Around the Horn Friday
It has been a little slow around here this week, as I think the weeks surrounding the Fourth of July are common vacation months for some of us. And with the General Assembly out of session, the news and reaction to that news has slowed as well.
Given the slowness, I will begin a new feature this week in ATH. For as long as I and Jason and Geek have been doing this series, we have focused almost entirely on highlighting what others have been saying about ouf local news. I don’t think we have ever highlighted the work of fine Delaware Liberal writers, at least not since I have been doing the series. And with Down With Absolutes gone and with Dana Garrett out the past two weeks for the wedding of his daughter (by the way, congratulations Mr. Garrett on the happy occasion!), this has become Around the Right Wing Horn, with a few detours into Libertarian Land. So, since you right wingers all love your “fair and balanced” Fox News, surely you will have no problem with the inclusion of some liberal ideas into this column.
THE 19TH SD SPECIAL ELECTION
David Anderson kicked off the week with an announcement that the Sussex County Community Organized Regiment (SCCOR) was holding a candidates night and debate between Rep. Joe Booth (R), Eddy Parker (D) and Wendy Jones (L). Little did he know that such a debate would never happen. He also has video of Booth’s announcement for the race.
Brian Shields cancelled the Western Sussex County Libertarian Party meeting as it conflicted with the SCCOR event. A blogger with real party power!
John Tobin predicts that voter turnout in the range of the high teens to low 20s. He is quickly becoming Delaware’s own Nate Silver.
Tennessee Walker (a new contributer at DP)offers his (or her?) take on the 19th. Now that is a cool name, reminds me of Tennessee Williams. Boy, DP is loading up on the contributors, following Jason’s lead, I might add. 😉
And then the Democratic candidate, Eddy Parker, decides to inject some drama in the race by withdrawing. DP and DL cover the breaking news. Parker blames the Dems, but he should really blame himself. The Democrats choose the runner up, Adams’ daughter Polly Adams Mervine, setting up a showdown between Adams’ friend and family.
John Tobin on the advantages Booth has in this race.
Brian Shields obviously endorses Wendy Jones for the 19th. Steve Newton has more on the Libertarian candidate.
Republican Matt Opaliski throws his hat into the ring as a candidate for the iPod party. David Anderson screams “Why!” LOL, will the GOP snatch defeat from the claws of victory?
Bruce Rogers offers his thoughts on the state of the reset race.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY RECAP
Unstable Isotope offers her excellent analysis at the close this session.
CUTTING THE FAT
DL breaks the news that Governor Markell is eliminating the Department of Finance, distributing its duties among the State Treasurer’s office and other state offices.
Steve Newton offers rare praise for a Democrat. Steve also proposes eliminating the Homeland Security Department, and transferring its duties to the State Police, and that idea makes sense to me.
Charlie Copeland reacts to the Governor’s move. By the way, one of the things I will be talking about at Netroots Nation in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania next months is the extent to which the Delaware Blogosphere has been accepted and brought into the “process.” Our Lt. Governor blogs. The Governor sits down with members of the blogosphere for an extensive interview. The basic leader of the loyal opposition, Charlie Copeland, who will either run for Congress or for Governor in 2010 or 2012, is the main blogger at Resolute Determination. I am old enough to remember the start of Daily Kos in 2002, and to see how far the blogosphere has come, left and right, is very cool.
Charlie Copeland allegedly has a letter sent by Governor Markell to state employees concerning their pay cut after the passage of the budget last week.
The Caesar Rodney Institute announced this week the launch of their newest online tool, Delaware Spends, which will help make it easier to see where money is going in Delaware. Shirley, Liberal Geek, David Anderson, and Resolute Determination offer their thoughts.
WALGREENS V. DELAWARE
DL’s own ‘Bulo breaks the story, before any other media organization or blog in Delaware, that Walgreens is back in negotiations with the State over Medicaid reimbursement.
DELAWARE LIBERAL FEATURES
Last Week’s Around the Horn Friday
Music for the Masses Saturday
Read All About It Sunday Morning
Donviti’s Deep Thoughts: One, Two, Three, Four, and Five.
The Donviti Public Service Announcement of the Week and the announcement of his coolness.
THE MISCELLANEOUS
Kavips offers thoughts on the value of service.
Brian Shields had to take a little hiatus due to a computer problem.
David Anderson on the death of Delaware civil rights icon Littleton Mitchell.
The Federal Eye column of the Washington Post highlights Sen. Kaufman’s highlighting of the work of individual federal employees.
Mike Mahaffie on Delaware’s entry into the 40 Most Unfortunately Named Restaurants.
Senator Carper finally gets asked about his real constitutency: his campaign donors.
Join our (and Kavips’) efforts to get Sen. Carper to support 70% of the Ameican people, who want a public option.
Charlie Copeland fixes health care. It turns out we were just looking at it wrong.
Looking at the DuPont heir’s assumptions in that post, he assumes that those making 50,000 to 75,000 a year can afford $3000 a month in health care premiums. And his position is that if those in that category (i.e. the Middle Class) who don’t pay those high premiums, it is their fault they don’t have insurance.
Yeah, good luck with that campaign platform, Charlie.
This is what happens when you let a wingnut near numbers — cherry-picking ensues. And if you google “8 million uninsured” you get a bunch of right wing posts pretty much repeating the same thing. But the Census report is data from 2006 (not 2007) and even in that report the trend for people to not have insurance was going up — not down. Charlie probably doesn’t know that there is a massive resession, so lots more folks are without insurance and some are having coverage cut as a result of employer cost-cutting. That’s just the beginning, but this is from the party of “tax cuts pay for themselves” so we already know where this line of argument goes.
So should we be endorsing Matt Opaliski in the repub primary? 😉
Actually, UI wrote the excellent post-session analysis of the General Assembly. ‘Bulo has done next-to-nothing this week. And doesn’t look to be starting now.
The mistake is understandable as El Somnambulo and UI are often mistaken for each other. Kinda like Patty and Cathy on “The Patty Duke Show”:
“They laugh alike, they walk alike, at times they even talk alike, you can lose your mind…”
Eek. My apologies. I insult my own colleagues. I edit
Del Dem, I applaud your highlighting the fine writers here. It was a great trip around the horn. Thanks again.
Good show, it is interesting the conservative site had the best tribute to the civil rights leader, but not surprising.
realdeal, it is pretty damn petty to be comparing tributes in political terms. But not suprisingly coming from your side.
It is petty, (I admit) and I wouldn’t do it except that you all ran a series of posts calling Repuklicans (however you write it) racists. There was no attack on anyone else’s tribute.
Some Republicans are racists, unfortunately. Not all. Some. David Anderson is obviously not a racist, and he is the one who penned the tribute that I linked to above.
That is all I meant.
Sigh. I am tired of BOTH the CIA AND Pelosi’s lies.
Fess up, Madame Speaker Pelosi, we all know who you used to be:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7_bt2ZJ_ho