DL Open Thread: Wednesday, December 18, 2024
I’m putting this out there as a self-enforcing mechanism to get the stuff done:
Monday, December 23: DL’s MVP’s Of 2024.
December 26-30: ‘Bulo’s Fave Fifty Tunes Of The Year.
December 31: 2024: The Good, The Bad, The Ridiculous.
Man-n-n-n, they don’t pay me enough…
Trump Sues Des Moines Register. Only the beginning. He’s gonna go after ProPublica. For a story that they correctly didn’t publish. Book it.
President-elect Donald J. Trump sued The Des Moines Register for running a poll before the election that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris, escalating his threats to seek retribution against the mainstream media and his political enemies.
“It’s clear that Trump is waging war on the press,” said Samantha Barbas, a professor at the University of Iowa College of Law whose book, “Actual Malice,” is about the Supreme Court’s most famous defamation case. “Trump and his lawyers are going to use any legal claim that they think has a chance of sticking. They’ll cast a wide net to carry out this vendetta.”
Ms. Barbas added that prevailing in court may be beside the point. The lawsuits “are not so much geared toward winning as much as threatening,” she said.
But last week, ABC News settled a defamation suit filed against the network by Mr. Trump for $15 million, along with another $1 million in legal fees, a huge sum and one that appears to have emboldened the incoming president.
Not Even Sheriffs Think Trump’s Mass Deportation Plans Will Work:
A growing cohort of extremist and far-right sheriffs are vocally endorsing president-elect Donald Trump’s plans for mass deportations. They promise unquestioning loyalty and say they stand ready to take part in a sweeping round-up of undocumented migrants from the first day of his new term in office—despite admitting that they have no idea of what such a plan might entail.
But a WIRED investigation—including interviews with sheriffs and experts, and a review of reports detailing the fiscal cost of carrying out the administration’s claims of deporting up to a million undocumented migrants in a year—shows that such a scenario is virtually impossible.
“It’s synthetic hyperventilation,” Jonathan Thompson, executive director of the National Sheriffs’ Association, tells WIRED. “It’s all designed to scare people, and it won’t happen like that, period.”
A notable number:
A recent analysis by the American Immigration Council looking at the resources needed to deport 1 million unauthorized immigrants per year found that it would cost, on average, $88 billion annually—more than the entire Department of Homeland Security budget.
Only a small number of sheriffs are on board:
A program known as 287(g) “allows ICE—through the delegation of specified immigration officer duties—to enhance collaboration with state and local law enforcement partners to protect the homeland through the arrest and removal of noncitizens.” It does not, however, allow sheriffs or their deputies to round up suspected unauthorized immigrants.
The program has been in place for decades, but ICE says that currently, only 125 sheriff departments out of 3,081 have signed up. Because the program is voluntary and does not offer sheriffs any additional funding—in fact, it costs them money in many cases—most counties never signed up, even during Trump’s first term.
A transition source speaking to the Wall Street Journal said they “expect to see a historic number of new 287(g) agreements,” but it’s unclear why any more sheriffs would sign up this time around than did during Trump’s first term.
Clusterbleep coming soon. Maybe he’ll deputize all those January 6 traitors that he’s about to pardon. Uh-oh, wish I hadn’t said that…
But, What About The Bear? Poetic Justice Story Of The Day:
A 58-year-old man is dead after a bear fell out of a tree and struck him in what appears to be a hunting accident in Virginia, state wildlife officials said Tuesday.
The Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources confirmed to USA TODAY that a treed bear fell and struck the hunter about 9:50 a.m. on Dec. 9 in Lunenburg County.
According to a preliminary investigation, a group of hunters chased a bear into a tree, and as the group retreated from the bottom of the tree, one hunter shot the bear. As the animal fell, it struck Lester Clayton Harvey Jr., who stood about 10 feet from the tree, officials reported.
Somedays you get the bear, and somedays the bear gets you. Or both.
Suxco Gotta Suxco. Reject application for substation to support wind farm. Big Oil triumphs for now:
In a dramatic move, members of Sussex County Council rejected an application crucial to the completion of a new wind farm off the Atlantic coast. The proposal, which was rejected in a 4-1 vote, was at the center of a months-long debate in Sussex County.
If approved, it would have allowed Renewable Development, a subsidiary of US Wind, to connect high-voltage cables from the Indian River to a new substation adjacent to the Indian River Power Plant in Dagsboro.
Betcha that the Caesar Rodney Institute won’t be paying these legal bills:
US Wind, a Maryland energy company owned in part by an Italian infrastructure firm, said in a statement that it will appeal the decision. Now with the future of the project uncertain, Sussex County taxpayers will likely be on the hook to fund the county’s opposition to US Wind’s appeal and a potential future lawsuit.
Rev. Patrick Burke Responds To Mayor Mike. A superb letter. An excerpt:
As a faith leader, a community member, and a friend to all, I am both disappointed and deeply motivated to share the inappropriate and apathetic response provided by the exiting Mayor Purzycki. The contents and tenor of the response speaks directly to the consciousness of city leadership and has further committed our coalition of organizations to speak out.
All parties witnessing the incidents have described first-hand a sense of inhumanity and injustice in targeting vulnerable and unhoused neighbors. A full account of these interactions has been broadcast through both the Mayoral communications and the communications SsAM has highlighted, and no longer serves to support this continued conflict.
What remains centered is the need for an interdisciplinary, person-centered, collaborative, communal approach for equitable solutions that support the needs of those in our community and neighborhood so that basic human needs are not a luxury, but a promise. As of today, the pleas of the organizations demanding accountability from the City and the Mayor have been left without adequate conversation, with no semblance of urgency, and remain without action. This is not only a public failing, but a moral one as well. Notably during one of the coldest months of the year.
Purzycki’s relentless pursuit of gentrification ignores the human costs he has created. Totally lacking in conscience. To be replaced by someone totally lacking in consciousness. And conscience.
What do you want to talk about?
A HORRIBLE Delaware Way hire by Matt Meyer. A nepo baby, a Delaware Way insider, and the son of Delaware’s most prominent oil industry lobbyist.
Oh, did I mention that he’s been nominated as DNREC Secretary?:
“Wilmington, DE—Today, Delaware Governor-elect Matt Meyer announced the nomination of Greg Patterson as Secretary of the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) and Don Clifton as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture. Patterson and Clifton will bring extensive experience to their respective departments and a shared commitment to protecting Delaware’s natural resources and improving the sustainability of our communities.
“As Delaware faces unprecedented environmental challenges, it’s critical that we have strong, experienced leadership at DNREC,” Governor-elect Matt Meyer said. “With his proven record of serving the people of Delaware, Greg possesses the skills and dedication required to lead the state into a future where both our environment and economy can thrive together.”
Patterson has more than 25 years of service in state government, including for Governors Jack Markell and Ruth Ann Minner, as well as at the state departments of Justice and Insurance.”
Now you see what you get when a guy is backed by the “good” Republicans.
Greg Patterson is about as much a Democrat as Bobby Byrd.
That reminds me. Let’s go into the Wayback Machine for this little tidbit from Celia Cohen:
http://www.delawaregrapevine.com/may03stories/5-03%20politicking1.htm
Excerpt: “Gov. Ruth Ann Minner was not there, but it hardly mattered. Robert L. Byrd, Gary B. Patterson and Edward R. “Ned” Davis, lobbyists who constitute a shadow Cabinet for the Democratic governor, were.”
Even were Meyer to give him a key position, putting an oil lobbyist’s son in charge of DNREC is, um, ill-advised, said Captain Obvious.
I can’t wait for the DoE Secretary to be named.
Thank democracy for giving us a choice between Tweedledum and Tweedledumber.
Is there a betting favorite for the job?
Would love to see Meyer pick Dan Shelton — not necessarily for his skillset but just to give the middle finger to the d___f____ on the Christina board of ed.
I know you’ve got your beefs against Greg, but I’ve found him to be a thoughtful guy. Meyer wouldn’t have appointed him if he weren’t in line with Matt’s thinking, and I trust Matt so far.
The guy some people need to ask questions about is Clifton and his time leading the Farm Service Agency here. That’s all I’m going to say.
Patterson was nominated as DNREC Secretary. I’ve been unable to find ANY affinity between Patterson and, say, the environmental movement. Some other position? Fine. But this, considering his father’s career lobbying on behalf of the oil industry? Doesn’t compute, at least not to me.
BTW, ‘Trusting Matt’ doesn’t mean leaving one’s brain at home.
BTWBTW, I have no personal beefs with Greg. Knew him to say ‘hi’ to during the Minner Administration. That was about it.
Greg Patterson is an incredibly bright man, who has proven himself a remarkable public servant. To reduce him to “the son of an oil industry lobbyist” is insulting. He has made his mark on state government outside of his parentage. He may have gotten his first job out of college because of who his father was, but he has proven himself time and time again.
Is this mic on? He’s been nominated for DNREC SECRETARY, for fuck’s sake.
You know so much, share with me his environmental bona fides. Why the Fuck DNREC SECRETARY? His dad was, at least at one time, the Executive Director of the American Petroleum Institute. You don’t see why environmentalists might be concerned with this pick?
He was DNREC chief of staff for a while so he does have a history with the agency.
Didn’t Gary retire 12 years ago? I belive folks act independently of what their parents do/think/say. Look at me, I was chair of Del Dems and had a MAGA father who was an elected republican and I don’t think that impacted how I chaired the party.
Thanks for letting me comment my second time ever on here 🤪! I do read everything, hope everyone has a great holiday and happy new year!
What? I let you out of moderation?? Just kidding.
Happy holidays to you and yours as well!
Greg Patterson’s father is an oil lobbyist
Ya don’t say. Do you even bother to read the article before you post?
And it’s ‘was’, not ‘is’.
Gee. Sorry. Made a mistake and didn’t see your previous comment. Eat a Christmas cookie.
Love the poetic justice story! It put me in mind of this Les Barker (Mrs. Ackroyd) classic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QtM9pXDoHIo
I met Patterson when he was Chief of Staff at DOJ. Nice enough guy, one of those staffers jumping from one staff to another his entire career (not saying anything wrong with that) Not sure exactly why he should be DNREC secretary outside his 2 year stint working as a COS there as well. Typical Matt Myer pick….keep em close, keep em loyal.
Nothing different from the political staffers Carney appointed to run DOT etc. Yawn, its Dover folks. Don’t get to worked up.
How does he feel about strictly enforcing the laws against serial polluters? Does he support the wind farm project that Suxco Council is trying to kill? Does he support the EV initiative? Does he support applying environmental justice principles to proposed projects?
For that matter, how does Matt feel about these things?
Those are the questions this choice has raised for me.
Don’t read to deeply into the ideological side of things with Patterson. DNREC has been spinning its tires under Garvin, and hemorrhaging people. Lots of experienced staffers and scientists threw in the towel during covid, and recruitment/retention of junior staff is terrible. I don’t have a dog in this fight, but I suspect Matt brought Gary in to address a leadership crisis that is actively impeding a lot of progressive environmental initiatives.
El Som:
Greg is a technocrat. He’s worked for Matt Denn and Kathy Jennings, two of the most progressive politicians in Delaware. He’s also worked for every governor since Minner, run the day-to-day ops at DNREC, and managed federal programs of which DNREC runs a ton.
Why reduce him to the son of his father? The man has had a career of his own. Let him stand on the merits, not his parents.
Since, as you say, you don’t have a beef.
My presumption is that Meyer needs an experienced hand to manage an agency that’s chaotic. He doesn’t need a visionary or activist. Maybe that’ll come later.
I am not friends with Greg but I know him from when I was in 2 appointed positions on Boards under Minner. He is doubtless competent. What I know about DNREC is that I have had a septic design appeal in since April. It was “escalated” to the Secretary’s office in September, crickets since. Guessing Matt is looking for sone good old fashioned competent management.
OK, you guys have worn me down. I’ll defer further judgement…for now.
I agree that Garvin was ineffectual at best.
Garvin was horrible. Let me count the ways. SO many people cannot wait to see him gone, including staff, as was mentioned above. Fingers crossed that Patterson cannot possibly be worse.
I hated the way he rubber-stamped everything pertaining to The Underground City At Fort DuPont.
And his enfeebled response to that chemical leak last year.
They are political appointees folks. As mentioned on this thread Carney had unqualified people running DHHS and DelDot. Sorry being a campaign staffer doesn’t make you ready to run departments. The true careerists and professionals are always behind the scenes guiding the ship.
Rumor is he’s appointing BHL to DHSS.
When I first met Greg’s father Gary he was working for Bill Roth. Then he landed his gig as the lobbyist for big oil.
Greg has the reputation of being a steady quality person. I watched his career since my daughter’s time in state government coincided with his. He has served well with competence in every role he has been asked to fill during his time.
Gary not so much.
In between Gary Patterson was executive director of the Delaware School Boards Association