Archive for March, 2016
The Weekly Addresses
In this week’s address, President Obama offered his thoughts and prayers to the people of Belgium and to families of the victims of the terrorist attacks in Brussels, including at least two Americans.
In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights Delaware’s commitment to ensuring all communities in Delaware realize their potential through meaningful work.
WHYY’s First team sits down with members of Delaware Legislature for an update on the pressing issues facing the First State – Finance, Education, Public Safety and Agriculture. Mark, Avi, Nichelle and Shirley talk to our political leaders about healthcare costs, school taxes, gun sales loopholes and supporting Delaware’s farmers.
Mayor Williams’ FB Meltdown
A meltdown, right? Because WTF else could be going on here? For someone who needs plenty of votes this September, alienating some of them on racial lines seems just plain delusional. And this is not all. If you are on his page regularly, there are posts saying Good Night Wilmington (think Good Night JohnBoy) and for those who are asking serious questions or who criticize him in any way — you are unfriended and blocked. Like he was still in junior high school or something.
Friday Open Thread [3.25.16]
![Friday Open Thread [3.25.16]](http://delawareliberal.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Trump-240x180.jpg "Friday Open Thread [3.25.16]")
“A majority of Republican insiders say Donald Trump should not get the GOP presidential nomination if he falls short of winning a majority of delegates – even if Trump amasses more than any of his opponents,” Politico reports. “Roughly six-in-10 Republicans said the party should nominate another candidate if Trump finishes with a plurality, rather than the required 1,237-delegate majority necessary to claim the party nomination.” But how can Trump be denied if he has a majority of the delegates?
Sen. Ted Cruz’s campaign — and to some extent Gov. John Kasich’s campaign as well — is working hard in every state still choosing delegates. If he’s successful, he will be able to place some of his own loyalists as Trump’s delegates. Cruz will also propose a rule to “unbind” the delegates — to allow them to vote their preference and possibly ignore the outcome of the primaries. Ted Kennedy tried that in 1980 to prevent Carter’s nomination, and I think Reagan tried it in 1976 to prevent Ford’s. Neither worked.
Jonathan Bernstein explains:
The process involves three steps. First, the Republican National Committee will establish a set of proposed rules for the convention. Rules maven Josh Putnam says it’s unlikely that those rules will free the delegates. Then, a week before the gathering, those rules will be handed off to the convention’s rules committee, which is free to change them any way it likes. Once that’s done, the rules go to the full convention, which can accept them as is or amend them in any way it deems appropriate.
If the delegates vote to free themselves, then that’s that: They will vote as they wish, regardless of how they were chosen to vote.
If that happens, Cruz or Paul Ryan or Mitt Romney maybe a likely nominee. But this maneuver is like playing with a nuclear bomb that is in the process of detonating. Because, 1) Trump will do something, and it won’t be good 2) his supporters will do whatever Trump tells to do, either to write him in or stay home; and 3) the regular rank and file Republican electorate doesn’t care for that too much.
Delaware Political Weekly: March 18-24, 2016
Realtor Jim Startzman startz anew. Doesn’t even look like his webpage has been updated. Here’s why he says he’s running:
You’re probably wondering why I’ve decided to run for State Representative and what it is that makes me more qualified than the incumbent. During the last 6+ years I have become more and more aware of the negative effect of our state government towards the citizens of Delaware.
Ho-kay. Anyway, Williams defeated him in 2014 by a 3128-1788 margin. She is one of Delaware’s best legislators and best progressives. She’s part of the solution. My theory as to why Startzman’s running? Real estate business must be slow.
If I Could Have A Moment Of Your Time…
I canvassed with Eugene this past fall and was impressed with his grasp of the issues and his solutions. I’m impressed by the broad coalition of volunteers and staff he has been surrounded himself with — people who are energizing their networks and creating one of the most professionally run campaigns I’ve ever seen in the city. It is gratifying to see (and work with!) younger people energized by stepping up to do the work of making sure that Wilmington is a great place for them to live in and work in.
The diversity and outreach in this campaign is awe-inspiring. Eugene is campaigning across the entire city, in every community. That’s refreshing and smart. Far too often candidates for mayor focus solely on certain communities. Even worse, a few pit communities against each other by employing fear and the familiar “tough on crime” stance, dividing the city into “us and them”.
It’s also no secret that campaigns need contributions. It’s also also no secret that our city needs a new direction and vision. I believe the person capable of setting us on a new path is Eugene Young. So I’m calling on (really, asking) the DL statewide community (because you guys are awesome!) to contribute to Eugene’s campaign. In order to keep track of our awesomeness please add .16 to your contribution. (You know… 25.16)
Thursday Open Thread [3.24.16]
![Thursday Open Thread [3.24.16]](http://delawareliberal.net/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/04-trump-chait.w560.h375-240x180.jpg "Thursday Open Thread [3.24.16]")
Jonah Goldberg says the Republican Party is over: “Nominating Donald Trump will wreck the Republican Party as we know it. Not nominating Trump will wreck the Republican Party as we know it. The sooner everyone recognizes this fact, the better.”
“Denial has been Trump’s greatest ally. Republicans and commentators didn’t believe he would run. They didn’t believe he could be an attractive candidate to rational people, no matter how angry with “the establishment” voters said they were. They – which includes me – were wrong.”
“Trump represents just the most pronounced of a spiderweb of ideological and demographic fault lines that are increasingly difficult to paper over. As Joel Kotkin put it in a column for the Orange County Register, the Republican Party now ‘consists of interest groups that so broadly dislike each other that they share little common ground.’ Put simply, and with the incessant and obtuse comparisons of Trump to Reagan notwithstanding, you cannot have a party that’s both Reaganite and Trumpish.”
13,395 Votes
145 votes may not seem like a lot, but considering the margins from prior failed referenda: 2000 votes in February 2015, 900 votes in May 2015, there appears to be a trend emerging. 8100 total votes in February, 11,000 in May, 13,395 tonight. We closed a gigantic gap in a little over 1 year and got this referendum passed. There will be much analysis to come, but for right now I just want to give the unofficial final tally, and throw up a quick graphic of the percent change in turnout totals from May 2015 to March 2016. Our city of Wilmington community came through HUGE for u
Polls are Open
In Christina, Brandywine, and Cape Henlopen School Districts the polls are now open for Super Referendum Wednesday. They will remain open until 8pm this evening.
Wednesday Open Thread [3.23.16]
Hillary Clinton won Arizona last night 58-40, while Bernie Sanders won Idaho and Utah by margins of 78-21 and 79-20, respectively. The blowout margins in Utah and Idaho means that Sanders, for the first time in a long time, gains in net delegates, closing the gap with Clinton by 6 delegates. On the night, Hillary wins at least 41 delegates in Arizona and 5 a piece in Idaho and Utah. Bernie gains 22 delegates in Arizona, and 18 and 17 in Utah and Idaho. Clinton still leads Sanders by over 300 delegates.
Recent Comments