Oldies but goodies: Montana Main Street has an excellent explanation of why the 2003 redistricting plan was biased.

The Dems and the press (but I'm being redundant) like to talk about how the redistricting plan is fair because, hey, there are a lot of competitive seats. But if more folks want Republicans in the legislature than Democrat, wouldn't the whole democracy thing seem to suggest that more Republicans should BE in the legislature? Majority rule, right?

Not if you take most of the Republicans and only let them vote for a few legislative candidates, and then take lots of democrats and spread them out so they can vote for lots of legislative candidates.

How did they round the Republicans up and spread the democrats out? Did they make them move? No, they just made up districts where more Republicans got to vote for fewer candidates, and more Democrats got to vote for more candidates.

They drew lines on a map. Lines that kept Republicans from getting to vote against candidates the dems wanted to see win.

That ain't fair, folks. And honest dems know it ain't fair.