Derrick Max: Your October 6, 2024 Sunday Summary: Hurricane Helene, Virginia Polls, VP Debate, Strike, Eating Guts, Gambling, Expensive Pronouns and more....

Side note: I was fortunate to attend an event with Governor Youngkin and the first lady this week where they discussed their faith, marriage, and the role of non-profits in filling critical needs in the Commonwealth. It was a powerful talk, made more powerful when the Governor closed by getting the 300 attendees to hold hands as he prayed for the victims of Hurricane Helene.

Dear Friend of TJI, 1.) As with all weather events, climate change is being blamed for the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene. The Virginia Mercury even pressed Governor Youngkin to discuss climate's impact, to which the Governor rightly encouraged no one to "get distracted by that question." Unbelievably, Fairfax Senator and Democratic Majority Leader Scott Surovell argued that Virginia's exit from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) was somehow responsible for the the hurricane and its aftermath. Our Steve Haner pushed back on this climate narrative with data that shows no increased pattern of hurricane frequency or strength. Senator Surovell may want to read Steve Haner's article showing that under RGGI more carbon was released in Virginia, not less.   Do facts matter to climate extremists? 2.) In a sign that Virginia may be "in play," VPAP reports that in-person early ballots have increased in areas of Virginia that voted for Republicans or were competitive in 2020, but have decreased in areas that voted for Democrats. Interestingly, "mailed in ballots" have dropped by more than half, but by less in Republican voting areas. VPAP reports that new voter registrations in Virginia are well below registrations for the last three Presidential cycles.  3.) Most Presidential polls remain unchanged in Virginia, although former President Trump improved slightly in the new VCU Wilder School Commonwealth poll moving from being 10% down to just 6% down in Virginia.    4.) The first and likely only Vice Presidential debate between Senator J.D. Vance and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was not only more informative than the Presidential debate, but also more civil. Vance appeared more polished and did a better job of explaining the Trump policies than Walz did for Harris' policies.  Democracy was the big winner in this refreshing debate.    5.) The first and likely only debate for the U.S. Senate in Virginia occurred this week -- and while this is clearly not challenger Hung Cao's strength (which may be why he has avoided debating until now), the debate gave voters a clear choice between governing philosophies. The greatest example of this contrast occurred in response to a question about the slow down in military recruiting, a topic Sen. Kaine (Armed Services Committee) and Hung Cao (Captain, U.S. Navy) share an expertise. Cao's attack on the Navy's use of drag queens in recruiting, followed by his description of the kind of recruits the Navy needs was brilliant and descriptive (video below). The fact that Sen. Kaine did not disavow this recruiting method is telling. Kaine is as much a devotee to the far left as Cao is to the far right. Pick your side!

6.) As I recently wrote, Virginia's ports are critical to our economy, so if the International Longshoremen's Association strike had continued, it would have been devastating to Virginia. After three days, the ILA and the U.S. Maritime Alliance came to an agreement on wages, and pushed the issue of lost jobs due to automation back to January 15th. The relatively well paid dockworkers will reportedly see their wages increased by 62 percent. Sadly, very little reporting was done on the high dock worker wages or on the 7,136SF Tudor-style mansion, with a pool and a Bentley, owned by Harold Daggett, the ILA union boss who vowed to "cripple the economy."   7.) The ability of collective bargaining units to create havoc as was seen with the longshoremen should have Loudoun County Public School teachers rethinking their vote on a bargaining unit. LCPS teachers who want to maintain civility, not give up their voice, and allow for creative educational reforms should vote "NO" -- and need to remember, not voting is a "YES" vote. LCPS teachers can get more information on this LCPS bargaining vote from Americans for Fair Treatment.   8.) Skill Games operator Pace-O-Matic is promising to pay the legal costs and penalties for any owners using their machines that Attorney General Jason Miyares has ruled are illegal. The hubris of this industry continues…   9.) The Virginia Lottery showed a 30.6% increase in sports betting this year, with Virginians placing $416 million in bets in August alone -- bringing in $5.2 million in tax revenue. Sadly, males under 25 are most likely to become problem bettors according to Brendan Dwyer at the Center for Sport Leadership at VCU.   10.) Jason Miyares, who gave a powerful and inspirational talk at the SUVGOP breakfast this week, was praised for his defense of the Commonwealth's economy in the Virginian-Pilot. From his decisions on energy, EVs, ESG investing standards in Virginia's Retirement System, and his defense of property owners, AG Miyares has an amazing portfolio of accomplishments. Not even mentioned was AG Miyares' defense of parents rights and Title IX.   11.) Like all newspapers, Virginia's rural newspapers are struggling to survive. From online competition, and people's lack of trust -- our free press is in crisis. While I dont think either candidate is a "threat to democracy" -- I do think our biased and dying press is the real threat that needs to be addressed before it is too late.   12.) Virginia high school French teacher, Peter Vlaming, is to be paid $575,000 by the West Point School Board that fired him for failing to use a student's preferred pronouns because of his religious beliefs. The settlement came after the Virginia Supreme Court reinstated Mr. Vlaming's case.     13.) Dwayne Yancey at Cardinal News explored the impact of awarding electoral votes by Congressional District, with the final two votes going to the winner of the State -- as is done in Maine and Nebraska. The history and importance of the electoral college was the subject of our most recent Federal Policy Dinner.   14.) Due to rapidly growing demand for power and concerns over rising electricity rates, the State Corporation Commission has announced plans for a conference on "large-use" retail electrical customers (mostly meaning data centers). In related news, the Virginia Mercury ran a story on Virginia's struggling power grid and its impact on the Commonwealth's ability to transition to electric vehicles. Increased demand for power, and forced closure of hydrocarbon based producers of power, is leading to increased tensions between the SCC and the General Assembly. The war on hydrocarbon fuel needs to stop! 15.) In honor of former President Jimmy Carter turning 100 this week, I offer you Saturday Night Live's sketch highlighting Carter's attention to the smallest of details in running the Government, one of Dan Aykroyd's best performances. While Jimmy Carter was not the best of Presidents, he may be one of our greatest and most admired ex-Presidents -- a man of great faith, amazing volunteer service, and yes, humor...enjoy.

In Freedom,