El Somnambulo's Latest Posts
Time To Level With Us, Beau
Beau Biden apparently wants to have it both ways. According to this article at WDEL.com, Biden states that he plans to run for reelection in 2014, but refuses to give any update on his health. Although the ‘…long, curving scar stretching from his left ear to the top of his head’ provides a clue. However, Biden “is still refusing to discuss details about a recent health scare that sent him to a Texas cancer center.” This in the same interview where he says he’ll run for reelection.
The 62 Project: #’s 24 & 38
Kim Williams is among three newcomers who have displayed extraordinary promise during the 2013 legislative session. Consider the number 24 as merely a placeholder as it reflects her lack of time in Dover. She’s moving higher. Not only does she have the right profile for a citizen-legislator, she has demonstrated that conscience and effectiveness are not mutually exclusive.
Trey Paradee has been the single greatest disappointment to progressives among the 2012 newcomers. Despite expressing support for equal rights for same sex couples back in 2008, Paradee voted against marriage equality. He largely opposed most gun control measures. He has helped to bury a minimum wage increase in the House Business Lapdog Committee. Now, while he technically did not ‘go back on his word’ on gay marriage (the initial comments dealing with civil unions), he diligently ‘worked the refs’ to create at least a sense of good will from progressives, including me. He convinced me that this district was not the stereotypical Kent County district of 20 years ago, and then voted as if it was. Fool me once…
BREAKING: Koch Brothers $$’s Behind Caesar Rodney Institute Funding
People much cannier than I have been trying to unravel the money trail of the many dummy organizations used by the Koch Brothers to funnel money to propaganda machines.
Thanks to a state-by-state review of the Koch Brothers labyrinthine finances, we now know that the Koch Brothers have been the largest rainmaker for the Caesar Rodney Institute.
The 62 Project: #’s 25 & 37
Mike Mulrooney is a salt-of-the-earth legislator, and I mean that as a compliment. While he doesn’t make splashes as a prime sponsor on much legislation, he is a quietly-effective supporter of (mostly) progressive legislation. He meandered from the fold on one gun bill, but that’s about it.
Rep. Don Blakey is a mild disappointment to me. He is a largely-moderate African-American who could be a bit more like Mike Ramonewithout harming his electoral position, IMHO. Especially within the R House caucus. While he doesn’t vote in lockstep with leadership, he does so far too much to warrant a higher ranking. For example, why would he stand with the obstructionist elements in his caucus in not supporting ‘no-excuses absentee balloting’? There’s, um, no excuse for that. All it does is help disenfranchise many of his constituents, some of whom work at the Dover Air Force Base. Why did he vote against gay marriage? Why does he oppose criminal background checks for private weapons purchases?
Coolest Thing I’ve Seen & Heard All Week
Always been a huge Springsteen fan even though his more recent albums have left me unenthused. But here’s why I love him. He’s on a European tour and…well, let’s just let Bruce tell it: Finally, after being pursued from city to city (to city to city) by a man with a sign and a one […]
The 62 Project: #’s 26 and 36
We have the Representatives Short up today. Bryon the the North. Daniel to the South. One is the House Minority Leader. And one is a Democrat in the Brandywine Hundred.
Bryon Short combines some of the best and some of the most disappointing elements that I look for in a D legislator in a safe district. He is not just good, but great, on social issues. Not just a reliable supporter of equal rights for all, but a prime House sponsor on legislation ensuring rights for the transgender community. He has successfully sponsored legislation extending health benefits to dependent children. He is also a strong supporter of gun control, is someone who pays attention to his district, basically someone who you’d like as your rep. He’s even successfully pushed legislation on behalf of animal rights. How can you not like someone who will protect your puppies?
The problem, and it’s a big one, is that he is in thrall to the Carper/Carney wing of the Party. And business interests uber alles.
John Bleeping Carney
John Bleeping Carney. One of 30 ‘Democrats’ to vote to enable ‘financial advisors’ to continue to rip you off. Worse than useless. Check out this article from Daily Kos:
The Labor Department proposal, known as the “fiduciary rule,” would change the ethical standards by which employer-based retirement products like 401(k)’s and IRAs are marketed and sold. The rule has not been updated since 1975, before 401(k)’s and IRAs even existed. The Labor Department wants to broaden the definition of a “fiduciary” to cover all financial advisers who offer individual investment advice for a fee. Under the rule, they would be legally required to work in the best interest of their clients. For example, a fiduciary would not be able to push investment products on customers in which they have a financial stake.
Breaking Political News (As If You Needed More…)
Octogenarian Sen. Bob Venables (D-Mars) has sent a letter to his Senate colleagues announcing that he will seek reelection. This is the opposite of what he was telling his colleagues and constituents two years ago, when he said he’d run for one more two-year term.
The 62 Project: #’s 27 & 35
Rebecca Walker has, on paper, the kind of background I look for in a legislator–demonstrated accomplishment in arenas other than politics. She’s both a nurse and an attorney, and has practiced in each field. Ernie Lopez first ran for office in New Castle County. I voted for him. Why? Because he was clearly the better candidate when he ran against the ghastly Paul Clark for County Council President in 2004.
The 62 Project: #’s 28 & 34
Proof that people can change. Or at least evolve. Today’s legislators both moved up the list notably this year, and the change appears to be permanent.
Unless, of course, it’s not. I think both liberated themselves from barriers of their own making, and it’s refreshing to see.
The 62 Project: #’s 29 and 33
Today’s installment asks the musical question: “Do I grade on a curve when it comes to Republicans?” Why, yes, yes I do. Except when I don’t. Another question: Does public comment influence me. Yes, but only to a certain extent. Puzzled? I’ll make everything as clear as taupe (think stockings, as I often do). Starting now.
Today’s entries: Republican Mike Ramone and Democrat Andria Bennett
The 62 Project: #’s 30, 31, 32
We begin the ranking of the 62 legislators smack dab in the middle. As a listaholic, the thought of doing a double countdown, both up to the top and down to the dregs, is close to orgasmic. And, um, the foreplay is just starting.
I laid out my criteria here. I’ll let the articles speak for themselves. In addition to expressing opinions on the rankings, please let me know how you’d like to see this countdown improved. I’m sure there will be subtle format changes as this moves forward.
To me, here’s the lede of today’s rankings: Being in the middle of the rankings does not mean ‘meeting expectations’. As it turns out, all three of the legislators profiled here should be better and should be ranked higher, making their performances so far disappointing, at least to me.
Announcing the 62 Project
I am El Somnambulo, and I’m a listaholic.
Today I announce The 62 Project, which will ultimately yield my rankings of legislators from 1 to 62.
However, I intend for it to be much more than just a list. I will write a selective bio, some brief, some lengthy, on each state legislator. I want to give people who don’t really know the legislators that well the opportunity to know them better. For better or worse.
I also don’t want this to be just a snarkfest, although, to put it mildly, THERE WILL BE SNARK. Lots of it. Hey, can’t help myself.
So, how have I ranked the legislators?
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