Sunday Open Thread [6.26.16]

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Longtime columnist George Will has officially left the Republican Party, he told a group of conservatives on Friday. Will, a conservative columnist for the Washington Post, confirmed to PJ Media that he switched his Maryland party registration from GOP to unaffiliated. At a meeting of the Federalist Society Friday in D.C., Will told the group it’s worth refusing to back Trump even if it hands the election to Democrat Hillary Clinton. “This is not my party,” he told the group. “Make sure he loses. Grit their teeth for four years and win the White House.”
Saturday Open Thread [6.25.16]

Saturday Open Thread [6.25.16]

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The Brexit vote, as is Trump support, is a primarily a generational divide. The older Silent and Baby Boom generations are extending a giant middle finger to the X and Millenial Generations, a one last Fuck You. Jack Lennard:
Let’s look at the voter demographics. The "Leave" vote was overwhelmingly carried by those over the age of 65, whereas according to pre-vote polling, 72 percent of those who were aged 18 to 24 favored "Remain." [...] Despite young people having to live with the decision of the referendum for an average of 69 years, it has been decided for them by people who will only have to live with it for an average of 16 years. Put simply: The long-term effects of Brexit will not be felt by those who overwhelmingly voted for it. Because they will be dead. This is a final middle-fingered salute to the young from the baby boomer generation. Not content with racking up insurmountable debt, not content with destroying any hopes of sustainable property prices or stable career paths, not content with enjoying the benefits of free education and generous pension schemes before burning down the ladder they climbed up, the baby boomers have given one last turd on the doorstep of the younger generation. My generation will not enjoy the free movement to 27 different countries and the workers’ rights that rescued Britain from the "sick man of Europe" era of the 1970s. For us, there will be no golden age of economic hope and glory. UK Independence Party leader Nigel Farage’s sickening elation at "independence day for the United Kingdom" (surely a joke, given the context of violent colonialism that Britain herself exported to the world over the last centuries, yet sadly deadly serious) heralds nothing but a grim forecast of turmoil.
Where the Greatest Generation of the Depression era and World War II was the best generation, the Silent and Baby Boom Generations have been among the worst ever to walk on this Earth.

The Weekly Addresses

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On Friday, June 24, President Obama designated the Stonewall National Monument - the first national monument dedicated to telling the story of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community's struggle for equal rights. In his weekly message, Governor Markell highlights the efforts of the state to give all Delaware families access to high-quality early learning programs.
Delaware Political Weekly: June 17-23, 2016.

Delaware Political Weekly: June 17-23, 2016.

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Dennis Williams can't defend himself, so he won't defend himself.  He still wants to be reelected. Anyone else see the disconnect here?  This News-Journal article lays it out there for all to see. In fact, city resident Erin Lee exposes the mayor better than I could:
Wilmington resident Erin Lee: "Why won't you show up at the debates??" Williams: "Why should I when all I will be is the punching bag. I will not get a word in because the deck is stacked against me." Lee: "If you don't have a spine and can't stand up and defend your plans and ideas for our city against a few other people, how can you say you can stand up and be a LEADER of our city?? You aren't a leader, you're a little boy."
Williams then goes on to insult her. A little boy with anger management problems and a disastrous record. The article also demonstrates how Williams takes credit for stuff that happens in the City even when he has had nothing to do with it.  As to the arts community he touts, the city's involvement has gone to hell ever since he got rid of Tina Betz, who actually knew what she was doing. The problem, though, is, he will almost certainly win reelection unless the field of challengers shrinks considerably before the primary election.  I sincerely hope that there is serious polling going on, and that the projected also-rans drop out.  I mean, let's face it, Williams has been even more disastrous than Karen Weldin Stewart. And he could well be reelected the same way that she was.
Is Speaker Pete Pulling A Fast One?

Is Speaker Pete Pulling A Fast One?

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By 'fast', I mean before June 30. This 'tip' speaks for itself and raises all sorts of questions about a bill that Schwartzkopf is rushing through the General Assembly.  The subject may appear to be arcane, but looks like it's designed to enable a lot of people who are not permanent residents of Rehoboth to vote in elections there. The bill, HB 395 (M. Smith), does not specify Rehoboth.  Schwartzkopf is a sponsor. The bill in question was introduced on June 2. Already passed the House, already out of a Senate committee.  Interestingly, unlike every other piece of legislation on the LIS system that I've seen, there is no PDF link to this bill. Coincidence? You decide.   Here is the tip in its entirety....

Thursday Open Thread [6.23.16]

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“Britons headed to polling booths Thursday for a historic vote on whether to leave the European Union, a choice pitting a vision of an untethered Britain against bleak predictions of economic turbulence and global insecurity,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “After months of campaigning, most polls show a virtual dead heat between the pro-EU ‘remain’ campaign and the ‘Brexit’ camp, shorthand for those advocating Britain’s exit from the 28-nation bloc. Turnout will be crucial to determining the outcome, with stormy weather across southern England causing flooding and snarling public transport.”