Brenda Mayrack Lures ‘Bulo Out of the Shadows

Brenda Mayrack Lures ‘Bulo Out of the Shadows

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Other than doing door-to-door with Bryan Townsend and hosting Mitch Crane at the Arden Fair, I've not been out front in actively campaigning for political candidates since I took my leave of the Delaware General Assembly. Brenda Mayrack has changed that. To the extent that I'll be on her Host Committee for this upcoming event:
Darley House Meet & Greet Thursday, August 7, 2014 | 5:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Darley House (Corner of Philadelphia Pike & Darley Road) 3701 Philadelphia Pike | Claymont, DE 19703 Additional parking available next door at the Church of the Ascension. Buy your tickets now. Friend: $30 | Supporter: $75 | Host: $100
That's right. As a host, I'm ponying up $100. Why? Because, for all intents and purposes, we haven't had an auditor, let alone a competent auditor, for however long Tom "Suspendered Disbelief" Wagner has been in office. I've argued on this blog for years that we really need a competent auditor. A competent auditor can and will save the state lots of dollars. It's not even mostly about waste, fraud, and abuse, it's about working with agencies to save the state money while not cutting services.
“Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game?”: Chapter, Oh, 1,000,000 and Something.

“Can’t Anybody Here Play This Game?”: Chapter, Oh, 1,000,000 and Something.

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Wilmington City Council pays $1000 so that Councilman Mike Brown can fly back from Florida on the city's dime to cast the deciding vote to override the Mayor's veto of cuts to the Fire Department budget only to come up...TWO  VOTES SHORT. Oh, and for reasons that not even Mike Brown can explain, he lied about where he was vacationing. Why? I have no idea. Apparently, neither does he. From Amy Cherry's WDEL story (watch and listen)...
Far Right Rethuglican Organization Endorses…Dave Tackett!!??

Far Right Rethuglican Organization Endorses…Dave Tackett!!??

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This is truth, not fiction. The Delaware Chapter of the Faith & Freedom Coalition has endorsed putative Democrat Dave Tackett in the Democratic Primary against State Sen. Bryan Townsend.  Tackett was endorsed along with a bunch of R's. The Faith & Freedom Coalition is the home for the usual suspect right-wing nut jobs. Ralph Reed is the founder and chairman. Their endorsers include Sarah Palin, Sean Hannity, Newt Gingrich, Marco Rubio, the Christian Broadcasting Network, Donald Trump, Michele Bachmann, and Ted Cruz, among many others. This group, this group, has decided to endorse Dave Tackett.   For those who doubt me, here is the press release....
Delaware Political Weekly: July 12-18, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly: July 12-18, 2014

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The Democratic Party endorses neither candidate for the State Treasurer primary. Kremlinologists no doubt will enjoy parsing the following sentence:
Given the Committee’s perception of quality both Democratic Treasurer candidates possess, the committee failed to reach consensus on the endorsement of either candidate.
Might I suggest that this is one endorsement that neither candidate really wanted? How could Chip run as the anti-establishment candidate if the establishment endorsed him, and how could Barney run as someone not beholden to the Carpers and Carneys of this world if he got the endorsement? My vote will ultimately come down to this: What can we least afford? A self-delusional narcissist who has had his hands effectively tied, or the next Carper or Carney?
RIP: Johnny Winter & Elaine Stritch

RIP: Johnny Winter & Elaine Stritch

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Two serious soulful performers gone. A guitar god who sometimes placed speed (in both ways) ahead of pitch or accuracy, and one of the most galvanizing stage performers (for whom pitch was thankfully never the point) I've ever seen with a particular penchant for the music of Stephen Sondheim....
Markell to Children: Drop Dead

Markell to Children: Drop Dead

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Don't look for gimlet-eyed Jack Markell to lift a finger to assist in the humanitarian crisis at the nation's borders.  Delaware Gov. Markell turned down a request from The US Department of Health & Social Services to even consider making any state resources available to stem the humanitarian crisis. He blames congressional 'dithering'. As if the kids placed in the middle of this crisis can do anything to overcome congressional dithering. From today's News-Journal story:
Markell, who is among a number of the nation’s governors who fielded federal requests for help, said there are no state facilities available that could properly accommodate the children while they await immigration hearings. But he said some Delaware faith-based organizations might be in a position to offer assistance. “I don’t really see the possibility of any state facilities housing these kids,” Markell said Monday. “I don’t think that exists. If private organizations choose to do so, that’ll be up to them.”
Election Filing Deadline Preview & Open Thread

Election Filing Deadline Preview & Open Thread

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The deadline for candidates to file is 12 noon Tuesday. Parties can fill slots on the ballot moving forward, and candidates can withdraw, but anyone who does not file by the deadline cannot get on the ballot w/o party support. Questions answered: 1. Yes, the fearsome duo of Carl Smink and Rose Izzo will lead the mighty Republican ticket into battle this fall. Izzo filed on Thursday, July 3. 2. Speaker Pete Schwartzkopf will run for reelection. Not that it was ever in doubt, but he has now filed. Unanswered Questions: 1. Will State Auditor Tom Wagner file for reelection?