Thursday Open Thread [11.29.12]
President Obama’s national lead over Mitt Romney is now 50.9% to 47.4%. Or, given rounding, 51% to 47%. LOL. God enjoys irony.
First Read: “That’s a bigger (and more decisive) margin that Bush’s victory over John Kerry in 2004 (which was Bush 50.7% and Kerry 48.2%). What’s more, the president’s lead has grown to close to 3 points in Ohio, 4 points in Virginia and 6 points in Colorado. One doesn’t win Colorado by six points without winning swing voters; there isn’t a big-enough Democratic base to make that argument.”
Speaking of the Mittster, he is joining President Obama for lunch today at the White House. Now this is probably all for show, but it will be interpreted as “a gracious move that makes the president appear bipartisan.” But I would love to hear their private conversation. It is well known that the President, as with all of Mitt Romney’s opponents, grew to despise Romney.
“We Republicans cherish the free market. So now might be the right time to start listening to it. Our party has lost the popular vote in five of the past six presidential elections… It’s time for the GOP to face the hard truth, no matter how painful. The Republican brand is dying, many of our strategists are incompetent, and we still design campaigns to prevail in the America of 25 years ago.”
“Identifying the problem is easy. The Republican challenge is not about better voter-turnout software; it is about policy. We repel Latinos, the fastest-growing voter group in the country, with our nativist opposition to immigration reform that offers a path to citizenship. We repel younger voters, who are much more secular than their parents, with our opposition to same-sex marriage and our scolding tone on social issues. And we have lost much of our once solid connection to the middle class on kitchen-table economic issues.”
Meanwhile, the economy grew at an annual rate of 2.7% in the third quarter (July 1 to September 30), up from an initial estimate of 2%. It was the fastest pace since the end of last year.
Here’s something you didn’t know: Christian Group Says Demon Sex Makes You Gay
Go over and read the whole thing.
They’ve got Joe Biden opening Costcos’ now:
He bought a TV and other stuff; and a good time was had by all.
Costco is one of the few Retailers that support living wages and benefits for their workers. The symbolism was huge and not lost on the struggling Wal Mart workers. It was great for Joe to do this.
Team Gordon has just issued a clarification of the new It’s OK To Smoke policy:
November 29, 2012
Statement from Chief Administrative Officer David Grimaldi on New Castle County Government Smoking Policy
NEW CASTLE: Chief Administrative Officer David Grimaldi released the following statement about the New Castle County Government’s smoking policy.
“New Castle County is committed to providing a safe and healthy work place and to promoting the health and well-being of its employees and visitors” Grimaldi said. “New Castle County is merely amending the distance in which employees can smoke at the three government locations. Going forward, employees need to maintain a 25 foot distance from these buildings and be out of public sight.”
Now that that’s out of the way, can we get a clarification on the “acting” police chief? College degree required. Setting says he has about 60 credits. So, he would have to go to school full-time for two more years to earn his degree.
What’s the deal here? Is Setting going to remain “acting” for two or more years? Is Gordon going to change the qualifications for the position? Seems to me that having an “acting” chief gives Tommy boy even more leverage in running the police department his way.
Mediawatch: TNJ definitely buried the lead on the Acting Chief Setting story. The story was that an unqualified candidate was given the job. Period.
Isn’t Chief of Police a 24/7 job? How many classes is Setting going to be taking at any given time? He’s probably going to Wilmington U, so I’m sure he won’t have to do much work to earn the credits, but I don’t see any way to go to school full-time while working full-time in that sort of high management position.
In the bigger picture, why doesn’t the executive need council approval for cabinet-level positions? And why is TNJ strapping on its special Gordon Kneepads yet again?
Geez tell us how you really feel….. Did you look at the actual work history? In police work that tends to be where the “qualification” comes from not so much college course work. You have been so looking forward to crucifying Tom I would not expect anything to get in your way:)
just a litte note that Joe spends his day doing all sorts of important work, and the Costco’s stop was in fact important…. but here:
VP drops by a meeting with African Union Commission Chair Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma today in the Roosevelt Room. pic.twitter.com/yPnZza1C
http://gawker.com/5964301/seven-scenes-from-joe-bidens-big-adventure-looking-for-pies-at-costco
Everything about these pictures is great. Everything. Can you imagine Romney letting a snazzy sample lady wipe pie off HIS chin?
Geez,
Damn right, TNJ buried the lead. Hard to believe Adam Taylor missed it. I suspect intervention by higher authorities.
Yes, chief is a 24/7 job, so Elmer shouldn’t have much time to go to school (if he does at all). Of course, there’s a bunch of retired NCCPD on faculty there (wonder if Gordon’s old buddy Cunningham is still there?) who could supervise “independent studies” for the acting chief.
Haven’t checked county code yet but I thought there’s some council approval required for dept. heads. (Maybe you don’t need it for “acting” heads, only permanent appointments. I think there was a dept. head a couple years ago who stayed “acting” almost forever because he couldn’t sell his house in Md. to move into NCCo.) I guess (hope) we’ll be hearing from Bob Weiner soon.
TNJ should be taking off the kneepads and start asking the questions. If not, I guess I’ll have to call WDEL.
Hey, Joe, it appears that the requirement is that the permanent police chief have at least a bachelor’s degree. That’s the law.
I hear what you’re saying about the importance of experience on the street … but the degree requirement is the law. (Gordon did go to law school. He should have some appreciation for the law, whether or not he agrees with it.)
That means you should appoint someone who meets the qualifications. If the guy had maybe a semester to go, and was currently enrolled … well, I could understand that.
But roughly 60 credits short?
How much slack are we supposed to cut the guy?
I LOVE the picture of Biden looking over the pies while everyone has their phones up taking pictures of him. And the one where the Secret Service guys are the only ones not engaged with the merchandise OR Joe. Thanks, V!
I don’t hear any outcry from the law enforcement community ergo cut all the slack as is required.
The law enforcement community isn’t why the requirement is there. Lots of police officers did the work of going to get their degrees, because professionalized police forces were demanding them. They still do. That requirement exists for a reason and most HR departments make you justify deviating from the minimum requirements of a job — if anything to avoid any EEO issues. Taxpayers have every right to expect a professional police force and they are the ones who need to know why Gordon has decided that professional qualifications no longer matter.
As if Tom Gordon feels like he ever has to answer to anyone ever again….
“I don’t hear any outcry from the law enforcement community ergo cut all the slack as is required.”
Sorry, Joe. You know the blue line as well as I do. No slack cut. The law is clear. He just doesn’t think it applies to him.
Cite the broken law???? Take your time do a good search , good luck;)
No one said a law had been broken, Joe. Try to keep up.
Setting is ACTING Chief because he does not currently meet the legal requirements to be Chief.
Gordon has a history of promoting douchebag kiss-asses. Take this one for example. I believe Gordon promoted him shortly before he left office. I went to elementary & middle school w/ the guy. He was a kiss-ass in school & he was a kiss-ass as a county cop.
Last I heard he was Chief in some podunk county or town in South Carolina.
FOX News officially afraid of its own graphics dept: http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/animated-breaking-news-alert-scares-fox-host-more-161900663.html
@RDL: Well,regardless of all that stuff, Gordon still has a hot daughter. Let’s focus on the important stuff, ok?
Hate to say I agree with Joe 😉 but I spent time today looking for the degree requirement in county code and state law and couldn’t locate it. Anyone have details?
Speaking of Douchebags, RDLB, please read, Geezer: The law is clear. He just doesn’t think it applies to him.
Now go find that puddle of Aids you wished on me and dive in:).
Technically, Joe, the county has no “laws.” They are “ordinances.” And if you want to chisel off every corner, they are nothing more than “rules” or “standards.”
The guy is not qualified by the current standards. Let Gordon do what he did for McAllister and get the law changed. At least then we’d get everyone on the record — who’s going to work with Tom, who’s going to work against him. You have a problem with that?
Geezer, no 🙂