For the first time since Reconstruction, Mississippi and Virginia seem poised to become Republican controlled legislatures

While the media focuses on short-term success stories for Democrats in Ohio and Kentucky, the fundamentals in two more states shifted significantly toward Republicans.  The big story is that Republicans were finally able to overcome signficant firewalls in redistricting established by long term Democratic legislatures.  As a result, the GOP will gain control of the legislative and redistricting process in those states.  “Long term” is adequately defined as being held by the Democratic Party since Reconstruction.

The entire story here:  excerpt below,


Mississippi Republicans capped off a noticeable political shift in the South, defeating the Democrats previous 68 to 54 majority in the lower chamber. This victory is more poignant because it gives Mississippi Republicans control over the redistricting process. Republicans are quick to celebrate control for the first time in 140 years.


In Virginia, Republicans gained large victories but GOP control is still up in the air.  Republicans needed only a gain of three seats to gain control of the Senate. Technically Virginia Republicans only need two seats in order for split in the Senate, leaving Republican Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling to cast the tie vote. Some Republicans are grumbling about the results, but the current Virginia districts, which Democrats drew, obviously assisted the party with making the election as close as it was.



“Dave Wasserman, House editor of the Cook Political Report, was stunned by the efficiency of redistricting, pointing out that in the state-senate races, Democrats had won only 420,000 votes to Republicans’ 661,000, roughly 39 percent of the total. Yet they were likely to win 52.5 percent of the seats.”


Essentially, redistricting matters……As far as yesterday’s elections, Republicans have way more reasons to cheer than mourn

Exclusive Breaking: Michigan Bypasses DOJ on Redistricting

Here is the complaint.


I have learned from the Michigan Secretary of State’s office that Michigan has joined the list of states bypassing the Eric Holder Justice Department and is filing Michigan’s redistricting plan with the United States District Court in D.C. Smart move. The Justice Department has exhibited profound bias in the enforcement of federal voting law – which of course I cover in detail in Injustice. Columnists at PJ Media have been calling for states to bypass DOJ.


Arizona, Alabama, Texas, North Carolina, and Georgia have all gone to federal court instead of giving the bureaucrats inside the DOJ power to approve or reject their new redistricting plans under the Voting Rights Act. Michigan is the first northern state to bypass DOJ. The reason states are bypassing the Holder Justice Department is the Holders Justice Department’s reputation for Civil Rights Division overreach. Left wing academics sought unsuccessfully to scare states off of pursuing the option of federal court, but those efforts have failed. The Justice Department has a history of court sanctions and fines when it comes to bad behavior in redistricting. States want neutral judges instead of partisan Voting Section bureaucrats deciding these issues.

Reposted from PJ Tatler.

NAACP, Unions, La Raza intend nationwide protests over Voter ID laws

At the link, groups ranging from the Urban league, teacher and health care unions and Hispanic activist groups intend to bus in 10,000 members to the Mid-Atlantic region to protest voter ID laws.  The protests will culminate in a “day of action” on December 10, 2012 at the United Nations on international human rights day.  

The NAACP is joining with minority and labor groups for a series of protests around the country meant to move discussion of voter identification laws out of policy circles and onto street corners, the organization’s president said Tuesday.

Benjamin Todd Jealous appeared on the steps of New York City Hall with the Rev. Al Sharpton, U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel and community and labor leaders to announce plans for nationwide protests on Dec. 10 and across the South in the following weeks, decrying what they described as a nationwide voter suppression effort.