Political Opportunism

Dan Walters of the Sacramento Bee writes about how California's GOP Congressional delegation has developed a sudden penchant for redistricting -- despite opposing it just a few years ago. Gee, what could have changed their minds? Walter explains:

They know that Democrats would still control the Legislature and that it's likely that a Democrat would be elected governor in 2010, thus giving their partisan rivals almost total power over their political careers. Democrats could grab five or six GOP seats, and they might be inclined to do so if they believe they need those seats to maintain House control in the 2012 elections.

Such base political considerations, by the way, are also why the state's Democratic Congressional delegation now opposes redistricting. Neither side gives a fig for fair elections; they just prefer whichever system will help them out, fair or not.

This whole saga reminds me of the disingenuous debate over filibustering we saw in the Senate a few years ago, where (then-majority) Republicans acted like the filibuster was an assault on democracy, and (then-minority) Democrats pretended as though it were a sacred practice. Anyone doubt that the parties have flipped positions on that matter since then?

And they'll surely flip, spin, and fudge on redistricting countless times again -- all the more reason why they shouldn't be trusted with the process in the first place.