3pm Zoom - Let's Catch Up!
Things are getting testy already...chill...
Happy New Year +21. Day 10 in the General Assembly, three weeks until Crossover - yes, already.
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Virginia FREE is proud to announce the Virginia In Politics Podcast, a partnership with VCTA - the Broadband Association of Virginia.
Our first studio session was Tuesday; however, Thursday's taping with two Republican delegates from the class of 2021 (Kim Taylor and Wren Williams) was postponed due to potential COVID exposure. We'll be back in the studio this Tuesday.
Programming note - If you ever want to contact me regarding anything I write or say, just email or call/text me.
The reason I bring this up is because I try very hard to call the balls and strikes accurately.
Prior to the Youngkin/Sears/Miyares Inauguration, I was in line outside the West entrance to the Capitol Building having a chat with Congresswoman Abigail Spanberger and her husband. (Nice folks BTW) A member of the General Assembly lined up with us and I introduced myself.
Well, this member was none too pleased and dressed me down for getting his primary prediction so wrong.
YOU GET EVERYTHING WRONG!
Flustered, I was able to do a quick internal Google search and recall that his opponent had a lot more small dollar donations than he did. Nice recall, I thought to myself. After all, this was seven months later and the trips around the sun are mounting.
This did not satisfy and he further scolded me for not seeing that the donations were out of state noting that I could have found that on VPAP. It’s true - they are there now but at the time I didn’t know that feature existed or if the reports had it at the time. (thanks for the tip!) He then got very close to me and said angrily,
You have a responsibility to get it right!
And I do.
So, I went back to see what I had written about his race thinking that I typically don’t make predictions - for this very reason. #NotALotOfUpside
Here’s what I wrote: HD = House District
HD XX - INCUMBENT has out raised and out spent his adjective challenger NAME, but her strong showing in number of donors under $100 gives one pause in handicapping this finish. INCUMBENT had one of the more interesting reports of the period.
To me, “gives one pause” does not a prediction make and I was relieved.
On Monday, I happened to cross paths again with the re-elected incumbent and tried to tell him what I had actually written.
Hey, Delegate…I found what I wrote and…
He was having none of it and just glared at me as he walked away.
Mmkay.
Whatevs, right?
Look, after 30.3 years of marriage being wrong is no longer an hourly experience but it is a daily one. I am more than willing to admit when I get it wrong and know the benefits of being silently correct. As the losses have piled up, I sometimes marvel at the size of the mountain I have built over the years.
Mt. Saxman is not like the Tetons all jagged and together with the like formed. No, this is more of a lonely Mt Fuji or Kilimanjaro. #Pride. #JustWin,Baby.
That all said, if you have an issue with something I have done please reach out to me.
And for goodness’ sakes - don’t hold a grudge for *ChecksNotes* seven months after winning. Stress is not healthy or so I am told.
Often.
Cheers,
SAX
p.s. On Hold Videos for the Zoom. Theme - chill.