DL Open Thread Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024
When Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race, many pundits pointed out that what seemed like a truncated campaign, a three-month “sprint” to Election Day, was the full length of campaigns in most Western nations. Skip ahead two months, and with six weeks still to go it already feels like it’s been going on forever. I blame the media, which I tend to do anyway, but they deserve it. They’re the ones who’ve continued to report every chunk of logorrhea that spills from Trump’s face sphincter for the past four years, which is why Kamala Harris has been able to treat Trump as if he’s the incumbent.
You don’t have to look hard to find articles that will reinforce, or challenge, any future you care to envision, and you’re going to get six more weeks of them. The only thing you’ll get more of is appeals for money from candidates who have your phone number and email address. No wonder people watch football games.
I’m so old I remember when God directed his wrath, expressed as hurricanes, on one state at a time, but Trump voters are such raging assholes that he sent Helene to inundate the entire Southeastern U.S. in a probably futile bid to show them the error of their ways. That bit in Genesis about never destroying Earth in another flood? You shouldn’t bet your house on it. Oh, wait…
Democrats are slow learners. Two decades after Howard Dean, the Patron Saint of Delaware Liberal, showed the wisdom of the 50-state strategy, the Democratic National Committee will, for the first time ever, send money to all 50 states to support down-ballot races. I don’t know whether to applaud on bang my head on my desk.
An Israeli airstrike on the Hezbollah’s headquarters in Beirut killed the militia’s leader, Hassan Nasrallah. The IDF used one-ton bunker buster bombs to destroy the subterranean complex, located beneath an apartment complex that was destroyed in the attack. No matter how many militia leaders they kill, I recall the adage attributed to various French generals: The graveyards are full of indispensable men.
The floor’s yours.
Sussex County used to be a big Trump stronghold, but this year in RD 14, we have a Republican candidate, Mike Simpler, who is going around denouncing Trump and touting his support for LGBTQ+ rights. Mike spoke at Rehoboth Pride, introducing himself as “a Republican but not MAGA.” He knocked on my friend’s door, and when she asked if he supports Trump, he vigorously said no. I am not sure what that means for the election overall, but it’s shocking to hear a Sussex County Republican scorning Trump.
I mean, in that district he pretty much has to if he wants to stand a chance of winning.
And you believe he’s telling the truth. Bless your heart.
Assuming he’s telling the truth, unusual for a Simpler, why would anyone vote for him since he’d be in a distinct minority in Dover? Assuming he’s telling the truth, that is…
Why does it matter if Simpler’s telling the truth. Career politicians monitor the political winds and speak whatever they believe most voters want to hear. Why hold Simpler to a different standard when the behavior is the status quo?
When it comes to the Dems, civil unions come to mind.
Simpler is not a career politician.
To answer El Som’s question, he’s running entirely on providing constituent service and his roots in the area.
He is Fire Company President. This is inherently political, and his constituent members are overwhelmingly Trump supporters. A former Lewes Fire Company Pres and avid Trumpster was fawning over him on my timeline. The chances he’s lying about who he supports for president are 100% but hey I only lived down there for 23 years I could be wrong so let’s play pretend.
A fire company president is arguably more like a union official than a public official. Yes, he’s elected, but only by members. It’s political in that they get money from the state and county, but “a career politician”? Not in the sense in which that term is usually employed.
I know many sussex county republicans who don’t support Trump, including elected officials and both of the R candidates for Gov and Lt Gov. That’s not really that surprising in Delaware, yes there are some right wing zealots that follow him like a cult leader but I think more R’s than one might think are actually more Castle Republicans than Trumpkins
I agree with SussexW in that district he has no choice but to adopt that message. Maybe like Kam H, his values have not changed. How can you tell a politician or lawyer is lying their lips are moving. (sorry for the cliche humor)
This assumes Trump’s lips move when he types his tweets.
I an a life long left-leaning D who has lived in the 14th RD for years. And I believe what Mike Simpler says and I am voting for him in November. Ms. Snyder Hall should rightly be strongly applauded for her “open government” efforts not only with Common Cause but in her well-done writings. But like many in the 14th RD, I don’t see the H Red position as one that should center on “big picture” issues but rather on getting things done at the local district level. My view is that Mike Simpler is the deep rooted “local” guy who is more likely to those things done for folks n the 14th RD.
Lol. Good luck with that take.
What “things” will he get done that she won’t? Just curious.
Any qualified Democrat running in the 14th will
win if a good campaign is run. The 14th has registration numbers similar to many NCC RD’s. Claire is running on more than just national issues. She constantly talks about traffic, overdevelopment and the need for medical professionals. She is a good fit and she and Russ Huxtable will make a good team
Oh, and Mike Simpler? He is openly supported by Kathy McGuinnes. What does that tell you?
That he is a deeply corrupted candidate?
Who is Pete supporting, Simpler as well?