Folks, I almost spilled my coffee reading this one. The Supreme Court just handed down a decision that’s got everyone in a tizzy. It seems they’ve rejected a Republican-friendly congressional map in Missouri, which could have given the GOP an extra seat in the House of Representatives. I mean, you can’t blame them for trying, but it looks like the court wasn’t having it.
So, here’s the deal. The order was issued without explanation, and there were no noted dissents. That’s like a big fat “no” from the Supreme Court, if you ask me. It means Missouri will likely use a previous map that includes six winnable seats for the GOP, rather than seven. Not the end of the world, but I’m sure the Republicans are disappointed.
Now, I know some of you might be thinking, “Big Elephant, what’s the big deal? It’s just one seat.” But let me tell you, this is an unusual election-related loss for Republicans at the 6-3 conservative Supreme Court. And it undercuts President Donald Trump’s effort to gain an advantage in state congressional maps across the country. Bless their hearts for trying, though.
The emergency appeal was filed by a group called People Not Politicians, which had organized a campaign to put the new GOP-friendly map to a referendum. Missouri’s highest court had backed that effort, and when state officials appealed that ruling to the US Supreme Court, Justice Brett Kavanaugh declined to review it. That decision wasn’t the end of the dispute, though. A federal judge in Missouri reviewing a different case handed down a temporary order that effectively pushed state officials back to the GOP-friendly map.
But then, the Supreme Court stepped in again and put the kibosh on that plan. People Not Politicians filed a flurry of appeals, and on Wednesday evening, the case returned to the US Supreme Court. The high court’s quick resolution of the case suggests that Missouri never stood much of a chance. It’s not clear why the Supreme Court sided with People Not Politicians, but critics noted that much of the dispute around the second map involved questions of state and not federal law.
Earlier Thursday, the Trump Justice Department urged the Supreme Court to side with the Missouri Republicans, arguing that the group organizing opposition to the GOP-friendly map lacks the right to sue. They also backed an argument raised by a Republican congressman in the state that switching maps between the primary and general elections raises equal protection concerns. Solicitor General D. John Sauer told the Supreme Court, “The Constitution guarantees an equal right to vote for one’s own representatives. Switching maps at this stage would violate that guarantee: Some voters will have had the opportunity to vote in primaries for the members of Congress who will represent them, while others will not.”
This story is still unfolding, but one thing’s for sure – the Supreme Court’s decision is a setback for the Republicans.!!!!! As I always say, you can’t make this stuff up!!!!! In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s rejection of the Republican-friendly congressional map in Missouri is a significant development in the ongoing battle over election maps. And let’s be real, folks, it!!!!!s not exactly the news the GOP was hoping for. Somewhere in Atlanta, a producer thought this sounded terrifying, but I just think it’s another day in the wild world of politics.!!!! Anyway, that’s my two cents on the matter – take it for what it’s worth!!!!!
Armchair patriot. Believes in the free market, cold beer, and that there’s always a guy named George behind every CNN segment.
Former remote-throwing champion turned #1 couch commentator on liberal panic in the media. Born in Texas (or so his mug says), he earned a degree in Fake Newsology & Beer Philosophy from YouTube University.
