This one comes in under "if it's not against the law then use it" as a means to an end, and that's exactly the rules by which Republicans are playing. That's what DeLay figured out and has practiced, while Democrats in the House have seemingly wished it would go away.
If the system is broken, then fine, overhaul it with a national plan. Otherwise, play by the rules and go for the win.
How many seats could the Democrats gain in Illinois with a mid-decade gerrymander? Personally, I like the idea of pushing Henry Hyde(6th) and Dennis Hastert(14th) into the same district.
Democratic Govs. Rod Blagojevich (Ill.) and Bill Richardson (N.M.) as well as high-ranking Louisiana elected officials have been contacted by members of House leadership led by Hoyer since the Georgia legislature began their re-redistricting.
...With its 19 House seats, Illinois appears to be the state with the biggest potential for re-redistricting gains by Democrats.
When the lines were initially drawn in 2001, it was the result of a bipartisan compromise in the state Legislature, which at the time had split control; Republicans had a majority in the state Senate and Democrats had a majority in the state House. The governor was a Republican.
The plan, which had to account for the state's loss of a seat in reapportionment, aimed to protect incumbents of both parties; the casualty was Democratic Rep. David Phelps who was forced into a Member versus Member race against Rep. John Shimkus (R) in a southern Illinois district that favored the GOP.
In the 2002 election, Blagojevich won the governor's race and Democrats reclaimed the state Senate, giving them full control for the first time since 1977.
Many party strategists believe that given the state's growing Democratic dominance -- Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry carried Illinois by 10 points in the 2004 presidential election -- the fact that Republicans hold nine of the 19 seats is a correctable anomaly.
Democrats believe that a re-opening of the Illinois lines could yield at least two seats; one could be carved out of the suburbs surrounding Chicago, which are currently represented entirely by Republicans including House Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.).
Another gain could come in southern Illinois in areas Phelps represented prior to the redistricting of 2001. Much of the territory Shimkus now represents was held by Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin during his fourteen years in the House.
When asked whether Illinois Democrats should entertain the possibility of redrawing the state's districts, Durbin said: "Talk to [DCCC Chairman] Rahm Emanuel [D-Ill.]."
Also, Common Cause and the League of Women Voters are getting behind the redistricting effort in Florida: Similar overhauls are being considered this year in at least seven other states.
Democrats can't hold back and watch Republicans go after mid-decade gerrymanders in Texas, Colorado, and now Georgia, and soon California, and ever expect to win back the House majority if they are sitting on their hands.
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