By now, we all know about the Delaware Democratic Party funding an ad lauding Carney and DeLuca as the true heros in the Bluewater Wind deal.   In essence, the Party paid for a campaign ad for John Carney.

I strongly oppose the Party’s actions here, but to me, it was to be expected.

When the party endorsed Carney at the convention, we knew this was coming.   The only thing I am surprised about is that they did not spend our money on behalf of Carney sooner.   The Delaware Democratic Party needs to reform itself in ways too voluminous to discuss here today.    But in relation to this situation, the Party needs to stay neutral in primaries.

I know John Daniello loathes primaries, but it is the responsibility of the Party to remain neutral while two of its members contest for the Party’s nomination for whatever office.   This includes the office of Governor, Lt. Governor, Congress, or dogcatcher.   Now, supporters of the current structure and establishment will say that the Party needs to line up behind a candidate early since the primary election is so close to the general election.

Well, there is one easy way to fix that problem, isn’t there?    Move the goddamn primary up to May like normal states.   It is not an adequate excuse that tradition says we must hold the primary in September.  Traditions are made to be broken.  Hey, we are liberals and progressives, after all.

But if the Party loves its September primary, then they must do away with the Party convention in May, or failing that, then they must not endorse any candidate who would be subject to a primary in September.  This would seem logical and obvious, given that the deadline to file for the primary is in late July, a full two months after the party convention!

John Daniello and the Delaware Democratic Party needs to take its cues from its national counterpart.       Look at the epic Obama v. Clinton primary we all participated in this past winter and spring.  Howard Dean, Daniello’s counterpart on the national level, remained neutral, even though you knew that he preferred Obama due to Obama’s strategy and message echoing his own.  Meanwhile, many of the party’s long serving establishment preferred Clinton.   While individual Democratic officials endorsed, the party organization remained neutral.   They let the voters decide.

Daniello and the Delaware Democratic Party has failed all Delaware Democrats in choosing sides.   They are silencing the voices of their own membership, many of whom, if not a majority of whom, prefer Jack Markell to be our nominee to face Bill Lee for the governorship.

If Daniello refuses to change, then he must resign.

I read DelawarePolitics.net so you don’t have to.

Christian Hudson: Palestinians are good guys, because Obama said something nice about Israel. When he says something bad about Israel, Palestinians will go back to being terrorists.

David Anderson: Obama doesn’t care about the troops because he cancelled a visit to Rammstein. Had he made the trip it would have demonstrated Obama’s contempt for the troops.

David Anderson: Call or email the Delaware Democratic Party and urge them to keep paying for John Carney ads. delaware@deldems.org phone: (302) 328-9036

Time to come up with a new talking point.

The Tricastin nuclear site contains a power plant and a treatment facility

A French nuclear monitoring body has expressed concern at the number of leaks from French nuclear power stations in recent weeks.

The director of Criirad, an independent body, said the organisation was worried by the numbers of people contaminated by four separate incidents.

In the most recent leaks, about 100 staff at Tricastin, in southern France, were exposed to low doses of radiation.

It came two weeks after a leak forced the temporary closure of a reactor.

There has also been a 10-fold increase in the number of incidents reported by people working in the French nuclear power industry, Criirad director Corinne Castanier said.

Today, Obama was in Germany giving a speech in Berlin.  John McCain had a meeting in a German restaurant in Columbus, Ohio.

This is where my expertise is going to pay off.  I have actually been to both of these places.  In fact, I suggested Schmidt’s Sausage Haus in January.  They have some pretty good German potato salad and sauerkraut, but to be honest, the sausages weren’t very German.  I much prefer the Bratwurst that can be found at the Mars Cheese Castle in Kenosha, WI.  I have also been to Berlin, albeit not to the spot that Obama was speaking at today.  The German food is much better in Germany.

Here’s the thing, though.  I am a bit of an elitist when it comes to travel.  I once asked my sister why they don’t take a year off of Disney and go to Europe (it was a bit cheaper then).  She said that they could have lunch in Germany and dinner in Mexico and they didn’t have to leave Epcot.  That’s John McCain today.  Hangin’ out in Epcot while his opponent is working with Germans in Germany.

Are killing you. Why am I not surprised?

Ok, so the wife and I are wanting to go see this game.  It is a pretty historic game I might add.  Md is consistently ranked in the top 25 nationally year in and year out. 

Anyone know of bus groups forming up?  Anyone going?  contact me if you do….

It’s just wrong.

John Carney has started running radio ads promoting his record, but instead of using his own campaign to pay for the ads, he’s using money from the Delaware Democratic Party to do it. That’s right — money given by grassroots Democrats to help elect Barack Obama and help elect Democrats to the State Legislature is instead being siphoned off by John Carney to promote himself.

No wonder dozens of rank-and-file Democrats who have contributed to the State Democratic Party are speaking up to express their outrage that the money they’ve given to support Barack Obama is being used to support John Carney instead. It’s just wrong for John Carney to use the money from people who may not be supporting his candidacy to promote himself. Say NO to insider political deals!

Email John Carney and Tell Him to Give the Money Back!

The money paying for these ads could be spent fighting back against George Bush’s Republican Party, helping our candidate for Lieutenant Governor win against a well-funded Republican candidate in November, or helping win both houses of the State Legislature for the first time in years. This is an example of insider politics at its worst.

If you want to send the message that Delaware is tired of politics as usual, then please call John Carney’s Headquarters and ask him to give back the money his campaign is taking away from grassroots democrats.

Call Carney HQ now at 302.633.1000

Andrew Roos
Campaign Manager

P.S. Come to our Headquarters in Wilmington at 11:00 on Friday morning to make your voice heard. There will be a press conference with Jack and other Democrats who want Democratic money to focus on beating Republicans.

Paul Baumbach has also extended and revised his remarks….

The Delaware Democratic Party is sponsoring radio ads promoting John Carney’s candidacy for Governor. On the one hand, this makes some sense, as the state (and county) party endorsed John Carney (despite support for Markell from RDs including the 23^rd). However, I have two objections with the party’s actions. First, I would prefer that our party’s resources be used against Republicans (and fusion candidates) and not against faithful Democratic candidates such as Jack Markell. Second, I would prefer that their ad was factual. The ad portrays Carney as the primary force behind the BlueWater Wind deal. It brings to mind the comment about the fellow who was born on third base thinking that he hit a triple. Carney eventually provided some support for the deal—he was in no way a leader in bringing the BWW deal to fruition.

Jack Markell is hosting a press conference at his Riverfront campaign office (920 S Justison, Wilmington, DE 19801) on Friday at 11am, to present his disappointment with the actions of the Delaware Democratic Party in directing resources against Democrats rather than Republicans.

If you agree with Jack that this is a poor use of Delaware Democratic money, and/or if you agree that the fact-checking in the ad is atrocious, and a dis-service to the Delaware voters and to the DelDems Party, then try to attend the press conference.

I am so happy for our country. We are going to have a grown up adult President again.

Wow.  I don’t know if you have been keeping an eye on the widget to the left.  According to the newest polls, Obama has opened a commanding 100 electoral vote lead.  I know it is July, so it don’t mean much, but it cannot be a good sign for the McCain camp.  The pickups from 2004 would be CO, NV, IA, IN, MT and NM.  In addition, Florida and Virginia are ties at the moment.  This is a great position to be in before the convention season gears up.

I’m trying to get my head around this radio ad that the DELAWARE STATE DEMOCRATIC COMMITTEE is running on WDEL.

It seems John Carney and Tony DeLuca are 100% responsible from making the Blue Water Wind Deal happen and are single handed bringing “thousands” of jobs to Delaware. (Huh?)

How much more juice is Carney going to try to squeeze out of his “Johnny come lately” marginal role in the wind park?

How F’ed up is it that the state Democratic Committee has basically said “Fuck it, we work for Carney now”?

But prosecutor Timothy Stone told the six-member jury of U.S. military officers who will decide Hamdan’s guilt or innocence that Hamdan had inside knowledge of the 2001 attacks on the United States because he overheard a conversation between bin Laden and his deputy, Ayman al-Zawahiri.

“If they hadn’t shot down the fourth plane it would’ve hit the dome,” Stone, a Navy officer, said in his opening remarks.

Uh, yeah, that’s right I PROSECUTOR (AKA Good Guys) just admitted that WE SHOT down Flight 93? HELLLLOOOOOOO

Which candidate is the bigger flip flopper?  **Please back up your claims**

Atrios makes a good point:

I’ll leave semantic discussions to others, but lost in all of this discussion is the cost of the surge. Wars have become free, with neither the dollar cost nor cost in lives subject for polite conversation anymore.

The troop escalation was announced in January of 2007. Since that time over 1100 US troops lost their lives. Obviously not all of those losses are attributable to the presence of additional troops in Iraq, but they are all attributable to the continuing presence of the US in Iraq.

Our new “free war” mentality is something that both parties deserve blame for.

Thanks Mike Castle, Joe Biden and Tom Carper !! You guys suck.