Illinois Democrats won't scrap for remap

[Judi Lynn]

Illinois Democrats won't scrap for remap

March 10, 2005

BY LYNN SWEET WASHINGTON BUREAU CHIEF

After the last votes in the House, nine of the 10 Illinois Democrats in the House met in colleague Rep. Jerry Costello's Rayburn Building office late Tuesday evening. The topic: whether it is worthwhile to launch an off-year offensive in Springfield to redraw congressional districts to retaliate against GOP moves in other states.

Turns out, it is not.

"We were taking a look to see what opportunities existed,'' said Rep. Danny K. Davis (D-Ill.) when we talked Wednesday. "We pretty much concluded there was not much opportunity, but it doesn't hurt to look."

"We also concluded,'' said Davis, that the delegation for "a number of years now has operated with a fair amount of civility, where we can operate in many instances in a non-partisan way.''

Costello, who represents a Downstate district, called the meeting as some Democrats, including Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D-Ill.), the new chief of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, decided not to passively sit around as Republicans shop red state legislatures to redraw congressional maps.
(snip/...)

http://www.suntimes.com/output/sweet/cst-edt-sweet101.html

[gratuitous]

1. Now play nice, Democrats

And when you slip another 10 seats into the minority in the House of Representatives, comfort yourselves with the thought that you took the high road. To political oblivion.

[placton]

2. Right on

I mean, how stupid are these people? Why not recapture in IL the seats lost in TX? 3rd party is sounding better all the time.

[bushisanidiot]

We are not cheaters like repukes who will do ANYTHING to keep power

This is a VERY good PR move for our party. For those who say there are no differences between dems and repukes, take a look. WE are the party of moral and ethical values. The repukes are the furthest things from it.

[madrchsod]

6. the illinois democrats?

moral and ethics? sorry-who thru zamoria under the bus...the democrats.

[w4rma]

7. Yup. This tactic has the potential of gaining seats without any funny biz.

Legitimately and honestly. And it even affect other states.

[last_texas_dem]

8. Problem is...

Though certainly not perfect, I think the Democratic Party has been the generally more ethical party for years now, in the sense that we are not willing to stoop as low, not willing to try to win at any cost. And I guess that's a moral victory for us. At the same time, the Republicans are still seen as the "morals and values" party by more of the public because they align themselves with the Xian right, and their willingness to stoop as low as they can go to "win" has only helped to solidify their majority. Certainly, I'd rather be the party that takes the high road, but since apparently taking the high road only increases the speed our country is being put through the meat grinder because it only helps the Republicans win, I've been having some second thoughts about the wisdom of it.

[David__77]

3. That's BS.

They could force out at least a couple GOP incumbants. They could at the least shore up Rep. Bean's GOP-leaning seat.

[Beetwasher]

4. Still Playing By The Old Rules

*sigh*

The Repubs are laughing their asses off "SUCKERS"!

[barb162]

9. yes, election after election we keep doing the same old losing

game; the GOP is light years ahead of the Dems

[madrchsod]

5. good thinking guys

lets just keep things they way they are and make sure that we don`t give the right anything issue to organize their base on. it`s illinois- we are a equal opportunity corrupt state..if their isn`t a republican being indicted there`s a democrat...it all balances out in illinois

[barb162]

10. I think the Dems should definitely remap; get Henry Hyde out

and several others like Dennis Hastert. Why are the Democrat brains always up their a---s. Did anyone ever see the district of Dennis Hastert. It goes about 100 miles in a narrow line out to the western border of IL.