Maintaining and sustaining an impartial and independent judiciary at all levels of the federalist system requires a tireless effort involving elected officials and the public. One major key is, of course, the constituent membership of the courts and the process… Read More ›
elections
The Secret to Avoiding Poll Results Anxiety
By Frank Blechman My first serious excursion into politics came in 1960 when I canvassed for Jack Kennedy in Virginia. I had no idea what I was doing, but I was young and so was he. He seemed like a… Read More ›
Emotions as Motivator
By Frank Blechman I am something of a policy nerd (good at analysis but lacking the charisma to be a wonk). I like to hear important policies discussed in detail, with backup materials available for further investigation. I spent enough… Read More ›
Brief Cases
COVID AND DEMOGRAPHICS ALTER POLITICAL DYNAMICS In Virginia, as of 10/02, early in-person voting reached 362,000, while mail ballots numbered 278,710, for a total of 640,710 in the first two weeks of voting. Over 749,000 mail ballot requests remain outstanding…. Read More ›
Rara Civis [Rare Citizen]
By Frank Blechman The polls say that although the creature is rare (less than 5% of the voting population), there is still such a thing as an “undecided voter.” Maybe the quarantine is keeping me too isolated, but I have… Read More ›
Voting in a Pandemic
By Frank Blechman At the end of last week, the first absentee ballots were sent out here in Virginia. In Fairfax County alone, more than 100,000 have already been requested; in Loudoun, over 40,000. For comparison, in the entire 2016… Read More ›
Brief Cases
DEPRESSION ERA FOOD LINES “The line on Route 10 for the Chesterfield food bank … currently a double wide line that stretches nearly half of a mile.” A striking image of tough times during the COVID-19 pandemic, the disastrous lack… Read More ›