Archive for June, 2012
Sam Latham’s defense of KWS makes labor look bad
At a time when Americans approval of labor unions is reaching a record low, this quote from Latham seems to crystallize the criticism people have for labor.
“She’s the only incumbent who wasn’t endorsed. She’s the only female statewide official. I think it’s a travesty. What does it say about the Democratic Party, the party of diversity, the party of inclusion?” said Sam Lathem, the state AFL-CIO president with Democratic clout. (grapevine)
So basically… she is an insider who, even though she stinks at her job, should keep her getting a paycheck because in addition to being an insider, she is also a woman. With friends like Latham, does labor need any enemies?
Friday Open Thread [6.15.12]
![Friday Open Thread [6.15.12]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7245/7375142810_ee0b587fea_o.png "Friday Open Thread [6.15.12]")
So most of you think Biden is biding his time for a run for the Senate in 2018, when, for the love of God, Tom Carper retires. A not insignificant number of you think he will run for Governor in 2016. A Denn-Flowers-Biden threeway collision? Please save us oh great Delaware Way (the corrupting tradition, not the blog).
Delaware Political Weekly: June 9-15, 2012
Up until now, the calculus, at least as I saw it was simple: The more challengers who oppose an incumbent, the more likely the incumbent will win. However, the Democratic Party’s endorsement of Crane, and endorsement that, according to Party Chair John Daniello, “wasn’t close”, changes all that, IMHO. Crane had already built a strong grassroots organization, a lot stronger than Stewart’s. Crane had already raised a lot more money than Stewart. And now, the Party, and especially the district committees who strongly backed Crane, will line up behind his candidacy. The 10-15 people who gather on Harris McDowell’s porch can, in no way, counteract that. I’m speaking as an analyst here, not as a partisan (Crane partisans, of whom I’m admittedly one, no doubt will cringe when I say this), but, barring something unforeseen, I now see Crane as a strong favorite to win this race, and I’m not sure that even the combined ‘forces’ of Stewart, Spivack, and Gallagher can put up a serious threat.
Kowalko & Jaques to file “Single-Payer” health care bill
This is El Somanbulo’s territory. All I know is what I read in press releases.
State Representatives John Kowalko (25thDistrict) and Earl Jaques (27th District) announced they have filed HB 392, legislation that will provide Health Care coverage to all Delaware residents.
The legislation will provide universal health care coverage access through a system that will reduce administrative costs by minimizing and centralizing the current system that requires multiple payment forms and consists of medical decisions being rendered by insurance company bureaucrats with no medical background.
Time for a new DelawareLiberal.Net radio spot?
For those who may not remember, back in May of 2007, the DelawareLiberal community wrote and raised a few bucks to air this radio spot. (click on the top link) I love the copy on that one. I loved sticking it to Mike Castle, George Bush and I especially the tag line: “At DelawareLiberal we haven’t figured out how to make money. But we know how to make change!”
Now, I know that there are no Sheldon Adelsons in our midst, so this is a small scale, probably low impact campaign. But I still think that it makes sense to remind the broader community that this is the place to be if you follow local and national politics.
![Friday Daily Delawhere [6.15.12]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7079/7355409974_81555abb1c_z.jpg "Friday Daily Delawhere [6.15.12]")
The Alleged Contents of a Letter
WGMD had a mysterious story this afternoon about an anonymous letter being sent to the DE House of Representatives, and then being passed onto the State Police. The letter allegedly involves allegations of criminal misconduct on the part of an elected official. I have been given an overview of what is in the letter from a source. Apparently, the contents of the letter involve an open secret or a well traveled rumor in Sussex County Republican circles for the last two years, and involve all the star players of the Sussex County Republican Party. Indeed, if the contents of the letter are true, it will devastate the Sussex County Republican Party and ruin the careers of three prominent Sussex County Republicans, and possibly lead to their criminal indictments.
What’s With the Romney Antics ?
Posting hecklers to disrupt Axlerod’s press conference. Driving a bus around and honking a horn outside of Presidential speech? Is it just oddball behavior? Probably not according to Josh Marshall. It all seems part of Romney’s plan to appeal to the Gingrich/Santorum fringe of the party that wants a bad ass.
Sen Carper Calls Out Republican Economic Obstruction & Endorses President Obama
Although this is weak tea given the ongoing level of Republican malfeasance, this one goes in the “credit where credit is due” file.
Thursday Open Thread [6.14.12]
ABC News has a handy flowchart showing the many ways in which the Supreme Court could rule on the Obamacare case. A ruling is expected either on Monday, June 18 or Monday, June 25.
And what did the special election in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District tell us about November? It tells us that we can be outspent, and the Republicans can outrageously lie in their ads, but so long as we have the right message (and we did), we will win. Remember, the Arizona 8th CD is a Lean GOP district. And it is in the insane state of Arizona. And the Democratic message won.
How To Remove A Tea Partier
Like a good Tea Partier, Wagner voted against every single appropriation of money put forward by the legislature, including a bill that arrived on Governor Brian Schweitzer’s desk last April which contained grant money for local communities (including Wagner’s district), for things like sewer upgrades, fire department repairs, and the like.
Schweitzer–who is known to enjoy mixing it up with right-wingers–saw an angle. He noticed that Wagner had voted against the bill. So, Schweitzer used his “line item veto” power and selectively crossed out the funds that would have gone to Wagner’s district. Schweitzer did this to several legislators who voted against the grant billl. Schweitzer said that it was logical to assume that if Wagner and others voted against the bill, then their constituents must not have expressed much interest in getting the money.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 14, 2012
Hoo boy, we’re gonna have us a (figurative, one would hope) Shoot-Out At the Not OK Corral today. The Sheriff of Nuttingham and his Posse Comatosis will finally have to, um, face the law(makers). Thass raht. HB 325(Schwartzkopf) occupies the Top Gun position on today’s Senate agenda. It’ll pass, and I don’t think it’ll take Gov. Markell too long to sign it. Leaving only the question: Will Sussex County’s self-proclaimed top lawman honor the law of the land?
The Polling Report [6.14.12]
Not much polling today. We have a new poll out of Nevada that puts that state back in the Lean Obama camp. Rasmussen is back playing games with a Wisconsin poll showing Romney up by 3. There is a reason we don’t count Rasmussen in the map, and in case you are wondering what that reason is, its’ their Republican bias and notorious inaccuracy.
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