The Open Thread for Monday, August 5, 2013

The Open Thread for Monday, August 5, 2013

A new poll shows that Governor Chris Christie is the only Republican candidate that has any chance against Hillary Clinton. NATIONAL--PRESIDENT--Monmouth University: Fmr. Sec. of State Hillary Clinton (D) 43, Gov. Chris Christie (R) 39; Clinton 47, Fmr. Gov. Jeb Bush (R) 37; Clinton 47, Sen. Marco Rubio (R) 36; Clinton 48, Sen. Ted Cruz 32. Cruz, in my opinion, is the most likely nominee. Cruz is hawkish like Christie, a bully like Christie, but 100% conservative and beloved by the teabaggers, which Christie is not. Electoral statistician Harry J. Enten at The Guardian, however, thinks Jeb Bush would be a strong 2016 presidential contender. He is wrong.

The Open Thread for Saturday, August 3, 2013

GOP Chairman Charlie Lamont du Pont Copeland is already at work drumming up some non-scandal.
Last week, Markell’s office said his campaign donated about $28,000 to charity after learning they could’ve been illegal contributions from D.C. accountants. Copeland contends that under Delaware law, a candidate has to return those contributions within seven days of knowing they were illegal. But Election Commissioner Elaine Manlove says that only applies if the donations are proven to be illegal. “My reading is that the governor acted with an abundance of caution because he could not substantiate the contributions he received were illegal contributions and it didn’t make me think that I should take any further action,” said Manlove. “But now that it’s been brought to my attention again, I can investigate further.” Manlove says she’ll follow up with the Attorney General’s office to determine the next step in the process. Copeland sent letters to Manlove and Attorney General Beau Biden Thursday asking for a more thorough investigation.
I will bet my house that if Markell had not returned the donations, Copeland would have been attacking him for not returning the donations.

Wilmington as the 8th Unfriendliest City in America?

This is the result of one of those Conde Nast Traveler surveys, which asks its readers to rate hotels, resorts, airlines , cruise ships and even cities. There is even a category for Friendliest and Unfriendliest City, and Wilmington made the Unfriendliest City list, ranked at 8 Wilmington, the state’s largest city, didn't appeal to our survey takers as much as Delaware's better known beach areas. One reader says he “would rather avoid” the city that is only “necessary to visit on business.” Other readers say Wilmington is a place with “not much charm” that “needs work.” What do you think about this? The NJ reports on this and got plenty of reaction from locals, mainly of the cheerleading variety.
The Open Thread for Friday, August 2, 2013

The Open Thread for Friday, August 2, 2013

Republican governance, a contradiction in terms, or an oxymoron, reached a fever pitch this week as the GOP tried to wrap up the legislative calendar and pass some necessary appropriation bills before going on vacation. Of course they failed... Jonathan Chait: "Yesterday, the House of Representatives pulled a bill from the floor for lack of votes -- the sort of scrambling chaos that occurs routinely in the chamber where John Boehner presides like a trembling child monarch. But this defeat was different. The bill concerned the funding of housing and transportation programs, though its failure represented more than just a programmatic setback, or even a setback for the Republican economic strategy writ large, but the potential ruin of its entire posture toward Obama. Since taking control of the House two and a half years ago, Republicans have fomented a series of crises that seemed to have no end in sight, explicitly refusing to negotiate with Obama and implicitly denying his legitimacy as president. The crumbling of that wall is far from certain, but yesterday a wide crack opened up." Andrew Sullivan: "Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the current GOP's refusal to do anything but propose to slash spending is that "propose" is all they really want to do. They cannot actually stomach the actual cuts their abstract ideology demands. And so what happened yesterday, when the House leadership suddenly yanked a bill slashing transportation and housing spending, is of a piece with the growing incoherence on the right." So now the House GOP has revealed to all that not only will they refuse to pass any Democratic budget or spending bill from the Senate, but they also cannot pass any Republican budget or spending bill of their own.
Around the Horn for the Week of July 26-August 1, 2013

Around the Horn for the Week of July 26-August 1, 2013

Our weekly look at the other blogs in Delaware, of all political stripes. Retired in Delaware has a message to all the gays who are upset that they do not have marriage equality yet in their states like we do in Delaware: either get to work to change that like we did in Delaware and stop crying, or move. Either way, shut up. Elizabeth Scheinberg of the Children & Educators First blog has a post up about the Cape Henlopen School District's recent controversy over offering an elective Bible in History course. Pat Fish at Delaware Politics tells her story of going up against county government in a zoning and property dispute. Despite the site's conservative civil war, and its conservative if not batshit politics, I think this story is universal, and it is amazing how similar to New Castle County Sussex County sounds like when it comes to coddling developers. More inside...
Decision Making In Shades Of Gray – Is It Time?

Decision Making In Shades Of Gray – Is It Time?

I'm a decisive person. Give me a choice and I'll make it - quickly and, in most cases, easily. Raising children means constant decision making. So yeah, I've had some practice. But now I'm facing a decision that's far from clear cut. Our dog, a black lab mix (aka mutt) is fourteen years old. She has hip dysplasia, a torn ACL (surgery wasn't an option due to her age, but she is on medication), is partially blind, and almost completely deaf. She also appears confused and easily frightened - and just for fun, she is now having trouble controlling her bowels. Lucky me! None of these symptoms is life threatening. And we won't make a decision in the name of convenience (altho, some days I want to). Due to her hip dysplasia/ACL tear, she has trouble getting up from a resting position. She still attempts stairs, but usually ends up stuck, or worse, sliding backwards down them. Trying to keep her downstairs while we go to bed results in her howling loud enough to wake the dead - and the neighbors. Lately, Mr. Pandora has been carrying a 70lb dog up the stairs. At the beach, I've been placing pieces of Beggin' Strips on every other step and supporting her weight as she slowly makes the climb - which we only let her do three times a day. Dog's gotta go potty. And here's where things get tricky.