Hypothetically Speaking

Apparently rational thinking won out over bluster: Slime-o-the-day winner Kevin DeWine has dropped his efforts to introduce a counter constitional amendment that would have delayed the Reform Ohio Now redistricting amendment until 2011. From the Dispatch:

After preparing to rush a lastminute constitutional amendment through the legislature to delay the potential nonpartisan redrawing of legislative districts, House GOP leaders pulled the idea yesterday.

[. . .]

The proposal by House Republicans to delay redistricting until 2011 would need a threefifths vote in each chamber to reach the ballot. But about seven hours before a scheduled committee vote last night, House Speaker Jon A. Husted canceled the meeting.

Rep. Kevin DeWine, a Fairborn Republican and sponsor of the amendment, said after pondering the issue during the weekend and talking to attorneys, House GOP leaders decided it could wait a year.

"Doing it next year, we can actually fix many of the other problems that are becoming more and more obvious as we spend time getting through what they’re proposing," he said.

DeWine said leaders never counted heads to determine if the issue had the 60 votes needed to pass the House, where Republicans hold 60 seats.

Never counted heads? Bullshit. RON backers called DeWine's bluff and guess who blinked first? He knew he never had the votes.