On the Hustings With Bryan Townsend

20 Comments
After spending a couple of hours at the doors (aka trying to keep up) with 11th District State Senate candidate Bryan Townsend last night, I can only say this: The residents of the 11th District would be SO much better off with Bryan Townsend as their Senator that it's not even a close call. He is the single best first-time candidate I've encountered since Dave Sokola. And, yes, when elected, he would immediately join Senators Peterson and Sokola as one of the best senators in Dover.

The Anglo-Saxon Romney Campaign

8 Comments
In remarks that may prompt accusations of racial insensitivity, one suggested that Mr Romney was better placed to understand the depth of ties between the two countries than Mr Obama, whose father was from Africa. “We are part of an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and he feels that the special relationship is special,” the adviser said of Mr Romney, adding: “The White House didn’t fully appreciate the shared history we have”.
I am not shocked by this statement - I've always known this is what many conservatives believe. What shocks me is how blatant their statements have become.

The Polling Report [7.24.12]

2 Comments
Gallup finds that President Obama averaged 46.8% job approval during his 14th quarter in office.
"The recent and continuing improvement in his approval rating, though, is a positive sign for his re-election prospects, but it remains below the 50% level that virtually assures a president of a second term in office. Obama appears in much better shape now than the two recently elected presidents who were denied a second term -- Jimmy Carter and George H.W. Bush -- both of whom averaged below 40% approval their 14th quarters in office."
We've got a ton of new state polls from over the weekend, and they change our map a little bit. Obama gains 1 electoral vote from last week's total of 318 and Romney loses 14, dropping from 220 to 206.

What we choose to be panicked by

2 Comments
Absent a pressing life or death calamity such as an earthquake, apartment fire, car crash or a fall from a ladder, what we decide to be panicked by is largely a function of the mass media. Since the mass media is a for profit business, they have an interest in creating a baseline level of panic and keeping that base panic simmering on a continuous basis. Studies show that what we are panicked by has little connection to what will actual kill or maim us. In this blog's very comments section we have people panicked by the idea that the government could run amok and take away "our freedom" whatever that means. (The freedom to have your kids paralyzed by backyard trampolines, I suppose.) Having worked for the federal government, the idea that people can be panicked about a government run amok strikes me as ludicrous. But the radio stations these people listen to and the movies they watch keep jamming the panic button down for them. Poor things. ...

Mike Castle lamented the future Colorado tragedy in 2004

8 Comments
Colorado Murder Gun Was Illegal Till 2004 -- by Dave Johnson The weapon the guy used in Colorado -- and assault rifle with a drum magazine that can hold 100 rounds -- was illegal under the federal assault weapons ban. But the federal assault weapons ban was killed by Republicans in 2004,
Reps. Christopher Shays, R-Conn., and Michael Castle, R-Del., said they were disheartened. "My leadership is playing Russian roulette," Shays said. "There will be without question a horrific crime committed without an assault weapon ban, and every member of Congress will have to ask where were they on this issue." Castle said gun manufacturers have offered discounts and pre-orders for months. "The gunmakers are salivating," he said. "I hate to think of what can happen now."
Heck of a job GOP! Way to go guys.