DL Open Thread: Thursday, July 14, 2022
Speaker Pete & Delaware Media: Both Derelict In Their Duties. Speaker Pete finally surfaced. Just long enough to speak to a friendly group of D’s about legislation and emphatically not about KMG. Nobody from what passes for the press in Delaware bothered to cover his appearance. Speaker Pete’s ongoing silence and failure to take action that only he can take has been well-documented by us. Even initially by the press. However, the failure of (all things are relative) Delaware’s major media outlets to cover this appearance should cause embarrassment. You know that old journalistic saw: ‘We don’t make the news, we cover it.’ By not covering this, Delaware media has failed in its duty to cover the news–unless they don’t consider the Speaker of the House running interference for a convicted statewide elected official who doubled as his campaign treasurer as news. I understand though–a new coffee/music place just opened in Suxco. Can’t cover everything. Priorities, pipples.
Cure For Political Woes? Meet With Khashoggi’s Killer. I can’t even…:
“My views on Khashoggi have been absolutely, positively clear and I have never been quiet about talking about human rights,” he said in response to a question. “The reason I’m going to Saudi Arabia is to promote U.S. interests in a way that I think we have an opportunity to reassert our influence in the Middle East.”
Biden also said alienating the Saudis would contribute to a leadership vacuum and added “I always bring up human rights,” though he never explicitly said he would bring up Khashoggi’s killing (Spoiler Alert: He won’t).
In June, he said “I’m not going to meet with MBS.”
The White House has since confirmed the meeting with MBS, saying that Biden will encounter the crown prince as part of a bilateral meeting with Saudi King Salman and the country’s broader leadership team.
Any questions?
Biden Screws Up Pace Of Judicial Nominees. Due, in large part, to the ridiculous deal he cut with Moscow Mitch. Seriously, an anti-abortion judge in exchange for two Justice Department nominees?:
Biden could try towin support of a Meredith nomination with Republican votes in an evenly dived Senate. But a president fighting his own party for a lower-court judicial nominee would be highly unusual, and he would have to overcome a Judiciary Committee controlled by Democrats.
McConnell has refused to comment until Biden officially submits a nominee, but his camp has dismissed talk of a deal as “false information.”
Biden’s potential nomination of Meredith has fueled a backlash from progressive activists who have demanded bolder action from the Biden administration after the Supreme Court decision.
Several pro-abortion-rights groups have called the potential nomination “unacceptable” and demanded Biden not move ahead with it.
As to nominations slowing to a trickle (read this article in its entirety, it’ll make you very angry):
“As the number of announced judicial vacancies has risen to 119, we urge you to redouble your efforts in the final seven months of this Congress,” the organizations, including Demand Justice, MoveOn, and NARAL Pro-Choice America, wrote to Biden and Senate leadership. “At the current pace, dozens of these vacancies will remain unfilled at the end of the year, and we urge you to do whatever it takes to fill them all.” Of those 119 vacancies, there are around 80 that don’t have nominees.
Any questions?
Biden Drops The Ball On Abortion Rights. We’re sensing a theme here. Hope it’s not too subtle:
Senate Democrats believe the administration can do more. Declaring a public health emergency would allow Biden to “unlock powerful flexibilities and resources for federal, state, and local governments” in order to protect abortion rights, the senators argued — similar to what the administration has done during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Specifically, a public health emergency would allow doctors licensed in one state to provide reproductive health care in other states and expand the group of people covered by Medicaid programs allowing patients insurance coverage for out-of-state medical expenses. It would also protect access to medication abortion and help HHS gather information and research on which communities need the most aid in a post-Roe world.
If Biden declared a public health emergency, it would also aid physicians providing abortion care in health- or life-threatening situations — something HHS announced this week it’s specifically focusing on. Additionally, it would allow HHS to deploy federal, state and local medical personnel across the country — especially to rural areas where abortion access has effectively disappeared.
“While it is impossible to immediately undo the damage inflicted by the Supreme Court’s repeal of Roe v. Wade, the Biden-Harris Administration must use every tool within its power to fight back,” the senators wrote. “…Your leadership during this unprecedented crisis for women is more important than ever.”
Warren and fellow Senate Democrat Tina Smith (Minn.), another signatory of Wednesday’s letter, had already called on Biden to declare a national emergency the day Roe fell just over two weeks ago. But the White House said it “didn’t seem like a great option” because it “doesn’t release a significant amount of legal authority” to protect reproductive rights. Since then, Biden walked back those comments and told reporters he’s considering declaring a public health emergency.
What a team Biden’s got there.
What do you want to talk about?
“Meet With Khashoggi’s Killer. ”
Ugly, ugly realpolitik. Biden thinks he needs to make nice with MBS to get him to pump more oil. Because Biden’s presidency is threatened, perhaps fatally, by high gas price and inflation. Not to mention the higher oil prices are funding Putin’s war on Ukraine.
And if Biden is replaced by a Republican because of gas price and inflation, Ukraine and NATO get thrown under the bus. Oh, and fascism comes to America.
Pete is a fat, gross, corrupt thug who needs to go and has needed to go and the media should have covered the event
But where were the activists and activist orgs?
The activists and activist orgs are doing exactly what they ought to be doing. They’re working hard on all the house primary challenges to create conditions under which the House elects new reps into leadership.
Becca Cotto
DeShannna Neal
Sophie Phillips
Cnydi Romer
Kerri Harris
Shané Darby
James Taylor (tomorrow’s podcast guest)
Don’t forget the importance of reelecting Madinah and Eric, both facing challengers. They need support both financially and with volunteers. Gotta keep the existing parts in place.
Representative John Kowalko
Also true. Eric’s opponent, in particular, looks right out of Kop Kabal Central Casting.
Spot on Representative! They have earned powerful enemies by doing the right thing. The first reelection can be difficult. We need to rally to their aid!
True. I was knocking doors for Becca when Pete was scheduled to speak.
Much better use of your time.
And yeah, when you are not beholden to corporate interests, the snakes will organize against you.
I see you Jerry Heisler. Big baby. Scum landlord. Thinks he can do the philanthropy razzle dazzle and evict poor and work class people and no one would notice. We noticed!
We see you, buddy. Madinah will never apoligize. Trust me.
Townsend should apologize for deliberately choosing to reside in Heisler’s and the other greedy landowners pockets/wallets. John Kowalko
Just like a lot of wealthy corporate liberals in these parts, Jerry H has Planned Parenthood laundry his image for money. Ask around. I know. Believe me.
You want a fucking fight, bruv. You got it. I’m going to drag you and Reybold through the fucking dirt. Watch.
I get off on this stuff
What’s the deal with Heisler?
He is a well-paid lobbyist for Reybold and the manufactured housing sites owned by them. He is very, very good at his job but that means (in his case) that he conspires against the interests of the manufactured homeowners and affordable housing in order to maximize obscene profits for Reybold and the other landowners which results in manufactured homes being lost, properties being sold and rents being raised unfairly and unjustly. He pretends to have an interest in the fairness and affordability of manufactured housing communities vis-a-vis landowners/homeowners (renters) but has consistently pressured and influenced state legislators to pile on more profiteering advantages for some of the wealthiest landowners in Delaware and outside of Delaware. Again really good at his job. Unfortunately he tries to pull that con that when we worked on similar issues with the late Mr. Chris White (a man of impeccable morality and high intelligence who worked for CLASI) they would always find a fair “compromise” and, as I can personally attest, that was never true. The reality is that none of the Republicans from that era (Chairman Valihura etc.) ever supported a fair leveling of the playing field regarding “rent justification”, landowners responsibilities to maintain their parks or even basic humanitarian treatment of some of the poorest people in Delaware. He now has tried to recreate an image of advocating for all but it is not a thin dimes difference in then and now. His ability to influence, cajole, bribe, coerce Democrats into supporting legislation that Republicans are all too willing to unanimously support speaks volumes for his grifter-like talents and the lack of idealism in some Democrat legislators agendas. Representative Wilson-Anton has fairly and honestly challenged him and his legislative allies publicly and in the Manufactured Housing Committee meetings that I’ve chaired and he demanded an apology for frank/honest assessment of him. The result was that he managed to influence the Speaker of the House Schwartzkopf to place SB 317 (Bryan Townsend’s homage to the landowners) in the Administration Committee chaired by Longhurst where, despite its word for word (fact acknowledged by the authors) replication of SB 9 (a bill that failed to get enough votes for release from the Mfg. Housing committee (Wilson-Anton, Carson and Kowalko against release). The Admin. Committee released it unanimously, refusing to consider two amendments that I filed to make it less onerous and it was put on the agenda and passed by the House (thanks once again to the Republicans and their Democrat (wealthy/corporate) supporters. I guess we should all genuflect before our Delaware Way influencers (the Heislers/Chamber of Commerce/unapologetically and obscenely wealthy special interests) with a special shout out to their legislator serfs.
Representative John Kowalko
Thanks as always for the background.
I still wish you would learn where the paragraph key is located. 😉
As usual I do my writing in the “stream of consciousness” car of the “Train” of thought. Old dog you know?
Heisler isn’t a lobbyist is the owner of Rey old started by his dad
Father and son have wreaked havoc on progress for decades now.
You know nothing of what he has done to his kids and wife
He sure as shit is a lobbyist. I used to see him every single time I was down at leg hall creating his mischief.
You don’t have to open up a shop like the Byrds to be a lobbyist. You can be one just by going down and talking to electeds on behalf of your interests or those of your group.
Heisler is on the list of registered lobbyists along with maybe a son? Anyway, he is serious about influencing the legislature. I have interacted often with legis AGAINT his developer interests and those he represents.
Heisler, Joshua
10 ardmoor ln
Chadds Ford PA, 19317
Heisler, Jr., Jerome
116 East Scotland Drive
Bear DE, 19701
https://pirs.delaware.gov/#/lobbyist/list
They may be registered lobbyist but they are the owners of Reybold and what do you think pays more?
Hello, is this mic on? He makes gobs of money BECAUSE he kills legislation and/or promotes legislation that helps his bottom line. You know, as a lobbyist.
In this case it’s deplorable because it’s at the expense of people who are defenseless up against someone like this who hands out campaign contributions like Reese’s Pieces at Halloween.
So in Delaware, because of the Delaware way, you can lobby your own business? So I could run hookers and lobby for the legalization of prostitution? Or I could have a dozen pot distillery’s and be a lobbyist for the legalization of said distillery’s?
Yes. Most lobbyists are single-interest lobbyists.
Sam Calagione lobbied on behalf of the legalization of brew pubs. Then, his distillery.
No news is good news for the cop cabal. He is going to ride it out. Pretty genius plan for a state that, as EL Som points out, has virtually no 4th estate.
Also, second REV’s comments. The only way out is through.
Trump’s first wife Ivana dead at 73:
https://www.nydailynews.com/snyde/ny-ivana-trump-dead-former-wife-donald-20220714-zp6pxpapwbfgpd42sclpkaqvre-story.html
Back when the Trumps were just comic characters on the social pages of the Daily News, I liked Ivana. She was the one who gave him the name “The Donald,” which came out during their widely covered divorce proceedings.
I posted this below too.
“Legislation filed by the Senate today would begin the process to remove Auditor Kathy McGuiness following a recent criminal conviction involving misuse of office: “” https://legis.delaware.gov/json/BillDetail/Gen
The link doesn’t work, but I’ll find it…
Here it is:
https://legis.delaware.gov/BillDetail?LegislationId=129890
I don’t know if this is Constitutional as I believe the process must start in the House.
However, maybe this will smoke him out. I notice that there are no House sponsors on this Concurrent Resolution.
At least the Senate is doing its job in the absence of, you know, Kathy’s…cue the Everly Brothers:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z3-E9JebDtU
Kathy’s Clown. Not the last time I’ll use THAT.
@Alby You can hear Madinah’s first-person account of above, from the Bunker at: https://www.patreon.com/posts/e193-leg-hall-w-68466651 … about 8 minutes in.
^^ #true ^^
Thanks for the tip. Good stuff. Way to go REV.
thanks, man. trying to do the thing… also got a quick story up in the Call on the Senate res.