Comments on: Minnesotans: Do Your Duty http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/ Tracking Minnesota Politics Since 2005 Fri, 19 Mar 2010 04:01:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: wojo47a http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29666 wojo47a Thu, 04 Dec 2008 06:18:28 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29666 MY wife and our 6 children are doing our best. If anyone wants swap a 7 bedroom 3 bath house for a 5 bedroom 2 bath house let me know, Insulating the treehouse is out of the question, MY wife and our 6 children are doing our best. If anyone wants swap a 7 bedroom 3 bath house for a 5 bedroom 2 bath house let me know, Insulating the treehouse is out of the question,

]]> By: Nick http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29623 Nick Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:44:58 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29623 #18 has a nice idea, but I doubt it will happen. Redistricting is a heck of a lot harder than most people think. Check out this game to get a better sense of how it works...It's addicting. http://www.redistrictinggame.com/ #18 has a nice idea, but I doubt it will happen. Redistricting is a heck of a lot harder than most people think. Check out this game to get a better sense of how it works…It’s addicting.
 http://www.redistrictinggame.com/

]]> By: Kathy http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29621 Kathy Tue, 02 Dec 2008 17:24:08 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29621 leave the 1st CD alone!!! We finally have as great Rep. in Tim Walz who works for the people! Get rid of the 6th!! Bachmann is useless anyway!! leave the 1st CD alone!!! We finally have as great Rep. in Tim Walz who works for the people!

Get rid of the 6th!! Bachmann is useless anyway!!

]]> By: DFLer http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29620 DFLer Tue, 02 Dec 2008 16:39:00 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29620 If we lose a seat, it won't result in two current districts being combined - that would result in one very large district and 6 small ones. The likely effect is that most district lines would be redrawn resulting in 7 districts all growing and one district would be absorbed. I would much rather have this happen when Democrats are in control of the line drawing. The fun way to Gerrymander this would be to run a little line from downtown Minneapolis out to Michele Bachmann's house - let's see how long she can keep her seat in the 5th District! If we lose a seat, it won’t result in two current districts being combined - that would result in one very large district and 6 small ones. The likely effect is that most district lines would be redrawn resulting in 7 districts all growing and one district would be absorbed. I would much rather have this happen when Democrats are in control of the line drawing.

The fun way to Gerrymander this would be to run a little line from downtown Minneapolis out to Michele Bachmann’s house - let’s see how long she can keep her seat in the 5th District!

]]> By: Alec http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29619 Alec Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:13:47 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29619 If you combine Minneapolis/St. Paul then you completely marginalize the minority voice. Right now, in general, white Minnesota has 6 people representing their interests, and people of color have two. Proportionally that may be about right. Cutting that down to one representative for minorities seems pretty wrong. Someone really has to think of those who have no political voice or privilege. Thanks, Alec If you combine Minneapolis/St. Paul then you completely marginalize the minority voice. Right now, in general, white Minnesota has 6 people representing their interests, and people of color have two. Proportionally that may be about right. Cutting that down to one representative for minorities seems pretty wrong. Someone really has to think of those who have no political voice or privilege.
Thanks,
 Alec

]]> By: IoannesMagnumus http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29615 IoannesMagnumus Tue, 02 Dec 2008 05:29:18 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29615 Here's a thought. Carve new districts like you would a pie. The narrow part of the slice would be the inner cities, moving out to the burbs and rural MN as it gets wider. Then our congressional delegates can truly represent a cross section of the state. Betty McCollum would be forced to travel outside of St. Paul, Keith Ellison would have to campaign in areas that don't look like North Minneapolis, Kline would have to talk to the poor, Peterson would have to talk to someone other than the Cargill Governmental Relations staff, Bachmann would have to talk to the mother of an incarcerated man, Paulson would have to ask people with only one Mercedes to vote for him, and Oberstar would have to put up a campaign sign. Everyone's a winner because everyone would have to represent the state, not their district. However, I am under the influence of cold medicine, so take this suggestion with a grain of salt. Here’s a thought. Carve new districts like you would a pie. The narrow part of the slice would be the inner cities, moving out to the burbs and rural MN as it gets wider. Then our congressional delegates can truly represent a cross section of the state. Betty McCollum would be forced to travel outside of St. Paul, Keith Ellison would have to campaign in areas that don’t look like North Minneapolis, Kline would have to talk to the poor, Peterson would have to talk to someone other than the Cargill Governmental Relations staff, Bachmann would have to talk to the mother of an incarcerated man, Paulson would have to ask people with only one Mercedes to vote for him, and Oberstar would have to put up a campaign sign. Everyone’s a winner because everyone would have to represent the state, not their district. However, I am under the influence of cold medicine, so take this suggestion with a grain of salt.

]]> By: DantheMan http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29614 DantheMan Tue, 02 Dec 2008 04:23:37 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29614 I agree that the 6th needs to be carved up. Of the ideas here, I like MinnesotaMike's 1st option in post #8 the best. I agree that the 6th needs to be carved up. Of the ideas here, I like MinnesotaMike’s 1st option in post #8 the best.

]]> By: Alec http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29611 Alec Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:07:15 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29611 Regardless, my understanding is that redistricting has to be passed by both state houses and then T-Paw has to sign it. All of these pipe dreams are crazy if you think T-Paw will sign them. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the majority party is going to have to create something fair and palatable to both parties, otherwise it will be decided by the courts. Minnpost.com has a good article on this. The most interesting, reasonable, and seemingly palatable to all would be the idea that the 6th touches every single district except the 1st. How stupid is that. So, the 1st could get the southern sliver of the 2nd, and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th 7th and 8th could all absorb an equal share of the 6th. Seems fair enough. Both parties say incumbent address should have no bearing on redistricting. We'll see. Regardless, my understanding is that redistricting has to be passed by both state houses and then T-Paw has to sign it. All of these pipe dreams are crazy if you think T-Paw will sign them. Unfortunately, or maybe fortunately, the majority party is going to have to create something fair and palatable to both parties, otherwise it will be decided by the courts. Minnpost.com has a good article on this.

The most interesting, reasonable, and seemingly palatable to all would be the idea that the 6th touches every single district except the 1st. How stupid is that. So, the 1st could get the southern sliver of the 2nd, and the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th 7th and 8th could all absorb an equal share of the 6th. Seems fair enough. Both parties say incumbent address should have no bearing on redistricting. We’ll see.

]]> By: Aaron E http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29610 Aaron E Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:56:16 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29610 Agreed. Sean, why do you want us to lose a congressional seat? Why do you hate Minnesota? Agreed. Sean, why do you want us to lose a congressional seat? Why do you hate Minnesota?

]]> By: MRW http://mnpublius.com/2008/12/minnesotans-do-your-duty/#comment-29608 MRW Tue, 02 Dec 2008 00:52:43 +0000 http://mnpublius.com/?p=4218#comment-29608 Perhaps this discussion would also be well served by all of working to see that we get good census return numbers. In other words, get the people counted who are traditionally under-counted: immigrant populations, lower income folks, mobile home park denizens, and yes, rural residents. If we think the congressional district seats could get bigger, don't forget the state legislative districts. There are already two state house seats that are bigger than other states (20A & 6A in case you were wondering). Perhaps this discussion would also be well served by all of working to see that we get good census return numbers. In other words, get the people counted who are traditionally under-counted: immigrant populations, lower income folks, mobile home park denizens, and yes, rural residents.

If we think the congressional district seats could get bigger, don’t forget the state legislative districts. There are already two state house seats that are bigger than other states (20A & 6A in case you were wondering).

]]>