Can You Chip In To Help Planned Parenthood?

Can You Chip In To Help Planned Parenthood?

Never mind that this probably won't pass... yet. The writing is on the wall, and it doesn't have a single thing to do with abortion (Hello, Hyde Amendment). But given the rampant ignorance and stupidity within the Republican Party we really need to send a message. Via WSJ:
The Senate will vote as early as Monday on a bill to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding, a largely symbolic vote causing pain for centrists in both parties and drawing fire from conservatives who say it won’t satisfy their quest to put the organization out of business. The bill isn’t expected to garner the 60 votes needed to advance, as nearly all Democrats object to it. Its defeat, however, won’t end the effort to cut off federal money for Planned Parenthood.
When you consider the Hyde Amendment, you need to ask yourself, what is the real agenda of the GOP? The correct answer is that The War on Women continues. This is really about contraception... and women who have the ability to have an enjoy sex (a mythical creature in GOP land, among GOP men and women - which is really sad.) without the fear of pregnancy.
This is getting tiring.

This is getting tiring.

The News Journal reports that New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon "still isn't ruling out a campaign for governor in 2016." Why would he rule it out? The juggernaut that is John Carney is not that intimidating. Indeed, if Gordon gets in versus Carney, I have Gordon as the favorite.
"I have not made up my mind," Gordon said during a brief interview on Thursday. "It's still early. I haven't said no to it."
Thursday Open Thread [7.30.15]

Thursday Open Thread [7.30.15]

Nate Silver: “Despite what you may have read elsewhere — or heard from the man himself — Donald Trump is not all that popular with Republican voters. Sure, he’s in first place in many polls. But Trump is near the back of the pack by another important measure… Trump’s favorability ratings among Republicans are barely better than break-even: 47 percent favorable and 43 percent unfavorable. Among the 17 Republican candidates, Trump’s net favorable rating, +4, ranks 13th, ahead of only Chris Christie, Jim Gilmore, Lindsey Graham and George Pataki.” “And yet, in these same polls, Trump is the first choice of an average of 20 percent of Republican voters — the highest in the field, ahead of Scott Walker (14 percent) and Jeb Bush (12 percent).”
Ready, Fire, Aim — The Operation Disrupt Edition

Ready, Fire, Aim — The Operation Disrupt Edition

Today, we get a hilarious press release from the Mayor's Office announcing that the WPD's Operation Disrupt is now coming back. This is the Operation Disrupt put into place with great fanfare after multiple shootings in January -- pulling the city's Community Police Unit, as well as resources from other special units to flood the streets of certain sections of the city with officers. And only for eight hours in the evening and only for 5 days a week. Sundays were covered by NCCOPD and Mondays were covered on an ad hoc basis. Operation Disrupt started winding down in March and by the time that the WPSSC presented its report, Operation Disrupt was a shadow of its former self, with most of the special unit officers returned to their units and the CPU officers preparing to move on to other assignments. This is March 31. The NJ reported that Operation Disrupt was being reconfigured into a 7 officer unit that would specifically target certain areas. Then it said that Operation Disrupt was over on June 5, which may be when the original configuration ended. And then -- TA DA! -- Operation Disrupt is BACK and Mayor and the Chief are pulling the newly deployed CPU to do the larger effort.
DCRAC Asks AG Lynch to Investigate the Misuse of the Mortgage Settlement Funds in DE

DCRAC Asks AG Lynch to Investigate the Misuse of the Mortgage Settlement Funds in DE

Very proud of Rashmi Rangan and the Delaware Community Reinvestment Action Council, Inc. for stepping up and asking for an official investigation into whether or not the settlement funds Delaware received have been misued. You'll remember that the GA grabbed those funds to fill their own budget deficit. The one they created by not being able to ask for additional revenues. And you'll also recall that California was sued over this same money grab by its legislature and was told by the courts to pay it back. Ms. Rangan sent her request directly to the US Attorney General Loretta Lynch:
Wednesday Open Thread [7.29.15]

Wednesday Open Thread [7.29.15]

President Obama seriously trolled the right wing yesterday with his comments to the Africa Union that if the constitution allowed it, he could win a third term. He also said he thinks he is a pretty good president, which is of course an objective fact, but it was sure to still the pot on the right nonetheless. I say he was trolling regarding the third term talk because the right wing, what with all of their fantasy talk about conspiracies and birther nonsense and Jade Helm takeovers of Texas, believes that Obama will institute martial law and install himself as Dictator for Life. First off, yes, it is true that some on the left also believe Bush was going to start a war with Iran and declare martial law and install himself as President as a third off. So, touche. Second, I cannot image anyone who has served as President wants to stay in that job forever. 8 years in that job takes 20 years off your life. Just look at the before and after photos. Third, yeah, the Constitution is pretty explicit about this, and if you want to start a revolution against you, staying for third term is a good way to start it. Fourth, the President was illustrating a point to African leaders because Africa frequently deals with popularly elected leaders who then want to stay in power. The President was saying, hey, if I could, I would and I would win. But that doesn't mean he should. He was saying respect the rule of law and get off the stage when it is your time. Fifth, he is right. If President Obama could run for a third term, there is no doubt in my mind that he would trounce any one of the Republicans currently running.
Tuesday Open Thread [7.28.15]

Tuesday Open Thread [7.28.15]

Politico reports that "[f]Four leading GOP presidential candidates – Jeb Bush, Ted Cruz, Marco Rubio and Scott Walker – " were summoned.... SUMMONED... by the Koch Brothers "to a Southern California luxury hotel in coming days to make their cases directly to the Koch brothers and hundreds of other wealthy conservatives planning to spend close to $1 billion in the run-up to the 2016 election.” If these men had any guts, if they truly were men (and if Carly Fiorina or Hillary Clinton were involved in this story, I would say if they truly were women) of any integrity, any self respect, any honor at all, they would tell the Koch Brother to stick it where the sun don't shine. Summoned? In stories like this, these candidates have to know that they look like puppets, right? Well, not look like, they are.
State Rep. Kowalko and State Sen. Lawson pen Op-Ed on Overriding Markell’s Veto of Opt-Out.

State Rep. Kowalko and State Sen. Lawson pen Op-Ed on Overriding Markell’s Veto of Opt-Out.

This joint and bipartisan op-ed was published in the News Journal and other media outlets today, and we are publishing it here. The position of any Democratic elected official or candidate must be to override the Governor's veto of House Bill 50, and it should be done immediately, if not in a special session, then on the first day in January once the General Assembly reconvenes.
Perhaps the overwhelming popularity of the Iran Deal will convince Carper and Coons to vote for it.

Perhaps the overwhelming popularity of the Iran Deal will convince Carper and Coons to vote for it.

A LA Jewish Journal survey finds that 48% of Jewish Americans support the Iran nuclear deal negotiated between the United States, Germany, the UK, France, Russia, China and Iran. 28% oppose it and 25% hadn’t heard enough to form an opinion. In another poll released yesterday, the PPP finds strong support for the Iran nuclear deal. Among the key findings:
-Only 38% of voters are opposed to the Iran deal, compared to 54% who are supportive of it. Democratic voters (75/17) are far more united in their favor for the agreement than Republicans (36/54) are in their opposition to it. Voters within every gender, race, and age group are in support of it, reflecting the broad based mandate for the deal.