Originally published at: VA Leader Dismisses Plan to Undo Court Ruling While Dems Try A Hail Mary at SCOTUS - TPM – Talking Points Memo
As Virginia Democrats take their map fight to the U.S. Supreme Court, Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell (D) is flatly rejecting Democrats’ reported musings about how to undo the Virginia Supreme Court’s decision overturning a recently passed redistricting amendment. Surovell told a local journalist and The New Republic similar things on Monday: that there…
Republicans wouldn‘t hesitate, if the shoe was on the other foot. I mean FL’s state constitution bans partisan gerrymandering, but nobody believes that’ll slow, let alone stop, DeSantis from bulldozing minority districts.
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“It’s never too early to surrender.”
— Virginia Senate Majority Leader Scott Surovell
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“…what are voters meant to think? That unilaterally respecting norms is more important than protecting minority voters?”
Ladies and gentlemen, the Russians have taken over Alaska and the Venezuelans have over-run Florida. We have to respect States Rights and the wishes of government social media.
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if Democrats refuse to rig the system in the states they control,
I’m sure I’ll get some good old TPM flack for this, but C’mon, “rig the system”? Fight fire with fire, sure, but don’t go over the line Sweet Jesus. Regardless of what the Republicans do on their end to “rig the system”, the Democrats are in great position to win back the House. They don’t have to cheat, they just have to pound every Trump fuck up from A-Z and how Johnson et al have done nothing to stop him. I was looking at the far right wing Gateway Pundit site today, a strong MAGA base, and those folks are as pissed off as can be about gas prices and how Trump is the problem. They were not like that a month ago. Sure they won’t vote for a Democrat*, but the independents are ripe for the taking. Instead of worrying about GOP gerrymandering, the Dems should be looking at the advantages the new districts create. The GOP majorities in each are reduced, likely enough in many cases to get a Dem elected if they GOTV. The mood in the county is ugly and getting uglier. The system is already rigged for the Democrats. They just need to not screw up.
*Some MAGAs might vote for a Graham Platner-like candidate. Nominate more of these in the newly created districts.
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Will the MAGA vote against the party that allowed the conman and his sons to hawk a phone with a $100. deposit that will never appear and suddenly you don’t get a refund?
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$59 million goes “Poof!”
The funniest thing about this particular grift (to me anyway) is that these numbskulls are genuinely surprised they won’t get their money back.
What world-class suckers.
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This is serious stuff:
The Trump regime is planning to “rededicate” America to God. Steve Schmidt breaks down the cult of Trump worship and warns of the real dangers behind the regime’s religious fanaticism.
OT - My apologies in advance for co-opting the thread but the last couple of days have been a bit crazy and this hopefully will explain my absence.
The project is going badly - they’re re-assessing everything and pretty much starting from scratch 23 months into the timeline.
Mother’s day came and went with no communication from my daughter at the farm - no text, no email, no phone call. I sent a text to what had been the family group text that’s been in place for many months. No response and one of the grandkids actually ‘left’ the chat.
My consulting company I’ve worked with for three years is being absorbed by IBM. I’d planned on working at least to my 70th birthday which is in the first week of June. I’ve been waiting for the transition letter and, finally, today, I asked what was going on.
The answer was, I’m not getting one. My last day as a consultant will be 29 May. Here’s the shipping labels for the laptops; wrap up whatever you’re doing. Although I’d planned to leave at some point, I’d’ve rather done it on my terms than on theirs.
The bright spots of the week are that we are finally getting on with painting the interior of the dome house - we don’t have cabinets yet and internet goes in tomorrow. It won’t be finished this week, the painting, but progress. I’m also playing flute for a local seniors chorus, and there was a performance today that allowed me to walk away for a bit.
And finally, I got word today from the town to put in for my schedule to work the primaries and the general election this year. I will be there, 6a to 2p - told ‘em to put me where they’re short handed. I will be there with bells on.
I will be here a little less over the next week or so. But I’ll be back. Leave a light on for me, if you would, please.
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So sorry to hear all that you’re going through, I hope that the knowledge that you are very, very much liked and respected here is some solace during all the drama.
As as someone who’s been through the “retirement portal”, I can assure you that after a period of “confusion” and feeling somewhat strange, it will all “settle down”. It took me a year or two, but now - four years in - I’m settling into the groove, with my various projects, helping various friends and neighbors and various activities that have helped me “settle in” to Quebec after a couple of decades in “Amerikana”.
So wishing you all the best, and a very well-earned Mother’s Day. Our daughter fought her mum from her early teens but today is fully aboard, so wishing the same for you! 
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I actually tried to retire from this group, at least from full-time consulting in November of 23. That didn’t go so good. My payroll lady said she’d heard in the discussions that I ‘am a critical resource’ for this group. My previous project manager is pursuing the reasoning, since I’m nearly full time on the one project I’m on. I don’t hope for anything other than shipping labels and final paycheck.
I need to get off the stage and let the others coming up behind me to get themselves situated. It’s time.
Thanks for the kind words.
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This. As @arrendis tries to remind us, don’t become the opponent you’re battling. Finding the sweet spot in that balancing act is hard but necessary.
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That’s my girl!
The light is always on for you with me and everyone here.
This was the really sad part for me. What’s up with this trend of children cutting off relations with their parents? Imperfect but decent and devoted parents/people? It’s a national trend, so you are not alone. There are online groups of parents in your situation you might link up with.
Not a fan of the Ten Commandments in every classroom (obviously), but what happened to “Honor thy father and thy mother”?
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Best wishes to you - sorry IBM weren’t communicating, I hope your retirement (even a little early) goes well,. along with your painting project.
I do keep thinking about volunteering for the November election here, I’m just concerned that I’ll get bored senseless with the pace of 2 days of training ahead of that. And I’m not really a customer facing person 
We’ll use solar powered batteries to keep a light on for you!
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So sorry to hear about Mother’s Day. And as for the job, I can only shake my head that there’s no heads up on things like that. Were they worried you’d say “screw it, here’s your laptop, I’m done right now” and leave them in the lurch for the last few weeks of work they could get out of you? Or perhaps the person tasked with letting you know didn’t like the idea of having to deal with it. Sadly, the most likely option is “Let someone know in advance? Why, what difference would it make?”
In any case, you’ve shown over and over how strong and resilient you are. Hang in there, remember to wear a hat when you’re painting because we both know exactly where that wayward spatter will land and thank you for your service - working the elections.
We’ll be here waiting for you.
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As a Virginian I am furious.
I’m a 58 year old white guy in deep red Accomack County. My neighbors are MAGA-flying Republican. They literally told me on election night that the black voters state wide were hypocritical for not voting for Winsome Sears (sp?) because they put up a black candidate. I was so shocked I couldn’t even respond.
I’ve voted Dem since Clinton. I’ve watched McConnell game the SCOTUS. I’ve been paid and volunteer campaign staff. I’ve worked in multiple Dem administrations in community relations and comms rolls (DC). And I have NEVER felt so demotivated and used as I do by VA Dems current stance. They have no fight in them. I genuinely wonder if they ever took our state flag seriously or even gave it a thought.
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You betcha.
I’m sorry about all the crap coming down at once. I highly recommend community music as a way to stay sane.
CNN:
“100% they’re going to stop,” Trump said during an interview on WABC’s “Sid and Friends in the Morning” when asked whether he believed Iran could be prevented from enriching uranium and developing a bomb.
Trump said he has been directly engaged with Iranian officials during the talks.
“I deal with them,” Trump said. “And they said that we’re going to get the dust. I call it the nuclear dust because it’s appropriate. And we’re going to get it.”
The president also said the US does not need to move quickly toward a deal.
“We’re not going to rush anything, we have a blockade,” Trump said.
It isn’t “dust” you moron, it’s uranium hexaflouride gas. He continues spouting what Witkoff told him in the earlier negotiations because that other moron misunderstood the enrichment process. And apparently everyone in Trump’s inner circle is too scared to correct him.
Or maybe he just finds it useful to call it dust, because it sounds easier to remove. Lies or incompetence, I don’t know which is worse.
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I played flute yesterday for the seniors chorus; I have bell choir tonight and regular choir at church on Sunday. They also want me to do summer music. I’ve got plenty of music…..
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