Dem Debates

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I didn't watch much. I don't like the sniping, especially when they agree on all the important stuff if not all the details. Anyway, I don't have much to say about the candidates individually, I just love the stage full of such a diverse selection of Americans. Gays, Hawaiians, Old Dudes, Women Senators, Rich Guys, a Taiwanese-American... Pretty awesome. I'm old enough to remember when this type of thing would be composed entirely of white guys who went to Yale or Harvard.

Coons promises to give Mitch McConnell veto power in the Senate

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This article in the Prospect does a good job delving into the elitism that is the crux of Coons unwillingness to represent regular Delawareans  in the US Senate.
Coons does want the Senate to change - by becoming even more conservative than it already is. Along with Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine, Coons organized a letter, signed by 61 senators, pledging to keep the filibuster in place, which would make any sort of progressive legislation that much harder should Democrats take control of the government next year. In September, during a discussion about the Senate and bipartisanship with former Senators Joe Donnelly and Jeff Flake, Coons suggested that it might not be possible to have a Senate that’s both diverse and doesn’t “produce irreconcilable discord.”
Highlands Bunker – Death Knell of the Delaware Way

Highlands Bunker – Death Knell of the Delaware Way

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Highlands Bunker - Death Knell of the Delaware Way
RE Vanella heads to Jessica Scarane for Senate HQ on launch day to talk with the campaign team, the volunteers, and the candidate herself. All of the organizing we've been talking about for the last year, all the infrastructure that is being built up, this is what it looks like in action. Show Notes:

Coons in Primary Challenge Phase 1 (DENIAL)

As we saw with Mike Castle and Tom Carper when someone has the unmitigated gall to challenge a member of the Delaware Way elite, the first phase of response is denial.  How do I know he is in denial?   Well, he sent the same half-assed, photocopied press release to both the News Journal and WHYY in which he stands by his mighty bipartisanship skills and says that they are paying off in spite of no evidence that they are or will pay off...ever.  
I’m...someone who works across the aisle to get done what we can in this environment to make our state and our community stronger.
He didn't bother speaking to anyone at either outlet, because why bother?  As far as Coons is concerned this primary rates lower on his list of things to think about  than if his 7:15 train running behind schedule.   And that's a good thing for everyone.   Let's hope Coons is like Mike Castle.  Castle's denial phase lasted up until about a week before he was beaten.  By the time Castle woke up and scheduled his trip to the firing rage, it was too late.  It would be awesome for Coons to maintain a similarly languid approach. What is more likely however is that Coons copies Tom Carper.  Navy Veteran, Carper was ever the cagey observer who noted Castle's screw up.   Carper moved to the left quickly (if only temporarily).   SImilarly, I expect we'll see lots of awesome progressiveness from Coons over the next few months.  As with Carper, it will be a sham of course, but it will be nice to get a break from all the nonsensical "work across the aisle to get things done" blather.