This past week has been one of those special times that prove how unpredictable the flow of events can be. It is an important realization, in our dark era in America, to recognize that our sense of what’s possible is likely way too constricted. It tells us that it is never appropriate to yield entirely to despair because we “know” that there’s no way things can turn around and get better.

I’m talking about the amazing speed with which, in the past several days, America – most definitely including many leaders on the American right – has been turning away from some of the long-celebrated emblems of the Confederate States of America.

The Confederate Battle Flag is being rejected in some places that have long held out for this supposedly guiltless icon of that American region that was willing to fight a Civil War to defend the rights of white people to own and exploit black people and that, two generations ago, resisted with defiant passion being compelled to abandon the regime of Jim Crow by which the descendants of those black slaves were terrorized and oppressed.

The Republican governor of South Carolina says it’s time that the Stars and Bars cease flying over the South Carolina state house. The governor of Tennessee has called for the removal from his state house of a bust of Nathan Bedford Forrest, Confederate general and one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan.

 (My wife went to Nathan Bedford Forrest High School in Jacksonville, Florida-and a couple of years ago her white classmates greatly resented the school board’s decision to abandon that name, even though the student body was by then majority black.)

In Kentucky, there’s talk of removing a statue of the president of the Confederacy, Jefferson Davis – after whom so much in the South is named, including the junior high school my wife went to, and a highway in the Arlington area).

As the New York Times article put it in a headline, “Calls to Drop Confederate Emblems Spread Nationwide”.

Who would have imagined, just a week and a half ago. that such a wave of transformation was possible.

Of course, that was before the grotesque and heart-rending murder, by a young racist white man, of nine black churchgoers, attending a Bible class in a historic African-American Church in Charleston, South Carolina.

But even given such an event, I would never have predicted this kind of reaction.

Here we are, in a time when the politics of the right have been shameless for years, when one disgrace after another has failed to call the Republicans to the better angels of their nature. Why — after all the lies, all the cruelties, all the thefts of power and wealth, all the degradation they have inflicted on our nation-has this event triggered so profound a change, almost like those gratifying but unbelievable Hollywood movie redemption stories.

And we need to recognize how core to today’s Republican Party is the spirit of that Confederacy whose icons are now being repudiated.

Almost two years ago, I published here a brief series  under the title, “The Spirit That Drove Us to Civil War is Back.” (The striking evidence of the re-emergence of that spirit in today’s Republican Party is also one of the themes woven into my new book WHAT WE’RE UP AGAINST. The parallels include, but go way beyond, the obvious-like the assertion of the right of nullification (asserting the right of states to disregard federal laws they don’t like), like the racism, like even some talk of secession.)

So a movement away from, say, the Stars and Bars – a movement toward recognizing the long-denied meaning of that flag as a symbol of racial terrorism – is not a trivial thing.

After all the other killings of defenseless, unarmed blacks by whites in recent years, after all the other terrible things that have elicited no apologies, no admission of the deeply wrong things the right has done since George W. Bush took office, and through the obstructionism of the Obama era, why this sudden and uncharacteristic willingness to back away and change directions?

What are the crucial elements in this picture that sparked this surprising scenario?

1) If the murders had been committed in a shopping center parking lot, instead of in a church, would this be happening?

2) If the nine black people had been of low status rather than some of the pillars of the community, would we be seeing this same transformation?

3) If there were no pictures of the murderer posing with the Confederate Battle Flag, would the flag be coming down from state houses and off license plates?

4) If the some of the members of the families of the victim had not expressed forgiveness of their loved-one’s murderer, would these leaders on the right been moved to acknowledge how injurious has been the official endorsement of the symbols of racial oppression?

(This remarkable act of forgiveness was emphasized on Tuesday by Senator Lindsey Graham, who spoke most movingly – and appeared deeply human – in advocating the removal of the Confederate Battle flag from South Carolina’s statehouse.)

5) Was there anything else happening beneath the surface of our politics before this terrible crime that readied the system for something like this to be catalyzed? (Even in retrospect, I can’t see anything like that.)

I wish I knew.

This isn’t a Hollywood movie, I recognize. Happy endings are fun to watch, but this story will not end here. Surely many very fundamental things have not changed, and the changes that are happening may prove temporary.

But might this astonishing development — in a Republican political culture that has never been able to admit being wrong about anything, while being wrong about almost everything in recent years – may be the harbinger of other positive changes to come?

We can hope. But I don’t expect that.

But then, as these recent days have shown, the complexity and subtlety of many of the forces at work in the human world does not allow one to know for sure just what might happen.

Good point from DPVA:

“Since Dick Black was so eager to go out on a limb for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, how does he feel about their cause now?” said Morgan Finkelstein, press secretary for the Democratic Party of Virginia. “He went above and beyond to ensure the Confederate flag would be on Virginia license plates, so it's curious that he's still not said anything on the current issue.” 

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Wednesday, June 24. Also check out VPAP, which finds: “Throughout most of Virginia, the General Assembly elections this November will be a mere formality. In 79 of 140 districts, only one name will appear on the ballot. The lack of competition is particularly keen in the House of Delegates, where 62 of 100 seats are uncontested…The percentage of contested seats is down slightly from four years ago, the last year when both House and Senate seats were up for election.”

*Tally Counters Perceptions of Top Terror Threat in U.S. (“Since Sept. 11, 2001, nearly twice as many people have been killed on American soil by white supremacists, antigovernment fanatics and other non-Muslim extremists than by radical Muslims, according to a count by a research group in Washington.”)

*President Obama Must Use Trade Authority to Reach Better Agreements (“Now it is up to the administration to reach deals that uphold the high standards it has promised on labor rights, the environment and other issues.”)

*Catholic And Evangelical Leaders Call On Lawmakers To Fight Climate Change

*A historic shift to banish a divisive Southern symbol

*Medical Examiner Rules Freddie Gray’s Death a Homicide by Fatal Blow to the Neck

*The Stupid Party’s Candidate (“Running to the right isn’t working for Bobby Jindal.”)

*The New Conservative Plan To Make A Supreme Court Case Gutting Obamacare Even Worse

*13 Senate Dems vote with GOP to advance trade bill (Virginia’s two Senators voted for cloture.)

*Jim Webb Is the Only Presidential Hopeful Who Won’t Comment on the Confederate Flag Controversy (“The former Virginia senator has defended the Confederate Army in the past.”)

*Tim Kaine: Breaking Up Iraq Into Three Parts May Be “Only Realistic Alternative”

*Dorothy McAuliffe backs program to avoid the “summer slide” in child nutrition

*McAuliffe widens felon voting rights restoration

*Will Virginia Republicans Shoot Themselves In The Foot In 2016?

*McAuliffe moves to ban Confederate flag from state license plates

*Remove the flag, emblem of prejudice

*Va. governor wants Confederate flags off license plates

*McAuliffe’s Confederate flag license plate decision wins lawmakers’ approval

*Schapiro: Other Rebel symbols – some barely visible – endure

*Hampton Roads eager for progress on Virginia’s transportation projects

*Strasburg pitches five shutout innings as Nationals defeat Braves

*D.C. area forecast: Wonderful Wednesday, then turning unsettled through weekend

From Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe, speaking earlier this morning “in response to the tragic shooting at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, SC and the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision declaring that states can restrict license plate designs.”

Before I address some very positive developments regarding my administration’s continuing efforts to restore the voting rights of Virginians who were former offenders, I wanted to say a couple of words about last week’s horrific tragedy at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston.

First and foremost, I want to express, on behalf of all Virginians, our heartfelt sympathies to all members of the Emanuel Church Community, as well as the larger community in the City of Charleston.

In the days since last week’s tragic shooting, the people of Charleston have displayed unparalleled unity and courage, and they have made all Americans proud.

I also want to commend my colleague, Governor Nikki Haley, for her leadership yesterday in calling for the removal of the Confederate Battle Flag from the state Capitol grounds in Columbia.

As Governor Haley said yesterday, her state can ill afford to let this symbol continue to divide the people of South Carolina.

I believe the same is true here in Virginia.

Although the battle flag is not flown here on Capitol Square, it has been the subject of considerable controversy, and it divides many of our people.

Even its display on state issued license tags is, in my view, unnecessarily divisive and hurtful to too many of our people.

As you all know, I have spent the past 17 months working to build a new Virginia economy that is more open and welcoming to everyone. Removing this symbol from our state-issued license plates will be another step toward realizing that goal.

While it is true that legislation passed by the General Assembly in 1999 requires specialty license plates for the Sons of Confederate Veterans, the legislation specifically attempted to prevent the Confederate emblem from being part of the design. Federal court decisions, however, required DMV to allow the emblem in the design.

Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states could indeed prevent the confederate emblem from being placed on their license plates, directly contradicting the prior court rulings in Virginia. Accordingly, I have directed the following actions to remove the Confederate emblem from state-issued license plates.

First, this morning I asked the Attorney General’s office to take steps to reverse the prior Court ruling that requires the Confederate flag be placed on state license plates.

Second, I have directed Secretary of Transportation Aubrey Layne to develop a plan for replacing the currently-issued plates as quickly as possible.

These steps will, I hope, make clear that this Commonwealth does not support the display of the Confederate battle flag or the message it sends to the rest of the world.

Nice job DPVA – I like it!

Virginia Democrats unveiled a new modern logo last night, just in time for the party’s biggest annual fundraiser this Friday. Democrats from across the Commonwealth will be traveling to George Mason University’s Patriot Center for the Jefferson-Jackson event with special guest Hillary Clinton.

“This design better reflects who we are as an organization — modern, sophisticated and streamlined,” said Chairwoman Susan Swecker. “Our supporters are fired up and are working in new, innovative ways to win big in November. We felt our logo should reflect the cutting-edge work Virginia Democrats are doing.”

Virginia Democrats across the Commonwealth have already mobilized for the 2015 elections, ramping up volunteer recruitment and turnout operations. The new logo is the latest in a series of long-term investments in party infrastructure that have included new staff hires and significant upgrades to field, data, and targeting programs. It will be rolled out to coordinated campaign offices and Democratic Party of Virginia materials statewide.

Here are a few national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Tuesday, June 23. Also see the fascinating discussion from last night’s PBS NewsHour on “the roots of Dylann Roof’s radical violence.”

*How “Fox & Friends” became the most repugnant show on Fox News (“In the aftermath of the Charleston tragedy, “Fox & Friends” has descended to new and uncharted levels of idiocy”)

*S.C. governor: Confederate flag should be moved (Now for every other former Confederate state.)

*The Confederate battle flag is not worthy of respect

*America will only end racism when it stops being racist

*Top doctors’ prescription for feverish planet: Cut out coal

*Hillary Clinton Dominates 2016 Democratic Field, Leads GOP Rivals

*Ted Cruz’s dad: Jews, Catholics of northeast put Democratic Party above religion (And what about Rafael Cruz, whose politics go against almost all of what Jesus taught?)

*EPA Report Puts a Staggering Price Tag on Climate Inaction

*Obamacare repeal still vexes GOP (Of course it does, given that the Affordable Care Act was based mostly on Republican plans/ideas, including the individual mandate.)

*Fox News’ shocking racism effect: The alarming statistical relationships underneath conservative viewing habits (“Even controlling for other variables, those who watch Fox News are more likely to hold a number of alarming beliefs”)

*Whitewashing Terrorism (“Republicans have firm rules for fighting terrorism-unless it’s committed by domestic racists.”)

*Virginia GOP grapples with how to pick a presidential nominee (“State Republican leaders are split between prioritizing the tighter control of a convention or a primary election that leaves it up to the voters.”)

*Health insurance coverage falls slightly in Virginia

*Goodlatte: Voting Rights Act remains strong without amendment (BADlatte, wrong on this as he is on just about everything else.)

*Interim director named leader of VRS (“Patricia S. ‘Trish’ Bishop will be director of the $68 billion retirement system, replacing Robert P. Schultze, who left earlier this year after a decade as its leader.”)

*Cuccinelli: I’ll return donation from segregationist leader (Begging the question as to why the white nationalist leader felt simpatico with Cooch and lots of other right-wing Republicans in the first place.)

*Reston Zoo accused of mistreating animals (Disgusting.)

*Virginia Beach treasurer pays for ad against light-rail extension (WTF?)

*Sweet Briar’s second chance

*3 resign from Prince William Committee of 100 (Now for the remaining 97.)

*Fairfax County Could Crack Down On Car-Title Loans, Seen As Predatory

*D.C. area forecast: Searing heat today, some respite tomorrow; Cooler weekend awaits

Why am I not surprised at any of this?

The leader of a rightwing group that Dylann Roof allegedly credits with helping to radicalise him against black people before the Charleston church massacre has donated tens of thousands of dollars to Republicans such as presidential candidates Ted Cruz, Rand Paul and Rick Santorum.

Earl Holt has given $65,000 to Republican campaign funds in recent years while inflammatory remarks – including that black people were “the laziest, stupidest and most criminally-inclined race in the history of the world” – were posted online in his name.

And yes, this racist scumbag has donated to Virginia Republicans. That includes $1,000 to George Allen, who as you will recall was a big fan of the racist “CCC.” Also, check out VPAP for Holt’s $1,000 contribution to 2013 Virginia Republican gubernatorial nominee Ken Cuccinelli. Lovely, eh?

By the way, if you have the stomach for it, you can check out the CCC’s Statement of Principles here. A few “highlights” include:

*”…the United States of America is a Christian country, that its people are a Christian people, and that its government and public leaders at all levels must reflect Christian beliefs and values.”

*” We believe that the United States derives from and is an integral part of European civilization and the European people and that the American people and government should remain European in their composition and character. We therefore oppose the massive immigration of non-European and non-Western peoples into the United States that threatens to transform our nation into a non-European majority in our lifetime…”

*”We also oppose all efforts to mix the races of mankind, to promote non-white races over the European-American people through so-called “affirmative action” and similar measures, to destroy or denigrate the European-American heritage, including the heritage of the Southern people, and to force the integration of the races.”

*”We believe in the traditional family as the basic unit of human society and morality, and we oppose all efforts by the state and other powers to weaken the structure of the American family through toleration of sexual licentiousness, homosexuality and other perversions, mixture of the races, pornography in all forms, and subversion of the authority of parents.”

*”We believe tax laws should encourage private charity rather than public support for the poor, the disabled, and the sick and elderly who are unable to care for themselves.”

*”We oppose the presence of homosexuals and women in the military services and especially of women in combat roles.”

*”We therefore oppose all “sex education” as well as so-called ‘multiculturalist’ and ‘Afrocentric’ curricula, ‘Outcome-Based Education,’ and similar radical indoctrination in the schools.”

Again, keep in mind that the head of this extremist, racist group has donated heavily to Republican candidates for many years now. It’s only after the mass shooting in Charleston by a CCC follower that (some) Republican candidates are responding by donating or otherwise getting rid of that money. What took them so long? Hmmmm.