General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 29, 2012

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Speaker Gilligan said that lobbying reform legislation will pass this session, and I'm sure he's right. After all, yesterday's announcement of lobbyist reform was so important that Governor Markell's own Brian Selander was rolled out to tout this press release:
Dover, DE – A bill that would dramatically expand disclosure requirements for lobbyists was introduced today with broad bipartisan support. Governor Jack Markell joined Senate President Pro Tempore Tony DeLuca, House Speaker Bob Gilligan and legislators to introduce Senate Bill 185. (Bill hasn't officially been introduced, will probably be introduced today.) “How can you tell who’s working to influence the bills that could become the laws that will affect your life? The problem is, in many cases right now, you can’t, because state disclosure laws simply haven’t kept up. This proposal helps solve that problem, bringing needed light to the process,” Markell said. “As a Delawarean, you shouldn’t have to be in the lobby of Legislative Hall or in the offices of a state agency to know who’s trying to shape a law that matters to you. This bill would make that information more available.”

The New Kato Kaelin

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Do you remember Kato Kaelin, the "friend" of OJ Simpson who supposedly witnessed "strange movements" by OJ that poked holes in his alibi? In the end, he was pretty much exposed as a publicity-seeking media whore who tried to make money off his connection to the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldberg. Now we have Joe Oliver, the self-proclaimed "close friend" of George Zimmerman, the murderer of Trayvon Martin.

Wednesday Open Thread [3.28.12]

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69 percent want out of Afghanistan now.
The new low represents the crossing of a certain psychological and cultural threshold. It means the Afghanistan war is now at least as unpopular as the Iraq war was at the height of public ire. In fact, by some measures, the war to beat the Taliban — the guys who gave safe harbor to the 9/11 terrorists — is now more unpopular than the one to get rid of Saddam and his alleged stockpiles of WMDs.
Mr. President, speed up that timetable.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., March 28, 2012

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In dramatic fashion, the House passed the first leg of a constitutional amendment which eliminates the five-year waiting period for voting privileges for eligible felons who have completed their sentences. The bill first fell one vote shy of passage (28 votes needed as it requires a 2/3 majority). However, the roll call was rescinded, and Rep. Debbie Hudson switched her vote from 'no' to 'yes', giving the bill the 28th and deciding vote. Democrats voting No: The 'Law-Abiding' John Atkins and 'Lumpy' Carson. R's voting Yes: Don Blakey, Debbie Hudson, Greg Lavelle, and Mike Ramone. A tip of my sombrero to them. And to sponsor Helene Keeley. It's on to the Senate, where I think it has an excellent chance to pass.

John Maynard Keynes über alles

Keynes always wins in the end. "The primaries have been great for the economy. Dimwitted billionaires are dumping money they don’t need into the campaigns of people who can’t win, providing much-needed jobs for ad-writers, poll-takers and yard-sign manufacturers."