Monday Open Thread [8.24.15]

Monday Open Thread [8.24.15]

9 Comments
Yesterday I posted David Atkin's thoughts about Joe Biden not having anything to lose in running for the Presidency a third time, no matter what happens. Booman responded to that article, and he captures my thoughts on the subject rather well:
[A]ll things being equal, running for president and losing turns you into a sad character. You can easily become somewhat ridiculous and worthy of pity, and this can became your enduring legacy which wipes out all your previous accomplishments and successes. What do people think about when they discuss George McGovern or Walter Mondale or Michael Dukakis or Mitt Romney? Did their presidential bids do anything positive for Fred Thompson or Rudy Giuliani or Phil Gramm? Whether you win the nomination like Al Gore or lose it like Bill Bradley, what people remember is that you didn’t become the president. Walter Mondale and Hubert Humphrey could be remembered as legendary senators and sitting vice-presidents, but they are instead remembered as complete, devastating failures for the left. [...] So, I don’t think we can say that Joe Biden has nothing to lose by making a run for the presidency. If he slips into retirement, he’ll be remembered with near-universal fondness. While he did suffer two humiliating defeats when he ran for president, that was largely erased when he was elected as vice-president. His Senate career was hugely successful and his popularity in his home state never waned. If he makes a third run at the presidency and doesn’t win, that will muck up a posterity that’s looking pretty golden right now. It will also, to some degree, amount to a rejection of a third term for Obama, which will tarnish his legacy ever so slightly.
The Nest Is Empty And, Boy, Does It Feel Strange

The Nest Is Empty And, Boy, Does It Feel Strange

22 Comments
I haven't been blogging a lot because this spring and summer have been crazy. My youngest graduated high school, had her wisdom teeth removed, and attended orientation at the university she finally decided on. My oldest knocked off a summer course at UD (He's starting his senior year of Mech Engineering and decided to take a required gen-ed Philosophy course over the summer mainly because he knew he wouldn't give it the attention it needed given his course load this year. Sounded like a good philosophy to me!) Add to that all the shopping for my daughter's dorm, ordering textbooks, finalizing class schedules, endless list making, packing up two kids, scheduling doctor's appointments before both of them left the state, and fitting in a lot of family time and you'll see why my blogging lagged. I still read DL every day! But this weekend everything came to a screeching halt. They left. In the blink of an eye I went from having a million things to do and a house full of people (and chaos!) to... silence. That freaked me out.
From now to 2025.

From now to 2025.

2 Comments
I missed this hilarious and hopeful piece from Kevin Ohlandt of Exceptional Delaware when he posted it, but I just stumbled upon it and you have to read the whole thing. But I thought I would summarize the political musical chairs he envisions over the next ten years, and if they are possible. Matt Denn is elected Governor in 2016 and he eliminates crime in all Delaware cities. Former Governor Markell is indicted on charges of fraud and abuse. Kimberly Williams is elected Governor in 2020.
Finding jobs for out of work Delawareans was Governor Williams first goal when she won the election of 2020 against William Manning (R) after she devastated former Senator David Sokola in the landslide 542,828-16 vote in the Democrat(ic) primary.
So Matt Denn only serves one term, voluntarily? Did another office open up for him? Hmmm Wilmington is a thriving city. The problem of education is solved.