Reactions to Virginia Democrats fighting back against Trump’s (and red-state Republicans’) efforts to rig the midterm elections in their favor, destroy our democracy, etc. are SO telling. As are reactions to Louise Lucas responding to the odious Ted Cruz with a tart, “You all started it and we fucking finished it.” See below for a few examples, starting with NY Times columnist Jamelle Bouie saying “this is so funny, god bless Louise Lucas, Hero of the Commonwealth.” I’ll add more reactions as I see interesting/revealing/entertaining ones.
- Compare/contrast from the Bezos Post: 1) “The Texas gerrymander freakout: What’s happening in the Lone Star State is not a threat to democracy” 2) “Wes Moore embarrasses Maryland with his gerrymandering ploy” 3) “Brass-knuckled hypocrisy in Virginia.” So the Bezos Post goes after two high-ranking African-American leaders (Wes Moore and Louise Lucas) in blue states, but gives a pass to Texas Republicans. Got it.
- So…Trump says insane, racist, nasty, horrible shit multiple times a day, and Fox “News” (in air quotes) doesn’t care, but Sen. Louise Lucas dropping a well-deserved “f-bomb” in response to the odious Ted Cruz results in right wingnuts losing their f’ing minds?!?
- Great point by Neera Tanden – right wingers are bullies who REALLY hate it when the people they’re bullying fight back, hard, as Virginia Democrats are doing.
- Breathtakingly dishonest by Jason Miyares, who obviously knows that the Bezos Post editorial page has moved hard right in the past couple years…but that’s Miyares for ya.
- Note, of course, that in 2021, the US House of Representatives passed (on a strict party-line vote, with all Democrats voting for and all Republicans voting against) H.R. 1, a package of voting reforms including a ban on gerrymandering NATIONALLY. Then, Republicans killed this in the US Senate. So..yeah, they just want blue states to unilaterally disarm, isn’t that glaringly obvious to anyone with half a brain???
- The brilliant Jamelle Bouie nails it: Republicans have been “pulling this shit for 15 years,” yet NOW they’re like, “OMG, this is so anti-democracy,” etc???
- And no, as Rick Wilson points out, you’re not going to find any examples (with the possible very rare exception?) of prominent right wingers or Republican elected officials calling out the Texas gerrymander.
- Excellent analysis by former VA Redistricting Commission citizen member James Abrenio:
- Great points by Loudoun County Chair Phyllis Randall:
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