Worthy?

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Who says something like this? After Gabby Giffords was shot Republicans were screaming about not "politicizing" the event, screeching about how "now was the time to think about the victims." They were all about showing "respect" for the victims and their families.

On the Hustings With Bryan Townsend

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After spending a couple of hours at the doors (aka trying to keep up) with 11th District State Senate candidate Bryan Townsend last night, I can only say this: The residents of the 11th District would be SO much better off with Bryan Townsend as their Senator that it's not even a close call. He is the single best first-time candidate I've encountered since Dave Sokola. And, yes, when elected, he would immediately join Senators Peterson and Sokola as one of the best senators in Dover.

The Anglo-Saxon Romney Campaign

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In remarks that may prompt accusations of racial insensitivity, one suggested that Mr Romney was better placed to understand the depth of ties between the two countries than Mr Obama, whose father was from Africa. “We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and he feels that the special relationship is special,” the adviser said of Mr Romney, adding: “The White House didn’t fully appreciate the shared history we have”.
I am not shocked by this statement - I've always known this is what many conservatives believe. What shocks me is how blatant their statements have become.

The Polling Report [7.24.12]

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Gallup finds that President Obama averaged 46.8% job approval during his 14th quarter in office.
"The recent and continuing improvement in his approval rating, though, is a positive sign for his re-election prospects, but it remains below the 50% level that virtually assures a president of a second term in office. Obama appears in much better shape now than the two recently elected presidents who were denied a second term -- Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush -- both of whom averaged below 40% approval their 14th quarters in office."
We've got a ton of new state polls from over the weekend, and they change our map a little bit. Obama gains 1 electoral vote from last week's total of 318 and Romney loses 14, dropping from 220 to 206.

What we choose to be panicked by

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Absent a pressing life or death calamity such as an earthquake, apartment fire, car crash or a fall from a ladder, what we decide to be panicked by is largely a function of the mass media. Since the mass media is a for profit business, they have an interest in creating a baseline level of panic and keeping that base panic simmering on a continuous basis. Studies show that what we are panicked by has little connection to what will actual kill or maim us. In this blog's very comments section we have people panicked by the idea that the government could run amok and take away "our freedom" whatever that means. (The freedom to have your kids paralyzed by backyard trampolines, I suppose.) Having worked for the federal government, the idea that people can be panicked about a government run amok strikes me as ludicrous. But the radio stations these people listen to and the movies they watch keep jamming the panic button down for them. Poor things. ...

DSEA Endorses Crane for Insurance Commissioner

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The Delaware State Education Association (DSEA) has endorsed Democrat Mitch Crane for State Insurance Commissioner over incumbent Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart and her two other challengers, Dennis Spivack and Paul Gallagher. In a press release, DSEA says that Crane’s pro-consumer stances and experience in insurance law and regulation will benefit everyone in the First State. Unlike Karen Weldin Stewart, Mitch Crane does not have to make up his endorsements.