Tomorrow’s Leaders

If you have some time tomorrow or Saturday, stop by Leg Hall to witness some of our future leaders in action. The 2012 Session of the Delaware YMCA's Youth in Government Model Legislature will kick-off at 9:00 AM, but the real action doesn't begin until 1:00 PM, when the delegates start debating the bills they have authored. No subject is taboo for these students. In the past, they have debated marijuana legalization, marriage equality, and even a clothing optional beach at Cape Henlopen State Park. The great thing about this program is that there are no Democrats or Republicans - just middle and high school students debating bills that they wrote on subjects of interest to them.

Does George Zimmerman Look “Bloody And Battered?

Ever since the press started reporting on Zimmerman's injuries I fully expected to see pictures of a bloody nose, a bleeding gash on the back of his head that his attorney said should have required stitches. I expected to see George Zimmerman looking like he was beaten up.

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

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

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]

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.

This is How Overturning Citizens’ United Starts

States and towns all over the US are taking to their legislatures and city councils to call for the repeal of Citizens' United -- to remove the corporate personhood fiction and to prioritize the voices of non-Corporate Americans in the political process:

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

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."