Archive for June, 2015

Delaware lawmakers are killing the golden goose

Filed in Delaware by Rob Tornoe on June 19, 2015 • 8 Comments

As I was coming up with ideas for my new cartoon, I had a surprising revelation – I was actually sympathizing with Delaware’s beleaguered casinos?

Friday Open Thread [6.19.15]

Filed in National by Delaware Dem on June 19, 2015 • 5 Comments

Today is Juneteenth — a commemoration of the day that General Granger got to Galveston with his soldiers (including a Colored Regiment) troops to remind the citizens there that Lee had surrendered and that the slaves were free. It is important to remember this day — good reading on this at TPM and the NYT. […]

Friday Daily Delawhere [6.19.15]

Filed in National by Delaware Dem on June 19, 2015 • 3 Comments

This photo is from the wonderful photography of Nick McNevich. McNevich’s work was recently featured in the News Journal. McNevich is also part of the CreateInWilm Facebook community, which is a cooperative group of artists, photographers, and craftspeople dedicated to bringing change to the city of Wilmington through art and expression.

In Which We Find Neither Accountability or Fiscal Sensibility in the Wilmington City Council — AGAIN

Filed in Delaware by cassandra_m on June 18, 2015 • 11 Comments

Tonight, the Wilmington City Council will vote on an amendment to the budget to add more management staff to the WPD. They will do that without having any hearings, with little notice to the public and without Bud Freel (the Finance Chair) in attendance. Councilman Freel is one of the few points of fiscal accountability (heck of any accountability) in the City Council and doing this without him available (guess Council President Gregory did not offer Bud first class tickets to come back to vote) and without a good public airing is good government malpractice. But then, we are talking about a group of people who aren’t much interested in good government — or, frankly, in representing their constituents. Here is what is being voted on:

Thursday Open Thread [6.18.15]

Filed in National by Delaware Dem on June 18, 2015 • 5 Comments

Paul Waldman: “It’s tempting to feel a little sorry for the Republican Party. Here they were, trying to have a perfectly civil and sober primary campaign to determine their candidate for the presidency, when along comes Donald Trump.”

“Here’s the problem, though: Donald Trump is the essence of contemporary Republicanism. It’s a distilled essence, boiled down to a viscous and sour consistency. But if you want to know what Republicans believe and who they are, you don’t need to look much further. He’s a walking caricature, but it’s a caricature created from everything Republicans believe.”

Give this man all the guns he wants, because anything else is tyranny

Filed in National by jason330 on June 18, 2015 • 74 Comments

Displaying the apartheid era flag of South Africa and the Colonial Rhodesia flag is simple free speech. Depriving this man of guns, or even making him wait for his guns is the same as Naziism.

The NRA’s Wayne LaPierre calls on Congress to pass a law requiring armed church congregations

Filed in National by jason330 on June 18, 2015 • 2 Comments

Note: These are the actual words of LaPierre after the Newtown Connecticut shootings where 20-year-old Adam Lanza fatally shot 20 children and 6 adult staff members. I’ve lightly edited the original sickening statement, and changed references from schools to churches, and changed an “us” reference (meaning the NRA) to Second Amendment enthusiasts.

Thursday Daily Delawhere [6.18.15]

Filed in National by Delaware Dem on June 18, 2015 • 0 Comments

Wednesday Open Thread [6.17.15]

Filed in National by Delaware Dem on June 17, 2015 • 4 Comments

Margaret Carlson wants Joe Biden to run for President. I personally think it is the furthest thing from his mind.

It’s hard to see how they could look at Biden and not see [a viable candidate]. In some ways, Biden is the anti-Obama, and maybe his perfect complement. The vice president has an ample gift for the kind of politics Obama can’t stomach — the shooting the breeze, the backslapping and, yes, even the shoulder squeezing. …

Not one Republican presidential candidate has his experience or his heart — nor, for that matter, does the presumptive Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.

We got a ton of polling results in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire and Florida, as well as nationally, so click through to check it out.

Dick Cheney’s end is nigh… days, perhaps hours to live

Filed in National by jason330 on June 17, 2015 • 7 Comments

One day that headline is going to be true. If you are around me when Cheney kicks the bucket, the PARTY IS ON! I’m buying.

That’s all. I just wanted to make that offer official. Carry on.

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 17, 2015

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on June 17, 2015 • 2 Comments

My, how times have changed. So much so that HB 115(J. Johnson), which ‘permits individuals subject to the supervision of the Delaware Department of Correction to effect a name change based on a sincerely held gender-related identity’, passed the Senate and goes to the Governor. Two R’s, Cloutier and Lopez, voted for the bill, leaving only the Rethug Haters to either vote no or go not voting.

Rep. Kowalko has introduced two bills providing for higher tax brackets for those making over $125K per year. HB 181 and HB 196. While HB 181 is a straightforward addition of two upper income brackets, HB 196 ‘lowers the current tax rates by .05% for each bracket. The bill also creates a new tax bracket at $125,000 with a rate of 7.05%, and an additional bracket at $250,000 with a rate of 7.80%. The bill also provides a tiered reduction of the otherwise available itemized deduction based upon the individual’s taxable income’. I hope that legislators consider these proposals this year. Otherwise, next year’s fiscal picture will make this year’s look tame by comparison. And, uh, next year is an Election Year.

CASH BOMB NEEDED TODAY

Filed in National by jason330 on June 17, 2015 • 8 Comments

Blogger Kevin Ohlandt of Exceptional Delaware posted a GoFundMe campaign for $1875 to cover the Delaware Department of Education’s demand for fulfilling Kevin’s FOIA request. The request is for contracts and emails related to Delaware’s relationship with AIR and DRC, who are respectively the testing and scoring vendor for Delaware’e Smarter Balanced Assessment test.

www.gofundme.com

Kevin has asked repeatedly for this information, and has followed up with DOJ do reduce DOE’s demands from an even more ridicuous $8000-something. Kevin is blessed with the time, the energy, and the integrity go make the most of the information.

We need to fill the GoFundMe campaign TODAY to send DOE and the Senate a message, on this day when HB 50 (Opt Out) is on the Senate agenda, and Governor Markell has his veto pen ready. So put in a few bucks, or even a few hundred to make the message loud and clear today.