Final Markell Poll Results

Poll.Markell Outgoing Governor Jack Markell garners mostly positive ratings from DL readers as he heads for the doors. 66% of our readership in this voluntary, non-random, non-scientific Internet poll rated him and his Administration at a C or better. (27% said C, 23% said B, 16% said A). 33% gave the Governor either a D or F. My evaluation of the Governor was that he succeeded on social issues, helping Delaware move left and towards equality on a host of progressive issues. But, despite some early nods towards more progressive taxation for this state rather than its lubricious flat tax for those making above $60,000, he was a disappointment and a failure economically.

The January 3, 2017 Thread

Jonathan Chait says there will be no replacement for Obamacare: “The Republican Party has used health care to its advantage for the last seven years by following the same strategy: advocating an alternative plan that does not and cannot exist. During this entire time, President Obama has held power. This has afforded them the luxury of posturing against the status quo — and, indeed, doing everything in their power, at both the federal and the state level, to make it worse. Republicans could denounce the messy negotiations in Congress, and then the messy reality of American health care, while promising that giving them power would let them start over and design a new reform that would protect everybody without having any objectionable features.” “After the election unexpectedly put them in full control of government, I predicted they would follow a ‘repeal and delay’ plan, because it is the only way to keep the lie going. The closer they get to taking action, the more clear it becomes to Republicans that their own propaganda has trapped them and given them no escape. Railing against Obamacare was easy, but the responsibilities of power have taken all the fun out of denying medical care to the poor and sick.”
Lisa Blunt Rochester Sworn in Today; Carney temporarily unemployed.

Lisa Blunt Rochester Sworn in Today; Carney temporarily unemployed.

Congresswoman-elect Lisa Blunt Rochester will be sworn in at noon today in the Library of Congress, followed by a ceremonial swearing in at the Capitol at 3:45 pm. She is the first woman and the first African American in Delaware's congressional delegation. Delaware until recently had been one of the few remaining states that had not ever been represented by a woman or an African American in Congress. We congratulate her on this milestone, and on the occasion of her swearing-in, which is significant enough already; but we also hope she remembers, as a Representative for Delaware, that she works for the people and not the Banks. At the first sign of bipartisan Carperite fealty, we will know who you really are working for. Fight for the people and against Trump, in everything and every way.

Daily Delawhere for January 3, 2017

Jessop's Tavern, on Delaware Street in New Castle. The structure was built in 1743 as a house. In the 1940s, it became a tavern, going first by the name "Green Frog". It is now Jessop's Tavern, named after the original house owner, and is decorated in colonial garb. wZKq0D

The January 2, 2017 Thread

Washington Post: “Incoming Senate Minority Leader Charles Schumer (D-NY) has told Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) that Democrats will home in especially on Rex Tillerson, Trump’s choice for secretary of state; Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-AL), his pick for attorney general; Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC), tapped to lead the Office of Management and Budget; and Betsy DeVos, selected to serve as education secretary.” “There’s also Rep. Tom Price (R-GA), Trump’s pick to lead the Department of Health and Human Services and oversee changes to Obamacare, who is expected to be attacked by Democrats for his support for privatizing Medicare. Andrew Puzder, a restaurant executive set to serve as labor secretary, will face scrutiny for past comments on the minimum wage, among other policies. Steve Mnuchin, a former Goldman Sachs partner set to serve as treasury secretary, and Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, Trump’s pick to lead the EPA, will also be the focus of Democratic attacks, aides said.”