Another reason to vote for Bernie August instead of John Carney

Another reason to vote for Bernie August instead of John Carney

6 Comments
John Carney's greatest accomplishment in congress, the accomplishment that he puts on the top of the list of reasons why he should be re-elected is that he "sat down with Republicans." Yes. The very Republicans who continue to scheme to undermine the economic recovery to further their own narrow political aims. The Republicans who have never even pretended to reciprocate John Carney's ardor for compromise and bipartisanship. John Carney just thinks they simply need to be "sat down" with. It is absolutely ludicrous that he is claiming "sitting down with Republicans" as a great accomplishment, but there you have it. So every Democrat has a choice in this election - reward that kind of obstinate ignorance with a meek party line vote, or vote in a way that affirms your Democratic values by saying "yes" to Bernie August.

Monday Open Thread [10.13.14]

18 Comments
This ought to be the talk of everyone today -- with the Texas Ebola problem, we are seeing how the US Public Health system has been deliberately broken: That chart is from a great piece in the Scientific American, showing how Public Health spending has been on the decline. The author, Judy Stone, provides some context for how Public Health considerations have been undermined over the past few years. Read the entire thing, then take a look at some of the material she provides in the links at the end of the article:
QOD — How Can An Accountability Testing Scheme Produce Such Low SAT Scores?

QOD — How Can An Accountability Testing Scheme Produce Such Low SAT Scores?

27 Comments
We found out this week that approximately 25% of Delaware's High school students are college-ready, in terms of their SAT scores. Leaving aside that SAT scoring is not the most reliable measure of college-readiness, what is the correlation between the SATs and the DCAS testing regime in Delaware's schools? It seems to me that if DCAS measures what a kid is learning (yes, I know that is a BIG IF), and the kids are taking a curriculum that makes them ready for college, how can the SAT scores be so out of line with all of this testing? It is pretty remarkable to me that DCAS is used as an accountability test, but that it apparently all of that learning it measures doesn't translate to better SAT scores.
I am voting against John Carney’s bipartisanship idiocy by voting for Bernie August

I am voting against John Carney’s bipartisanship idiocy by voting for Bernie August

32 Comments
In spite of how brazenly Republicans have decided to undermine the economy for their own narrow political ends, and in spite of the fact that even the so-called "moderate" Republican friends of John Carney never break with their leadership and reciprocate his affections - John Carney can't shut up about how great it is to "work with" Republicans" and he even considers "sitting down with Republicans" his greatest accomplishment in congress. With "accomplishments" like that, who needs failures? The upshot is that Carney has not given Democrats any reasons to vote for him. That is why I'm voting for the Green Party candidate Bernie August. I may even give money to the guy. But make no mistake - I am a Democrat. I want Democrats to win elections because at the Party's core, we are is still the party of the American working man. Also, when Democrats lose elections, that means Republicans win. And yet, in this case there is no downside to voting for the Green Party candidate. Rose Izzo cannot win. John Carney cannot lose. The only question is the margin of victory. If Carney wins by one fewer vote this election, that's fine with me. If two years from now he wins by 10 fewer...great. If, in some great and glorious future, Democratic voters eventually decide that their votes needs to be EARNED then eventually, John Carney will get the picture.
What Creeping Sharia Law Looks Like

What Creeping Sharia Law Looks Like

32 Comments
And this is right here in Millsboro and the Indian River School District, where one Shaun Fink is trying to impose his religious bigotries (beliefs masquerading as bigotry) on the high school students in the District. You can read the details of Mr. Fink's attempt to impose this atrocious bit of Christian Sharia law in this NJ article. Mr. Fink is hiding behind his so-called Christianity to try to demonize and ostracize LGBT people, objecting to the teaching of differences in sexual orientation as against his beliefs. Unfortunately, Mr. Fink still thinks he is living in the last century where not only could you get away with that kind of bigotry, but there was little price to be paid for it. In this century, this kind of bigotry is simply not a survial skill or a leadership skill -- two things you want your kids to have. An official demonization of LGBT people -- objecting to making them normal (as if they aren't already) not only does not serve these kids, but also tries to use the government to impose your bigotry on others. Even more, what Mr. Fink knows is that kids are more tolerant of differences among them, including LGBT differences. Trying to curb a basic course on sexuality to impart Mr. Fink's message that LGBT people are not "normal" is about him imposing his beliefs on these kids -- because he knows that they don't prioritize these differences. And trying to control other people -- their behavior and their beliefs is what Sharia Law is all about, right?
Sunday Open Thread [10.12.14]

Sunday Open Thread [10.12.14]

6 Comments
The affect of Obamacare in Delaware:
DHHS says that taken together, premiums for Medicare Part B and D will be more than $125 lower in 2015 than initially projected in 2009. That translates into a total of $2.9 million in savings in the First State. Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell attributed the savings to a slower rise in healthcare costs since the passage of the Affordable Care Act in 2010. In a statement, Burwell said the ACA is “working to improve affordability and access to quality care for seniors and people with disabilities.”
Meanwhile, remember that Libertarian Propaganda Institute that gave Governor Markell an "F" for fiscal responsibility?
Moody’s Investor Services, Fitch Ratings and Standard & Poor’s Rating Services all gave Delaware a AAA credit rating this week. The agencies noted the state’s significant financial reserves and the strength of its labor market in their analysis.
I may disagree with Governor Markell's PRIORITIES when it comes to economic policy, and his tax policy, but you can't say he has been irresponsible fiscally. If he was, then the credit ratings agencies would have downgraded Delaware long ago, which is what the Libertarian hit piece was pure bullshit.
Campaign mailers graded – Coons gets an A, Carney an F

Campaign mailers graded – Coons gets an A, Carney an F

14 Comments
Facing off against nitwits who have been abandoned by their own party's leadership, Carney or Coons could have passed on sending out campaign mailers this season, but they sent them so I'm here to grade them. The bottom line: Great job Coons. Carney, what the fuck are you running for? What office and why? I thought I knew prior to reading this piece of shit, but now I'm not sure. First Coons - his piece is strong. On one side he is talking to hard hat wearing blue collar types which fits in with his laudable campaign theme of "Bringing manufacturing jobs back to Delaware." In a stacked headline about the picture Coons provides the voters with basic facts: "Working hard for Delaware" is above "Democrat Chris Coons US Senator for Delaware." Seeing the word "Democrat" gives me hope that Coons is aware of the fact that Republicans ARE the root problem in DC. That feeling is validated when I turn the piece over and read... "Chris is standing up to the Tea Party Republicans to put Delaware families first." I mean holy shit...right? What's up with Carney? Well his mailing is as slutty a mish-mash of mincing qualifications as Coons' is direct and honorable.

Saturday Open Thread [10.11.14]

2 Comments
South Dakota Independent Larry Pressler told The Hill that he won't say who he'd caucus with if he wins his independent U.S. Senate race in South Dakota but said that if elected, he'd be a "friend of Obama." He also confirmed voting for Obama twice: "I don't regret those votes, 'cause on that day, that's how I felt." I kinda hope he doesn't win, and in fact, I predict in the map that he will not. Yes, that's right. I think, when all is said and done, the Democrats will hope onto Arkansas, Iowa, North Carolina and Colorado, while losing Montana, South Dakota, West Virginia, Alaska and Louisiana. That would leave the GOP one seat short of the majority, but then I believe the Dems will win Georgia and Kentucky from the GOP, and the Independent Orman will win Kansas, and then caucus with the Dems.