Monthly Archives: January 2009

Zero is an Easy Number to Remember

At a time when Americans are looking to their government to do something, doing nothing strikes me as political suicide.  And that’s exactly what Republicans did yesterday – Nothing.  Even worse, they did “nothing” in lockstep.

And, no matter how many politicians and pundits they trot out to defend their position only one message will come through loud and clear:  Not a single Republicans voted for the stimulus package.

Don’t kid yourself, Republicans, that is the message.  And it’s a powerful one.  But the worst part for you is the fact that you aren’t controlling the message.  Obama made sure of that by including you every step of the way.  Perhaps if he hadn’t courted you, you’d have a case.  But he did, and you don’t.

Not a single Republicans voted for the stimulus package.

That’s the headline.  That’s what everyone is talking about.  Not family planning or new sod.  But keep on playing the ideology game, keep voting along party lines.  It just makes keeping score easier.

HB 1 Is Up For Floor Discussion today

From our friend Rebecca Young:

House Bill 01 to bring FOIA to the Delaware General Assembly is on the agenda for House Floor discussion today, January 29, 2009.

WHAT: Support Passage of HB01
WHERE: Leg Hall, Dover
WHEN: 12:30 gather in the cafeteria at Leg Hall, 1:00ish move upstairs to talk to Representatives on the floor or in their offices; 2:00ish move up to House Galley to observe the proceedings.

Where your OOGA green tee shirts if you have one.

If you can’t make it to Leg Hall today please call your Representative and ask him/her to vote for a CLEAN HB01, don’t junk it up with amendments that will gut the bill.

Today in the BBC

Cold War Nostalgia

The good thing about the cold war was that with wingnut pissing their pants over the Russian bear, they didn’t spend all day trying to contrive reasons to attack random middle eastern countries and drive our economy off a cliff.

Irresponsible, US?

In other news that the US media does not know about, the Chinese are mad at us which is understandable, but do they really have to treat us like some kind of low rent Argentina?

I guess after 8 years of Bush, they really do.

DE GOPers Start Getting Their Hate On

Republicans for Voldemort

Earlier in the week, I sent a note off to the Lt. Governor regarding my concerns about eminent domain which was ready to go to the Senate floor. Lt. Gov. Matt Denn was quickly responded and was kind enough to let me publish his response in Eminent Domain: Nemski’s Letter and Denn’s Response.

Even though I did not agree with Denn’s position, I understood it, but more importantly applaud his and Gov. Markell’s continued path to transparency in government. Evenly more important, Markell said he would sign the bill as is if it made it to his desk and Denn said he would vote for the legislation if he needed to.

But that doesn’t stop, the wingnuts does it? Denn was accused of having “logic completely backwards” or that “powerful forces” were using jobs as scare tactics. One commentator here thought that Denn looked “silly” after the Senate passed the bill. One blogger even called the city government of Wilmington, “fascist”. Another blogger inferred that the current administration thinks that property rights are a “luxury”.

First and foremost, what these wingnut bloggers fail to understand is that Delaware is a one-party state. The Republicans and their splinter party hold virtually no power in Delaware, so it is up to the Democrats to open their tent to different concerns regarding any legislation.

Listening and rethinking policy is what the new breed of Democratic leadership is doing. On small scale, we can see that with Denn and eminent domain, and on a larger stage, we see it with President Obamaa as he works to pass the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

But winguts, continue to cover your ears and stomp your feet, because that is what you do best.

How Successful was the Inaugural Ball?

Well, if you only judged it by how many people showed up it was pretty successful.

If you judged it by how good a time everyone had, it was extremely successful.

If you judged it by the amount of money made for Autism Delaware, Wow!  We will be writing a check to Autism Delaware for $1,711.

I would like to especially thank Dean and the staff at Deerfield Fine Wines for their phenomenal support of this event.  Way to go, everyone.

Why am I not surprised?

I want to say I’m surprised, but I guess I shouldn’t be.  They run us into the ground and then…ah forget it

WASHINGTON — In a swift victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House approved a historically huge $819 billion stimulus bill Wednesday night with spending increases and tax cuts at the heart of the young administration’s plan to revive a badly ailing economy. The vote was 244-188, with Republicans unanimous in opposition despite Obama’s pleas for bipartisan support.

Like spoiled rotten babies

Wingnut Talking Points Smackdown — The Recovery Program

This edition outsourced to Tommywonk. Read the whole thing, but here is an interesting bit:

Left out of that argument is the question of how we got to the largest deficit in history. Hundreds of billions spent on a six year war in a foreign country have not provided much economic benefit here at home. The Republicans in Congress might want to think twice before starting out the new term by referring to the past eight years.

I’d also add to this that it is very clear that the 2 rounds of BushCo taxcuts produced little in the way of “stimulus” (economic gain over the past 8 years were largely fueled by the illusory wealth of the housing bubble), and certainly the last tax cut (rebates) back in the spring helped people pay down debt, but produced no jobs, increased the GDP not one whit. What these taxcuts DID represent was the creation and sustenance of the first deficit budgets since Clinton left. They never paid for themselves (as is now all too evident), and only produced benefits to the upper income folks who got them.

And while we’re at it, I have a serious request of the media: PLEASE ask these Republicans how it is that we cannot afford to spend tax money, but we can afford to increase our deficits by returning revenues. Either way — given that the budget is in deficit — you are still spending money you don’t have. AND ask these guys how they can propose tax cuts without a proposal on how to either cut spending OR to replace those revenues.

EDIT: Here is the breakdown of the stimulus expenditures via the NYT —
stimpackage

Hube’s Stupidity A-Go-Go

You can’t call it a blog can you?

Hube breathless reports that the hated ACORN is getting economic recovery act money. E-GAds! Get me to my fainting couch.

In fact, the bill does not mention ACORN.  It allocates $4.19 billion in “neighborhood stabilization activities”  to be distributed through competitive processes.

Facts?   Immaterial.

Hube is just a dumb-ass amplifier. Sadly, TPN and G REX fell for Hube’s ass-wipery.

HB 51 – Accommodation Tax for Dewey Beach

Sunset in Dewey Beach by Ruth Noguerón, World Resources Institute, 2008.

Sunset in Dewey Beach by Ruth Noguerón, World Resources Institute, 2008.

Rep. Hocker (R-Ocean View) has introduced legislation to allow Dewey Beach to add a 3% accommodation tax on short term rentals. Sen. Bunting (D – Bethany Beach) is an additional sponsor.

Dewey Beach, like many communities, is finding that its budget is out of whack — approximately a $500,000 budget shortfall, but even worse, spending $200,000 more than expected. Back in September 2008, Commissioner Cook believed that the 3% accommodation tax could bring in up to $300,000 in revenue.

The Town Council of Dewey Beach is being very thorough with the proposed accommodation tax as they were making plans in October 2008 about how to collect and enforce the tax. Preparation is a good thing, but reading through the recent minutes, I didn’t find any mention of what plans Dewey Beach would put it in place if  accommodation tax doesn’t get passed.

Dewey Beach will say that Rehoboth and Bethany both have the accomodation tax, but this arguement doesn’t work for my eleven-year old when he wants something that “everyone else has,” nor should it work for Dewey Beach. And I find it humorous that many full-time beach residents dislike us seasonal tourists, they do love to figure out inventive ways to take our money.