Text 27417, 85 rader
Skriven 2007-02-22 10:13:00 av VERN HUMPHREY
     Kommentar till en text av ED HULETT
Ärende: Presidential race
=========================
EH> VH> What point was "clarified" by asking if an amendment could violate
EH> VH> itself?

EH>I was expecting an answer, but as you pointed out here, none was forthcoming

The answer was, an amendment cannot violate itself.

EH> VH> How is it not an obstacle?  On the face of it, it says "You can't get o
EH> VH> the ballot . . . "

EH>It stops professional politicians from running just to stay in Congress.

No it doesn't!  It is used by the majority party in the state to
"district out" sitting congressmen from the opposite party.

EH> EH>> That must be one of those east coast things.

EH> VH> Dead wrong -- get maps of your Congressional district in 1979, '89,
EH> VH> and '99 and see the differences.

EH>The 6th District is a large district encompassing Klallum, Jefferson, Grays
EH>Harbor, Mason and parts of Kitsap and Pierce counties. The 7th district is
EH>Seattle.

EH>There has been little change in the 6th district.

What do you mean "little change?"  It has been redistricted every ten
years -- if it were not so, Washington State Congressmen would not be
allowed to take their seats.

EH> VH> Some districts have linked two widely separated areas together by
EH> VH> running the boundaries up one shoulder of the interstate and down the
EH> VH> other.

EH>That's nice. Not so with any of Washington's congressional districts.

Which is neither here nor there.  States MUST redistrict every ten
years.  And the state legislatures have virtually unlimited power as to
how they draw district lines.

EH> VH> Bingo!  And districts are often drawn to blatantly favor one side or th
EH> VH> other -- going right back to Edbridge Gerry and the Gerrymander.

EH>There has only been one Republican representing the 6th district since it wa
EH>originally drawn.

So?  I can show you districts that have never had a Republican.  But
that doesn't change the fact that districts have been drawn to
deliberately exclude a member of the other party.

EH> VH> And how do you propose to do that?  No law to date, in over 200 years
EH> VH> has prevented it.

EH>We need honest politicians. I know, I know that's an oxymoron.

Start by enforcing the Constitution.
EH> EH>> Minor changes.

EH> VH> But changes,  nevertheless.  And the degree of change is in the hands o
EH> VH> the State Legislature.

EH>Right. The changes reflect population movement. Not some desire to favor one
EH>party over another.

No.  In some cases you may be right, but there have been many egregious
redistricting acts -- Elbridge Gerry's Gerrymander being a classic
example.

EH> VH> You'd think that -- if you didn't understand the power the crooked
EH> VH> politicians have to thwart the people.

EH>Oh yeah, it's a conspiracy...

Do you think it's not?  You've seen things like Campaign Finance Reform
and you believe that INCREASES the power of the people?

EH> VH> Then why support states putting obstacles to getting on the federal
EH> VH> ballot that are NOT in the Constitution?

EH>I oppose professional politicians who are just interested in power.

And yet you favor a tactic much used by those very politicians.  and one
which violates the Constitution.
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