First they came for the governor and lieutenant governor ....

[ashling]

I just saw the head of the Black Caucus in Va. calling for the resignation of these two. We have heard it from all the Democratic candidates and many more. They cite Kavenaugh as precedent ... for calling for his resignation. "We were just as strident against ... blah, blah."

The major difference was that what they called for against K. was a serious FBI investigation. There was not even a n across the board call for him to step away from the nomination. Just that we slow down while there was an actual serious FBI investigation. As I recall, none was forthcoming.

Then we are told that it is for the good of Va. - yes Virginia, there is a Justice League - and now there are to be impeachment hearings. All in the name of the children of Va. If this is really for the good of Virginia, would they be guaranteed their jobs back in the event of a no bill. Wouldn't that be a leave of absence and not a resignation?

I would remind all of the "credible allegations" crowd that - like w/ Al Franken - they could all be next.

As Charlie Pierce reminds us, Democrats have yet to learn how to deal with GOP ratfuckery. Now I will be the first to say that the GOP might not be involved at all, but if I actually alleged that they were, wouldn't that be a credible allegation?

Just for the sake of a discussion of justice inequality in this country - bear with me - what if these allegations were made against, oh I don't know, NFL, NCAA, or high school football players ... would anybody even notice.

Now I would be the last one to suggest some sort of equality between the seriousness of the between football player and elected official, but I would be the first to call for equality of justice.

Lets all step back. At least give these guys a leave of absence to prove their case ... otherwise we had all better look over our shoulder.

[msongs]

1. one clue - spread the dirt then refuse to file the official complaint needed to get an

investigation

[Empowerer]

8. This

And no one has a rational explanation for this other than to claim she's too traumatized to file an official complaint - but not too traumatized to go to the Washington Post and then share a detailed account of the incident to the general public.

The only way it makes sense to me is that she doesn't want her story scrutinized by people who know how to do it.

[marieo1]

2. Doing what is right

One of the best letters I have seen yet!! Apparently the republicans can't bear it that they lost the governorship in Virginia. It looks so suspicious to me. Why would these women come out now and make these claims? Every human being on this earth has done things in their past that they aren't proud of. Now the republicans have discovered if they really want to get rid of someone all they have to do is find someone to make accusations like this. Democrats will not fight for our own people. Who knows if the allegations are true or not? Until they can be proven............forget it and let these men govern!!!

[beemer27]

3. Please consider.

The picture is real. If it is that serious an issue the Governor should face impeachment and let the legislature decide his fate.
The accusations may or may not be real. There should be a thorough investigation of all accusations and the results will determine if the Lt. Governor is fit to retain his office. Until then we should all remember that in America we are all innocent until proven guilty. This should apply to the little guys and the powerful too.

[LisaL]

7. How are they going to impeach him over 35 year old photo?

That's not allowed. He was not in office then and photo doesn't show a crime. He also says he is not in the photo.

[Baltimike]

9. Please reconsider

The picture is from a young Republican doing what young republicans STILL DO to this day.

He grew into a Democrat. He PROGRESSED past racism. He learned better, and did better.

Now he is the governor...and I hope and pray he stays exactly where he is.

And I happen to be a minority (if that matters)

[DeeDeeNY]

4. Kavanaugh was a lifetime appointment

He lied to a Congressional committee and the secretive FBI “full” investigation of the allegations against him was bogus. This is not analogous to what is going on in Virginia no matter how hard the pundits try to twist it.

[ashling]

5. I agree 100%

[Baltimike]

6. knr. nt

[oldsoftie]

10. Youre right, football players would be scolded and the issue forgotten

[Honeycombe8]

11. Correction: First they came for a Senator....

and once they got rid of him, they saw that what they had done was good. And so they worked to get rid of a governor and Lt. Governor and AG, in a three-fer, to take full control of an important state. And when they saw what they had done, they said unto themselves, "This is good."

[DirtEdonE]

12. "Democrats have yet to learn how to deal with GOP ratfuckery"

We're being played again. Just like 2016. I hope we wake up to these realities before 2020.

[SoCalDem]

15. No doubt, they are busily scouring records of similar states

looking for more people they can topple...closer to the 2020 elections..

That said, we MUST start looking for and recruiting MORE WOMEN...

Most women do not have nasty secrets in their past..(that THEY initiated)

Also, the "klansman" in the pic is probably the gov's DATE... a girl..perhaps his wife

[bdamomma]

17. nt

+1

[bdamomma]

16. We have no other choice

but to wake up and protect our country from these greedy treasonous bastards.

[True Blue American]

18. Thank goodness

Those on our side are beginning to wake up to the pure evil on the other side!

[bdamomma]

13. Remember this

First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—
Because I was not a Jew.

Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.

[ashling]

14. Thus my subject line

good catch

[brooklynite]

20. Were the socialists, trade unionists, etc. suspected of committing ethical or criminal violations?

This is a horrible analogy for the Virginia situation.

[ashling]

21. Actually, yes

The point, however, was that anyone could be the subject of "credible" or - as you say in your next post - claims that are "not out of the blue." Most people have innocently done or said something that could be twisted into a "credible claim."

Remember Acorn and Shirley Sherrod (msp?). I am not saying that these things were actually of that category, but neither should immediately accept any sort of claim like this as true on its face without some sort of due process.

But, in answer to your question, the Nazis invented all sorts of unethical and evil sins for the socialists, trade unionists, Jews, Romanesque, mentally ill, et al. And, given the culture of mistrust which already ecisted, these allegation were not " entirely out of the blue."

And historically that has always been the case. Especially with the religious wars in Europe in the 15th and 16th centuries. That is why the concept of due process was ingrained in our founding documents.

The analogy is not a horrible one. In fact, it is more apt than I had intended. Thank you for expanding on this.

[brooklynite]

19. "give these guys a leave of absence to prove their case"

Two of these guys have already acknowledged their past behavior. The third, while denying that criminal conduct occurred has acknowledged sexual activity with the women accusing him. None of these are out of the blue claims.