I Have a Dream

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We have come a long way. And there is a long way to go. Because Martin's dream is not only equality before the law, but also equality in opportunity, and equality in mind. We are still working on equality before the law, as we see with Ferguson. We are still working on equality in opportunity, but we have made great strides there, as an African American is President of the United States. Equality in mind is going to be the last greatest and most difficult hurdle. Equality in mind deals with the thoughts, bias, and bigotry in each of our own minds. And it will only be achieved when every single person, Jew, Gentile, White, Black, Man, Woman, Gay, Straight, is judged on their merits, their actions, their words rather than on what God they pray to, what color their skin is, or who they love. Many saw the election of Barack Obama as the destination. It was only a mile marker.
Saturday Open Thread [1.17.15]

Saturday Open Thread [1.17.15]

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So the Supreme Court has decided to take up the whole issue of marriage equality once and for all. Specifically, the questions presented and to be decided by the Court are as follows:
The cases are consolidated and the petitions for writs of certiorari are granted limited to the following questions: 1.) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to license a marriage between two people of the same sex? 2.) Does the Fourteenth Amendment require a state to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex when their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed out-of-state? A total of ninety minutes is allotted for oral argument on Question 1. A total of one hour is allotted for oral argument on Question 2. The parties are limited to filing briefs on the merits and presenting oral arguments on the questions presented in their respective petitions.
My opinion is that the answers to both questions will be yes, by a vote of 6-3. Yes, the four liberals plus Kennedy and Roberts.
The Weekly Addresses

The Weekly Addresses

Now that the General Assembly is back in session, we have our first legislative weekly "address." We also have President Obama's weekly address that previews his State of the Union Address on Tuesday night, Governor Markell's weekly address, the West Wing Week, and a special video about Big Block of Cheese Day, which features some characters from the old "West Wing" show.
Friday Open Thread [1.16.15]

Friday Open Thread [1.16.15]

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Sorry for my absence this week with the open threads. I was sent deep down south on business (and then my superiors complained about me not being in the office). But this time I didn't see any horrible evil signs or cross burnings, so maybe the region is improving, or maybe there is not a black President during an election anymore. I can't wait to see the white conservative reaction to Hillary Clinton, specifically whether it will be sexist on the part of self hating white conservative women. Here are some fun maps. Is Irish food really the preferred cuisine of Delaware? What is Irish cuisine? Steak and potatoes? Corned beef and cabbage?
John Carney on why he voted to weaken Dodd-Frank (annotated)

John Carney on why he voted to weaken Dodd-Frank (annotated)

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I found this early draft of Carney's HR 37 statement on line. "Many of you have asked me why I voted for H.R. 37, featured in the News Journal this morning. Dodd-Frank was passed before I came to Congress, but I support its goal of reining in Wall Street and protecting taxpayers.[Please note that "support" should be enclosed in quotation marks]
Kowalko v Schwartzkopf continues

Kowalko v Schwartzkopf continues

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John Kowalko isn't shutting up, and for good reason. It isn't Pete Schwartzkopf's business to decide if someone can be an activist and a legislator. That's Kowalko's constituent's job, and Kowalko's constituents expressly hired him to be an activist and a legislator. Schwartzkopf may not remember, but John Kowalko sat in an Leg Hall energy committee meeting with a gag in his mouth in protest, and that was prior to being hired by his constituents. They knew what they were getting into. Which raises the question - does Schwartzkopf know what he is getting into by elevating Kowlako's status to that of a martyr for a transparent democracy? I sort of doubt it.
GOP Congress Signals Big Social Security Reforms (Cuts) On the Way

GOP Congress Signals Big Social Security Reforms (Cuts) On the Way

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There is no mystery anymore. We all know how this is going to play out. Republican austerity zealots are going to get 99% of what they want, and be able to pillory Democrats for gutting social security because "Democrats" like John Carney and Tom Carper suck outright and make the whole party look like a bunch of sniveling idiots and/or craven douche-bags.
The new House Budget Committee chairman hinted Monday that he had big plans for Social Security reform in the next two years, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Schwartzkopf names Cape Henlopen Senior Center a “Priority” Senior Center

Schwartzkopf names Cape Henlopen Senior Center a “Priority” Senior Center

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The Delaware Speaker of the House says that a low performing Senior Center in Lewes is failing, and the way to fix it is to make the board reapply for their jobs – and to replace the center's membership with seniors who are not such pains in the ass. Speaker of the House Rep. Pete Schwartzkopf says it’s necessary for board members to reapply for their jobs, and for the membership to turn over to ensure that every Senior Center member has the commitment to "not calling his office over this bullshit." "These Seniors are just a huge pains in the ass," Pete Schwartzkopf said. "I envision a Charter Senior Center that can select the best Seniors from this area to come here and play cards or do whatever it is they do." The center's board faces the cancellation of its liability insurance at the end of the month and a looming threat from the state to withhold the center’s quarterly grant-in-aid check unless significant changes are made. For more than two hours, Schwartzkopf, D-Rehoboth Beach, entertained questions from the 60 members in attendance and laid bare the severity of the situation facing the Rehoboth Beach center and the center’s board. The board’s actions haven’t yet driven the center off the cliff, but it’s getting close, Schwartzkopf said, pushing a piece of paper to the edge of a table as he spoke. While most of the information wasn’t new to the people in attendance, some found their complaints validated when the speaker of the House went through the center’s by-laws one by one, pointing out how, in his view, the board is violating the by-laws now or has violated them in the recent past. The by-laws are not there as a suggestion, said Schwartzkopf. They’re there to be followed, he said. [Note: this is tagged as satire, but whoever reads tags? Not me. When liability insurance is mentioned, it becomes a straight pickup from this Chris Flood story in the Cape Gazette.]