Sunday Open Thread [6.7.15]

Sunday Open Thread [6.7.15]

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So Caitlyn Jenner made our debut earlier this week as a woman. But, save for Mike Huckabee, no Republican presidential candidate has made a statement. The reason?
Jenner’s watershed moment — which coincides with the Supreme Court preparing to rule on whether to allow same-sex marriage nationwide — leaves the GOP and its stable of presidential candidates grappling with how to represent conservatives who don’t wish to accept Jenner and more moderate voters who have already done so.
As with the marriage equality cases, the approach has been to say nothing or to say that the issue should be left to the states. But that doesn't satisfy the conservative base.

The Full Funeral Mass for Beau Biden

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For those who wanted to watch and/or could not be there. I will have to more to say tomorrow and Monday, but it was an extremely emotional service. For those who wanted to watch and/or could not be there. I will have to more to say tomorrow and Monday, but it was an extremely emotional service. The first 40 minutes are guests arriving an a beautiful cello playing, so if you want to skip ahead, that's fine.
Saturday Open Thread [6.6.15]

Saturday Open Thread [6.6.15]

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Gallup:
The percentage of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents who describe themselves as both social and economic conservatives has dropped to 42%, the lowest level Gallup has measured since 2005. The second-largest group of Republicans (24%) see themselves as moderate or liberal on both social and economic issues, while 20% of all Republicans are moderate or liberal on social issues but conservative on economic ones.
So even Republicans are becoming more liberal. But they still think Iraq was a good idea, so they are still idiots.

The Weekly Addresses

In this week's address, the President recognized Immigrant Heritage Month, an occasion that allows us to celebrate our origins as a nation of immigrants. Divider In his weekly message, Governor Markell remembers and honors the life of Beau Biden.

Anti-WBC Task Force Meetup Tomorrow Morning at 8:30

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Now I have been told that the perimeter surrounding St. Anthony's will be tightly guarded tomorrow (as it should be with the President and the Vice President and lot of the Cabinet present), and that bags and signs and water bottles will not be permitted. And I have been told that it is highly unlikely that the Secret Service will allow any demonstration (pro or con) to be set up in sight of the Church, and thus, the family will not see the horror that is the Westboro Baptist Church. And it is quite likely that they will not even show up, or if they do it will be one or two lonely miscreants with a sign in each hand. Regardless, a bipartisan group of Delawareans will be meeting at 8:30 am at the corner of Delaware Avenue and North DuPont Street by the ACME parking (across the street from the Logan House, right next to the train tracks). And we will walk up to see to the St. Anthony's area to see if there are any WBC protesters around.
Friday Open Thread [6.5.15]

Friday Open Thread [6.5.15]

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Hillary Clinton “attacked her potential GOP rivals, by name, and with sharp language,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Mrs. Clinton typically offers more muted criticism but was animated on the subject of voting rights… She took on four of her potential rivals by name. She attacked former Texas Gov. Rick Perry for supporting a law requiring voter identification to cast ballots that allows a concealed weapons license for identification but not a student ID. She said Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker was wrong for cutting back early voting, and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie for vetoing a bill that would have extended early voting. And she said former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was wrong for purging voters from Florida’s rolls ahead of the 2000 election.”
Good. Kick some ass, Hillary.
The Vote Tracker Update — Progressive Priorities

The Vote Tracker Update — Progressive Priorities

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This legislative session has been all about the budget and our legislators and Governors slowly waking up to the fact that they will have to raise taxes on the wealthy in order to balance the budget. Indeed, the budget that emerges from may be the most important piece of legislation in terms of progressive priority that the General Assembly passes this year, if it adds two or more income levels and rates to the progressive tax structure.
One topic is getting little attention as lawmakers attempt to close an $83 million budget gap: raising income tax rates. And, specifically, raising taxes on Delaware's wealthiest earners, who have seen most of the state's wage gains in recent years. Delaware's personal income tax is the largest source of state revenue, generating $1.2 billion this year - enough to fund almost 32 percent of total state government operations. Delaware's top income tax rate of 6.6 percent is charged on incomes $60,000 and above. Some lawmakers now say adding a tax bracket for wealthier Delawareans could help solve the state's budget problems, while more fairly spreading the state's income tax burden. Consider these potential scenarios, and their impact on annual state tax collections: 1. Raise rate to 7.6 percent on incomes > $125,000: $71.7 million 2. Raise rate to 7.6 percent on incomes > $250,000: $46.7 million 3. Raise rate to 7.1 percent on incomes > $125,000: $35.7 million *Source: Delaware Department of Finance
Time to lay down the gauntlet: If Delaware's Democrats do not add more tax brackets and rates above our current highest rate of 6.6% on incomes over $60,000, they cannot be considered Democrats any further. Not just progressive Democrats. Actual Democrats. Seriously, you all might as well become Republicans right now. And that will be especially true if they go for any of Governor Markell's Republican ideas of repealing the Estate Tax or lowering corporate or income tax rates. Repeat after me Democrats in the General Assembly: You will add tax brackets and rates on the wealthy. You will do it.

You knew this was coming….

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The Westboro Baptist Church will be protesting Beau Biden's Funeral Mass on Saturday. I wasn't going to head down to Wilmington on Saturday morning, what with the traffic and all, but now I will, if only to block these hate filled bigots from view. Any interested parties willing to meet up near St. Anthony's to join me, please let me know in the comments. I am thinking a 10-15 foot long black tarp, attached at each end to a plastic or wooden hand held pole, with a loving message facing the street, like “We love you, Biden Family.” It will be a silent counter protest. Let love drown out hate.
The Biden Era

The Biden Era

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From the News Journal:
Sam Hoff, a political science professor at Delaware State University, said, "When you think of Joe, you think of someone whose own moral fiber and strength is on public display in times of trauma." Politically, Hoff said Biden's long career in the U.S. Senate and the vice presidency has helped strengthen Democratic politics in Delaware to the point that Democrats dominate here. "Would I say that Joe is singularly responsible for the strong Democratic emphasis we see? No, not singularly," Hoff said. "But we're in a strong Democratic trend in a state, and we have been since 1992. That coincides with a large part of Joe's career."
Yes, not singularly. Delaware became deep blue the second the national Republican Party embraced extreme social conservatism. I wasn't sure if then Senator Biden's career in the First State had anything to do with it, but the deep emotional outpouring for Joe Biden and his family this week since the death of their son, Beau Biden, has me reconsidering it.