Virginia poll briefing 3pm today, McCarthy drama Act 3 Scene 2 Hamlet, DeSantis vs Big Business and the Rolling Stones
You Can't Always Get What You Want + Street Fighting Man = DC Sausage
Reminder ! Exclusive poll briefing today at 3pm on Virginia FREE Fridays in which WPA Intel’s Amanda Iovino breaks down their recent poll of 835 Registered Virginia Voters. This poll oversampled Republican Primary Voters (RPVs) that reached over 1000 respondents.
Iovino will break down both polling performance for Democratic and Republican potential candidates for the 2024 nominations. I’ve seen the poll and you will want to tune in.
Top line - Virginia is Biden +8 over Trump, but Youngkin +7 over Biden; but oh those other polling nuggets…
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Hamlet Act III Scene 2
HAMLET
Madam, how like you this play?
QUEEN GERTRUDE
The lady protests too much, methinks.
HAMLET
O, but she'll keep her word.
As dawn breaks on Day 4 of McCarthy the Lesser, I can’t get this Shakespearean dialogue from running a loop. A foul, treacherous loop. Such is the process of begetting. #DryJanuary
Here it is January 6th, 2023 and relative few are talking about? January 6, 2021.
The above lines from Hamlet actually occur while discussing a play. It’s a play within a play.
Perhaps me over thinks too much, but if Kevin McCarthy keeps making concessions to the Almost 5 Percenters without movement on their part, are the concessions even their goal? Sure, they are making progress on bringing reforms to the House - probably much needed reforms at that.
Donald Trump’s social media protestations that they get on with things could be a simple ruse. Is part of this drama intended to distract from his falling poll numbers (See links above at 3pm and join) along with the assigned blame for Republican Midterm underperformance?
Let’s be honest here, the aftermath of the Midterms has not been kind to the Man from Mar A Lago. He trailed Florida Governor Ron DeSantis BADLY in post Midterm November state polling of Iowa, New Hampshire, Florida, and Georgia. Not to mention the December poll of Virginia’s RPVs that is just brutal for Trump. #MikeTysonVersusMarvisFrazier
The grievances of the 20 are legitimate (most grievances are) and should have a proper public hearing. It’s not unhealthy for the Republic to see our elected representatives actually on the floor talking with each other, debating, and voting on issues of substance.
Kickoff is at high noon - just like the Virginia House and Senate do every day in session. Is this a bad time to recall recent organizational efforts of our legislature here in the Commonwealth? Yes? Okay…FINE.
I have written in the past on several of these rules changes - including the Single Object Rule and open floor amendments; however, the more they talk openly on the House floor, the more they tip their hands in this high stakes game of political poker.
The play within the play. #Hamlet
Usually in negotiations when you get something, you give something in order to get more in later rounds of negotiations. But not one person has budged in their voting against Kevin McCarthy.
Most of the 20 came into Congress riding Trump’s coattails and could be realizing that this it their last stand to make meaningful changes - if so, good on them. That’s our republican democracy making sausage. If there is more to the story and this is being utilized to serve other purposes, don’t be surprised either. Don’t worry you likely won’t be told until much later anyway.
Remember at the same time, there is an attempt to oust RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel. The supposed reason? Midterm underperformance of overly high expectations. But that ain’t on her, now is it? #CandidateQualityMatters
If you can effectively play pin the election blame tail on GOP leaders Kevin McCarthy and Ronna McDaniel while making substantive operational changes to the House and camouflaging January 6? That’s a pretty good week for Trump and you just might have started “The Comeback” - soon to be available not only in trading cards but commemorative plates, pillows, and slippers. #TM
Click Here for Daily Caller article on the Trump plan
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Next week’s scene - Biden goes the Border but will the Border Czar join?
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Quick Notes:
Book Recommendations:
Deus Caritas Est - God is Love by Pope Benedict XVI - excellent read and first encyclical of Benedict.
How the World Really Works - The Science Behind How We Got Here and Where We're Going - should be required reading for every policy maker - by Vaclav Smil.
aaaannd finally….some good news!
Buffalo Bills defensive back Damar Hamlin has made “significant progress” since his on field collapse Monday Night.
Damar Hamlin’s Go Fund Me is now over $7.7MM.
On hold video - oldie but a standard here:
but there’s always love for the Street Fighting Man: