From the Office of Sen. Nancy Jacobs
I joined with every member of the Republican Party to fight the Governor’s Congressional Districting plan. Despite our unified front, the number of Democrats willing to fall in line behind the power structure in Annapolis did result in O’Malley’s map getting preliminary approval in the Senate.
This Congressional map is simply about partisan politics and not about people. Even members of the Democratic Party’s own base who are victimized by the scheme testified against it. We heard from African American’s in Montgomery County complain that their neighborhoods are broken up without good reason. Congresswoman Donna Edwards says it splits close-knit minority communities. The Montgomery County Council President and a Latina Councilwoman also testified against the Governor’s redistricting map. The League of Women Voters, Common Cause and ordinary citizens testified against the Governors’ Plan.
Republican’s introduced three alternative maps. All three keep the rural areas together. All three allow for an extra Minority-Majority district in the Maryland suburbs near Washington D.C. Why is it all three were rejected when they serve all the people best? The Democratic Machine bulldozed the alternative plans into the ground in a cold blooded attempt to hold on to power.
We must act at the voting booth. This power grab comes as O’Malley announces he will consider raising the gas tax by as much as 15 cents a gallon. We must change the balance of power in Annapolis. All the Democratic Leadership cares about their head count in Washington… not about the people.
God bless you.
Senator Nancy Jacobs
Senate Minority Leader
District 34– Harford and Cecil County
Oh Pleeeease Senator, don’t bless me (this is a Democracy, NOT a Theocracy). And even though you and your Republican colleagues are whining like a bunch of women with cramps, the fact is that the majority party in EVERY state is doing the same damn thing. If you think that only those Democratic “Devils” are the only party that gerrymanders, than you are more naive than you should be (considering your years occupying space in Annapolis). And if you DO realize that gerrymandering goes on evenly on “both sides of the isle”, and you are pretending that it doesn’t, then that would be a lie (and that wouldn’t be very “Christian-like” of you)…..WOULD IT?
W.T.F. – I suggest you do your homework before posting comments. It is a fact that both parties are guilty of gerrymandering, but it does not occur in “every state” as you claim. There are currently 7 states that have set up non-partisans commissions for congressional redistricting, and 14 state with the same type of commission for redrawing state legislative lines.
Secondly, America is a Constitutional Republic, not a Democracy.
Finally, what right do you have to question anyone else’s spirituality?Sen. Jacobs didn’t say one word about any other state, only Maryland. Her role as a STATE Senator means that she has no responsibility or authority concerning what folk in ‘her’ party do in other states. Her focus is on the citizens she represents, and rightly so.
And concerning the matter of redistricting, members of BOTH parties were rather vocal with their dissent of O’Malley’s map, which should make it obvious that it is nothing more than a power grab.
God Bless You,
@jtownejeff
JTOWNEJEFF,
First of all, your salutation is rejected on the grounds that it is intended to be incendary, AND it’s insincere.
Second, I SIT corrected regarding the fact that gerrymandering doesn’t occur in every state, but I AM CERTAIN that it happens in every state that it is constitutionally allowed (good enough for you??).
Third, you’re splitting hairs when you say that I’m factually incorrect with the semantics I used to describe the type of structure our government is (Democracy / Constitutional Republic / Representative Republic / Etc.).
Forth, in this country, I have the right to question ANYONE’S spirituality, patriotism, honesty, integrety, intelligence, etc. So thanks for allowing me to point that out.
Fifth, both parties were NOT “rather vocal” with their dissent of O’Malley’s proposed map. The fact is (since you mentioned that I should do my homework before posting), every elected Republican in both houses are against the proposal, and a VERY SMALL minority of Democrats are against it (for personal reasons). There is absolutely no comparison! (except for maybe the fact that Democrats are more willing to vote their conscience than Republicans, who always toe the partisan line).
I hope this note helps to clarify some of the things you brought up.
Allah Bless You,
W.T.F.
W.T.F. – My salutation was sincere and not meant to be ‘incendiary’, I apologize if I came off that way. I wish God’s blessings on everyone, especially those whom I think would really benefit from them. (o.k., that last part was snarky on purpose.)
I am certain that gerrymandering happens in every state that it is constitutionally allowed also. I also believe that Maryland is one of the most blatant states to do it. Glad I could educate you, btw.
Splitting hairs? I don’t think so. Read some the Federalist Papers, particularly Madison’s and Adam’s, and you will see how distinctly our Founders (and myself) view a Republic and a Democracy. Btw, the founder’s definitions are the ones that I work from.
Fourth, (forth, fourth; whatever) yes you have your right to free speech. My rebuke came more from a Biblical stand point: “Only God may judge the hearts of man”. But I’m not really one to push my religious beliefs on another, so I’ll let you have that one.
Fifth, I did say “members of BOTH parties”, not “both parties”. Clearly, O’Malley had plenty of Dem. support for his map as it passed easily through both houses. Most, if not all, Republicans were opposed to it and voiced their concerns, even before the redistricting committee released it’s proposal. Republicans jumped up right away and said that they did want a partisan, gerrymandered map, put forth other options, and still got the ‘pretty’ map anyway. And minority democrats (blacks and hispanics, mostly), primarily in Montgomery and P.G. counties, did what they could on short notice to point out and voice their concerns of having minority communities split up in the governor’s map. And yes they were “rather vocal”, at least according to several friends of mine who were in Annapolis on Monday and Tuesday.
And aside from your free speech validation, the only one who needed any clarification was you.
Since I don’t believe in Allah, I doubt he’ll bless me, but I appreciate your snark. I’m a big fan of sarcasm.
good night to you sir (ma’am?),
Jeffery Beck
@jtownejeff