I see holy hell has broken out in NC

[HelenWheels]

I live in Wisconsin and we have felt the full wrath of Republicanism. Our state has been gerrymandered so few Democrats can be elected. There are more votes for Democrats in every election but because of gerrymandering few Dems are elected.

We now have a Repub Senate, Assembly, Governor and State Supreme Court and we are screwed. It will happen to you, too I am sad to say. Good luck and I hope you can fight this.

[still_one]

1. Not to be critical but the elections for Governor and Senate are not affected by gerrymandering,

unless there is something I don't understand.

What is really disappointing in Wisconsin is Scott Walker overcame a recall, and was re-elected.

If those who voted for Jill Stein in Wisconsin had instead voted for Hillary, she would have won the state.

If those who had voted third party, had also voted for Russ for Senator, Russ would be in the Senate

I think a very similar situation also applies in North Carolina.

One interesting similarity between the two states s they both incorporated restrictive voting requirements before the 2016 election that were aimed at suppressing the African American vote. A lot of people were removed from the voter lists in North Carolina because of that. The NAACP was able to get a court ruling to reinstate those voters, but it was late in the game, and a lot of the folks didn't get the word in time.

What happened in North Carolina though with their legislature stripping the Democratic Governor of his legal authority, was definitely a result of gerrymandering.

The country is in serious trouble

[dragonlady]

2. Statewide races are indirectly affected by gerrymandering

As you point out, the gerrymandered legislature can pass laws that interfere with voting rights and change the picture for candidates at all levels.

[FBaggins]

6. An additional point of correction

There haven't been more Democrats in recent elections. This too can be impacted by gerrymandering (because more races and up without an opponent because they aren't competitive)... but this year there were 28 Democrats without Republican opponents and only 21 Republican without opposing Democrats... and they still outvoted us 1,337,291 - 1,175,779 in the House according to Ballotpedia

[still_one]

10. Good points

[pbmus]

3. California is still in great shape and will continue to be, the rest of the country

Is in serious trouble...

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[still_one]

5. I am thankful to be in California, but no one should kid themselves, we are

all going to be affected by what happened. No doubt some states far worse than others.

For instance we have been trying to fight offshore fracking for some time, but I don't think we are going to be able to stop it now

http://mynewsla.com/government/2016/12/19/state-challenges-feds-on-fracking-off-california-coast/

[HelenWheels]

9. You are correct

Last edited Thu Dec 22, 2016, 10:25 AM - Edit history (1)

about the Gov and Senate races. However, another factor is money. The Koch brothers have made Wisconsin their trial state. They poured so much money into Repub races the air lines were flooded with anti Feingold and anti Hillary ads especially close to election time. Same for the Governor race.

You are also correct about the Jill Stein and third party voters and this makes me see red.

The recall election was very close. The voters that killed it were those who did not believe in recalls..

And yes, the country is in serious trouble--bigly.

[TreasonousBastard]

4. The nation seems to be going through a phase...

if we survive it, as we have survived similar ones in the past, we might end up being the better for it.

Note that in NC the cooler heads seem to have prevailed, to the extent that they can, over the restroom idiocy.

[littlemissmartypants]

7. We definitely feel your pain, HelenWheels, but we're about to turn the ghost ship around.

I can see the lighthouse from here,
Stay encouraged.

[HelenWheels]

8. Thanks for the kind words nt

[zippythepinhead]

11. I remember the court ruling that NC was gerrymandering with with "surgical precision"l

against black voters or words to that effect.