Inside Ralph Northam's plot for survival

[DonViejo]

Buffeted by his blackface scandal, the Virginia governor has a better chance of hanging on than anyone imagined a few days ago.

By ANITA KUMAR and MAGGIE SEVERNS 02/08/2019 05:02 AM EST

RICHMOND, Va. — Ralph Northam might just hang on to his job.

Left for dead a week ago after his disastrous handling of his history with blackface, the Democratic Virginia governor is quietly plotting a survival strategy. He’s conferring with sympathetic Republican lawmakers and has hired a crisis manager who’s decamped to Richmond from Washington.

And as the state capitol descended into pandemonium this week after two other statewide Democrats faced their own scandals — episodes that could, ironically, help Northam’s chances of remaining in office — the governor sought counsel from pastors and worked to persuade his top staff not to bail.

Northam’s work to salvage his political career represents a remarkable — and quite possibly uncharted — attempt at survival for an embattled politician. It reflects how President Donald Trump’s election after the "Access Hollywood" tape has changed the calculus for other lawmakers staring down the political abyss in 2019.

While national and state Democrats swiftly called for Northam's resignation, half a dozen people in the state told POLITICO that the governor has no plans to leave with three years left in his term.

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https://www.politico.com/story/2019/02/08/ralph-northam-photo-blackface-response-1157830

[hlthe2b]

1. Just playing devil's advocate, he SHOULD go--no doubt. But the chaos facing VA right now

has to end. I don't see how it does, given the cries for Northam, Fairfax, and the AG's resignations-- which would totally defy the voice of the voters and give power to a Republican who only got HIS position on a coin toss after a tied election.

This situation is dismal and I don't see any good solutions. But, I have to agree that Northam "surviving" seems more likely than a few days ago. I don't think that is a "good thing" by any means. But maybe there AREN'T any "good" solutions.

[peggysue2]

8. That really is the problem

There really are no good choices. So, Virginia's Democratic Party and members are being forced to choose the least bad, least damaging choice. It's not pretty. But forcing immediate, triple resignations would be a worse debacle, basically handing the state's governance to the Republicans.

Ugh!

[Corgigal]

2. In a normal historical time,

he should go, however with so many dirty deals happening in the past two weeks, I just don't know. Makes me wonder if Stone is throwing out his Hail Mary passes.

Good luck Virginia, you'll do the right thing.

[Hortensis]

3. Don't think in a NORMAL time he would be forced out, tho.

Anxiety in this very abnormal time of both development of huge problems and also difficult transitions due to huge social advances is fueling rage on all sides -- righteous, hateful, or just plain unreasoned. With it, extremism is also growing in intensity on both sides, and widening.

But remember, Northam was elected by a large majority who included a very high percentage of black people, and those of course certainly understand the atmosphere older generations grew up in. In normal times they would be disappointed and some very angry at him and wanting resignation of course. But what's happening now wouldn't have happened in more settled times. (NOT the 1960s -- we had the same national turbulence in response to big problems + giant civil rights advances then.)

I think most older people must vividly realize how dangerously different this era is from "normal," and we thought those had their problems. I hate that my grandchildren are growing up seeing what should be restricted to adult viewers only, and afraid they may not inherit the nation we did. This national leap straight to passionate partisan battles, outrage, and calls for ultimate punitiveness toward someone people of another state had just chosen for themselves is part of the biggest battle for the soul of our nation since the Civil War.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

4. What a deeply cynical man.

[Hortensis]

5. Heard that one potential plan would be STAGED resignations

so that the positions could be filled by Democrats before the next resignation. To avoid a falling dominoes disaster throwing VA tp the Republican wolves.

[dsc]

6. My suggestion would be that

Herring resign and is replaced by Barack Obama, Fairfax resigns and Barack Obama is elevated to Lt. Gov, Joe Biden gets AG, then Northam resigns, Obama becomes gov, Biden becomes Lt Gov, and Hillary Clinton is named AG. Watch the GOP cry and whine.

[Hortensis]

9. To happy a fantasy to quarrel over who's gets to be #3. :)

I actually have no idea how doable staging resignations might be. Googling those terms didn't bring up anything, so whoever threw it into the discussion might just have been theorizing. But if it's doable, it's no doubt being discussed along with everything else, including the "whos."

[peggysue2]

7. That's what I read this morning

Virginia's Democratic Party members have backed off the immediate Northam resignation push until they can figure out or sense what's going to happen with the Fairfax allegation. Whatever happens, they want to ensure that a Democrat heads all of those leadership positions. A complete, immediate wipeout would overturn the election, allowing Republicans to squeeze right back in--an absolute gift. The AG has been trying to solidify his support with various AA members and groups; his position at this point appears to be the least threatened. But who knows?

[Hortensis]

10. Good to hear. Imo, allowing the election to be overturned

this way would be a terrible betrayal of a very large duty among all the duties involved here. It'll also give more time for voters to decide how they feel about this evolving situation and what they want.

[Blue_Tires]

11. Last Saturday my mom said

Northam was going to hold fast and ride it out... I'd said he'd be announcing his resignation by Monday.

Now the script has completely flipped and we're not even done yet!

[underpants]

12. Strangely Va really doesn't have a mechanism to oust him

At least from what I’m reading and reading about the Constitution. It’s basically his choice.

[MineralMan]

13. That's true. He can simply refuse to step down and

wait this out. That would be very uncomfortable for him, but it looks like it may be his plan.

However, it won't save his political career. If he stays, that will probably be the last elected office he ever holds. That might be OK with him, though.

It's yesterday's news, though, and like most stories, it will fade in the public's mind.

[appal_jack]

14. I wish Franken had done the same.

Had Franken stood fast, there is no doubt in my mind that he would have been cleared of wrongdoing. I'm not saying that the Northam situation is the slightest bit analogous, but if Trump fundamentally changed the equation, and if Northam can survive this, then there is no reason why Franken had to go...

k&r,

-app