A good guest column by conservative blogger Bill Pascoe at U Va's Crystal Ball today reminds us that it's almost time for that the great political tradition of twisting and turning our legislative districts into increasingly complicated tentacles and slivers called redistricting is almost upon us. The once-a-decade census starts in a few weeks, the results of which will be used to gerrymander and protect thousands of elected officials nationwide.
Pascoe is only the most recent voice calling for reform of this process. And like most, he trots out Iowa as a great example of how it should work. What Pascoe adds this time is that usually Republicans are on the short end of the stick when it comes time to redraw. Historically, Democrats have been in charge of statehouses and therefore benefit the most. He argues that Republicans now should be the ones calling for reform and that the Dems will be left defending a corrupt and cynical status quo. This would put Republicans in the odd position of being aligned with the New Yorks Times which editorialized back in November on this topic (click on their interactive feature where they amusingly note some of New York's most twisted districts).
It's a little inside baseball and maybe a bit too much about the 'process' but I feel something that could gain even more traction for the GOP in 2010.
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