Political Randomness

[Unagi]

They're notable for being the firm who represented Dr. Ford in the Kavanaugh kerfuffle, so yeah, you could say they're heavy hitters (at least for the time being).

Optics ftw

[pr0ner]

Oh. My. God.

https://www.twitter.com/jmartNYT/status ... 6391094273

[Max Peck]

https://twitter.com/MarkHerringVA/statu ... 9533519872

So if the governor, lieutenant governor and attorney general all have to go, who's next in the line of succession?

[pr0ner]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

[El Guapo]

Every Baby Boomer In Country Urged To Resign After Photos Emerge Of Them In Blackface.

Man, it's almost as if Virginia has a long ingrained history of racism or something.

[YellowKing]

Just to show there are crazies on both sides, my brother had a customer at his screenprinting company the other day get enraged that they wouldn't print a FUCK TRUMP shirt. The reason wasn't political; the company simply has a policy of not printing profanity. They suggested a number of other alternatives like "Dump Trump," etc.

The guy got furious and told my brother he was a fascist Nazi defending a fascist Nazi.

The irony is that my brother is about as anti-Trump and liberal as you can possibly get. He's a vegan theater hippie who studies African-American history.

[stessier]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

I mean, after that you must be getting pretty close, right?

[El Guapo]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

I mean, after that you must be getting pretty close, right?

Pr0ner, just remember to delete all the pictures of you in blackface before they get to your turn in line.

[pr0ner]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

I mean, after that you must be getting pretty close, right?

Pr0ner, just remember to delete all the pictures of you in blackface before they get to your turn in line.

I know that's never happened but there are pictures of me as a kid dressed like a ghost. That's not gonna work out well for me.

[gilraen]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

[

[El Guapo]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

I mean, after that you must be getting pretty close, right?

Pr0ner, just remember to delete all the pictures of you in blackface before they get to your turn in line.

I know that's never happened but there are pictures of me as a kid dressed like a ghost. That's not gonna work out well for me.

Well, after all of the pictures of those ahead of you come out, that won't look so bad.

[geezer]

The irony is that my brother is about as anti-Trump and liberal as you can possibly get. He's a vegan theater hippie who studies African-American history.

Y'all must have had some fun back before you went centrist

[El Guapo]

The irony is that my brother is about as anti-Trump and liberal as you can possibly get. He's a vegan theater hippie who studies African-American history.

Y'all must have had some fun back before you went centrist

I imagine that they also had quite a few fights about how YellowKing got to inherit the YellowMonarchy, while his brother's still stuck being YellowPrince.

[stessier]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

[pr0ner]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

Democrats also probably feel like they need to eat their own for 2020 optics vs Trump.

[El Guapo]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

Democrats also probably feel like they need to eat their own for 2020 optics vs Trump.

This stuff is 100% something requiring a deep apology for, especially in the 1980s (not like blackface was super socially acceptable then either). I'm more on the fence on whether this is something that people should be resigning over, though.

[$iljanus]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

I'm not African American but if I were I'd probably be less "youthful indiscretion" and more "So you're telling me that there's no qualified people in my state that haven't paraded around in blackface that can represent me?" Just saying.

[El Guapo]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

I'm not African American but if I were I'd probably be less "youthful indiscretion" and more "So you're telling me that there's no qualified people in my state that haven't paraded around in blackface that can represent me?" Just saying.

I mean, among people who grew up largely in the 1960s - 1980s in Virginia? Probably a lot fewer than one would hope.

[Sepiche]

As long as a politician doesn't have other racial issues in their recent past, and are sufficiently apologetic, I personally feel like issues from so long ago do need to be forgiven... it's how people grow, and an iron rule for only one party that any poor race related choice ever made in your life disqualifies you from public office, is not sustainable.

That said, how one handles the allegations is important, and Northam's handling of it has been ridiculous and embarrassing.

[pr0ner]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

Democrats also probably feel like they need to eat their own for 2020 optics vs Trump.

This stuff is 100% something requiring a deep apology for, especially in the 1980s (not like blackface was super socially acceptable then either). I'm more on the fence on whether this is something that people should be resigning over, though.

How dare you have a reasoned opinion about this!

[$iljanus]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

I'm not African American but if I were I'd probably be less "youthful indiscretion" and more "So you're telling me that there's no qualified people in my state that haven't paraded around in blackface that can represent me?" Just saying.

I mean, among people who grew up largely in the 1960s - 1980s in Virginia? Probably a lot fewer than one would hope.

The blackface population probably trends a bit higher, but for me personally I'm not sure if I would be willing to settle for the best we can hope for. Nothing is stopping the governor from taking his apology tour on the road as a private citizen.

I would be curious about what African Americans in VA think. Do they feel like it's just another thing they need to forgive? I would be sympathetic if they expect better. Besides, the gov sort of blew it with his apology/ non-apology.

[$iljanus]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

Wow, it's like a decapitation alpha strike against the Dem. leadership. Well played.

[El Guapo]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

I'm not African American but if I were I'd probably be less "youthful indiscretion" and more "So you're telling me that there's no qualified people in my state that haven't paraded around in blackface that can represent me?" Just saying.

I mean, among people who grew up largely in the 1960s - 1980s in Virginia? Probably a lot fewer than one would hope.

The blackface population probably trends a bit higher, but for me personally I'm not sure if I would be willing to settle for the best we can hope for. Nothing is stopping the governor from taking his apology tour on the road as a private citizen.

I would be curious about what African Americans in VA think. Do they feel like it's just another thing they need to forgive? I would be sympathetic if they expect better. Besides, the gov sort of blew it with his apology/ non-apology.

Yeah, Northam really screwed this up badly. I'm guessing he was the one in the Klan outfit, at this point.

[hepcat]

Good Lord, I went to college in the 80s and even I don't recall ever once thinking that putting on black face for a costume party was the right thing to do. Nor do I recall any friends doing it. This has to be a southern thing primarily.

[El Guapo]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

Wow, it's like a decapitation alpha strike against the Dem. leadership. Well played.

Yeah, there is a 0% chance of that happening. If Democrats felt the need to replace all three of them, and somehow had the leverage to force them all to resign, I imagine that they wouldn't resign all at once, but rather would have the Governor / Lt. Governor resign, then appoint a replacement (hopefully with no blackface pictures) and then elevate the replacement to the governorship.

[stessier]

Democrats have to learn to stop eating their own. It's beyond fucking ridiculous that someone's racially-insensitive yearbook picture - from the times that some Jim Crow laws were still on the books, despite what most people believe - can potentially wipe out the top of the state legislature.

I kind of agree, but would add their record while in office should be factored in. I think people aren't fully formed adults when they become teenagers and really can change. I can understand added scrutiny of their actions based on the revelations, but if they really have left that behind, I can't see getting rid of them across the board.

On the other hand, politics....

I'm not African American but if I were I'd probably be less "youthful indiscretion" and more "So you're telling me that there's no qualified people in my state that haven't paraded around in blackface that can represent me?" Just saying.

That's fair.

Also, apparently not.

[pr0ner]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

Wow, it's like a decapitation alpha strike against the Dem. leadership. Well played.

Yeah, there is a 0% chance of that happening. If Democrats felt the need to replace all three of them, and somehow had the leverage to force them all to resign, I imagine that they wouldn't resign all at once, but rather would have the Governor / Lt. Governor resign, then appoint a replacement (hopefully with no blackface pictures) and then elevate the replacement to the governorship.

I don't know if you can do that. Herring becomes governor if Northam and Fairfax both resign.

[pr0ner]

Also, this came out today:

https://www.twitter.com/jonallendc/stat ... 2196427777

[El Guapo]

The Speaker of the House would become Governor in that case. That is currently Republican M. Kirkland Cox.

Wow, it's like a decapitation alpha strike against the Dem. leadership. Well played.

Yeah, there is a 0% chance of that happening. If Democrats felt the need to replace all three of them, and somehow had the leverage to force them all to resign, I imagine that they wouldn't resign all at once, but rather would have the Governor / Lt. Governor resign, then appoint a replacement (hopefully with no blackface pictures) and then elevate the replacement to the governorship.

I don't know if you can do that. Herring becomes governor if Northam and Fairfax both resign.

If they both resign at the same time, right? What's the replacement process if just one resigns?

Like, I assume that if Northam resigned, Fairfax would become governor, and he would then have to nominate a new Lt. Governor (or there would have to be a special election). Once the Lt. Governor is in place, Fairfax could resign, the new Lt. Governor would become governor, and would have to pick a new Lt. Governor. Right? Or Northam and Fairfax resign, Herring becomes governor, appoints a new Lt. Governor, and so on.

There's a 0% chance that all three will resign when that would turn the governorship over to a Republican.

[Isgrimnur]

WaPo

You may remember that the 2017 state elections in Virginia were the front edge of the blue wave that eventually washed over the House of Representatives. Democrats overperformed in the state, taking even seats that were considered to be fairly safe for Republicans. At the end of the night on Election Day, it wasn’t clear which party would control the chamber.

Ultimately, it came down to one seat, Virginia’s 94th District, where Democrat Shelly Simonds emerged from a recount with a one-vote margin over the incumbent Del. David E. Yancey (R). It was so close that state Republicans at one point congratulated Simonds on her victory.

But it didn’t last. A panel of judges determined that a vote that had been discarded should be given to Yancey, resulting in a tie. How to resolve the tie? By drawing names from a ceramic bowl. Both names were placed in the bowl, Yancey’s was picked, and Republicans retained control of the chamber.

And Cox got to be speaker.

And now Cox is fourth in line to the governorship.

If something were to cast a pall over Cox’s fitness for the office — which, given the past several days, would surprise no one — there is no fifth in line. The House of Delegates would vote on a replacement, and, given the composition of that body, it would probably be a Republican.

[El Guapo]

At this point I strongly doubt that Northam is going to resign, and I don't think the Democratic Party has much leverage to force him to resign (and on top of that, with Fairfax and Herring's troubles, they may not see much point in pushing him even if they could).

[pr0ner]

People protesting in Richmond and yelling on Twitter. But, the major Democratic leaders all calling on Northam to resign earlier are mighty quiet now, in particular about Fairfax (too early to say on Herring yet).

[LordMortis]

Editorial interview

https://www.economist.com/open-future/2 ... =undefined

There is a sense of everything being slightly unreal; that you fight a war that seems to cost you nothing and it has no consequences at home; that money seems to grow on trees; that goods come from China and don’t seem to cost you anything; that phones make you feel liberated but that maybe they’re manipulating you but you’re not quite sure. It’s all slightly odd and slightly corrupt.

So I was trying to make a film about where that feeling came from, and I went way back into the past to do that. I borrowed the title from Mr Alexei Yurchak and called it “HyperNormalisation”. I wasn’t trying to say “Oh, we’re just like the Soviet Union collapsing”. I was just trying to show the same feeling of unreality, and also that those in charge know that we know that they don’t know what’s going on. That same feeling is pervasive in our society, and that’s what the film is about.

[Paingod]

Also, this came out today:

https://www.twitter.com/jonallendc/stat ... 2196427777

While it's not a nice thing to say, it's an appropriate thing to say if you think someone is trying to destroy your career. Just not for a politician.

[pr0ner]

Also, this came out today:

https://www.twitter.com/jonallendc/stat ... 2196427777

While it's not a nice thing to say, it's an appropriate thing to say if you think someone is trying to destroy your career. Just not for a politician.

Lolwut?

[El Guapo]

Also, this came out today:

https://www.twitter.com/jonallendc/stat ... 2196427777

While it's not a nice thing to say, it's an appropriate thing to say if you think someone is trying to destroy your career. Just not for a politician.

Lolwut?

I think what he's saying is that IF Fairfax is innocent, then "fuck that bitch" is something of an understandable reaction, in a universe where his accuser is fabricating claims against him. Though even in that scenario, it's not a particularly wise one for a politician.

[pr0ner]

I guess we're at the point where saying "fuck that bitch" is appropriate here on OO.

[Isgrimnur]

In the context of a newsworthy discussion? Sure. Otherwise? Probably not so much.

[Holman]

Good Lord, I went to college in the 80s and even I don't recall ever once thinking that putting on black face for a costume party was the right thing to do. Nor do I recall any friends doing it. This has to be a southern thing primarily.

I went to college in Atlanta '87-'91, and I vaguely recall one instance of blackface controversy at a frat costume party. (I read about it in the school paper.)

If we think this stuff is going away, imagine the offensive youthful memes that will be dug up when today's college MAGAbros run for office in 2048.

[GreenGoo]

I guess we're at the point where saying "fuck that bitch" is appropriate here on OO.

I know I voted for Paingod and El Guapo to speak for OO. Who did you vote for?

In any case, I struggle to find outrage for a heated comment in a private meeting about a serious stressor. I use the word "fuck" like 40 times a day about the smallest shit. Is it appropriate? No it is not. Should it be criticized? Absolutely. Should I be outraged? Meh. He should take a PR hit and it sounds like he's going to do so. Should there be blood or a resignation? What do you think is an appropriate response?