Wednesday Open Thread [2.25.15]

Wednesday Open Thread [2.25.15]

Nevada State Assemblywoman and Cliven Bundy supporter Michele Fiore (R) said:
If you have cancer, which I believe is a fungus, and we can put a pic line into your body and we’re flushing with, say, salt water, sodium cardonate ([sic] through that line and flushing out the fungus. These are some procedures that are not FDA-approved in America that are very inexpensive, cost-effective.
Who knew that cancer is like athlete's foot? Idaho State Rep. Vito Barbieri (R) thinks the throat and stomach are connected to the vagina and uterus. Wrong hole, sir. But there is a sign of hope. In Wyoming, state Rep. Harlan Edmonds (R) was kicked out of a House Labor, Health and Social Services meeting after proposing an amendment to a bill protecting gay and transgender people from discrimination that would make it effective when “hell freezes over,” instead of the date of July 1.
“Many longtime observers said that while some members of the public have been tossed from committees, this was the first time they’d seen a lawmaker removed from a meeting.”
Good for the Republicans in Wyoming for showing a bigot the door.
Constitutional Absolutists

Constitutional Absolutists

Only 30% of Republicans oppose making Christianity the national religion. Let that sink in for a second.
A majority of Republicans nationally support establishing Christianity as the national religion, according to a new Public Policy Polling survey released Tuesday.
The poll found that 57 percent of Republicans "support establishing Christianity as the national religion" while 30 percent are opposed. Another 13 percent said they were not sure.
Even with Tom Carper, Keystone backers fall short for veto override

Even with Tom Carper, Keystone backers fall short for veto override

Carper's office has not yet released a statement, but his ardor for the Keystone tar-sands oil pipeline is well known, making his a target for Republicans seeking to override yesterday's presidential veto. Andy yet, there is does not appear to be much upside for Carper if he votes, once again, for this ecological cluster-fuck.
Yes Red Clay. No Christina. So What’s Next?

Yes Red Clay. No Christina. So What’s Next?

Residents in the Red Clay School District approved a measure that would raise taxes .35 cents per $100 of assessed property value over three years to cover increased operating expenses in their budget and provide for improvements in technology, curriculum and student services (the actual cost to the average homeowner in Red Clay once the measure is fully phased in would be $280 per year). Residents in the Christina School District had two options to chose from, and they said no to both. The first option was a bare bones measure to just "keep the lights on," and it would have raised taxes .65 cents per $100 of assessed property value phased in over three years. Only 26% of Christina residents voted yes to that. The second option would have raised taxes an additional .40 cents per $100 of assessed property value phased in over four years (so a total of $1.05 per $100), with the additional funds to pay for improvements in technology, arts, and early childhood learning. Only 22% voted yes. So what's next?
Tuesday Open Thread [2.24.15]

Tuesday Open Thread [2.24.15]

A CNN/ORC poll finds that only Hillary Clinton is viewed as a candidate of the future rather than the past, and I bet you it is because people view her as a potential first woman President, which of course is something that has not happened yet, and thus would be the future. This is why a "She's part of the past" argument will not work against Hillary.
Asked in a new CNN/ORC poll whether seven possible candidates better represent the future or the past, 50% said Clinton evoked the future, more than said so of any other candidate. By contrast, Joe Biden and Jeb Bush, whose names have been in the political conversation even longer than Clinton's, were each seen as representing the past by 64% of Americans.
43% say New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie represents the future, while 41% says its Rand Paul, while 39% says its Scott Walker.
Markell’s Supreme Court, and a Missed Opportunity.

Markell’s Supreme Court, and a Missed Opportunity.

Nothing explains the Delaware Way more than the recent nomination to the Supreme Court by Gov. Jack Markell (D) of corporate attorney and the son of a former Supreme Court Justice, Collins J. “C.J.” Seitz, Jr., Esquire. Seitz, when confirmed (because there is no if about it in this state), will replace retiring Justice Henry duPont Ridgely. The Judicial Nominating Commission, in addition to Seitz, also recommended to Governor Markell Superior Court Judge Calvin Scott, who would have been the first African American Supreme Court Justice on the Delaware Supreme Court; and a former Superior Court judge and now an attorney in private practice, Joseph Sleights III. I think the Delaware Supreme Court could have used a little color, and something more diverse than another corporate attorney.
Lavelle Will Not Run for Governor in 2016

Lavelle Will Not Run for Governor in 2016

Breaking news from Jonathan Starkey at the News Journal:
Republican Sen. Greg Lavelle will not seek the governor's office next year, according to a letter the lawmaker sent to political supporters. [...] Lavelle told supporters this week he "had given a lot of thought" to a run for governor, but said personal commitments prevented him from launching a campaign. "I have decided that now is not the time for me to take on this challenge," Lavelle wrote. "At this time, the personal bandwidth just doesn't exist to create and sustain the time needed to run for Governor, while maintaining and addressing my current and varied responsibilities."
Carly Forina to Speak at State GOP Convention

Carly Forina to Speak at State GOP Convention

The Delaware Republican Party is holding their annual convention gathering at the DoubleTree Hotel on Concord Pike in Wilmington in May of this year. And after a wonderous election year in which a whole bunch of new Republicans were elected, and with a wide open field of prospective Republican Presidential candidates like Scott Walker, Chris Christie, Jeb Bush, Mike Huckabee, Rick Santorum, Rand Paul, Ted Cruz, and Ben Carson, the state GOP has invited...
Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO and failed U.S. Senate candidate from California, will speak at the annual gathering of party faithful on May 30[.]
To their credit, Ms. Fiorina is, for reasons passing human understanding, considering a presidential run of her own in 2016. I don't know, I just feel our local GOP could have done better.