Primary Day Open Thread
Welcome to primary day in Delaware! Be sure to vote! (You will have no cause to complain if you don’t vote.) I have to admit that I’m practically vibrating with excitement. Tonight we find out whether we’ll have a Senator Coons or whether it’ll be a slog to November. So what are you seeing at your local polling station? Is turnout high? Are disappointed O’Donnell voters being turned away? Are you dodging reporters left and right?
Some good news! It looks likely that Elizabeth Warren will be appointed as the first head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau:
The White House is considering appointing Elizabeth Warren as interim head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, bypassing a likely Senate confirmation battle, according to sources.
Under the Dodd-Frank regulatory reform law signed July 21, the Treasury Department has the power to appoint a temporary head of the new agency until a permanent one is nominated and confirmed.
By naming Warren interim head, the White House would sidestep — for now — a likely fight over her nomination. Obama can still choose to formally nominate Warren sometime next year, or select another candidate if she becomes too polarizing.
Warren supporters are urging the White House to make the appointment quickly, which would give the Harvard professor time and authority to get the new agency running.
The White House may be thinking about November, trying to get the base excited.
John Richardson at Esquire‘s politics blog muses on why Republicans lie:
I have two theories about this. One is that the conservative intelligentsia is deliberately training the Republican base to be irrational. I can almost see them chortling: “If we can get them to believe the earth is only 6,000 years old, we can get them to believe anything!”
But while this theory provides a little consolation, I don’t actually think it’s true. Far more likely is theory No. 2 — that Republicans have lost all confidence in their ability to convince the American people with honest arguments. Their triumphalism about November conceals a stink of desperation.
Consider the big picture: Conservatives have lost the culture war so completely. They can’t even keep military gays in the closet anymore. Their most celebrated evangelical politician — Sarah Palin — admits to premarital sex without a blush or an apology and nobody even notices. Their one useful idea is the old fiscal conservative ideal, which has become so tarnished by their own abuse that they have to tart it up in silly cries of “socialism.” (I respect those who would add abortion, but oddly enough that is no longer a Republican preoccupation.) And they’re doubling down on hatred of outsiders like Mexicans and Muslims, an ominous sign that is always a sign of weakness.
I don’t think the American people are going to fall for it. Sure, Republicans will probably pick up a lot of seats in November. But when they get to Washington, they will either compromise in order to run the country or live up to their rhetoric and wreak havoc, thus revealing themselves as either hypocrites or irresponsible extremists. There are no other choices. And opportunistic liars like D’Souza, the cheerleaders of this episode of madness, will bear much of the blame.
I think it’s simple – they have to convince the majority of American people to vote against their own interest. Facts have a well-known liberal bias so they are inconvenient.
Tags: Open Thread
Early turnout has been steady for most of the morning and was heavy early on, especially in the Western parts of Sussex.
Has anyone seen any national media talking heads? I want to give Fox news the finger.
My stomping grounds are all in the Anti-Colonial Kenyan ProGay Muslim north. Are Sister Christine’s acolytes out and about in “read” delaware?
The national media was hanging out at Castle’s polling place. Anyone know where the Republican primary watch party is tonight – that’ll be where the national media gathers.
Pike Creek Valley checking in…
I chatted for a while with three self-identified “scared moderate Republicans” in a gaggle outside of the polling place.
Direct quote: “I never come out to vote in these primary elections, and I couldn’t stand to see that crazy lady win.”
I just spoke with a Republican friend (yup, I’ve got one). She wasn’t planning on voting, but once I explained about the “crazy lady,” she changed her mind.
GOP primary party is at Chase One on the Riverfront. Democratic gathering is down the street at Timothy’s.
Update: Castle tweets that he’s running strong at Stonegates. http://twitter.com/%40MikeCastle2010
You convinced your friend to vote for Castle? Why?
I also just heard from a Castle campaign person. They were in Sussex and were getting a lot of thumbs up’s from voters. More than they had feared in an O’Donnell stronghold.
Just voted at McKean HS. Should be a Castle stronghold, plenty of Repubs with low wingnut quotient, but I voted all alone. There’s tons of quiet Catholics around here though so you never know.
Voted @ Rehoboth Fire Station @ 12:30 – one Urquhart supporter in parking lot greeting voters. There was a slow trickle of lunchtime voters.
As to the Castle pusher above, I changed my party affiliation from I to R back in the Spring just so I could savor voting against the establishment R’s. How sweet it is.
Voted at Girls, Inc. There was a very low turnout as reported. A couple of Walsh supporters were out. The department of elections rep was standing outside looking pretty sad about turnout. Unless folks come out tonight, it’s going to be a pretty low number. I wonder where NCCo officials are getting their numbers.
More than they had feared in an O’Donnell stronghold.
Castle people fear a thumbs up in Sussex? It ain’t Jersey!
They feared that they would get no thumbs up’s and a couple of thumbs in the eye.
D’s tend to vote later in the day.
We’re not morning people. 😉
So who’s going?
From and email I received: As a thank you for all of your help with the Senate campaign, Christine would like to invite everyone to her Victory Party this evening! The party will be at the Dover Elks Lodge #1903 and Christine would be honored if you would attend. You are welcome to arrive as early as 5pm; Christine will be arriving around 7pm after her rounds at the polls. Refreshments and food will be provided; we’ll be cheering together as we watch the poll numbers come in. Please join us in supporting Christine during this important moment.
Thank you!
-Team Christine
Hey Tim Willard, GROW A PAIR! Don’t claim neutrality when you are activley supporting Brady’s opponent. You have been a Dem Chair, act like an adult not a weasel. Gove the TRUTH a chance,
All the best
Joe
They are reporting that turnout in Sussex is at 30% so far; no breakdown by party, though.
JP – Alma works in Tim’s law firm.
I know MJ and he is welcome to support who he likes. What he might want to consider doing is NOT lie about it in public. Mr. Willard is the one who needs “Man pants” :)! Its wahat all hot shot Senate Attorney’s should wear.
BTW, in other news, it looks like Obomba is once again failing to lead, this time on extending the Bush tax cuts:
“Obama aides tell our Christina Bellantoni that the White House is deferring to Nancy Pelosi on how to deal with a potential vote on a middle class tax cut.
More ominously, the bright idea bubbling up in the House — to which the White House seems inclined to defer — is to raise the ‘middle class threshold’ up to annual taxable income of $999,999 a year. Or rather to create a new tax bracket on taxable income over $750k or $1 million per year.”
http://www.talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2010/09/obama_defers_to_pelosi_on_tax_cuts.php
There’s actually an excellent case to be made for a new tax bracket at $1 million per year.
http://www.fivethirtyeight.com/2010/08/how-much-revenue-would-millionaires-tax.html
If odonnel wins I have tomorrows headline: Attractive Hack Wins Wingnut Star Search!
well time to head ogver to WGMD for the first time in 3.5 years, bet the’ll be ecstatic to see me. Crazy Chrissie is about as aroused as she gets at this moment :). it will all be over in 90 minutes.
“I also just heard from a Castle campaign person. They were in Sussex and were getting a lot of thumbs up’s from voters. ”
Please consider the possibility they weren’t thumbs.
“…well time to head ogver to WGMD for the first time in 3.5 years, …”
Nice to see you back in the saddle, Joe.
Drive carefully!