Monday Open Thread [6.23.14]

1 Comment
Hat tip to Kavips for this video. It speaks for itself. It shows that, at one point in his adult political career, when he was Secretary of Defense, he did ask the question that the Los Angeles Times says has kept President Obama out of Syria .... "and then what?"
"Last fall, as President Obama weighed airstrikes against Syria, deliberations followed a clear pattern: The president solicited scores of options, planners returned with possibilities, and, according to people involved, Obama would reply with the same question: And then what?" "Over the last several days, with Obama mulling involvement in another Middle East conflict, this time in Iraq, that dynamic has held."
Thank God this nation chose wisely in 2008. Had John McCain won that election, it is quite clear now that his presidency would have been a disastrous repeat, if not multiplication of Bush II.
Sunday Open Thread [6.22.2014]

Sunday Open Thread [6.22.2014]

10 Comments
Here's another great read: Tea Party’s embarrassing irony: How its ideal nation rejects basic American beliefs. This has been pretty plain to most of us who have been watching these folks have their temper tantrum, but:
What I’d argue, rather, is that the Tea Party’s philosophy of government (again, as understood by Salam) has embedded within it an aversion to basic democratic principles that goes far beyond a typical contempt for Washington, politicians and pundits. When Salam writes that Teatopia is founded on a commitment to a “robust federalism” intended to let “different states … offer different visions of the good life” and allow citizens to “vote with their feet” by moving to whichever state best reflects their values, he’s not describing a common aversion to corruption or a distaste for political theater. He’s describing a childish and essentially anti-political belief that a return to an Articles of Confederation-style U.S. order — in which each state is more of a sovereign unto itself than a member of a larger American whole — will produce 50 mini-nations where everyone basically agrees.

Friday Open Thread [6.20.14]

3 Comments
Yes! It's Friday! And tonight and tomorrow night are your last chances to attend the Clifford Brown Jazz Festival. Tonite's headliner is Ariel Larrieux and tomorrow's headliner is Brian Culbertson. Grab your chair and head down to Rodney Square -- this is one of the truly fantastic events in Wilmington and an awesome way to spend an evening. Or Saturday afternoon AND evening!
John Carney Primary Challenge Update

John Carney Primary Challenge Update

13 Comments
The filing deadline is July 8th. Primary day is September 9th. The filing fee is $3,480 About $700.00 was pledged in the last thread on this topic, so I'd need to kick in $2,780. That is doable. Beyond these little nuts and bolts items, I've tried to compile a candid list of what I have and what I need in order to pull this off.
Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

Delaware Political Weekly: June 14-20, 2014

20 Comments
Ted Kittila, a Seaford native and a Wilmington corporate attorney, announced that he would run as an R for Attorney General. He has not yet filed. Here is a background piece on Kittila from the News Journal.  It also looks like Kittila will need to bring something a little stronger than his trying to contrast himself with Denn by essentially claiming that he is a lawyer while Denn is a politician. Denn's response:
"I have practiced law in every court in the State of Delaware, representing both businesses and people with few resources or who couldn't afford an attorney," Denn said. "I have worked to improve the public safety system as chair of the Criminal Justice Council. I have experience protecting consumers as Insurance Commissioner, protecting children as Chair of the Child Protection Accountability Commission and getting laws passed as Insurance Commissioner and Lieutenant Governor to help families, businesses, schools and kids. I look forward to talking about my experience and ideas."
Kneejerk War Is Weakness, Not Strength

Kneejerk War Is Weakness, Not Strength

10 Comments
The drumbeat for a renewed Iraq intervention from the neo-cons and neo-liberals within and outside the administration is pissing me off. The media learned nothing from Vietnam, Iraq II and Afghanistan; they are fielding all the totally discredited talking heads to tell us President Obama needs to show strength.