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Opinionated chemist, troublemaker, blogger on national and Delaware politics.

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Tuesday Open Thread

November 10th, 2009 • Related • Filed Under
By Unstable Isotope

It’s Tuesday, but not just any old Tuesday. It’s Jefferson Jackson Tuesday. It’s freaking Bill Clinton Tuesday! I’m beside myself with excitement for tonights event.

So let’s get started threading. I found this Politico article interesting. You might call it a moment of duh, but it is discussing the GOP’s “woman problem.” Ya think?

But the growing schism between the Republican Party’s ascendant right wing and its shrinking moderate core has clear gender undertones — and Scozzafava’s departure raises fresh questions about the GOP’s ability to recruit, elect and even tolerate the sort of moderate women who used to be part of its ruling mainstream.

[...]

Democrats have long maintained that the Republican Party is hostile to all but the most conservative women, and they cited last week’s rough-and-tumble House health care debate as proof that things are getting worse.

On Saturday, Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) repeatedly cited parliamentary rules in an attempt to shout down Rep. Lois Capps (D-Calif.), who was trying to deliver a speech defending abortion rights.

A day earlier, Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Texas) suggested that women who complained that their gender was designated a “pre-existing condition” by some insurers were on a par with smokers because both groups incur higher treatment costs.

Yes, both those incidents highlight the problem. All I have to say about Tom Price is WTF was he thinking? The stories that Olympia Snowe may be one of their next targets will probably not help with the perception that the GOP is purging women.

Mike Castle was interviewed by Stephen Colbert! The interview was aired last night.

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Better Know a District – Delaware’s Mike Castle
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

There Are 54 Responses So Far. »

  1. Comment by nemski on 10 November 2009 at 12:02 pm:

    If you haven’t had an opportunity to watch the Castle-Colbert segment, stop what you are doing now and watch. You cube mates will wonder why you are laughing so hard.

  2. Comment by anon on 10 November 2009 at 12:02 pm:

    Does/should Beau announce tonight?

  3. Comment by liberalgeek on 10 November 2009 at 12:07 pm:

    I watched on DVR this AM. Colbert cracked me up. All I can say is “cock blocking”.

  4. Comment by RSmitty on 10 November 2009 at 12:22 pm:

    Oh man, that was funny.

    So, now the sitter tonight just pushed back to 6:15-ish. -ISH?! First of all, does she have a booking agent? 6:15? Why not 6:10 or 6:12? Then, I get an ‘-ISH.’ WTF-ish?!

  5. Comment by MJ on 10 November 2009 at 12:27 pm:

    JJ Dinner Cluster F**k – http://lowerslowerdelaware.blogspot.com/2009/11/democratic-party-clusterphoegk.html

    I’ll still be there. Hell, maybe the fun is in giving Ellis and Daniello the finger.

  6. Comment by Brooke on 10 November 2009 at 12:33 pm:

    OMG. I never felt so sorry for Mike Castle. I’m glad the election isn’t soon… if I was his team, I’d run that tape for the pity vote.

  7. Comment by anon on 10 November 2009 at 12:34 pm:

    I am still impressed Colbert got Castle to say he is a Republican.

  8. Comment by MJ on 10 November 2009 at 12:37 pm:

    OMG – that clip was too funny. I can’t decide if the funniest joke was Castle cock blocking Delaware of him calling himself a Northeastern moderate.

  9. Comment by Brooke on 10 November 2009 at 12:52 pm:

    thanks for the heads up, MJ. @@

  10. Comment by liberalgeek on 10 November 2009 at 12:58 pm:

    I suspect that some of this is due to Secret Service requirements about protection. We will likely have the sitting Vice President and a former President both in the same room. They minimize the risk to their guys using last minute changes to the logistics.

  11. Comment by MJ on 10 November 2009 at 12:59 pm:

    You’re welcome, Brooke. I wonder with all the pot stirring I’m doing today with Ellis (there have been a number of email exchanges between me, her and the entire 14th RD Committee) if they’ll even let me into the dinner.

  12. Comment by Suzanne on 10 November 2009 at 1:00 pm:

    Announcements surrounding the Jefferson-Jackson dinner this evening.

    Although doors were previously announced to open at 6:00pm, doors will now open at 5pm.

    This year, tables are assigned. Tables have been assigned in the order guests purchased their tickets. You will receive your table number when you check in. (this sucks)

    When you arrive and take your seat, your dinner will be served. This means you can technically eat as early as 5pm, if you choose. We still recommend that you arrive around 6pm.

    Please be on time. President Clinton is scheduled to speak near the beginning of the program- please plan to be in your seat by 6:45pm.
    Please bring your ticket with you.

    Thank you for your patience, and we are looking forward to a great evening tomorrow! If you have any remaining questions, or if you have not received tickets in the mail (and have not been notified of wait list status), please call headquarters this evening at (302) 328-9036.

    Thanks!

    John D. Daniello, Democratic Party Chair
    Josh Schoenberg, Executive Director
    Katie Ellis, Deputy Executive Director

  13. Comment by MJ on 10 November 2009 at 1:03 pm:

    Geek – I can see that and see telling people to get there earlier. But the easiest thing to do is tell people to be inside and seated as the doors will be closed at a certain time. We have a person from the 14th who is being honored tonight – her ticket number is 14 and her husband’s is 862. They won’t even be near each other since Ellis and her group are seating people “in the order in which guests purchased their ticket.”

  14. Comment by Scott P on 10 November 2009 at 1:04 pm:

    Yeah, thanks MJ. I didn’t get an email, I happened to go to http://www.deldems.org/ by dumb luck to see if there was any info. So it looks like you want to be there early. I can beat what you had in your post, MJ. My two tickets that I bought at the same time have different table numbers on them. Although it says you will get a table number when you check in, so maybe that’s different than what’s on the ticket. Either way, somehow I’m sitting with my wife.

  15. Comment by cognitive dissident on 10 November 2009 at 1:15 pm:

    Since this is an open thread…

    Is there any interest in following up on this story about a UD physics professor arguing with a GOP know-nothing?

    http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/intersection/2009/11/10/conservative-dustup-over-relativity-denialism/

  16. Comment by MJ on 10 November 2009 at 1:17 pm:

    One thing this shows is that Will Rogers’ axiom lives on in Delaware – “I don’t belong to any organzied political party. I’m a Democrat.”

  17. Comment by Progressive Mom on 10 November 2009 at 1:22 pm:

    To those attending — have a good time, and tell the Big Dog we all send greetings.

  18. Comment by El Somnambulo on 10 November 2009 at 1:29 pm:

    To Cognitive Dissident: That’s really an interesting story and thread. We do have (at least) one contributor with an accomplished scientific background, so there’s hope.

    As for me, reading the level of scholarship in that thread has taught me one thing–I should never write in a purportedly-knowing manner about anything scientific. I’ll leave that up to my kids…

  19. Comment by pandora on 10 November 2009 at 1:42 pm:

    MJ, I’m not at the DL table either. From the sitting snafu to the last minute time change this event strikes me as very unprofessional. Wonder if they know there are people who plan events like this for a living – and, in a lot of cases, will do it for free for a benefit.

    My plan: If we can’t switch seats (after Clinton speaks)… I’m heading to Harry’s or Timothy’s! ;-)

  20. Comment by El Somnambulo on 10 November 2009 at 1:57 pm:

    The State Party lost quite a few experienced and top-notch staffers after the 2008 elections as opportunities to move on became available. So, this is likely being organized by less experienced people and, although they’re very competent, an undertaking like this, especially when you factor in the Veep and the Big Dog, would be very challenging for even their more experienced predecessors.

    My suggestion? Revel in the chaos. Have fun with it. New York State Thruway’s CLOSED, man!

  21. Comment by MJ on 10 November 2009 at 2:04 pm:

    Katie still hasn’t been able to explain her comment about me eating someone else’s dinner if I sit at a different table. Yes, Pandora, very unprofessional. Hell, I did this type of thing as a volunteer for the Human Rights Campaign National Dinner for 3 years (assigned seating but we let people know that in advance and also tell us what table they wanted to be at). And we even had Sen. Clinton one year with her Secret Service detail. No offense to UI, but this isn’t rocket science.

  22. Comment by RSmitty on 10 November 2009 at 2:12 pm:

    Just lost our baby sitter, or lost the point of even having one as she just now told my wife not until 6:30, at best. It’s a conspiracy, I just know it!

  23. Comment by MJ on 10 November 2009 at 2:14 pm:

    Smitty – Protack is getting even with you for leaving the GOP.

  24. Comment by Brooke on 10 November 2009 at 2:17 pm:

    Smitty, are you in NCC?

  25. Comment by cassandra_m on 10 November 2009 at 2:18 pm:

    The Ft. Hood Memorial Service is live streaming on C-Span and on msnbc right now if you can watch online.

  26. Comment by Ross on 10 November 2009 at 2:20 pm:

    Scott P: The 2 tickets that I got had different table numbers also. I suspect, though, that even though it says “table number” it really means “ticket number” and we’ll get the actual table assignment during check-in. The numbers on my tickets were in the high 500s, and that would be a whole lot of tables if those were actually table numbers. I’m with you though, either way, I’m sitting with my fiancee.

  27. Comment by El Somnambulo on 10 November 2009 at 2:26 pm:

    It’s much more complicated than you might think. Does anyone really think that the only people that Katie is fielding calls from are the bloggers? People are now coming out of the woodwork from everywhere. You are coordinating with DC, the Secret Service, et al, for not one, but TWO of the three most prominent D’s in the country. And those plans change minute-by-minute.

    Every narcissistic legislator/county official believes that he/she/they deserve preferential treatment because they are special. Try dealing with THOSE egomaniacs for any length of time. YOU tell George Smiley that his second cousin once removed can’t attend.

    Seriously, like the Big Dog, I feel your pain. And, yes, it’s easy for me to say b/c I’m not attending. But (a) this is by far the most ambitious and complex JJ event that I can recall; (b) a new staff is trying to coordinate it, and (c) you’re bloggers, and it’s gonna be even more fun to blog about it the more chaotic that it is. Deal. With. It.

  28. Comment by RSmitty on 10 November 2009 at 2:27 pm:

    MJ – how did you know he was the sitter? 8-O

    I am, Brooke, but if I am reading into your comment correctly, Mrs Smitty and I are quite guarded about who watches our kids and this is too much into crunch time. Close friends and relatives obviously get a pass, but anyone else, even on a referral, takes time for us.

  29. Comment by cassandra_m on 10 November 2009 at 2:30 pm:

    Given the way this thing has come together, I would just bring those kids along. They could sit in the middle of the table as the centerpiece.

  30. Comment by Brooke on 10 November 2009 at 2:34 pm:

    Good call, and it would have been mine, too, Smitty. But sympathy.

  31. Comment by El Somnambulo on 10 November 2009 at 2:34 pm:

    Cass’ idea is a great one–as long as Smitty wins the raffle for the centerpiece at the end of the evening.

  32. Comment by Scott P on 10 November 2009 at 2:36 pm:

    See now, Smitty. If you had just taught them to drive the last time, you could have them set up a valet service and make a few bucks in the deal. Gotta think ahead, man.

  33. Comment by Scott P on 10 November 2009 at 2:40 pm:

    Ross: I can see now that you’re probably right. Mine are in the mid 400’s, and I was thinking the same thing. I get the impression that they’ll use the numbers on the tickets to then assign tables.

    My plan: If we can’t switch seats (after Clinton speaks)… I’m heading to Harry’s or Timothy’s!
    Pandora, I’m with you. Save us a seat!

  34. Comment by lizard on 10 November 2009 at 2:41 pm:

    Big Brother is watching you.

    Justice Dept. Asked For News Site’s Visitor Lists

    cbsnews.com ^ | November 10, 2009 12:01 AM | Declan McCullagh

    In a case that raises questions about online journalism and privacy rights, the U.S. Department of Justice sent a formal request to an independent news site ordering it to provide details of all reader visits on a certain day.

    The grand jury subpoena also required the Philadelphia-based Indymedia.us Web site “not to disclose the existence of this request” unless authorized by the Justice Department, a gag order that presents an unusual quandary for any news organization.

    The subpoena (PDF) from U.S. Attorney Tim Morrison in Indianapolis demanded “all IP traffic to and from http://www.indymedia.us” on June 25, 2008. It instructed Clair to “include IP addresses, times, and any other identifying information,” including e-mail addresses, physical addresses, registered accounts, and Indymedia readers’ Social Security Numbers, bank account numbers, credit card numbers, and so on.

  35. Comment by liberalgeek on 10 November 2009 at 2:47 pm:

    Let me just say that should we get such a request, we will resist, so you are completely safe sending us your bank account information.

  36. Comment by RSmitty on 10 November 2009 at 2:52 pm:

    I hope lizard realizes he/she inadvertantly put a link inside that copy/paste job. Granted, it probably was swept up within the copy/paste, but we all know a link wasn’t intentional. :-D

  37. Comment by Brooke on 10 November 2009 at 2:55 pm:

    Oh, good, LG. I’m still waiting on that set of steak knives.

  38. Comment by RSmitty on 10 November 2009 at 2:57 pm:

    Okie dokie, I am now officially out. No babysitter for me, no centerpieces for you!

    Tickets 430 & 431 were just released to Josh over the phone, so if you end up sitting next to the lucky bastids, you tell them, “I know RSmitty, and YOU, sir/madam, are NO RSmitty!” You also tell them that they also just paid for seats that were already purchased, so ha-ha on them. FTR, I didn’t ask for a refund, so no controversy there. It’s my problem and that’s how I roll (accountability, ya know).

  39. Comment by lizard on 10 November 2009 at 2:58 pm:

    While Obama dithers over Troops in Afghanistan, lots of other hot spots vie for attention:

    In Iran The protestors chanted something new this time. As they dodged the blows of the militia, they chorused: “Obama! Obama! Either you’re with them or you’re with us.”

    North & South Korea engaged in a gun battle at sea.

    Chavez is threateneing war with Colombia

  40. Comment by Rebecca on 10 November 2009 at 3:06 pm:

    So Sorry Smitty, I was hoping to meet you tonight. Along with 1500 other of Bill’s BFF’s. ;o)

    Like El Som says, Katie and Josh are coming to their first rodeo tonight and they’ve been dealing with gargantuan challenges — not to mention a few egos. Cut them some slack and try to understand that they thought they had all the issues settled at least 10 times and then somebody changed the rules. Things will be chaotic, but not because the staff hasn’t worked their tails off.

    Relax, enjoy the other folks at your table. I’ve always found the JJ to be a great chance to meet some very interesting people and learn stuff. It’s an opportunity to climb out of my bubble and make some new friends.

  41. Comment by Brooke on 10 November 2009 at 3:26 pm:

    Well, everyone better say hello to me. I’m a natural introvert but disguise it well, and I was counting on a support group. :(

  42. Comment by liberalgeek on 10 November 2009 at 3:33 pm:

    We’re there for you, Brooke.

  43. Comment by Scott P on 10 November 2009 at 3:39 pm:

    Whatever the problem might be, it doesn’t look like we can blame it on the VP’s Secret Service detail — Joe Biden is in Washington state at a memorial service, according to Politco:

    Vice President Biden will speak at 4 p.m. Eastern at a memorial service for seven young soldiers who died Oct. 27 when their Stryker (eight-wheeled, armored combat vehicle) was blown up by a roadside bomb in the Taliban-infested Arghandab Valley, Afghanistan. Among them is the sergeant from Indiana who was saluted by President Obama at Dover Air Force Base. … The service will be at 1 p.m. Pacific in the North Fort Chapel of Fort Lewis, Wash., about an hour south of Seattle.

    http://www.politico.com/playbook/1109/playbook860.html

  44. Comment by RSmitty on 10 November 2009 at 4:55 pm:

    Angie Basiouny gets her funny on:

    Perennial candidate Mike Protack, who lost a second bid for governor last year, is back on the campaign trail…

  45. Comment by lizard on 10 November 2009 at 5:46 pm:

    hers a little nugget to kick around the DL table tonight:

    Glenn Beck’s “The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book” will debut at the top of the New York Times children’s bestseller list tomorrow.

    This, according to his publisher, “Makes Beck First Author in History to Have Books Debut at #1 On Four Different NYT Bestseller Lists.”

    enjoy.

  46. Comment by Progressive Mom on 10 November 2009 at 5:55 pm:

    Did you reserve your copy yet?

  47. Comment by lizard on 10 November 2009 at 6:06 pm:

    No, for Christmas gifts I favor the classics… Dr Suess!

    Not really a Beck fan, but I do love the way he drives the libs here crazy.

  48. Comment by Progressive Mom on 10 November 2009 at 6:55 pm:

    Beck doesn’t drive me crazy. I have children for that.

    But I do not like him. I do not like him in a box. I do not like him with a fox. I do not like him in a house. I do not like him with a mouse. I do not like him here or there. I do not like him anywhere. I do not like Ben Gleck with ham. I do not like him, Sam I am.

  49. Comment by Geezer on 10 November 2009 at 9:30 pm:

    “This, according to his publisher, “Makes Beck First Author in History to Have Books Debut at #1 On Four Different NYT Bestseller Lists.”

    This is the equivalent of stating proudly, “My son not only reached into his diaper and fingerpainted with his shit, he did it on all four walls of his room!”

  50. Comment by Geezer on 10 November 2009 at 9:34 pm:

    “While Obama dithers over Troops in Afghanistan, lots of other hot spots vie for attention:

    In Iran The protestors chanted something new this time. As they dodged the blows of the militia, they chorused: “Obama! Obama! Either you’re with them or you’re with us.”

    North & South Korea engaged in a gun battle at sea.

    Chavez is threateneing war with Colombia”

    How, precisely, does any of this affect you? Be honest, now — no Henry Kissinger realpolitik BS, your actual life.

  51. Comment by Geezer on 10 November 2009 at 9:37 pm:

    Oh, goody, my first “in moderation” comment. I’ve always wanted to be a moderate, just like Tom Carper and Mike Castle.

  52. Comment by Delaware Dem on 10 November 2009 at 10:26 pm:

    Sorry Geezer, I released it. Not sure why the comment was held up.

  53. Comment by lizard on 10 November 2009 at 11:39 pm:

    :-) PM love the ryme, suggest you change the second to the last line to “Beck the ham” … given his manic style, I think it works better.

    and geezer, keep you hands out of your diaper and take your meds.

  54. Comment by anon on 11 November 2009 at 10:16 am:

    Maybe I missed this on the blog, but NRG bought Bluewater Wind Monday. I wonder how that will affect the cost of power in Delaware.