Bad For Democracy, But Maybe Good For Democrats

The decision that states can redraw congressional districts whenever they wish (not just every ten years) may prove to be the single worst thing to happen to this country during the Bush years. It will not matter who we vote for, because we will, none or us, never see an congressional election where the party out of power in the state has any chance...

Texas gained 6 Republican seats in the last election by simply gerrymandering the districts just two years after they were last drawn. This can now happen in each state of the union, whenever a new majority shows up in the state assemblies. Our government will make Italy's look stable and predictable.

A dim sliver lining? Democrats control the big states now and look for them (NY, IL and NJ early on) to follow Tom Delay's lead. From Political Wire:

"New maps may well put more Democrats in the House of Representatives, possibly enough to tip the balance of power from Republicans to Democrats. We expect Illinois, New Mexico, New Jersey and New York to wind up with Democrats in control of both the governor's mansion and the state legislature after the November elections. So redistricting in those states might shift enough seats to the Democratic column to give that party a majority."

Washington Wire: "The Supreme Court’s decision is the culmination of one of the hardest fought redistricting battles in history."

The best analysis of the court decision comes from Rick Hasen and Nathaniel Persily.

Meanwhile, a Houston Chronicle editorial calls it a "pyrrhic victory" for Texas. "If Wednesday's court decision was a victory for Texas, another such victory, and we are undone."

Read the rest now.