Virginia’s Old-Fashioned Cat Fight
Someone recently asked why I’m so fond of including Tweets, er Xes, in my posts.
That’s easy. There’s no better way to figure out what’s going on in the devious hearts of politicians than to read their Tweets.
In the days after her businesses were raided by the FBI State Sen. Louise Lucas, who liked to pepper her posts with obscenities few octogenarians use, was quiet.
Frankly, we missed the foul-mouthed Democrat political boss.
Now she’s back. And instead of insulting Republicans and bragging about how she’s loading her bong with Republican tears, she’s going after the governor. A fellow Democrat.
It’s an old fashioned cat fight. And I’m here for it.
Here’s yesterday’s offerings as Lucas struck back at Abigail Spanberger who is blaming her for the budget impasse.
Make no mistake, there is an epic power struggle underway in Richmond. Lucas, head of the powerful Senate Finance and Appropriations committee, is holding up the state budget, demanding increased taxes on data centers.
Spanberger, who already killed Lucas’ baby - the cannabis bill - refuses to go along.
The standoff means that if a budget isn’t finalized by June 30th there will be a state government shutdown.
While a federal shutdown impacts few day-to-day operations for average Americans, a state shutdown might mean state parks, beaches, campgrounds and public historical sites and museums would close.
The Department of Motor Vehicles would be shuttered and - sitting down? - ABC stores. Another argument for private liquor sales, but I digress.
Spanberger merrily signed legislation that comes with a big price tag but put the brakes on some revenue creators.
Shoot, even Ben Tribbett, the man behind Lucas’ curtain, is getting in on the action. He correctly points out that Abigail Spanberger’s policies are incoherent.
The beauty of what’s happening in Richmond is that Spanberger is twisting in the sweet Virginia breeze all by herself.
She’s managed to tick off both sides of the aisle, but especially Democrats.
Spanberger infuriated Lucas and company with her veto of the retail cannabis bill. She enraged organized labor and government workers with her veto of bills that would expand collective bargaining rights to public-sector employees, including teachers. She’s alienated the open borders crowd by vetoing legislation that curbed ICE activity at courthouses. She also turned her back on Dem stalwarts like Creigh Deeds, who sponsored legislation to establish a set Prescription Drug Affordability Board.
Oh, and she also annoyed the leftist loons who wanted to add menopause and perimenopause accommodations to the Virginia Human Rights Act to prevent discrimination in the workplace.
Democrats really ARE crazy. What’s next, free period pads?
Naturally, a cornucopia of Spanberger initiatives outraged the GOP. Most recently, she signed draconian gun control legislation that criminalizes the sale of AR-15s and limits magazines to 15 rounds. Her energy policies, which include rejoining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, is going to hit Virginia ratepayers in the wallet. Referendums to enshrine abortion and same-sex marriage rights in the Virginia Constitution are not endearing her to conservatives. And her executive orders that ended state cooperation with federal immigration agents turned Virginia in to a sanctuary state.
After just four months in office both sides are accusing Spanberger of deception and dissembling.
Not good. For her, anyway.
As it happens, this is a source of endless bemusement for those of us who knew she lying about being a centrist during the campaign.
In office, Spanberger has shown herself to be an unskilled politician incapable of forming the alliances needed to successfully govern. In an interview, she hinted that perhaps the good old boys weren’t used to working with a woman. Yep, she’s a victim now.
Nonsense.
Lucas has been running Richmond for years and the General Assembly is loaded with females. Lucas’ sex has never been a problem. Clearly, power sharing is not a strong suit for either Lucas or Spanberger.
Democrats are definitely in disarray. Meanwhile, the two most powerful females are pulling hair and scratching each other’s eyes out.
Pass the popcorn.
