and advocating for marginalized communities, especially the LGBTQ+ community. ”
Glad she has her friends, clown anonymous.
* I read the article. Jolanda Jones platform is more subsidies for the poor. A counter argument is more well paying jobs for the poor in Texas. Texas needs a job magnet pull.
Rinse repeat
Nice try, but here’s the reality.
“On Tuesday’s episode of ‘The Don Lemon Show,’ after Rep. Jones called the proposed redistricting map racist because it targets districts with majority minority voters, she compared it to the Holocaust. ‘They don’t accept us. They are showing us who they are, and we should believe them. And we better have the courage to stand up, otherwise we will fall for anything,’ she said. ‘And in this country, we will be defeated, deported. I mean, we will lose all of our rights. And if you think it can’t happen, it can.'”
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/this-black-texas-democrat-fled-her-own-state-and-you-won-t-believe-why/ar-AA1KbpFd
“Texas Democrats Fight Racial GerrymanderingAugust 6, 2025–Texas State Rep. Jolanda Jones said she isn’t budging—not until Republican lawmakers end what she calls a blatant effort to strip voting power from Black and Brown communities. ‘We’re all safe and we ain’t going nowhere,’ Jones declared during an interview on the Let It Be Known news show”
https://www.thekansascityglobe.com/news/rep-jolanda-jones-were-not-going-anywhere
I agree. It is soooo tiresome. While no one denies there are still some pockets of racism–these racist zealots act like this country is a majority of racists. So sick of this stupid card.
Residents of the District of Columbia are demanding that Republicans vacate the city “immediately,” according to a petition released on Tuesday.
The petition, signed by hundreds of thousands of DC citizens, accuses the Republicans of participating in an “unprecedented crime wave”.
Though crime in DC overall is at a 30-year low, the petition says, an organized criminal gang invaded the city on January 20 of this year.
That gang, consisting of known Republicans, has engaged in shakedowns, sold worthless crypto, and desecrated public buildings with decor worthy of mafiosi, the petition says.
Additionally, the petition indicates that a “mentally unwell” Republican menaced the city last week by skulking about on the roof of the White House.
This passes for comedy somewhere. Maybe an alternate universe, who knows.
Hey, how’s Mumbles Biden doing this days? Is he still celebrating his victory over Medicare? Has anyone done a wellness check lately?
HAHAHAHA, try harder. Videos show a different story
Left-wing dark-money megadonors, including George Soros, contribute $20M to groups funding protests against Trump’s DC crime crackdown
https://nypost.com/2025/08/12/us-news/dark-money-megadonors-including-george-soros-fund-group-organizing-protests-against-trumps-dc-crime-crackdown/
I’ll see if there are grants available.
^^^ oh, I just want the money.
Still trying the trolling thing? Ain’t going too well it seems.
NotReallyaFarmer
As the official George Soros paid troll assigned to this blog, I can confirm this story.
More thunderstorms keeping you indoors today ???
“NotReallyaFarmer
As the official George Soros paid troll assigned to this blog, I can confirm this story.
More thunderstorms keeping you indoors today ???”
Troll harder loser. Nobody cares.