Friday Open Thread [1.30.15]—The Romney Free Edition

Friday Open Thread [1.30.15]—The Romney Free Edition

In a sense, our first Romney free open thread since 2007, since Mitt Romney began running for President. And by "Romney free," I mean, we, the citizens of this country, are free from the prospect of Willard Dillard Mittens Romney III ever being our President. If you thought "Romney free" meant this open thread was free of mentions to Romney, you are sadly mistaken.
Delaware General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up: January 27-29, 2015.

Delaware General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up: January 27-29, 2015.

As a would-be oligarch, Jack Markell introduced a proposed budget that will make him a welcome guest at Chateau Country's finest soirees. As a putative Democrat, his budget is disgraceful and indefensible.  Guess whose taxes will increase? Seniors who get a modest tax break on their homes. That's it. You know why that break was implemented in the first place? To make seniors less likely to oppose public school referenda due to the impact it would have on their fixed incomes.  For Markell, it's a two-fer: Screw seniors on a fixed income and make it harder for public school districts to raise funds.  BTW, it's time we face reality.  We really are an oligarchy and not a democracy.  Take some time to read this, and then come back.

The Matt Denn Dividend

By leaving the LT Gov's office empty, the state is saving $610,000. Pretty sweet.
Lt. Governor's Office -$610,3000
Knowing this cost $610,000 it is going to be pretty hard going forward for anyone to make the case that we need a Lt. Governor. Other than that, I don't see anything surprising in this Markell budget power-point. Unless I'm missing it, no tax increases. Only cuts to balance the budget. Elderly property tax subsidy cut -$12 million. (Suck it old fart New Jersey losers!), lower debt service -$11.7 million (thanks low interest rates), and presumably nobody is going to get sued this year, -$2 in legal fees.
Thursday Open Thread [1.29.15]

Thursday Open Thread [1.29.15]

A reader of Dish wrote in after watching Speaker Boner and Majority Leader Turtle's joint interview of 60 Minutes this past Sunday, and offered these observations.
They also acknowledged that the recovery has mostly only benefited the top income-earners while leaving the majority of Americans stuck in neutral. Boehner and McConnell want to “do something” to address income inequality and make sure those on the bottom of the economy have the opportunity to move up. They basically accused Obama of only helping the top 1% (which seems a complete reversal of the stories we’ve been hearing from them the last six years, but I digress). This all sounds good enough to me, since for so long, it seemed the GOP was unwilling to even acknowledge there was an issue with inequality. If they want to blame Obama, I don’t really care so long as they are willing to present solutions. So, the interviewer then asked if they would support raising taxes on top income earners. Answer: No. The interviewer asked if they would support raising the minimum wage. Answer: No. The interviewer asked if they would support Obama’s plan to provide free community college. Answer: No. The interviewer asked if they would support Obama’s plan to expand the Child Income Tax Credit for working families. Answer: Maybe (Boehner mumbles about wanting to help working families but says he needs to further study this idea).
The Republicans really do have an issue and agenda problem. My God, what will they do after Obama is gone? Well, I suppose screaming no to President Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton will suffice until 2025, but then what?
Simpson (Guilelessly) Proposes Repealing Delaware Estate Tax

Simpson (Guilelessly) Proposes Repealing Delaware Estate Tax

The most interesting thing about this proposal to abolish the estate tax is that it is so transparent and honest. All the malarkey about this benefiting "farmers" and "small businesses" has been mercifully dropped, and the ranking Republican in the Senate simply states the truth - this is to help rich people.

Thursday Daily Delawhere [1.29.15]

Brandywine Academy, on Vandever Avenue in Wilmington's Brandywine Village. The schoolhouse was built in 1798, and served as a school and meeting place until 1870, a year after Brandywine Village…
Wednesday Open Thread [1.28.15]

Wednesday Open Thread [1.28.15]

I love this:
Alabama's first openly gay state legislator fired back on Facebook over the weekend, including a threat to expose the affairs of state officials, to comments made by Republican Party officials in the wake of a federal judge declaring the state ban on same-sex marriage unconstitutional. State Rep. Patricia Todd, D-Birmingham, said she was elated and in "shock" when the judge issued the order overturning Alabama's same-sex marriage ban. But after seeing comments by Republican officials, particularly from Alabama Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, and seeing Attorney General Luther Strange's efforts to get a stay of the judge's orders, Todd fired off an emotional Facebook post making a threat to expose politicians' dalliances.
These Republican officials of course say same sex marriage is an affront to family values and good Christian morality. So is sleeping around with mistresses, or in some cases, boy toys. I say don't just make the threat, reveal all now. If Republicans want to act holier than thou, then they better be holier than thou.