General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Weds., Jan. 18, 2012

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At LAST. This year's General Assembly session begins in earnest today. And on a committee day no less. All sorts of compelling action scheduled to take place today. I support HB 222(Jaques), which would "require(s) that the Department of Labor publish the names of employers who have violated the Workplace Fraud Act, by misclassifying an employee as an independent contractor or otherwise". This, of course, is just one way that the 1% take advantage of the 99%. For example, did you know that Linda & Vince McMahon's WWE classifies its wrestlers/performers as independent contractors? Of course, they all have contracts, and the McMahons will take anyone to court for striving to be 'independent'. Obligatory rasslin' reference, sorry. Now, that's what I call a committee meeting.

Call Governor Markell. Have His Back.

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Evidently Gov. Markell is receiving lots of criticism from blood thirsty conservatives on his brave decision to grant clemency to Robert Gattis. If you supported and approved his decision, and if you would have criticized him if he did not grant clemency, then you owe it to yourself, to us, and to Governor Markell to take at most five minutes and email him your thanks and support. His email address and phone numbers are inside.

U.S. Supreme Court Refuses to Hear Indian River Prayer Case

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I just do not understand the need to turn every public gathering, whether it be a graduation cermonies, school board meetings, and other assemblies into religious events. It is as if someone wants to repeal the First Amendment and establish a National Religion, and then have the Government force the population to worship God according to the dictates of the National Religion.

Tuesday Open Thread [1.17.12]

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So apparently there was another godforsaken Republican debate on last night. I was watching Betty White's roast so I missed it. Not that I have ever watched a GOP debate live (I see the clips afterwards though, and that is painful enough). But I hear that Romney had his worst debate, was painfully evasive even for him, and that Gingrich was throwing red meat to the lions and getting a raptureous response for it. Some pundits now think the performance will boost Gingrich as we head into Saturday's primary.

To Governor Markell…

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In an unprecedented 4-1 decision announced Sunday, the Delaware Board of Pardons is recommending that the death sentence for convicted killer Robert A. Gattis be commuted to life in prison. It will now be up to Gov. Jack Markell to decide if he will accept the board's recommendation to spare Gattis' life or if he will allow the execution of the 49-year-old by lethal injection to go forward as planned early Friday.
A life is literally in Governor Markell's hands. He might not want this responsibility. But he asked for it, and now he has to decide. I now address the Governor directly....

Fighting Abnormal (And Fake) Body Images As The Mother Of A 14 Year Old Girl

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My 14 year old daughter wears a size 0 and still thinks she's not skinny enough. It's enough to make me want to pull my hair out. I want to scream when her friends come over and the discussion spirals into what's wrong with my body. Granted, their focus is on their bodies only, and they're quick to come to each others' defense. Also, they don't attack someone for their weight or their looks, which, I guess, is a step in the right direction. But... they are ridiculously hard on themselves.