Thursday Open Thread [4.17.14]

Thursday Open Thread [4.17.14]

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Yeah, that internal Christie investigation was really on the up and up. The Bergen Record reports that "nine days before a team of its top lawyers made public a report clearing Governor Christie in the George Washington Bridge scandal, the law firm donated $10,000 to the Republican Governors Association, a group [Christie] heads." Andrew Sullivan continues to be impressed by the Long Game Theory of the Obama Presidency. And Hillary Clinton crushes everyone in the lastest national poll. We are talking 40 state blowout.

This photo….

12 Comments
...accompanies a story that News Journal ran this morning on New Castle County government clearing out a homeless tent city near Christiana by week's end. The photo is from New Castle County. Given that Gordon wants to develop a humane policy, I am not attacking him for touring the site or having it cleared in lieu of better options for the inhabitants. It is private property, and such tent cities are not safe. But the photo makes it look like Gordon is personally ordering the woman (who is Executive Assistant Angela Walker, rather than a tent city inhabitant) to leave now. Not a good image, even for the law and order Gordon.
Wednesday Open Thread [4.15.14]

Wednesday Open Thread [4.15.14]

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A new study finds that rich and powerful interest groups have a much greater impact on government policy than the majority of citizens. Gawker says it means that the United States has officially become an oligarchy:
"The study notes that the position of the median American and the position of the affluent American are often the same; therefore, regular people tend to think that their political interests are being represented when they see the triumph of some political position that they agree with. In fact, the researchers say, this is a mere coincidence. Yes, the average American will see their interests represented--as long as their interests align with the interests of the wealthy."
And this is where it gets interesting. The interests of the average and the wealthy are diverging. And the wealthy are freaking out because they know what happens next. For you see, when the interests diverge, the wealthy can either accept it and make the changes necessary to placate the average American, which will probably cost them some money. Or they can just prepare for revolution and hope that the wealthy and the government they bought can put down the violence. This is why you see billionaires complaining in the Wall Street Journal about the evils of progressives and economic populism.
Interview with Senator Bryan Townsend

Interview with Senator Bryan Townsend

Here is an interview that El Somnambulo and I had with Senator Bryan Townsend (D-11th). The interview took place at Timothy's on the Waterfront a little over a month ago, but don't worry, the topics we talk about are not out of date. So that explains the bar and restaurant ambiance, and some 70's tunes in the background. The reason for the delay in publishing this was problems I experienced with my editing software. I had to cut out the moment that the waitress came over mid interview. We touch on the Charter School bill from last year and Education in general, the Governor's infrastructure plan that he wants to pay for with a 10 cent increase in the gas tax, the once and future minimum wage increase, the Veasey Report and any resultant reform measures (this interview comes before several rather bland bills were introduced), casinos, the "clarifying" bill regarding our State Treasurer and the Sunset Committee. Come inside to listen....
Girls Rationalize Sexual Assault As… Normal?

Girls Rationalize Sexual Assault As… Normal?

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First, let me start off by saying that I've witnessed the normalization of sexual assault first hand - through my experience and now through my 16 year old daughter.  It feels like an uphill battle.  My small victory?  Everyone at the Pandora household has stopped using gender specific words in a negative, and a positive, fashion. But take a look at this study.  I doubt you'll be surprised.
Tuesday Open Thread [4.15.14]

Tuesday Open Thread [4.15.14]

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A new CBO report shows Obamacare will cost $100 billion less than expected while insuring more people. Run against that you Republicans, we dare you. And you spineless corporate shill Democrats, run away from it and you are done. You might as well call yourself a Republican. Meanwhile, we have Markos Moulitsas on the fact that Liberals have won the Culture War, and we have pretty much won the Everything Else war too.

Monday Open Thread [4.14.14]

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Republicans think healthcare is a great issue for them. With ads like Mark Begich's in Alaska, they might want to rethink that. With their focus on Obamacare in 2014, and their belief that the law is actually failing and that the people actually hate it, Republicans are heading for a repeat of 2012. Obamacare is now the new unskewed polls.
Procrastination Nation

Procrastination Nation

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Residing in my "twilight years", I've been reflecting on the many unresolved issues facing my country and revisiting the ebb and flow of progress/regression in the search for solutions I've witnessed and worked for as an activist over about 45 years of my more than seven decades of life.

The Weekly Addresses

We are adding a new address to the mix this week, and that is the weekly legislative wrap up from the House Democratic Caucus. Last week, it was Speaker Peter Schwartzkopf giving the address. This week, it is outgoing Representative Daryl Scott. President Obama:

Friday Open Thread [4.11.14]

1 Comment
LOL. The House Conservatives are planning a coup against Boner again. From the National Journal:
"The conservatives' exasperation with leadership is well known. And now, in discreet dinners at the Capitol Hill Club and in winding, hypothetical-laced email chains, they're trying to figure out what to do about it. Some say it's enough to coalesce behind--and start whipping votes for--a single conservative leadership candidate. Others want to cut a deal with Majority Leader Eric Cantor: We'll back you for speaker if you promise to bring aboard a conservative lieutenant." "But there's a more audacious option on the table, according to conservatives involved in the deliberations. They say between 40 and 50 members have already committed verbally to electing a new speaker. If those numbers hold, organizers say, they could force Boehner to step aside as speaker in late November, when the incoming GOP conference meets for the first time, by showing him that he won't have the votes to be reelected in January."
This reminds me of a time back in 1994, when it was announced that Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell (D) was going to retire from the Senate. I remember reading stories in the Washington Post about the race to succeed Mitchell (well actually I found a link to a story in the New York Times, but whatever) between former Senators Jim Sasser and Tom Daschle. No where did the articles and speculation consider that, um, what if we are no in the majority next year? Teabaggin efforts to oust Boehner would be quite misplaced if the GOP ends up losing the majority. And yes, that can happen.