More proof Scott Walker is scum. "Down but not out yet, GOP seeks to hamstring incoming Dem governors"

[esquared]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/not-yet-gop-seeks-hamstring-incoming-dem-governors-2-204729644.html

These slimy pols are trying to slam bills through their legislature, that would limit the amount of power that the incoming Dem. Governors have.

In Wisconsin:
"On Friday afternoon, Republican legislators in Wisconsin proposed a number of bills aimed at limiting the power of incoming Gov.-elect Tony Evers and Attorney General-elect Josh Kaul, both Democrats.
"Republicans have said that the legislation is simply an attempt to promote good governance, which has led Democrats to question why they waited until now — after their candidates lost the major statewide races — to institute these urgent reforms. "
"We trusted Scott Walker and the administration to be able to manage the back-and-forth with the legislature. We don’t trust Tony Evers right now in a lot of these areas.” "

Incoming AG Kaul says:
“The authors of this bill seem to think that they know better than the voters of Wisconsin. They’re wrong. And that’s not how democracy works. I am calling on the members of the legislature to reject this horrible bill.” "
http://www.milwaukeeindependent.com...ack-wisconsin-gops-unprecedented-abuse-power/

FU Wisconsin repubs. FU


Similar efforts are going on in Mich:
"where Democrats won statewide races for governor, secretary of state and attorney general — all positions now occupied by Republicans. The changes under consideration would include a provision similar to the one proposed in Wisconsin, allowing the Legislature to determine which laws are defended in court and stripping power from the attorney general’s office. "

 

[brycejones]

Same shit they pulled when they lost the governorship in NC. The modern GOP really hates America.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

Not just governors. Attorney generals and anyone else who got elected. They actual said they were concerned they would bring liberal ideas... isn’t that why they won in the first damn place???

 

[VRAMdemon]

A picture of the Wisconsin gerrymander...

https://twitter.com/bcburden/status/1069773072587206656

Quite frankly, it's a work of art. If I'd set out to create a gerrymander that perpetuated GOP control of the legislature, I doubt I could improve much on it, even if it were my full-time job.

The GOP managed to create 30 districts that were basically 99-100% Democratic (compared with 8 districts that are that solidly GOP) which of course meant that if the state as a whole was 50-50, the GOP would get >2/3 of the vote overall in the remaining 61 legislative districts. So even in a Democratic wave year, few of those seats would be winnable by Dems.

The result, was that Dems got 53% of the vote last month, but only 36 out of 99 seats. Impressive as hell, and also antidemocratic as hell. The Dems would probably need about a 57% majority of the vote to eke out a bare majority of the legislature.

The GOP has managed to fashion a legislature that is extremely resistant to the will of the people. And of course, now they are using that legislative majority that is all but immune to popular opposition, to strip the powers of the statewide offices that they can't gerrymander.

 

[Vic]

Not just governors. Attorney generals and anyone else who got elected. They actual said they were concerned they would bring liberal ideas... isn’t that why they won in the first damn place???

"Government of the people, by the people, for the people" is socialism to these clowns.

 

[darkswordsman17]

Disgusting. I'm sure they'll try similar in Kansas, or maybe they already did? Last I saw they were trying to dismiss the state Supreme Court because it was ruling against them.

 

[Victorian Gray]

The road to fascism is such a fun road to travel.

 

[Jhhnn]

Shameless partisan spite. If the voters won't pick the GOP to run the govt then they'll be damned if they'll let Dems do it.

 

[nickqt]

It's just overt civil war actions taken by traitorous scumbags. Close to 40% of the population, the collaborators, will cheer it on.

 

[compcons]

I am asking this as I honestly don't know:
Do we have situations where democrats were being ousted/losing control and were doing similar things? I don't want to "both-sides" this, but I truly don't recall situations where outgoing Dem politicians made such drastic changes on their way out in order to hamstring an incoming Republican legislature, governor, etc.

 

[Zorba]

At the end of the day, how do you even fix this bullshit?

 

[Paratus]

At the end of the day, how do you even fix this bullshit?

Lawsuits
Voting for dems this year
Voting for Dems next year
Voting for Dems until they have enough margin to force independent redraw of gerrymandered districts ?

 

[Zorba]

I am asking this as I honestly don't know:
Do we have situations where democrats were being ousted/losing control and were doing similar things? I don't want to "both-sides" this, but I truly don't recall situations where outgoing Dem politicians made such drastic changes on their way out in order to hamstring an incoming Republican legislature, governor, etc.

Bill Clinton removed all the W keys from the keyboards at the WH. How could anything get done without W keys

There you go, I did Taj's job for him.

 

[trenchfoot]

At the end of the day, how do you even fix this bullshit?

Not to worry. The Dem Party is growing. The Repub Party is shrinking. We're now in a transitional phase where the Repubs can still get away with this kind of bullshit but it won't last.

With the thought in mind that the census will happen in a couple of years, it will be the Dem's chance to take advantage of this gerrymandering tool that the Repubs have used to create a de facto minority party rule in particularly closely contested states.

Once the Dems have this ability, it will be near impossible for the Repubs to use it again because the Dems will have an actual majority of the population to keep this tool out of the hands of the Repubs if and only IF the Dems don't screw themselves by over-reacting and over-reaching like the Repubs do whenever they get unified control (See Bush 43 admin and Trump admin for proof).

 

[Zorba]

Not to worry. The Dem Party is growing. The Repub Party is shrinking. We're now in a transitional phase where the Repubs can still get away with this kind of bullshit but it won't last.

With the thought in mind that the census will happen in a couple of years, it will be the Dem's chance to take advantage of this gerrymandering tool that the Repubs have used to create a de facto minority party rule in particularly closely contested states.

Once the Dems have this ability, it will be near impossible for the Repubs to use it again because the Dems will have an actual majority of the population to keep this tool out of the hands of the Repubs if and only IF the Dems don't screw themselves by over-reacting and over-reaching like the Repubs do whenever they get unified control (See Bush 43 admin and Trump admin for proof).

Demographics alone won't fix a 52% vote getting only 1/3 of the seats any time soon. What needs to change is banning politicains from making the maps and making gerrymandering illegal and enforceable in a real way. I am sure the USSC will side with the GOP in all of these cases.

 

[nickqt]

Not to worry. The Dem Party is growing. The Repub Party is shrinking. We're now in a transitional phase where the Repubs can still get away with this kind of bullshit but it won't last.

With the thought in mind that the census will happen in a couple of years, it will be the Dem's chance to take advantage of this gerrymandering tool that the Repubs have used to create a de facto minority party rule in particularly closely contested states.

Once the Dems have this ability, it will be near impossible for the Repubs to use it again because the Dems will have an actual majority of the population to keep this tool out of the hands of the Repubs if and only IF the Dems don't screw themselves by over-reacting and over-reaching like the Repubs do whenever they get unified control (See Bush 43 admin and Trump admin for proof).

Agree with the premise, don't believe for a second that the traitors and their collaborators will allow it to happen without a fight.

 

[SlowSpyder]

I looked through the list of proposed legislation, it really didn't look that bad.

 

[Commodus]

I looked through the list of proposed legislation, it really didn't look that bad.

Of course you'd think so. You'd also think that Republicans declaring the US a one-party dictatorship would be sensible legislation.

Be quiet and let the adults talk.

 

[K1052]

Lawsuits
Voting for dems this year
Lawsuits
Voting for Dems next year
Lawsuits
Voting for Dems until they have enough margin to force independent redraw of gerrymandered districts ?
A lot more Lawsuits

Just a couple slight additions to that to reflect what will really be required.

Ideally we'd have a constitutional amendment reforming districting and elections. Non partisan map drawing, prohibit lame duck sessions, require state officers who are candidates for statewide offices to recuse from election oversight, mandate no-excuse mail in voting, automatic voter registration, prohibit removal from rolls unless moved or dead, etc.

 

[SlowSpyder]

Of course you'd think so. You'd also think that Republicans declaring the US a one-party dictatorship would be sensible legislation.

Be quiet and let the adults talk.

No, I think we need two healthy parties and do hope the Democrats can come back to good health. Right now they're suffering from dementia.

 

[MomentsofSanity]

I looked through the list of proposed legislation, it really didn't look that bad.

So the Attorney General not having the ability to decide what legal matters to pursue seems normal to you? Letting a horribly gerrymandered state legislature do it instead makes sense? The GOP lost the state vote by a wide margin and yet managed to retain 2 thirds of the seats. They don't represent the majority in any way.

The people voted for the policies of the Democrat candidates. If Walker or the others won they would not have taken this action. It's a direct run at the will of the people.

 

[K1052]

A lot of strategists are pointing out that what WI and MI are doing could backfire in the presidential election by really pissing off voters. Especially MI where the legislature played games and is going to gut the ballot measures that passed...which means the Dems will run on them again in 2020. Both voting initiatives passed there at over 60%...

 

[Commodus]

No, I think we need two healthy parties and do hope the Democrats can come back to good health. Right now they're suffering from dementia.

The problem is that your definitions of "good health" and "dementia" don't correspond to reality.

You believe that Trump's constant lying, overt corruption, xenophobia, anti-science policies and obvious incompetence are perfectly acceptable. To you, "good health" means rolling over and just accepting whatever Trump and the Republicans want. "Dementia" to you means any resistance to Trump whatsoever. You do not believe in genuine political opposition; you will say you do, but you will be lying. You just want slight variants on right-wing ideology.

 

[emperus]

The problem is that your definitions of "good health" and "dementia" don't correspond to reality.

You believe that Trump's constant lying, overt corruption, xenophobia, anti-science policies and obvious incompetence are perfectly acceptable. To you, "good health" means rolling over and just accepting whatever Trump and the Republicans want. "Dementia" to you means any resistance to Trump whatsoever. You do not believe in genuine political opposition; you will say you do, but you will be lying. You just want slight variants on right-wing ideology.

Why are you even arguing with him. If the Republicans declared a military coup and fought the other half the country to gain power, he would probably celebrate it.... Oh right they did and people still wave confederate flags. SlowSpyder doesn't deserve Democracy, it's a game to him.

 

[VRAMdemon]

https://apnews.com/dbded03c16ce4c3c...on&utm_source=Twitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlow

6 a.m.

The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate has passed a sweeping measure taking power away from the incoming Democratic governor and attorney general, and reducing how long early voting can take place.

The measure was approved on a 17-16 vote with all Democrats and one Republican voting against it. The Assembly was expected to give final approval later Wednesday morning and send the measure to Republican Gov. Scott Walker, who has signaled his support.

This looks like a coup, pure and simple. The fact that it's being executed via the trappings of democracy doesn't change that fact.

I'm becoming more and more convinced that David Frum a Neo-conservative true believer is right:

Frum : "If conservatives become convinced that they cannot win democratically, they will not abandon conservatism. They will reject democracy."

The important thing to remember is that this is not politics as usual, regardless of who may try to claim otherwise. This is an exclusively republican pattern of post-election power grabs against the will of the people. If you support it as a matter of partisan politics, well, good on you for being honest about your horribly antidemocratic beliefs. If you think it is "business as usual" You are empirically wrong.

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