Serious Question.

I broke down and started reading the details of the Miss Delaware Teen USA "scandal" this morning. I had been purposefully avoiding it because I don't consider such things actual news. Who the hell cares that a stupid teenager was stupid enough to allegedly engage in sexual activity on camera? Who the hell cares about a Miss Delaware Teen USA? What the hell is a Miss Delaware Teen USA, and for that matter the winner of any of the other beauty pagents out there? Why do we even hold them up as some kind of paragons of virtue? I guess I can understand holding a contest to determine which of the contestants is the most beautiful and well rounded person in that year's competition. But why then do we act like the winner of that meaningless contest is somehow given royal duties and then acts like a Head of State for a year?

Sunday Daily Delawhere [3.3.13]

The Green was the colonial core of the Dover, centered with the state house, seen on the right. The Old State House was built in 1792, after the state capital moved to Dover from New Castle in 1777, and functioned as the capitol until a new one was built in 1932.

Oh God.

Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder (R) has declared Detroit to be in a state of financial emergency, paving the way for an emergency manager to be appointed to run Michigan's largest city, as per Michigan's law.
"Snyder said he has a candidate in mind but would not name that person, noting the city has a 10-day window to appeal that ends March 11. A hearing for a possible appeal has been set for March 12."
When I read that quote, I knew immediately who Snyder is thinking of. Don't you? Oh of course you do. It's obvious. First one to guess in the comments gets the right height of trees.

Friday Open Thread [3.1.13]

Who dares run against Hillary in the Dem primary, Steve Kornacki wonders:
I would say there’s a decent chance Clinton actually could clear the field and face no serious opposition for the nomination. Not a good chance, but a decent one. This has never happened for a non-incumbent in the modern era, but then again, it’s not like we’re dealing with a huge data set here. And Clinton really is approaching the ’16 race with a set of advantages we’ve never before seen for a non-incumbent. Yes, there’s plenty of time between now and Iowa – time for Clinton to stumble or take a pass on the race, time for Obama to really step in it, time for a real split to open up within the Democratic Party. I’m not calling Clinton a shoo-in for the nomination, or even predicting she’ll run. I’m just arguing that if she does, she could break the mold for non-incumbent candidates of the modern era.
The only with the stature that Hillary now possesses is Gen. Eisenhower in 1952, and even he faced a credible and significant primary or a challenge from the more conservative Senator Bob Taft. I think if Hillary does run, we will still see a candidacy from Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley. Cuomo will demur to Clinton. And so does Biden, in my opinion.

Thursday Open Thread [2.28.13]

James Carville told Morning Joe that Democrats have a big advantage in the debate over the coming automatic budget cuts because of the word used to describe them.
"The sequester has an advantage, and this is kind of cruel to Republicans, but it's true. The sequester, not many people know what it is, but it sounds stupid and cruel. Therefore people think it's a Republican thing."
LOL.

Wednesday Open Thread [2.27.13]

Former Lt. Governor Gene Bookhammer (R) has died, at the age of 94. Our sympathy to his family and friends. Lt. Governor Bookhammer served under two different Governors from 1969 until 1977. He served under Republican Gov. Russell Peterson (who, contrary to the News Journal article's revisionist history, was not a Democrat, despite his liberal policies) during his first term and Democratic Gov. Sherman Tribbitt during his second. Bookhammer and Peterson harken back to a time in the history of our state Republican Party where it was possible to be a moderate or even a liberal. It also harkens back to a time when the Governor and Lt. Governor's electoral fortunes were not necessarily tied together. In my memory, I think the 1992 election was the time I recall seeing joint Gov-Lt. Gov. signs (i.e. Carper-Minner). But I'm a relative young'n.

Wednesday Daily Delawhere [2.27.13]

The old Sussex County Courthouse, on Bedford Street in Georgetown. The courthouse was built in 1792 when Georgetown replaced Lewes as the county seat. The courthouse served until 1837, when the current courthouse was built.