Leap Day Open Thread [2.29.12]

"Rick should scat. Mitt Romney needs to be left alone to limp across the finish line, so he can devote his full time and attention to losing to President Obama." -- Maureen Dowd. The problem is Santorum is inconveniently leading in three of the 10 states up next Tuesday, which includes Ohio.

I just want to take this time out and compliment Pandora

for truly wonderful blogging on the Red Clay Referendum over the past few weeks. She educated me and I think many others on an issue that needs more attention, and I hope she continues blogging about Red Clay and other educational issues. Generally speaking, education is one of those issues that everyone says they care about but if you press them on it, no one knows a thing about the true troubles facing our educational systems nor do they have any ideas on what solutions are appropriate. It is only if you have "skin" in the game as a parent or teacher are you in any way knowledgeable about the issue, especially at a local district level. I am sure I just insulted someone there, but I only mean to see it is easy for people like me, who is not a teacher and not a parent, to have no idea what is going on at district level. Delaware is blessed with wonderful and very knowledgeable education bloggers, John Young, Kilroy and Mike Matthews to name a few. We are lucky here at Delaware Liberal to have Pandora counted among them now.

Delaware Liberal Tracking Poll Results — Tom Kovach

This is why I called Tom Kovach a credible candidate in the mode of a Castle. He seems like a likeable guy, and that is because he does try to get everyone to like him. He charmed me at a Delaware Liberal Twin Lakes function a couple of years ago, and then appeared at a Tea Party rally as one of them. Kovach has a 49% approval rating and a 37% disapproval rating. That is good for a Republican in the State of Delaware actually running for something this year. How do they compare to John Carney's numbers? I'm glad you asked.

Red Clay Referendum Results

The results are here!! Renovations: For the Bond Issue: 6,675. Against the Bond Issue: 3,494. New Schools: For the Bond Issue: 5,398. Against the Bond Issue: 4,552

John Carney’s Tele-Town Hall

Frequent commenter Puck is listening in on John Carney's Tele-Town Hall. He was live-blogging in in the Open Thread, but I think he deserves his own thread. I have moved all his comments here. Thanks Puck!!

Olympia Snowe will not run for reelection

This is a shocking turn of events. Senator Snowe, a supposed "moderate" Republican, was up for reelection this year, and she was facing her first primary challenge from the right in the form of Scott D’Amboise. Three Democrats were seeking the Democratic nomination: State Rep. Jon Hinck, state Sen. Cynthia Dill, former Secretary of State Matthew Dunlap and Portland home builder Ben Pollard. However, Maine's two Democratic Representatives, Rep. Michael Michaud and Rep. Chellie Pingree. Former Rep. Tom Allen could also get in the race now. But if Chellie Pingree runs, I think she wins easily, both the nomination and in the fall.

Wilmington Mayoral Debate — Public Safety Edition

Last night, the two unions representing the Wilmington Police Department and the Wilmington Fire Department sponsored a Mayoral Debate held at the Chase Center. Candidates Kelley, Johnson, Montgomery, Williams, Spencer and Bovell (!) attended, and Senator Marshall sat this one out again. This one was not open to the public, which accounts for the kind of topics covered. Much of the night's focus was less on issues of public safety and alot more in union issues. Not much of a surprise, I guess, but there's something quite corrective in being in a room full of police and firefighters where citizen safety was a topic addressed by just a couple of the candidates.