Tantrum at Tiger Beat on the Potomac

If you don't know that reference, that is the name that Charlie Pierce has given to the execrable Politico. And it also means that you aren't reading Charlie Pierce on the regular, which you really must start doing. Anyway, they are having a snit about the access that the Obama Administration does not give to the White House Press Corps. This after the same Press Corps has been whinging about not being able to cover the President while he golfs with Tiger Woods. All of this without getting the irony that they are spending more energy in complaining about the President not hanging around to joke with them than they are in explaining any sequester replacement plans. Or maybe climate change policy.

Tuesday Open Thread [2.19.13]

Three major labor unions in Delaware, the AFL-CIO, the Delaware Building and Construction Trades Counsel and the Delaware Public Employees Council 81-AFSCME, have endorsed marriage equality and are lobbying the General Assembly to pass the bill this session. Kavips gets all "Day After Tomorrow" on us. So the chief achievement of Senator Tom Carper's entire lengthy career in politics, the establishment of a National Park in Delaware, is nigh. That this is his chief achievement, and that I am still confused as to what will constitute this so-called "National Park" speaks volumes.

I Got Nothing

I've spent a good part of the morning looking for something to write about, and I got nothing.  Have I become immune to Republican crazy?  There's enough of it out…

Why Does The NRA Block Policies That End Up Benefiting Criminals?

Yes, another gun post.  Sorry, but the fact that everybody is still talking about this is a good thing.  And may I personally thank Wayne LaPierre, the NRA, and other gun nuts for making my case to the American people.  Keep up the good work. David Frum has a piece today that asks a lot of pertinent questions.  Go read the whole thing, and then ask yourself why the NRA is pro-criminal.  Not one of the steps Frum lists would lead to gun confiscation, but they sure do make killing someone or getting away with murder/crime easier.

Monday Open Thread [2.18.13]

Although the federal government "currently puts hemp in the same category of illegal drug as heroin, LSD and ecstasy," Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY) "wants to change that," NBC News reports. McConnell "joined forces Thursday with a pair of West Coast Democrats -- Oregon Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley -- to cosponsor a bill that would allow American farmers to grow hemp without fear of punishment." How the hell is Mitch F*cking McConnell to the left of Barack Obama on this issue? On medical marijuana and the legalization of marijuana, the President has been very disappointing.

Delaware Needs More than Two Tiers of Income Tax

On the issue of basic fairness, and also because we need to raise more revenue than our basically flat income tax rate allows, it is time for Delaware for add a few more tiers to its progressive tax structure. As it stands now, Delaware has two tax rates it taxes you at. If you make under $60,000, you are taxed at one percentage. If you make over $60,000, you are taxed at another percentage. The unfairness and ridiculousness of this system cannot be overstated. Someone making poverty level wages (i.e. under $18k) is taxed the same rate as someone making $55k. And someone making $14 million a year is taxed the same as someone making $90k. Delaware has a $63 million budget shortfall, and we cannot make that shortfall up and deal with the cost of Medicaid simply with spending cuts. It is time that Delaware adds more tax rate tiers above and below the 60k dividing line. Meanwhile, the JFC will be holding public hearings this Wednesday on the health and social services spending.

Sunday Open Thread [2.17.13]

Last weekend, I watched all thirteen episodes of the new series House of Cards on my Netflix Streaming Account. If you are a political junkie, this is a great show for you to watch, much like the West Wing was. Although it is much darker, and more evil. Indeed, I described it on Facebook as the Evil West Wing. Here are a few clips: