Delaware 2012 Political Weekly: January 1 to January 6, 2012
Just in time for the 2012 Delaware election season, I’m starting a brand new weekly feature for all you political junkies out there.
Each Friday, I will review the political events of the past week. Events will include, but not be limited to, announcements, filings, retirements, intrigue, financial reports, debates, etc.
I aim to be comprehensive and, of course, entertaining. Accordingly, I will often evaluate/predict how meaningful (or not meaningful) each development might be.
I’m also pretty certain that this format will change as I get more accustomed to writing the weekly pieces.
Let’s roll!
1. Scott Spencer announces he will run for Mayor of Wilmington.
Long on ideas, short on political acumen, Spencer might at least bring some worthwhile proposals to the debate. Spencer’s upside is that some of these ideas might be considered by whoever wins the election. Otherwise, I can’t see him making a big impact unless he can somehow tap into some savvy political operatives who can turn these ideas into a viable campaign organization. Past experience suggests to me that that won’t happen, but I’m prepared to be pleasantly surprised.
2. Kevin Wade and/or his mindless minions announce that Wade will announce that he will run against Tom Carper in the US Senate race.
This could potentially have a significant impact. No, no, I’m not losing my mind. I know that Kevin Wade has no chance of being elected in 2012. However, assuming that Wade becomes the candidate, it makes the prospects of a primary against the hopeless Carper even more attractive. Why? Because Democrats will win this election regardless of whether the nominee is Carper or someone else. We know that reelecting Carper would be similar to reelecting a Landrieu or Ben Nelson. We know that Carper has long since abandoned the traditional principles of the Democratic Party. We know that the financial industry is the sole constituency that influences (controls, actually) Carper. We know that Carper is out of step with rank-and-file Democrats. All we need is a credible candidate. With Kevin Wade as the alternative, a credible progressive can challenge Carper with complete impunity, knowing full well that the seat is not at risk of flipping to the R’s. And knowing full well that keeping Carper in office is the next-to-worst alternative to having the seat flip.
3. Terry Schooley retires from U of D, says that she intends to seek reelection.
Per this News-Journal story, Rep. Terry Schooley (D-Newark) has resigned her position as the Head of the Kids count program at the University of Delaware, and has said that she will seek reelection in 2012. I consider Schooley to be one of the most progressive legislators in the Delaware General Assembly. She has been especially effective working on children’s issues and on education. The fact that she’s running again is good news for those of us who consider ourselves progressives and/or liberals. And, yes, there was some doubt as to whether she would do so.
4. Departments of Elections party like it’s 2010.
In the event that anyone from the respective County Departments of Elections has returned from vacation, would it be too much to ask that your sites be changed to reflect that it’s 2012? While you still feature the ‘ballot-qualified’ candidates for 2010, you have not yet updated your sites to reflect the likelihood that there will be an election this year, and that candidates will likely file, or perhaps have already filed, to run this year. Same goes for financial reports. Would be nice to read those as well. Thank you.
A slow week, I admit. But they’ll get better. And we’ll be here to cover every bit of it.
Tags: Scott Spencer; Kevin Wade; Tom Carper; Terry Schooley; El Somnambulo; Steve Tanzer;
Looks like the Scott Spencer AMTRAK Express could get derailed pretty quickly. In response to a question I asked on another thread, Spencer replied:
“El Somnambulo: I’m a Pro-Life Democrat who expects Roe vs. Wade to be the law of the land for the rest of our lives so the real fight is to get Republicans to vote for more funds for the programs and services needed to support women who choose to have a baby. I support the rights of collective bargaining by unions.”
I read that, perhaps unfairly, to mean that Spencer supports moving any Federal family planning funds to “support women who choose to have a baby.”
While I respect the fact that Spencer answered the question honestly, something that, say, Charlie Copeland has never done, I think his answer makes his candidacy a non-starter. Perhaps a party switch and a challenge to that Mike Brown guy might be in the offing…
It was a bit more than a week ago, but Charlie Copeland points out that Matt Denn was one of the attorneys appointed to the Salter case pro bono to argue for the affirmative: that Salter was an officer of the state and therefore subject to the Constitutional prohibition on both making and enforcing the laws.
Charlie had a tough time giving Delaware Liberal credit for the DeLuca posts. It seemed like he had to genuflect and take a shower in between writing each paragraph.
You’re dead on about the Department of Elections. Their pages are really sad. Information is scattered, links don’t work, and it’s all exceedingly poorly organized. I don’t understand why the Government Information Center – which runs the state’s websites – hasn’t come in and done a complete makeover.
Are there any progressives ready to challenge Carper?
“I think his answer makes his candidacy a non-starter.”
Yes, because if there’s one issue that defines the race for mayor of Wilmington, it’s abortion.
What are you, an anti-Republican? The issues they care about are the important ones, they just have the wrong answers on them? Who frickin cares what a candidate’s position on abortion is? HOw can a mayor of Wilmington do anything on any side of that issue?
Right, Puck. Which I had pointed out in the original article:
“BTW, the Court appointed pro bono counsel to argue each side of the question. In an interesting (at least to me) historical footnote, Widener Law School Dean Lawrence Hamermesh and a fresh-scrubbed cherub-faced barrister by the name of Matt Denn argued the affirmative side of the question.”
Of course, Copeland twisted the post to somehow argue that MATT DENN wasn’t doing his job as Lt. Gov., and that HE should be the one leading the charge against DeLuca.
Need I point out to everyone that ‘Bouvier de Flanders’ Copeland ran against Denn for Lt. Gov. in 2008? And that he got 38.7% of the vote? Didn’t think so.
Sorry, I missed that in the original. Copeland’s twisted take is interesting though, for exactly the reasons you describe. And it’s always good to have another opportunity to say “Charles Lammott Bouvier de Flanders Copeland.”
Geezer, I think his position on choice makes his candidacy a non-starter with many Democratic primary voters. Doesn’t matter what you or I might think.
I look at it in terms of ‘how could he plausibly put together a winning coalition?’ IMHO, he loses far more prospective supporters with a ‘pro-life’ stand than he can hope to attract in a Democratic primary.
BTW, anon, you couldn’t be more right about the Elections websites. I defy anyone to try to click on a financial report and to actually GET TO THE REPORT w/o encountering failed links. It’s a disgrace. Would also be an embarrassment if anyone from Elections was capable of being embarrassed. Are you paying attention, Governor?
“HOw can a mayor of Wilmington do anything on any side of that issue?”
A lot, actually, since the level of policing assigned to the Planned Parenthood location in Wilmington is up to the Mayor, as well as instructions to the police for use of discretion at clinic protests.
“the level of policing assigned to the Planned Parenthood location in Wilmington is up to the Mayor, as well as instructions to the police for use of discretion at clinic protests.”
That’s the first I”ve ever heard of this. Are you suggesting that past or present mayors of Wilmington have gotten personally involved in this? Because it sounds like a far-fetched attempt to make this relevant.
“I think his position on choice makes his candidacy a non-starter with many Democratic primary voters. Doesn’t matter what you or I might think.”
REally? YOu think a lot of Wilmington primary voters make their decisions based on the abortion issue? I think you couldn’t be further off-base.
“I look at it in terms of ‘how could he plausibly put together a winning coalition?’ IMHO, he loses far more prospective supporters with a ‘pro-life’ stand than he can hope to attract in a Democratic primary.”
Are you angling for a second career in “gotcha” journalism? He isn’t running on a pro-life ticket. The issue came up because YOU ASKED HIM. Are you going to now pretend that this is a cornerstone of his campaign, or that the issue will ever come up in debates about how to fix Wilmington?
Just to recap: Tell DL the truth about your position on an issue that has nothing to do with the office you’re running for and they’ll use it to call you unelectable.
No ‘gotcha journalism’ intended. I asked the question precisely b/c MJ alleged that he was both anti-choice and anti-labor in the ‘Scott Who?’ thread, and I felt that the resultant vitriol was getting out of hand:
“While he passed himself off as a progressive, his true colors came out during numerous appearances on the Fatman’s show down here in Sussex, where he espoused his anti-abortion rights and anti-labor stands.”
I thought that it was only fair that Scott be given the chance to respond to those unverified allegations. Seriously, that was my sole motive.
I DO think that, for many D primary voters, choice is a prerequisite for support. I will gladly stand down if knowledgeable city residents state otherwise. I ALSO believe that Spencer’s positions might well make him a viable option in the R mayoral race. I think we all agree that Michael Brown is just a placeholder. To his credit, Spencer has at least thought about the issues confronting the city. Why not run where he might have the best chance to win? I’ve said before that I intend to use this feature to provide my analysis. I think Spencer has a better chance as a Republican, and I’ve explained why.
Geezer, think longer term. Mayor of a town is not career level. It can be a stepping stone to other elected offices. See Palin, Sarah. Democrats don’t need to start the political career of someone who believes that fetuses and zygotes have civil rights by nominating them for Mayor.
Delaware dems need to get more progressives on their bench or we can expect more Carpers and Carneys. Anti-choice dems don’t qualify as progressive candidates.
I give Scott high marks for at least saying that he is consistent about abortion and the death penalty. I don’t know that anti-abortion is necessarily a disqualifier for Mayor. Perhaps Congressman, Senator or Governor, but probably not Mayor.
We should compile a list of purity tests that Dem candidates have to pass in order for A1 to support them.
I think that Will I. Am should set those lyrics to a rock steady beat.
Indeed, the protection of women’s reproductive rights at 7th & Shipley has been responsive and responsible, firm and discreet, a credit to this administration.
Spencer’s advocacy of kleptocratic takeover of intercity rail service is another window into his workings.
If Spencer’s candidacy survives to crocus season, he can start to explain his spotty resume, tax liens, etc.
LG, If you want the Delaware Democratic Party lead by more blue dogs like Carper and Carney in the future, then start electing Dems like Spencer to lower state offices today.
“the protection of women’s reproductive rights at 7th & Shipley has been responsive and responsible, firm and discreet, a credit to this administration.”
Do you have an English translation for this bullshit?
“If Spencer’s candidacy survives to crocus season, he can start to explain his spotty resume, tax liens, etc.”
Right. As soon as your hero Tom Carper explains his problems with his first wife. I’m sure they’re just as germane to his ability to serve.
“Mayor of a town is not career level. It can be a stepping stone to other elected offices.”
Mayor of Wilmington isn’t. You could have asked Tom Maloney. Care to name the last mayor of Wilmington who went on to higher office?
“Anti-choice dems don’t qualify as progressive candidates.”
He said his personal position was pro-life. “Anti-choice,” to me, implies that a person or politician works to limit reproductive rights.
And I’m still shocked to hear that a candidate’s personal positions, rather than merely his public policy positions, must pass a litmus test for so many here.
Thank all of you for clarifying that the difference between you folks and Republicans has nothing to do with the folly of testing candidates for not just doctrinal but personal purity. That means the only difference between you and Republicans is which purity doctrine is being espoused.
Out in soccer country, issues of police protection for health care workers, and their vulnerable clients, from the Operation Rescue types must not seem very important. It is very important here.
I assume that Spencer’s personal life has been fine. No drug-dealers in the household, etc., but it’s important that, as a baseline matter, a candidate to be CEO of this state’s largest city have the ability to hold a job, pay his tax obligations, be self-sustaining.
Tom Carper’s been a huge advocate of public transit, served on the Amtrak board. Spencer urges dismantling Amtrak and ransacking its assets for private gain. Public transit is one of the major issues facing this and the next mayor, and will need advocacy and focus, not Spencer’s Toonerville top-hat.
I’d rather have Carper as Mayor of Wilmington than the senior Senator from Delaware.
And I suspect that Carper and Carney are both pro-choice, so another A1 argument hits the skids…
@Geezer: Oh come off it. The reason that some of us know about Spencer’s anti-choice stance is that one of us recognized him from his prior association with a group or two that — you know — works to limit reproductive rights. He certainly hasn’t pledged to NOT work against a woman’s right to choose. And as I noted previously, he did try — and I saw this in person — to try some bobbing and weaving on his position here.
That said, I doubt his position on abortion will help him in a Dem primary in the city. But more importantly, I am hoping that abortion rights doesn’t become a major issue in the Mayoral race. If it does, that means that a whole lot of other issues that can actually be managed by a Mayor are going to get short shrift. And Wilmington can’t afford to be distracted from fixing its pretty serious issues right now. From where I sit, Spencer has a pretty long way to go to become a viable candidate, abortion stance or no.
Out in soccer country, issues of police protection for health care workers, and their vulnerable clients, from the Operation Rescue types must not seem very important. It is very important here.
Indeed — and given where this clinic is — in Wilmington’s business district, right across the street from a school and down the street from a church, the list of folks worried about their safety from the so-called Rescue types gets even longer. WPD resources have been deployed not just for the clinic’s workers and clients, but just to make sure kids and their parents are not assaulted on the way to and from school.
“Out in soccer country, issues of police protection for health care workers, and their vulnerable clients, from the Operation Rescue types must not seem very important. It is very important here.”
So says you. What do you have to back that up? When has anyone been in danger visiting that clinic?
“Tom Carper’s been a huge advocate of public transit, served on the Amtrak board.”
Big f’ing deal. As if that makes him a progressive. Taht’s pork-barrel stuff, pure and simple. Do you EVER get tired of giving this guy hand jobs?
“the list of folks worried about their safety from the so-called Rescue types gets even longer.”
Yeah, I already know about your propensity to limit others’ rights because you’re worried about your safety. I recall vividly your distaste for the Fourth Amendment.
If you have any evidence that any “so-called Rescue types” have required police involvement with the clinic, please provide a link.
Because folks memorialize their police calls on the Web.
Where can I find that, John? What do those logs show?
“it’s important that, as a baseline matter, a candidate to be CEO of this state’s largest city have the ability to hold a job, pay his tax obligations, be self-sustaining.”
That rules out most of City Council, as well as the current mayor. Or do you count working in government as “be[ing] self-sustaining”? Unless you do, I’m not sure Tom Carper makes the cut, either.
Wilmington City Council passed an ordinance that required these rescue type to maintain a distance from clients of the building — I wrote about that sometime back, so you can look at that and the NJ article that accompanied that post which points to some of it.
I also live not far from here and have seen this up close, so no links — just an eyewitness. With relationships with other eyewitnesses — like people who need to come and go from the school. This is way better information than you have from soccer country.
And you’ve no idea what I think of the Fourth Amendment, so if you don’t have something substantive to say, stop making up bullshit.
I know exactly what you think of the Fourth Amendment. You were fine with police roadblocks to search cars without probably cause.
So what have you seen up close? Are protesters violating the bubble zone law?
The only thing you know is my explanation of why the roadblocks were ongoing and why many of the people in the neighborhoods affected welcome them. If expressing some empathy with folks who are under siege from dealers and other crooks is somehow a betrayal of the Fourth Amendment, then so be it. What we need to do is figure out how to get some of these problems sent out to soccer country (they’re the majority buyers anyway) where you’ll be able to show us how to cleanup neighborhoods besieged by criminals by having a few barbecues and beers out on your patio.
LG, when there is blue on one part of the dog, there is usually blue on other parts. I am a purist, so you say, so I don’t want any blue (or yellow) on my dogs.
A1 – you sound just like Don Ayotte and Frank Knotts. Golf clap.
LG, It is pretty simple: Advocating for government control of women’s bodies is advocating for a pretty fundamental violation of human rights and invasion of privacy. Thinking that fetuses and zygotes have civil rights that supersede the rights of a living breathing woman is nuts, in my opinion. I won’t support somebody who thinks that way.
And weird statements like “you sound just like Don Ayotte and Frank Knotts,” offer no reason why I should.
In other Wilmington Mayor news — Mike Brown is dropping out of the race. Citing difficulty fundraising and the media. Says he will be running for At Large again.
He’s been planning for this for at least a year. Interesting that his GOP friends couldn’t shake the money trees for him.
And Councilman Kevin Kelley is in:
http://wdel.com/story.php?id=39971
When Brown’s GOP friends tried shaking the money tree, they probably were told there’s no way in hell we want this guy to be mayor.
Consider, however, that you’ve got a half-dozen D’s battling it out, so there’s a real chance that someone could win the primary with roughly 30 percent of the vote — and then go unopposed in the general election. You wind up with a Mayor trying to run the city without having broad public support.
That’s a scenario that could have Republicans drooling over their prospects in 2016.
A1 – There are people that think that government control of what firearms people are allowed to own is a pretty basic violation of human rights and an invasion of privacy. Yet, I’m guessing that someone who holds those views would be unacceptable to you. At least your absolutism isn’t absolute.
But I could totally see Frank and Don say:
Advocating for government control of fetuses is advocating for a pretty fundamental violation of human rights and murder. Thinking that women have civil rights that supersede the rights of a living developing fetus is nuts, in my opinion. I won’t support somebody who thinks that way.
But litmus is your stock and trade, so carry on.
This thread will certainly be the highlight of the Spencer campaign.
In other news, it is incumbent on our GOP friends to provide an at-large nominee who can contribute to the city, something that only Joe DiPinto has provided in the last 40 years. Michael Brown is an utter embarrassment.
And Joe DiPinto has been co-opted by the Baker administration.
Jim Baker, like Bill McLaughlin, has made excellent use of his former Council colleague.
I think that you’re making a false equivalency in your argument, LG. Abortions and guns are totally different issues, and you can’t make them equivalent. It is like Santorum trying to talk about polygamy when the subject of gay marriage comes up.
BTW, someone holding the view on guns that you described above would not be automatically unacceptable to me.
In regards to your Frank and Don analogy, one could take virtually any post by anybody here and rephrase it in rightwingnutesse, but what does that prove? Nothing, really.
I stand by what I wrote. You don’t have to agree, and you can support all the anti-choice Dems that you want. No problem.
So, you don’t have any litmus issues at all?
Consider, however, that you’ve got a half-dozen D’s battling it out
I’ll do another Cattle Call for Monday, but I’ll be surprised if there are a half-dozen *viable* candidates come spring.
It’s not that Spencer’s a “pro-life Democrat,” he basically said that civil rights extend to the fetus. This reeks of the personhood movement, which is RWNJ-speak for not only banning abortion but also contraception.
And I still cannot square how he called himself a progressive when he was anti pro-choice.
Wilmington Mayors [except the three who served until retirement age] inevitably have their eye on higher office. Frawley was runnerish for statewide office, which impaired the City’s relations with the Castle administration. Haskell would have served three terms as Senator had not Pete du Pont butted in line. Maloney spent most of his term headed for the other Senate seat until becoming the first to encounter Roth’s reelection machine. Lammot became Lt. Gov. [then mgr of the Pirates]. Walz became the last politically-appointed postmaster. Bacon became a fine governor.