How John Carney Can Jump-Start His Term, Reinvigorate Democrats, and Win a Special Election–All With One Move.

How John Carney Can Jump-Start His Term, Reinvigorate Democrats, and Win a Special Election–All With One Move.

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So, we're facing a Special Election for State Senate. The candidates, D Stephanie Hansen and R John Marino, have been chosen by their respective parties.  The election has been necessitated due to incumbent Bethany Hall Long's winning of the Lieutenant Governor spot.  She takes office later in January.  The date for the Special Election has not been set, and it's not clear whether  outgoing Gov. Markell or incoming Gov. Carney will set the date. Barring an unexpected flip, the winner of this seat will determine which Party controls the Senate.  The Republicans are motivated as they can end umpteen years of Democratic control of the State Senate. They will have no problem motivating their voters. The Democrats?  If you are a Democratic voter and aren't necessarily plugged into the party structure, what will impel you to come out to vote?  I know that some of the usual suspects on the blog are minimizing this concern, I think it's real and I think it's a major problem for the special.  Why should D's come out to support the D candidate other than out of some sense of duty? Unless...now hang with me for a minute. 
Announcing the 2016 MVPs (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware)!

Announcing the 2016 MVPs (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware)!

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2016 marks the conclusion of the public life of State Senator Karen Peterson.  Karen Peterson has been the single most effective progressive official in Delaware throughout her career.  She has been invaluable in pushing progressive causes--everything from open government to gun safety to equal rights for all.  Not just pushing for progress, but achieving it. Over and over again.  She is smart, tough and politically savvy.  Oh, and relentless.  Come to think of it, forget about words like 'progressive' or ''liberal'.  To me, she defines what it once meant and still should mean to be a Democrat.  Standing up for what is right and just and standing up for people who don't have the power to purchase politicians with campaign contributions.  As I look for ways to have an impact moving forward, I'll try to take the lessons that Karen taught us and put them into action.  She is, after all, the Most Valuable Progressive I have known during my time in politics in Delaware. A role model for all of us. Starting now. OK, kids, time for the annual countdown of this year's MVP's.....
How Tom Carper’s Positions and Votes Screw People and Help Rethugs Screw People. Volume 4

How Tom Carper’s Positions and Votes Screw People and Help Rethugs Screw People. Volume 4

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Let's first look at the terms of this unholiest of marriages.  In exchange for being perhaps Big Pharma's most dependable stooge (Sen. Menendez of New Jersey is also in the running), Tom Carper has received compensation from the industry commensurate with his stoogery.  Big Pharma has contributed $225,010 to Tom Carper from 2011 to the present (end of year contributions not yet reported).  Of that amount, $194,410 came from PACs as opposed to $30,600 from individual donors. 86.4% of all dollars from the industry in PAC dollars.  Open Secrets has it all right here.  If you look at Carper's 20 Top Contributors, the following all have significant involvement in Pharma:  Astra Zeneca, Ashland, Pfizer,  and DuPont. In addition, the following big donors have holdings in, and/or are lobbyists for, the pharmaceutical industry (relevant links provided):  Blackstone Group, Akin, Gump, et al, Skadden Arps, et al, and King and Spalding. So, what exactly did/does Big Pharma get from Tom Carper?  A lot.  Carper's obstructionism on behalf of the industry paid off handsomely during Obamacare negotiations. And, yes, people who rely on government insurance programs bore the cost.

How Tom Carper’s Positions and Votes Screw People and Help Rethugs Screw People. Volume 3

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Perhaps no issue defines who Carper represents in the Senate and who he doesn't represent in starker terms than his leadership in screwing families down on their luck in favor of the big banks and credit card operations. MBNA, to be more specific. In Carper's world, any feigned empathy consistently takes a back seat to the banking and financial interests who fund his campaigns.  While there is so much to dislike about his record, this issue, in my opinion, is the clarion call for his replacement in 2018. You see, Charles Cawley and MBNA had a dream. A dream that came to them almost every day and night.  They dreamt of a world where down-on-their-luck folks could no longer get out from under huge credit card balances by declaring bankruptcy. No exceptions. The dream was funded by campaign contributions. Huge sums of money dating back to the early 1990's.  One of the earliest beneficiaries of MBNA's largesse was then-Sen. Joe Biden.