Rumor Mill Churning.

Filed in National by on February 9, 2009

We have just received a tip that there will be a “major announcement tomorrow night at the 14th District Democrats meeting regarding a current row office-holder switching political parties.”

I wonder if this has anything to do with John Brady.

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  1. Delaware Dem says:

    Because a large birdy told me at the Wine Tasting that there would be an announcement in mid-February.

  2. Delaware Dem says:

    If John Brady does become a Democrat, I will support a primary challenge by him against KWS.

  3. nemski says:

    If this is true about John Brady, next on our list is R Smitty.

  4. Mrs XStryker says:

    I’m sorry, I feel a great big need to roll my eyes. Not at you, DeDem, but at JB. I get his reasoning for switching in the first place, but I don’t think it’s a good enough reason. It honestly makes me doubt his maturity.

  5. Mark H says:

    Shoot! That means I’ll never be “The Big Guy” for the Dems 🙂

  6. Delaware Dem says:

    What is his reason Mrs. XStryker??? Sounds like you have an inside scoop.

  7. Unstable Isotope says:

    I saw that he was contemplating a switch in parties somewhere else. In the NJ?

  8. John Brady is a capable and well intentioned professional, either party would be lucky to have him.

    The GOP HQ should do its best to keep John on the team.

  9. Mrs XStryker says:

    Oh, well, right around Election Day, one of JB’s campaigners came into my office (for an unrelated reason), and started talking to me about JB’s candidacy. So I was talking to him about my concern over putting a Republican into a position that’s very existence is against what the Republican party stands for. So he starts telling me that JB was once a Dem, but switched. Why did he switch to the Republicans? Because Carper denied him a post due to his sexual identity. Amazingly, this campaign worker actually thought this would IMPROVE my opinion of JB.

    Look, Carper’s a jackass. We all know I think so (or if you didn’t, you do now). What he did was terrible and inexcusable. That does not mean JB had a good reason to switch parties. I’m sorry, it doesn’t. So just because one person’s standing in your way temporarily you’re going to join the party that is diametrically opposed to everything you stand for? No. I don’t think so.

    And now he wants to come back because he has figured out that the only real reason he lost to KWS is his party affiliation. Please. Cry to someone who cares.

  10. Miscreant says:

    This is been all over the WGMD site for about a week now. I can’t believe you amateurs let the *King of all Asshats – Dan Gaffney*, scoop you. Jud Bennett claimed to have the inside information, but wasn’t giving it up.

    So, now that JB will be a Democrat some of you jagoffs may finally vote for him? Well… with the possible exception of MJ. Brady will have to become gayer to get his vote. In the meantime, enjoy your current selection of Insurance Commissioner.

  11. Miscreant says:

    “The GOP HQ should do its best to keep John on the team.”

    They’ve already blown it.

  12. Unstable Isotope says:

    Interesting story, Mrs. X. I’m sure the bastion of gay rights that is the Republican party treated him much better. I guess JB has learned that you can be a Democrat and dislike Carper!

    I didn’t vote for JB because some of the antics of the attack ads from the Log Cabin Republicans.

  13. Suzanne says:

    Mrs. X – John is a good friend of mine and believe me, there was a bit more to it then just switching because he didn’t get a judgeship. A person has to make a living somehow. At any rate, if you look through the archives, I am sure the entire story can be found. Retuning to his roots would have more reasons then a lost election — he has more integrity then that.
    “Castle’s -Biggest-Fan-Mike” stated: The GOP HQ should do its best to keep John on the team.
    I am really biting my tongue right now, but I do know for sure that they are not trying their best (or their definition of BEST and mine just aren’t the same). More on that to come on my blog within the next week or two — I hope.

  14. anon2700 says:

    There’s always been a GOP faction that’s disliked Brady because he’s gay. He had to fight through primaries twice to get to the general election for row offices, for crying out loud.

    As for the idea that he switched to the GOP because Tom Carper didn’t make him judge – I don’t buy that. Brady became a lawyer in ’91. Carper left office in 2000 (actually ’01), by which point Brady was already a Republican and running his first campaign.

    Do you mean to tell me that Carper was supposed to appoint a lawyer with less than a decade of experience to the bench? I don’t think Brady’s that stupid to expect or demand that.

  15. jason330 says:

    I can’t believe you amateurs let the *King of all Asshats – Dan Gaffney*, scoop you.

    Dan Who-ey?

  16. La Narcolepsia says:

    “Do you mean to tell me that Carper was supposed to appoint a lawyer with less than a decade of experience to the bench? I don’t think Brady’s that stupid to expect or demand that.”

    La Narcolepsia notices many short memories around Delaware Liberal. Carper appointed Leo Strine, at 34, to the most important court in corporate America even though he had only two years experience at Skadden Arps before becoming Carper’s legal counsel.

    From the Harvard Law Corporate Governance Blog: “Ten years ago, Strine became a vice chancellor of Delaware’s Court of Chancery at age 34. He had clerked for two federal judges, spent two years as an associate at Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP in Wilmington, Del., then served as chief counsel for then-Gov. Thomas Carper, a Democrat who is now a U.S. senator. Many in Wilmington’s corporate bar did not know Strine, and some worried that a man they saw as a political appointee would not be up to the task of serving on the country’s leading business law court.”

  17. liz says:

    Come on home John! You are not a repuke in your heart or mind.

  18. The GOP should keep John Brady on the GOP team.

    As for Mr. Castle I support him 80% of the time and you folks hate him 100% of the time.

    I am not his biggest fan, I simply point out your short sighted views with ease.

  19. anon2700 says:

    La Narcolepsia, your insight is insightful, as always.

    But that’s one example, a plum job given to a political ally. Brady wasn’t exactly a pal of Carper’s. I still don’t think there’s much to that argument.

  20. MJ says:

    Wow – Miscreant has a long memory. Actually, John and I have been talking, off and on, since the election. Haven’t had a chance to sit down with him yet (schedules haven’t meshed yet), but he took me up on my offer to sit and talk and find out more about each other and our views and common interests.

  21. jason330 says:

    As for Mr. Castle I support him 80% of the time and you folks hate him 100% of the time.

    Wrong again dummy. Try 97% of the time.

  22. anon2700 says:

    Do I hear 101 percent??

  23. Suzanne says:

    going once — twice — and sold — 101 it is

  24. Political Observer says:

    #14 – It was a commissioner’s job and it is not unheard of for someone to be appointed to the bench in this State with less than a decade of experience, if they do well in the nominating process and have otherwise comported themselves well in their practice. In fact, for most judicial positions, the minimum requirement is five years as a DE atty.

    In addition to Strine, I believe Chancellor Chandler had less than ten years practicing. So did Justice Quillen, as I recall. Vincent Bifferato. The list goes on and these are some heavy hitters in the vaunted halls of justice in this state.

  25. Miscreant says:

    “…but he took me up on my offer to sit and talk and find out more about each other and our views and common interests.”

    Good on you, MJ. I think you’ll be impressed. I had the opportunity to work with JB on some projects of mutual interest and found him to be one of the hardest working, knowledgeable people I’ve encountered in government.

  26. anon says:

    This post thread is da bomb.
    I spoke with John at Jack Markell’s inaugural and he said he was already seriously thinking of switching parties when I suggested that he should.
    Like IU, I was underwhelmed by the DEGOP’s undermining of JB’s run at IC.
    Nice to get the full scoop here, Mrs. X. thanks.

  27. nemski says:

    As for Mr. Castle I support him 80% of the time and you folks hate him 100% of the time.

    I’d have a sliver of respect for Mike Castle if he represented the people of Delaware and not the interests of the Republican Party.

  28. anon2700 says:

    Political Observer at # 24:

    Interesting observation. I’d also add that Chandler and Quillen are both “names.”

  29. MJ says:

    Miscreant – we also share a hobby – collecting political buttons.

  30. anon2 says:

    The only reason Brady is switching partys is the difference in voter registration. If there were more repukes registered in the state, he wouldn’t consider switching.

    If he says it’s about anything other than the registration numbers he’s lying.

    This is all about Brady wanting higher office, it has nothing to do with party philosophy. He left the dems because they didn’t give him what he wanted and he’ll leave the repukes because they can’t give him what he wants.

  31. La Narcolepsia says:

    La Narcolepsia recalls former Sen. Myrna Bair’s dismissal of Margaret Rose Henry when she dramatically switched from R to D. “Now she’s just another black Democrat.”

    Will the GOP similarly pooh-pooh Brady, if he switches, as “just another gay Democrat”?

    La Narcolepsia says quit splitting hairs as to his motivation. All high-profile party switches are powerful psychological victories and demoralizing to the other side. Come on over.

  32. jason330 says:

    Will the GOP similarly pooh-pooh Brady, if he switches, as “just another gay Democrat”?

    You need to ask?

    As to your second point. I second that.

  33. Mrs XStryker says:

    “Do you mean to tell me that Carper was supposed to appoint a lawyer with less than a decade of experience to the bench? I don’t think Brady’s that stupid to expect or demand that.”

    As I was told, it was a clerkship, not a judgeship. There’s a difference. So I’m still not impressed.

    Suzanne, I respect the fact that you want to defend your friend. Honestly. I’d want to do the same for my friends. But “a person has to make a living”? He was a lawyer! Are you going to honestly tell me that he couldn’t get a job as a lawyer in DELAWARE? I find that exceedingly hard to believe. I remain unimpressed. The whole thing seems very disingenuous to me.

  34. miscreant says:

    So, you’re impressed with KWS? Or you can’t face the fact that you voted for an idiot, and continue to defend it?

  35. The long and the short of it is that JB will soon become, if the rumors are true, a Dem powerhouse in Sussex County with a track record of elective office and name recognition.

    Whereas before he was limited to ascention to higher office because of his party, and the positions available within his district, now he will be on the forefront of any further Dem expansion into long help GOP territory in Sussex.

    ..if he doesn’t aim higher.

  36. Lee Ann says:

    Saw JB this morning in Sussex County courthouse while reporting for jury duty.

    He says he is definitely going to switch tonight.

  37. Mrs XStryker says:

    Miscreant – Where do you see me defending my vote (or for that matter even saying who I voted for)? I’m not ashamed to say that I voted for an idiot. I voted for KWS, and she’s not doing a good job. That does not mean that I feel that I had a better choice. I’m not much impressed by either of them.

    Are you happy now? Or do you need a hug?

  38. miscreant says:

    Either a hug, or an Obama fist bump would be fine.

  39. Mrs XStryker says:

    Fist bump? You got it. X can tell you that I’m all about the fist bump.