Nobody knows what the new districts are. Nobody knows when they'll know.
The April primary gets moved, perhaps to summer. There's a taxpayer-funded federal lawsuit. Then come blame games, and likely more litigation.
Plus, all other issues such as, I don't know, work on the state's infrastructure, economy, tax policies, education or social-services crises, get pushed aside as lawmakers and judges try to fix the fracas they created.
Meanwhile, there are six, count 'em six, House vacancies, three in Philly, that go unfilled until all this is resolved - a process that could take months and months - opening the door to revolution over taxation without representation.
(Although, honestly, the more vacancies our Legislature has, the better for us all.)
Whom can we thank for this latest demonstration of how not to govern?
You be the judge. I'll offer the timeline.
* Feb. 3, 2011: U.S. Census Bureau begins releasing new census data to states for redistricting purposes.
* Dec. 12, 2011: After frittering away the year, legislative leaders offer a patently partisan plan designed to help Republicans maintain majorities for the next 10 years.
* Jan. 25: Pa. Supremes vote 4-3 to reject the plan as unconstitutional.
And the fun's just starting.
Three justices, Chief Ron Castille, Mike Eakin and Max (no relation) Baer, jet off to Puerto Rico's luxurious oceanfront Caribe Hilton - set in 17 acres of exotic gardens - without saying why the plan is unconstitutional or offering guidance as to what to do next.
No doubt they were too busy packing.
Oh, and the justices' San Juan junket is a Pennsylvania Bar Association conference to consort with lawyers who contribute generously to their campaigns and then appear before them on cases such as, well, redistricting.
