How Biden Decision Screws Dems Statewide
“I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.”-Blanche DuBois from Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”.
So have down-ballot candidates in every election. The top of the ticket drives out the voters, and those further down the ballot benefit or suffer based on who is motivated to vote in any given election cycle.
Now, riddle me this, Batman. With two non-competitive races apparently heading this year’s ballot, how the bleep are the Democrats gonna drive out their voters? No presidential, no gubernatorial, two statewide offices that nobody gives a bleep about, and, frankly, I, for one, couldn’t care less whether the Beaudhisattva gets reelected. And, other than the rabid Archmere groupies, I don’t think most D’s do either. Bottom line: The D’s are in trouble, and are clearly in danger of losing the State House of Representatives. To a large degree, regardless of how good a job a given Rep is doing, if they’re in a swing district, they’re in trouble.
It was always gonna be a difficult landscape for Democrats. With a tanked economy nationally and locally, and people looking for instant solutions, incumbents are vulnerable. And D’s are especially vulnerable as they’ve proven themselves incapable of developing and advancing a coherent message.
The one saving grace was a high-profile Senate race that would drive all the loyalists out. A high-profile race engineered by the Bidenistas with the passive acquiescence of Gov. Chicken ‘n Dumplings.
I HATE these family dynasties. However, once the deal was cut, the Beaudhisattva was obligated to follow through, and the Bidens were obligated to make it happen. But they didn’t. No doubt Joe will puff out his chest and tell everyone that Beau displayed extraordinary integrity in making this choice. Bullshit. The Beaudhisattva has shrunk in office and, now, has shrunk from it. Time for pere to find fils a nice position in the ‘investment industry’.
For the D’s in the House, you’re gonna have to survive on your own. Acting like Democrats for a change must be Step One. If all that you do this year is cut and cut, you inevitably are cutting services that those most at risk (and most likely to be D’s) want and need. You know that the R’s are just gonna obstruct. Start by making the wealthy pay their fair share by reversing the trend towards a flat tax for the millionaires. Save programs with those $$’s and dare Rethugs to oppose them.
In addition to funding essential programs at the expense of the flat-taxers, and enabling Democrats to run like Democrats, it will also raise taxes on the self-entitled Bidens. Maybe they need to be reminded how the other half lives.
Tags: 2010 Election, Beau Biden, Blanche DuBois
“Start by making the wealthy pay their fair share…”
Why don’t we start by doing this in our own state!? I would think our progressive governor would want this. Instead, the top bracket is anyone making over $60,000! What a joke. I pay the same percentage as my brother-in-law who makes literally ten times what I do!
That was my point. At the state level, as a result of decades of lowering and consolidating the top tax brackets, we essentially have a flat tax for those making $60K and over. THAT’S what I want to see reversed. Not all at once, but enough to rescue essential programs.
I will be looking real closely at the Governor’s budget presentation…
Well Carney must be sitting like the cat who swallowed the canary. Whether the (progressive) Dems wanted him to inherit a rep. position or not–his financing is now considered fully funded, w/ no distraction of a senate race. Lucky man, it was worth the wait.
One immediate impact of today’s decision is that Ferris Wharton won’t be running for AG. He’s said he doesn’t want a rematch against Beau. So the GOP now has to scramble to find someone to fill in there.
Hmm … I hear Bill Lee is still a member of the Delaware bar…
For Bill Lee (and Ferris Wharton, for that matter), there are bars and there are BARS.
Oh, and JC, you’re correct. As former Brooklyn Dodgers’ GM Branch Rickey once said, “Luck is the residue of design.”
High profile race or no, D’s face a difficult turnout problem this year — this is the real MA lesson. It wad never, ever clear to me that Beau would do the work to really take it to castle on a way that would deconstruct that moderate BS. Turnout is this year’s problem, whether Beau runs or no.
Chris Coons has just told POLITICO.com he’s “considering” a bid.
See my blog also for further analysis.
Allan Loudell
WDEL Radio
politico link:
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0110/31952.html
Coons seems like an obvious choice to me. He has some name recognition, he has money and he’s not up for re-election this year. My question, though, is he willing to run to win against Castle?
Why not Matt Denn? granted, the beau’s screwed the d party by waiting so long to chicken out.
Billboard pic of Castle,
text reads:
Rep. No
wants to be
Sen. No,
tell him NO WAY!
Well, maybe it is just that Beau doesn’t want to be a minority Senator in a GOP-controlled Senate.
Or more likely, he doesn’t want to be unemployed after Barry and Daddy drag him down to defeat.
Denn would far and away be my choice. But not everyone wants to spend that kind of time away from their family, and I don’t know if Matt does.
Coons just says ‘generic Democrat’ to me. I’ll have to see what his message is.
Yes, the Democrats have had a setback, but what about the GOP? My guess is they don’t see how beatable Carney is given the mood of the voter. People are not going to give Carney the Congressional seat as a consolation prize. Didn’t Carney get savaged pretty bad last year by Markell?
The GOP has three choices. Only two guys have statewide name recognition-Copeland and Protack. At this late point recognition is very important. Copeland would be hard pressed in a time of resentment against corporations and the establishment to be a populist challenger along with his huge loss to Denn. Does he want to maybe lose again? He can get the money together but what else is there? I mean he polled even with Crazy Christine in 2008.
Protack for all his conservative bluster is a liberal in some ways. Universal health care, no death penalty ( I guess the pro life thing is real to him) , drug rehab , supports unions and has a deep resentment against the Corporate mentality. I see his pension loss and gutting of pay as a huge thing to have as a cerdible populist cause. He did debate Carney and Markell. Is he committed to the County race which is a sure thing for him? Who knows if two losses to Lee means anything?
Third option-do nothing especially if Castle still wants to be on the throne and not care about anyone else. Copeland is part of the Dupont/Castle circle but Protack has stupidly defended Castle at every turn.
Yes, the democrats have some head scratching to do today but the Delaware GOP needs to get their act together. Cullis, Wade, Kovach and Lavelle are not serious candidates across the spectrum.
Coons raised taxes big time so forget him. He is big government all over.
Denn has two young sons. I sure as heck wouldn’t want to spend that much time away from my kids in D.C.
I think it’s going to be Coons. He’ll take one for the team and still have two years left at the helm of NCCo to fall back on, then run for something else.
What Democrat in Delaware isn’t generic, El-Som? Besides Peterson and Kowalko, I mean. Personally, I’d love to see a John Flaherty campaign, but that’s just a dream.
“This is an easy call, with an experienced local progressive running against a Washington-based Republican who cuddled up to Newt Gingrich when it was convenient.”
http://www.samefacts.com/2010/01/campaigns/campaign-2010/2010-senate-campaign-chris-coons-for-delaware/
While Matt may aspire to higher office, I seriously doubt that he would put Michelle, Adam & Zach through a Senate campaign just 2 years after the LG race.
I must confess that I am disappointed that Kaufman isn’t running for his seat. I think he is a credible Senator. He may not be able to beat Castle, but he could bring a good candidacy and message to the race. That would be good for the down-the-ballot Dem candidates and it would be good for Delaware.
“Coons raised taxes big time” –Property taxes have gone up about $100 over the past 5 years–I think he can make the case that it was necessary and this is a federal race where that isn’t going to resonate with the larger issues that are out there….
As for whether Coons is willing to run hard enough to beat Castle…. no question that he will campaign around the clock. I don’t think he’ll win, but it won’t be for lack of effort. All the guy lives for is campaigning. He doesn’t even like being in the offices he wins. He just likes running for them, kissing babies and glad-handing and being a publicly known person that people turn to for favors. He is all about power and popularity.
Ignorant, naive question–is there a term limit for NCC Executive? I really, really like Coons. He walked into a terrible mess, to become the heavy of straightening it up. I have yet to seem him placate or gladhand anyone in meetings I’ve been at publicly. No matter how you guys howl, I have found him to be a straight shooter, who delivers hard news without sugar. I would rather see him primary Carney though–but I know, you don’t want to take back his gift. You do have a worker, and a whiz w/ Coons in the outfield. I can get behind him–and would–but not against Castle.
“Didn’t Carney get savaged pretty bad last year by Markell?”
Yes, he was trounced in the primary by 1,500 votes. Savaged indeed.
JC – Yep, he’s in his second and final term right now. Has two more years to go.
I’m really interested in hearing what Coons has to say about the Senate. I think he’s a good choice actually. I’m not sure about term limits for NCCo Executive but I doubt there are any.
I stand corrected. Thanks, anon.
Chris is in his final term as Exec, and does not have to vacate seat to run. Should he win, Paul Clark becomes County Exec.
“He (Coons)walked into a terrible mess, to become the heavy of straightening it up.”
Bull crap!
How long was he on county council before becoming County Exec? He helped make the problems he then had to clean up.
Blaming Coons for the mess made by Gordon is like blaming Obama for the mess made by Bush.
Yes. No rational person could blame Coons.
Unfortunately the rational demographic is tiny.