The next-generation Ford Focus will be built in China and exported for sale in the U.S., Ford Motor Co. said Tuesday, abandoning a plan to build the small car in Mexico.

Donald J. Trump wrote:While I greatly appreciate the efforts of President Xi & China to help with North Korea, it has not worked out. At least I know China tried!

JFLNYC wrote:He knows he got his trademarks.

jerseyhoya wrote:

drsmooth wrote:

jerseyhoya wrote:The vote/seats efficiency thing is not a useful proxy for partisan gerrymandering and the paper says as much. The GOP advantage in winning more seats than votes would suggest was a combination of benefiting from partisan gerrymandering, nonpartisan gerrymandering, political geography, incumbency advantages, and the vagaries of individual campaigns. Would guess partisan gerrymandering is a third of the edge there at best. Which isn't to say it's irrelevant, but it's overrated.

Anyway, replying because it is precious to say it's not surprising the GOP has this advantage since they tried to win states in 2010! and then redistrict things afterwards! As if the Democrats did not have similar actual plans in 2010. And both parties in 2000. This is in large part what political parties exist to do. The GOP benefited from a wave election in 2010. They got to draw the lines in a bunch of key states. Democrats might win a bunch of statehouses next year in an anti Trump wave and control redistricting in them. There will probably even be TV clips talking about how they tried very hard to win the races they won.

So we can put you down as "pro gerrymandering" then.

Seems like an interesting question. It seems stupid to permit states to effectively decide for themselves how the manage the way their citizenry selects representatives to the federal government. And in fact they aren't permitted to do odious things that effectively tilt selection processes based on race, for example.

But there's no one right way to draw boundaries, eliminating politics from the process isn't possible, and the typical form of a court's ruling - "we aren't telling you how to do it, but you can't do it XYZ way" - seems likely only to create - or expand? - a "redistricting lobbying" industry.

So good, on balance, for your career prospects?

One of the most difficult things with redistricting is many of the nonpartisan, basic goals of drawing districts are in conflict.

-Communities of interest being grouped together
-Compactness
-Fair representation for racial and ethnic minorities
-A map that leads to a fair partisan balance based on the full state population
-Districts that are competitive in general elections

Tough to hit on more than 3 of 5 there, especially depending on the state, even if you're drawing districts with the best of intentions.

On balance I'd prefer 'independent' commissions'to draw district lines rather than letting legislators draw them for themselves. But independent commissions are still political. For example - How Democrats Fooled California's Redistricting Commission. It's tough to take politics out of politics.

CalvinBall wrote:Wasserman says the D in SC has lost but is pretty shocked at how close it will end up being.

jerseyhoya wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:Wasserman says the D in SC has lost but is pretty shocked at how close it will end up being.

This is true, but don't think the 'should of spent more' thing deserves legs. Any additional attention on the race would awaken the sleepy default GOP voters. In a low turnout special in a bad district, sometimes it's helpful for no one to know it's election day.

jerseyhoya wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:Wasserman says the D in SC has lost but is pretty shocked at how close it will end up being.

This is true, but don't think the 'should of spent more' thing deserves legs. Any additional attention on the race would awaken the sleepy default GOP voters. In a low turnout special in a bad district, sometimes it's helpful for no one to know it's election day.

CalvinBall wrote:Seems like we are going to lose GA 6 too. Oh well. We are a nation of Trump now. Had a good run. Time to look for a new country.

pacino wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:Seems like we are going to lose GA 6 too. Oh well. We are a nation of Trump now. Had a good run. Time to look for a new country.

It's a toss up and always was. Idk, I don't see how this is some big harbinger either way? If anything, SC5 is pretty insane.

pacino wrote:

CalvinBall wrote:Seems like we are going to lose GA 6 too. Oh well. We are a nation of Trump now. Had a good run. Time to look for a new country.

It's a toss up and always was. Idk, I don't see how this is some big harbinger either way? If anything, SC5 is pretty insane.
GA6 is not the be all, end all of anything either way it shakes out. There's lot of other shit on the table.