Calif. AG Sues Governor Over Redistricting---good news

[IChing]

By BRIAN MELLEY
Associated Press Writer

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- California Attorney General Bill Lockyer filed a lawsuit Friday to remove Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's redistricting initiative from the November ballot, saying supporters violated the state Constitution when they significantly changed the measure's wording.

The measure asks voters to change the way district boundaries are drawn for members of Congress and the state Legislature, which is dominated by Democrats. Schwarzenegger, a Republican, wants to take redistricting power away from the state lawmakers and give it to a panel of retired judges, a process he said would create more competitive elections.

Lockyer, a Democrat, filed the lawsuit to block the initiative late Friday afternoon in Sacramento County court.

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CALIFORNIA_REDISTRICTING?SITE=MNMAN&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2005-07-08-21-56-59

[Zenlitened]

1. Republicans just can't compete in a genuine democracy.

They can only win with lies and lawbreaking.

[schultzee]

3. Because they don't want a democracy. They want a dictatorship.

[ReadTomPaine]

5. The first day of anything resembling true democracy in this country...

will be the last day of the GOP's relevance in politics. They know this much better than we do, which is part of the reason Republicans operate the way they do.

[robertarctor]

20. I'd love to hear Fox News' take on this if the shoe was on the other foot

Imagine if a Democratic governor (who had replaced a recalled Republican governor who had passed his zero-year redistricting plan a few years earlier) was now trying to foist this crap over the heads of a Republican legislature. The Pukes would be screaming bloody murder and babbling about Communist takeovers and the death of democracy.

But IOKIYAR, right?

[Cha]

2. Thank you, Bill Lockyer!

Somebody needs to put a Stop to swartzennegger's attempts to steal California!

[IChing]

4. Lockyers' Statement in the suit

Lockyer said in a statement: "By opting to collect signatures on a ballot measure different from the text reviewed and approved by the attorney general, the proponents violated state law and deceived voters."

Lockyer said there were numerous substantive changes, including "language emphasizing the unique ability of judges to draw competitive districts, altering the method used to identify line-drawers and modifying assorted deadlines."

[WhiteTara]

21. Thanks Bill!

These repukes really live up to the name. They just can't seem to help themselves. Like scorpions! Maybe that should be their new party symbol

[AlCzervik]

6. Bill Lockyer is going over every ballot measure with a zoom lense

ann Ted Costa is crying.

[IChing]

7. We are gonna bitch slap Arnnnooold and his minons, the tide is turning

Ted Costa that political lapdog hack, a tom delay clone, is hopefully gonna have to cry on
Arnoollds lap.

[Carla in Ca]

14. This is great news!

I hope this was posted in the Ca. forum as well.

I sent an email to Arnold last week 'thanking' him for a special election that will rip my state apart. Of course I got a long-winded form letter telling me how great he is..."I want the people to decide". Yeah, right.

This tactic was used some years ago on a proposition to turn El Toro into an airport. The prop was purposely worded so a yes vote meant no, you don't want the airport and vise versa. Remember that one?

[IChing]

15. That letter and his campaign is costing California $80 million

I did post it in the California forum as well.
I would suggest it get nominated so it won't get buried,
good news is needed.

[Richard Steele]

16. DAMN right this needs NOMINATED! Done.

[Frances]

8. If California must have ballot initiatives

I think it should be against the law to pay the people who collect the signatures.

As a practical matter, corporations finance these initiatives which ignorant people sign as they go in and out of supermarkets. Then we have costly special elections.

I, for one, would love to recall Arnold, but I don't have the money to pay people to collect the signatures needed. And most of us don't have the time or resources to do this as volunteer work.

Besides, what do we elect our state legislators for if we are going to bypass them?

[leesa]

9. Very good news! This was the main push of the corrupt GOP after

settling the 9 billion dollar heist of California's wealth by the GOP energy barons.

[robertarctor]

10. Well, that and looting CalPERS.

Glad that Lockyer had the stones to stand up to these thugs, who probably think that MoveAmericaForward(IntoNeoFeudalism).org should get to do the redistricting instead of the properly elected lege.

Sorry, Calvinball-foisting assclowns.

[zara]

11. Lockyer is pissed because he ruined his own chance to be Gov

of California by being duped into voting for Schwarzenegger by his pack of lies about being an agent of change. In fact, as DU readers know, Schwarzenegger is just a right wing troll, just like Bush except without the religious fanaticism--nonetheless he's owned by Big Business, just like W.

[rucky]

18. and "settling" the Enron suit.

[silverweb]

12. Thank you, Bill...!

:applause:

[tibbir]

13. The damed Repukes have absolutely no set of ethics

or morals. They want absolutely no balance of power.

[beltanefauve]

17. And speaking of Ahnold...

Wonder what he and his ego are gonna do when his initiatives don't pass? I haven't heard him declare for 2006 yet, have you?

[DeepModem Mom]

19. kick