Thursday Open Thread [1.14.2016]

Thursday Open Thread [1.14.2016]

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Greg Sargent:
However, Obama’s own words indicated that he has come to understand that a large chunk of the country fundamentally disagrees with his definition of progress and with his vision of government’s role in promoting it — and that his efforts at persuasion have not been enough to overcome these differences. A big chunk of the country does not envision as robust a governmental role in promoting economic security and maintaining a minimum standard of health care; in acting to combat climate change; and in creating a path to legalization for undocumented immigrants to get right with the law. That’s the America that Trump and Cruz are speaking to most effectively right now — the chunk of the country that remains hostile, or at least deeply skeptical, towards Obama’s vision of cultural inclusion, of what counts as progress, and of government’s proper role in promoting it. In pleading for all of these things — and in admitting that he’s failed to unite the country behind a shared vision — Obama implicitly conceded that when it comes to our biggest arguments, there still may be two Americas, after all. The unspoken truth that Obama could not openly acknowledge last night is that Democrats are betting their hopes for preserving this vision on the demographic gamble that their America is inexorably evolving into the larger one.
Well, it is. That is a safe bet. Racists are dying off, and whites will no longer by the majority of this country in 10 years time. So the party that stands for inclusion and diversity and tolerance of all cultures and faiths will be the dominant party. The GOP has two choices: 1) change, or 2) somehow win one final election and engage in mass genocide and/or deportation. Right now, with Trump, they are going with option 2
Talking about taxes with wingnuts on Gov Elect Carney’s FB page

Talking about taxes with wingnuts on Gov Elect Carney’s FB page

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When Governor Elect Carney announced this "FB chat" I promised myself that I wouldn't jump in with cranks and crackpots to shake my puny, impotent fist at the staffer playing the role of Carney on social media. Then... I went there anyway because, of course I did. You can see my brief dialogue with the staffer playing the role of Carney on social media below, but underneath that cordial small talk, I stuck around a bit to chit chat with some wingnuts. If you have a few minutes to kill, you can read the back and forth, but the bottom line is this: Broke-ass, middle class Republicans have been instructed by the media and their political "thinkers" that the Poors are bad and the Richs are virtuous. They are very comfortable with that as a world-view. It makes sense to them. Beyond that simple formulation, they have a few programmed rhetorical tools at their disposal, such as "If you hear 'X' , say 'Y'" but no real political or economic philosophy to defend, NOR any real interest in politics or economics beyond the ability of politics to give them a team to identify with.
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 14, 2016

General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 14, 2016

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ALERT!! MARKELL, CHAMBER AND LONGHURST GIVE MIDDLE FINGER TO DELAWAREANS: HB 235, the so-called Delaware Competes Bill, is the first bill the House will consider this year.  What's amazing, well, not amazing, but typical of the primordial ooze behind this, is that the bill will be considered under Motion to Suspend Rules.  Here's why. Even though the bill cleared the House Revenue & Taxation Committee, the bill was reassigned to the House Appropriations Committee (the committee is comprised of the House members of the Joint Finance Committee). That's because the bill has a significant cost. Such bills are typically not considered until/unless JFC does the fiscal legerdemain.  In this case, even though the bill will have a significant annual cost, the House will try to bypass the budgetary process.  Since the bill wouldn't even take effect until January of 2017, rushing this through serves no purpose other than to satisfy the Chamber and its millionaire minions.  This is a transfer of wealth from ordinary citizens to the politically-connected corporate overlords, pure and simple. We'll pay somehow, just wait. Last days of June when they hope that no one is watching.  Hey,  whaddayawant from Markell, Longhurst and their (wait for it) ilk? Call your state reps! What's not on the House Agenda under Motion to Suspend Rules is HB 50--the Opt-Out Bill.  As opposed to HB 235, doing this under MTSR is legit.  The bill has been through the committee process, was passed (twice) by the House, and it's a veto override, not consideration of new legislation.  Now, maybe the House will entertain a motion from the floor, maybe Speaker Pete won't, but it sure as hell should be considered.  Has the cynicism of Pistol Pete and Vindictive Val become so great that they can ignore the will of the members of the chamber?  We'll see.