The 2022 MAGA Steal, in Real Time

For a long time, the standard gambit of deplorable Trump types when found in untoward activity is the Pee-Wee Herman defense: “I know you are but what am I?” By forcing debate into a he said/she said format, the average person is inclined to just throw up his hands and say, “Who is to say who is right?” After all, finding out who is right takes time that most people don’t care to expend. So it is today with election fraud. The ensuing back-and-forth, frequently punctuated with outright slander and lies, befouls what we call the nest of democratic (small-”D”) discourse, if that’s not too high-falutin’ an idea for you.

Under the banner of defending “election integrity,” Republicans are busy putting their finger on the scale. I come back to my own state of Virginia, where our new governor Glenn Youngkin’s administration is sabotaging the upcoming elections. First the state government shut down the voter registration system, ostensibly for software updates. Then they basically lost records for 107,000 voters who just happen to live in the Democrats’ strongholds in Virginia — Fairfax County. Delay in processing these records will mean people arriving to vote and finding out their names are missing from the rolls.Youngkin has also outsourced election meddling to our legions of deplorables, particularly in Loudoun County. where MAGA chuds have deluged the Office of Elections with frivolous FOIA requests. Harassment has also been directed at the election registrar in Prince William County.

While his minions go about their dirty deeds, Youngkin is himself busy barnstorming the nation in support of the most revolting Republican candidates. He clearly has a national run for himself in mind, and as a former Carlyle Group private equity big-shot, he will have the money to do it. He is good at getting Trump support without heavy boosting for Trump. How long he can keep that up remains to be seen.

I’m in a “lean red” district in Virginia, but I have decided it’s still worth a run for office. I'm exploring the possibility of a run for the VA House of Delegates (HD 30) in 2023. Politicians often say they are 'exploring' when they fully intend to run. I really am exploring; a run is not definite.

Keeping in mind that my plans to run are not definite, you can donate if you like here. If I ultimately decide not to run, I can promise to transfer all funds raised to a genuine, declared candidate. Democrat, of course.

In my district, which is upscale and mostly white, the chief concerns are racism, anti-LGBTQI prejudice, transphobia, and attacks on our public schools. I wrote about that here and here. I happen to be a Bernie-style Democrat, and a member of Democratic Socialists of America, but the DSA platform (which I mostly support) is not a good fit for my district. I’m more inclined to an in-your-face ‘woke’ agenda. It will not be boring.