El Somnambulo

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Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 15, 2021

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on June 15, 2021 13 Comments

Let’s start with some good news, sorta.  SB 15, the minimum wage increase legislation, is on Thursday’s House Agenda.  However, it’s a long Agenda, SB 15 is at the bottom of the Agenda, and it’s questionable whether it will be considered on Thursday.  Several amendments, all by Rethugs, have been placed with the bill.  Pay […]

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DL Open Thread: Saturday, June 12, 2021

Filed in Featured, Open Thread by on June 12, 2021 3 Comments

Trump Handed Private Equity Firms License To Avoid Taxes.  The day before the Capitol riots: There were two weeks left in the Trump administration when the Treasury Department handed down a set of rules governing an obscure corner of the tax code. Overseen by a senior Treasury official whose previous job involved helping the wealthy […]

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DL Open Thread: Friday, June 11, 2021

Filed in National by on June 11, 2021 23 Comments

Danny Short Has A Sad.  From Matt Bittle’s Twitter.  There’s so much dissembling goodness here, but I’ll go with: While the proposed amendment had some support from our Caucus during the 150th General Assembly, in the time since then many of our members reexamined it and began expressing significant reservations. First, ‘some support’ was all […]

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thursday, June 10, 2021

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on June 10, 2021 12 Comments

Today’s the day that marijuana legalization comes to the House floor.  It’s likely to be a lo-o-o-ng day. After all, it’s a lo-o-o-ng bill.  HB 150 (Osienski) already has ten pre-filed amendments to wade through.  There could well be more, including perhaps an omnibus amendment that incorporates whatever is needed to get enough votes for […]

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., June 9, 2021

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on June 9, 2021 29 Comments

Pity The Poor Rethuglican.  A couple of years ago, Speaker Pete cut a deal with them rather than work with his own caucus. The result? A special ‘training wage’ and a special ‘youth wage’ that was below the minimum wage.  A lot of D’s bristled at this bill. But not Mike Ramone, whose vote Pete […]

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State Rep/Ex-Cop Steve Smyk Implicated In Sex Discrimination/Harassment Suit

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on June 8, 2021 17 Comments

Far be it from me to sensationalize allegations pertaining to any of the cop-legislators in Dover (he lied), but this case promises to be Sensational. It features Steve Smyk (rhymes with Dick), and, yes, he comes across as quite the dick. Allegedly. Oh, and also Speaker Pete (alleged oral history). If you have a subscription, […]

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Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 8, 2021

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on June 8, 2021 13 Comments

It’s official.  Matt Bittle is the best legislative beat reporter I’ve seen during my years of working for/following the General Assembly.  Chad Livengood was the best investigative reporter, but you simply can’t beat Matt’s ongoing coverage.  It’s why I subscribe to Bay To Bay (formerly the Delaware State News).  Here is his preview of the […]

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DL Open Thread: Saturday, June 5, 2021

Filed in Featured, Open Thread by on June 5, 2021 0 Comments

Federal Judge Strikes Down Cali’s Assault Weapons Ban.  Calls the AR-15 assault rifle ‘…a perfect combination of home defense weapon and homeland defense equipment.”  One of Dubya’s judges. Sinema Supporter: Back Filibuster Or Get Out.  Right, like she’s gonna take that advice. Are Political Ads Getting It All Wrong?  Very few, if any, seek to […]

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DL Open Thread: Friday, June 4, 2021

Filed in Featured, Open Thread by on June 4, 2021 12 Comments

The Second Amendment And Slavery: Perfect Together?  Worthy of a REV podcast…here’s the gist of this historian’s argument: In her new book, The Second: Race and Guns in a Fatally Unequal America, Anderson traces racial distinctions in Americans’ treatment of gun ownership back to the founding of the country and the Second Amendment, which states: […]

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‘Bulo’s Fave Tunes: May 2021

Filed in Arts and Entertainment by on June 1, 2021 3 Comments

So much great music this month, I plan to keep commentary to a minimum:   Liked this comment:  “I’m gonna get married AND divorced to this song and then let it haunt me for the rest of my life”:

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DL Open Thread For May 29, 2021

Filed in Featured, Open Thread by on May 29, 2021 4 Comments

DOJ Asks Judge To Toss Lawsuit Against Trump And Barr For Violent Clearing Of Lafayette Square.  Seriously, WTF? Trump and other U.S. officials are immune from civil lawsuits over police actions taken to protect a president and to secure his movements, government lawyers said of the actions taken ahead of a photo op of Trump […]

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DL Open Thread For Friday, May 28, 2021

Filed in Featured, Open Thread by on May 28, 2021 11 Comments

Kathy McGuiness Crosses That Ethical Line. Again.  When you’re an elected official, it’s bad form to announce a supposed new initiative AND solicit campaign funds in the same e-mail.  But that’s what she’s done, not for the first time: Dear Steve, Today, I announced my accountability and transparency initiative dubbed Project: Gray Fox. Since I […]

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Live Music Returns–Gloriously–To Arden

Filed in Arts and Entertainment by on May 26, 2021 3 Comments

What a joyous event.  The great Molly Tuttle and the wonderful singer/songwriter/instrumentalist Rachel Baiman wowed the crowd in the Shady Grove yesterday. The weather was gorgeous and everybody was stoked.  The rules were simple: You didn’t need to wear a mask except when you got up to go somewhere (beer table, merch table, Port-A-Potty).  We […]

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