Lefties blame Elbridge Gerry, RIP

Over at the New Republic, the Editors have published a statement to the effect that Elbridge Gerry, the chap who developed the Congressional Redistricting Plan, is to blame for their predicted lacklustre performance at the US polls.

First they claim that the much vaunted 30 to 50 seat sweep of the House by the Democrats will not emerge:

Democrats have run up double-digit advantages on major issues from Iraq to the economy. When voters are presented with a generic congressional ballot, Democrats win 53-39. But there's simply no way that this will translate.

Then instead of looking at the facts, they elucidate a conspiracy, a right-wing conspiracy. And who is to blame? Elbridge Gerry (RIP) of course, a dead Republican (but not really). You see, Gerry developed the Congressional redistricting scheme:

When voters are presented with a generic congressional ballot, Democrats win 53-39. But there's simply no way that this will translate. Virginia, Missouri, and Tennessee, for instance, are hosting three of the nation's tightest Senate races. But travel a step down the ballot, and you will find only one close contest in those states' combined 29 house races. The entire state of California has only two somewhat tight contests--and it wouldn't even have those, except for a pair of GOP incumbents' associations with Jack Abramoff.

All this is the legacy of our least favorite Founding Father, Elbridge Gerry, and the formula for rigging congressional elections that bears his name. Not that it's all Gerry's fault. The redistricting plan he signed in 1812--and the hundreds that have followed--merely exploited a massive flaw in our electoral system.

Yesterday, I claimed that the TNR is one of the few sane lefty collectives out there. This performance should lead us all to start doubting that.

Also interesting what one finds when trawling the feverswamp. Date stamped 4 November 2006:

So, at best (for the pukes), the polls are actually ACCURATE. At worst, they're underestimating our intensity...In summary, Hugh Hewitt is a f**king moron.

Deeerr. Got that?

For the nutters, my prediction from last night still holds: GOP narrowly lose House, retain Senate with slimmer margin. This prediction based on facts, not wishful thinking.

Lefties blame Elbridge Gerry, RIP

Over at the New Republic, the Editors have published a statement to the effect that Elbridge Gerry, the chap who developed the Congressional Redistricting Plan, is to blame for their predicted lacklustre performance at the US polls.

First they claim that the much vaunted 30 to 50 seat sweep of the House by the Democrats will not emerge:

Democrats have run up double-digit advantages on major issues from Iraq to the economy. When voters are presented with a generic congressional ballot, Democrats win 53-39. But there's simply no way that this will translate.

Then instead of looking at the facts, they elucidate a conspiracy, a right-wing conspiracy. And who is to blame? Elbridge Gerry (RIP) of course, a dead Republican (but not really). You see, Gerry developed the Congressional redistricting scheme:

When voters are presented with a generic congressional ballot, Democrats win 53-39. But there's simply no way that this will translate. Virginia, Missouri, and Tennessee, for instance, are hosting three of the nation's tightest Senate races. But travel a step down the ballot, and you will find only one close contest in those states' combined 29 house races. The entire state of California has only two somewhat tight contests--and it wouldn't even have those, except for a pair of GOP incumbents' associations with Jack Abramoff.

All this is the legacy of our least favorite Founding Father, Elbridge Gerry, and the formula for rigging congressional elections that bears his name. Not that it's all Gerry's fault. The redistricting plan he signed in 1812--and the hundreds that have followed--merely exploited a massive flaw in our electoral system.

Yesterday, I claimed that the TNR is one of the few sane lefty collectives out there. This performance should lead us all to start doubting that.

Also interesting what one finds when trawling the feverswamp. Date stamped 4 November 2006:

So, at best (for the pukes), the polls are actually ACCURATE. At worst, they're underestimating our intensity...In summary, Hugh Hewitt is a f**king moron.

Deeerr. Got that?

For the nutters, my prediction from last night still holds: GOP narrowly lose House, retain Senate with slimmer margin. This prediction based on facts, not wishful thinking.