Suzanne, I write to note, according to former Senator Claire McCaskill, that McConnell and fellow Senate Republicans, largely, have written off the 2024 presidential election and, instead, are principally focused on re-taking the Senate in 2024 with the intent of causing irreparable damage to Joe Biden. In turn, McConnell is focused on R…
Suzanne, I write to note, according to former Senator Claire McCaskill, that McConnell and fellow Senate Republicans, largely, have written off the 2024 presidential election and, instead, are principally focused on re-taking the Senate in 2024 with the intent of causing irreparable damage to Joe Biden. In turn, McConnell is focused on Republicans, in 2028, retaking the White House and controlling both federal chambers. Because the 2024 U.S. Senate map is daunting for Democrats, I would suggest, among the various 2024 priorities in which we are all engaged, that both retaining and expanding Democratic seats in the Senate be a top priority.
Let's not overlook the importance of getting out the vote when Republicans are trying to limit it. State by state, we need to end gerrymandering. Michigan and 20 other states have it. It works to make legislators work for voters instead of their party.
In addition to that, the importance of not letting politicians and political party officials serve on the Commission. I would note that about the difference between the results in Michigan vs Ohio where in Ohio the drafters of their constitutional amendment didn't include that provision, and the Republican Ohio Governor sat on their Redistricting Commission and of course, Ohio remains gerrymandered!
Yes! It was interesting here in Michigan. It was the Republican Party that sued to try to overturn that provision., first in State Court and then in federal court! Obviously they lost, but the NAACP has also filed suit claiming the commission lines eliminated solidly Black Districts. We are waiting to see if the latest Supreme Court ruling on the Alabama gerrymandering case where the lines were drawn to pack Black voters into less districts will be applied to Michigan, where that was never the intention, but making as many districts as closely competitive was the intended result of the redistricting as laid out in the language of the Constitutional Amendment. In doing so it broke up predominantly Black Districts inside the City of Detroit, and moved the district lines to include suburban areas that brought the new districts to half and half. I would argue with the NAACP that Blacks in Detroit are now better served by the new system, because nothing on the Black Agenda was ever accomplished Statewide until the new system has been put in place here. The new Michigan Budget skews funding back into Detroit, which has never happened under Republican Control! We are now awaiting the Court discisions. Ironic that because of discrimination and packing Blacks into smaller numbers of districts in Alabama, that the same case is being used to overturn Michigan District Lines that achieved the exact opposite!!!
Patricia, In the absence of federal voter protection safeguards, I am every bit as committed as you to instating protections at the state level. Accordingly, I would note I presented an argument for retaining and expanding Democratic Senate seats as a top priority, not the top priority.
Yup. Could see that coming all the way up north. Called strategic thinking. Only wish progressives were working toward the same goal for 2028, especially if the Democratic agenda faces the headwinds of Mr Biden's first term.
Suzanne, I write to note, according to former Senator Claire McCaskill, that McConnell and fellow Senate Republicans, largely, have written off the 2024 presidential election and, instead, are principally focused on re-taking the Senate in 2024 with the intent of causing irreparable damage to Joe Biden. In turn, McConnell is focused on Republicans, in 2028, retaking the White House and controlling both federal chambers. Because the 2024 U.S. Senate map is daunting for Democrats, I would suggest, among the various 2024 priorities in which we are all engaged, that both retaining and expanding Democratic seats in the Senate be a top priority.
Let's not overlook the importance of getting out the vote when Republicans are trying to limit it. State by state, we need to end gerrymandering. Michigan and 20 other states have it. It works to make legislators work for voters instead of their party.
In addition to that, the importance of not letting politicians and political party officials serve on the Commission. I would note that about the difference between the results in Michigan vs Ohio where in Ohio the drafters of their constitutional amendment didn't include that provision, and the Republican Ohio Governor sat on their Redistricting Commission and of course, Ohio remains gerrymandered!
Wow...what a difference. Isn't it curious how Republicans are the ones who cry every decision not in their favor is politically motivated!
Yes! It was interesting here in Michigan. It was the Republican Party that sued to try to overturn that provision., first in State Court and then in federal court! Obviously they lost, but the NAACP has also filed suit claiming the commission lines eliminated solidly Black Districts. We are waiting to see if the latest Supreme Court ruling on the Alabama gerrymandering case where the lines were drawn to pack Black voters into less districts will be applied to Michigan, where that was never the intention, but making as many districts as closely competitive was the intended result of the redistricting as laid out in the language of the Constitutional Amendment. In doing so it broke up predominantly Black Districts inside the City of Detroit, and moved the district lines to include suburban areas that brought the new districts to half and half. I would argue with the NAACP that Blacks in Detroit are now better served by the new system, because nothing on the Black Agenda was ever accomplished Statewide until the new system has been put in place here. The new Michigan Budget skews funding back into Detroit, which has never happened under Republican Control! We are now awaiting the Court discisions. Ironic that because of discrimination and packing Blacks into smaller numbers of districts in Alabama, that the same case is being used to overturn Michigan District Lines that achieved the exact opposite!!!
Patricia, In the absence of federal voter protection safeguards, I am every bit as committed as you to instating protections at the state level. Accordingly, I would note I presented an argument for retaining and expanding Democratic Senate seats as a top priority, not the top priority.
Yup. Could see that coming all the way up north. Called strategic thinking. Only wish progressives were working toward the same goal for 2028, especially if the Democratic agenda faces the headwinds of Mr Biden's first term.