The new state congressional map, drawn in secret by Democrats, has Republicans weeping, wailing and gnashing their teeth.

Smarting from staggering losses in last fall's congressional elections, Illinois Democrats are using their control over the reapportionment process to reverse the results.

In doing so, Democratic map-makers not only are taking revenge on their Republican rivals but trying to set the stage for their party to win back control of the U.S. House of Representatives.

That, in a nutshell, explains the gerrymandered congressional map passed this week by the Illinois General Assembly.

Unfortunately, the partisan machinations once again leave voters on the sidelines as incumbent or aspiring members of the U.S. House try to select their constituents rather than allowing the voters to elect their congressional representatives.

This is no way to produce election maps for state and federal elections, but that is the way the game currently is played in Illinois. The politicians set the rules, and the public pays the bill.

Most local attention has been focused on veteran U.S. Rep. Tim Johnson, an Urbana Republican placed in the new 13th congressional district. Johnson's residence is located at the far eastern edge of a district that runs all the way to the Missouri border, and Democrats think they can beat him on that new turf.

But Johnson is just one Republican incumbent on the Democratic Party's hit list. Most Republican incumbents either find themselves in a district with other incumbents or placed in new districts that map-makers believe are tailor-made to elect Democrats.

In terms of pure gerrymandering skill, it's a work of art.

From a tactical standpoint, the Illinois gerrymander, which Democratic operatives believe could result in picking up six Republican seats, is crucial to their national strategy.

Illinois is one of just seven states where Democrats have complete control of the reapportionment process.

In those other six states, which include Massachusetts, Maryland and Connecticut, Democrats already control 25 of 32 congressional seats.

But in Illinois, Republicans have a 11-8 majority in the state's congressional delegation, creating the possibility of a very rich harvest if the Democratic gerrymander is successful.

U.S. Rep. Steve Israel, chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said big pickups in Illinois are crucial if Democrats are to win the 24 seats they need to regain their majority in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Gerrymanders, of course, are not always successful. Last fall, Republican U.S. Rep. Bobby Schilling, defeated 17th District incumbent U.S. Rep. Phil Hare in one of the most grossly gerrymandered Democratic districts in Illinois history. Shifting demographics and voter moods can't always be predicted with accuracy.

Nonetheless, what's been done in Illinois is obvious, and the courts are unlikely to do anything to change it.

Democrats, naturally, are gleeful as they anticipate electoral advances.

Republicans are inconsolable as they study the shifting sands and contemplate their bleak futures.

But elections are not just about the political elite. Unfortunately, what's best for the voters, in terms of real choices and competitive elections, isn't a subject that draws much concern when the partisan political map-makers go to work.