Friday Open Thread [4.17.15]

Friday Open Thread [4.17.15]

2 Comments
Nancy LeTourneau on the dynamics between Hillary and Obama as we come up to 2016, because, if you haven't already noticed, Obama is no lame duck and he will not leave the stage until his time is up, and Hillary is not running from him, she is running towards him.
The modern-day precedent has typically been set by presidents who found themselves embroiled in scandals during their second term - which contributed to their lame-duckness (Reagan with Iran/Contra, Clinton with impeachment and Bush with Iraq/financial crisis). The dynamics will be very different this time around. And so it should come as no surprise that - as Chozick, Haberman and Martin point out - Hillary Clinton has decided to run on President Obama’s record rather than triangulate between he and Republicans.
Rather than run from Mr. Obama, she intends to turn to him as one of her campaign’s most important allies and advocates — second only, perhaps, to her husband, the other president whose record will hover over her bid… Nick Merrill, a spokesman for Mrs. Clinton, said that she “is proud of what was accomplished, both as President Obama’s partner on critical issues of national security, and on the progress made on the domestic front” and that “a campaign would be about laying out her own vision for tackling our toughest challenges.”
Given the current political dynamics, that is a very good move.
DL Approval Ratings: KWS: The Democratic Tom Wagner.

DL Approval Ratings: KWS: The Democratic Tom Wagner.

2 Comments
62% strongly disapprove of Insurance Commissoner Karen Weldin Stewart's job performance. An additional 19% somewhat disapprove, giving us an overall disapproval score of 81%. This is no surprise. Delaware Liberal readers have never warmed to the elected official who puts the Insurance in Insurance Commissioner. That is what happens when you succeed a true consumer advocate in Matt Denn and then go on to coddle insurance companies. 14% approve of her job performance. So finally, we have a poll on New Castle County Excecutive Tom Gordon. I have included Mr. Gordon for the first time, because I find it likely that the man may just be our next Governor. Let's face it: Beau Biden is not going to run. So that means we will get a primary between Carney and Gordon (which will be a proxy war between Carper and Biden), and in that race, I have to put my money on Gordon. So let's find out what our readers think of the job he is doing this time as County Executive.
Thursday Open Thread [4.16.15]

Thursday Open Thread [4.16.15]

12 Comments
A new Bloomberg poll finds Americans “are becoming more optimistic about the country’s economic prospects by several different measures. President Obama’s handling of the economy is being seen more positively than negatively for the first time in more than five years, 49% to 46% — his best number in this poll since September 2009.” But the survey “also reveals that about three-fourths of Democrats and independents, along with a majority of Republicans, say the gap is growing between the rich and everyone else — and a majority of women want the government to intervene to shrink it.” This is horribly bad news for Republicans.
College Remedial Courses And The State Test

College Remedial Courses And The State Test

17 Comments
Even though I know there are unique and deserving circumstances, I can't help but wonder how kids needing remedial courses are even accepted into college, especially University of Delaware which touts itself as highly selective. Okay, I don't really wonder. Remedial courses are a cash cow for colleges so I understand why they offer them.  Having parents/students pay for non-credit courses makes achieving a degree take longer than four years which adds another semester, or two, in tuition and room and board fees... Cha-Ching!
DL Approval Ratings: Simpler Neutralizes Opinion

DL Approval Ratings: Simpler Neutralizes Opinion

6 Comments
So for the first time ever, Delaware Liberal readers are neutral or have no opinion on someone or something. 50% said that they were either neutral, had no opinion, or didn't know enough about Republican Treasurer Ken Simpler to have an opinion on him one way or the other. And that is logical, since Treasurer Simpler has not done anything yet publicly, nor has he been the typical annoying and grating Republican. 35% approve whatever it is that Simpler is doing, 24% do so strongly. 15% disapprove.
Wednesday Open Thread [4.15.15]

Wednesday Open Thread [4.15.15]

9 Comments
Jason is always fond of London's odd gambling market, which you can find a bookie to bet on everything it appears. And the reason he is fond of it is because, to him, it is a true indicator of polling intention, because people are betting their real money on whether a certain candidate can win. And sure, you can put money down on an outlier candidate with high odds, but that candidate better have a realistic shot for the nomination and the Presidency. For example, if you put money on Ben Carson, you are a fool. Hillary is by far and away the odds on favorite. Some outfits have her as an 11/10 favorite, or 5/4, or 6/5, or even money at 1/1. Jeb Bush is next in line as a 7/2 favorite, or 4/1, or 5/1. Marco Rubio's odds fall in a range between 7/1 and 11/. Scott Walker's odds similarly range from 7/1 to 12/1 (though most have him in the double digits behind Rubio.
DL Approval Ratings: Auditor Doesn’t Do His Job, and He Gets Low Ratings. Imagine that.

DL Approval Ratings: Auditor Doesn’t Do His Job, and He Gets Low Ratings. Imagine that.

15 Comments
64% of Delaware Liberal readers disapprove of Auditor Tom Wagner (R). 51% strongly disapprove of him. Only 28% approve. That he continues to get reelected will be one of the unanswerable mysteries of life. Kinda like how the Charcoal Pit is considered a good place to eat. Here is the remaining schedule:
Wednesday — Treasurer Ken Simpler (R) Thursday — Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart (D) Friday — New Castle County Executive Tom Gordon (D)
Treasurer Simpler's results should be interesting. He's hasn't really done much yet to approve or disapprove of, and he is not said anything overtly annoying or overly Republican yet.
DL’s GOP Presidential Fantasy League – Division 2 seats still available

DL’s GOP Presidential Fantasy League – Division 2 seats still available

1 Comment
Division 1 is fully booked. (Me, Pandora, Steve Newton, Prop Joe and AQC) will be facing off for the big money. Division 2 is filling up. (Delaware Dem vs...? You?) Here is how it works. The league is open to 5 players per division. Division 2 is a $5.00 buy in (entertainment only/winner take all). Each player will each draft 4 candidates from the list compiled by Delaware Dem. Your team will accrue points based on the number of days they are in the race for the Republican nomination. So, for example, Rand Paul announced on April 7th. If he makes it all the way to the convention (July 18 2016) he will have been in the race for 469 days, netting his team 469 points. If John Bolton never enters the race, he will have been in the race for 0 days netting his team zero points. If Division 2 fills up over the weekend, we'll try to have the draft on Monday via live chat or something. Who is in?