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Friday News: “The Republicans Who Sold Their Souls to Vladimir Putin”; Biden’s “Fiery,” “Forceful,” “Energized” State of the Union “Got the Job Done”; GOP’s “Deeply Weird,” “Lurid and Banal” Response; “Reminder: Trump’s Last Year in Office Was a National Nightmare”

By
lowkell
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33

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Friday, March 8.

Video, Remarks as Prepared for Delivery of President Joe Biden’s Superb 2024 State of the Union Address – GO BIDEN!

By
lowkell
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3

See below for video, along with remarks as prepared for delivery, of President Joe Biden’s superb State of the Union speech last night. *Great* job – Biden really nailed it!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 7, 2024
Remarks of President Joe Biden
State of the Union Address As Prepared for DeliveryThe United States Capitol

Good evening.

Mr. Speaker. Madam Vice President. Members of Congress. My Fellow Americans.

In January 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt came to this chamber to speak to the nation.

He said, “I address you at a moment unprecedented in the history of the Union.”

Hitler was on the march. War was raging in Europe.

President Roosevelt’s purpose was to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this was no ordinary moment.

Freedom and democracy were under assault in the world.

Tonight I come to the same chamber to address the nation.

Now it is we who face an unprecedented moment in the history of the Union.

And yes, my purpose tonight is to both wake up this Congress, and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment either.

Not since President Lincoln and the Civil War have freedom and democracy been under assault here at home as they are today.

What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack, both at home and overseas, at the very same time.

Overseas, Putin of Russia is on the march, invading Ukraine and sowing chaos throughout Europe and beyond.

If anybody in this room thinks Putin will stop at Ukraine, I assure you, he will not.

But Ukraine can stop Putin if we stand with Ukraine and provide the weapons it needs to defend itself. That is all Ukraine is asking. They are not asking for American soldiers.

In fact, there are no American soldiers at war in Ukraine. And I am determined to keep it that way.

But now assistance for Ukraine is being blocked by those who want us to walk away from our leadership in the world.

It wasn’t that long ago when a Republican President, Ronald Reagan, thundered, “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall.”

Now, my predecessor, a former Republican President, tells Putin, “Do whatever the hell you want.”

A former American President actually said that, bowing down to a Russian leader.

It’s outrageous. It’s dangerous. It’s unacceptable.

America is a founding member of NATO the military alliance of democratic nations created after World War II to prevent war and keep the peace.

Today, we’ve made NATO stronger than ever.

We welcomed Finland to the Alliance last year, and just this morning, Sweden officially joined NATO, and their Prime Minister is here tonight.

Mr. Prime Minister, welcome to NATO, the strongest military alliance the world has ever known.

I say this to Congress: we must stand up to Putin. Send me the Bipartisan National Security Bill.

History is watching.

If the United States walks away now, it will put Ukraine at risk.

Europe at risk. The free world at risk, emboldening others who wish to do us harm.

My message to President Putin is simple.

We will not walk away. We will not bow down. I will not bow down.

History is watching, just like history watched three years ago on January 6th.

Insurrectionists stormed this very Capitol and placed a dagger at the throat of American democracy.

Many of you were here on that darkest of days.

We all saw with our own eyes these insurrectionists were not patriots.

They had come to stop the peaceful transfer of power and to overturn the will of the people.

January 6th and the lies about the 2020 election, and the plots to steal the election, posed the gravest threat to our democracy since the Civil War.

But they failed. America stood strong and democracy prevailed.

But we must be honest the threat remains and democracy must be defended.

My predecessor and some of you here seek to bury the truth of January 6th.

I will not do that.

This is a moment to speak the truth and bury the lies.

And here’s the simplest truth. You can’t love your country only when you win.

As I’ve done ever since being elected to office, I ask you all, without regard to party, to join together and defend our democracy!

Remember your oath of office to defend against all threats foreign and domestic.

Respect free and fair elections! Restore trust in our institutions! And make clear –political violence

has absolutely no place in America!

History is watching.

And history is watching another assault on freedom.

Joining us tonight is Latorya Beasley, a social worker from Birmingham, Alabama. 14 months ago tonight, she and her husband welcomed a baby girl thanks to the miracle of IVF.

She scheduled treatments to have a second child, but the Alabama Supreme Court shut down IVF treatments across the state, unleashed by the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade.

She was told her dream would have to wait.

What her family has gone through should never have happened. And unless Congress acts, it could happen again.

So tonight, let’s stand up for families like hers!

To my friends across the aisle, don’t keep families waiting any longer. Guarantee the right to IVF nationwide!

Like most Americans, I believe Roe v. Wade got it right. And I thank Vice President Harris for being an incredible leader, defending reproductive freedom and so much more.

But my predecessor came to office determined

to see Roe v. Wade overturned.

He’s the reason it was overturned. In fact, he brags about it.

Look at the chaos that has resulted.

Joining us tonight is Kate Cox, a wife and mother

from Dallas.

When she became pregnant again, the fetus had a fatal condition.

Her doctors told Kate that her own life and her ability to have children in the future were at risk if she didn’t act.

Because Texas law banned abortion, Kate and her husband had to leave the state to get the care she needed.

What her family has gone through should never have happened as well. But it is happening to so many others.

There are state laws banning the right to choose, criminalizing doctors, and forcing survivors of rape and incest to leave their states as well to get the care they need.

Many of you in this Chamber and my predecessor are promising to pass a national ban on reproductive freedom.

My God, what freedoms will you take away next?

In its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade the Supreme Court majority wrote, “Women are not without –

electoral or political power.”

No kidding.

Clearly, those bragging about overturning Roe v. Wade have no clue about the power of women in America.

They found out though when reproductive freedom

was on the ballot and won in 2022, 2023, and they will find out again, in 2024.

If Americans send me a Congress that supports the right to choose, I promise you, I will restore Roe v. Wade as the law of the land again!

America cannot go back. I am here tonight to show the way forward. Because I know how far we’ve come.

Four years ago next week, before I came to office, our country was hit by the worst pandemic and the worst economic crisis in a century.

Remember the fear. Record job losses. Remember the spike in crime. And the murder rate.

A raging virus that would take more than 1 million American lives and leave millions of loved ones behind.

A mental health crisis of isolation and loneliness.

A president, my predecessor, who failed the most basic duty. Any President owes the American people the duty to care.

That is unforgivable.

I came to office determined to get us through one of the toughest periods in our nation’s history.

And we have. It doesn’t make the news but in thousands of cities and towns the American people are writing the greatest comeback story never told.

So let’s tell that story here and now.

America’s comeback is building a future of American possibilities, building an economy from the middle out and the bottom up, not the top down, investing in all of America, in all Americans to make sure everyone has a fair shot and we leave no one behind!

The pandemic no longer controls our lives. The vaccines that saved us from COVID are now being used to help beat cancer.

Turning setback into comeback.

That’s America!

I inherited an economy that was on the brink. Now our economy is the envy of the world!

15 million new jobs in just three years – that’s a record!

Unemployment at 50-year lows.

A record 16 million Americans are starting small businesses and each one is an act of hope.

With historic job growth and small business growth for Black, Hispanic, and Asian-Americans.

800,000 new manufacturing jobs in America and counting.

More people have health insurance today than ever before.

The racial wealth gap is the smallest it’s been in 20 years.

Wages keep going up and inflation keeps coming down!

Inflation has dropped from 9% to 3% – the lowest in the world!

And trending lower.

And now instead of importing foreign products and exporting American jobs, we’re exporting American products and creating American jobs – right here in America where they belong!

And the American people are beginning to feel it.

Consumer studies show consumer confidence is soaring.

Buy American has been the law of the land since the 1930s.

Past administrations including my predecessor failed to Buy American.

Not any more.

On my watch, federal projects like helping to build American roads bridges and highways will be made with American products built by American workers creating good-paying American jobs!

Thanks to my Chips and Science Act the United States is investing more in research and development than ever before.

During the pandemic a shortage of semiconductor chips drove up prices for everything from cell phones to automobiles.

Well instead of having to import semiconductor chips, which America invented I might add, private companies are now investing billions of dollars to build new chip factories here in America!

Creating tens of thousands of jobs many of them paying over $100,000 a year and don’t require a college degree.

In fact my policies have attracted $650 Billion of private sector investments in clean energy and advanced manufacturing creating tens of thousands of jobs here in America!

Thanks to our Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, 46,000 new projects have been announced across your communities – modernizing our roads and bridges, ports and airports, and public transit systems.

Removing poisonous lead pipes so every child can drink clean water without risk of getting brain damage.

Providing affordable high speed internet for every American no matter where you live.

Urban, suburban, and rural communities — in red states and blue.

Record investments in tribal communities.

Because of my investments, family farms are better be able to stay in the family and children and grandchildren won’t have to leave home to make a living.

It’s transformative.

A great comeback story is Belvidere, Illinois. Home to an auto plant for nearly 60 years.

Before I came to office the plant was on its way to shutting down.

Thousands of workers feared for their livelihoods. Hope was fading.

Then I was elected to office and we raised Belvidere repeatedly with the auto company knowing unions make all the difference.

The UAW worked like hell to keep the plant open and get those jobs back. And together, we succeeded!

Instead of an auto factory shutting down an auto factory is re-opening and a new state-of-the art battery factory is being built to power those cars.

Instead of a town being left behind it’s a community moving forward again!

Because instead of watching auto jobs of the future go overseas 4,000 union workers with higher wages will be building that future, in Belvidere, here in America!

Here tonight is UAW President, Shawn Fain, a great friend, and a great labor leader.

And Dawn Simms, a third generation UAW worker in Belvidere.

Shawn, I was proud to be the first President in American history to walk a picket line.

And today Dawn has a job in her hometown providing stability for her family and pride and dignity.

Showing once again, Wall Street didn’t build this country!

The middle class built this country! And unions built the middle class!

When Americans get knocked down, we get back up!

We keep going!

That’s America! That’s you, the American people!

It’s because of you America is coming back!

It’s because of you, our future is brighter!

And it’s because of you that tonight we can proudly say the State of our Union is strong and getting stronger!

Tonight I want to talk about the future of possibilities that we can build together.

A future where the days of trickle-down economics are over and the wealthy and biggest corporations no longer get all the breaks.

I grew up in a home where not a lot trickled down on my Dad’s kitchen table.

That’s why I’m determined to turn things around so the middle class does well the poor have a way up and the wealthy still does well.

We all do well.

And there’s more to do to make sure you’re feeling the benefits of all we’re doing.

Americans pay more for prescription drugs than anywhere else.

It’s wrong and I’m ending it.

With a law I proposed and signed and not one Republican voted for we finally beat Big Pharma!

Instead of paying $400 a month for insulin seniors with diabetes only have to pay $35 a month!

And now I want to cap the cost of insulin at $35 a month for every American who needs it!

For years people have talked about it but I finally got it done and gave Medicare the power to negotiate lower prices for prescription drugs just like the VA does for our veterans.

As Virginians Tune in to President Biden’s State of the Union This Evening…Biden’s Record Delivering for Virginians Trounces Trump’s Failures

By
Blue Virginia
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3

From DPVA:

President Biden’s Record Delivering for Virginians Trounces Trump’s Failures

For Immediate Release
March 7, 2024

As Virginians tune in President Biden’s State of the Union this evening, Democratic Party Chair of Virginia Susan Swecker released the following statement:

“In just three years, the Biden-Harris administration has accomplished more for Virginians than many presidents have accomplished in two terms – defending freedoms, protecting democracy, helping to create millions of jobs, lowering costs and more. Where Donald Trump failed to improve the lives of anyone except himself and his ultra-wealthy friends, President Biden and Vice President Harris have delivered historic results for working communities across our state. Virginians are looking forward to watching President Biden lay out his vision for continuing to strengthen our country and are fired up to send him to the White House for four more years so he can finish the job.”

The contrast couldn’t be more clear between President Biden’s results for Virginia and Donald Trump’s failures: 

REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS:

  • President Biden is committed to defending women’s reproductive freedom – promising to veto a national abortion ban and calling on Congress to codify the protections of Roe into law.
  • Donald Trump has taken pride in “killing” Roe v. Wade, leading to extreme abortion bans across the country and families losing access to IVF. Trump has promised to go even further by supporting a national abortion ban.

CREATING GOOD-PAYING JOBS:

INVESTING IN CRUMBLING INFRASTRUCTURE:

  • President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law is rebuilding Virginia’s roads and bridges, expanding access to clean water and affordable high-speed internet, and investing in projects like modernizing Virginia’s electrical grid.
  • Donald Trump’s failed “infrastructure week” turned into a joke, and he even tried to sabotage President Biden’s infrastructure deal.

REDUCING PRESCRIPTION DRUG COSTS:

  • Under President Biden, 1.3 million of Virginia’s seniors will save money on prescription drug costs, especially for insulin, which is capped at $35 per month.
  • Donald Trump wants to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, which could increase the costs of drugs.

EXPANDING ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE:

  • Under President Biden, 346,000 Virginians have signed up for health insurance through the Affordable Care Act Marketplaces for 2023, saving about $800/year from lower health care premiums.
  • Donald Trump’s pledge to repeal the ACA would put as many as 100 million Americans with preexisting conditions at risk of losing protections.

PUTTING MIDDLE CLASS FAMILIES FIRST:

  • President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act is ensuring that the ultra-wealthy and corporations pay their fair share.
  • Donald Trump is running to expand his tax scam that gave massive tax handouts to major corporations and let billionaires pay less in taxes than Virginia working families at the expense of the middle class.

CRACKING DOWN ON JUNK FEES:

President Biden is fighting to cut junk fees that will save families more than $10 billion per year.

Donald Trump’s MAGAnomics agenda only benefited the rich and hurt Virginia’s middle class families.

 

Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis: Virginia Budget Conferees “Say No To Tax Breaks for Millionaires, Yes to Historic K-12 Funding and More”

By
Blue Virginia
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4

UPDATE 5:55 pm:

Virginia House Democratic Leadership Statement on the Budget

House and Senate Democrats Release Budget that Prioritizes Education, Healthcare, and Working Families

RICHMOND, VA – Today, House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian and Senate Finance and Appropriations Chairwoman L. Louise Lucas announced an agreement on the budget. House Leadership released the following statement:

Speaker Don Scott said, “Our number one priority has been, and always will be, building a better future for our children and for hardworking Virginia families. Full stop. That is what we have been working towards in the last two months and that is what this budget reflects. I am thankful for the leadership of Chairman Torian and Chairwoman Lucas who have crafted a fiscally responsible budget that will grow our economy, support our workforce, and invest in our public schools.”

“I thank Chairman Torian and Chairwoman Lucas, our conferees, and all of the Appropriations staff, for their tireless work on a budget that keeps our commonwealth moving forward. In a time where healthcare, and especially reproductive healthcare, is under attack, this budget reflects our priorities and invests in improvements in Virginia’s healthcare system, addresses behavioral health, and ensures that every Virginian has the best opportunity to live, work, and raise a family,” said Majority Leader Charniele Herring.

House Appropriations Chairman Luke Torian said, “this budget prioritizes pay raises for our teachers and our state-supported employees, and supports an increase in the minimum wage. People should not have to work two or three jobs just to be able to keep their children fed and a roof over their head. We’ve also listened to the recommendations of the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission and made historic investments in our public K-12 system, higher education, at-risk students, and early childhood education. We’re investing in protections for our communities and our environment to combat the growing risk of climate change. I thank Senator Lucas, Vice Chair Sickles, the other conferees, and our Appropriations staff for their work on this budget conference.”

The Conference Budget Reflects the Priorities that Democrats Previously Announced on the First Day of the 2024 Legislative Session. Included in the budget is…

Education

  • 3% salary increase each year in the biennium for our public school teachers
  • $2.5 billion in additional funding for K-12 public education
  • $527.8 million over the biennium to support early childhood education
  • $371.3 million over the biennium to implement several JLARC recommendations
  • $72.1 million to provide support for ELL students
  • $205.4 million over the biennium to increase access, affordability and degree production for public colleges and universities. This works to limit in-state undergraduate tuition increases and includes $40 million in support for HBCUs

Economy/Working Families

  • $79.5 million over the biennium to support increasing the state’s minimum wage to $15/hr. by January 2026
  • 3% salary increase each year of the biennium for state-supported employees
  • $175 million for the Virginia Housing Trust Fund to support the creation or preservation of affordable housing
  • $40 million over the biennium for the Virginia Business Ready Sites Program
  • $243.1 million over the biennium to backfill revenue lost from the removal of the  grocery sales tax

Health/Mental Health

  • $30.5 million over the biennium to combat the opioid epidemic in our Commonwealth, including…
    • $11 million for the Virginia Department of Health to purchase opioid reversal agents and test kits
    • $400,000 for the Virginia Department of Health to conduct a waster water demonstration project to test for fentanyl and norfentanyl
    • $100,000 to equip public schools with naloxone to combat the deadly opioid epidemic
  • $191.4 million to add additional DD waiver slots and a 3% rate increase each year of the biennium for DD services
  • $126 million over the biennium in additional mental health services
  • $6.2 million over the biennium to fully fund community health workers in local health departments
  • $40 million over the biennium to incentivize higher staffing for nursing homes

Public Safety

  • $75.1 million over the biennium for community violence intervention initiatives, including….
    • $18 million over the biennium for the Community Violence Intervention and Prevention Program
    • $10 million for the Operation Ceasefire Grant Program
    • $7 million over the biennium to add Roanoke to the Safer Communities program
    • $6 million in additional support over the biennium for youth community violence programs
  • $21.3 million over the biennium to backfill and maintain funding for the VOCA Victims Services Grant Program and maintains funding for the Victim Witness, Sexual Assault, and Domestic Violence Victim and Victim Services grant programs

 

Natural Resources/Infrastructure

  • The budget directs the Governor to reenter the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative
  • $149.5 million over the biennium to improve our transportation system and ease the burden of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA)
  • $100 million for the Community Flood Preparedness Fund
  • $400 million to meet Chesapeake Bay improvement goals
  • $25 million for the City of Norfolk for Coastal Risk Storm Management Projects

 

Both Chambers will vote on the agreed budget on Saturday, March 9th before adjournment sine die for the 2024 Legislative Session.

From the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis:

Video of/Commentary on Youngkin’s Whiny, Self-Pitying, Petulant Press Conference on the Wizards/Caps Arena…as Senators Lucas, Locke and Ebbin Look on Scornfully

By
lowkell
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7

The lies, absurdities, b.s., etc. really come fast and furious with Youngkin, including at his press conference earlier today about the Virginia budget and the proposed Wizards/Caps arena at Potomac Yard in Alexandria. For starters, it certainly would NOT be a “colossal mistake” for the State Senate to have grave reservations about Glenn Youngkin’s highly dubious/questionable sweetheart deal with billionaire bad-sports-teams owner Ted Leonsis. Also, Youngkin’s speech was just so whiny, self-pitying, petulant (e.g., use of “Democrat” as an adjective), etc.

Typical Youngkin – a privileged guy born on third base who believes he hit a triple, as the saying goes – and who knows nothing about state government. Meanwhile, it’s kinda hilarious to see this guy get booted out of Carlyle, have a mid-life crisis, run for governor – despite knowing ZERO about state government or caring about it at all – and then fall flat on his face, both in terms of policy and politics. And to top it all of, he’s thrown in his lot with the guy who’s trying to overthrow our democracy, destroy our country, become a dictator, hand Ukraine over to Putin, etc. Brilliant, huh? So who were those brain-dead “journalists” in 2021 and 2022 portraying Youngkin as some sort of “moderate,” “pragmatist,” etc? And why are they still working in journalism?

Yes, Youngkin is a “petty little petulant child” – among his MANY other flaws. But let’s be clear; this Trump-endorsing right winger was NEVER intending to sign any legislation that’s remotely progressive, pro-environment, etc.

Excellent advice from former Del. @DavidIRamadan (R), not that Glenn Youngkin will take it…

VA @SenLouiseLucas is just kicking Glenn Youngkin’s privileged, pathetic, lying ass – both substantively and on Twitter – and it’s truly glorious to behold!

To put it mildly – and for good reason! – Senator @AdamEbbin @SenLouiseLucas and @SenatorLocke looked just a wee bit skeptical of Youngkin’s whiny, self-pitying b.s. about the Wizards/Caps arena deal…

The looks on @SenLouiseLucas‘ and @SenatorLocke‘s faces – and body language – say it all about Youngkin’s whiny, petulant, falsehood-laden speech.

“This picture is a symbol of [Youngkin’s] Governorship and his (lack of) work with the legislature. Powerful.” – @notlarrysabato

 

Senator Louise Lucas and Delegate Luke Torian Announce Conference Committee Finalizes Biennial Virginia Budget

By
lowkell
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8

From Senator Louise Lucas and Delegate Luke Torian, chairs of the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates “money committees”:

Conference Committee Finalizes Biennial Budget

RICHMOND, VA – We are pleased to announce that we have an agreement on the budget.  We have worked well together, and the General Assembly will adjourn on time – which hasn’t happened in a number of years.

We have preserved our shared priorities in education, health and human resources, public safety, and in protecting Virginia’s environment.

In education, we were able to provide raises of three percent in each year for teachers.  These increases are well deserved, and we are committed to ensuring that Virginia’s teachers’ pay will be above other states by the end of the next biennium.  In addition, we maintained our commitment to backfill the revenue loss from the elimination of the sales tax on groceries. The conference report also contains unprecedented funding for other important programs including At Risk and English Language Learners.  These investments will ensure that we will have an educated workforce in the future and that our students will be successful.

We were also able to allocate funding for three percent raises for state and state-supported local employees in each year of the biennium and make investments in state government to meet our current commitments.

This budget includes additional investments in health and human resources to address behavioral health and in public safety to make communities safer through funding for violence prevention and supports for victims of crime. We have also ensured guaranteed funding for WMATA as we work to find a long-term solution for their continued financial viability.  Other investments include toll relief to those who desperately need it and funding for deferred capital maintenance.

In conclusion, this budget is in the best interest of the Commonwealth and we look forward to sharing the details with you.

By the end of the day, the amendments will be posted to the state budget webpage on the legislative information system and members will receive an email link to the conference report. This will allow for a vote to be held on this conference report on Saturday prior to the timely conclusion of the Session.

DPVA Chair: Youngkin Endorsing “a man who called the Nazis that came to our very own Charlottesville ‘very fine people’ is more proof of his lack of political courage and leadership ability”

By
lowkell
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5

See below for some reactions to Glenn Youngkin’s disgraceful, appalling – albeit not “surprising,” in that we all expected Youngkin to do the wrong thing, have no moral compass or backbone, etc. – endorsement of Donald Trump, a criminal, sexual predator and traitor (among other bad things) who tried, and is still trying, to overthrow our entire democracy. For every “journalist” who claimed in 2021 (or beyond) that Youngkin was some sort of “moderate,” seriously, f*** off, resign immediately, etc.

P.S. Also, see below for the latest on Jason Miyares, Winsome Sears and Jen Kiggans endorsing Trump – or not.

CHAIRWOMAN SWECKER:
What the Hell Was He Thinking? on Glenn Youngkin’s Endorsement of Trump

Richmond, Virginia – In a decision that he will live with for the rest of his life, Governor Glenn Youngkin has endorsed the former President and currently indicted defendant Donald Trump as the person he wants to lead our American families for another four years. DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker released the following statement in response to the endorsement:

“To see Glenn Youngkin endorse a man who called the Nazis that came to our very own Charlottesville ‘very fine people’ is more proof of his lack of political courage and leadership ability. Leaders stand up to what’s wrong, they speak out, they do what is right for the people, they don’t sell out for their own future. What is so sad is that a man who cares deeply about his legacy now knows when they write the story of his life, every one will begin with these words: what the hell was he thinking?”

 

Biden Campaign: Trump Is Not Seeking Haley’s Voters, He Is Driving Them Away

By
Blue Virginia
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14

From the Biden for President campaign:

To: Interested Parties

From: Communications Director Michael Tyler

Subject: Trump Is Not Seeking Haley’s Voters, He Is Driving Them Away

Date: March 6, 2024

Donald Trump heads into the general election weak with a divided Republican Party and unable to build a coalition that can win in November. A winning presidential candidate looks to build bridges and expand beyond their base – to attract the critical suburban, independent, and moderate voters that decide elections. Not Trump. He spent the morning mocking Haley and her voters, following her exit from the race.

Trump’s approach is no surprise from someone who spreads division and hate like most of us breathe air. But it is quite the choice given that millions of Republican primary voters sent an explicit message throughout the primary contest. When Nikki Haley called out Donald Trump for the chaos, division, and extremism that he embodies, when she called out his inability to see right from wrong, when she called out his pandering to dictators like Vladimir Putin while throwing our NATO allies under the bus, her voters rejected Trump at the ballot box. And many of them were explicit in their rejection of him, saying that they would not support Donald Trump in November.

Trump and his campaign are ignoring the warning signs blaring. The voters who are going to determine this election rejected him and his candidates in 2020, 2022, 2023, and now 2024. Instead of learning from those elections, he is driving these same suburban, moderate, and independent voters away with his divisive rhetoric and his extreme Project 2025 agenda to ban abortion, restrict birth control, repeal the Affordable Care Act, and take our country backwards.

President Biden knows the importance of coalition-building and being a president for all Americans: “Donald Trump made it clear he doesn’t want Nikki Haley’s supporters. I want to be clear: There is a place for them in my campaign.” Every day until November the president and his campaign will reach out to all voters who support preserving American democracy, standing up for the rule of law, and treating each other with decency and dignity and respect.

Not only is Donald Trump not courting Nikki Haley and her voters – he is actively attacking and demeaning them:

  • Just this week – and while Haley was giving her suspension speech – Trump said he didn’t think he would “need” swing voters or those who voted for Haley.
  • Trump and his allies have said anyone who isn’t MAGA isn’t welcome in the Republican Party. That they have to get “rid” of moderate voters and kick them “out” of Trump’s Republican Party. That includes Haley and her supporters, who Trump has threatened, intimidated and vowed to blacklist from the party.
  • Trump has, for months, demeaned Nikki Haley herself, calling her “birdbrain,” promoting a racist birther lie about her, and mocking her name. He even attacked Haley for her husband being gone – Michael Haley is currently serving abroad on a National Guard mission.

As Trump doubles down on support for a national abortion ban and undermining our democracy, his glaring weakness with suburban voters, independents, and moderates continues – the very voters who are going to decide this election:

  • In Michigan, Trump underperformed in suburban areas like Oakland and Washtenaw counties near Detroit and Ottawa and Kent counties near Grand Rapids.
  • In South Carolina, Haley beat Trump in three suburban and college areas by double digits.
  • In North Carolina, Haley overperformed in Durham, Mecklenburg, Orange, and Wake counties – key suburban areas that puts the state in play in November.
  • In Virginia, Haley won DC suburbs that are similar to key suburban areas across the battleground states – Fairfax, Alexandria, and Arlington.
  • In Minnesota, Haley overperformed in the Minneapolis suburbs and outright won Denver County in Colorado.
  • NBC News exit polls had Trump losing moderates by 30 points in North Carolina and 38 points in Virginia.
  • CNN exit polling shows Trump losing by 16 points with independent voters in Virginia.
  • In primary after primary, a significant section of GOP primary voters made clear they do not want to support Donald Trump in November:
  • ABC News exit polls found 78% of Haley voters in North Carolina, 69% in California and 68% in Virginia would not commit to supporting Trump in November.
  • CNN exit polling showed 24% in North Carolina and 36% in Virginia of GOP primary voters would be dissatisfied if Trump is the party’s nominee.
  • Fox News exit polling found 6 in 10 Haley voters (59%) say they would not support Trump in the general election if he were the nominee; very few of her supporters (12%) would be satisfied if he were the nominee.
  • At least 20% of voters in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina have now said they will not vote for Trump in November.

What Haley voters have said about Trump:

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Paid for by Biden for President

Thursday News: “Warner compares inaction on Ukraine aid to Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement in WWII”; Time for “Dark Brandon” at State of the Union; “Trump’s Pants-Pissingly Terrifying Plans for a Second Term”; Youngkin, Kiggans Disgracefully Endorse Criminal Insurrectionist

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by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Thursday, March 7.

US House Passes “major appropriations bill, halfway through FY24”; “Democrats provided the votes – from the minority – to prevent a shutdown, again”

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lowkell
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2

The vote on this crucial appropriations legislation was 339-85, with Democrats nearly unanimous (207-2) in support, while Republicans were more split (132-83) – with extremist Congressmen Bob Good (R-VA05), Ben Cline (R-VA06) and Morgan Griffith (R-VA09) all voting NO. Of course, if voters aren’t aware of these votes or don’t care, it’s pretty hard to make an informed choice at the voting booth, so…

Wexton Votes to Pass Government Funding Package, Including Support for Key Local Priorities

Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Jennifer Wexton (D-VA) voted to pass the 2024 Consolidated Appropriations Act, a package of six domestic spending bills focused on providing crucial support to families and communities across the country. The bill includes $14,996,550 in Community Project Funding (CPF) for Virginia’s 10th District that will go to directly support a variety of local projects, including enhanced domestic violence support services, affordable housing for veterans, transportation improvement initiatives to reduce congestion and increase safety, and new expanded resources to help those who are experiencing mental health crises.

“I’m pleased that after months of delay and dysfunction caused by extreme Congressional Republicans, we’ve finally come together on a bipartisan funding package that rejects cuts to essential programs and meets the needs of all Americans,” said Congresswoman Wexton. “Through my role on the Appropriations Committee, I’ve worked hard along with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support families, boost our economy, and deliver for Virginia’s 10th District. I’m particularly proud to have successfully secured nearly $15 million for key local priorities, and look forward to working with our community leaders to help those investments have as great an impact as possible for all Virginians.”

Congresswoman Wexton championed funding for a variety of community projects that will directly benefit Virginia’s 10th District residents. These include:

  • $4,116,279 for the Loudoun County Crisis Receiving Center
  • $1,334,757 for the Town of Lovettsville for Transite Drinking Water and Sewer Line Replacement
  • $1,050,000 for the City of Manassas for Mathis Corridor Revitalization Project
  • $1,000,000 for the LAWS Domestic Violence Shelter
  • $1,000,000 for the Hero’s Bridge Village veteran affordable housing in Fauquier County
  • $1,000,000 for the Route 50 and Loudoun County Parkway Interchange
  • $963,000 for the Prince William County Public Safety Communications 911 Call Handling System
  • $963,000 for the George Mason University Interstellar Dreams Space Center
  • $959,757 for the City of Manassas Stream Restoration Project
  • $959,757 for the Fauquier County Opal Water System Project
  • $650,000 for the Educating the NASA STEM Workforce Pipeline
  • $500,000 for the Fairfax County Compton Road Shared-Use Path
  • $500,000 for the Washington & Old Dominion Trail Lighting in Leesburg

This funding package is the product of bipartisan work and compromise, after Democrats rejected extreme Republican policies and cuts to essential programs that Americns rely on. This first government package invests in America’s future and delivers for the American people by:

  • Helping with the high cost of living
    • Creating and sustaining tens of thousands of good paying jobs through initiatives such as the Manufacturing Extension Partnership Program
    • Fighting inflation, and providing full funding for key lifelines such as food assistance like WIC and more affordable housing and homeownership.
  • Protecting women’s rights by blocking attempts to limit women’s access to reproductive health care, including abortion, and by increasing funding for gender-based violence prevention and prosecution programs.
  • Confronting the climate crisis, fighting climate change, and ensuring America’s energy independence with robust, transformative investments in deploying clean energy technologies in communities across the country, and providing funding for cutting-edge scientific and climate-related research.
  • Honoring our commitments to our veterans by ensuring they receive the care and benefits that they have earned and investing in veterans’ health care, including targeted investments that advance women’s health, mental health, and homelessness assistance.
  • Delivering on key priorities Wexton has championed as a member of the House Appropriations Committee, including: $150 million for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority (WMATA) to support critical capital and safety improvements, continuing the federal government’s commitment to Metro via the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law; and up to $15 million to continue important work to secure GPS capabilities that are essential to our critical infrastructure.

This package includes the following funding bills: Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies; and Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.

A detailed summary of the legislation is available here.

The remaining six appropriations bills for fiscal year 2024 are expected to be released in the coming days and be voted on ahead of their expiration on March 22.

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