Delaware

Why Not Invest A Few Shekels in These Candidates?

Filed in Delaware by El Somnambulo on October 7, 2014 • 31 Comments

1. Sean Matthews, 11th RD: Even if you backed Dennis E. Williams in the primary, you’d have to admit that Matthews is infinitely preferable to R candidate Judy Travis, whose support comes from far out of the political mainstream. As opposed to your traditional Brandywine Hundred R, Travis is one of only two House candidates to get the support of the Delaware chapter of the Faith & Freedom Coalition.

2. John Mackenzie, 22nd RD: A rarity. Campaign stuff that’s worth reading. Click on this and on this. Not only is it clear that he wrote his own copy, but he comes across as someone who will be a serious legislator and quite the progressive. He perhaps reminds me most of Michael Barbieri, who is one of the most outstanding legislators we have. We could use several more legislators like him, and Mackenzie is in that mold.

3. Marie Mayor, 20th RD: Well, let’s see. She’s right on the issues, she’s running a great campaign, she never really stopped running after the 2012 election, she almost won last time, and she, too, would immediately take her place as one of the best legislators in Dover. The political stars could also be aligned, as the anti-Obama folks won’t overrun the Sussex County results like in 2012. I also believe that, once she’s elected, her constituent work will enable her to get reelected several times over. Let’s help her win!

Tuesday Daily Delawhere [10.7.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 7, 2014 • 1 Comment

Lighthouse at Cape Henlopen, Delaware, by Bluebird87 on Flickr. Yes, I am having difficulty letting go of summer.

Tom Gordon Calls Take Backs on Secrecy for Denmark Trips

Filed in Delaware by cassandra_m on October 6, 2014 • 18 Comments

Over the weekend, the Gordon Administration started releasing some details in the planned trip to Denmark for a library tour by the Community Services Manager and an Administrative Librarian. The NJ article now has some estimates of the cost of the trip for two people and the planned dates of travel. There’s also some estimates of the costs of previous trips. The NJ is still pursuing its FOIA request for this data. Still — it’s all so much bull:

Some council members said they had never been briefed on the project. When they were finally given details last week, the Denmark trip was left out of the presentation. One council member happened to ask about it because he had heard a rumor.

“They all knew the principle behind this, which was to design the best library in the country,” Gordon said of council. “To attack that, it looks like we’re fighting and hurts our ability to attract more partners.”

Monday Daily Delawhere [10.6.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 6, 2014 • 0 Comments

Rehoboth Beach, by James Cook on Flickr.

Sunday Daily Delawhere [10.5.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 5, 2014 • 0 Comments

Alapocas Bounce, a sculpture by Jerome Meadows in 2007, picture by the Flying Inn on Flickr.

The Weekly Addresses

Filed in Delaware, National by Delaware Dem on October 4, 2014 • 0 Comments

President Obama:

Governor Markell:

I am getting spoiled with these new and frequent Delaware polls…

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 3, 2014 • 1 Comment

Here is the latest:

ATTORNEY GENERAL BEAU BIDEN (D)

Sixty percent [66%] of respondents to the poll, conducted Sept. 10-22 by phone, viewed [Beau Biden,] the second-term attorney general[,] favorably. Just 24 percent of the 902 Delaware adults surveyed held an unfavorable view.

VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN (D)

Joe Biden’s numbers are at least as good, and maybe better. Sixty-four [64%] percent of adults surveyed held a favorable view, while 30 percent said they viewed the vice president, and Delaware’s longtime U.S. senator, unfavorably.

GOV. JACK MARKELL (D)

Gov. Jack Markell’s popularity slipped slightly in the past year, but his numbers remain strong. In last month’s poll, 55 percent viewed the governor favorably, while 25 percent viewed Markell unfavorably. That’s down from a 62 percent favorability rating in a University of Delaware poll a year ago.

We also have favorability numbers on our Congressional delegation (the three C’s), Lt. Governor Denn, and we even have 2016 Presidential horse race numbers for Hillary Clinton and some possible Republican opponents.

Friday Daily Delawhere [10.3.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 3, 2014 • 0 Comments

Brandywine Creek Park, by the Flying Inn on Flickr.

Flowers Endorses… ?

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 2, 2014 • 15 Comments

Flowers:

Based upon this principle and the questionable actions over the last 60 days, I cannot in good conscience endorse a candidate for this office. Rather, I encourage voters to support the candidate who has not only campaigned with the highest integrity, but has the financial education and experience to manage our $2 billion portfolio, will continue the “Honest Way” reforms to the Cash Board which have made over $50 million in returns for Delaware and supports mandatory background checks for those state employees having access to our state financial accounts.

First, questionable actions? The only questionable actions were Mr. Flowers’ in his personal life. And yet he somehow holds Sean Barney responsible for it, otherwise he would endorse him.

Barney is not responsible. Markell and Carper are not responsible. The minions behind all three of them are not responsible. The story after embarrassing story that we endured over the last three years with Chip Flowers and Alaska trips and Patriots tickets and his relationship with Ericka Benner, none of that was created by Jack Markell, Tom Carper or Sean Barney.

Oh sure, they all took full advantage of it, just like a football player jumps on a ball when it is fumbled.

If Chip Flowers is bitter and wants to blame someone, he needs to purchase a mirror. I was so looking forward to his tenure because I did want someone to challenge the Governor and shake things up. And the future politico in me saw this extraordinarily good retail politician going far, perhaps challenging Denn in 2016 for the gubernatorial nod, or settling for the Lt. Governor’s spot.

To beat the King, you have to be clean, and you better not miss.

As to his very snarky non-endorsement endorsement of Ken Simpler simply because he ran a hedge fund, well I guess I thought Chip Flowers was supposed to be the anti-corporate Democratic hero. I guess he forgot that in his bitterness. That has to be the deciding factor since both candidates, Barney and Simpler, have pretty stellar educational backgrounds. The difference between them is that Sean chose public service and the military, and Ken went into the private sector.

So enjoy that endorsement Ken, I say smiling.

Thursday Open Thread [10.2.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 2, 2014 • 10 Comments

“With a strong possibility that Democrats could lose control of the Senate in the midterm elections, they are investing heavily in voter turnout efforts,” the New York Times reports.

“In states too close to call like Alaska, Colorado, Iowa and North Carolina, Democrats are making much greater investments in the ground game than Republicans.”

The goal is to turn out a more representative electorate that we seen in presidential years. If we can make progress on that, then the Democrats will win in the states that tend to favor them in presidential years, namely North Carolina, Iowa, Colorado and more and more Georgia.

And we have some more polling goodness to show that maybe, just maybe, that ground game is working.

Thursday Daily Delawhere [10.2.14]

Filed in Delaware by Delaware Dem on October 2, 2014 • 0 Comments

Newark Reservoir, by the Flying Inn on Flickr.

Red Clay Super’s Message Regarding The Priority Schools’ MOU

Filed in Delaware by pandora on September 30, 2014 • 8 Comments

“Please be aware that the MOU and the planning process are not the same. The MOU is an agreement to collaborate during the planning process.”

So… is Merv saying that the MOU is simply an invitation to get-together and chat? That nothing in it is binding? It’s just a “Hey, could you RSVP so we can set up a time to come up with a plan that doesn’t exist – just ignore all that talk in the MOU about the school leaders’ salaries and teachers having to reapply for their jobs, etc. because none of that means anything.”

Question… the 9/30 due date is today – there’s a workshop scheduled tonight. Can the board vote at a workshop? If not, what happens if the deadline isn’t met?