Archive for July, 2013

Thursday Open Thread [7.11.13]

Filed in Open Thread by Delaware Dem on July 11, 2013 • 6 Comments

A new poll from Quinnipiac shows a massive shift of public attitude on the war on terror and how it affects our civil liberties. Among those polled, 45% say the government’s anti-terrorism efforts go too far restricting civil liberties, a reversal from a January 10, 2010, survey by the independent Quinnipiac University when voters said 63 – 25 percent that such activities didn’t go far enough to adequately protect the country. Now 40% say they don’t go far enough.

Among younger votes, the numbers are far more striking.

Zombie Casino Alert! Part IV (Studying Our Failures Episode)

Filed in Delaware by cassandra_m on July 11, 2013 • 19 Comments

The end of this legislative session finds Delaware taxpayers footing an $8M bill to help the local casinos pay the increased costs of their equipment providers who are apparently paid with a percentage of the casino’s profits. Casinos now pay those vendors 6% of the profits for equipment and machines and expect to pay 10% after these contracts are re-upped. In addition, Epilogue language provided for a new Lottery and Gaming Study Commission

Good News From Pennsylvania To Start the Day

Filed in National by El Somnambulo on July 11, 2013 • 0 Comments

Looks like, on the issue of same-sex marriage, Gov. Jim Corbett is gonna have to go it alone. Philly.com reports that AG Kathleen Kane will not defend the state in a federal lawsuit challenging Pa’s refusal to recognize gay marriage.

Thursday Daily Delawhere [7.11.13]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on July 11, 2013 • 1 Comment

Wednesday Open Thread [7.10.13]

Filed in National, Open Thread by Delaware Dem on July 10, 2013 • 2 Comments

So yesterday Speaker Boner… oh I’m sorry, Boehner, you know, the orange weeping fellow, announced that Immigration Reform was all but dead in this current Congress. Brian Beutler at TPM reports that “John Boehner stated a specific policy preference Tuesday that will alienate the entire Democratic Party if he adheres to it, and thus doom the reform effort.” Here is the wonderous weeping Speaker:

“It’s clear from everything that I’ve seen and read over the last couple of weeks that the American people expect that we’ll have strong border security in place before we begin the process of legalizing and fixing our legal immigration system,” Boehner said outside the Capitol Monday afternoon.

First, I always love how Boehner uses the American People as his shield, and then lies about what the American People want. His usage of that phrase implies that all Americans, which includes, as mush as he hates it, Latinos. Yes, Latinos are Americans too. What he is talking about is what he and his conservative members and the base of his party wants. Yes, they are Americans too, but Boehner best be more specific in describing who wants what, lest he be called a liar. Brian Beutler says that this statement is an endorsement of the conservative view that any steps to legalize existing immigrants should be contingent upon implementation of draconian border policies.

But the bill already contains draconian border policies. Come inside for more…

QOTD — Will Harry Reid Invoke the Nuclear Option?

Filed in National by cassandra_m on July 10, 2013 • 9 Comments

On Thursday, Harry Reid is expected to ask his caucus to weigh in about invoking the nuclear option to change the Senate rules to stop the ability of the Republicans to filibuster President Obama’s executive and judicial appointments. This is after Reid agreed to a very weak fix to the filibuster rules with McConnell back in January, a weak fix that McConnell proceeded to regularly violate:

God does not love me this much, does he?

Filed in National by Delaware Dem on July 10, 2013 • 17 Comments

Former Half Term Alaska Governor and Reality TV star Sarah Palin told Sean Hannity last night that she is considering running for Senate in 2014 against Democratic incumbent Sen. Mark Begich (D-AK). Presumably she would be in a primary with the failed Republican 2010 Senate nominee Joe Miller, who, as a tea party insurgent, beat Lisa Murkowski in the GOP Primary only to see Murkowski win as an independent candidate a la Joe Lieberman.

Now, check out this statement that the Queen of Dictation and Grammar made on the Hannity Hate Hour….

PDD Happy Hour Tomorrow

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on July 10, 2013 • 1 Comment

Wednesday Daily Delawhere [7.10.13]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on July 10, 2013 • 1 Comment

Chris Christie has no future in politics

Filed in National by jason330 on July 9, 2013 • 1 Comment

Chris Christie is an idiot. His hallmark economic development achievement, the $2.4 billion “Revel Casino-Hotel Resort” has already gone bankrupt once and is on the fast track to a second bankruptcy. Christie’s boondongle hopes to lose a mere $43 million this year. Believe it or not, that’s a win. The annual operating losses had been running around $180 million, but a big cash infusion of $261 million from the GOP’s business brainiac, courtesy of the Garden State’s tax payers, has papered over some of those outsized losses. If he started a space program, or just handed out $100 bills, instead of sinking tax money into this, he (and the state) would be better off.

He may win a second term in office, but there is no way he makes it any closer to DC than a box seat at a Blue Hens game.

Tuesday Open Thread [7.9.13]

Filed in National by Delaware Dem on July 9, 2013 • 3 Comments

Sorry about yesterday’s lack of Open Thread. I guess everyone was on vacation or at work.

In New Jersey, a new Quinnipiac poll has Cory Booker (D) with 52% in the Democratic Primary, followed by Rep. Frank Pallone (D) at 10%, Rep. Rush Holt (D) at 8% and Sheila Oliver (D) at 3%. The late Sen. Lautenberg’s family has endorsed Pallone, but I am not sure Mr. Lautenberg had that much sway anymore. In the a possible general election matchup, Booker beats Steve Lonegan (R) 53% to 30%.

Texas Dictator Rick Perry (who has been in power since 2000, a record 13 straight years and 3 full terms), has decided to retire. The Dems may have a primary between two rising stars, Sen. Wendy Davis and San Antonio’s Democratic Mayor Julian Castro. On the GOP side, the extremely well-financed Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott seems to have the GOP field all to himself.

Do It. Do It Today. Call Everyone Home.

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on July 9, 2013 • 9 Comments

What am I talking about? The New York Times:

“Increasingly frustrated by his dealings with President Hamid Karzai, President Obama is giving serious consideration to speeding up the withdrawal of United States forces from Afghanistan and to a ‘zero option’ that would leave no American troops there after next year.”

Make it a spectacle. A massive airlift that takes every single American out within 48 hours. Karzai has been an ungrateful and corrupt son of a bitch for 10 years now. Let him fend for himself. Let him try to run his country without the US there.