The GOP war on democracy is working. Just look at Ohio.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:

Cliff Schecter
@cliffschecter
Great piece by @paulwaldman1 on the infuriating attack Republicans in FL & OH are leading on democracy. Ignoring law, constitution, courts (& stacking others). They're truculent, petulant children, but w power. We must fight this every way we can

washingtonpost.com
Opinion | The GOP war on democracy is working. Just look at Ohio.
Republicans tell their state supreme court to stuff it, and Trump federal judges give them a thumbs-up.
10:37 AM · Apr 23, 2022

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/04/22/ohio-republican-war-on-democracy/

No paywall
https://archive.ph/WMJ4b

You have likely heard about the ruthless redistricting plan designed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that was just rubber-stamped by the state’s legislature. Not only will it give Republicans as much as a 20 to 8 advantage in the state’s congressional delegation, but it also seems to violate the Florida constitution and the federal Voting Rights Act.

But have you heard about what is happening in Ohio? That’s where Republicans are carrying out a scheme that may be even brazen in its contempt for the law, democracy and the U.S. system of government.

The Ohio tale reveals how brutally effective the Republican strategy for undermining democracy has truly been. It shows that the combination of disregard for the law and control of key levers of power up and down the system is what makes the GOP strategy possible.

The latest blow came on Wednesday when a federal appeals court panel issued a ruling that essentially validated the congressional redistricting games Republicans in Ohio have been playing. They defied the will of the voters to enact a gerrymandering scheme and are now defying the state Supreme Court’s attempt to force them to redraw maps in compliance with the law.

The appeals court panel vote was 2 to 1, with two Trump appointees carrying the day.

*snip*

[bucolic_frolic]

1. We shouldn't be surprised, it's what the GOP did 1880 to 1932

War on communism, mostly GOP state legislatures, the Red Scare post WWI ... this is nothing new.

[Diamond_Dog]

2. To say this is a disappointment is an understatement.

Thanks to the latest ruling, what incentive does the Republican dominated commission have to even meet to make new maps? All they have to do is sit on their thumbs, run out the clock, and, presto, they get their extremely favored maps signed, sealed, and delivered. I don’t understand why republicans get to dominate this whole process. It’s insane and it goes against the will of the voters and I am infuriated over the brazen lawlessness of it all.

[Baitball Blogger]

3. At least it's now common knowledge that they're ignoring law and Constitution.

They're counting on the conservative leaning courts to give them cover.

We now know their modus operandi.

[dalton99a]

4. Kick

[Buckeye_Democrat]

5. This makes no sense to me.

I didn't think any federal court could over-rule a state Supreme Court if the issue at hand only applied to the state -- e.g., such as how they manage their own elections and districting.

I'm probably missing something, not being a lawyer myself.

[Diamond_Dog]

6. You bring up a good point,BD

[Nevilledog]

7. Trump judges

[Buckeye_Democrat]

8. From what I later read...

... it's because the clock is running out to get it done, and the Ohio Supreme Court kept rejecting the submitted redistributing maps.

So the Federal Appeals court ruled that a particular map would have to be acceptable if nothing gets approved by the Ohio Supreme Court in time.

Meanwhile. Republicans in Ohio are dragging their feet to "run out the clock" and get one of their unfair maps in place.

Technically, the Ohio Supreme Court has the ultimate authority in this matter... but Republicans are playing their usual dirty tricks to get around them.

It reminds me of Republicans in Washington simply refusing to review any Federal Supreme Court nominee from Obama until the clock ran out on his Presidency.