Thread by @rjmarr

So much of the #VAGovernor mess is a self-own from all three leaders - these scandals are about arrogance more than anything else 1/5

@vagovernor might have survived if he had responded initially: "I don't really remember this, but these were bad times - I've changed;" or even, "It was me, but I'm different now"; instead, we got his near-moonwalk, hair-splitting and bizarro explanations 2/5

Fairfax, when confronted with allegations, ignored every single lesson from #MeToo : he tried to discredit a survivor coming forward as a "smear campaign," continually throwing out Bible verses, insults and innuendo instead of counseling patience and understanding 3/5

Herring seemed to be principled in joining the #RalphMustGo crowd, until rumors of his own blackface incident began circulating; just the absolute, gobsmacking gall of him to call for Northam's resignation when he must have known his own past is stunning 4/5

All of these men show where we are as a state, country, and culture: the first and only thought of powerful men when they are challenged is to defend that power by any means necessary, with all the arrogance that entails 5/5