El Somnambulo's Latest Posts
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?
DelDem Was Right. Why Biden’s on the Sidelines
According to Politico, it’s because Harry Reid wants him there. Doesn’t want him giving any more stuff away to the Rethugs:
“None of the deals Biden has struck have aged well from the perspective of the Democratic Caucus,” said one Senate Democratic official aware of Reid’s face-to-face insistence that Biden be excluded.
“In December, McConnell went around Reid — and straight to Biden — to get a better arrangement for Republicans.
Carney Misses Chance for Bipartisanship
When it comes to John Carney’s cherished bipartisanship vs. the obligation to do the job he was elected to do, John Carney has chosen…neither.
According to this article, 162 members of the U. S. House of Representatives have called for a debate in Congress prior to any authorization of attacking Syria. 62 Democrats are among those signing the letters to call for such action. John Carney is not among them.
Before You Hoist That Next Black & Tan…
You need to know about Dick Yuengling’s public statements about labor unions and Gov. Corbett of Pennsylvania. Go ahead and read it, I’ll wait.
Until now, I’ve neither known nor cared about Yuengling’s politics. I have enjoyed the occasional Black and Tan. However, it was Dick Yuengling, not anyone else, who made his views public. He did it on purpose. In a speech before the Pennsylvania Press Club, Yuengling reportedly called for the adoption of ‘right to work’ laws in Pennsylvania to disenfranchise unions and to enable him to make beer more cheaply. He also called Gov. Corbett ‘a great man’, according to the Associated Press.
Carney Votes Against Limits on Spying
Flea-bitten Hound Bites Man: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2013/roll412.xml Of course, the conspiracy theorists among us could, um, theorize that Carney cast his vote to make the Homeland Security job more attractive to Tom Carper, thus creating more political flexibility for John Carney. Me? Naah, it’s just yet another bad vote by an undistinguished, and flea-ridden, congress creature.
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