Map Quest

I’ve been put out about Congressman Tom (“Reprimand Me Again”) Delay’s redistricting power play for over a year now. That’s six Texas congressional seats he secured for the Republicans, in spite of the courageous battle state Democrats waged before going down.

This week, however, the Supreme Court ordered a review of the revised Texas map. In general, the court has avoided interceding in redistricting maneuvers. The concern, however, is that redistricting out of political motivation could, as Justice Kennedy wrote, possibly deny voters “the rights of fair and effective representation.”

The composition of the court, and the case history, suggests the revised Texas map will stand. But one can still hope. (And continue to raise the court’s future as a vital issue in the presidential election.)