Shoot this guy

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Armed Guard Hired In Newtown’s Wake Leaves Gun In Bathroom

2:17 PM EST, Friday January 18, 2013 An armed guard at a Lapeer, Mich., charter school -- hired in the wake of the Newtown massacre -- made a "breach of security" this week when he left his gun unattended in the bathroom...
Not the Onion.

GOP Rape Sensitivity Training Program

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The Republican Party has sent itself to rape sensitivity school.
And it may have added new urgency to a training program that’s already being launched by an anti-abortion group — the Susan B. Anthony list — to keep candidates and lawmakers from continually making the same kind of comments that may have helped ruin Republicans’ chances of winning the Senate.
I agree the GOP needs a course in Rape Sensitivity, but that's not what this course is shaping up to be.

Things You Can Say to Anger Republicans

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This is too good not to pass on mostly in full. Some of them were kinda lame, so I left those out.
Conservatives are so easy to anger these days. Even the most insignificant statement can set off their tempers. If you want to enrage a conservative, I suggest saying the following: 1. A Socialist wrote the Pledge of Allegiance. 2. Jesus healed the sick and helped the poor, for free. 3. Joseph McCarthy was an un-American, witch hunting sissy. 4. Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee were traitors. 5. The South lost the Civil War, get over it. 6. The Founding Fathers were liberals. 7. Fascism is a right-wing trait. 8. Sarah Palin is an idiot. 9. The Earth is round. 10. Reagan raised taxes eleven times as President.
Come inside for some more.

UPDATED WITH LIST OF EXECUTIVE ACTIONS: Today The White House Will Put Forth Their Proposals To Reduce Gun Violence

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I know, I know... another gun post. Today, around noon, President Obama and Vice President Biden will announce their proposals to reduce gun violence. I will attempt to blog this event in the comment section - help from our commenters would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. Meanwhile, the NRA finds new lows. Josh Marshall sums it up:
It takes a lot for the NRA to shock. But this is just beyond disgusting. The NRA has launched a new ad campaign calling President Obama a ‘hypocrite’ for allowing armed Secret Service agents to protect his school aged daughters. There are so many vile things about this ad. But one thing to note is the ad is really only designed to appeal to people who have a deep – really deep – animosity toward the President. The sort of people who don’t think he and his daughters should be in the White House and wish him the sort of ill citizens should never wish upon a freely elected head of state.
Vile is the perfect word for the NRA's behavior.

Senate Set to Vote on Port of Wilmington Bill Today

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Senator Bob Marshall wants to make sure that any sale/partnership/call it what you will regarding the Port of Wilmington must have legislative approval. And why not? Jack Markell and Alan Levin have not publicly acknowledged any legislative prerogative when it comes to having their preferred partner, Kinder Morgan, an Enron spin-off with numerous environmental and labor violations on its record, take over the operations of the Port. In this case, silence is not golden, unless you are Kinder Morgan. Keep in mind that, had Markell and Levin committed to the legislative process for this proposed transaction, none of this would be necessary. Methinks an unforced error. You'd think, at least I'd think, that all 21 senators would vote yes on SB 3. I mean, why not? We're talking about a transaction that would have huge impact to the State, the City of Wilmington, and hundreds of port workers and their families. You're talking about the principle of three co-equal branches of government, and the possibility, should SB 3 not pass, that the General Assembly would be removed entirely from this momentous decision. You're talking about the whole notion of legislative oversight and the public disinfectant of sunshine.

Delaware General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan . 15, 2013

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Delaware's top elected officials ensured that gun control would be front-and center during the 2013-14 legislative session by unveiling a bold and (IMHO) essential set of initiatives at a Monday news conference. You can check out the proposed package here. I can't praise Governor Jack Markell, Lt. Gov. Matt Denn and AG Beau Biden highly enough for this. I'll be more than a little intrigued to see how the timid souls who constitute Delaware's D. C. delegation respond to any initiatives coming from the White House. Delaware's proposed legislation includes: (1) a ban on the sale, manufacture, delivery, and unlawful possession of military-style assault weapons; (2) a ban on the sale, manufacture, delivery. and unlawful possession of large-capacity magazines; (3) requiring background checks for private purchase of firearms; (4) requiring the reporting of lost and stolen firearms; and (5) banning the possession of firearms within 1000 feet of a school, except for those exempted from this requirement. This package will inevitably draw the total opposition of the NRA and the oxymoronically-named Delaware Sportsmen's Association. Good.

Republicans May Need To Shut Down The Government Just To “Get It Out Of Their System”

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Getting something out of your system is never a sign of maturity. It can be a step towards maturity if the person survives the procedure, but it's rarely good in itself. We associate getting things out of your system to such things as youthful experimentation, sowing wild oats, drugs, alcohol, sex and obsessions. Know who else we say needs to get things out of their system? Toddlers having temper tantrums. Which brings me to this quote:
GOP officials said more than half of their members are prepared to allow default unless Obama agrees to dramatic cuts he has repeatedly said he opposes. Many more members, including some party leaders, are prepared to shut down the government to make their point. House Speaker John Boehner “may need a shutdown just to get it out of their system,” said a top GOP leadership adviser. “We might need to do that for member-management purposes — so they have an endgame and can show their constituents they’re fighting.” [emphasis mine] [...]
Starting Monday, Boehner will huddle with his leadership team to discuss his preliminary thinking on a spending strategy. A source who attended meetings to prepare for those private talks said GOP leaders are authentically at a loss on how to control members who don’t respond to the normal incentives of wanting to help party leaders or of avoiding situations — like default — that could be public relations nightmares.
So how do you think that huddle is going to work out? What exactly will John Boehner, worst Speaker in history, do? Why he's going to hold a class ("walk members through") on default. Don't get me wrong, the majority of Republicans need this class. They also need a sex ed class and one on Climate Change.

Two Good Bills

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Even for the first week of legislative session, this was the slowest first week evah for the Delaware General Assembly. However, the first worthy pieces of legislation of the 147th surfaced, and both deserve your attention.....