Tag: Chris Saxman
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Trump’s Done, and It’s Patently Obvious
The American electorate spoke loud and clear on Tuesday – they want to move on and will reward those who effectively govern. by Chris Saxman *Phone rings* โWhatโs up?โ, I answered recognizing the caller IDโd number. โHeโs done, right?โ came the question. โYup, heโs done.โ The caller hung up. But much to my astonishment (and…
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Canceling Student Debt Accentuates the Class Divide
by Chris Saxman The big news of the week was President Bidenโs announcement that he was canceling a lot of student higher education debt. #IsItLegal? Here are three non-judicial-branch reactions to the Biden plan: The Washington Post Ed Board: The loan-forgiveness decision is even worse. Widely canceling student loan debt is regressive. It takes money…
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The Great Realignment, Best-State-for-Business Reprise, Housing Drags, and Youngkin Popularity
by Chris Saxman If you read one article this week make it this one from Axios – The Democratic electorateโs seismic shift. Just about every presentation I have given over the last 6 or 7 years begins with a statement or slide that says we are living in a historic political realignment and itโs global.…
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CNBC Top-States-for-Business Ranking Is Worthless
๏ปฟ by Chris Saxman CNBCโs Top States for Business Ranking is quickly becoming synonymous with Major League Baseballโs best known worst umpire Angel Hernandez. Why? Like Hernandez, CNBCโs Ranking keeps moving the strike zone and they are fast becoming the best known worst ranking. Here is their explanation : We assign a weight to each…
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Virginia is the Queen Mother of Bellwethers
by Chris Saxman Honestly, where does one start in trying to explain Virginia politics? Wednesdayโs leadership change by House Democrats should not be considered shocking. Democrats had very close contests for caucus control after they won the majority, so losing that majority would naturally jeopardize their leaders. Suffice it to say, Delegate Eileen Filler-Corn has…
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Was Virginia’s 2021 Election a Parental Pulse or a Silver Surge?
Yes, education was a big deal but how about inflation’s impact on fixed income retirees? by Chris Saxman Results of a newly released study by TargetSmart, โa Democratic political data and data services firm,โ suggest that we should rethink the conventional wisdom and push back on the social media/cable news narratives about the 2021 election.…
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How’d Virginia Do in “The Great Pandemic Migration?”
Glenn Youngkin was right. Yes, Virginia, we have a problem. by Chris Saxman Most mornings start with brewing a large pot of coffee, letting the dogs out into the fenced in backyard, and waiting for the papers to be delivered. Usually I can skim through the local old soldier, the Richmond Times Dispatch, before the…
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SHOCK Fox Poll — Youngkin +8? Outlier or Actual?
by Chris Saxman Oh yeah. That Fox News poll release last night created some noise. No sooner had that hit the airwaves than the phone started blowing up from around the country and Commonwealth. Glenn Youngkin was +8 (53-45). What do you think? Is this real? Naturally, Republicans were thrilled and Democrats dismissive. It is…
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Virginia Polls Tightening, 25 Days to Election Day
Home stretch momentum shifting. Independents breaking to GOP. by Chris Saxman Trying to make sense out of all the polls you are seeing on the Virginia gubernatorial race? Start at the top. Howโs Joe Biden doing? Hint: heโs never been that popular nationally except when the choice was Biden v Trump. Terry McAuliffe said as…
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Gubernatorial Debate Review with Winners and Losers
by Chris Saxman Last nightโs debate between Terry McAuliffe and Glenn Youngkin was more or less like the first one on substance – pretty much the same answers but perhaps a deeper, more clarifying look at those. I donโt see a lot of votes changing from those who actually watched the debate but there were…
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Wilder’s Take on the McAuliffe-Youngkin Race
by Chris Saxman Yesterday I spoke with former Governor Doug Wilder regarding the recently released poll by Virginia Commonwealth Universityโs Wilder School on the 2021 governor race. That conversation is one that I will remember for a very long time in that hereโs a former governor who, at the age of 90, is still actively…
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A Deeper Dive into CNBC’s Rankings
by Chris Saxman In doing a deeper dive on the CNBC Top States for Business rankings, two quotes keep running through my unsettled mind. Why unsettled? Well, last year I posed this question to Virginia FREEโs Board of Directors: If Virginia was a stock, would you Buy, Sell, or Hold? Not one said Buy. They…
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Mamma Mia! CNBC Says Virginia #1 for Business, but Chief Executive Mag says #13.
by Chris Saxman Beauty, the Greeks started saying back in 3rd century BC, is in the eyes of the beholder. CNBC announced today that Virginia is the Top State for Business in 2021. Thatโs great news! They rank their top 10 states:ย Virginia – North Carolina – Utah – Texas – Tennessee – Georgia – Minnesota…
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Reporting the Truth in the Post-Trump Era
by Chris Saxman When I was a teacher of U.S. History and Government, I had only one rule for my students and it was that they think. I told them flat out: I donโt care what you think – I care that you think. Time will take care of the rest. Their thinking was dependent…