Castle a Victim of the Latest Pink Postcard?

Filed in Delaware by on June 15, 2009

I got an interesting email yesterday from someone only identified as “Delaware Republican”.  Let set aside, for now, that this is the latest handle used by Mike Protack.  The content of the letter is essentially a threat that Mike Castle should retire now or face a hard slog where his age is issue #1.

You have served the people of Delaware honorably for four and a half decades.  You were Deputy Attorney General for Delaware years before I was born.  From serving in the state Legislature back during the sixties and seventies to your service in Delaware’s executive branch in the Reagan eighties to serving in the halls of Congress for more than a decade and a half, you have been an institution in our state for as long as I have been alive. …

…With your 70th birthday just a couple weeks away, you should use this time to reflect on your momentous contributions to the people of Delaware.  Now may be the appropriate time to step away.  We can tell that you feel like you’ve achieved all you can in the House; and, with Republicans in such a steep minority, and with six-year-terms not the friend of a septuagenarian freshman, we wonder what constructive role you can play in the Senate that wouldn’t be better served by a younger public servant ready to accrue seniority on behalf of Delaware.

This is what we call a back-handed compliment.  The author seems to be trying to clear the field for newcomers like Copeland, Protack and O’Donnell.

There is also an associated website www.thankyoumikecastle.com which has hidden the person that registered the domain name.  So, what does the author have to lose?  Why more of the cloak and dagger BS?  If you are going to suggest that Castle step down, why not just be a man about it?

Either way, I’m on the case.  I’m doing research on it and making some progress on figuring out who this person is.  I’ll keep you posted.

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  1. jason330 says:

    My guess is David A. The writer’s voice is as identifiable as a fingerprint.

  2. FSP says:

    No way. David A doesn’t do anonymous.

  3. anonone says:

    I think it is Protack – but also I think that you should reconsider trying to publicly “out” whoever it is. Perhaps that is better left to people who actually have a dog in this fight.

    BTW, since when have Copeland, Protack and O’Donnell been considered newcomers?

  4. Delaware Dem says:

    I think it is an unholy alliance of Copeland and Protack and O’Donnell. Copeland’s recent blogging has obviously warped his mind.

  5. Geezer says:

    Interesting, at the least, that while national figures in the GOP are trying to convince Castle to run for Senate — that is, professionals who are paid plenty of money to know who can win think he could win the Senate seat.

    Meanwhile, the right-wing hand jobs in Delaware think he should retire.

    Does anyone really wonder why they can’t find their ass with both hands?

  6. I love a good mystery story.

  7. nemski says:

    The author seems to be trying to clear the field for newcomers like Copeland, Protack and O’Donnell.

    Newcomers? LOL. That’s like calling Jason330 fair and balanced.

  8. liberalgeek says:

    None have ever held statewide office.

  9. anonone says:

    Based on that criteria, they’ll stay newcomers forever.

  10. jason330 says:

    Nemski,

    It would be more like calling me a newcomer.

  11. I will let the Grassy Knoll crowd go at it because like David I don’t do anonymous either. Some parts of the GOP want to always blame someone else for the repeated shortcomings of the party s0 why not put them on someone who has been vocal?

    I have one email, Mprotack@aol.com and you are welcome to review it.

    On this BLOG and others I have supported Mr Castle when no one else from the GOP said a peep. Again, what he decides to do is up to him and him alone.

    I have said repeatedly unless the GOP in Delaware changes to have a voice on issues like health care, education, savings etc and listens to and speaks for the working families of Delaware it is not worthwhile for any Republican to run as they will lose.

    The State Party has a proposal in front of them to establish a technology and communications program and it has sat dormant for weeks. Consequently, events and policies which are harmful to our state are moving ahead with no Republican voice in opposition.

    The Democrat party has run this state in to a ditch and it is up to the GOP to offer alternatives not typical counter punches which voters do not listen to or care about.

    Again, I will support Mr Castle no matter what he decides.

    Mike Protack

  12. AnnieMack says:

    I take offense to this statement: ‘That is why I am writing you this open letter on behalf of the people of Delaware.’

    Please don’t write letters on my behalf. Please don’t assume that I’m grateful for anything that Mike Castle has done during his 100 years of service to Delaware.

  13. FSP says:

    “I will let the Grassy Knoll crowd go at it because like David I don’t do anonymous either. ”

    BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

  14. jason330 says:

    On this BLOG and others I have supported Mr Castle when no one else from the GOP said a peep.

    That is true.

    The Democrat party has run this state in…blah blah blah…

    It is the Democratic Party dillweed.

    BTW – Well put AnnieMack. Castle’s 100 years of playing it safe don’t impress me.

  15. FSP- A legend in his own mind, a disaster in his own time. Please go tend to another of your many failed businesses. How is that internet radio doing these days?

    No, it is the Democrat Party and they have put this state in very poor standing in almost every measurable category imaginable. Schools, jobs, economic growth, safety, and health care all have suffered under the Democrat party.

    Again, Mr. Castle has served the state and country well. Light years ahead of Biden or Carper.

    Mike Protack

  16. oh hai says:

    Please, GOP, I beg you. Run Protack. Just let him into a General. Then, you can be done with him.

  17. jason330 says:

    If you think losing with 25% of the vote would convice him to exit politics, you don’t know Protack.

  18. FSP says:

    “FSP- A legend in his own mind, a disaster in his own time. Please go tend to another of your many failed businesses.”

    Loser Boy — I’ve created more jobs and made more money at 35 than you have in your entire pathetic life. You wouldn’t know economic growth if it showed up one day with your missing pension.

    Still waiting for that lawsuit, fraud. And still wondering why, when they wanted to talk about the future of the GOP, WHYY called me and not you. Hmmmm……

    So why don’t you go troll some more think tank web sites and steal some ideas to call your own, and then think real hard about why the state party ignored your pathetic attempt at a communications plan.

    I don’t usually give free advice to scum like you, but I’m feeling charitable today. So here goes: being a dick to everyone you encounter is not a recipe for success.

    Here endeth the lesson.

  19. Steve Newton says:

    For what it’s worth:

    1) I agree with FSP that this is not David A. For better or worse, David signs his name when he writes. Moreover, I disagree that the writing is similar to David’s.

    2) If we assume that the author is being at least somewhat truthful, there are other clues. The letter refers to Castle’s 65-66 service as AG as occurring “years before I was born.” My normal reaction when somebody says that is to think at least 3-5 years later. That would mean we are looking for somebody born in the 1968-1975 realm, early to mid 40s now.

    3) The photo selection is interesting: Castle with McCain; Castle with Carper; Castle with Bien; and Castle with Dubya. The arrangement suggests to me somebody who is saying that your associations are McCain/fail, Bush/fail, Dems, and Dems. In other words, the photos in many ways represent a critique of Castle’s career rather than a monument to it.

    4) Unspoken (and therefore significant also; the dog did not bark) is that the document “thanks” Castle for his service and not for anything he did; in fact, the letter stays well away from suggesting that Castle has ever accomplished anything during his political career, only that he has become “an institution.”

    My conclusion (and Sherlock I’m not): is that

    1) David A. did not write the letters because he did not sign it and David would have praised Castle’s social stands and would never have pasted in the Carper/Biden photos

    2) Mike P. did not write the letter because, again, Mike has generally defended Castle on an issues basis, and Mike (at least techically) knows more about web page design than the person who did this.

    3) No Democrat wrote this letter, even though I could see jason or even nemski thinking up a parody close to this. But the parody would have more bite, and neither would have used the Biden photo that way.

    Oh: I forgot to mention: the writer has to know the blogosphere pretty well, because otherwise there would be no reason that I got received a copy of the original email. Nobody involved in GOP politics who is not a blogger or a reader would send me a first-run copy of this email, because the leading non-blogging GOPers wouldn’t have the slightest idea who I am.

    So I am looking for a mid-forties, socially conservative GOPer who is not thinking of running himself, but is pushing a conservative candidate–maybe a Colin Bonini–to have a shot at the Congressional seat.

    Either than, or John Carney did it.

  20. FSP says:

    For you sleuths, one point. I did not get the original email, and instead learned about it here.

  21. “FSP- A legend in his own mind, a disaster in his own time. Please go tend to another of your many failed businesses.”

    Little Boy Dave, how about you tell us how much you have made? Give us a mumber, a precise number of your income year by year.

    I as told you partner and fellow economic disaster, you have no assets, no verifiable income and not much of a future. You are the last person who can add anything to the Future of the Delaware Party, WHYY must have been real desperate and I am guessing the 150 people who saw the show learned nothing from you. You were a disgrace. At one point during the show, you laughed at what a hack you were.

    Now Dave, have you read the plan? You and I both know you could not understand it. As for Think Tanks that would be your route. You could not win a debate with a mental patient.

    You still think you can intimidate people as if you were still at Milford HS. Guess what It doesn’t work. You could not last 10 seconds in the Marine Corps not any part of civilian aviation. You are a coward of epic proportions.

    No Little man, your business career has ended. So what about the internet radio business? Or how about your real estate career? Failures at every level.

    The only you can do is talk big behind a keyboard and are living proof why horse’s asses out number horses.

    The next time I see you selling pencils outside of the Wawa I will throw a nickel in your tin cup.

    Thanks for the laughs.

  22. FSP says:

    “I as told you partner and fellow economic disaster, you have no assets, no verifiable income and not much of a future.”

    I don’t know why I do this, because only one of us gets laughed at, online or off and it isn’t me.

    First, I sold over $20 million in real estate in five years.

    I sold my first business for $210,000 more than I paid for it. My second for $115,00o more. I lost $3500 on Delaware Talk Radio.

    I currently do contract work in economic and business development and publish a magazine that has already brought in 11 times what it cost to start.

    I understand your jealousy at someone who actually has a say in our party, who actually works with his brain creating things that weren’t there before, and is basically all the things you wish you were. And I get to do it while spending nearly every waking hour of my children’s lives with them.

    I understand that a guy of such little character as you, who would throw his own wife under the bus for his own campaign finance violations, might not understand that level of commitment to family.

    And when the decisions are being made to reinvigorate the party, when men and women from around the state are seated around a table sharing and debating ideas, I’ll be sure to let you know what happens because I’ll be there and you damn sure won’t. I’ve earned my place inside the room, and you’ve earned your place outside it.

    Go cry to the IPOD, quitter. And we can talk about my cowardice in person anytime, anywhere.

  23. FSP says:

    It’s kind of funny that so many on blogs take shots at me because I come from two successful families (I’m looking at you Rushie), but router boy tries to explain away the reason he didn’t sue me when I exposed his ass by saying I have no assets.

    Can you all get together and decide which one it is?

    Mike — You didn’t sue me because I WAS RIGHT and you knew you’d LOSE, which is the only thing you’re good at. So you quit, just like you quit when you made the general election ballot as an Ipod.

  24. pandora says:

    God, you’re nasty. And that comment above (#21) demonstrates you don’t have the temperament, demeanor or class to run for, or hold, an elected office.

    You also don’t possess the intellect or professionalism. Geez, what sort of serious candidate posts such personal nastiness on a blog – and, believe me, if you run for anything everyone will have a field day posting Mike Protack’s greatest hits. And when that happens, you’ll have no one but yourself to blame.

  25. FSP says:

    “And when that happens, you’ll have no one but yourself to blame.”

    Oh, believe me. You heavily underestimate Loser Boy’s ability to blame anyone and everyone (including members of his own family) for his myriad failures.

  26. I will settle one part of this mystery. I did not write it nor did I design the webpage. I will have to visit it just to see what it is about when I get time. I don’t do this anonymous stuff. For better or worse, you know were I stand and I don’t go through the backdoor and say one thing in public and another through other means.

    I would like Mr. Castle to run one more time for something so that we can get our act together then retire. Could I have been any more clear?

    “If you are going to suggest that Castle step down, why not just be a man about it?” This is rich from a blog with mostly anonymous contributors. I believe in the value of anonymity to discourse, but I don’t use it. You don’t and do use it. Please explain.

  27. jason330 says:

    That’s water under the bridge. I’m convinced that you know your shit when it comes to starting and running a business.

    It is the “tax cuts at all cost”. And other political malarkey that I have a problem with.

  28. jason330 says:

    Also… Christ almighty! Protack is a fucking loser.

  29. Protack is a nasty person.

  30. cassandra_m says:

    Mr. Shallow Bench is a Fool. If he decides to run for something in Delaware again he may have facing him the first bipartisan oppo team in history.

  31. FSP says:

    “I’m convinced that you know your shit when it comes to starting and running a business.”

    And you certainly know how to grow one.

    “It is the “tax cuts at all cost”.”

    Haven’t I told you? Tax cuts pay for themselves!

  32. liberalgeek says:

    I never said that it was David A. He and I disagree, but I don’t think this sort of thing is in his bag of tricks. This has a hacked router written all over it.

    Steve – much of your logic is solid. The age could easily be a lie to make Castle seem old by comparison. I also think you are spot-on with the photo selections.

    I’ll have a few updates soon. I have uncovered a few traces of the author. We shall see what I can turn up.

  33. Is it possible that this is a feint from those Club For Growth nuts?

    Castle fits the kind of Rethug profile that they like to target.

  34. FSP says:

    “Is it possible that this is a feint from those Club For Growth nuts?”

    No. Like him or not, Castle in the Senate beats a Delaware Democrat, especially Biden, for them.

  35. The Club for Growth folks aren’t really known for their pragmatism.

  36. FSP says:

    “The Club for Growth folks aren’t really known for their pragmatism.”

    They are when there’s no alternative.

  37. They have an alternative in O’Donnell.

  38. FSP wrote:

    “The Club for Growth folks aren’t really known for their pragmatism.”

    “They are when there’s no alternative.”

    Right. Like how they’d rather have Pat Toomey lose to any D on the ballot than win with Arlen Specter. And, thanks to the Club for Growth, they now have no alternative.

    ‘Bulo likes the Club for Growth. Thanks to them, D margins continue to grow.

  39. jason330 says:

    They have an alternative in O’Donnell.

    The sly wit of UI in the hizzy!

  40. I think the Club for Growth are the leaders in the Republican purity purge.

  41. FSP says:

    “I think the Club for Growth are the leaders in the Republican purity purge.”

    I think they’re interested in a purity purge, but I don’t know if they’re leading it.

  42. RSmitty says:

    I as told you partner and fellow economic disaster…
    Nice grammar.

    Tell you what, hairlip, put your wife in a car, have her travel at 50MPH on Boyd’s Corner Rd, westbound. Now, arrange that an ignorant **tch, you know, someone of your personality type, comes around the bend, passing people over the double-yellow, and hits your wife head-on. Per police reports, witnesses that were passed by this person of your personality-type, said THEY were going the 50MPH speed limit, so do the math on her actual speed when passing them. The trick is, make sure your wife has no knowledge of the oncoming disaster, so she has no chance to bail out of the way, as was the situation my wife was under. Then, suffer through years of litigation with the insurance company only to have them argue in binding arbitration that the child you had two years later was the sole cause of her ongoing medical issues. When you get through all of that, then we can compare financial issues, OK?

    You are one miserable, pathetic, full-of-HATE son-of-a-bitch. I told O’Neill before that I hope he never gets the impression I speak this way of him, because I don’t. I also made it clear this is all about you. I mean that, you prick. I USED to respect you until the chain of events you started at the convention in 2007, with what became a freaking lie to my face in regard to your approach to Alan Levin, started the whole ball rolling.

    You are a repugnant, self-absorbed (probably self-loathing), fool of a man who mistakingly thinks he has any future in Delaware politics. How can you seriously ever think about a political future when there are nothing…NOTHING but burned bridges in your rear view mirror? Any efforts of forgiveness will do NOTHING for you except allow some people to move on.

    You could not win a debate with a mental patient.
    Another example of your unavoidable, yet always intolerable insensitivity.

    You can’t even help yourself.

  43. pandora says:

    Smitty, don’t worry about Protack. He’s a loser, and everyone knows it. He’ll never win anything. The most he’s capable of is making a fool of himself again and again and again…

  44. Sorry , but FSP and Rsmitty are delusional failures but as I care nothing about what they say or do I will yawn and read something of more substance maybe the comics?

    You small minded boys can stay behind your keyboards and try to look important by posting anything you want at any time and I will give it the attention I give an issue of the New York Times-nothing.

    Again, Thanks for the laughs.

  45. FSP says:

    Very touching, Loserboy.

  46. liberalgeek says:

    It should be noted that Mr. “I always post under the same name” has posted under two different names on this thread.

    Honestly Dave, with Protack on your side, I almost feel bad for Republicans. Almost.

  47. FSP says:

    He’s not on my side, and he’s not on the GOP’s side. He’s on his own side. The abject and recurring failure side.

  48. liberalgeek says:

    Sorry, you own him. If you’re lucky, I won’t have Jason force you to apologize for him.

  49. FSP says:

    “Sorry, you own him. ”

    Only in the sense that I thoroughly embarrass him every time he rears his ugly head.

  50. meatball says:

    BTW Dave B., I criticised your old tourist website because it was the same old crap everyone else was doing (mostly advertising). What you are doing now at Coastal Sussex is truely innovative and actually useful, even for us locals. Thanks. I point as many people as I can there.

  51. anonone says:

    Mike Protack leads the Delaware Republican Party!!!

    Mike Protack RULZ!!!!!

  52. FSP says:

    Thanks, meatball. I really appreciate it.

  53. RSmitty says:

    So, MICHAEL D PROTACK, that is Mike Protack of Delaware, the airline pilot, the politician, the many-times losing politician of the state of Delaware, Michael D Protack (going for the google hits), has no comment when confronted about his insensitivity to those with mental healthproblems, nor about his making gratuitous humor of someone’s plight when he came as close as possible to losing his spouse in a horrific crash? Only a crass, self-absorbed response? That was Mike Protack, Michael D Protack, professional losing politician of Delaware.

    Posterchild of what NOT to do in politics.

  54. RSmitty says:

    Just to make this very clear, Mike Protack of Delaware, the airline pilot, the politician, the many-times losing politician of the state of Delaware, Michael D Protack thinks the fact that I was inches near becoming a widower with a 3-year-old and 1-year-old son is a basis for his kind of humor. Wow, I can only wonder what material he conjures up when reading the obituaries.

    Mike Protack, pilot, losing politician, and oblivious satirist.