Tag: El Somnambulo
‘Bulo’s Fave Tunes of 2015: #’s 50-41
I can’t tell you how many hours go into preparing this list. I can only say that we are talking geometric progressions of time as opposed to, say, what I spend on the MVP Awards. My wife and daughters served as sounding boards in finalizing the list. My hope is to turn you on to music you perhaps haven’t heard on your own. Consider it my holiday gift to you–whether you wanted it or not.
The 2015 MVP (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause in Delaware) Awards
How many times have I asked the question, “Won’t somebody, anybody, challenge this egregious wrong?” Lots of times. Whether it’s the illegal actions of the corrupt Minner team or the illegality of Tony DeLuca serving as both a legislator and as an administrator of a public agency, the answer has always been, no, nobody will challenge this egregious wrong. The budget that was forced through the General Assembly this year was an egregious wrong. Specifically, the (I believe) illegal application of settlement funds to help balance the operating budget. This misuse of funds violated the specific purposes for which the funds could be used. While the AG strongly criticized the misuse of the funds, he either chose not to challenge, or was not in a position to challenge, the General Assembly’s cavalier actions. But someone else did. And that someone else is our Most Value Progressive of the Year.
The All-Purpose Question Thread for Presumptive Governor John Carney
It has occurred to me that we don’t really know where John Carney stands on the major issues facing Delaware. So, let’s put together a list for him. You know, to give him enough time to begin thinking about these things. Please add your own questions to the list:
Civil Liberties: Coons Hero, Carper Villain. At Least For One Day.
They really are different, after all. At least when it comes to protecting your right to privacy.
‘Bulo’s Fave Tunes: September, 2015
Quality and quantity this month. Some new (to me) artists and some faves who have stepped up big time. Let’s start with some truly joyful noise…
Markell, Chamber & Rethugs Rigging the Game for 2016. D ( )eadership AWO(L).
Anybody paying attention can see what’s going on. The alleged D leaders in the General Assembly either aren’t paying attention, or they’re in the bag as well.
Stated simply: Gov. Markell, aided and abetted by his pro-business propagandists, is pursuing a strategy of forcing cuts on the most vulnerable with NO consideration being given to increasing revenues as a means of closing the budget gap.
You’re already familiar with the choreographed calls for cuts to health care, public education, and state employees emanating from the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable.
Townsend Is In!
Received this just awhile ago:
Dear Friends,
Today, I ask for your support as I announce my campaign to represent Delaware in Congress.
Delaware faces a significant challenge: rebuilding an economy that works for all Delawareans and that reverses the inequality spreading across America. That’s why our campaign will champion policies that grow and strengthen the middle class, provide every child with an opportunity to succeed, promote equal justice in the criminal justice system, and ensure retirement security for our seniors.
Four years ago, I was joined by students, community leaders, and neighbors in a grassroots campaign for the Delaware State Senate. Although some doubted our prospects, Delawareans like you showed they’d back a candidate who reaches out, listens, and will always do the right thing for Delaware, even when it’s the hard thing.
This Barbieri Business Does. Not. Look. Good.
I’ve made no secret of my opinion that Mike Barbieri was one of the most effective legislators in Dover during his time there. A serious legislator with the willingness to build coalitions to pass progressive legislation that helps some of our most vulnerable citizens.
Having said that, the relationships between Barbieri, his company (Crossroads of Delaware), the state, and his recent hiring by the state raise all sorts of questions that require answers.
The Most Important Delaware Race of 2016…
…will be the primary for US Congress between State Rep. Bryon Short and State Senator Bryan Townsend.
It is a battle of the present (and, one hopes, the past) of the Democratic Party vs. a more progressive future.
Make no mistake: Bryon Short is the chosen heir to the mantle of middle-of-the-road mediocrity personified by Tom Carper and John Carney. He, or more likely Ed Freel and his ilk, have chosen ex-Carper staffer Mat Marshall to run his campaign. Carper’s ‘Brain’, Ed Freel, is calling the shots from his UD bunker. Short, of course, served in Carper’s congressional office, and has made no bones about his friendship with Carper and Carney. You may also recall that Bryon Short bottled up a minimum wage increase in his House committee until the bill was essentially emasculated. Although strong on social issues, Short’s principal legislative focus has been on cutting yet more ‘red tape’ that, according to the Chamber and its allies, hobble businesses in Delaware. In fact, Short essentially had a committee created just for him with this run in mind: The (get this) House Economic Development/ Banking/Insurance/Commerce Committee, aka The Business Lapdog Committee.
‘Bulo’s Fave Tunes: August, 2015
More better music this month. Lotsa Americana and roots music this time. Most of which you probably haven’t heard. So, hear here!
18th RD: David Bentz Is the Real Deal
I’m quite impressed with the progressive positions he has taken on the issues, and I hope we can all do whatever it takes to help him win the Special Election. I’ve decided to print the entire endorsement from Progressive Democrats of Delaware, because he really spells out his positions here:
Memo to Carper, Coons, and Carney: American Jews Support Iran Deal.
By margins significantly larger than Americans as a whole.
If AIPAC gives you permission to use anything other than their propaganda and their money to make an informed decision (Chris, ask them if they’ll let you out of your intellectual padded cell, they might say yes) read this, or at least have a staffer read this to you….
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tues., June 30, 2015
“HOSTAGE-TAKERS WIN. YOU LOSE.”
That will likely be the headline from the last day of session barring something unexpected.
Especially with the Rethugs seemingly determined to abdicate any responsibility to be, um, responsible. For purely id(iot)eological reasons, the R’s have tied any willingness to cooperate to screwing workers through their obsessive need to push for ‘right to work for less’. They have also abandoned any pretense of thinking for themselves, leaving all talking points to their ALEC overlords. Check out their refusal to stop the escalating infrastructure crisis from getting any funding. Check out the result. Greg Lavelle perhaps cemented (the use of ‘cemented’ is deliberate) his position as the Worst Legislator in the General Assembly by his phony demands for ‘reform’ which, for anyone paying attention, simply is a transfer of administrative costs from the Transportation Trust Fund to the operating budget w/o providing a mechanism to pay for it:
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