El Somnambulo's Latest Posts
Where’s Mitt?
Every day, Daily Kos lists the scheduled campaign appearances by the candidates and their spouses. For at least the last two weeks, I’ve been gobsmacked (love that word, borrowed it from Bryan Alvarez over at Wrestling Observer) by the virtual absence of Mitt Romney from the campaign trail. He’s doing private fundraising events and apparently […]
Delaware Political Weekly: Sept. 15-21, 2012
Markell officially kicks off Reelection Bid while the State GOP is making known its plans should they, in an mathematical impossibility, actually gain control of the General Assembly.
Delaware’s Most Intriguing 2012 Races: The Top 5!
Counting down from #5: 5. SD 12: Sen. Dori Connor vs. Nicole Poore. Easily the most likely Senate seat to flip from R to D this cycle. Dori Connor is a wonderful person and has been a wonderful senator, for the most part. She has always had strong labor support, and, up until now, D’s […]
Delaware’s Most Intriguing 2012 Races: Part I
As always, counting down from #10.
10. RD 32: Andria Viola Bennett vs. Ellis Parrott.
The undistinguished daughter of one of Delaware’s least distinguished legislators (John Viola) has parlayed her homewrecking skills into a run for State Rep, ostensibly as a ‘placeholder’ for her DUI-plagued new husband and soon-to-be former Rep., Brad Bennett. You know, the guy who tearfully lamented the damage he had done to the institution of the House. Ellis Parrott doesn’t get me excited either. An R political aparatchik and long-time Kent County magistrate, now retired. Nothing says ‘political patronage’ quite like Justice of the Peace. The post-redistricting registration numbers are, shall we say, daunting to the R’s: 6133 D, 3143 R, and 3159 I. You do the math. I haven’t the stomach for it.
9. Sussex Council District 3: Councilperson Joan Deaver vs. Don Ayotte.
Sane vs. insane. Deaver has worked hard to protect Sussex County, and has done it within a body that generally supports the entreaties of developers, especially if said developers offer perks that warm what passes for the hearts of said ‘Honorables’. Unintelligible ex-blogger Don Ayotte brings ‘teh crazy’ to the race: a self-proclaimed English major who can’t punctuate, spell or put together a sentence that makes sense. Although his mindless minions do seem to have their barnyard epithets memorized, based on the condition of many of Deaver’s campaign signs. Deaver’s one of the few serious public officials on Sussex County Council, she’s not divisive, so it remains to be seen how effective Ayotte will be. Bonus points to Deaver for opposing the frivolous wasting of taxpayers’ dollars on legal fees to permit Council to recite “The Lord’s Prayer” at the opening of Council meetings. Perhaps the wingnuts have The Lord’s Prayer confused with the Landlord’s Prayer.
Click through to read more….
‘Bulo To Discuss Most Intriguing November Contests on Today’s Al Show.
Today, from 10-12. I’m counting down my tentative Top Ten Most Intriguing Delaware Races. Your feedback has definitely proven helpful, both in determining which races to include, and in determining the order.
I’ll be writing a couple of lengthy pieces about these races in the next few days, but if you want a sneak preview, tune in today at 10, WDEL-1150 Newsradio on your AM dial. Hey, maybe we’ll also talk about that John Atkins fella.
A DIY “Most Intriguing Races For November” Thread
What do you think will be Delaware’s most intriguing races this November? I’ve come up with some early nominees. I’d like you to share your thoughts on my choices and on races that you think I’ve overlooked. At some point soon, I’ll be writing a detailed analysis of my top 10, but I’m not ready yet. Help me focus! Click through for my initial list:
Delaware Political Weekly: Sept. 8-14, 2012
What we learned from the Primary: 1. The Gordon machine was the single most effective game-changer during the primary; 2. For once, Wilmington really made the difference this year; 3. Grassroots campaigns work, and they cost a lot less than the alternative; 4. Jack Markell is in danger of becoming a Drawbridge Democrat; 5. Tons of lit cannot compensate for personal unpopularity; and 6. Primaries are GOOD;
‘Bulo On Al’s Show Today at 10
All primary results, all the time, with trenchant and perhaps morbid analysis. Including a post-mortem into why I think Mitch Crane lost (it’s probably not what you think), dissection of all the key races, including the ouster of two incumbent state senators, and some rasslin’ talk, featuring an update on Jerry ‘The King’ Lawler.
10 am to 12 noon, WDEL-1150 on your am dial.
Unrequited Love: Dennis P. Williams Dumps KWS…
from his sample ballot. The rest of the Gordon/Williams/Bullock team remains, along with Charles Potter and Trippi Congo, but KWS is conspicuous by her absence.How do I know? I’ve got a proof of the ballot.
She’s still in league with Gordon and Bullock, however, and the three of them have ponied up $$’s to have the Construction/Building Trades unions pass out lit at the polls. Which, BTW, is a total waste of resources. Except for the union guys pocketing the chump change.
El Somnambulo Predicts ‘Em (Almost) All For You. Part 2
And now onto the State House of Representatives:
RD 1 (D): While Victoria Kent shows promise as a first-time candidate, I look for Dennis P. Williams protege Charles Potter to win in Williams’ district. Former state rep Rourke Moore has been almost invisible. I’d encourage Kent to work on developing a bit more message discipline should she decide to seek office again. She has potential, but she’s not there yet.
RD 2 (D): Former State Rep. Arthur Scott challenges incumbent Stephanie Bolden. I think that Scott finds himself in something of the same time warp that has trapped Dave Brady. While there may be compelling reasons to defeat the incumbent, Scott hasn’t really made them. Bolden by a fairly comfortable margin.
El Somnambulo Predicts ‘Em All For You*. Part 1…
*Well, not all as in ALL. Just every primary where I think I know enough to make a prediction. Some of which, invariably, will be wrong.
National Races:
U. S. Senate D’s: Tom Carper routs Keith Spanarelli. Over/under on Spanarelli: 12%.
U. S. House R’s: Tom Kovach routs Rose Izzo. Over/under on Rizzo: 11%.
Come inside for more, including, as the photo suggests, my prediction on the epic 11th SD race.
Delaware Political Weekly: August 25-31, 2012
“And the days dwindle down to a precious few…” before the Delaware primary on September 11. 1. Shadow Montgomery Group Spending Big Bucks. Of course, Bill Montgomery knows nothing, nothing, about them. No doubt just some civic -minded (read: people who stand to make big bucks if Montgomery is elected) individuals who are so proud […]
Delaware Political Weekly: August 18-24, 2012
‘I Don’t Need No More Steenkin’ Debates’. That’s the conclusion that Wilmington Mayoral candidate Dennis P. Williams has reached. He may be right. There have been something like 18 of them, and Williams has taken part in something like 17. However, recent surfacings of the famous Williams temper suggest that he may be staging a strategic retreat from the arena that often provides a glimpse into that temper.
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