Author Archives: MJ

About MJ

A rabble-rousing bureaucrat living in Sussex County

Gifts for the Person Who Has Everything

Well, Chanukah starts next Wednesday at sundown, so I thought the email with this gift information was just in time.

NOT!

Here’s the text from the email:

With the holiday season quickly approaching, there’s no better time to visit the GOP Store and find truly unique and inspiring gifts for all the commonsense conservative Republicans in your life! Celebrate our 2010 election success and ring in the New Year with great gifts from your GOP Store…

Featured Items

2010 Republican National Committee Collectable Ornament

Add some patriotic good cheer and Republican pride to your holiday décor with this limited edition brass RNC Holiday Ornament — a fantastic keepsake for celebrating a successful 2010 election year!

Plush RNC 2010 Holiday Elephant

Meet “Twinkle,” the newest member of our adorable line of collectable RNC plush elephants! “Twinkle” is ready for merriment and makes a perfect stocking stuffer for all your little Republicans who have been so good this year… Actual size 5″ x 4″.

2011 RNC “American Exceptionalism” Calendar

Get ready for an exceptional new year with our 2011 Commemorative RNC wall calendar! Featuring original artwork that celebrates the unique character and achievements of the American people, the 2011 RNC Calendar will inspire you and yours throughout the coming year.

You Fired Pelosi — Now Get The Gear!

Let everyone know you helped send Nancy Pelosi a pink slip — and are ready to give Barack Obama a taste of the same medicine in 2012! Get t-shirts, buttons, travel mugs, bumper stickers and more from the GOP Store today!

Twinkle the Elephant? That sounds a lot like Michael Steele’s drag name. And I couldn’t find the Sarah Palin version of the Bass-O-Matic. Damn!

Monday’s Asshats of the Day

Numerous winners today, so I’ll get right to it.

First winner, that lard ass of a NJ governor Chris Christie, for demanding that the Delaware River and Bay Authority stop letting employees and retirees get free tolls if they use EZ Pass when crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Only problem is, DRBA doesn’t have such a policy.

NEWS RELEASE: Delaware River and Bay Authority DOES NOT Have Free E-ZPass
Statement in Response to Governor Christie’s Recent Press Release Concerning PANYNJ

(New Castle, DE) The Delaware River and Bay Authority (DRBA) wants to correct an inaccuracy contained in yesterday’s press release from the Governor’s office entitled, “Governor Chris Christie Applauds Action to Remove E-Z Pass Perks at the Port Authority of NY/NJ.” Contained in the press release was the following quote attributed to Governor Christie: “…It’s time for the authorities that have not yet acted on my directive, the Delaware River and Bay Authority and the Delaware River Joint Toll Bridge Commission to end these abusive practices as well…”

Since the inception of electronic tolls at the Delaware Memorial Bridge in July 2001, the DRBA has never permitted free E-ZPass usage on the Delaware Memorial Bridge for its employees or retirees. In 2008, free E-ZPass privileges for DRBA Commissioners to use the Delaware Memorial Bridge were also eliminated.

“It’s very difficult to eliminate a benefit that doesn’t exist,” remarked James N. Hogan, Chairman of the DRBA Commission. “In the future, I would respectfully request that the Governor direct his staff to do proper due-diligence to insure that such inaccuracies don’t occur again and that the DRBA be evaluated on its own merits.”

Asking Christie or any teabagger in office to do due diligence is like talking to a wall. If it’s good enough for a sound bite, to Hell with the facts.

Second up is St. Sarah, once again. This time it’s for her latest experiment in book writing (c’mon, we all know that this was ghost written since St. Sarah doesn’t read newspapers or books – maybe Tripp or Truck or whatever that other kid that we never see wrote it for her) in which she condemns JFK for his statements about his Catholicism (saying he ran away from his religion) while praising Mitt Romney for standing by his Mormonism. It’s apparent that St. Sarah had no idea what JFK was talking about, but her slam on an assassinated Democratic President makes good reading – for teabaggers. Interesting that the book came out on the 47th anniversary of JFK’s murder. And I’d be remiss for not mentioning her swing at President and Mrs. Obama with her raising that all too familiar bogeyman, Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Too bad most of her followers still aren’t above the “See Spot Run” level in reading comprehension.

Next up, we have Mesa County (CO) Commissioner Craig Meis, who believes that’s it’s OK to break laws you don’t agree with. This past summer, he was ticketed for allowing his 14 year-old son to operate a personal water craft in a state park. Colorado law requires operators to be 16. Meis is fighting the ticket and trying to use his fight to stir up the teabaggers on Colorado’s Western Slope. When he was ticketed, Meis decided to let the park ranger that he was screwing around with the wrong person.

According to the report from the park officer who issued the ticket, Meis several times raised the fact that he is a county commissioner and that he knows the local district attorney well.

The officer wrote the ticket anyway.

Meis then wrote letters decrying the ticketing to other Republican officials in Mesa County and to Mike King, director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources. He questioned the truthfulness of the officer who ticketed him and denied trying to use his public office to sway him.

Meis’ fight over the ticket cost the county several thousands of dollars as they had to bring in a special prosecutor. Meis lost the case.

And finally we have Curly from WGOP radio, who was railing today about the full-body scanners and enhanced pat downs at the nation’s airports. Granted, he’s so fat, it will take 2 TSA screeners to do a pat down. But his claims that this is just some socialist plot (along with the Food Safety Act) are just so totally out there, it’s laughable. Actually, I pity him, because it’s obvious that he has totally lost his mind. Hey Curly, why are you so soft on protecting America from terrorists?

Wednesday’s Asshat of the Day

I’ve been away on special assignment (actually, just been busy putting together my agency’s annual financial report to Congress), but Asshat returns.

Like mother, like daughter, today’s winner is a bit of a loose canon, especially with her mouth. It seems that Willow Palin was upset that some stranger on Facebook dissed her mama’s show on TLC.

Willow Palin, the 16-year-old daughter of former Alaska governor Sarah Palin, wrote multiple Facebook posts containing homophobic slurs such as “faggot” on Sunday night, according to TMZ.

Hey Willow! Do you kiss your parents with that mouth?

Of course, some people are brushing off the comments as typical teenage language. And even if it is, that’s no excuse for calling someone a faggot. But Willow seems to have some weird sense of superiority.

During the premiere of “Sarah Palin’s Alaska” Sunday night — a boy named Tre who went to school with the Palin kids wrote a status update that read, “Sarah Palin’s Alaska, is failing so hard right now.”

The comment sparked an intense response from Willow — who replied on the boy’s wall, “Haha your so gay. I have no idea who you are, But what I’ve seen pictures of, your disgusting … My sister had a kid and is still hot.”

Willow followed up that comment with another that read, “Tre stfu. Your such a f**got.”

Bristol Palin also got in on the smacktalk — writing a message to Tre saying, “You’re running your mouth just to talk sh*t.”

What is it with these kids? Has St. Sarah just totally screwed them up?

And it seems that Willow is not as sweet and innocent as we’ve been led to believe. An Alaskan blogger has claimed that Willow was part of a teenage vandalism scandal and escaped any charges because of her mama.

When Sarah was confronted with Willow’s involvement she at first said that it was impossible since Willow was out of town. However when Troopers interviewed the other teens, every single one of them identified Willow as a participant, and further revealed that it was she who directed the other teens to the house, which she knew to be empty, for the sole purpose of having a party. (In today’s post AlaskaWTF called Willow the ringleader. Which is accurate in that it was she who knew the location of the house, but whether or not she was involved in the incredible destruction is still undetermined.)

Now confronted with this new information you may assume that the Palins would do the right thing and surrender their daughter to the authorities, allow her to suffer the consequences of her actions, and then treat this as a painful but necessary learning experience.

If you believed that for even an instant then you don’t know squat about Sarah Palin.

No instead Sarah circled the wagons (There are rumors she even hired legal counsel) and she started to call in favors. Scandal had to be avoided at all cost. (This was right around the time that her contract with Fox News was being announced.)

According to sources close to the Alaska State troopers there was a secret weekend meeting. This meeting took place between the Palin’s and some very highly placed people involved in the juvenile justice department.

Directly after this secret meeting the word came down to the juvenile justice probation officer, Chris Evans, that ONLY the boys who had participated would be charged with the crime. The girls would only be identified as “witnesses” and face no criminal penalties.

If St. Sarah and her lap dog of a husband actually stayed home and raised their kids instead of being the starfuckers they’ve become, maybe these kids wouldn’t be as screwed up as they are. Come to think of it, may St. Sarah and Todd should be the asshats today.

Saying Stupid Things

So, St. Sarah got caught saying something totally stupid again today (something about how PA was becoming a nanny state because they were going to regulate the amount of sugar school kids got).

If you could say anything you wanted to St. Sarah, without retribution, what would it be?

Night of the Long Knives and Pitchforks

Well, it didn’t take long for the O’Donnell faction of the GOP to begin the civil war. At last night’s meeting of the Sussex County GOP Committee, Don Ayotte, who is a contributor over at that other political blog (you know the one, the one run by Delusional David) demanded Tom Ross’ head.

According to Jud Bennett, a member of the committee,

With absolutely no regard for the rules, Don Ayotte, with the backing of a vociferous and determined, stacked house, demanded that a Sussex County Resolution be passed, censoring State Chairman Tom Ross for his actions concerning Christine O”donnell (sic) during the Primary campaign and after. According to the resolution, Tom Ross had said “Christine O’Donnell could not be elected to dog catcher”. He also “did not support O”donnell properly after the Primary”, according to Ayotte’s resolution– in which O’Donnell upset Mikle Castle in the wake of Tea Party support.

We all knew that this day was coming, but Ayotte, who is known for his extremist views at the other blog, couldn’t even wait a week. All of us over here at DL are socialists and Marxists and he’s the sane one. Bennett continues:

Vitriol, shouting, and a total break down of order transpired. Ron Sams tried to explain that this action would serve no productive purpose in unifying the party. Moderate Republican, Maria Evans expressed her views in opposition of this action, and denied the validity of Ayotte’s proposal. She also held up a tape recorder, saying that she was taping the whole deal, which no doubt will be played on the internet, and on all the local and national TV and radio stations.

I’m beginning to think this is why Dan Gaffney tweeted today “and people wonder why I don’t join the ‘club’.” Better to steer clear of this mess, Dan.

But wait, there’s more. Bennett “called for a point of order–suggesting that only official committee members are allowed to vote on something like this and it requires a quorum of 50 voters.” After this– Ron Sams brought those Sussex Committee members to the front to count them. Only 31 were present, making any official action not relevant or legal.” But Ayotte and his teabagging fellow travelers would have nothing to do with the rules.

They wanted blood, they wanted to punish, and they wanted it known that Tom Ross needed to go and this was to be a vote of no confidence. County Councilman Vance Phillips called for a planned vote on the resolution at the next meeting, but Ayotte and company would not hear it. Finally, Ron Sams said, “you want to vote, go ahead. The unruly crowd , in a voice vote, overwhelmingly supported the resolution, with a few squeaky nays in opposition.

Standing on the sidelines urging on this unruly mob, with their torches and pitchforks at hand, were Vance Phillips and Sam Wilson, two members of the Sussex County Council. Both of these guys make Joe McCarthy look like a moderate. According to a friend of mine who was at the meeting, both of these fine gents moved that the resolution be placed on next month’s agenda. My guess is that they will ensure that there is a quorum present to vote on the motion. This is also what Curly has been advocating since the primary – he wants Ross’ head on a pike.

In closing his email to his Coastal Conservative Network, Bennett said this:

Regardless, without compromise, with this “take no prisoners”, vitriolic attitude, the Delaware GOP will not rebuild, will not heal, and will continue to lose elections. This is not the right way in my opinion, but I’m just an old dinasaur. So be it.

Dave Burris probably saw this in his crystal ball, which is why he left the party. And if the GOP splits, their caucus in Leg Hall will continue to shrink.

h/t to Independent

Friday’s Asshat of the Day

Feeling newly empowered, head House teabbagger Michelle Bachmann has been demanding a position in the House GOP leadership. She’s going to be disappointed, because I doubt that The Orange Man wants her to be the spokesperson for the party going into the 2012 election cycle. Anyway, she’ll be gone after 2012 as her district will probably be merged with that of another republican House member from Minnesota.

But she wins today’s Asshat award for her claim that the President’s upcoming trip to India will cost taxpayers $200 million a day.

To say this figure — $200 million a day — has made the rounds in the blogosphere would be a huge understatement. It has been repeated by nearly every conservative pundit in the land: Hannity, Limbaugh, Beck, Drudge. Always with a healthy dose of indignation.

It also got picked up by U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., who told CNN’s Anderson Cooper on Nov. 3, 2010, it was just the latest example of government excess and spending from the Obama administration.

“The president of the United States will be taking a trip over to India that is expected to cost the taxpayers $200 million a day,” Bachmann said. “He’s taking 2,000 people with him.

Yeah, I guess you can’t believe everything you read on the Internet, Frau Bachmann. Didn’t you realize how stupid your claim was when you said it? Or did you just exercise the teabagger’s way of not checking your facts before opening your pie hole?

When she was asked where she got her figures, Frau Bachmann said that “these are the numbers that have been coming out in the press.”

Actually it’s a figure that came from just one source, a news agency in India, relying on an anonymous source. It was then repeated thousands more times in the blogosphere and over conservative airwaves.

The claim that the U.S. would be spending “a whopping $200 million per day” on Obama’s visit to Mumbai, India, originated in a report from the news agency Press Trust of India. It was an estimate attributed anonymously to “a top official of the Maharashtra Government privy to the arrangements for the high-profile visit.” Maharashtra is a state located in western India.

White House spokesperson Kate Bedingfield said “The numbers reported in this article have no basis in reality.” Sounds just like Frau Bachmann and the rest of the teabaggers – they have no basis in reality. Guess we just need to file this claim away alongside the death panels that grandma is going to have to start reporting to soon.

Rocky Mountain High

So elsewhere in the country:

In Colorado, Sen. Michael Bennet has won reelection over teabagger Ken Buck. This race was reminiscent of the Gary Hart’s 1980 reelection campaign. Running in the year of the “Reagan Revolution,” Hart was running against the popular Secretary of State, Mary Estill Buchanan. Hart only won by 19,000 votes out of over 1 million cast (it was the first time that over 1 million Coloradans had voted in a single election). Bennet rolled up huge margins in the Democratic strongholds, and even won the GOP stronghold of Arapahoe County south of Denver.

In the race for governor, Denver Mayor John Hickenlooper easily beat anti-immigration candidate Tom “I didn’t know they were illegal” Tancredo (American Constitution Party) and Dan “Abortion Bikes” Maes (Teapublican). What is not known is if the GOP will now be classified as a minor party in Colorado. Conflicting reports show Maes with anywhere from 9.7% – 11.1%. Also unknown is whether the GOP recaptured the state House of Representatives.

Colorado has ballot initiatives, which sometimes can wreak havoc on state government. In the early 90’s Doug Bruce (think St. Bodie Girl, but meaner), authored the Tax Payer Bill of Rights (TABOR), which put severe restraints on spending. But TABOR has been whittled back over the years and yesterday, Bruce went down to defeat when his 3 initiatives, known as the “Ugly 3” were rejected by over 70% of the voters.

And for the second time in 2 years, a “personhood” amendment was voted down. Apparently, the backers of Prop 62, which would have granted constitutional rights to individuals “at the beginning of biological development,” learned their talking points from Chrissie-pooh. They saw their loss as a victory because supposedly women stopped having abortions during the campaign. But the best line came from the head of the opposition “No on 62” group:

“What part of ‘no’ don’t they understand?” asked “No on 62” campaign director Fofi Mendez.

Prop 62 was voted down by 75% of the voters. In 2008, a similar measure put up by the same group lost by the same margin.

Coloradans also voted down an amendment to the state constitution which would have made it illegal to require anyone to have health insurance lost 53%-47%. The amendment was drafted by a Colorado version of CRI.

And Denver voters defeated Initiative 300, which would have required the city to create the world’s first government-sanctioned extraterrestrial-affairs commission.

The measure would have required the mayor to appoint seven members to the new commission. At least one would have to be an expert “who had consulted at least 100 people regarding their alleged close encounters with extraterrestrial intelligent beings.”

Ballot language allowed that commission members “who are not Denver residents may participate from anywhere in the universe by any means available.”

The duties of the board — financed by grants, gifts and donations — would have included evaluating the risks and benefits of encounters with extraterrestrials. The city also would have to inform the public on its website of any extraterrestrial evidence.

And do not fear, Asshat of the Day will be coming back after taking Election Day and Return Day off. You are all coming to Return Day tomorrow, aren’t you? Joe will be there.

Another Republican Getting Desperate

Seems that desperation and worry are besieging the GOP. We reported earlier today on No-Show Bonini’s letter to state employees, which totally misrepresented Chip Flowers’ position on issues. And Bonini lived up to his name by bailing out on another debate this afternoon at UD.

Now, Rep. Dave Wilson must really be worried about Jim Westhoff. Westhoff has run one of the most impressive campaigns this year, actually talking about issues and his plans to get things done in Dover. Today, Wilson sent out a robocall which told Independent and GOP voters that said the following: “Maybe he should tell us more about his Coast Guard and teaching careers too. Come on Jim.”

Here’s the complete text –

“This your State Representative Dave Wilson. Many of you have received a mailer from my opponent criticizing my record. Let’s deal with the facts. I don’t believe we need to add a bunch of new laws to the books to be considered a good legislator. I stand on my record of constituent service. Just ask anyone who has ever asked me for help. I was never asked to serve on the Joint Finance Committee period. My opponent said he will resign if elected but that is not good enough. If he’s elected he will already be a double dipper getting his state payroll and his new legislative salary from day one. Maybe he should tell us more about his coast guard and teaching careers too. Come on Jim. If you’re gonna hit me with a last minute desperate mail piece, at least be honest. I stand by what I’ve done for the 35th district. If you agree, I ask for you to vote for me Dave Wilson on November 2nd.”

My only response is WTF? What are you trying to imply, Wilson? Jim has said that he would resign immediately if he is elected tomorrow. Which part of IMMEDIATELY don’t you understand? Are you just pissed off that you were forced to resign your position as Register of Wills two years ago when you were first elected? Some history – Wilson was elected Register of Wills in Sussex in 2006. When he won the 35th District seat in 2008, he refused to resign. Gov. Minner and the AG told him to make a choice; he resigned.

Westhoff served honorably in the Coast Guard. No blemishes, nothing. He was Honorably discharged and he is a proud veteran. He went to college on the GI Bill. He taught high school. No smoking gun. No hidden skeletons, except the ones in Wilson’s mind.

Wilson has complained that there is no one from Sussex County on the Joint Finance Committee. Yet, when he appeared on Dan Gaffney’s show on WGOP on October 15 and was asked by Gaffney why there wasn’t someone from Sussex on the JFC, Wilson said “”I have no idea. … I don’t have the time to, uhh, to stay there and go over and do the kind of job on joint finance committee that I feel needs to be done. But we definitely need representation from Sussex County.”

Wilson has voted against both Bond Bills since he took office, meaning he has voted against building schools and roads in Sussex County. Maybe he can explain to all of us how this is “good constituent service.” Wilson is a lazy legislator, much like his pal No-Show Bonini.

No-Show Bonini Getting Desperate

Colin “No-Show” Bonini must be getting desperate. Apparently he has sent a letter to state employees making some false claims about Chip Flowers (which is nothing new for Bonono). One of these claims is that Flowers will, if elected, not pay vendors or state employees based on his personal opinion. This has some state employees thinking that Flowers will play politics with their paychecks.

The fact is that Bonini is the one grandstanding on issuing checks.

Colin Bonini on Accountability:
Accountability follows transparency. As far as I’m concerned, every dollar that our state government spends should be tracked and every Delawarean should be able to clearly see where that money is going, why it’s going there and what happens to it when it gets there. You can’t just put the checks online. You need to go a step further. Show the people the contracts, show people the results of the spending. I am going to make sure that every Delawarean knows where every single penny of their money is going. Once they realize that, they’ll start to pressure my colleagues and the Governor to stop wasting the money. In addition, I sign every check and every bond. If I see a check or a bond that I think is suspicious or is a waste of money, I’m going to hold a press conference that day and let every Delawarean know about it. The nonsense that they’re doing at midnight, buying golf courses and marinas, they’re not going to do that when they know that at 8am the next morning, I’m going to hold a press conference and tell all of Delaware about it. We can do better. We must do better. And I need your help to show Delaware there’s a better way.

It seems that Colin, while forgetting to attend meetings of the Sunset Committee, has also forgotten about something that is on his own campaign site. We all know that No-Show wants to cut the size of state government, so what’s to stop him if he thinks a state employee doesn’t deserve his or her check some day?

Here’s the letter that No-Show sent:Bonini Letter

Bonini also is claiming that Chip is “supported by politicians who supported the pay cut to state employees,” while he opposed the pay cut to state employees. I don’t understand the big deal here. Chip is supported by Democratic office holders. And Bonini is supported by GOP officeholders. So is No-Show saying that Chip should disavow Democratic support? Puleeze!

Technically, I guess, No-Show voted against the state employees’ pay cut when he voted against the budget in June 2009, as did his fellow GOP senators. But then he voted against the budget this past June, meaning he opposed restoring the pay that was cut to state employees. Hey Colin, you can’t have it both ways. Talk about a flip-flop. But the most important question is – how did Bonini get a hold of the private, confidential mailing addresses of state employees? This seems to me that he illegally accessed a state government database for political purposes.

Pulling last minute dirty tricks is nothing new for Bonini. In 2002, he was suspected of being involved in fake robocalls that were supposedly coming from one of his Democratic opponents. The fake calls came during the Democratic primary and damaged the leading Democrat’s credibility, as they were being made late at night and 2-3 times a night to the same voters. And Chip has been victimized this year by fake robocalls that occurred during the primary. Same scenario. Just seems too coincidental.

Colin, you have no ethics. You’ve taken taxpayer money while shirking your responsibilities as a state senator. You’ve lied about your opponent’s platform. You cannot be trusted to tell the truth. Hell, you couldn’t even find your way out of downtown Rehoboth Beach after the Sea Witch parade!

My hope is that this all comes back to bite you in the ass on Tuesday. I’ll be doing my part to make sure it does.