VA Governor's Race: The Republican Invented Squirrel

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

jsteele wrote:

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".

Re: the bolded - the woman was screaming at him that he was lying about his daughter being raped. I think I would have reacted exactly the same way.

+1. I love all the holier than thou people acting like if someone had hurt their child they wouldn't act unseemly in any way lol. Give me a break. Of course violence is never the answer but acting like he's a terrorists because he flipped out trying to get answers and be heard about his DAUGHTER BEING RAPED and then hearing someone say he was lying, is just insane and absolutely dishonest.

Local law enforcement handled the situation. What I think some of the GOP senators are concerned about is whether the AG’s memo has a chilling effect on speech. A reasonable reader would probably say “yes.” The AG offered several reassurances u see questioning. He should probably redraft it to make some of that more explicit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no Republican squirrel.

This conflict is entirely a product of the left wing movement to change the way history is taught and to push doctrine - like through so-called anti-racist instruction - into public school curriculums. Of course this will rightfully generate pushback. Right or wrong, this is entirely driven by force on the left.

If this was just about teaching slavery, Jim Crow, and the effects of slavery and discrimination on communities to this day, we'd not be in this situation.

Exactly. It's the next part that's so disgusting. "Now that you agree that you're an oppressor because you're white, what are you willing to give up as retribution?"

Nobody is coming for your material things, ma’am/sir. I think most people just want to begin examining our past more critically so we can push our way out of a systemically racist system

Can you define "push our way out of a systemically racist system?"

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

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.

The challenge McAuliffe faces is that presented by this post - one cannot read it and know whether it's sincere or anti-McAuliffe trolling in disguise.

So his closing argument is that the biggest problem Virginia is facing is too many white teachers? And that the remedy is for taxpayers to agree to underwrite the university education of students who are POC, but not white?

Were the Asian students who were excelling in public school - so much that the VDOE under Northam urged local school systems to reduce their representation in the state's Governor's Schools - unable to achieve due to the under-representation of Asian teachers in Virginia? Would it pass muster under the Constitution to confer a benefit on one group of college students based on their race, but not another (that alone makes me think you may be mischaracterizing his proposal).

Was this already part of Terry's education platform (and, if so, why wasn't he giving it more emphasis), or is this a last-minute policy proposal to respond to poll numbers suggesting McAuliffe's favorable ratings on education issues were declining (in which case it comes across as desperate)?

In any event, I don't begrudge the moderator for using the forum as a platform to audition his editorial-writing skills, even if he's a DC resident and his ability to speak authoritatively on issues of concern to those who live in Virginia carries about as much weight as someone from Vienna or Springfield weighing in on whether Janeese Lewis George is doing a good job representing Ward 4 on the DC Council. I do suspect that most Virginians have already made up their minds at this point, and that last-minute appeals on election eve are largely exercises in vain.

This. I don't understand the point of this entire thread. Virginians (and I suspect many people from other states feel the same way) don't really like being preached to by people from other states that don't really have anything to do with us. Is this thread suppose to change some Virginia voter's mind? In either direction? I really want people to stop using our election as a prop for their own person/professional gain, basically coming in, stirring things up and then leaving. This is a state wide election. I hate that it has been dragged into some national political spotlight.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no Republican squirrel.

This conflict is entirely a product of the left wing movement to change the way history is taught and to push doctrine - like through so-called anti-racist instruction - into public school curriculums. Of course this will rightfully generate pushback. Right or wrong, this is entirely driven by force on the left.

If this was just about teaching slavery, Jim Crow, and the effects of slavery and discrimination on communities to this day, we'd not be in this situation.

Exactly. It's the next part that's so disgusting. "Now that you agree that you're an oppressor because you're white, what are you willing to give up as retribution?"

Nobody is coming for your material things, ma’am/sir. I think most people just want to begin examining our past more critically so we can push our way out of a systemically racist system

Can you define "push our way out of a systemically racist system?"

As soon as you can clarify the retribution you fear

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There is no Republican squirrel.

This conflict is entirely a product of the left wing movement to change the way history is taught and to push doctrine - like through so-called anti-racist instruction - into public school curriculums. Of course this will rightfully generate pushback. Right or wrong, this is entirely driven by force on the left.

If this was just about teaching slavery, Jim Crow, and the effects of slavery and discrimination on communities to this day, we'd not be in this situation.

Yes, this absolutely is a Republican-invented squirrel. The sky is blue, but Republicans are insisting that the sky is red, that Democrats made it that way, and that they alone will change it back to blue. Saying that this is entirely driven by the left - to put it bluntly - completely bonkers.

Your statement is completely meaningless. The push to change the learning environment is entirely driven by the left, rightly or wrongly.

The rape of a young girl in a LCPS may be the event that has brought the wider discussion national attention, but this argument has been going on since well before.

[Anonymous]

McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

You have to win Loudoun. Whoever wins there wins.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

You have to win Loudoun. Whoever wins there wins.

Wrong D have too many votes

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

McAuliffe's campaign has been pathetically awful. I hate Trump but anyone with eyes and ears can see that Youngkin is not Trump.

Anyway I still think McAuliffe wins by 1.5 to 2 points.

[Anonymous]

I do agree Loudoun seems crazy recently. Will be interesting to see how that goes. Still more voters in terms of #s in Fairfax though.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

McAuliffe's campaign has been pathetically awful. I hate Trump but anyone with eyes and ears can see that Youngkin is not Trump.

Anyway I still think McAuliffe wins by 1.5 to 2 points.

Yeah - I also thought the Ds were trying too hard were that Trump like, and I also give a slight edge to McAuliffe. But boy, what an upset if he loses.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

What do you mean by “temporarily exiled POTUS” and “not former POTUS”?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

McAuliffe's campaign has been pathetically awful. I hate Trump but anyone with eyes and ears can see that Youngkin is not Trump.

Anyway I still think McAuliffe wins by 1.5 to 2 points.

He’s not Trump but he’s a Trump Republican.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:McAuliffe has Fairfax County, Alexandria, the People's Republic of Arlington, Richmond City, Norfolk and Petersburg. That's it. Youngkin has everything else in the state. The Youngkin signs flood Loudoun while there's nothing for McAuliffe.

McAuliffe's done. You have to run a campaign on themes besides "I'm not the former POTUS". Uh, it's temporarily exiled POTUS not former POTUS, and you're not running against him. You're running against a real person. Youngkin +6.

I wouldn't count on McAuliffe having Fairfax today. If he does win, I suspect it will be quite close.

[jsteele]

Anonymous wrote:This. I don't understand the point of this entire thread. Virginians (and I suspect many people from other states feel the same way) don't really like being preached to by people from other states that don't really have anything to do with us. Is this thread suppose to change some Virginia voter's mind? In either direction? I really want people to stop using our election as a prop for their own person/professional gain, basically coming in, stirring things up and then leaving. This is a state wide election. I hate that it has been dragged into some national political spotlight.

The point of this thread was for me to provide my own analysis of the election. I didn't expect to convince anyone of anything and, given my post's length, doubted anyone would even read it. I think that it is extraordinary that a conservative activist admitted on the record that CRT was a completely made-up boogyman and that so many Virginians completely fell for it. In addition, I am concerned about the Republicans' adoption of violent confrontation as a campaign tactic. If Youngkin is successful, we will see this strategy repeated in the 2022 midterms.