Bloomberg Law says Republicans could split Davidson County into four districts, endangering Cooper’s hold. I say, "Do it!"

by Rod Williams- Bloomberg Law examines the upcoming redistricting that will take place across America and observes that Republicans have the upper hand.

With Democrats protecting a five-seat House majority and Republicans in charge of redrawing more congressional maps, both parties are likely to be aggressive where they can against the opposition’s incumbents. In most states, partisan legislators and governors control the line-drawing process, and their goal is to secure as many seats as possible for their party. Republicans have the final authority to redraw 187 districts compared with 75 for Democrats. Commissions and states with partisan splits draw the rest.

“Republicans just have more power to gerrymander right now, and I think they’re going to use that power to the best of their abilities,” said Kyle Kondik, managing editor of Sabato’s Crystal Ball at the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics.

This is good news indeed and if Republicans do not aggressively push their advantage, I will be greatly disappointed.

Bloomberg goes on to examine House incumbents currently seeking re-election who probably will be among those targeted in redistricting by state legislatures led by the opposite party.  Jim Cooper is one they name. This is what they say:

Jim Cooper (D-Tenn.): Blue Dog Democrats are a vanishing breed, and Republicans in Tennessee

are looking to expedite this extinction by unseating Rep. Jim Cooper. Cooper, a lawyer and former Vanderbilt University professor, has represented the Nashville area for two decades and won by healthy margins. But Tennessee has retained nine congressional seats through the 2020 census at a time when Nashville’s population has boomed. That means Republicans could split the metropolis into four districts, endangering Cooper’s hold on the live music mecca by adding conservative suburban and rural voters to his new district.

I hate it when anyone refers to Jim Cooper as a "blue dog Democrat" or a "conservative Democrat," or "moderate Democrat."  He stopped being any of those things a long time ago.  At one time he did express concern about the growing national debt of America, but that was a long time ago.  If Jim Cooper is "conservative" or "moderate" in any sense of the word it is in demeanor and disposition. He is boring.  He does not engage in inflammatory rhetoric but he votes in lock-step with his party.  Jim Cooper needs to go!

I hope the party will not lack the backbone to do what needs to be done.  I hope they will do it!  I will be severely disappointed if they don't.  I am on the verge of being outraged if they don't.  The district could be split in such a way as to withstand a legal challenge and to not terribly dilute existing Republican voting strength to make other Republican seats vulnerable. 

With Blumberg Law and other outlets like Rasmussen already speculating that State Republicans will redistrict Jim Cooper out of office, it should surprise no one if they do.  The Tennesseean can be counted upon to piss and moan for days. Crybullies will throw a hissy fit.  They may even fall to their knees in anguish and say those mean Republicans are taking away their last safe space in Tennessee.  Our Metro Council will likely pass a resolution condemning the action, but who cares?  Let the mentally ill crybullies move to Memphis or out of state and everyone else can just suck it up.

It can be done.  Do it!

For more on this topic see, It would not be hard to dilute Democratic votes in Nashville by splitting them up among several districts.

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