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Worried about Sandra - Texas Redistricting
Townhall.com ^ | January 10, 2004 | Robert Novak

Posted on 01/10/2004 3:36:53 PM PST by Bayou City

Worried about Sandra
Robert Novak

January 10, 2004 |

WASHINGTON -- Republican joy over a federal court approving congressional redistricting in Texas was diminished by an opening in the decision that could give U.S. Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor a chance to reverse it.

The Texas three-judge panel's warning of "excessive partisanship," Republican lawyers fear, will give O'Connor the opportunity to join with four liberal colleagues for another 5 to 4 decision against conservative interests. O'Connor, a former Republican leader of the Arizona Legislature who was President Ronald Reagan's first nominee for the high court, was the swing justice on recent 5 to 4 rulings supporting gay rights and campaign finance reform.

A Supreme Court reversal could cost the Republicans eight congressional seats in Texas and perhaps another six seats in Pennsylvania, whose redistricting also might be affected by the same Supreme Court decision.


TOPICS: Front Page News; Government; News/Current Events; Politics/Elections; US: Texas
KEYWORDS: novak; redistricting; texas
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Has anyone heard this before? This is a first for me.
1 posted on 01/10/2004 3:36:53 PM PST by Bayou City
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2 posted on 01/10/2004 3:37:27 PM PST by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: GOPcapitalist; MeeknMing
Ping here!
3 posted on 01/10/2004 3:39:05 PM PST by Bayou City
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To: Bayou City; Dog Gone; deport; hocndoc; Flyer; Eaker; WOSG; lowbridge; Concerned; jmaroneps37; ...
Redistricting bump !


4 posted on 01/10/2004 3:55:49 PM PST by MeekOneGOP (Howie Dean in the South !!: http://Richard.Meek.home.comcast.net/IowaRatsLastMealNewDeal.JPG)
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To: MeeknMing
Ms O'Connor needs to go--and this is what the dims are afraid might happen. Just another reason they keep blocking the president's nominees to the courts.
5 posted on 01/10/2004 4:01:23 PM PST by basil
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To: Bayou City
"excessive partisanship?'

Specifically what distinguishes 'excessive partisanship' from 'appropriate partisainship,' or 'acceptable partisainship?'

Is it if a Republican or a Democrat does it? This stuff just is laughable!
6 posted on 01/10/2004 4:03:11 PM PST by HitmanLV (I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed or numbered. My life is my own.)
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To: Bayou City
I can't believe the Supreme Court would reverse the federal court approval of congressional redistricting in Texas...it was legal (although somewhat unorthodox). However, given the squirrelly way the Supreme Court has been going lately...
7 posted on 01/10/2004 4:05:43 PM PST by Maria S ("I will do whatever the Americans want…I saw what happened in Iraq, and I was afraid." Gaddafi, 9/03)
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To: HitmanNY
Is it if a Republican or a Democrat does it?

If Republicans do it it is "excessive partisanship." If the Democrats do it then it isn't even considered "partisanship."

8 posted on 01/10/2004 4:06:25 PM PST by kennedy
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To: Bayou City
I don't think they'll take the case.
9 posted on 01/10/2004 4:07:19 PM PST by Republican Wildcat
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To: Dog Gone
any comments would be appreciated.......
10 posted on 01/10/2004 4:30:42 PM PST by deport (..... DONATE TO FREEREPUBLIC......)
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To: deport
O'Connor is usually pretty good on "Republican" issues; she's always come down on the GOP's side on redistricting issues; she was key on the 2000 Florida recount.

Since the Justice Department cleared the Texas plan on the Voting Right's Act, I'd wager she'll let the plan pass.

11 posted on 01/10/2004 4:34:11 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: Republican Wildcat
The Supreme Court already took the Pennsylvania case. The Court heard arguments in December. From the tone of the questioning, it doesn't sound like the Democrats will win, but you never know until the Court releases its opinion.
12 posted on 01/10/2004 4:35:01 PM PST by kennedy
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To: HitmanNY
"Partisanship" is not in the Constitution.
Perhaps should split from the Union for violation of states' rates.
Let's see how cute the Court thinks it is after that.
13 posted on 01/10/2004 4:38:27 PM PST by mabelkitty
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To: Bayou City
I raised the specter of Sandra Day O'Connor singlehandedly striking down the TX redistricting last week, and several posters virtually called me a traitor for raising the possibility. I was called "ignorant" and reminded that O'Connor sided with Bush in Bush v. Gore and that she will side with the TX GOP in this matter. After all she was once high in the AZ GOP. Still, I am like you: I distrust many people, and at the top of that list is one Sandra Day O'Connor.
14 posted on 01/10/2004 4:42:47 PM PST by Theodore R. (When will they ever learn?)
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To: sinkspur
I know she has been. I doubt they will even take up the appeal. They have the PA redistricting issue before them now.
15 posted on 01/10/2004 4:44:15 PM PST by deport (..... DONATE TO FREEREPUBLIC......)
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To: sinkspur
O'Connor is usually pretty good on "Republican" issues; she's always come down on the GOP's side on redistricting issues; she was key on the 2000 Florida recount.

Still, O'Connor has a weakness: she likes being complimented by the liberal media, and what better way for her to harvest many such compliments than by striking down the TX redistricting.
16 posted on 01/10/2004 4:47:52 PM PST by Theodore R. (When will they ever learn?)
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To: Theodore R.
If the Pennsylvania case goes to the GOP, I don't think the Supremes will even take up the Texas case. It's even weaker than Pa.
17 posted on 01/10/2004 4:50:37 PM PST by sinkspur (Adopt a shelter dog or cat! You'll save one life, and maybe two!)
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To: Theodore R.
After all she was once high in the AZ GOP. Still, I am like you: I distrust many people, and at the top of that list is one Sandra Day O'Connor.

I'm with you on this. I think O'Connor will search long and hard throughout the "penumbra" to find a way to throw out both the Texas and Pennsylvania maps. Otherwise the New York Times would write nasty editorials about her, and God knows she can't be having any of that.

18 posted on 01/10/2004 4:54:24 PM PST by CFC__VRWC (AIDS, abortion, euthanasia - don't liberals just kill ya?)
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To: Bayou City; Coop
Redistricting bump
19 posted on 01/10/2004 5:02:53 PM PST by ClintonBeGone
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To: Bayou City
I don't think we have anything to worry about with regards to Sandra Day O'Conner. While she has become quite liberal on the church and family issues, she remains conservative on other issues. The only precedent I can recall for this case is Bush vs. Gore in 2000, and she sided with Bush. Siding against the 'Rats on redistricting would be fully consistant with that ruling.
20 posted on 01/10/2004 5:08:39 PM PST by Clintonfatigued
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