Republican’s zero-sum thinking

Republican’s zero-sum thinking

In my continuing attempt to understand the hobbled and frequently diseased mindset of conservatives, I've noticed that thinking of everything as a zero-sum game is huge with them. When I think of my Grandpa (or this blog's own resident grumpy racist grandpa, ...yes you Dana) I marvel at how they can view every dollar paid out to someone on welfare as a dollar taken out of their pockets. I wonder why they are so blinkered in their thinking that keeping the economy on the rocks is fine if the alternative is a healthy economy in which a non-white person might possibly get a health care subsidy. There is no sense of "growing the pie." The aphorism "a rising tide lifts all boats" makes no sense to them. I was reminded of that mindset again when I read that conservative Catholics are worried that the Pope is paying too much attention to the needy, and that attention means that they aren't getting enough Pope love. [...]
Costco spits on long held American tradition of screwing workers over

Costco spits on long held American tradition of screwing workers over

This is shocking. It is downright unAmerican tell 'ya.
Bucking the incredibly lucrative trend for retailers to stay open during Thanksgiving, bulk food utopia Costco has announced that they would stay closed during the holiday, which is seriously blowing our minds with its lunacy.
Shopping on Thanksgiving is for losers. Sorry losers. I'm calling you out. [...]
Thursday Open Thread [11.14.13]

Thursday Open Thread [11.14.13]

So how are those budget talks going in DC? Remember, if there is no budget deal by December 15, the government shuts down again. The Delaware Young Farmers program has selected 10 new participants. I know I am cynical, but I wonder how many of these young farmers downstate are also tea party Republicans decrying government handouts.
Newark Mayor’s Race: The Progressive Perspective.

Newark Mayor’s Race: The Progressive Perspective.

Newark's upcoming Mayoral election is a nonpartisan election. As such, the state parties, and affiliated party organizations, like the Progressive Democrats, have not gotten involved. But just because you call an election a nonpartisan election, does not mean ideologies are not in play. Conservatives understood this for years, and ran conservative candidates for nonpartisan school board and judgeship elections for years. It looks like liberals and progressives have learned their lesson, as it would seem we are blessed with several progressive candidates among the seven in the Newark race.
Are the State House Republicans About to Flip on the Death Penalty?

Are the State House Republicans About to Flip on the Death Penalty?

The Delaware House Republican Caucus recently posed a question to Facebook page asking whether the House Judiciary Committee should vote to release Senate Bill 19, which repeals the death penalty in Delaware and converts existing death sentences to life in prison without parole, for a vote on the floor by the full House. The Senate has already passed the bill by a razor thin 11-10 margin, and in the House, there was both bipartisan support for and bipartisan opposition to the bill, leading to House Judiciary Committee Chairwoman Rebecca Walker to table the bill. But imagine that! Republicans possibly in favor of allowing votes on the floor on controversial bills. These Delaware House Republicans may have to teach their national counterparts a thing or two. However, I suspect the motives of the GOP here are not pure.
UPDATE: The Chip Flowers’ Travel Expenses Data Dump

UPDATE: The Chip Flowers’ Travel Expenses Data Dump

State Treasurer Chip Flowers had his news conference this AM that preceded the release of travel documents from his office. You can see a clip of the news conference at WDEL plus their story. The NJ also has some video and a story. Both stories highlight the apology (from WDEL):
Wednesday Open Thread [11.13.13]

Wednesday Open Thread [11.13.13]

Sarah Palin says she's disturbed that many of Pope Francis' pastoral pronouncements have "sounded kind of liberal." That is only because the new Pope is following Jesus' example and teachings. Remember Mrs. Palin, Jesus did not hate. Sarah Palin also says that the federal debt is like slavery. Interesting that she would put it like that, since debt is a prime component of capitalism and our free market economy. Businesses and people use credit and incur debt all the time all over our country to buy homes, to buy inventory for their businesses, to pay their employees, to make improvements to their house, to buy a car, etc. Is she saying that debt in those circumstances is slavery too? She has to be. And I guess that means Sarah Palin opposes capitalism. She is a dirty communist now. Probably happened when she saw Russia from her house.
John Carney, Your teletownhall last night was bullshit

John Carney, Your teletownhall last night was bullshit

I got some shit for calling Carney a millionaire. Maybe it is technically true that his net worth isn't a million today, but it will be tomorrow or next week sometime. It is simply inevitable. What isn't inevitable is that he become a Tom Carper clone in the house. He represents a solidly blue state and actually seems to have some decency and empathy that Tom Caper is wholly lacking. It is not a given that he have a mediocre career in Congress chasing the affection of fifty or so Klansmen in western Sussex county. [...]
O’Keefe At It Again

O’Keefe At It Again

The infamous conservative James O'Keefe has now set his sites on Obamacare Navigators with video clips of their allegedly misinforming, or misleading or encouraging abuse of a federal program.