BREAKING: Flowers Ends Reelection Bid, Will Not Resign, Moving to Mass. (UPDATEx2)

BREAKING: Flowers Ends Reelection Bid, Will Not Resign, Moving to Mass. (UPDATEx2)

57 Comments
Somebody get Deval Patrick on the phone. We have to warn him. State Treasurer Chip Flowers has announced that he is ending his campaign for reelection and his moving to Massachusetts with his soon to be new wife once his term as Treasurer is over. He will not be resigning. This makes Sean Barney (D), the defacto Democratic nominee for Treasurer, and it likely ends all GOP designs on the office. I will leave it to others to describe the incredible press conference where these announcements were made, but needless to say another ommission of fact (or as we call them, lies) was revealed in that Chip did in fact attend that Patriots game, tickets to which were purchased on the state credit card. Like I have said before, I am tired, we are all tired, and now, Chip himself is tired. Best of luck, Mr. Flowers on your future endeavors in your new state.
WDDE: Flowers Considers Resignation

WDDE: Flowers Considers Resignation

16 Comments
I don't believe this at all, given the current state of play and what we publicly know. So there must be another shoe about to drop.
Embattled State Treasurer Chip Flowers could resign after a former deputy accused him of harassment. Delaware Public Media contributor Jeff Mordock of Delaware Law Weekly reports sources tell him Flowers may step down as early as Friday and abandon his run for second term this fall. Reports of Flowers possible resignation come about a day after reports surfaced of former Deputy Treasurer Erika Benner filing harassment claims against her former boss.
We need to put an end to the 1033 program

We need to put an end to the 1033 program

9 Comments
In addition to seeing that justice is done in Ferguson - this 1033 program has got to go. It is really possible that in 2013 alone, the 1033 program has transferred $449 million in military equipment to police forces? Yes. They brag about it on the 1033 Program webpage.
The Law Enforcement Support Office (LESO), the facilitators of 1033 program, originated from the National Defense Authorization Act of Fiscal Year 1997 (FY 97). This law allows for the office to transfer excess Department of Defense property to law enforcement agencies across the United States and its territories. Since its inception, the 1033 program has transferred more than $4.3 billion worth of property. In 2013 alone, $449,309,003.71 worth of property was transferred to law enforcement. If your law enforcement agency chooses to participate, it may become one of the more than 8,000 participating agencies to increase its capabilities, expand its patrol coverage, reduce response times, and save the American taxpayer's investment

The Disgrace of Ferguson

74 Comments
Take a look at this picture: I'm old enough to remember this kind of image being routine from news stories from Central and South America or the Eastern Block countries. We used to see those images as the disgrace of these dictatorships, where they have to point their armies at their citizens in order to maintain their power. That picture is from Ferguson. This St. Louis suburb can afford to equip its police as if they were an occupying army. And they are delivering on the authoritarian behavior of an occupying army.

Thursday Open Thread [8.14.14]

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I am working on two major projects today: a race by race analysis of each General Assembly race and the Statewides and a look at what each candidate raised during the last reporting period and what cash they have on hand. So the Open Thread is going to be a little bare today. Like Coffee Talk on Saturday Night Live in the 90's, I shall propose some topics for you to discuss: 1. Since Jack Markell took my advice and shaved his head, does he not look more and more like Jesse Ventura? 2. I wish I paid more attention to county politics, but they are just so boring and corrupt. Case in point.

My Stunt Double… Gary Sinise

1 Comment
Post by Matt Denn.
Matt Denn has a different take on the ALS videos you see everywhere. And I agree with Matt. I'll send a check, but no ice water!
Primary Election Finance Report Extravaganza.

Primary Election Finance Report Extravaganza.

15 Comments
The big race this year is of course the race everyone is talking about today. I wonder if some Republicans are crying into their coffees this morning, or adding some Bailey's to ease the pain. For their easiest path to victory was a Flowers primary win, who would then be beat down by their strongest candidate, Ken Simpler. It does not seem all is going to plan now, as the road to victory for Flowers just got a little more difficult. And that was before we even talk about text messages. It would seem that the only candidate actually raising the majority of their campaign coffers from actual people and not themselves... is Sean Barney? That kinda upends some perceptions. I thought Flowers was the People's candidate, yet he is self financing like he's a Ken Simpler or something. Just how rich is Treasurer Flowers anyway, if he has a half million to blow on two campaigns? And while he has the cash on hand advantage right now, will that last? I imagine Flowers will now have to spend heavily to keep the seat. And he will have to dirty Barney. That will cost money. Does he have more to give himself? Onto the other races. Another marquee primary is that between Senator Bryan Townsend and New Castle County Councilman David "DeLuca Promised Me" Tackett in the 11th Senate District. Tackett was too busy trying to get some lawyers to turn against Bryan instead of raising money during this last go round, as he only raised $900. But fortunately he has $17,170.74 cash on hand, and he seems to be sitting on that for a classic last minute mail drop. Oh, and you what Tackett used to entice these lawyers into turning against Bryan? The fact that Tackett is against marriage equality. These lawyers looked at him and said "We are for it." As is every Democrat in good standing. The next time Tackett is up for election to his council seat, he must be thrown out of office as a bigot.
People Assaulted By Cops: Thats A Police State

People Assaulted By Cops: Thats A Police State

1 Comment
So, cops with full blown military gear, weapons and vehicles? Yea, I know, bought on fire sales by locals from feds surplus. But really? Is this what our social order has come to? Press arrested, peaceful protesters arrested and battered with rubber bullets? Really ?
My Progressive Endorsement is for Matt Denn (and I’m putting money where my mouth is)

My Progressive Endorsement is for Matt Denn (and I’m putting money where my mouth is)

16 Comments
There are some questions swirling around the PDD endorsements, but here is someone all progressives, ...hell... all of DELAWARE can endorse, Matt Denn. He is a legit Robert Kennedy Democrat seeking statewide office, so if you consider yourself a progressive, get off your ass and send him money. If you do I'll match it up to a total of $500. Mark your donation with 3 cents added, so the Denn team can tell me how much I owe. Hopefully that is a quick $1,000 bucks to a guy who makes me proud to call myself a Democrat.

Brenda Mayrack's New Campaign Video

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<iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/j3ipmGlFxNE?list=UUJnD-LNAqlGTND4T1DYx6HQ" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe> It's very well done, though I don't Senator Bethany Hall Long holds the News Journal that tightly in her office.