Did they suggest who should be Governor instead? This is not something thatâs happening in isolation.
Who cares? Obviously, you havenât been reading the comments. Anyone, no matter what or who, if they ever put on blackface, they should be drummed out of office. No exceptions. No time limits. If we end up losing the House, governors and state Democrats, who cares? Itâs the purity and outrage that matters. Amirite?
Sounds about right. The perfect has become the enemy of the good. We wonât stop until we find Gov. Unicorn.
Here are some heterodox thoughts on the matter. Questions I have which in no way should be construed to indicate what I personally believe in this matter, but that I think need to be considered and discussed:
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Shouldnât whether or not Ralph Northam stays in office be up to Ralph Northam and the voters of Virginia to decide? I havenât seen any reporting that indicates he violated any law, and it shouldnât matter whether or not we approve of, condone, accept or excuse what he did.
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Donât we have a system and a process that should be allowed to work, irrespective of what some people believe is in the best interest of the Party? In the case of crimes being committed that process is through indictments and trials or through impeachment. In all other cases the ballot box should be where this is adjudicated, should Northam choose not to leave voluntarily.
Please discuss.
Northam has snatched defeat from the jaws of victory ⌠he was in a difficult situation - but one that he appeared to be potentially able to survive ⌠there were people who were willing to listen to his contrition and regret for being ignorant and immature 35+ years ago ⌠and if he displayed remorse ⌠hold back on total condemnation ⌠but then� ⌠from a crisis Management standpoint this is a case study in stupidity by Northam.
Hopefully they are taking so long just to make sure and arrange it so they keep all these offices filled by democrats, like the majority wanted.
Maybe his most consequential offense in the eyes of the WaPo is being âartlessâ in his response. Blackface, as tone-deaf and repugnant as it may be, was not illegal when he did it some 30+ years ago and still isnât. His long record of distinguished public service since then and lack of any more recent racist acts or speech counts for a lot to this Virginian.
Yeah I think timeframe has a lot to do with it. Seems like SNL had folks doing it back then too without meaning overt racism even if now we realize it was racist, even if slight.
I hear that Unicorn is very, very hard on his staff.
Still digesting a couple of reports that
- The yearbook was something that no one paid much attention to, (obviously) that grads like Northam rarely saw or bought.
- There were examples of pranking photos before and after this.
And again, the combination of Dem factionalism and GOP ratfucking may be at work.
WAPOâs is one of the better-reasoned articles calling for Northam to resign. He has handled the thing poorly since the story broke, and thatâs importantâit does undercut his ability to do the job he was elected for.
The best thing that could happen now is probably that Fairbanks resigns (I donât see how he survives what seems to me to be a very credible allegation of sexual assault), Northam appoints a Lt. Governor and announces that heâll resign when s/he is confirmed by the legislature. (I gather that confirmation is required, but I admit that I donât know Virginia law.)
Nah. Ralph should stay. The VA Dems had the most pragmatic election ever. They beat the GOP by a whopping 9 point margin b/c they opposed Trumpism and wanted to help people with medicaid expansion. Why should Dems countenance jeopardizing those gains just because of the actions of these 3 dopes?
amen! blackface, 30 years ago, was quite commonâŚand I do think it is up to the voters in VIRGINIA to decide whether this man is voted out of officeâŚthe hullabaloo drummed up by
ânewsâ papers and tv taking heads have no place in deciding who is GOVERNORâŚits the voters. stupid!
No, youâre not rite, IMHO. Call me stupid or racist, as you wish, but I believe that what matters most is not the past but the present. It was many years ago: who is he today? What does he sincerely believe today? What are his honest actions today? . . . Oh, now I get it . . . you were being sarcastic. Sounds like perhaps we might be in agreement on this, after all.
Well, I think stepping down is a kind of acknowledgement that it is now realized to be racist, even if slight, and needs to stop. Even if when he did it, he did not do it to be racist. I just hope they do it so that all these guys are replaced with Democrats as that, in my mind, is one of the main thing voters voted for.
Including his two (!) votes for Geirge W Bush.
I was being sarcastic. I agree with you and some other reasonable people here.