"Elaborate Dirty Trick" to Steal White House

[unhappycamper]

"Elaborate Dirty Trick" to Steal White House
Posted August 23, 2007 | 03:47 PM (EST)


Every so often, political hacks join high-minded commissions and say things that sound downright statesman-like. But then, with the passage of time, when dollar signs dance in their heads, they forget that they have a conscience and go back to prostitution. That appears to be the case here in California, where lawyers for the Republican Party have put forward an initiative so cynical and embarrassingly partisan, that Fidel Castro would blush. The New York Times put it succinctly in a scathingly powerful editorial yesterday: this initiative is an "elaborate dirty trick" by a "shadowy group" of California Republicans will "do serious damage to our democracy."

The story is really quite simple: President Bush is fast outpacing Richard Nixon as the modern president who can most effectively shred the constitution. Mr. Nixon avoided impeachment, conviction and a probable prison sentence for disgusting dirty tricks by resigning from office and receiving a subsequent pardon from his successor, Gerald Ford. At the time, Mr. Nixon suffered from a chronic inability to tell the truth about a "third rate burglary" in the Watergate building in Washington. A free press and a truly bi-partisan Congress ended the national misery of this threat to constitutional democracy by demanding the truth and then forcing Mr. Nixon to leave office.

Dirty tricks brought down Richard Nixon two years after he had reelection in 1972 by a near record landslide.

These days, the Bush White House and minions see the writing on the poll. Mr. Bush's affirmative ratings rival those of Mr. Nixon in his last days in office. Over the years, the Republicans have learned their lessons at the hand of Professor Rove. The teachable moment began in December, 2000, when the Republicans stole votes in Florida, used lawyers and liars to avoid a recount and then in a precedent-setting vote, had one member of the Supreme Court declare Mr. Bush as president.

Dirty tricks stole the 2000 election. Mr. Nixon would have been embarrassed by his lack of creativity.

Tom DeLay, who as the House majority leader put up with the inconvenience of having to achieve Congressional majorities to pass legislation, simply stole five new congressional seats in 2003 by using corporate money to bribe members of the Texas legislature to invent new Republican seats where formerly Democrats had been electable. Remember when the minority Democratic members of the Texas legislature fled the state so that there could be no vote on this literally corrupt power grab? Eventually, DeLay won and Democrats did not win back the House, by about five seats. DeLay's gone, but at what price?


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[Flatulo]

1. A few points for those who still care about the truth.

1. Gerrymandering was invented by Dems. My congressional district in Massachusetts extends from Worcester down to Fall River and squiggles around up to the tip of Provincetown. Look on a map. The district looks like a snake wriggling from the center of the state to the coast, and embraces geographically disparate but politically similar blocs. This redistricting was done in 2001 by an overwhelmingly Democratic legislature to lock up power.

Does it bother you when Dems do it?

2. Al Gore accepted the outcome of the Supreme Court decision. They are, after all, the highest court in the land and all that silly constitutional stuff that the article vigorously defends.

If anyone gives a rat's ass about the truth, please consider these points.

[Fla_Democrat]

2. reported.

JK. :evilgrin:

[Flatulo]

7. I'm reporting your report, plus putting you on double-secret probation.

:)

Edited to add smiley.

[Richard Steele]

3. Thank you for your concern.

[Flatulo]

8. Truth = goodness, m'kay?

[bryant69]

4. A counter point

I don't favor gerrymandering but it was also done to give power to racial minorities who under a flat system would not have enough voters to affect their representation.

That said, I favor big square redistricting - make the districts contestable whether that favors us or favors them.

Bryant
Check it out --> http://politicalcomment.blogspot.com

[NYVet]

5. Here here

I live in NY and the shape of some of the districts have me sitting there asking myself how much the map maker had to drink before sitting down at the drafting board.

I would rather that an official actually be accountable as opposed to the current system where, once they are in, they really don't respond to our concerns.

[Flatulo]

9. Thanks Bryant.

Everyone does it. The article is quite disingenous to only talk about Repug redistricting.

[Eurobabe]

6. Anyone wonder where KKKarl went?

To California.