Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 2, 2015

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Let's not mince words. Not since 2009 has the General Assembly entered June with so much uncertainty and so much unfinished business.  I'd argue that it will even be a more difficult June than June of 2009. Back then, everyone recognized that Delaware, like virtually every other state, was suffering from an economic downturn.  The newly-minted governor was able to work with the General Assembly to craft a series of 'revenue-enhancers' to address the budget shortfall.  R's released just enough yes votes to enable bills to pass, in exchange for provisions sunsetting the revenue enhancers. Fast-forward six years.  This governor has lost a huge amount of political influence. So much so that his press flak has said that he'll watch what the General Assembly does, and not actively broker any settlements. He has, in particular, lost a lot of leverage with Democrats.  Some of this is inevitable.  Lame ducks almost never have much political capital to spend by Year 7.  Markell has also wasted political capital in ways that have earned him the enmity and distrust of D's in particular.  Whether it's the disaster of Race To the Top, his attempt to bypass the General Assembly while looking to get rid of the Port of Wilmington, his sabotage of a meaningful minimum wage bill, his inability to rally support for his gas tax increase, his cheerleading for charter schools, his refusal to consider any tax increase on his wealthy pals, and so much more, he is as close to feckless as any governor facing a budget shortfall can be. Except...he HAS, by Executive Order, created a panel to look at long-term changes to how Delaware funds government.  Unfortunately, Markell has chosen to place a vast majority of DINO's and Rethugs on the panel, ensuring that any recommendations it might make would not in any way address inequities in who pays what.  The good news: the ideas that are being put forward by this group are likely to be DOA. I mean, eliminate the estate tax? Really? These are not serious proposals except in a world where ALEC is king.
Brian Taff on Joe Biden

Brian Taff on Joe Biden

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Mr. Taff is a late afternoon news anchor for Action News on Ch. 6. He often writes very eloquently written blogs that he posts to his Facebook page. On this occasion, he has written about Vice President Biden, and I want to share it with you:
I'll never forget the moment. It was a steamy summer night in Denver, Colorado, moments before Joe Biden took the stage during the Democratic National Convention in 2008. I was hustling to get back to my broadcast perch, but got stuck in one of the occasional lockdowns that accompany the movement of high profile people in the building -- like the soon-to-be-Vice-President-of-the-United-States. Somehow, I ended up standing in a doorway about 15 feet from Joe, with an unobstructed view as he collected his thoughts leading up to what was then the biggest speech he'd ever given. He struck me as, and I'm not sure how else to put it: human. That now-famous Biden smile never left his face -- but it was more than apparent that his ear-to-ear grin was only a mask, an attempt to underplay the huge amount of nervous energy coursing through him. Seconds later, he brushed off any last minute doubts, and delivered a speech that served as an exclamation point to a childhood spent overcoming a stutter and an adulthood spent trying to overcome unimaginable loss. When he was done, the thunderous applause shook the arena and sent the faithful voters that filled it to their feet. And that, I think, is why Joe Biden holds a particularly unique place on the American stage -- and in its heart. He is not the straight-from-central-casting-politican. He is, well, human.
The NEW New Wilmington Crime Plan

The NEW New Wilmington Crime Plan

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Today, at a press conference that the public heard about maybe an hour and a half before it occurred, the Mayor and Chief Cummings announced ONE MORE Crime plan for Wilmington. It seems that not many people know what is in this plan (even City Councilpeople Sherry Dorsey and Hanifa Shabazz who endorsed it all without seeing it), and although there was some rumor that the plan would be available to the public shortly after the press conference, this plan is not on the City's website where the public can take a look or was it provided to the Governor or the WPSSC as a courtesy. So we have a press conference that was designed to exclude as many Wilmingtonians as possible, continuing the contempt this Mayor has for the citizens of Wilmington. But here is the gist of what is supposed to be on deck:
My Thoughts On Beau Biden… And What Really Matters

My Thoughts On Beau Biden… And What Really Matters

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I wasn't going to write about this, but, today, Al Mascitti made me cry. He was so choked up as he spoke about Beau and his family. So many memories came flooding back. Painful memories, but memories I wouldn't give up for the world. I'm also publishing this today due to the comments on the other thread. We've obviously "gone there" so let me add my insight. It's no secret I was in the "medical privacy" camp, but I sorta stayed out of those debates because I could (sorta) see the other side. It was a different conversation because, imo, it removed the humanity of the obvious situation, and while I didn't understand that side (and I'm not really here to debate that, altho that will probably happen given the comments on the "memorial" thread) my lack of understanding probably had a lot to do with how many times I've been up close and personal to this type of situation. Dying trumps everything. There are no politics, no career moves, no family squabbles, no test scores - These. Things. Do. Not. Matter. At all. If they matter to you, then that is your luxury. Here's the truth: There are no rules, no shoulds, no have tos, in regards to a terminal illness. Just like there are no rules to grief. Death is a solitary experience. No one can tell you how to handle this. There isn't a "correct" way of doing this. The dying person gets to set the rules. I've written about my experience with my best friend in 2011. Allow me to pull a passage from this post.
When a person faces a terminal illness their perspective changes.  Instead of focusing on being “cured” – which they accept isn’t an option – they focus on how much time they can buy.  As a 47 year old, divorced mother of two teenage boys my friend was obsessed with buying time.  I completely understood. Time Mattered. And yet, time was the one thing not discussed.  Not by her, or me, or her doctor.  It was the elephant in the room.  All of us knew time was running out.  None of us discussed it.  Sometimes saying things out loud makes them more real… too real?
Announcing you are dying is not a simple or easy thing to do - and you get to decide who you share it with and when. If you think it is easy then you have probably not experienced death up close - especially the death of a young person, with children. Saying this truth out loud is nearly impossible. It changes everything. It is admitting defeat. Every day is precious. Every day is a fight and a gift. Every day might be your last. And telling your children, or having them have to face this reality through the constant chatter of talking heads (Joe Biden went to Delaware. Is he visiting his dying son?) or newspaper articles, is the hardest thing you will ever experience. Dying people don't care about "your" or "their" concerns or issues - nor should they, because in the big scheme of things any concerns other than their children, spouse and family are things they have moved beyond. Your, our and their concerns are petty. Politics is a silly issue they have moved beyond. (and I love politics, but it goes out the window in this situation.)

Tornoe cartoon: RIP Beau Biden

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As a new father, I had a hard time drawing today's cartoon about the death of Beau Biden. Normally, I include an essay when I post my cartoons, which enables me to broaden the discussion and examine the nuance of a subject beyond the single-focus of a cartoon. But this is different.
Monday Open Thread [6.1.15]

Monday Open Thread [6.1.15]

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Rick Klein: “The scrum to become the anti-Hillary candidate is now joined, with flaws and foibles evident in both men who seem best positioned to give the Democratic frontrunner a run for her money. While this is Martin O’Malley’s announcement moment, it’s an early Bernie Sanders momentum moment, with polls and press coverage casting the Vermont senator as on the move. It’s important to remember that Sanders has more of a built-in base, particularly without Elizabeth Warren running. He’s the candidate for the far left, and the even farther left beyond.” “O’Malley’s advantages would be more likely to stand out in a more traditional competitive primary. He has governing experience, a generational argument to make, and generally looks the part more than Sanders. The race’s dynamics could wind up driving its competitive nature. If Hillary Clinton cruises wire-to-wire, Sanders could easily be the default runner-up. But the moment Clinton looks vulnerable enough to actually be beaten, it might be time for O’Mentum.”

For Sussex County Democrats, the show will go on

The 38th RD's "Picnic in the Park," scheduled for today at noon at the John T. West Park in Ocean View, DE, off of Atlantic Avenue (Rt. 26) on West Avenue, will continue as scheduled. I personally think it is a good idea, as it is a beautiful day and people can meet and talk about Joe & Beau Biden.

News Journal The News Journal has an excellent and voluminous story on the passing of Beau Biden by Jonathan Starkey, Xerxes Wilson and Cris Barrish.