By Jay Swanson: I like Sen. Chap Petersen (D- 34) a lot. One of the first votes I ever cast when I turned 18 was for him. But he made the wrong decision when he sided with the Republicans to not move Virginia’s May 5th municipal elections to November. The move had been suggested by our Democratic governor—and medical doctor—Ralph…
Ed. Note: We asked the seven candidates running for three council member positions in the Town of Vienna’s non-partisan town council race to submit answers to the same four questions. Here are their responses, in ballot order. Separately, we are publishing the statements of the mayoral candidates. Update Apr. 24: The election is now scheduled for May 19, as Gov.…
Ed. Note: We asked the three candidates running for mayor in the Town of Vienna’s non-partisan town council race to submit answers to the same four questions. Here are their responses, in ballot order. Separately, we are publishing the statements of the candidates running for town council member positions. Update Apr. 24: The election is now scheduled for May 19,…
By Karen Kirk: Donald Trump has finally met a foe that he can’t seem to spin. In fact, coronavirus Covid-19 has him spinning in circles, spewing out contradictions and politicking while tens of thousands of Americans die. In a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, 52% of voters disapproved of Trump’s handling of the coronavirus compared to 44% who approved,…
Book review by Brandon Thurner: Political scientist Michael Lind warns of a new class war in America — between well-educated elites and a multiracial working class — in a new book that has garnered much attention, Lind paints an alarming picture of a divided country but also shows how these divisions can be overcome so they do not become normalized…
By Grace Aspinall: Several important gun control measures, including universal background checks and a “red flag” law, were passed by the Virginia legislature in February 2020 as the Democratic majority installed in November signaled a shift away from traditionally lax gun policies in the Commonwealth. However, a proposed assault rifle ban failed to pass. Both pro-gun supporters and gun control…
By Paul O’Shea: Abolishing the death penalty is usually thought of as a Democratic and liberal policy, but a Republican and a libertarian serve proudly alongside their progressive colleagues on the board of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty. The death penalty is nonpartisan. It distributes its malevolent effects—racism, random selection, executing the innocent or the severe mentally ill–across…
Ed. Note: The author is running in the Democratic primary election on June 23 for US representative for Virginia’s 11th Congressional district against incumbent Gerry Connolly. The Blue View is an open platform for all northern Virginia Democratic candidates By: Zainab Mohsini I am not rich. I have never held public office. But, like millions of working people in America,…
By Marcus R. Motta Virginia made great strides in the General Assembly last session to improve voting rights. However, these improvements are long overdue as the state’s latest ranking in voting difficulty was 49th, worse than all states in the nation except Mississippi. With Democrats in the majority in both houses for the first time in decades, the legislature eliminated…
By Karen Kirk: FCDC’s Chair Bryan Graham noticed a virtual hand up when asking if there were any questions on the proposed 2020-2021 budget. When he called on one member, she answered “No I don’t. The cat walked on the computer.” And so it went Tuesday night during the first virtual FCDC General Meeting in our age of Covid-19. But…
By Bob Leggett: Immigrants in northern Virginia now account for over 27% of the population and contribute almost $60 billion to the local economy, according to a new government report. The report finds that immigrants in our region are well educated and make up over 40% of all entrepreneurs in the region. In addition, over 50% have earned their U.S.…
With social distancing due to coronavirus dominating our lives, the conviviality of watch parties seems a vestige of the past. But of course Super Tuesday, with its clutch of watch parties, was just a few days ago, Mar. 3. We look forward to the resumption of these fun features of Democratic Party activism once the outbreak passes. In the meantime,…
By Marcus Motta: Some of northern Virginia’s biggest names were on hand for the George Mason University Young Democrats annual fundraiser, Pennies for Patriots. Led by Reps. Gerry Connolly (11th CD) and Jennifer Wexton (10th CD), the pols praising the Young Dems at the Feb. 29 event also included the Speaker of the House, Del. Eileen Filler-Corn (41st), fellow Delegates…
By Bob Leggett: Walter Alcorn, along with some other Fairfax County supervisors, is looking at relaxing restrictions on single-family residences as a way to help ease the county’s affordable housing deficit. “We are considering whether homeowners in areas zoned single family should have the right to use up to 1,200 square feet as a separate household for elderly parents or…