1. Markell Officially Kicks Off Reelection Bid.
As opposed to unofficially doing it, announcing that he was going to do it, filing for reelection, and unofficially running up and down the state. Except when he had to pause to help out Tony DeLuca. For a month or two.
He ‘kicked it off’ at Bethany Beach, the Eco Chic Boutique, Hundertpfund Farm, Delaware State University, the U. S. Male Barber Shop, the Delaware City Refinery, the University of Delaware, and the Ernst & Scott Taproom at 9th and Market. Hmmm, 9th and Market. Wonder if he saw Brad Bennett there…naah, rumor has it, he’s been flagged.
2. Rethugs Try to Gin Up Interest in State House and Senate Races.
Kinda sad, really. The Rethugs are like Popeye Doyle in The French Connection, watching the drug dealer dine at that fancy restaurant, while he stands across the street in the pouring rain with his styrofoam cup of cold coffee. Except, of course, they’re not the good guys. And what a motley crew we have here. Three Rethugs are quoted in the News-Journal article. Greenville’s apologist Rep. Debbie Capano Hudson; bloviating self-promoter Rep. Greg Lavelle, you know, the guy who engineered the anti-choice coup of the statewide R leadership; and… wait for it…Evan Queitsch, Christine O’Donnell’s hired muscle.
Here’s what they say they’re gonna do:
Republicans say they’ll pursue measures that would prohibit lawmakers from taking second jobs with the state while in office, allow Delawareans to purchase health insurance across state lines and secure permanent funding for farmland preservation programs.
Other ideas included in the GOP’s “Making Delaware First Again” agenda would phase out Delaware’s gross receipt tax and place caps on annual increases in state government spending.
Here’s what Lavelle had to say:
“On the House side, we have common sense stuff getting stopped from moving onto the floor for votes,” Lavelle said. “That’s what we’re going to do to clean up and open up the building.”
Greg, do you mean your ‘common sense’ voter suppression legislation that was quashed in committee? Folks, most of the so-called common sense stuff that Lavelle references either comes out of the Paul Ryan school of economics or the thuggish minds of Karl Rove, Sheriff Joe and the like. It’s what committees are for.
I certainly agree with them (and many Democrats) on the double-dipping stuff. Evan, can we talk? The guy you’re running against took on one of the two most blatant double-dippers and won. Which will make it much easier to pass such legislation going forward. The other blatant double-dipper? Rethug Joe Booth. And we saw what happened to him.
And now a few words about this horrible News-Journal article. Can Jonathan Starkey actually report? I don’t know. This apparently was a ‘rally’ of GOP candidates at Legislative Hall. How many were there? It’s not in the story. If only three were there, and they were all quoted, then that adds a lot of context. If, say, 20 were there, that adds context as well. Why wasn’t this simple fact reported? Or a photo at least? Is it asking too much to want the basic facts? A link to this so-called “Making Delaware First Again” (WTF is that supposed to mean?) Agenda wouldn’t hurt, either. Deep cleansing breaths.
3. O’Donnell Surfaces, Just in Time For Halloween.
Last week, she told us that she owes it to her creditors supporters to at least think (insert your own jokes here) about running for something, anything in 2014, perhaps against Chris Coons. And why not? Evan Queitsch will have plenty of time on his hands, so her security detail needs should be covered. Now we know that she will be speaking at an Eric Bodenweiser rally next Thursday in Georgetown. Because, as Bodie points out, they ‘share the same values’. Anyway, something to look forward to.
4. Cape-Gazette Does a Good Job.
Gotta give ’em credit. I know that this is basically a compilation of press releases, but still, this roundup provides a lot of info, all in one place. Which reminds me…
5. Rose Izzo Endorses Alex Pires.
Perhaps she’s looking to extend her yard sale empire from her Holiday Hills manse to Sussex County…
That’s it for this week. What did I miss, and whaddayathink?