We need to win the governor's race in Virginia. McAuliffe must win. The media says the race is tightening....who knows if it is, or if it's their usual horserace BS.
@polarberry Just a reminder, the attempted recall of Gov. Newsome was supposed to be close according to the polls (maximum 2-3% margin), and it ended up being a complete blowout at about 65%-35% against the recall. I have little to no faith in the media or political pundits and their prognostications, mainly because they have ads to sell, and fear and panic sell like nothing else.
Agree. Fear, panic and click-bait. Front-and-center articles on mainstream sites like CNN from papers that are owned by extreme conservative, right-wing billionaires.
I hope the Virginia race isn't as close as the constant headlines about it are harping, because Youngkin is a Twitler/Kavanaugh love child.
I live in southeastern Virginia and have been very worried about this race - especially seeing what Trumpublican governors are doing in other states. I feel we've been very lucky with Governor Northram during Covid (the fact that he's a doctor certainly helped) and Virginia has made much progress on progressive issues these past few years.
I've also seen much more enthusiasm from "Bumpkin" (i.e. Youngkin) supporters than McAuliffe in my area. Youngkin signs are everywhere and only a handful of (much smaller) McAuliffe signs. Also, a few weeks ago, I was happy to finally see some McAuliffe signs along the road medians on my way to work, only to see that someone had removed most of these by the next day. I've seen Youngkin folks canvassing my neighborhood, but no McAuliffe folks. There's a Youngkin HQ near one of the grocery stores I go to. I've gotten some Youngkin advertising in the mail, but nothing yet from McAuliffe. I have been glad to start seeing more and varied commercials on TV for McAuliffe, but Youngkin started his much earlier over the summer.
I just feel that Youngkin and his supporters are making much more of an effort than McAuliffe and his supporters at this time and that worries me.
Worrisome indeed. I thought Virginia was on a progressive trend? Especially with younger voters. I watched the Lee statue come down. Long, long overdue.
I just realized you mentioned the progressive trend in your post. The support for Twitler Jr. is puzzling.
I believe Virginia is still technically considered a purple state. We've been leaning Democrat, but there is still a large Republican undercurrent, especially in the rural parts of the state. It's the urban areas, especially Northern Virginia that seem to carry us to Democratic victories.
The Trumpublicans have been riled up in recent years over Trump, gun laws, Trans school and bathroom policies (reacting to progressive policies that have passed our state legislature), and, of course, masking and vaccines, among many other issues. I'm hoping that they are just a very loud and vocal minority.
Yes the Lee statue came down (despite a vocal protest and lawsuit to keep it there), but don't forget that Charlottesville, Virginia was the location of the Unite the Right Rally in 2017 that included white supremacists and a car attack on peaceful protesters.
So I am not sure this goes here but it seems mostly on topic. Anyway, one of the things I hope comes from the turning of the wheel is I am able to gain the knowledge of what I am supposed to be doing. Right now I have gone through a series of jobs, and a period of unemployment due to all that has gone on, with no focus or image of what I would want to do. This is particularly frustrating when the people around me are of the type where they knew their calling from a young age (my mom, for example, lived and breathed teaching from her college years to when she retired, and loved it the whole time long) while I draw a blank when I think about it.
Maybe what I am supposed to be doing doesn't exist yet, which is why I am going from job to job and without an answer. Or maybe the moment of inspiration hasn't struck. I don't know, but its like "come on, please, give me a sign that this is what I am supposed to do."
When I was in high school and parts of college I always felt there was no point because I had this feeling of global calamity in the back of my head. It began to fade during the Obama years and interestingly enough never came back - not sure if it meant that there might have been a moment when darkness might of won but forces pushed it back. All I know is that the sort of 'what is the point" (not on a personal level for the record, I love life, just want to make that clear) has stuck with me when it comes to career goals and such.
Anyway, not sure what this will gain but it feels like I needed to write it, if that makes sense, and so I am.
PS. Looking forward to the upload of the newest mass predictions. With how much light this site gives the least I can do is support it in a small way. So looking forward to that in the next few days.