VA Governor's Race: The Republican Invented Squirrel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In other words, if Youngkin wins (he won’t), it would be because of what Obama said about phony culture wars?

"Phony culture wars" is the left's squirrel. It's the left astroturfing campaign. Democrats are desperately trying to convince other Democrats that Republicans are actually making up things to be concerned about. I believe that's also called gaslighting.

In other words, no reasonable person would have these types of concerns about their school board, and no reasonable person would lash out at school boards?

[Anonymous]

This is a good article for those who wish to understand rather than simply demonstrate their party allegiance:

https://reason.com/2021/10/29/2-big-things-the-media-get-wrong-about-school-board-protests/

[Anonymous]

Latest Echelon Insights poll: Youngkin up by 15 points among voters with children in K-12 schools:

https://mobile.twitter.com/EchelonInsights/status/1454157176210173952

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The democrats made the squirrel. The squirrel is identity politics. It ate all the party’s nuts, became rabid and started biting well intentioned people who accidentally swept an acorn, and then became so wild and outlandish that it became the main show.

I doubt Youngkin will win, but I do think democrats have lost the thread. This past year, I was driven to quit my job due to lack of school/childcare. My child is really behind because I was trying to work instead of homeschooling. I’m exhausted and depleted and fat from the ordeal. I just want working school without insane quarantines. People have really basic, practical concerns.

This is also well said. The idea of actual concerns on the part of MANY voters (not just Republicans) being dismissed as some kind of "squirrel" or detraction, is ludicrous. Parents across the state, of all political stripes, have had it and are showing their frustration at the polls. Youngkin may not be able to pull off a win, but he will come very close - there's a reason for this, and it's not due to some made up BS.

Exactly. My problems are REAL. They aren’t particularly philosophical. I’m weary of the smug navel gazing.

[Anonymous]

This problem with School Boards is not new. It has just become more public. There are always parents upset about something, but the closure opened up a whole other can of worms. And, the school closure itself was likely the biggest worm.

[Anonymous]

If the GOP has such problems with school boards in nova, why not elect candidates more in line with their values? Oh wait. The can’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If the GOP has such problems with school boards in nova, why not elect candidates more in line with their values? Oh wait. The can’t.

Yet

[Anonymous]

Jeff, your post, I believe, misidentifies the true issue in Loudoun, as have so many across the political spectrums. The Commonwealth attorney chose to prosecute Mr. Smith, knowing that his daughter was assaulted in a bathroom at school, and he was at a school board meeting to highlight his daughter's assault and the school system's shortcomings in addressing and investigating the crime. Using prosecutorial discretion as a political hit job should make every American uneasy. That is not a squirrel.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:Jeff, your post, I believe, misidentifies the true issue in Loudoun, as have so many across the political spectrums. The Commonwealth attorney chose to prosecute Mr. Smith, knowing that his daughter was assaulted in a bathroom at school, and he was at a school board meeting to highlight his daughter's assault and the school system's shortcomings in addressing and investigating the crime. Using prosecutorial discretion as a political hit job should make every American uneasy. That is not a squirrel.

As I wrote in my post, at the time of the June 22 meeting at which Smith was arrested, the Loudoun County Sheriff's department had not completed its investigation of the May 28 assault. That investigation would not be completed until July 8. LCPS has a policy not to investigate crimes until the Sheriff has completed its investigation. As such, Smith's complaint should have been directed to the Sheriff rather than the school board.

By his own lawyer's admission, during the board meeting Smith argued loudly, clenched his fist, leaned toward the woman with whom he was arguing, and swore at her. When police attempted to remove him from the meeting, he resisted. That resulted in officers dragging him outside the room where he continued struggling and threatened to kick the officers' teeth out. He was charged that evening with two misdemeanors. At that time the prosecutor likely had not yet have been presented with any information about his daughter's assault that was still under police investigation. While there is some evidence that the prosecutor might have viewed Smith's case as an example of the string of violent incidents occurring at school board meetings, there is no evidence to suggest he was being punished for attempting to bring attention to his daughter's assault. I don't agree with you that the prosecution was a "political hit job".

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe’s closing statement today calling for a more diverse group of public school teachers is the icing on his victory cake.

He makes the point that 80% of public school teachers are white but 50% of students are not. He is offering a full ride to college for any POC who will commit to teaching for five years in a Virginia public school.

This is a brilliant idea, and I hope it is the first executive order he will sign once in the governor’s seat. He will have widespread support from the teacher’s groups, school boards, and parents who want their children taught by a more diverse group of teachers fully committed — for five years— to public education.

Thank you Governor McAuliffe.

I just hope he remembers that color doesn’t define quality of teaching. It’s the attitude, level of education and experience what counts. Attitude above all.
My kids have been discriminated by both teachers of both colors.

[Anonymous]

Terry will win, but maybe he could have st least acknowledged that some parevts have valid concerns? Common sense.

[Anonymous]

22:08 poster - as someone empowered to recommending charging decisions (albeit in the military justice system), and who has a sister serving as an ADA in another jurisdiction, I do not believe for one second that the Commonwealth attorney did not know the context of her decision to pursue jail time for Mr. Smith.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:22:08 poster - as someone empowered to recommending charging decisions (albeit in the military justice system), and who has a sister serving as an ADA in another jurisdiction, I do not believe for one second that the Commonwealth attorney did not know the context of her decision to pursue jail time for Mr. Smith.

But what do you believe that context to be?

[Anonymous]

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:22:08 poster - as someone empowered to recommending charging decisions (albeit in the military justice system), and who has a sister serving as an ADA in another jurisdiction, I do not believe for one second that the Commonwealth attorney did not know the context of her decision to pursue jail time for Mr. Smith.

But what do you believe that context to be?

She knew his daughter was the alleged victim in the sexual assault case - that is the context. Jail time for a father advocating for his victim daughter at a school board meeting is a ludicrous basis to advocate for imprisonment and conviction. If Biberaj did not know this context, it is Ostrich Syndrome (to name another animal).

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

Anonymous wrote:22:08 poster - as someone empowered to recommending charging decisions (albeit in the military justice system), and who has a sister serving as an ADA in another jurisdiction, I do not believe for one second that the Commonwealth attorney did not know the context of her decision to pursue jail time for Mr. Smith.

But what do you believe that context to be?

She knew his daughter was the alleged victim in the sexual assault case - that is the context. Jail time for a father advocating for his victim daughter at a school board meeting is a ludicrous basis to advocate for imprisonment and conviction. If Biberaj did not know this context, it is Ostrich Syndrome (to name another animal).

Well I am not sure that advocating for your daughter includes resisting the police and threatening to kick their teeth in. Smith was found guilty by a judge. Do you consider him part of the hit job?