Register to Vote Deadline for the 6th RD
If you live in the 6th RD (which includes the Delaware River waterfront from Claymont to Wilmington, as well as the neighborhoods of Bellefonte, Bellevue, Weldin Road area and Fox Point), and for whatever reason you are not registered to vote, your last chance to become registered is today. If you are not registered to vote, please visit the Department of Elections website or Department of Elections office in downtown Wilmington, (820 N. French St., Wilmington).
The special election to replace retiring Representative Diana McWilliams will be held on December 20th. Attorney Michael Migliore has been chosen as the Democratic candidate.
If the Democrats retain this seat (and they should), they will enjoy a three-fifths majority, enabling them to pass tax legislation and override a veto without minority consent.
“enabling them to pass tax legislation and override a veto without minority consent”
Scary…
Not that it matters, but why say ‘pass tax legislation’ and not be honest and say ‘raise taxes?’
Or be really honest and say ‘raise taxes to cover the unnecessary and bloated spending they refuse to cut?’
*sigh* If people cared enough about that, Mike, that would be the best advertisement as to why NOT to vote for the Democratic candidate this time around.
We (Republicans) got kicked in the teeth and, on the whole, deservedly so. I can make exceptions on an individual basis here and there (John Brady, for one), but the brand became so horribly tainted (thanks RNC and righty wingnuts who want to pray in my bedroom), that this logic of how good it will be to render the minority impotent becomes palatable.
Bwah ha ha ha ha ha @ FSP and MM
is Burris going to start quipping over the wording of things?
wow
Cmon Smitty-where’s that game face?
It’s missing teeth, Joanne. Hey, look at the bright side, you may have a new customer! 😛
Seriously, I am a realist and I just can’t do that cheerleader-for-the-party thing when I full well know the product is defective. There are indeed individual parts that justifiably succeed, but from our neck of the woods, those successes are more of the Centrist-types whom the party, in general terms, really don’t want much to do with.
Dave: Agreed, except for this: What exactly is the unnecessary and bloated spending?
What exactly is the unnecessary and bloated spending?
easy
whatever Burris says it is
Lee Ann Walling and all of the political merit dumps.
The IR Bridge.
Medicaid (not the program itself, but how it’s administered in DE).
The BofA building. Golf courses.
Prevailing wage.
Layers upon layers of political middle management.
Tens of millions to DelDOT contractors to plan roads we can’t afford and largely don’t need.
That’s all off the top of my head.
Prevailing wage.
You’re wrong about that one.
No. I’m actually not wrong. And I’ve proven it time and time again. And I can do it again, if you like.
Nah, you have your talking points, I have mine. I should probably get back to work. 😉
told you it was whatever he said it was
Dave likes to pretend that it is only DEMs putting forth the ‘bloat’. The DE Incumbent Party is alive and well in da state house. Some of the worst GOP bloaters in recent memory are now legis lobbyists (Roger Roy and Wayne Smith).
Take some time Smitty..I know we’re all in different healing stages. But we’re just going to have to find us some centrist doctors. But I hear you fellow–no county, no party, no teeth—why–“We Need A Little Christmas!”–music, Pandora, please….
Two comments: Bloated spending – anyone who uses that term doesn’t understand the working of government and politics. Programs that are necessary and succesful in meeting objectives need to be funded even when those projects increase in cost. And the determination should be driven by facts and data, not someone’s uninformed opinion. Second, programs that have no value or cost more than they are worth shoud be eliminated. It’s such an easy concept, only a politcal process could ruin it.
Vision – neither party has one. That will also lead to increased costs because if you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there (often at double the expense).
What is needed – term limits. Won’t happen, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t the solution.
“Bloated spending – anyone who uses that term doesn’t understand the working of government and politics.”
And anyone who says that doesn’t understand that Delaware is the highest-spending state per household in the lower 48.
“Programs that are necessary and succesful in meeting objectives need to be funded even when those projects increase in cost.”
But they’re not — they have to cut 15% from their budgets for next year too.
“programs that have no value or cost more than they are worth shoud be eliminated.”
But they’re not — and the result is, yup, you guessed it — BLOATED SPENDING.
Thanks for playing.
welcome to fight club BOB MC.
Thanks Don.
FSP, you clearly did not read or understand my post but that’s cool. That’s the basis of our great democracy, you can spout anything you want and facts/understanding the debate doesn’t have to get in the way.
“If the Democrats retain this seat, they will enjoy a three-fifths majority, enabling them to pass tax legislation and override a veto without minority consent.”
No party should be given that power. Unless he is a real douche-canoe the people of Claymont should do the state a favor and pick the Republican.
“That’s the basis of our great democracy, you can spout anything you want and facts/understanding the debate doesn’t have to get in the way.”
Yes. You certainly proved that. You talked about an idealistic world where good programs are funded and bad ones eliminated. That place doesn’t exist. That was after you took a shot at my understanding of government.
I think I understood you just fine.
FSP -It’s called a called a commentary. I have yet to see a blog article change one iota of public policy, so it’s more of an intellectual discussion. However, if I were you, I would question someone running for office as to what their specific approach is going to be to making substantive improvements. And I have done that. However, one person, once elected, will be forced to prevent themselves from being absorbed by the Borg -the mass of politicians in Dover who ONLY care about reelection or their own personal self-promotion.
So the real answer is not whining about “bloat”, such a easy opt-out, but scream for term limits. Of course, you’ll get hoarse doing so without ever being successful. But I intend to keep up the fight.
tom s with more astounding logic
bob,
FSP, you clearly did not read or understand my post but that’s cool.
that pretty much applies to everything we post and he comments on. Keep that in mind when you argue with him.
Bob — I’m actually pretty happy with what I’ve been able to help accomplish in Dover.
“I have yet to see a blog article change one iota of public policy”
Two words: wind farm.
“the mass of politicians in Dover who ONLY care about reelection or their own personal self-promotion.”
I’m sure you know this, but they ALL only care about those two things.
FSP’s bloat list:
“Lee Ann Walling and all of the political merit dumps.” Agreed. How much does this amount to?
“The IR Bridge.” Sorry, not eligible. Poor planning or whatever, yes, but a bridge is needed. I don’t count that as unnecessary.
“Medicaid (not the program itself, but how it’s administered in DE).”
“The BofA building. Golf courses.” This is capital spending. I agree they never should have been purchased, but what do you propose at this point? Selling those courses to developers while the market is at its bottom? Doesn’t strike me as a responsible response.
“Prevailing wage.” Agreed, but again, that’s capital spending. Won’t remove a penny from the operating budget.
“Layers upon layers of political middle management.” Very good — except for one thing. Do you have actual figures showing that we have too many management jobs, or is this just a vague complaint? This is the key to lowering the deficit, and the budget on an ongoing basis. Let me know when you come up with a workable plan for it, because I’ll jump on board.
“Tens of millions to DelDOT contractors to plan roads we can’t afford and largely don’t need.” You’re getting vague again. Which roads do we “largely [not] need”?
Thanks for the response. I wasn’t being snarky, I really wanted to know.
One of the reasons Delaware’s spending per capita might be the highest in the lower 48 is the way things are set up here. Much of the state is unincorporated, so what is handled by a village or township in another state is handled by the state in Delaware.
An example: snow removal. When I lived in western NY, each municipality or a partnership of municipalities took care of clearing the roads. Here, if there is more than 4 inches of snow, the state reimburses the local civic associations for the cost of snow removal. So that cost shows up here as an expenditure for the state, whereas in New York residents pay for it through local taxes.
Two other examples are roads and education. These are often handled on a county or local basis elsewhere, but things are set up differently here.
So Dave, I’m not saying things like Republican legislators creating a state-funded job for their spouse is not bloat. I’m sure there are things that are wasteful. But there are legitimate reasons why that per capita number is higher in Delaware than elsewhere.
Burris got pwned again…..
what a shocker
“But there are legitimate reasons why that per capita number is higher in Delaware than elsewhere.”
Legitimate reasons why it’s higher than SOME. But not ALL.
And DV, if you don’t have anything to add (and you never do) why don’t you just STFU?
Geezer — Your complaints on the bridge, the golf courses, capital funding, etc. all reflect poor institutional decisionmaking. And while money goes from the TTF into DelDOT and $70-$85M goes from the budget into the bond bill and vice versa, I feel it’s all on the table.
As far as your bureaucracy question, let me answer it like this. I’m looking out my second-story window right now and it’s raining. I can’t prove it right now, but I bet you the ground is wet.
When we spend the kind of money we do and get the kinds of results that we do, there’s cutting to do.
dude, your BS got shut down again and it was by a new guy!
I love it, I pointed it out and will continue to do so. NEANER, NEANER,NEANER, PFFFFFFTTTTT!!!+
Bob, again, welcome to Fight Club, you are an honorary member!
“Selling those courses to developers while the market is at its bottom? Doesn’t strike me as a responsible response.”
Garrison Lake and Deerfield courses are owned/supervised by State Parks. I don’t know what they are doing with Garrison, but they had the good sense to not to try to operate Deerfield, opting to lease it out to concessionaires. Who knows? Maybe it’s even profitable for the state.
http://www.deerfieldgolfclub.com/about-deerfield.cfm
“shut down again”
Must’ve missed that. Could you point it out to me? Or is this another Delaware Liberal “sure I’m making it up, but if I say it enough times, people might think it’s true” moment?
quick look….
it’s a bird it’s a plane no it’s talking point man!
So you can’t point it out then? Thought so.
You’re an absurd fool. It’s your niche.
and your nipples get hard when I walk into a room
and you’d love to have me work for you
mwwwwohhhhahahahahahahaaaaaaa
FSP –
“Bob — I’m actually pretty happy with what I’ve been able to help accomplish in Dover.
Two words: wind farm. ”
My two words: Dream On (and I know that for a fact)
“the mass of politicians in Dover who ONLY care about reelection or their own personal self-promotion.”
“I’m sure you know this, but they ALL only care about those two things”
I can prove you wrong on that one – in case you didn’t catch my last name, I was married to one and she DID NOT care about reelection. And a funny thing happened along the way – she kept getting re-elected. I can guarantee you one thing, that is one lesson that will never be learned by most of the others.
I voted for her b/c of her toes
Dave putting me at the top of a bloat list, after I’ve been trying hard on the Sugar Busters diet, hurts a little. I’m the Number One example of bloat in the state?? His obsession with me is starting to creep me out a bit.
Hey Bob, We will miss Diana. She was fearless, true to her word and very skilled at her job.
Just a comment on the golf courses: Deerfield and Garrisons Lake are two different stories. Deerfield is surrounded on three sides by White Clay Creek State Park – it was offered at a bargain basement price by MBNA. It is being operated at a profit by an experienced golf course concessionaire. From an acquisition perspective, it made sense.
Garrisons Lake was put in the Bond Bill at the insistence of a powerful committee member. It is now being operated by the Delaware State Golf Association. The state tried to do a land swap, Transfer of Development Rights or other market-based deal with the developer, and in the end we were resigned to a scaled-down residential development. We did not not favor purchasing it.
I always like to sprinkle in a little truth now and then, since I was there.
Bob — Your impartiality in the matter is striking. You’ll forgive me if I don’t hold your opinion in the highest regard when you’re talking about your own family.
“And a funny thing happened along the way – she kept getting re-elected.”
Being in a 2-1 Democratic district in a Democratic leaning state had nothing to do with it, I’m sure.
And I’ll strongly recommend you don’t bring your family into these discussions. It’s never a good idea. I know how hard it can be to be in a family with a legislator, so I won’t pursue it.
And without bloggers, the wind farm dies a slow, painful death long before Tony DeLuca and the union thugs decide to try and get Carney elected with it.
“Dave putting me at the top of a bloat list, after I’ve been trying hard on the Sugar Busters diet, hurts a little.”
You got bumped to the top of the list when you started strolling around these parts. I knew you’d see it.
Unfortunately, you’ve become the symbol for a bad practice that’s gone on for a long time.
As far as the golf courses go, you can lump them in with the buildings we didn’t need and file them all under one category: crap we couldn’t afford.
Lee Ann,
You seem to be philosphical for having become the poster child for burrowing. I’d love to interview on the topic at some point is that suits you.
As for the golf courses, I’m all for them. Garrison’s Lake particularly since it is 5 minutes from work.
Migliore sent out another very expensive 4 color lit piece stating he actually was a dem.
Kovach sent one and the word repuke doesnt appear. Trying to fool the voters Tom?
Here is my problem. I am against dynasty..even aides like Kaufman being “chosen” as our new Senator. I am against “aides” like Migliore who have no mention of the word health care, or the environment on his lit piece.
Are these the only two running? I thought one you lib guys were going to jump in? Are these the only two choices? If so, think I’ll stay home.
Jason,
Thanks for the compliment. How ’bout after, say, January 20?
By the way, Joanne Christian is my role model for non-anonymous civil discourse.
You guys are my heros on that score.
I am looking forward to Jan 21st and beyond. I think Lee Ann definitely offers a different perspective and it will be interesting to read.
FSP – you clearly know nothing of which you speak, the wind farm was going to win despite the theatrics – but that’s cool, this is just an opinion site anyway.
BTW – when my wife first won, the registration in the 6th was 1-1 and previously had a republican representative for 17 years, but again, your opionion implies facts are irrelevent.
Lee Ann, thanks for the kind words about Diana. This is being partial, but if Dover had more like her, some of these discussions would not even be occuring.
I’m not going to argue, because I have a long-held principle where I don’t say negative things about a politician with their family around. So you’re free to keep your opinion about what you think you know.
Kovach sent one and the word repuke doesnt appear. Trying to fool the voters Tom?
That’s one take.
As someone who has long believed voters would be far better served by knowing the person representing you rather than the party, I’ve long despised making it a point to advertise your party on your campaign literature. I see that as a cutesy tactic to lure the voters unwilling to learn of the candidates into voting for them simply on party label alone, which in my mind, is disasterous.
So, what you accuse Kovach of doing (trying to fool the voters), I in turn commend him for trying to provide the voters with something to think about, rather than auto-disqualify or auto-include.
That would be another take.
Nope I couldnt disagree more. Knowing what party you represent says a lot about what you believe in and how you might vote on a particular issue. Got another 4 color lit piece today from Miglore….the guy must have some big bucks for those campaign lit pieces.
Again, living in an environmental disaster area (the 6th district) and not a word on fixing the environment or health care…doesnt make me wanna run to the polls. The second thing is I am dead set against any more Bidenites. Not voting.
“Knowing what party you represent says a lot about what you believe in and how you might vote on a particular issue.”
Not in my neck of the woods, Sussex County, land of Adams (my senator) and Venables.