No, you've got it backwards. If they had NOT FOUND 12,000 "extra" "ballots", that would mean something definitely went wrong. It's New Jersey politics, it's what those fuckers do.

https://thefederalist.com/2021...ing-the-parent-vote/

Democrats Are Right To Be Scared About Losing The Parent Vote

a former Obama campaign manager declared, in an urgent tone, “The one thing that we need to make sure that Republicans in 2022 don’t become is the party of parents. Because we need to be the party of parents.”

Democrats have reason to be afraid of losing the parent vote, and they’re demonstrating that fear by deploying the only weapon they have left: false accusations of racism. The truth is, it’s an existential threat to their party if American parents as a demographic begin shifting to the Republican Party — and that is already well on its way.

But in the article there is a very interesting data point

The report shows the majority of voters ages 18-55 who identify as Republicans are married, at 56 percent

while just 40 percent of Democrats aged 18-55 are married.

That 16-point gap persists among parents in that same age range: 61 percent of Republicans in that age range are parents, as are just 45 percent of Democrats.

A main way for the left to stave off the threat all this poses to their electoral dominance is another longstanding strategy: converting people’s kids through the education institutions they dominate.

VA has a battle ahead to roll back some infringements on the 2A that the Progs cooked up last year, after the Dems took control of the legislature.

One new law the Dems passed gave local municipalities the authority to make illegal concealed carry in public parks and in public streets and places near government buildings. Many VA cities, led by woke Progressives, quickly passed ordinances to ban guns in these areas. The murder rate in VA went up 23% in 2020 over 2019 after the Dems took over, and these new ordinances did nothing to protect law abiding citizens. (The Dems also proposed laws to make all semi-automatic "assault weapons" illegal, without success).

Here's hoping the new Governor and Atty General will work with the legislature (which now has a Republican-led House of Delegates) to roll back the obstructions to the 2A and to Article I, section 13, of the VA Constitution. VA has traditionally been a well-run, gun-friendly state with a low crime rate, and we need that back.

The VA Citizens Defense League does a lot of good work on 2A issues and is worth checking out.

And thanks to all of the Sig Forum members who supported and encouraged law-abiding gun owners in Virginia during this election season.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: RoverSig,

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
https://thefederalist.com/2021...ing-the-parent-vote/

Democrats Are Right To Be Scared About Losing The Parent Vote

A main way for the left to stave off the threat all this poses to their electoral dominance is another longstanding strategy: converting people’s kids through the education institutions they dominate.

Thus driving more parents to the Republican Party, just as they did in Virginia?

A comparison of Nov 2020 election to Nov 2021 election in our county

Last year I asked our REP committee chair about large Trump signs. He said he had to beg REP Party of Virginia to get two Trump signs 3'x 4'. He gave them to me to put up.

This year the Youngkin campaign gave us twenty Youngkin 4'x 8' signs. You can see these from over 100 yards away.

The Youngkin campaign also gave us 150 yard signs to distribute. We bought another 100 yard signs. And distributed all of them.

To be fair, the Youngkin signs came from the Youngkin campaign. There was also very noticeable much more Republican Party enthusiasm for Youngkin as compared to Donald Trump.


Jeff Roe is one of the key Youngkin campaign managers / architects. He said they were aggressive about campaigning over the entire state. It showed.

There were almost no McAuliffe signs in our area.

We saw video after video of McAuliffe sitting down and clapping as biden, Kamala Harris, obama, Stacy Abrams, jill biden, etc etc spoke for him at rallies

In contrast Youngkin talked for himself 7 days a week and had a final bus tour at 50 stops over the state.

https://thehill.com/homenews/c...-after-virginia-rout

Democrats brace for flood of retirements after Virginia rout

Democrats are bracing for the possibility of a coming wave of retirements as the party comes to grips with a series of ominous electoral losses in Virginia and other states that portend trouble in the 2022 midterms.

Fourteen House Democrats have already announced that they will not seek reelection in 2022. But the painful string of defeats in Tuesday’s off-year elections is stirring speculation that more of the party’s incumbents may be eyeing the exits ahead of the midterms in hopes of avoiding brutal reelection campaigns or being relegated once again to the minority.

Republicans, emboldened by their recent victories, are already firing warning shots at House Democrats. In an interview with The Washington Post on Wednesday, Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), gave vulnerable Democratic incumbents an ultimatum: “Retire or lose.”


Those remarks came as the NRCC expanded its list of targets on Wednesday, adding 13 new Democratic incumbents in solidly blue, suburban districts, sending a signal that the GOP is prepared to go on offense in parts of the country that they previously appeared unlikely to win.

Even before Tuesday’s elections, Democrats were staring down the prospect of a difficult midterm election cycle. For one, the decennial redistricting process is expected to bolster the GOP’s numbers in the House.

retirements are often seen as an early sign of pessimism among a party’s incumbents ahead of midterm elections. What’s more, party leaders dread retirements because it is often easier to hold onto a seat when an incumbent is running than it is when the seat is wide open.

Ahead of the 2018 midterms, nearly two dozen GOP House incumbents retired from public office entirely. Democrats eventually went on to gain some 40 seats — and control of the House — that year in what was dubbed a “blue wave.”

Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) predicted that his party could flip more than 60 House seats next year and that there would “be a lot of retirements” coming up.

"If you're a Democrat and President Biden won your seat by 16 points, you're in a competitive race next year, you are no longer safe,” McCarthy said.

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
In contrast Youngkin talked for himself 7 days a week and had a final bus tour at 50 stops over the state.

Not all candidates are going to get enthusiastic Republican Party support in upcoming elections (see, for example, Nevada, Arizona and Mississippi). The main source of that, IMHO, is going to be the ongoing battle between the GOP Establishment and the grass roots.

Personal appearances bypass a lot of issues -

- what is said can't be hacked, edited or simply ignored by the media and by social media

- a decent (not great, just decent) speaker can cajole a crowd into supporting a candidate over time - by getting more deeply into ideas that may or may not play well on a bumper sticker or a 30-second sound bite

- what is said can be tailored - even on the fly - to a local audience

- and that's true because it gives candidates multiple opportunities to be responsive to local audiences and lets local audiences see candidates being responsive, which gives audiences a sense of investment in a candidate and a campaign

- if something exciting is happening in town, word will spread through the media, social media, emails, texts, etc. That in turn will get people to put their phones down long enough to attend a live event, and then use their phones to pass on whatever they're hearing

- Nowadays, live events are different, even novel, because everyone's used to hearing what they hear by keeping one ear or one eye on the cell phone or the laptop

- Conservatives can meme better than liberals, but liberals are much better (in fact they're almost too good for their on good) at online marketing and using the media

I hope Republican candidates of whatever stripe make a point of doing as many live appearances as possible over the next few election cycles.

Loudon County school board erupts last night

https://www.foxnews.com/us/lou...-to-oust-board-chair

The Loudoun County School Board meeting erupted into shouting on Tuesday night after parents confronted members of the school board after the parent group Fight for Schools filed more than 2,000 signatures to remove the board chair.

"By the way, Denise, Brenda, Ian, Atoosa, we are well over 100 percent of required signatures for the petitions," Megan Jenkins said during the public comment period. "So I'm not going to encourage any of you to resign because when you are recalled and removed from office, it will be much more satisfying. See you in court."

Jenkins had been referring to Board Chair Brenda Sheridan (Sterling District), Board Vice-Chair Atoosa Reaser (Algonkian District), Ian Serotkin (Blue Ridge District), and Denise Corbo, the at-large member. Ian Prior, a father and executive director at Fight for Schools, previously told Fox News that his organization had compiled all the signatures to mount legal challenges to each of those four board members, although he filed the petition to oust Sheridan on Tuesday.

In order to remove an elected official in Virginia, petitioners must acquire a number of signatures equal to 10% of the votes cast in the previous election for that office.

"I have the privilege of telling you that we are finished collecting signatures for your removal," Jessica Mendez said during the board meeting's public comment period. She said that parent organizers "sacrificed and spent countless hours away from their families, day in and day out."

"I used to think that there was no point in speaking at these meetings," Mendez added. "There was no point in trying to have a voice because you never seem to listen, anyway. But I had it all wrong. It wasn't you who needed to hear our voices. It was all those parents, grandparents and neighbors listening at home, horrified at your actions or inactions. They were the ones who needed to hear us, and they were the ones who sign petitions, see you in court."

Erin Dunbar accused the school board of spending taxpayer money to inculcate "critical theory of the Marxist philosophy."

"You have activist teachers using to indoctrinate their kids who are at the mercy of their authority," she said. "That is child abuse. And you have no right to brainwash children into believing that their skin color determines their purpose."

The petition effort began earlier this year, after reports emerged that members of a Facebook group called "Anti-Racist Parents of Loudoun County" had compiled a list of outspoken conservatives and opponents of critical race theory in order to track, hack, and "doxx" them.

Many parents have opposed critical race theory (CRT) — a framework that involves deconstructing aspects of society to discover systemic racism beneath the surface — believing it to be divisive and racist. While many have insisted that Virginia's schools do not teach CRT, various government documents contradict this narrative, including a contract showing that Loudoun County Schools paid more than $300,000 to The Equity Collaborative, which begins its trainings with an "Intro to Critical Race Theory."

Parents have also confronted school board members with sexually explicit images from the books "Lawn Boy" and "Gender Queer," which parents say aim to normalize pedophilia.

Education issues in Loudoun County took center stage in the Virginia governor's race, which Republican candidate Glenn Youngkin won in part by championing parental rights in education and pledging to ban CRT in schools. Youngkin has called for many school board members to resign.

If the cases go to trial, a judge or a jury will rule whether or not to remove the board members. If any board member is removed, the board would have 45 days to appoint an interim replacement and 15 days to petition the court for a special election.

One of my neighbors was there.

He said the parental fury aimed at the LCSB was visceral (in addition to chaotic and loud) and he thinks there may be sudden, mid-term “retirements” as these GDCs realize they have lost the faith of the citizenry.

It needs to go way beyond the board members - the curriculum in those schools there needs to be be scrubbed.

Here is a great video that explains why Youngkin won. 36 minutes

https://therepublicanstandard....in-won-the-election/


Everything in this video lines up what I saw from the ground level, but not realizing all this was going on in the background.

Youngkin was largely unknown to most voters until Sept 2021 then bang - everyone knew who he was. It was also obvious that Youngkin was campaigning all over Virginia.

And Youngkin was campaigning w/o other "big name" REP help (intentionally). He was indeed establishing his own brand.

His 7 days a week campaigning was apparent.

I have it from a very good source that McAuliffe himself ran a very lazy campaign as a candidate.

So when would the RECALL vote be held, if the Board doesn’t resign en masse?

Just as an aside, here’s a rather tongue-in-cheek column about school board meetings and angry parents.
https://www.lewrockwell.com/20...rse-of-human-events/

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
His 7 days a week campaigning was apparent.

I have it from a very good source that McAuliffe himself ran a very lazy campaign as a candidate.

Hmmm, Sounds Familiar? I recall similar election result driven by a populist groundswell among grassroots middle-class voters where another 'Entitled Leftist Democrat' lost 'Bigly'!

In fact, I believe these defeated Elitist's were known associates, and part of the same Corrupt Power Hungry Cabal whose activities are driven purely for self-benefit & power lust!

^^^ Well, if McAuliffe did run a lazy campaign then he certainly got screwed by Hill's playbook.

Back in New Jersey: demoKKKat Sweeney concedes:

quote:

‘All votes have been counted’: Steve Sweeney concedes loss in New Jersey Senate race


New Jersey Democratic Senate President Steve Sweeney on Wednesday conceded his loss in last week’s election, an upset that sent shock waves through the state’s political world, but said he would remain a player in Garden State politics.

“I will be speaking from a different podium, but I promise you: I will be just as loud and just as forceful a voice for change,” he told reporters at the Statehouse in Trenton.

Sweeney also congratulated his opponent, Edward Durr Jr., a previously unknown South Jersey Republican who has never served in elected office. Durr’s victory over Sweeney, the longest-serving Senate president in the state’s history and the second-most powerful elected official in Trenton, was an unexpected and major blow to South Jersey’s Democratic establishment.

“All votes have been fairly counted, and I, of course, accept the results,” Sweeney said.

Durr won by a few more than 2,200 votes out of 65,000 cast, according to the Associated Press. Sweeney held off on conceding for a week, saying he wanted all votes counted. Republican Jack Ciattarelli, who mounted an unsuccessful campaign to oust Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, has also urged patience while the votes are counted and has not yet conceded that race despite Murphy’s 72,000-vote lead.

Gloucester County’s Sweeney has put his stamp on most major legislative accomplishments in the last decade. With the help of his childhood friend George E. Norcross III, the millionaire insurance executive and Democratic power broker, Sweeney, 62, spent years building political clout for South Jersey, a region once overshadowed by the Democrats in the northern part of the state.

In his comments to reporters Wednesday, Sweeney touted his efforts to get paid family leave signed into law, bring wind-energy manufacturing to South Jersey, raise the minimum wage, and reform the state pension system.

“I will keep speaking out for fiscal responsibility and reform. I will be a strong voice for unity, for economic opportunity, and for competitiveness and growth,” Sweeney said, adding, “Most of all, I will be a champion for the enactment of policies that make New Jersey affordable. ...”

Durr, a 58-year-old truck driver, has said his win was a repudiation of the state’s pandemic policies such as vaccine and mask mandates. Soon after the election, he faced calls to resign after a reporter turned up offensive social media posts, such as one calling undocumented immigrants “criminals” and another that referred to Islam as a “false religion.” Durr deleted the posts last week and said he supports “everybody’s right to worship in any manner they choose.”

Durr will take office in January and serve a two-year term, then can run for a four-year term under New Jersey’s electoral system.

https://www.inquirer.com/news/...rcross-20211110.html

Bad news. REPs may not have won the state House of Delegates

https://therepublicanstandard....delegates-elections/

Two close House of Delegates races in Hampton Roads may be heading for a recount.

The development has prompted House Speaker Eileen Filler-Corn (D-Fairfax) to walk back her earlier statement saying that Republicans won control of the general assembly’s lower chamber.

Results for 85th and 91st district ae under the 0.5% difference that allows a recount.

REPs hold the lead in both cases. The election of either would give the REPs the majority in the House of Delegates.

stay tuned

Three diff topics in this post

#1 Virginia elections to post the final election results tomorrow. We will have to see if the two close House of Delegates seats get challenged to recount. Right now we have 50 of the 100 delegate seats. We hold slim leads in another 2 seats

#2 A friend of mine helped me put up Youngkin signs. He has a relative in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania will have an election for Governor in Nov 2022. At this early moment that election looks like a toss up.

So when the relative found out we had Youngkin yard signs, he asked if he could get a couple to put up in Pennsylvania. Sort of a rally call to follow the Virginia lead.
A small gesture but REPs winning Virginia got a lot of national attention. My friend will mail a few to his relative.

#3


https://www.youngkintransition...n-steering-committee

Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin of the Commonwealth of Virginia today announced key members of his Transition Steering committee that will help lay the foundation for the Youngkin administration to begin delivering on its promises on Day One.

“In order to change the trajectory of our great Commonwealth, we can’t operate on government time,” said Governor-Elect Glenn Youngkin. “We’re going to do things differently. That's why this incredible transition team represents various backgrounds—business owners, law enforcement officers, veterans, healthcare providers, and most importantly, parents—who will bring an array of experience and fresh perspectives that will pave the way for a transformation where Virginia soars and never settles.”

The Governor-Elect’s Transition Steering Committee will be led by Transition Director Jeff Goettman, and co-chaired by the Honorable Kay Coles James and the Honorable Senator Steve Newman.

Jeff Goettman most recently served as the Chief Operating Officer of the Youngkin for Governor campaign. Prior to his role on the campaign, Goettman served as a Counselor for Domestic Finance at the U.S. Department of the Treasury and as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Export-Import Bank of the United States.


The Office of Governor-Elect Youngkin Transition Steering Committee includes representation from job creators and business owners, law enforcement officers, veterans, healthcare providers, and parents from across the Commonwealth that will provide fresh and unique insights into the problems facing the Commonwealth and the solutions that will make Virginia the best place to live, work, and raise a family:

Melissa Ball of Hanover County;
Delegate Kathy Byron of Bedford County;
Lindsey Burke of Fairfax County;
Rooz Dadabhoy of Henrico County;
Dr. Nancy Dye of the City of Roanoke;
Brad Hobbs of the City of Virginia Beach;
Former Secretary Aubrey Layne of the City of Virginia Beach;
Former Secretary Robert Martinez of the City of Norfolk;
Tian Olson of Fairfax County;
Tim Parrish of Prince William County;
Sheriff Hank Partin of Montgomery County; and
Town Council Member Amanda Pillion of the Town of Abingdon.

Governor-Elect Youngkin will also be advised by four former governors of Virginia as Honorary Co-Chairs: the Honorable Robert F. McDonnell; the Honorable James S. Gilmore, III; the Honorable George F. Allen; and the Honorable L. Douglas Wilder.

Douglas Wilder was a DEM Virginia Governor

Glad to see Sheriff Partin on the list.

quote:

Originally posted by sdy:
Douglas Wilder was a DEM Virginia Governor

That's an interesting twist. Olive branch? Shrewd maneuver? Something else?

A way to be able to politely ignore someone, at least most of the time. There's always the occasional dinner or something.