The Redskins name change is inevitable

The Redskins name change is inevitable

For the nation's idiots, this is going to be a hill worth dying on, but it doesn't really matter. The Washington area NFL team will be called something other than the "redskins" in our lifetime (probably within the next ten years.)
Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder has turned DeAngelo Hall into the voice of reason. The oft-fined cornerback conceded this week that the team "probably should" change its name. "I think eventually they will change it," Hall responded when asked about the team's name during an appearance on FOX Sports' "Keeping It Real With Mike Hill."
Just imagine a team called the Heebs, or the Chinks, or the Whites and it is easy to see that the name is not going to make it. My suggestion is ...
Steve Newton to Run For State Rep!

Steve Newton to Run For State Rep!

A true friend of Delaware Liberal, Steve Newton, will run for the 22nd Representative District seat currently held by Republican Joe Miro. Miro, BTW, is one of those legislators who has basically retired, but never bothered to tell anybody. If any third party candidate has a real shot, Steve is at the top of the list. He is consistently one of the most thoughtful and on-point analysts of public policy in our state. Here is the press release in its entirety.. inside.....
Support this kickstarter type fundraiser the Delaware Shakespeare Festival is doing, or I will look at you crossly

Support this kickstarter type fundraiser the Delaware Shakespeare Festival is doing, or I will look at you crossly

We here at the Delaware Shakespeare Festival are incredibly excited to produce Hamlet this summer (July 11-27 at Rockwood Park!), but there's so much to talk about in this play, so much that's relevant to the world and to Delaware, that we can't wait for July. And that's why we're launching the "I Am Hamlet" Project. Through the "I Am Hamlet" Project, we plan to take Hamlet to the people of Delaware, from classroom workshops to retirement home discussions, from on-the-street interviews to the Twitterverse. We want to explore the themes of Hamlet that resonate strongly with Delawareans, sparking a conversation that will hopefully lead to self-reflection in ourselves and in our community. At the end, we plan to bring it all together in a big public forum, an "I Am Hamlet" Project town hall at Wilmington University. To do all that, we need your help.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 16, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 16, 2014

Well, one day in, and already one of my predictions has gone down in flames. (Or is it 'up in flames'?) Thought it would be easy for the Senate to resurrect HB 88(Barbieri),   which would establish procedures to try and keep guns out of the hands of the dangerously mentally-ill. We weren't talking about passing the bill, we were just talking about restoring the bill to the Senate calendar. However, this signature initiative of Attorney General Beau Biden went nowhere on Tuesday, likely prompted by the notable absence of Beau Biden.  From the News-Journal story:
Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, R-Milford, said he expected Biden to be in Legislative Hall to make his case.  “If this bill is that important, I would think the attorney general would be present to debate it,” Simpson said. “He should be on the job and seen and heard from, rather than his staff speaking in his name.” Biden’s chief of staff, Timothy Mullaney, said Biden spent his day in meetings to discuss violence in Wilmington. Biden was not available for interviews to discuss a new Wilmington crime plan announced by Mayor Dennis Williams. Joe Rogalsky, who leads legislative efforts for Biden, said the attorney general would not give up on the gun-control issue.
Simpson's right, you know. Perhaps a little cruel, but right. Were Biden up to the task, he would have been in Legislative Hall. It's not a long drive from Wilmington. However, it proved to be a Route Too Far to revive his signature bill. You do the math.
Teabag Republicans Cave on Budget Brinksmanship – Have Asses Handed to Them

Teabag Republicans Cave on Budget Brinksmanship – Have Asses Handed to Them

The House has passed a $1.1 trillion spending plan that would fund the government through September. The Senate is expected to take up the measure by the end of the week. The spending bill would roll back some forced spending cuts, raise federal worker pay and protect disabled workers and some military spouses from a pension cut that is to go into effect next year. The deal is a break from several years of budget brinksmanship, stopgap funding measures and down-to-the-deadline negotiating, such as the one that forced the 16-day government shutdown in October.
I know, I know. The winners and losers will be revealed, and the teabags probably got everything they've ever demanded and more, but I've been spoiling for a little triumphalism.
Wednesday Open Thread (01-15-14)

Wednesday Open Thread (01-15-14)

Here's a story that makes me hate people.  Just go read the post.  Calling a dying woman's tweets about her, you know, dying, "deathbed selfies" is vile.  Seriously, what is wrong with these people? If you have other feelings about how people should live or die, you can keep them to yourself, Keller family and mouth-breathers at Fishbowl DC. No one asked you, and no one ever will.
My Pet Peeve Doesn’t Seem To Be Going Away

My Pet Peeve Doesn’t Seem To Be Going Away

I really don't understand why things like this keep happening.

Acclaimed molecular gastronomy chef Grant Achatz caused a stir over the weekend when he took to his Twitter account to ask his followers if a ban on babies was in order at his three-Michelin-starred Chicago eatery Alinea.

The clearly ruffled Achatz paused his dinner service to complain about a couple at his restaurant who brought in an eight-month-old, who promptly started to wail.

"Tbl brings 8mo.Old. It cries. Diners mad," Achatz tweeted. "Tell ppl no kids? Subject diners 2crying? Ppl take infants 2 plays? Concerts? Hate saying no,but.."

Alinea obviously doesn't encourage diners to bring their babies — there are no high chairs on site; the baby sat on its mother's lap — but it doesn't have a written policy prohibiting their presence.

The establishment uses a ticketing system which requires would-be patrons to reserve, and pay for, their entire meal (minus the drinks) weeks in advance. If something comes up at the last minute, Alinea allows customers to sell their reservations or hand them off to someone else.

Personally, I found Achatz's tweet extremely reasonable.  I would have kicked the couple out, but I'm mean and this has always been one of my pet peeves.  Yes, Virginia, there are places you shouldn't take your children.

Dog Bites Man: Carper AWOL on Climate Action

Dog Bites Man: Carper AWOL on Climate Action

Hey, didja know that 17 United States senators have formed a working coalition on climate action? Didja know that these senators are members of the two  Senate committees best positioned to have an impact on climate action? Didja know that Tom Carper is a member of one of those committees? I think you can see where this is going....