Delaware Political Weekly: Jan. 19-25, 2018
1. Melanie George Smith To Retire. There is a reason why she announced her retirement when she did. By the end of this weekend, we will all know why. Suffice it to say that her career was the product of legislative insiderism of the worst order. There was never a clamoring for her candidacy within her district. In fact, there was never a district until the General Assembly back in 2002 crafted a (blatantly illegal) barbell-shaped district specifically for Melanie George at the behest of some of Delaware’s most gourmandesque movers and shakers. For those who may have forgotten, here is her original district:
https://electionsncc.delaware.gov/house/2002/hse05.pdf
In exchange for doing Lonnie (George) and Bob (Gilligan) and, of course, Del-Tech, a solid, the Rethugs were able to ship two D districts (one in Claymont, one in suburban Newark) downstate. Without so much as a bleat of protest from the House Democratic ‘leadership’.
No wonder the D’s were in the basement for so long.
Things are looking up, though. More on this throughout the weekend. I promise.
2. Mystery Candidate X. A word of warning to the secret-keepers. As you well know, I’m a fan of the ‘game of human chess’ known as pro rasslin’. So I know that when a ‘mystery opponent’ is announced, the promotion had better deliver. If the ‘mystery opponent’ turns out to be a ‘geek’ (wrestling parlance for a loser), the crowd swiftly turns against both the geek and the promotion. If Bill Dunn’s speculative candidate turns out to be correct, the crowd will erupt in ‘Holy Shit!’ chants, which is what you want. If not…well, let’s just say that the candidate had better not be of the Micheal Miller ilk. Carper is poised to be toppled. Don’t let us down.
3. Sean Matthews Gets An Opponent. A compelling personal story, if not a raison d’etre for running. Her name is Erin Wienner, and she seems to have taken a circuitous route to politics. In fact, the bio of her is pretty damned circuitous as well. Frankly, she looks like Judy Travis 2.0. And she’s clueless on the issues. She’s ‘passionate’ about ‘The Rising Taxes That Are Costing Us Jobs’. In other words, she’s an ill-informed idiot mouthing talking points. So, while she’s unlikely to win, she’s running against one of the best progressives in Delaware in Sean Matthews, 10th RD, Brandywine Hundred. Might not hurt to send a few dollars his way.
4. Rachel Blumenfeld Raises $21K. OK, while I’m not gonna get into dueling press releases as to who has raised the most money and who has the most cash on hand, this is an impressive start. However, I will restate my belief that this is one race where a primary only benefits the incumbent. In this case the odious Deborah Hudson. I got no dawg in this hunt, but there had better only be one dawg or the fox wins again. District still has an R plurality. A divided D party has no chance here.
5. Dennis E. Williams Brings Teh Funny. You know, if Williams hadn’t already run for every office under the sun and hadn’t already lost the preponderance of those races, he might be considered a credible candidate for State Auditor. Faced with a choice of either him or Park City Cathy, I still might vote for him as I’m not voting for her under any circumstances. However, really Dennis, really?:
Representative Williams has been urged by Democratic Party Committee members, current and former elected officials, and voters throughout the state to bring his experience and qualifications to the position of State Auditor.
Dennis, in rasslin’ parlance, this makes you a ‘geek’.
6. Filing Floodgates Open. Filing this week: Bobbie Cummings (D), 2nd Senatorial District; Charles Potter (D), 1st RD; Krista Griffith (D), RD 12 (this is Deborah Hudson’s district where both Griffith and Blumenfeld are running in a D primary).
7. Speaking Of Bringing Teh Funny…: Charles Potter is the gift that keeps on giving. Check out his slideshow here. In fact, the entire site is a testament to do-nothingism.
8. Stay Tuned This Weekend. There will be at least two announcements worth following this weekend. Oh, and another one early next week. I’ll update as they take place.
That’s it for this week. What’d I miss, and whaddayathink?
Anyone see that Hannity segment on Fix News last night? He said that the NY Times was creating a false distraction by reporting that Trump tried to fire Muller then came back later in the show saying it was confirmed but it’s ok to fire Muller then he showed video of a car accident lol.
Re Candidate X: Nobody is going to be the perfect candidate. But I’ll restate what I said in another thread.
I’m down for the fight. Because 1) why not? 2) lighting can strike, and 3) Even if it appears to accomplish nothing, it makes it easier for someone to summon the guts next time.
I predict that, whoever it is, there will be a chorus of murmurs. Some from lightly disguised Carperites, some from Super Lefty’s who always find fault, and really just want to comment on blogs.
The candidate is going to have to eat those murmurs and return them as roars.
Not looking for perfection, not expecting perfection. Just someone who presents a viable alternative. Meaning ‘don’t overpromise’.
Not expecting the person to gallop out of the gates. Remember how long it took Matt Meyer’s campaign to come together? But Matt’s campaign was great b/c it built from the grassroots up. I’m all in if we at least have a chance to build such a campaign.
Who’s Michael Miller? Also, what has been promised so far?
Ah,
https://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/politics/firststatepolitics/2016/06/03/mike-miller-thinks-s-time-statewide-change-leadership/85289872/
“I will be a conservative Democrat…”
No, she’s isn’t “of the Michael Miller ilk,” no.
Michael Miller has run for everything from Congress to a local school board slot. Kind of a Democratic Michael Protack.
By ‘overpromise’, I’m referencing the intrigue created by the Candidate X meme. Go back and read my ‘rasslin’ reference. Michael Miller is a geek. Someone similar would cause prospective supporters to react in a similar way, that’s all.
How does creating intrigue promise anything?
So, full disclosure, obviously I know the person, but I have absolutely zero to do with the campaign strategy. I buy it though. If candidate X has good politics and is a proven political fighter. If she’s genuine and real and has a track record of picking the battles that need attention. And is smart. I’m not personally hung up on playing the same old political games.
I feel like the political commentariat here, for lack of a better term, wants to fit every argument into the structure they know and are comfortable with. I don’t see the need to do that.
It’s Micheal Miller, not Michael. DONT DISRESPECT THE MICHEAL!
Dude is a fucknut who has more than a few screws loose but was the Democratic Party’s nominee for Congress (at least once, maybe twice) during the bad old days. He’s now an also-ran who can’t dben win a local school board seat.
RE, has your candidate ever run for political office of any sort before?
Not my candidate. Our candidate. For real. I’m not putting you on or fucking about. I’m being real.
I think that’s enough for today.
Here’s a blog rule that I’ll enforce. If I receive news that is embargoed until a certain date or time, I will not release that news until said date or time.
If someone breaks the news on the board prior to the appointed date or time, I will delete it.
I’m posting this just so nobody might wonder while a tip of theirs was deleted. It’s not personal, we’re not pissed off, it’s just about honoring commitments.
Now-w-w, if someone insists on posting it over and over again, well, the results will be different.
One last thing, this is for El Som. Do I seem like a person who’d do this for someone of MichEal Miller’s ilk?
Has she run for any office before?
Sorry, brother and/or sister, can’t say.
There’s a long way to go. Don’t worry.
Original offer stands though, anyone who finds me at the February 10th event gets a personal introduction.
And look, I will just say this, REV. You are affiliated with the campaign, apparently, as you will be introducing the candidate at this kickoff event. People are going to be judging your candidate based on your words and actions. You are the de facto campaign spokesman with these posts since no other individual’s name is linked to this effort. If you don’t want to take questions, don’t put yourself out there.
And no, she is Your candidate, not Ours. I don’t know her from anyone.
El Som, does that mean you know the name of the Senate candidate and are holding it close because of a promise made to the campaign? Or is that comment in relation to something else?
I’ll happily take all questions. I just won’t answer them.
I support the campaign and I know the candidate. Affiliated? I don’t know. I don’t think this makes me a spokesperson either, no.
I feel like there are people here who know candidates personally and argue in support or against them. I don’t consider this speaking on behalf of a campaign.
I just happen to be in a position of knowing a bit more than you all. I’m not officially “introducing” the candidate. I am just in a position to introduce someone I know to someone else. That’s all.
This peek-a-boo strategy has no effect outside the few hundred people who read this and other local political blogs. Professional media people aren’t sitting around wondering who this is; they’ll cover the announcement when it’s made, and don’t expect a lot of coverage even then. Any Democratic challenger to Carper will be a long shot in their eyes and will have to fight hard to get their attention.
I think generally that’s true, yes. Although I fielded a call from a media person yesterday speculating…. so.
Yeah, but you’re friends with media people. Otherwise known as a “source.” Media people don’t have “friends” in the traditional sense, except for other media people. Everyone else is a potential source.
Fair point. Would I have gotten that call if he didn’t know me? No idea.
But I think some media people are wondering. They seem like inquisitive people.
I should have phrased it better. Yes, they are. But unless the business has changed more than I knew, the editors will only print something if they can get it confirmed.
The smart strategy would be to leak it to one of those reporters just before the announcement. A scoop gets much more prominent play than a press event.
I think the use of “Teh” is inappropriate, regardless of internet “fashion”.
Can’t believe our choices for auditor will be Park City and Dennis E. Come on Dems find someone on the bench!!Ugh!