Congresswoman Clarke ?

trjoe

Ignoring the hot topic for a second. I'm wondering if anyone else here has same feeling as me that Ms Clarke simply doesn't have leadership abilities? 

The two previous reps of our district a) Shirley Chisholm. b) Major Owns both were significant players in Washington. While Clarke seems overwhelmed and simply content being a back bench-er. 

 

Anyhow check out this link  http://collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=36563&alias=pressure-mounts-on-yvette-clarke

pheightsresident

I've found this phenomenon more common in districts like hers, where there is really no competition for reelection. In such districts, the representatives can generally be as unresponsive as they'd like without fear of not being returned to office.

Imlac

Not really a measure of her leadership, but she showed an embarrassing ignorance of history in an interview with Colbert.

http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/bg56qn/better-know-a-district---new-york-s-9th---yvette-clarke

whynot_31

I suspect few of members of Crown Heights orthodox Jewish community voted to elect her, and even fewer will support her re-election:

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/331687/Crown-Heights-Banners-Target-Rep.-Clarke-Over-Iran-Deal-Vote.html

http://jpupdates.com/2015/08/04/crown-heights-banners-target-rep-clarke-over-iran-deal-vote/

Given the strength of the Brooklyn Democratic machine, she may be re-elected anyway.

southeast

Given the strength of the Brooklyn Democratic machine, she may be re-elected anyway.

With all the change happening in this area, how much longer do you think she has?  The Brooklyn Democratic machine is strong (no chance for a Conservative/Republican), but with all the new residents, at some point, people will want someone with a fair amount of intelligence, or at least comes across as intelligent.

pheightsresident

Given the strength of the Brooklyn Democratic machine, she may be re-elected anyway.

With all the change happening in this area, how much longer do you think she has?  The Brooklyn Democratic machine is strong (no chance for a Conservative/Republican), but with all the new residents, at some point, people will want someone with a fair amount of intelligence, or at least comes across as intelligent.

She's in a Voting Rights Act district, which are among the most noncompetitive districts in the country. As long as there are enough black voters in the area comprising her district (which I see as being the case for the foreseeable future), then the law requires that the composition of her district continue to be majority black, which will continue to ensure her reelection as congresswoman. Its a shame, too, especially when you compare Clarke to her mother, Una, who also ran for the seat (against Major Owens) and who is much more competent in my view. Note, even if the black population of the districts drops so that blacks no longer constitute a majority of the district's residents, then, assuming that there are still enough black residents in the greater surrounding area to form a minority majority district, then she will likely still (sadly) remain in congress, if only in a district with slightly different borders. 

whynot_31

Her district is large enough that it may not be affected by the demographic changes that keep me jabbering.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_York's_9th_congressional_district

We also should keep in mind that (on a national basis) pollsters are stating that Trump is presently in the lead among conservative/republican voters.

As a result:

- it seems neither side requires intelligence in their politicians.

- I have concluded that we are best off when we have politicians who are completely ineffective, yet entertaining.

southeast

So just to confirm my understanding - the borders of her district will move, in essence, to ensure that she always has enough to get reelected? 

That doesn't sound very democratic to me.  This sounds like reverse discrimination.  At some point, this will need to be challenged.

whynot_31

The borders move in response to gerrymandering and other forces, but not to make HER win per se.

The Voting Rights Act has been challenged on many occasions.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/26/us/supreme-court-ruling.html?_r=0

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2013/06/how-the-voting-rights-act-hurts-democrats-and-minorities/276893/

pheightsresident

You are correct. Well, that is assuming that there are enough (in this case) black residents in the general area to constitute a majority of the district. And its not reverse discrimination. Its discrimination. Period. Interestingly enough, the requirement for minority majority districts (where the numbers support such districts) only hurt Democrats' chances to control the House; indeed, by requiring minority majority districts (that cannot be diluted aside from natural migration of blacks out of region), the VRA ensures that reliably Democratic black voters aren't being pushed into more moderate to conservative districts to help make them more competitive/lean Democrat. 

But this has been challenged in the past, and upheld by the Supreme Court. Currently, there is not a majority on the Court to invalidate such districts (and, for reasons I outlined above, the GOP really doesn't want those districts invalidated and black Democrat support for them leads the greater Democratic Party to support them). I count Thomas, Scalia, and Alito as being most willing to invalidate them. Roberts is a swing vote, and Kennedy would be nearly certain to uphold them. 

whynot_31

I find it hard to get excited about elections and voting, as a result of how much money is in involved in politics both before and after elections.

southeast

@pheightsresident - Thank you very much.  This is very informative.

pheightsresident

@southeast, np!

trjoe

I suspect few of members of Crown Heights orthodox Jewish community voted to elect her, and even fewer will support her re-election:

http://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/headlines-breaking-stories/331687/Crown-Heights-Banners-Target-Rep.-Clarke-Over-Iran-Deal-Vote.html

http://jpupdates.com/2015/08/04/crown-heights-banners-target-rep-clarke-over-iran-deal-vote/

Given the strength of the Brooklyn Democratic machine, she may be re-elected anyway.

Not correct. True we have low turnout but clear majority votes for her even though they'd love a better option. Although that hopefully is going to change. 

trjoe

Thanks everyone for your feedback. I agree she most likely will continue to be re-elected but I think we can push her out of the top 10 safest dem seats list. I don't expect a hasid to win against her but maybe a younger person with military or small biz background who's mother wasn't a politician etc. 

We need #Change

whynot_31

"True we have low turnout but clear majority votes for her even though they'd love a better option."

I refer to that as "Voting for the person who I think is going to win, even though it is not the one I like."

I pursue the strategy when I am tired of losing.

trjoe

There is some truth to that strategy but when someone crosses a red line or when an exciting 2nd option comes up than the incumbent should lose our votes. 

whynot_31

Good luck.

As you are likely aware, voters recently had such a second option at the state level.

You may recall that the Orthodox Butcher fared only slightly better than the "Love Yourself" candidate.

http://www.brooklynian.com/discussion/45139/assembly-district-special-election-happens-on-may-5/p1

homeowner

Unfortunately, when you look at the history of Brooklyn Congressional members, she is far from being the worst:

Fred Richmond: http://www.jimsleeper.com/articles/signature-pieces/What's Wrong With Fred Richmond.pdf

Ed Towns: http://observer.com/2009/02/ed-towns-gets-a-chance-to-matter/

trjoe

I don't think Raitport is a good example of a failure. Completely different than a possible candidate vs Clarke. 

whynot_31

Clarke was born in 1964, so she'll only be in office another 40 years, tops.

Wiki doesn't say whether she has a daughter that will be given her position:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yvette_Clarke

trjoe