Friday Open Thread [7.12.13]

A new Quinnipiac poll in New Jersey finds Gov. Chris Christie (R) has a 2-1 job approval rating and a 61% to 29% lead over challenger Barbara Buono (D). However, just 20% of voters say they are more likely to vote for a state legislative candidate endorsed by Christie, with 15% less likely and 63% who say the governor's endorsement won't influence their vote.
Said pollster Maurice Carroll: "The governor continues to thrash Sen. Buono, but voters say they're not inclined to support legislative candidates because Christie supports them, or, as a matter of fact, because Buono supports them. It could change when the real campaign starts after Labor Day, if Christie decides to emulate his mentor, former Gov. Tom Kean, and work for the rest of the ticket. But at this stage, Christie is good only for Christie.".
Thursday Open Thread [7.11.13]

Thursday Open Thread [7.11.13]

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)

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

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

Wednesday Open Thread [7.10.13]

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...
God does not love me this much, does he?

God does not love me this much, does he?

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....