It’s Labor Day and Someone Forgot About Winning Hearts and Minds

It’s Labor Day and Someone Forgot About Winning Hearts and Minds

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Today was the Labor Day Parade in Downtown Wilmington -- a long-standing tradition of organized labor, their families and supporters and (during an election year) politicians who want to be seen supporting labor marching down King St. This year, the union rat was also on parade courtesy of the Building Trades (I'm told -- I was not at the parade this year) and this year, they put the face of John Kowalko on it -- in protest of his not supporting the Newark Data Center. Pretty despicable behavior -- especially towards someone who is routinely supportive of labor issues in Dover. Even more delusional when you factor in the fact that Rep. Kowalko was actually representing his *constituents* in the Data Center matter. Even union members can get that sometimes the people that actually vote in an area are pretty important to hear -- and in the long run, it isn't as though they'd be able to replace him with someone who is more committed to labor issues. I'll also point out that these folks taking the cowards' route in criticizing Kowalko today haven't been able to find anyone who could credibly run against him -- and seriously labor folks, if you think you can get someone more supportive of your agenda AND make those residents happy, then man up and get that person to run against Kowalko. Otherwise, what you did today was not worthy of what today is supposed to represent and it was just basic bullshit. A picture (thanks to my anonymous source) of today's labor bullshit is here:
Labor Day: Honoring The Labor Leaders I’ve Known

Labor Day: Honoring The Labor Leaders I’ve Known

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This 2014 Labor Day give me the opportunity to reflect on the labor leaders and organizers I've had the privilege to know. Few of those among us who are not union members appreciate the brutal, thankless work done by labor leaders in this country that make our working lives at least halfway tolerable. I want to honor the several such leaders who have impacted my life so positively.

Labor Day Open Thread [9.1.14]

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So now we have a new bit of right-wing foolishness to live through -- Right wing launches misguided protest against Labor Day. Got that? A protest against Labor Day, folks.
But to the Freedom Foundation, a business-backed Olympia think tank, the day is evidence of the power of unions, which to members equals the decline of America. Rather than stoop to taking a union-backed day off, they plan to fight the power by ... working all day Monday instead! “I can’t think of a problem in society that can’t be traced in some way back to the abuses of organized labor, so it would be hypocritical of us to take a day off on its behalf,” said Freedom Foundation CEO Tom McCabe, in announcing the “work-in.”
Are You Ready For A Labor Day Weekend Foodie Post?

Are You Ready For A Labor Day Weekend Foodie Post?

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It's been a while since we had a foodie thread.  As usual, please share your recipes in the comment section. Have you ever made pizza on the grill?  No?  Well, you're missing out.  This pizza is amazing.  Do not be daunted by dough making.  The olive oil in the dough makes for easy kneading - or if you have a KitchenAid mixer with a dough hook even better. Perfecting this pizza took several tries (it was delicious every time) due to the speed at which it cooks.  Below the recipe I'll include some helpful hints!

Weekend Open Thread [8.30.14]

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The Audacity of Taupe: President Obama wore a summer tan suit at his press conference on Thursday and I gather that this is not only news, but something of a cause celebre in Tea Party Nation. A Tan Suit, people. If you are a journalist actually paying attention to this, I need you to ask yourself now if you are why Americans seriously distrust their media. But when Eternally Outraged Congressman (ed. Peter King) Not Trying to Be ‘Trivial,’ But Doesn’t Think Obama’s Tan Suit Was Appropriate is making a fuss, I guess knee jerk coverage is in store, laundering this thing into some legitimacy that just looks bad for the liberal media that is actually covering this. (Be sure to click the link to NY Mag to see Peter King rockin' his tan suit next to Gerry Adams. Then tell me who looks statesmanlike there.) And to all of the badly dressed teajhadists who think that a tan suit is a THING:
California’s “Yes Means Yes” Bill

California’s “Yes Means Yes” Bill

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The California state senate unanimously approved a bill on Thursday that defines when “yes” means “yes” to sex. Instead of “no means no” – the phrase commonly associated with sexual assault prevention – the law would require “affirmative, conscious, and voluntary agreement” by each party to engage in sexual activity. If Gov. Jerry Brown (D) signs the bill into law – he has until the end of September – colleges and universities would have to adopt the so-called affirmative consent standard to continue receiving state funds for student financial aid. Under the proposed standard, the fact that a person didn’t say “no” is no defense in a campus sexual assault investigation.
Vance Phillips Crashes Gaffney Interview with 5th RD Opponent

Vance Phillips Crashes Gaffney Interview with 5th RD Opponent

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OMG - please podcast this...
Radio talk show host Dan Gaffney called a segment of his Aug. 28 morning show “damned odd,” while Republicans locked in a primary battle for the Sussex County 5th District council seat called the show "crazy" and "surreal." Call it what you want – bad timing, miscommunication or a calculated election-year ploy – an exchange on a local radio talk show has ignited swirling controversy. During the segment, the two Republican candidates running for the District 5 seat both used up airtime. According to Gaffney, one of the two – incumbent Vance Phillips of Laurel – was not invited during that time slot. About half way through a scheduled interview and call-in session with Republican challenger Rob Arlett of Frankford, Phillips entered the studio and put on headphones.