Monthly Archives: January 2012

Tuesday Open Thread [1.24.12]

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

FLORIDA (PPP): Gingrich 38, Romney 33, Santorum 13, Paul 10

“Gingrich has gained 12 points since a PPP poll conducted in Florida a week ago. Romney has dropped 8 points. Paul and Santorum have pretty much remained in place. Their favorability numbers show similar trendlines. Gingrich’s has increased 8 points from +15 (51/36) to +23 (57/34). Meanwhile Romney’s has declined 13 points from +44 (68/24) to +31 (61/30).”

GENERAL ELECTION

NATIONAL (Rasmussen): Obama d. Romney (45-43); Obama d. Gingrich (48-39)

And remember, that is the Republican Rasmussen poll. Add at least three points to Obama’s lead.

This is all kinds of awesome:

An update on the Florida ad war:

Translation: FORMER CONGRESSMAN LINCOLN DIAZ-BALART: “I am Lincoln Diaz-Balart. The presidential election this year will be decisive for the cause of liberty. We have an obligation to confront Barack Obama with the candidate who has the greatest opportunity to win. That is why I am with Romney.”

“It’s Not My Job.”

To John McCain’s credit, and Sarah Palin’s chagrin, John McCain did correct people in the audiences of his speeches and town halls who wrongly believed that the President was a Muslim. To someone like John McCain, where integrity, honor and truth seem to matter a great deal, I suppose not doing so, and allowing such malicious disinformation that is fostered on many corners of the right to grow, was a rubicon he could not cross.

Rick Santorum has no such trouble.

In case you cannot watch the video, here’s what happened:

“He is an avowed Muslim and my question is why isn’t something being done to get him out of our government. He has no legal right to be calling himself president,” a woman asked, referring to President Obama.

Standing in front of a crowd of more than 250 mostly senior citizens, Santorum did not address the incorrect claim about the president’s religion.

“Well yeah,” said Santorum. “I’m doing my best to get him out of the government right now and she is right that he uniformly ignores the Constitution.”

Not only did Santorum not correct her about the President being a Muslim, he essentially confirms her belief with the “she is right that he uniformly ignores the Constitution.” Now, Santorum was probably referring to some other fantastical lie that he and other right wing radicals have dreamed up, but the audiences and that bigoted woman will believe he is referring to the lie that the President was born in Kenya and thus constitutionally ineligible to be President.

After the event, the former Pennsylvania senator told reporters it is not his job to correct every false claim that comes up during questions. “Why do you guys ask these ‘Gotcha’ questions like it’s my job to go out and correct everybody who says something I don’t agree with?” Santorum responded to media inquiring about the exchange.

Uh, excuse me, Senator, you didn’t say you disagreed with it. In fact, you said you agreed with it. And that makes you a liar, Senator, because you know full well that the President is a Christian. And yes, it is your job to correct somebody who says an untruth, if you know it to be an untruth. It is your job as a Christian. I do believe the Ten Commandments have something in them about lying.

Mitt Romney And Self-Deportation

Via The Chicago Tribune:

Romney was asked how he would reconcile his pledge that, as president, he wouldn’t order mass deportations of undocumented immigrants with his promise to crack down on illegal immigration. His answer: “self-deportation.”

If the nation’s immigration laws are enforced Romney said, undocumented workers will return to their home countries once employment opportunities dry up. “If people don’t get work here, they’re going to self-deport to a place where they can get work,” he said.

I guess they’ll just load up their SUV, strap the dog to the top, and go somewhere else.

What’s his tax plan?  Self-Taxation?  Health Care?  Self-Medication?  Corporations?  Self-Regulation?  You know, I started this sentence as a joke, but I think I’ve just summed up the Republican Platform.

So… since my attempt at a joke failed, here’s a funny…

Self-Deportation: A Guide

Politics Buzz During NBC’s GOP Debate, Mitt Romney talked about how self-deportation was part of his strategy for dealing with illegal immigration. We break that down for you.

SOTU — Put Your Pundit Hat On

This evening, President Obama goes to the House and delivers his State of the Union Address, and address that is widely advertised as either a bookend to the Osawatomie speech from last month, or an extension of it. This video was sent out on Friday to supporters previewing the President’s speech:

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jM9ArTbJquk[/youtube]

In a lot of ways, my address on Tuesday will be a bookend to what I said in Kansas last month about the central mission we have as a country, and my central focus as President. And that’s rebuilding an economy where hard work pays off and responsibility is rewarded – and an America where everybody gets a fair shot, everyone does their fair share, and everybody plays by the same set of rules.
I talked in Osawatomie about – this is a make-or-break moment for the middle class and folks trying to work their way into the middle class. Because we can go in two directions. One is towards less opportunity and less fairness. Or we can fight for where I think we need to go: building an economy that works for everyone, not just a wealthy few.

This is good, and certainly the proof is going to be in the detail in how he plans to get us here. According to Richard Wolf at USA Today, the speech,

will focus on four pillars for “an America built to last” — manufacturing, energy, skills for workers and “American values.”

A legislative agenda that builds upon the Osawatomie speech and is focused on long term growth sounds pretty much like what the doctor has ordered and certainly puts the Republicans square against an effort to refocus and rebuild the middle class. It is a given that not much will pass this year, and that the GOP will be handing the Obama campaign lots of gifts along the way, bolstering his campaign against a Do Nothing Congress. It is probably too much to ask that this SOTU and this campaign start us back on the road to a more grownup conversation about the government we want AND what it actually costs, and that makes established businesses live without taxpayer subsidies. No matter, it does seem certain that the era of trying to change the tone of Washington is largely over and the era of making the middle class great again is here.

What do you think President Obama needs to do in this speech? What legislation do you think he should pursue? Speculate to your heart’s content on what will happen tonight. Not sure if we’ll liveblog this one, but one of us will be by today to announce the plan

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 24, 2012

Gov. Markell’s State of the State address has come and gone. I  give it high marks. I find it hard to understand how anyone could disagree with Markell’s focus on small business and in using the most advanced social media tools available to help those businesses grow while creating new businesses. I daresay that there are precious few governors who can think and are thinking on the level of Markell. I encourage all of you to read the speech. It’s a visionary blueprint.

Keep in mind, however, that there may be less inspirational language to come in the Governor’s budget proposals. I hope he does not return to some of the ill-advised and, ultimately ill-fated, cuts to aid to the indigent and college scholarships that he offered last year. There is more than one way to balance a budget.

Bug-eyed Rethug State Chair John Sigler fired back in typically scattershot fashion. If you’re looking for serious political discourse, you won’t find it in his remarks. But they’re fun to read.

Before we move on, can we at least now all agree that Jack Markell has his eyes on some future, and bigger, political office? With $1.4 mill already raised for his reelection, and more surely to come, you can bet that much of that money will be used to collect political chits. And why not? Despite my occasional disagreements with Markell, he has demonstrated true competence and leadership in  focusing on Delaware’s economy. Who now can predict the lay of the land in 2016? I’m interested in how he parcels out these chits. I hope that he doesn’t largely ignore Delaware for the national stage. I’d also feel better if he tossed a few bucks Elizabeth Warren’s way. Not to mention whomever faces Scott Walker in the Wisconsin recall. But, I digress.

Here’s what happened in Dover on Thursday. The bath salts bill passed the House unanimously and heads to the Governor. Legislation creating a liquor license for the Queen sailed through the House, although, for reasons that escape me, three Sussex County R’s voted against it. I’m guessing that failure to grasp the English language is the likely reason why. Actually, that’s a cheap shot. They probably just don’t want Wilmington getting anything that might actually be a boon to the City. Either way, it doesn’t matter, nor do they.

Little of interest in the Senate today. There’s a bill from the Joint Sunset Committee eliminating some state agencies, boards, or committees that no longer serve a public purpose. Or perhaps never served a public purpose. Not that they’re the only ones…

There’s more action in the House today. Should be an interesting roll call on HB 222(Jaques), which would require the Department of Labor to ‘publish the names of employers who have violated the Workplace Fraud Act, by misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor or otherwise.’ Let’s see who favors screwing the little guy by claiming that an employee really isn’t an ’employee’.

Brad Bennett’s bill adding a $100 fine on all crimes committed against seniors is also on the fast track. While I don’t think it really will amount to much, as even the bill’s sponsor claims that it will only raise between $2-300,000 annually, it will be one of the most-cited items on campaign brochures this fall. Which, after all, is its principal purpose. Incumbency protection. (Yes, quoted verbatim from Thursday’s report.)

The House may also consider legislation allowing hunters to shoot deer with handguns instead of solely shotguns. Nice to know that bug-eyed Rethug State Chair John Sigler hasn’t forgotten his NRA roots. Also nice to know that Monsignor Greg Lavelle has signed on with the usual cast of downstate loonies as a sponsor of the bill.

A bill ‘cleaning up’ redistricting will also be considered, and will likely pass both houses this week. No, don’t get excited. This is not substantive legislation. You see, kids, once the General Assembly completes its redistricting, counties and municipalities follow. There are inevitably areas where the lines don’t conjoin, and there will be districts created where no one lives. Correcting those little jots and jiggles is what HB 250 is all about. That’s all.

However, the bill is worth checking out to see at least one result of a more transparent government. Finally, finally, you get to read a bill that places changes to the existing law in context. Language that is crossed out reflects language that will be removed from the law. Language that is underlined reflects language that will be added to the existing law. You will notice that some districts don’t change at all, so there are no lines of any kind. The Delaware General Assembly has had the capacity to draft legislation like this for something like fifteen years now. Only concerted opposition from the old guard, aka Nancy Cook, Jim Vaughn and Thurman Adams, among others, kept this reform from the public for so long. Not surprisingly, Karen Peterson sponsored the legislation that finally ushers more sunshine into the legislative process. Let us end today’s foray into the legislative doings in Dover by saluting this worthy reform.

ANOTHER Republican Debate Open Thread

If you’re watching (NBC at 9pm)… this thread’s for you.

Here are my thoughts:

Romney’s been talkin’ tough all day.  Tonight he has to bring that trash talk to Newt – as he’s been promising to do all day .  My first thought was that Newt would take Mitt’s attacks and shove them back down his throat, and then I thought… maybe not.  Okay, hear me out.  Mitt Romney absolutely stinks at attacks.  His delivery is really, really bad.  Perhaps Newt plays the “reasonable” guy staring in amazement at the bumbling lunatic.

I think this is possible because the attack dog mode is so alien to Mitt, mainly because it takes emotion.  I would be extremely surprised if Mitt could pull this off.  And if Romney fails to back up all his trash talk from today… well, then he’d have pulled a Pawlenty.  And we all know how well that worked out.

So I guess I’m saying that Newt will always do what he has to do, but tonight he might not have to do much… since Romney’s worst enemy has always been Romney.

About That “Food Stamp President” Thing…

The new thing in GOPland is calling President Obama the “Food Stamp President.”

But is it true?

Of course not.

Newt Gingrich claims that “more people have been put on food stamps by Barack Obama than any president in American history.” He’s wrong. More were added under Bush than under Obama, according to the most recent figures.

[…]

We asked the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition service for month-by-month figures going back to January 2001. And they show that under President George W. Bush the number of recipients rose by nearly 14.7 million. Nothing before comes close to that.

And under Obama, the increase so far has been 14.2 million. To be exact, the program has so far grown by 444,574 fewer recipients during Obama’s time in office than during Bush’s.

It’s possible that when the figures for January 2012 are available they will show that the gain under Obama has matched or exceeded the gain under Bush. But not if the short-term trend continues. The number getting food stamps declined by 43,528 in October. And the economy has improved since then.

But the point Republicans are making with this line of attack has nothing to do with the economy, or, god forbid, jobs… and everyone knows it. To paraphrase Charles Pierce, “Their dog whistles have become air raid sirens.

Monday Open Thread [1.23.12]

I’m busy at work today, so I was only able to find two polls on Florida and not much else. Gingrich is leading in both, and PPP teases that Romney and Gingrich are neck and neck.

FLORIDA (Rasmussen): Gingrich 41, Romney 32, Santorum 11, Paul 8

FLORIDA (InsiderAdvantage): Gingrich 34, Romney 26, Paul 13 Santorum 11

Public Policy Polling is in the field right now, and they tweeted this last night:

Markell Raises an Impressive $1.4 Million

and Charlie Copeland is either bitter or jealous enough to throw his own Republican gubernatorial candidate under the bus..

Former state Sen. Charlie Copeland, one of the governor’s chief Republican critics, said Markell’s $1.4 million is more than enough to win a gubernatorial race in Delaware. “I think anytime he leaves the state, he’s having a fundraiser,” said Copeland, who is supporting [little known Brandywine business man Jeff] Cragg. “Why are all of these people out-of-state giving him this money he’s not going to need this year?”

First, let’s answer the question. While the Governor does have out of state fundraisers, the majority of the donations come from Delaware residents. The reason why he has out of state fundraisers is because he does have a national profile, as head of the Democratic Governors Association. In that position, he campaigns for and attends fundraisers for various gubernatorial candidates in other states. He appears regularly on CNBC and MSNBC morning programs. Through those national appearances, our governor has made a good impression, people like him, they like the results he is getting in our state, and thus holding fundraisers for him or just donating money.

Why are they donating money? While Governor Markell has no threats to his reelection, the folks who are donating see Markell as a possible candidate for higher office one day. Markell 2016 are the buttons you are going to see on Return Day 2012. Some are getting aboard the train early so to speak so they have a place in the Governor’s thoughts as he remembers “you were with me when….”

That’s why.

I am suprised Charlie had to ask the question. He knows how the world of political finance works. He also knows the world of politics.

Second, in his question Charlie Copeland made a glaring admission: Governor Markell is not going to need any for his reelect. Why is he not going to need it Charlie? He can be re-elected easily without spending a dime, you mean? Hahahaha. Even Charlie Copeland thinks the state GOP has no chance in 2012.