Not sure if this should be in the policy forum instead... Anyone here voting for Youngkin because of

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

DP here.

Granted this is an anonymous board, but telling someone whose beef is that their concerns have fallen on deaf ears that they aren't credible is not going to help the Democrats in this or future elections. The consistent message from local Democrats in recent years has been that they only deign to listen when people say what they already want to hear.

There are only so many conspiracy theories one can tolerate before they all become a big blur.

If you want people to listen to you maybe rejoin us in reality first.

Renaming schools and redoing TJ admissions at the height of the pandemic
Making it so TJ Admissions are not merit based
Giving up the Carson site for the Western Co HS and using Hutchinson
VMPI
14 day quarantines, while all counties around us are making 7 days plus a negative PCR a work
Zoom in a Room and class monitors last year
2 DOJ lawsuits against FCPS on FAPE violations
Equity everything
Stopping all education for 11 days this year so that we can celebrate religious holidays. In a public school
Cancelling AP Psych and EnvironScience Exams because they fall on O Days and telling kids if they want to take them, they have to use the makeup block. U
The W. Potomac expansion
5 Eastern Co IB sites that struggle to graduate 40 full diploma candidates a year between them
And the entire foster luck of last year, starting with BB crashing, and going through not opening school in August not because it was unsafe,but because Brabrand gave all the teachers ADAs

Show me the conspiracy theory.

Show me which of these concerns are not grounded in reality.

Because every time you tell me these concerns are not valid, I become less inclined to vote D.

TRUTH.

This! I'm a dem and won't vote for Youngkin cause yeah anyone still slurping Trump is a hard NO for me, but I will not vote for Dems for school board anymore. FCPS has shown time it doesn't really care about education.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:So now if you are a parent organizing in your community to hold your local school board accountable you are a right wing puppet getting lots of funding.

That seems likely. Lol.

No, there are literally right-wing groups openly doing this. One infiltrated the TJ PTA and imploded it.

DP. What on earth are you babbling about? Links? The Coalition for TJ isn't "right-wing." They are fighting to keep TJ's admission standards selective. I don't even have kids at TJ, but can completely understand why the admissions standards shouldn't be watered down in the name of "diversity."

Parents Defending Education (definitely right-wing/Koch associates) had an exec member on the TJ PTA and coordinated to install a new president.

Any actual reputable links proving a Koch association? No? Then I guess you're lying. Again.

Sure.

Parents Defending Education is full of Koch associates and Trump activists. Here is the board:
https://defendinged.org/about/

And here are their connections to Koch/Trump.
https://fedsoc.org/contributors/nicoleneily

https://ij.org/staff/rachel-hannabass/

Richey
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/trump-and-devos-announce-new-hires-at-education-department/2017/06

Aimee Viana
https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/the-controversial-couple-heading-trumps-hispanic-education-efforts/2018/09

Nomani is a Trump/Youngkin activist:
https://www.npr.org/2016/11/12/501853618/muslim-woman-immigrant-and-trump-supporter


Nomani was elected as secretary to the TJ PTA and helped support the election of the current president in a dramatic takeover. They did all kinds of shady stuff as part of the PTA. I’ll have to dig up those old posts too.

There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education.

I stand with Democrats, especially childless ones, who want to dismantle and disrupt systems of hierarchy and oppression like science and technology magnet schools.

"There’s definitely something shady about any parent defending education."

Why would that be shady? Parents are supposed to advocate for this.

They aren’t really though. They just push GOP talking points/lies under the guise of “education”.

They DGAF about students, they just want your vote.

You're being dismissive about their concerns. Parents have every right to complain how things have been handled by the Democrats.

These aren’t just “parents” though. This isn’t just a “grassroots” organization.

This is a well-organized group of GOP political operatives pushing GOP taking points.

If they cared about students they wouldn’t work their way into PTA executive boards to include inflammatory messages in newsletters. They wouldn’t be pushing blatant lies in the name “education”.

Given the number of times people have been flat-out lied to by Democrats on the School Board your post falls flat. Not to mention, the supposedly non-partisan School Board members routinely campaign for Democratic candidates and show up at campaign events.

So just STFU with your faux concerns about parents who are “operatives” - they aren’t disqualified from holding views or advocating for their kids any more than anyone else.

+1,000
Apparently, it's fine for Democrats to lobby for their favored candidates, but not Republicans. There should be no question why so many are voting for Youngkin this time.

There is no “both sides”.

There is no D astroturfing organization here.

Yet again, you unwittingly make the case for a change from total Democratic domination of state and local government.

The GOP astroturfing means we need to elect GOP liars?

Logic FAIL.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of things that need addressing beyond a few school related matters. It's about the bigger picture which is where Youngkin will destroy VA and send it back to the deep south. Remember, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Are you seriously trying to suggest McAuliffe has some compelling vision? I don't see it. You are fear-mongering about what Youngkin would do in office and it's not persuasive.

A Republican governor and a Democratic state legislature and/or attorney general are fine. Force them to work together. If not, better preserving the status quo than Democrats positioned to impose an agenda on the state that continues to move further left.

+1
Well said. And I find it funny that one of the PPs keeps suggesting Republicans are "astroturfing" VA. If anything, that's exactly what Democrats are doing with their constant fear-mongering and insistence that a vote for Youngkin equals the downfall of VA. Ridiculous. I wonder who, if anyone, takes these twits seriously.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of things that need addressing beyond a few school related matters. It's about the bigger picture which is where Youngkin will destroy VA and send it back to the deep south. Remember, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Are you seriously trying to suggest McAuliffe has some compelling vision? I don't see it. You are fear-mongering about what Youngkin would do in office and it's not persuasive.

A Republican governor and a Democratic state legislature and/or attorney general are fine. Force them to work together. If not, better preserving the status quo than Democrats positioned to impose an agenda on the state that continues to move further left.

+1
Well said. And I find it funny that one of the PPs keeps suggesting Republicans are "astroturfing" VA. If anything, that's exactly what Democrats are doing with their constant fear-mongering and insistence that a vote for Youngkin equals the downfall of VA. Ridiculous. I wonder who, if anyone, takes these twits seriously.

They're getting desperate. It's finally dawned on them they have a real chance of losing the state.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If you choose to vote for Youngkin because of FCPS then you are letting FOX win as you are buying their soundbites.

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

Vote out the schoolboard on the next election, they are our problem, but voting for Youngkin is not going to help the situation.

Is there just one liberal troll here who keeps repeating the same talking points? Go away. People who are no doubt far more educated than you prefer Youngkin. I guess you'll have to see your way clear to realizing this.

Pretty sure this is the same poster who said “Youngkin means death to democracy.” He’s been nonstop with the unhinged posts.

+1
I doubt Youngkin will pull off a win, but if he does, we're going to have a replay of Nov. 2016. Tantrums galore.

[Anonymous]

There is more than one poster who can see obvious threat Republicans pose yo our democracy. If you can’t see it, you are not paying attention to the current Republican party.

[Anonymous]

Not sure why PP is so sure it will be a Democratic legislature. The House will almost certainly flip to Republican.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a lot of things that need addressing beyond a few school related matters. It's about the bigger picture which is where Youngkin will destroy VA and send it back to the deep south. Remember, the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.

Are you seriously trying to suggest McAuliffe has some compelling vision? I don't see it. You are fear-mongering about what Youngkin would do in office and it's not persuasive.

A Republican governor and a Democratic state legislature and/or attorney general are fine. Force them to work together. If not, better preserving the status quo than Democrats positioned to impose an agenda on the state that continues to move further left.

+1
Well said. And I find it funny that one of the PPs keeps suggesting Republicans are "astroturfing" VA. If anything, that's exactly what Democrats are doing with their constant fear-mongering and insistence that a vote for Youngkin equals the downfall of VA. Ridiculous. I wonder who, if anyone, takes these twits seriously.

Sounds like you don’t know what astroturfing means.

Read up, grasshopper.
https://apnews.com/article/business-health-coronavirus-pandemic-3157002e9d011e5283f55886b1c7078a

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is more than one poster who can see obvious threat Republicans pose yo our democracy. If you can’t see it, you are not paying attention to the current Republican party.

+1

[Anonymous]

Just saw another post by Melanie Meren boasting about her appearance at a Terry McAuliffe rally. This is what the School Board members in NoVa, who are supposed to be non-partisan by law, have been doing for many months, if not years.

When local School Board officials are this vocal about their unfettered allegiance to the political party that dominates local politics, it's not surprising that others - who don't want to antagonize the people vested with making decisions that affect their kids, their schools, and their communities - are often reluctant to publicly announce their support for Republican candidates. It's not like these folks haven't shown over the years that they keep score, reward their friends, and screw over their adversaries.

So that apparent lack of transparency sometimes gets recast as "astroturfing," when it's really more about self-preservation. It doesn't mean that there aren't plenty of Youngkin supporters locally in this election; it's just that there's a higher potential cost associated with publicly challenging those now in power than there is with proclaiming how much McAuliffe and all the local Democrats now in office deserve our total and complete support.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:If I were McAuliffe (or Youngkin for that matter), I’d be holding prime time town halls for Arlington, W. FFX, E FFX and Loudoun, and PWC, as well as one on SNs and one on gifted education. Livestream them and take questions submitted and chosen by a moderator.

Talk to parents and avoid words like equity.

As the soccer moms of NOVA go, so goes the election. Another rally with Biden really isn’t going to help McAuliffe as much as getting his education ideas out there. Assuming he has any, which I have seen no evidence of.

But what do I know? I’m apparently a MAGA moron.

This. I think we're (the NOVA area) are being missed this election.

It almost feels like they don't WANT to come this way to hold townhalls because parents are so vocal up here.

Both SILs live in southern VA (one in Chesapeake and one in Richmond) and neither one has any school concerns like we do up here. Yet, both candidates have been all over their areas campaigning.

Youngkin has had multiple events in NOVA, including one in Burke this past week that drew over 1000 people.

He has been at Cox Farm, done flash visits to a bunch of restaurants, and met with special ed families. His wife has done events in ffx focused on education.

Youngkin was in McLean for breakfast yesterday, and is going to be in Old Town on Saturday morning before hitting the suburbs.

Visit both Youngkin's and McAulife's social media pages and compare the two.

Youngkin is everywhere, talking to everyone across the state. He is doing 4 to 6 events a day. Today and yesterday were Nova, Richmond and the Norfolk area. Everywhere he goes there are huge crowds, even in the blue areas. According to his website, he will swing through the rural areas, then back to Nova by the weekend. The Rs usually just cede Nova. Youngkin is fighting for every vote and is hitting education hard.

Terry had the Obama and Dave Matthews events. But his social media has been dead and the events on his website are mostly door knocking with various out of state dem celebrities like the Michigan governor and the presidential crowd. He has completely ignored most of the state except for nova and Charlottesville.

Comparing just the social media, Youngkin is disciplined, positive, on message and emergizing. Terry is not.

Youngkin obviously knows that a Republican from NoVa is well positioned to be competitive because most of the rest of the state will vote Republican and a Republican candidate from NoVa can cut into the Democratic margin there more than, say, a Republican from Richmond or Harrisonburg would be able to (as McDonnell showed in 2009).

I assume both candidates are working their tails off at this point, but you're right that Youngkin's events seem to be about Youngkin interacting with a crowd, whereas McAuliffe's events seem to be more about high-profile politicians jetting in to lecture audiences about why they should vote for McAuliffe. That may not be the best strategy, even with the star power, because this election is largely about ordinary people wanting to have more of a voice and the message that gets conveyed when McAuliffe brings in all the stars is that the political class thinks the elites who travel in the same circles should continue to call all the shots.

Many of the latest polls seem to be saying the race is now a dead heat, and the momentum is clearly with Youngkin. Will be interesting to see what happens over the next week.

DP. Re: the bolded, this is the MO for all Democrats when they campaign. Sick to death of it.

[Anonymous]

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Anonymous wrote:Why is this thread allowed on a FCPS board and not in politics where it belongs. Why do you wack jobs have to ruin every board. You'll find a way to post this crap in travel next

I know. It's so upsetting when people with views different from mine decide to express them. These wack jobs need to be silenced.
- a liberal

The passion you see here is because we aren’t allowed to express our feelings in the real world for fear of being canceled. Cancellation in an UMC context means losing a job or opportunities for your children. We have all been hectored about how wanting school open means you are a murderous deginerate Trumper, and I have simply had my fill of nonsense. I want this election to be a wake up call on a whole host of things, not least of which is education.

I completely agree.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

You know, it’s McAuliffe, the SB, Brabrand, et al.’s eye rolling at parents with very legitimate concerns about things like TJ admissions, VMPI, mask and xpvaxx policies, closed schools, cancelling AP exams for O Days, lack of instruction on O Days, Zoom in a Room last year, athletics returning last year but fine arts still being restricted, the awfulness of the situation for SN kids, lack of summer school planning, school renaming when kids weren’t even allowed in the buildings they renamed, etc., etc. that got McAuliffe into the position of possibly losing what should be an very easy win.

Parents have legitimate concerns. Real concerns, not CRT and a porno book in the Hs library astroturfed concerns. Thee McAuliffe crew rolls their eyes, calls parents who raise issues about TJ or VMPI or loss of instructional time on O days or similar issues morons and says people who question the wisdom of moving AP exams because a religious minority would have to use the makeup days must be Trumpkins. Not only are Dems not listening to parents concerns— they are dismissing or outright mocking them.

Why would I vote for someone whose surrogates think I’m a moron because I’m concerned about teacher collective bargaining or VMPI or other statewide issues.

Keep dismissing parents concerns, and parents will keep voting for not McAuliffe.

Well said. I had actually forgotten about FCPS allowing sports - even indoor, unmasked *wrestling* - but not allowing in-person academic and arts clubs to meet. Such hypocritical fools.

How would Youngkin fix that?

Yes, we know the governor doesn't have sway with local school boards. You don't have to keep repeating your "gotcha" questions. A vote for Youngkin is a way to express disgust with the current all Democratic SB. It's a message. A message that you clearly don't comprehend.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you choose to vote for Youngkin because of FCPS then you are letting FOX win as you are buying their soundbites.

Don't cut off your nose to spite your face.

Vote out the schoolboard on the next election, they are our problem, but voting for Youngkin is not going to help the situation.

Is there just one liberal troll here who keeps repeating the same talking points? Go away. People who are no doubt far more educated than you prefer Youngkin. I guess you'll have to see your way clear to realizing this.

Pretty sure this is the same poster who said “Youngkin means death to democracy.” He’s been nonstop with the unhinged posts.

+1
I doubt Youngkin will pull off a win, but if he does, we're going to have a replay of Nov. 2016. Tantrums galore.

Personality wise, Youngkin is about as anti-Trump as you can get when it comes to politicians. Any objective observer would agree McAuliffe is much more Trump like in terms of personal and governing style than Youngkin.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:We’ve reached the point that my kid’s AP Psychology exam was cancelled— because it falls on an O Day. If she wants to sit for it, she has to do so during makeup days, which are a week before she graduates mood luck with that.

Once a public school system has decided not to allow any kids in the system to sit for a national exam because some kids from one religion might have to use makeup days as accommodations, it’s gotten out of hand.

I also have a TJ alum and am furious at the new admissions standards— or lack thereof.

Not voting for more of the same. I voted for Youngkin today. And you can do the “you were never a Dem to being with” thing. But, this is my first R vote in a general election (I’ve taken the R ballot a couple of times in primaries, for example to vote against Trump).

I have written members, attended townhall, watched SB meeting, signed petitions and carried signs. And it has made no difference. We can’t keep going like this.

And no. I’m not a moron. I’m pretty clear eyed about who Youngkin is. But, I also know that McAuliffe is in bed with teachers unions, and they are the ones who kept school closed last year.

Sure. We believe you. *eye roll*

You know, it’s McAuliffe, the SB, Brabrand, et al.’s eye rolling at parents with very legitimate concerns about things like TJ admissions, VMPI, mask and xpvaxx policies, closed schools, cancelling AP exams for O Days, lack of instruction on O Days, Zoom in a Room last year, athletics returning last year but fine arts still being restricted, the awfulness of the situation for SN kids, lack of summer school planning, school renaming when kids weren’t even allowed in the buildings they renamed, etc., etc. that got McAuliffe into the position of possibly losing what should be an very easy win.

Parents have legitimate concerns. Real concerns, not CRT and a porno book in the Hs library astroturfed concerns. Thee McAuliffe crew rolls their eyes, calls parents who raise issues about TJ or VMPI or loss of instructional time on O days or similar issues morons and says people who question the wisdom of moving AP exams because a religious minority would have to use the makeup days must be Trumpkins. Not only are Dems not listening to parents concerns— they are dismissing or outright mocking them.

Why would I vote for someone whose surrogates think I’m a moron because I’m concerned about teacher collective bargaining or VMPI or other statewide issues.

Keep dismissing parents concerns, and parents will keep voting for not McAuliffe.

Well said. I had actually forgotten about FCPS allowing sports - even indoor, unmasked *wrestling* - but not allowing in-person academic and arts clubs to meet. Such hypocritical fools.

Yep.

And this year, unmasked indoor wrestling still allowed, but theater performances must be masked, even if it is one kid on the stage doing a 2 minute monologue with the audience 15 to 20 feet away.

Are you freaking kidding me? Are band performances going to continue to be masked too, in this theater of the absurd? How on earth can they justify two guys groping one another, sweating on each other, and breathing in one another's faces - but not allow others to go unmasked? Pure idiocy.