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As Virginia and the Country Face Turmoil, Possible Recession, Assault on the Federal Workforce, etc., Here’s What the Three 2025 GOP Candidates for VA Governor Are Focused On

By
lowkell
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8

As Virginia and the country face increasing turmoil, possible recession, assault on the federal government/workforce, rampant violations of the constitution and rule of law, etc, etc. thanks to Trump/DOGE/etc., what are the three Virginia far-right-Republican candidates for governor focused on?  See below…and make sure you do everything possible to elect Abigail Spanberger governor this November, preferably by a HUGE margin – unless, of course, you actually *want* a “Virginia DOGE,” war against “DEI,” “100% pro-Trump,” etc. Nope, didn’t think so!

P.S. For a lot more information on these candidates, see the following links (there’s a TON more on Blue Virginia; this is just a short sampling):

Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11): “The work of the Deputy IG and the OPM Office of IG must be allowed to proceed unimpeded.”

By
Blue Virginia
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6

See below for two press releases from Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA11)’s office, which is very busy these days – for good reason!

Ranking Member Connolly Launches Investigation Into Agency “Reduction In Force” Plans That Threaten Life-Saving Government Services
Washington, D.C. (March 10, 2025)—Today, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, sent letters to the heads of 24 federal agencies requesting documents and information regarding their response to guidance from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) on agency reductions in force (RIF) and reorganization plans following a February 26, 2025, memo.

“The actions outlined in this memo will further enable the Administration’s political purge of dedicated civil servants from federal agencies.  The Administration has already engaged in illegal RIFs, deep funding cuts that endanger many of our government’s life-saving missions, and the unlawful wholesale dismantlement of congressionally authorized federal agencies.  This memo seeks to accelerate and expand these actions across the government.”

The letter follows a string of Committee efforts to fight back against Elon Musk’s DOGE efforts to illegally terminate federal workers, undermine the nonpartisan civil service, and dismantle the services Americans rely on:

  • On February 3, 2025, Ranking Member Connolly led all Committee Democrats in sending a letter to President Donald Trump, requesting documents and information regarding his “deferred resignation” offer sent en mass to the federal workforce, and urging him to rescind the offer.
  • On that same day, Ranking Member Connolly led all Committee Democrats in sending another letter to President Donald Trump, demanding the President cease his purge of nonpartisan civil servants, including career professionals and independent government watchdogs.
  • On February 22, 2025, Ranking Member Connolly sent a letter to OPM demanding a clarification that nonresponse to the “What did you do last week?” email that was sent to all federal workers does not constitute resignation and a clarification that Elon Musk does not, in fact, speak for OPM.
  • On March 3, 2025, Committee Democrats sent a letter to OPM requesting documents and information regarding the Trump-Musk Administration’s efforts to purge non-partisan, civil servants in probationary status and reinstate all whom were unlawfully terminated.
  • On March 4, 2025, Ranking Member Connolly and Rep. Kweisi Mfume, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Government Operations, led Committee Democrats in introducing a Resolution of Inquiry to investigate the Trump-Musk Administration’s unprecedented attacks on federal workers.
  • On March 6, 2025, Ranking Member Connolly led 141 House Democrats in sending a letter to OPM urging the agency to reinstate all unlawfully terminated probationary status federal employees and cease plans to carry out RIFs.

Ranking Member Connolly concluded, “I request that you submit to the Committee any materials your agency develops responsive to the February 26 memo.  Please provide these materials to the Committee concurrent with submission to OMB and/or OPM.”

Click here to read the letters to agency heads.
OPM Inspector General Assessing Risks to Agency IT Systems after Oversight Democrats Raise Serious Cybersecurity and Privacy Concerns about DOGE
Washington, D.C. (March 10, 2025)— The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Deputy Inspector General Vint has informed the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee that the OPM Office of the Inspector General (OIG) will be incorporating into existing work topics of investigation outlined in a February 6th letter from Committee Democrats.  That letter raised concerns about DOGE exposing agency systems to potential cybersecurity threats and privacy violations.  The OIG stated it is initiating “a new engagement on specific emerging risks at OPM that are related to issues raised in [the] letter” and is assessing “risks associated with new and modified information systems at OPM.”

Ranking Member Connolly issued the following statement upon receiving Mr. Vint’s response:

“Inspectors General must have the independence to carry out their mission free from partisan pressure and threat.That is the only way these government watchdogs can conduct their important work on behalf of the American people.  The work of the Deputy Inspector General and the OPM Office of Inspector General must be allowed to proceed unimpeded.”

On February 6, 2025, Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Rep. Shontel Brown, Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Information Technology, and Government Innovation, and Rep. Yassamin Ansari led all Committee Democrats in sending a letter to Offices of Inspectors General at the Department of the Treasury, the General Services Administration (GSA), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) expressing urgent concerns that unauthorized individuals associated with Elon Musk or the “DOGE” effort gained access to protected government networks and sensitive data.  Oversight Democrats strongly encouraged the Inspectors General to quickly address any potential threats to national security and safeguard sensitive government information against potential unauthorized access and misuse by private citizens lacking requisite clearance or any legitimate reason to access this information.

Click here to read Oversight Democrats’ full letter to the six Inspectors General.

Click here to read OPM Deputy Inspector General Vint’s response to Oversight Democrats.

###

Monday News: “What’s Next for Ukraine?”; “Mark Carney wins race to become Canada’s PM…vows to stand up to Trump”; “Will Trumpian Uncertainty Knock the Economy Into a Recession?” – “Cracks Are Forming”; “MAGA’s Big Lie budget”; Trump’s “Expanding Attacks on Speech”

By
lowkell
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19

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Monday, March 10.

Video: Just Over the Past Few Days, Youngkin Told Whoppers (aka, LIES) on National TV About Trump’s Tariffs, DEI, Thomas Jefferson, etc.

By
lowkell
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2

The smarminess, dishonesty, Trump boot-licking/groveling, race-baiting, etc. continues for Glenn Youngkin. See below for just two prime examples from the last few days…

  • “This is being done to rebalance unfair trade practices with countries around the world. And that has been his primary objective.” – Glenn Youngkin

FACT CHECK: Just because Trump incorrectly *believes* this crap doesn’t make it true, and Youngkin – who prior to Trump was a big free-trade guy, presumably – should and probably DOES know this. But it’s all about groveling to Trump, kissing up to him, hoping to be given Trump’s blessing whenever Youngkin runs for his next office. But no, trade wars are simply damaging, to both the other countries AND to America, and there’s really no upside to any of it. And remember, for decades, Republicans – Ronald Reagan, George W. Bush, etc. – strongly supported free trade, because they believed that it would strongly benefit our country and the entire world, really. But now, the GOP is led by a mercantilist, protectionist, someone who moronically believes that America was better off under President McKinley, who “as a congressman in 1890, he authored the highest and most protectionist tariff act in US history.” Note that those tariffs “had far-reaching impact on the economy, and were ultimately widely unpopular among voters, leading him and other Republican congressmen to lose their seats in the 1890 midterms. Even McKinley himself changed his mind on foreign trade by the time he became president.” So…yeah, we’ll see how this works out for Trump and the MAGA GOP, not to mention the US economy, but the chances of it working out well are really, REALLY not good!)

  • As for Youngkin gloating that “DEI is *done* at UVA,” and that doing so represents “a huge step to restoring the values of Mr. Jefferson who founded the university, who understood that we are all created equal,” that DEI supposedly “violates the constitution” and/or is “illegal discrimination,” that he also removed “CRT” from public schools – except that it wasn’t even taught there! – where does one even start? 

For one thing, let’s get this straight – diversity, equity and inclusion are all very good things, definitely not “illegal discrimination” or “unconstitutional.” To the contrary, what they are about is raising people up, and helping to combat the massively tilted playing field against African Americans for most of this country’s history (certainly in the 19th and 20th centuries, particularly prior to the 1950s/1960s Civil Rights Movement, Voting Rights Act, Civil Rights Act, etc.). As for “the values of Mr. Jefferson,” of course he was a historic figure and did many great things, but it’s also simply a fact that Jefferson “enslaved over 600 human beings throughout the course of his life. 400 people…at Monticello; the other 200 people…held in bondage on Jefferson’s other properties.” Also, “People at Monticello were physically beaten. Several overseers had a reputation for cruelty and violence.” As for Sally Hemings, you can read about her story here, including how she “became Mr. Jefferson’s concubine” in France, then “arrived back in Virginia and slavery at the age of 16…pregnant with Jefferson’s child.” Yet when it comes to diversity, equity and inclusion, this is who Youngkin thinks should be a model for our society, today? Brilliant, huh?

BTW, note that Youngkin can just go on national TV, lie through his teeth, and literally this gets ZERO media coverage from the WaPo, RTD, etc, etc.  Because of course it’s not at all newsworthy that the governor of Virginia is a pathological liar, and because of course it’s not important that the people of Virginia should be informed as to that reality.  Great job as always, “mainstream media!” LOL

P.S. In his column this morning, the brilliant David Rothkopf explains VERY well what the Republican war on “DEI” is actually all about: “Attacking DEI first was a strategic move, designed to feed the baser impulses of the MAGA base and to send a message that puts them in lock step with Putinist, right-wing, ethno-nationalist movements worldwide.“; “This is a sweeping effort to end free-speech and academic freedom and the diversity of thought because they are a threat to those in power, because they are obstacles to those in power remaining so.”

Sunday News: “‘Nothing like this in American history’: the crisis of Trump’s assault on the rule of law”; “Today’s GOP Is the Worst Generation”; “‘You lose all hope’: Federal workers gripped by mental health instability amid Trump cuts”; “‘SNL’ Trump and Musk Thoroughly Humiliate Marco Rubio”

By
lowkell
-
8

by Lowell

Here are a few international, national and Virginia news headlines, political and otherwise, for Sunday, March 9.

Video: Rep. Suhas Subramanyman (D-VA10) Says Federal Workers in His District Are “not just worried about their jobs,” but “about the work that they were doing and how important it was to the American people”

By
lowkell
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7

Rep. Suhas Subramanyam this morning on MSNBC had the following to say:

  • “It’s powerful isn’t it? Just hearing the stories from the people directly; I have a lot federal workers in my district, but I have a lot of people too who are hurt that are not federal workers. And one thing I keep hearing from the federal workers is that they’re not just worried about their jobs, they’re worried about the work that they were doing and how important it was to the American people. When you’re talking about nuclear scientists who keep our nukes safe, right?”
  • “I think what you’re seeing is the Trump Administration backtracking and they’re on defense now because we keep putting the pressure by telling the stories and by speaking up. And so I tell people you are not powerless – come out to the town halls or tell your story, we are listening and we will echo that story and we will make change.”
  • “[Trump]’s trying to make everyone happy he’s making nobody happy right now. And he wanted to give Elon Musk a free rein to do whatever he wanted and the agency heads were pushing back, because again it’s bad for the American people and the American people are speaking up. And so I tell people keep speaking up, keep fighting back, because it’s working. I know I will, certainly.”
  • “Well I’ll say this, one we have a pretty united message right now – we’re going to fight these cuts of Medicaid and Social Security, we’re going to fight this budget, we’re going to be fighting a lot of what’s happening at DOGE because it’s affecting all of our communities. So we have a united message. Now the way people deliver that message might be different, right? Some people might be more aggressive like Congressman Green, some people have a different way like  Senator Fetterman, right? But we have the same message, which is you know, what’s happening is not good for the American people and I think that’s really important. So the way I do it is I tell the stories, I get on the House floor and I point out the hypocrisy and the corruption, right? But you know we’ve got other people doing it in other ways and that’s okay.”
  • “Actually, our caucus is quite united. I’m not just saying that; it’s true. We are all actually in this together, we’re pretty united. You know, when the leadership works with us, they understand that our districts are all pretty different. And for me…I mean honestly if I wasn’t here I’d be home yelling at the TV. Like, I’m glad I’m here to be able to fight back and push back and be in Congress. And so we all see that opportunity to be able to empower the American people, we’re just doing it in different ways, right? I’m sure Congressman Green is a hero back home in Houston and I’m sure Senator Fetterman has big fans in Pennsylvania. So we’re all doing it differently, but I think it’s working. As you’re looking at the results…it takes a little bit of time, but courts are overturning it, but more importantly the courts of public opinion are pushing back as well. So I say to people keep fighting in the way that you need to fight.”
  • “One, it’s illegal, a lot of the stuff that they’re doing. But two, the folks that they’re firing are people who are irreplaceable, they are so essential to keeping people safe, keeping people healthy. We’re talking about scientists, we’re talking about veterans who have a ton of experience, many of them are disabled veterans. And so, you know, these folks deserve better, they had great reviews, they were doing the job that was asked them, they’ve done nothing wrong, they don’t even care who’s President, they just want to do a good job. And so we’re going to fight that in court. But you know, I say again, bring more light to it. We had a call the other day where 300 or 400 veterans came on and they shared their stories. And again, by hearing the stories, the administration starts to buckle, they start to to cede ground. And so I say keep fighting.”

VA Dems – “WINSOME, LOSE SOME: Sears Campaign Keeps Getting Hit While Already Down”

By
Blue Virginia
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3

From the Democratic Party of Virginia (DPVA):

WINSOME, LOSE SOME: Sears Campaign Keeps Getting Hit While Already Down

VIRGINIA – It’s been another week of floundering for Winsome Earle-Sears as the GOP Governor’s primary heats up and Sears is getting hit on all sides – from attacks by her primary challengers to tough stories highlighting her failed attempts at being empathetic to being outright ignored by Team Trump despite defending his attacks on Virginia jobs.

And to cap off how bad a few weeks it has been, Sears has been dodging media requests because it’s clear she doesn’t want to make things worse.

SETTLING THIS WEEK’S SCORE 🏆

Winsome’s Wins:

  • Mums the word: Sears’ campaign has become unresponsive, declining to comment on breaking stories affecting Virginia’s economy and outright ignoring requests. It’s a win though because no comment alienates fewer voters than backing Trump’s attacks on Virginia jobs.
  • A for Effort: In a new story, the Boston Globe highlighted how Sears “attempted to balance empathy for worried workers with validating Trump and Musk’s mission.” The key word being “attempted” and key missing adjective being “successfully.”
Winsome’s Losses:
  • Dumped by Trump: Despite defending Donald Trump’s efforts to gut Virginia jobs and attack the Commonwealth’s economy and being his most loyal on and off again supporter, Sears was not even selected by the White House or the RNC to appear as a surrogate for Trump’s address.
  • LaRocking and Steamrolling: During an interview with WMAL, LaRock called Sears “extremely divisive,” accused her of having an inability to unite the base because she is “a talker, not a doer,” and suggested he thinks Sears has “already given up” on winning the general election. As The Cook Political Report said on Thursday, Sears “no longer has a clear path to the GOP nomination for Virginia governor.”
  • Shot, Lime, (Amanda) Chaser: Chase levied attacks of her own against Sears, declaring that Sears is merely “kowtow[ing] to the political establishment” and doesn’t “stand up” for Virginians in her Chase for Governor newsletter.
And with Winsome, it’s Virginians who stand to lose the most:
  • With a GOP primary field focused on causing chaos, proving their loyalty to Trump, and fighting with each other instead of fighting for the Commonwealth, Virginians will lose the most.
  • No matter how much the GOP field fights, they all agree on the same radical agenda backing ongoing attacks on Virginia jobs and workers, defunding public schools, and ripping away reproductive rights.

Saturday News: “Trump Is Offering Putin Another Munich”; Trump/DOGE “Staffing cuts at Social Security spark fears the system could collapse”; “Trump Makes Aggressive New Claim of Executive Power To Circumvent The Senate”; Youngkin “goes on his safe space Fox News hoping Trump will be watching”

By
lowkell
-
12

by Lowell

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

Video: Sen. Tim Kaine Says Sending Education Back to the States Takes Us Back to “where we were before Brown v Board of Education”

By
lowkell
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3

Sen. Tim Kaine on MSNBC yesterday:

  • “You can talk about sending education back to the states. Yeah, that’s what that’s where we were before Brown v Board of Education – the states got to decide, and the states made a hell of a lot of decisions that were really awful. And that’s why there needed to be some level of federal supervision over what is still primarily a state and local responsibility.”
  • “Canada is a close neighbor and ally. They’re, you know, one of the biggest trade partners with the United States, we’ve been peaceful friends for so very long. Canadians spent a lot of time vacationing in Virginia, and we really love Canadian visitors. But this kind of abuse is just so sophomoric and juvenile. And then you got to ask yourself, who’s the big baby here? You know, they have that meeting and maybe they talk tough to Prime Minister Trudeau. But today, Lutnick announces we’re backing off on the tariffs yet again. They announced the tariffs, but then they delayed implementation and now they’re backing off once again. They’re not backing off out of the kindness of their heart. Trump’s backing off of these tariffs because it’s a horrible idea economically, they’re looking at bad news in the stock market, bad news in inflation. There’s Republicans who are going to the White House and saying, we’re not going to say it publicly, but this will be a disaster for our farmers and our manufacturers. And so they announced this charitable decision today, we’ll back off For the tariffs another month.  So they may have talked abusively, but they ended up backing down, not Canada. And they backed down because tariffs are a stupid idea that only hurt Americans.”

After Youngkin Appointees Vote to Oust VMI’s First Black Superintendent, Cedric Wins, He Calls Out “misfeasance that endangers VMI and the future of our nation”

By
lowkell
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0

See below for a spot-on statement by VMI Superintendent Cedric Wins, who is being ousted by Youngkin’s right-wing, anti-diversity appointees despite (or because of?) the fact that, as VA Speaker Don Scott put it the other day: “as its first Black superintendent, he took crucial steps to change the institution’s culture while maintaining its tradition of excellence.” And as Sen. Tim Kaine put it: “I abhor this despicable decision. What in God’s name are you thinking?” What they’re thinking is that Youngkin’s appointees want to make VMI safe for racism again, it would appear.

As for Superintendent Wins’ statement, he nailed it:

  • “The decision was not based on my performance or the tangible progress we achieved. It is the result of a partisan choice that abandons the values of honor, integrity and excellence up on which VMI was built.”
  • “Unfortunately, the winds of resistance by a few have drowned out those who desire to bring the Institute into the 21st century while maintaining the right traditions.”
  • “My tenure will end because bias, emotion and ideology rather than sound judgment swayed the board.”
  • “Their actions undermine the rich legacy of VMI for political gain. Instead of advancing this school from a crucible for principled leaders rooted in our values and a training ground that finds worth in cadets from diverse backgrounds, we risk returning to an obsessive focus on our distant past, believing it will produce tomorrow’s leaders of character.”
  • “I believe their choice to subject cadets to a cycle of polarization is misfeasance that endangers VMI and the future of our nation.”

And yes, that’s exactly how Trump, Youngkin, etc. think – and what they do. The question remains, why would any American support their racism, idiocy, extremism, etc???

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