National

When Governor Elect Carney announced this "FB chat" I promised myself that I wouldn't jump in with cranks and crackpots to shake my puny, impotent fist at the staffer playing the role of Carney on social media. Then... I went there anyway because, of course I did. You can see my brief dialogue with the staffer playing the role of Carney on social media below, but underneath that cordial small talk, I stuck around a bit to chit chat with some wingnuts. If you have a few minutes to kill, you can read the back and forth, but the bottom line is this: Broke-ass, middle class Republicans have been instructed by the media and their political "thinkers" that the Poors are bad and the Richs are virtuous. They are very comfortable with that as a world-view. It makes sense to them. Beyond that simple formulation, they have a few programmed rhetorical tools at their disposal, such as "If you hear 'X' , say 'Y'" but no real political or economic philosophy to defend, NOR any real interest in politics or economics beyond the ability of politics to give them a team to identify with.

Yesterday I wrote about a North Carolina A state law requiring that doctors who perform an abortion after the 16th week of pregnancy supply an ultrasound to state officials. If you thought that was creepy, take a look at Virginia.

Steve Benen says the public liked what they heard last night.

For all the mindless chatter about “making America great again,” last night was an opportunity to hear a leader make a powerful case that such talk is unnecessary – because America is already great. There is a risk that a president delivering a hopeful, optimistic message will seem out of touch, but there’s early evidence that Americans were impressed with what they heard last night. CNN released an overnight poll that found 53% had a “very positive” reaction to the State of the Union address, while another 20% had a somewhat positive reaction. A 68% majority said the policies Obama proposed “would move the country in the right direction.” Results like these come with important caveats – many of the president’s critics simply don’t tune in – but it nevertheless suggests the hopeful rhetoric landed on fertile soil.

Hillary Clinton “proposed a 4 percent surtax on the highest-earning Americans, as she seeks to boost taxes for the wealthiest Americans,” Politico reports. “The proposal, which she announced in Iowa, would raise an estimated $150 billion over a decade, a Clinton aide said, and comes after the Democratic front-runner said that she would build on the so-called Buffett Rule that seeks to ensure that the middle class doesn’t pay a higher tax rate than top earners.” Hillary Clinton is responded to some new closer than she likes poll numbers, and is moving left. That is why, while I will not vote for Bernie, I like him in the race.

While I may not be a Bernie supporter, I am all about fair play. So if you are so inclined, and you want to help collect signatures so Bernie Sanders can get on the ballot in the Delaware, please read the following information. If you just want to sign a petition form so that he gets on the ballot, please contact de4bernie@gmail.com.