I never thought I could like Terry McAuliffe…

I never thought I could like Terry McAuliffe…

mostly because I never thought a dyed in the wool, liberal hating, DLC simp like McAuliffe could ever be reformed. Times change.
WHY THE VIRGINIA GUBERNATORIAL CAMPAIGN MATTERS: Ron Brownstein has an interesting look at how Dem Terry McAuliffe’s embrace of liberal positions on social issues, gun control, and immigration highlights the Democratic Party’s larger increasing reliance on its new coalition of minorities, young voters, and college educated whites. Other red/purple state Dems are following this trend, and if McAuliffe wins, it will cement the emerging consensus that Dems should continue embracing liberal positions and rely less and less on the culturally conservative whites Dems used to fear alienating.
Do I give to the DNC this year?

Do I give to the DNC this year?

I haven't given to the DNC or the D triple C in ages. The emails are as full of feisty bluster as their candiates have been full of Republicanism. I don't know now though. If we really have a shot at 37 districts, I may have to see if I could scrounge up a little dough for the cause.
Thursday Open Thread [10.24.13]

Thursday Open Thread [10.24.13]

A conservative is sounding the alarm: Ross Douthat:
[W]hile conservatives think the Obamacare exchanges are overregulated and oversubsidized, they are actually closer to the right-of-center vision for health care reform than the Obamacare Medicaid expansion, which is happening no matter what transpires with Healthcare.gov. So if the exchanges fail and the Medicaid expansion takes effect (and, inevitably, becomes difficult to roll back), we’ll be left with an individual market that’s completely dysfunctional and a more socialized system over all. In that scenario, the Democratic Party would probably end up pushing, not for the pipe dream of true single payer, but for a further bottom-up/top-down socialization, in which Medicare is offered to 55- to 65-year-olds and Medicaid is eventually expanded even more. Meanwhile, the task for serious conservative reformers — already not the most politically effective bunch — might actually become harder, because they would have to explain how their plan to build an effective, exchange-based marketplace differed from the Obama White House’s exchange fiasco.
Well, when you call a former Heritage Foundation idea of establishing a private market place for health insurance "socialism," what are you going to call actual socialism? LOL. Poor Republicans. They are just the petulant temper tantrum throwing boys who cried wolf.
Guest Post — New Castle County Council–2, Gordon Administration–0

Guest Post — New Castle County Council–2, Gordon Administration–0

During the October 22 committee meetings, some New Castle County Council members showed a surprising degree of independence from the Gordon administration by rejecting two of the administration's proposals. It probably helped that vociferous Gordon allies Jae Street and Bob Weiner were not present during these committee meetings. The first proposal (presented in the Community Services Committee) to be routed was Ordinance 13-078, which would create an Office of Community Governing. This was an office established by Gordon during his first turn as County Executive.
Wednesday Open Thread [10.23.13]

Wednesday Open Thread [10.23.13]

Roll Call:
It’s hard to say which should trouble Republican Party leaders the most right now: the sour mood among GOP donors, or the money suddenly swelling Democratic campaign and super PAC coffers. Not only have the Democratic campaign committees that back House and Senate candidates outraised their GOP counterparts, but unrestricted super PACs that support Democrats have pulled in close to three times what GOP super PACs have so far, according to the Center for Responsive Politics.
Respect

Respect

So a longtime Republican Congressman from Florida, Bill Young, passed away last week and will be buried Thursday. He was a Republican in Florida before there was Republicans in Florida. He was first elected in 1972 and was the longest serving member of the Republican House Caucus. He was 82 years old. The House of Representatives will not be in session on Thursday so that members can attend his funeral. Now, I hesitated in writing this, because when anyone dies, their families are due the upmost deference, sympathy and respect. But...