PDD Meeting Tonight on the 2012 Endorsement Process

The Progressive Democrats for Delaware will be holding their monthly meeting tonight, January 4, 2012 at 7 pm at the Delaware Democratic Party Headquarters, located at 19 East Commons Blvd. in New Castle. This meeting will be dedicated to the 2012 PDD Endorsement Process. In particular, we are in the midst of drafting our Candidate Questionnaire and are seeking input, suggestions and comments. All who are interested in learning more, or participating in our Endorsement process, should attend. This meeting is open to all members of the PDD and like-minded voters.

Happy New Year, Gov. Markell and AG Biden! Now, About Tony DeLuca…

Governor Markell and Attorney General Biden: I hereby wish you both a Happy New Year. I wish you nothing but the best in 2012. I know that you and/or members of your respective staffs read this post concerning Tony DeLuca simultaneously holding the offices of President Pro Tempore of the Delaware State Senate and the Director of Labor Law Enforcement for the Department of Labor. And now it is time for you both to do something about it.

Tuesday Open Thread [1.2.12]

Nate Silver gives Romney a 42 percent chance of winning the Iowa caucuses, followed by Ron Paul at 34 percent and Rick Santorum at 20 per cent. The final Des Moines Register poll, which has an impressive track record, indicates a 2 point lead for Romney over Paul. Ezra Klein also sees a Romney win. Howard Dean and Ed Schultz predict a Santorum upset.

The 62 District Strategy [2012]

Alright, 2012 is here, and it time to focus on the 2012 Legislative elections. Because most often than not, state legislative races are ignored, even though they are our most direct connection to democracy, as those we elect from our respective districts in the House and Senate are our neighbors (or at least they are supposed to be). So we are going to begin to familiarize ourselves with each district and who currently represents that district. Now, it is early enough in the calendar that we don't yet know if many of the Representatives and Senators are going to run for reelection, or if they will face challengers in their efforts to get reelected. In 2012, all seats in the General Assembly are up for election. All 21 Senators. All 41 Representatives. The reason for this is because we have just drawn up new districts in both chambers as a result of population changes over the last 10 years, as indicated by the 2010 census. As a result, Kent and Sussex Counties have each gained a House seat, and the Sussex County gains a Senate seat.

The Hundreds Redistricting Plan

Since the Redistricting debacle, I have been thinking about ways to reform the process in the General Assembly, but also about our districts themselves. Neighborhoods are divided and thrown together in an adhoc manner. So while the process must be reformed, there also must be a way to keep communities together in this process. So while the process must be more transparent and open in 2020, and based on more rational criteria than Tony Deluca's vengeance, we must also draw our legislative districts to better keep established communities together. So I came up with the Hundreds Plan.

Monday Open Thread [1.2.12]

Will New Hampshire get closer like Iowa once the election draws nearier (it is in 1 week)? Right now, it doesn't look likely, as a new Suffolk University poll has Mitt Romney with a commanding lead at 41%, followed by Ron Paul at 15%, Newt Gingrich at 11%, and Jon Huntsman at 9%. Another 8% is split by Michele Bachmann, Rick Perry and Rick Santorum and 16% are still undecided.

Celia Cohen Hits It Out of the Park

As you know, we like to make fun of Celia Cohen because of her duPont-Castle ties, the establishment GOP conventional wisdom that permeates her posts, and because of a sometimes florid writing style that makes you want to gouge your eyes out. But today I will praise her. Her latest, Pursuit of Happiness, is a wonderful piece that everyone should read. It is an account of Delaware's first civil union ceremony, performed yesterday at Trinity Episcopal Church, between Lisa Goodman and Drew Fennell.