Delaware Dem

The Biden Era

From the News Journal:

Sam Hoff, a political science professor at Delaware State University, said, “When you think of Joe, you think of someone whose own moral fiber and strength is on public display in times of trauma.”

Politically, Hoff said Biden’s long career in the U.S. Senate and the vice presidency has helped strengthen Democratic politics in Delaware to the point that Democrats dominate here.

“Would I say that Joe is singularly responsible for the strong Democratic emphasis we see? No, not singularly,” Hoff said. “But we’re in a strong Democratic trend in a state, and we have been since 1992. That coincides with a large part of Joe’s career.”

Yes, not singularly. Delaware became deep blue the second the national Republican Party embraced extreme social conservatism. I wasn’t sure if then Senator Biden’s career in the First State had anything to do with it, but the deep emotional outpouring for Joe Biden and his family this week since the death of their son, Beau Biden, has me reconsidering it.

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Thursday Open Thread [6.4.15]

At Salon, Sean Illing takes on the lie about running the government like a business:

First, America isn’t a business. Businesses exist to turn a profit, to create wealth for shareholders; that’s their only reason for being. Countries exist to preserve a cultural identity, a way of life, of which the economy is a part. Conservatives often argue that this is an abstract distinction; that, practically speaking, overseeing a corporation and deciding national economic policy are fundamentally the same. […]

Business acumen is a terrible indicator of political ability, and for obvious reasons. Business and politics are separate spheres; they require different skill sets. CEOs are despots; they don’t persuade so much as dictate and they’re more inclined to fire those with whom they disagree. Presidents live in a non-zero-sum context, where cooperation is crucial and consensus is critical. Good presidents also tend to care about different things than successful CEOs. The only metric that matters in private industry is profit; this attracts a certain kind of person and cultivates a certain kind of disposition. There are no rewards for compassion and empathy in the corporate world. But compassion and empathy are precisely what we need in a president.

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Ted Cruz is America’s Greatest Asshole.

Ted Cruz made a little joke last night. Because, you know those Republicans, they are a fun loving comedic people.

“You know, Vice President Joe Biden,” he said as a few chuckles emerged from the crowd, setting up the joke for him.

“You know the nice thing. You don’t need a punchline. I promise you it works. At the next party you’re at, just walk up to someone and say, ‘Vice President Joe Biden,’ and just close your mouth. They will crack up laughing.”

Former News Journal reporter Chad Livengood confronted the unmitigated pile of excrement that somehow had gained sentience and asked it how it felt to make fun of a grieving father who has now had to bury two children:

Q: Could you talk about the vice president losing his son this week?

A: Heartbreaking and tragic, and our prayers are very much with Vice President Biden, with Jill. It’s a tragedy no one should have to endure.

Q: Why’d you tell a joke about the vice president tonight?

A: Uh …. [walks away]

We have the video of his cowardice inside….

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Wednesday Open Thread [6.3.15]

“In a remarkable reversal of national security policy formed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, the Senate voted on Tuesday to curtail the federal government’s sweeping surveillance of American phone records, sending the legislation to President Obama’s desk for his signature,” the New York Times reports.

“The vote was a rebuke to Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky and the majority leader, as lawmakers beat back a series of amendments that he sought that would have rolled back proposed controls on government spying.”

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Biden to Lie in State at Leg Hall [Update with Full Schedule]

Just received this confusing release from the Governor’s office:

Following an announcement by the Office of the Vice President today, Governor Markell’s office issued the following statement regarding planned services to honor the life of former Attorney General Joseph Robinette “Beau” Biden III.

“President Pro Tempore Patti Blevins, Speaker of the House Pete Schwartzkopf, Senate Minority Leader Gary Simpson, House Minority Leader Danny Short and Governor Jack Markell earlier this week offered to Hallie Biden and the greater Biden family to have the Attorney General lie in honor at Legislative Hall on the afternoon of Thursday, June 4th. While further details will be forthcoming, the Legislative Hall ceremony will allow the General Assembly, other government officials, and the Biden family’s many friends the opportunity to pay their respects.”

The idea of a Dover ceremony was offered to Mrs. Biden, but was it accepted? I don’t see that. [Yes it was.]

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Tuesday Open Thread [6.2.15]

Orin Kerr: “If I understand the history correctly, in the late 1990s, the President was impeached for lying about a sexual affair by a House of Representatives led by a man who was also then hiding a sexual affair, who was supposed to be replaced by another Congressman who stepped down when forced to reveal that he too was having a sexual affair, which led to the election of a new Speaker of the House who now has been indicted for lying about payments covering up his sexual contact with a boy.”

We’ve got tons of polling today. Come inside to check it out.

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