By now, you’ve probably seen the Washington Post story, “Fearing anger from Trump voters, Va. school district may close for the primary.” In short:

Officials in Virginia’s largest jurisdiction want to close public schools during the Super Tuesday presidential primary, saying they fear that supporters of Republican frontrunner Donald Trump could cause mayhem at the polls.

The concerns stem mainly from a Republican Party of Virginia decision — which Trump opposes — to require voters to affirm they are Republicans before casting a ballot in the March 1 Republican presidential primary.

“If you say: `I don’t want to do it,’ I have to say: `You don’t get a ballot,’” Fairfax County electoral board secretary Katherine K. Hanley told the county board of supervisors Tuesday before the board voted to ask school officials to keep students home.

“That’s what this provision is,” said Hanley, a Democrat who chaired the county board of supervisors from 1995 to 2003 and later served in the cabinet of Gov. Tim Kaine (D). “That’s about as contentious as anything we can possibly be doing in a polling place on election day.”

Or to put it another way, Fairfax leaders are apparently picturing possible scenarios somewhat like the following: 1) a Trump supporter walks into his or her polling place on March 1, intending to cast a vote for their (neo-fascist) hero; 2) said Trump supporter is told he or she must first sign the Virginia GOP’s “loyalty oath;” 3) said Trump supporter (possibly packing heat — you never know) loudly exclaims some variant of “hell no!!!;” 4) poll worker says, “sir (or ma’am), I’m sorry, you won’t be able to cast your ballot unless you sign the Republican pledge; 5) Trump supporter gets belligerent, possibly even violent; 6) all hell breaks loose.

How likely is this scenario to unfold in Fairfax County on March 1? Got me, but it doesn’t seem completely implausible. Of course, even if this scenario DOES unfold, that wouldn’t necessarily endanger any students, teachers, etc. Still, I can see why it might make a lot of people nervous. Meanwhile, if Fairfax County is seriously considering shutting down its school system – the largest in Virginia and one of the largest in the nation – what about every other school system in Virginia? Are hundreds of thousands of Virginia public school students going to be forced to stay home on March 1 due to fear of crazed, potentially violent, Donald Trump supporters? Is that really what this country – and our democracy – has come to? Ugh, if the answer to that question is “yes” or even “maybe.”

P.S. By the way, in basically every single story by Washington Post reporter Antonio Olivo, there’s a signficant mistake (or more likely, multiple mistakes). In this story, Olivo calls Fairfax County Supervisor Jeff McKay “John McKay.” Yet again, I ask: does the Washington Post have any editors? If so, what are they doing? And what’s the deal with a reporter who makes serious mistakes in article after article? Of course, this is the same paper that also employs climate science denier George Will, so…

by Lowell

I mean, seriously, what would we do without heroes like Virginia Del. Mark Cole (Far-Right “R”), valiantly fighting back against the scourge of the rampaging hordes possibly-a-few-dozen-in-the-entire-state of transgendered elementary, middle-school and high school kids?

Fortunately for those Virginians (including, frighteningly a few serving on school boards!) terrified about using the restroom at the same time as a (GASP!!!!) transgendered person (seriously, what do the bigots think is going to happen? also, do they have any evidence that any of their fears are based in reality?), Cole has jumped to rescue us all, with his new bill, HB 781, “Use of restroom facilities; penalty.” In particular, you’ve got to love this part: “Any student who willfully and knowingly violates this section shall be liable for a civil penalty not to exceed $50. Civil penalties assessed under this section shall be paid into the Literary Fund. Any law-enforcement officer may issue a summons regarding a violation of this section.” Just what we need, potty police. Not.

Unfortunately, Cole’s district is as right wingnutty as they come, even going for wild-eyed extremist E.W. Jackson by 12 points over Ralph Northam (and 57%-38% for Cooch over Terry McAuliffe) in 2013, so we’re unlikely to be rid of this bigoted bozo anytime soon. By the way, Cole’s other 2016 bills include: voter suppression, gun nuttiness, and wildly regressive taxation. So yeah, the guy’s about as far right as they come. Still, no matter what his ideology, there’s no excuse for this kind of mean-spirited bullying of kids who have enough to worry about without the Mark Coles of the world treating them like crap for absolutely no reason.

By KathyinBlacksburg

If there is anything constant about the extant GOP, it’s that things heretofore never considered acceptable, appropriate or decent are now a daily occurrence. Should a Republican win the general, none of the GOP candidates, especially presumed front-runner Donald Trump, would be capable of governing all of America’s people according to the Constitution and actually-settled law. Of course, they don’t intend to. The blatant racism, sexism and general misanthropy is so pervasive.

Now there is a Virginia political blog, Bacon’s Rebellion, trying to counter an immigration paper it doesn’t like in the most xenophobic way, portraying those of Hispanic descent as a caricature — a cross between a nasty cultural stereotype and a space alien. It’s not “Bacon’s Rebellion,” but the rebellion of the fourth-grade bullies with fourth-grade language skills and fourth-grade self control. Dominion Power, what are you thinking sponsoring this garbage?

But more to the point, what is becoming of a party which I once supported, before it stumbled into John Bircherism, Reaganomics (“voodoo economics”), and the infamous/race-baiting “Southern Strategy.” By 1968, I knew better than to trust a party which already back then had lost its way. But today, even Ronald Reagan would roll over in his grave, confronted with what the former “Party of Lincoln” has become. And people of goodwill everywhere must be shaking their heads in disgust at what has become of a once-respectable political party.

The world faced such a time before; another buffoon in another time and place belittled others, exhorted crowds to rise up against specific minorities. The GOP can continue down this path to its own, all of America’s (and the world’s) detriment. Or it can finally stand up to this hatred spewing from its own ranks and once and for all say, stop! In the name of decency, in the name of all that is in the best sense American and positively human, stop!

It is not “political correctness” to respect people regardless of their race, ethnicity, gender, or whom they love. To the contrary, it is acting like the Christians the whole sorry cast of winger candidates pretends to be. It is not “political correctness” for Americans to work from their better natures; it is simply the right thing to do, the American thing to do. And the ugliness taking over a sizable minority of this country is not. Let it not become so. What the wingers call “political correctness,” as if treating others the way we would like to be treated ourselves is a bad thing, is just politeness and courtesy. It’s what’s needed for civil society to function. But in today’s GOP, that apparently is asking too much.

Virginia Del. Scott Lingamfelter (R) is as rightwingnutty as they come, definitely a top priority for Democrats to defeat in 2017. Yet another example is the following bill he just filed, stating that “a person pointing, holding, or brandishing a firearm or similar weapons must have the intent to induce fear in the mind of another or know or reasonably should know that his conduct would induce such fear in order to be convicted of the crime of brandishing.” Of course, this is completely bonkers for at least three obvious reasons: 1) anyone with a gun being pointed at them is 100% certain to be fearful; 2) how is it humanly possible for the person pointing the gun NOT to know it will make the person it’s pointed at fearful; 3) how could it be proved in a court of law what the “intent” is of the person “brandishing” a weapon at someone? In short, what this bill would do is to make it, de facto, legal to “brandish” a weapon at someone in Virginia. Again, Democrats badly need to defeat this lunatic when he’s up again for reelection in 2017. Oh, and note that Lingamfelter (mis)represents a 53% Obama/Kaine district.

From the Virginia House Democratic Caucus, which rolled out its 2016 legislative priorities this morning. – Lowell

“From promoting the New Virginia economy through incentives for job creation, investments in the port and transportation, educational initiatives and workforce development to making our environment safer for future generations and passing sensible firearm safety measures, House Democrats are intensely focused on promoting common-sense solutions to problems that our constituents feel are important,” said Democratic Leader David J. Toscano. “We look forward to working with our colleagues in the General Assembly to make positive change in 2016.”

THE NEW VIRGINIA ECONOMY – THE VIRGINIA DEMOCRATIC HOUSE CAUCUS IS COMMITTED TO BUILDING THE NEW VIRGINIA ECONOMY WHERE ALL VIRGINIANS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY FOR REWARDING WORK THAT PAYS ENOUGH TO ADEQUATELY SUPPORT THEIR FAMILIES.

“Supporting the Governor’s plans to build a New Virginia Economy is our top priority; including all Virginians in future growth and opportunity is imperative,” said Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn (41st– Springfield). “Our members are supporting initiatives in the Governor’s budget for job creation, enhancements of the Port, and have introduced legislation that increases the minimum wage, implements paid family leave for new parents, and ensures nondiscrimination in employment and compensation.”

EDUCATION – QUALITY EDUCATION IS THE FOUNDATION OF OUR STATE’S ECONOMY. DEMOCRATS SUPPORT EXCELLENCE IN THE CLASSROOM, FROM PRE-K TO HIGHER EDUCATION, WHICH HELPS CHILDREN SUCCEED IN SCHOOL AND IN LIFE.

“Expanding opportunity and building the New Virginia Economy requires an excellent public education system in the Commonwealth. Achieving excellence begins with supporting our localities by reducing unfunded mandates, re-benchmarking the standards of quality and continuing to revise SOLs to reduce high-stakes testing.  We need to restore state funding to pre-recession levels.  That funding needs to include Pre-Kindergarten programs and full-day Kindergarten classes,” said Delegate Daun Hester (89th – Norfolk). “We need more teachers in the classroom – teachers who are compensated appropriately for their profession and service. We cannot increase the expectations for teachers, while decreasing their compensation.  We support the Governor’s efforts to increase higher education funding, especially in research and development, and will work to lessen the burden of student loans for Virginians who are just getting their careers started or transitioning to new ones.”

HEALTHCARE – HOUSE DEMOCRATS CONTINUE TO SUPPORT BRINGING TAX DOLLARS BACK TO VIRGINIA TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO INSURANCE FOR 400,000 CITIZENS THROUGH MEDICAID EXPANSION. IT IS CRUCIAL TO MAINTAINING A HEALTHY WORKFORCE, PROTECTING THE FINANCIAL VIABILITY OF OUR HOSPITALS, AND THE SOUNDNESS OF OUR STATE BUDGET.

“Democrats will keep trying to find a way to bring back our tax dollars for the most needy among us,”said Deputy Minority Leader Mark Sickles. “We are in the very unusual position of turning down our fair share of federal dollars for the first time in history.  Providing routine health care and reducing rampant chronic disease among our poor is a win-win-win that produces needed new jobs, lower health care costs over the longer term, and a higher quality of life for up to 400,000 Virginians by enabling their greater participation in our economy.”

MILITARY AND VETERANS – HOUSE DEMOCRATS ARE MAKING VIRGINIA THE BEST STATE FOR VETERANS.

“We also need to keep pushing to support our veterans and service members,” said Delegate Monty Mason (93rd – Williamsburg). “House Democrats will continue to support funding to build veterans’ care centers in Northern Virginia and Hampton Roads, as well as creating clear pathways for recently separated veterans to integrate into the civilian workforce.”

PUBLIC SAFETY AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM – VIRGINIANS NEED A SYSTEM THAT KEEPS US SAFE, IS FAIR, AND COSTS LESS.

“Virginians depend on us to continue to work to provide strong public safety and criminal justice system that keeps us safe, costs less, reduces over-criminalization, and facilitates prisoner reentry into society,” said Delegate-Elect Jennifer Boysko (86th – Herndon). “House Democrats are proposing several pieces of legislation to further that initiative, such as expanding background checks on firearm sales and helping localities purchase and regulate body cameras for law enforcement officials.”

MAKING VOTING EASIER AND FAIRER – HOUSE DEMOCRATS BELIEVE THAT VOTING IS A FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT, AND SHOULD BE MADE EASIER AND FAIRER.

“Making elections fairer and voting easier is imperative for this 2016 session. Creating a non-partisan redistricting process will ensure that elections in the Commonwealth are fair, and that the voters are choosing their representatives, not politicians choosing their voters,” said Delegate Sam Rasoul (11th – Roanoke). “In addition, voting should be made easier, not harder. Democratic Delegates are promoting measures to make sure that voting remains a fundamental right, like expanding types of voter identification accepted, and making it easier to vote early or absentee.”

“House Democrats want to make sure the opportunity exists for people across the Commonwealth to succeed today and in the future. This is the work we are committed to, and proposals under the New Virginia Economy to fixing our lagging infrastructure and ensuring the best in education will do just that,” said Charniele Herring, Chair of the House Democratic Caucus. “Making Virginia the best place to raise a family and the best place to do business must be at the forefront of our policymaking again.”

For a full list of Virginia House Demorats’ 2016 Legislative Priorities, please click here.