Friday Open Thread [6.20.14]

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Yes! It's Friday! And tonight and tomorrow night are your last chances to attend the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Tonite's headliner is Ariel Larrieux and tomorrow's headliner is Brian Culbertson. Grab your chair and head down to Rodney Square -- this is one of the truly fantastic events in Wilmington and an awesome way to spend an evening. Or Saturday afternoon AND evening!
John Carney Primary Challenge Update

John Carney Primary Challenge Update

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The filing deadline is July 8th. Primary day is September 9th. The filing fee is $3,480 About $700.00 was pledged in the last thread on this topic, so I'd need to kick in $2,780. That is doable. Beyond these little nuts and bolts items, I've tried to compile a candid list of what I have and what I need in order to pull this off.
Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

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Ted Kittila, a Seaford native and a Wilmington corporate attorney, announced that he would run as an R for Attorney General. He has not yet filed. Here is a background piece on Kittila from the News Journal.  It also looks like Kittila will need to bring something a little stronger than his trying to contrast himself with Denn by essentially claiming that he is a lawyer while Denn is a politician. Denn's response:
"I have practiced law in every court in the State of Delaware, representing both businesses and people with few resources or who couldn't afford an attorney," Denn said. "I have worked to improve the public safety system as chair of the Criminal Justice Council. I have experience protecting consumers as Insurance Commissioner, protecting children as Chair of the Child Protection Accountability Commission and getting laws passed as Insurance Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor to help families, businesses, schools and kids. I look forward to talking about my experience and ideas."
Kneejerk War Is Weakness, Not Strength

Kneejerk War Is Weakness, Not Strength

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The drumbeat for a renewed Iraq intervention from the neo-cons and neo-liberals within and outside the administration is pissing me off. The media learned nothing from Vietnam, Iraq II and Afghanistan; they are fielding all the totally discredited talking heads to tell us President Obama needs to show strength.
Hell Has Frozen Over.

Hell Has Frozen Over.

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Fox News host Megyn Kelly had former human and Vice President Dick Cheney and his comedy sidekick daughter/Cheneybot programmer Liz Cheney on her show last night, and she actually confronted him on his mendacity of saying Barack Obama got it wrong in Iraq. You can she the video inside, but here is some quotes of the exchange.
"But time and time again, history has proven that you got it wrong as well in Iraq, sir," Kelly said. "You said there was no doubt Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. You said the Iraq insurgency was in the last throes, back in 2005. And you said that after our intervention extremists would have to 'rethink their strategy of jihad.'" "Now with almost a trillion dollars spent there, with 4,500 American lives lost there, what do you say to those who say you were so wrong about so much at the expense of so many?" she asked.
Gunfail of the Day — Georgia Man Stands His Ground Against His Own Penis

Gunfail of the Day — Georgia Man Stands His Ground Against His Own Penis

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That title is the biggest reason I am posting this bit of ammosexual stupidity -- this guy was at the gas station, holstering his weapon (what was he holstering his weapon for? Was he robbing the place? Threatening kids whose music was too loud? What?) and shot himself in his penis. Seriously, if gun owners are using their guns to take themselves out of the gene pool, then I'm down with that. With any luck, they'll stop trying to hurt the rest of us while they are getting their ritual castration on.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 19, 2014

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 19, 2014

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Last day of the DIY reports, I promise. Got next week's work schedule, and it's 'green across the screen'. In the limited remaining time allotted to me today, I'll now proceed to scour my resources for stuff that interests me... Very happy to see the Senate pass SB 253(McBride), which ultimately conveys a parcel of property to Faithful Friends. Anyone who knows anything about Faithful Friends knows that they perform an invaluable public service in providing care and adoption services for stray and abandoned pets. A humane no-kill shelter with some of the finest staff and volunteers you'll ever meet. I find it ironic that the three senators who voted no reside in an area known for housing Delaware's worst (only?) puppy mills. The FY '15 Budget Bill was introduced and laid on the table in the Senate.  If you have time, read the Epilog Language. That's where all the sneaky stuff usually is. Yay! HB 331(Kowalko) unanimously passed the House yesterday!  The bill requires that both the University of Delaware and Del State comply with FOIA. And, unless I misread it, the House Amendment voted onto the bill strengthens the bill. The University must really have pissed off some important people.