‘Bulo’s 2010 Top 10 MVP’s (Most Valuable to the Progressive Cause)
While President Obama’s strategy of unilateral political disarmament led to the inevitable national resurgence of a most particularly noxious brand of Rethuggery, Delaware proved immune to this trend. I like to think it’s b/c Delaware’s leaders were progressive, visionary ( at least as progressive and visionary as one can be when dealing with the Delaware Way), and, here’s the key word, competent. Nothing advances the progressive cause more than competence.
My list, which includes some notable omissions (there were at least 14 serious candidates, and a total of 24 who I considered), rewards competence, and, in one essential case, rewards and celebrates complete and utter incompetence. This is not the way I set out to make the list, it’s just how it ended up, and I feel real good about it.
My list was reshaped when I went back and read my Pre-Game Previews/Post-Game Reports for the past legislative session. People who I had initially considered for the list, like Beau Biden, were removed from consideration after I brushed off the mental cobwebs and reread my distorted version of history. I also established sort-of a legislative pecking order based solely on this year’s accomplishments. And the suggestions that I solicited impacted not only who made and didn’t make the list, but affected the order as well.
Even with next to no money, important initiatives were enacted statewide, including universal recycling, the ban on cellphone use while driving, the Inspire Scholarships, and several other important pieces of legislation that one could only categorize as ‘enlightened’. The D’s strengthened their hold on state government, which may, or may not, prove to be a good thing. More Petersons and Sokolas, and fewer DeLucas, would be my ideal vision for the future.
The Yearly Disclaimer: This is MY list. I welcome criticism and know that I’m going to get it. Most of all, however, I encourage you to post your own lists. That is all.
And, now, kids, counting down from #10, my 2010 Top 10 MVP’s:
10. Speaker of the House Bob Gilligan: As the leader and symbol of the State House of Representatives, Bob Gilligan saw his majority increase in a terrible year for D’s. But his seminal moment, and the reason that he makes the list, is for standing up to Napoleonic Martinet (copyright pending) Tony DeLuca on the Inspire Scholarship Program. First of all, he prevailed. Almost equally importantly, he revealed Tony DeLuca for the incompetent bully that he is. Tom Sharp may have been a bully, but he was a competent bully. Not DeLuca. No wonder he’s trying to build a fortress around himself. In stark contrast to DeLuca, Speaker Gilligan ran the House in a very competent manner and effectively managed a diverse caucus. Along with Pete Schwartzkopf, he ensured that the House navigated a solid legislative package. And, the political team he brought in actually improved the D majority. Job well done.
9. DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara: A huge tip of the ‘Bulo sombrero to both TommyWonk and DelawareGreeny for making the case for O’Mara. He’s deservedly on the list thanks to you. In fact, Greeny makes the case better than I ever could:
“I agree with TommyWonk. The kid O’Mara that Gov Markell brought in from California to run DNREC should be on the list. Even in this economy, we seem to have made more progress in the past year than the previous twenty. After all these years, they finally passed statewide recycling. We now have really progressive energy laws and a lot of renewables going up everywhere. And most importantly, they’re finally cleaning up Indian River, Edgemoor, and Claymont Steel and bringing in new green companies like Fisker. Good stuff.”
Can anyone who cares about our environment even make a case that we’re not better off with the California Kid?
8. Lieutenant Governor Matt Denn: With all due respect to John Carney, Matt Denn is already the most effective Lieutenant Governor we’ve had during my time in the Delaware political arena. Even though Matt ran independently instead of on a ticket with either Markell or Carney, Markell and Denn have become a true team. Denn has taken on very challenging tasks, most notably education reform, and has acquitted himself admirably. Like Markell, Denn is adept at developing consensus, even when issues seem intractable. He’s developed a solid working relationship with legislators, another necessity. And he’s still short and funny. What’s not to like?
7. State Senator Karen Peterson: If this annual award takes hold, I’ll seriously consider naming it after Delaware’s Best Progressive Legislator. Karen and Dave Sokola have long been a cause for hope in a caucus traditionally controlled by bullies and Delaware Way sycophants. While Karen didn’t have as many notable legislative accomplishments this year, she did pass legislation eliminating a long-standing conflict-of interest in the AG’s office when it came to deciding whether to represent the people or some corrupt state agency. She also effectively worked more FOIA legislation. She was the prime Senate sponsor for the ban on driving with cellphones. And, she, along with Mike Katz and three like-minded senators, challenged Tony DeLuca for leadership. The odds are against her, but (a) she’s still got a shot and (b) you can bet that she won’t let it drop. Brave and progressive. She’s close to irreplaceable.
6. State Rep. Mike Barbieri: He was very effective in sponsoring and helping to enact improvements and reforms in both DHSS and the Kids’ Department. But he ranks this high for taking on the legislative know-nothings who would substitute their judgment for that of professionals. In this case, I’m talkin’ HB 347. The bill eliminates the unnecessary requirement that school administrators have a “mandatory obligation to report to the police and, in certain instances, initiate criminal prosecution of specific misdemeanor offenses (Assault in the 3rd Degree, Unlawful Sexual Contact in the 3rd Degree, Offensive Touching and Terroristic Threatening) committed by students over the age of 9.” The bill raises the age to 12. Barbieri did not hesitate to push back against the Rethugs who sought to demagogue this bill for political gain (Post-Game Wrap-Up, April 28):
Mike Barbieri’s common-sense bill that eliminates mandatory reporting of school ‘incidents’ involving kids from ages 9-12 barely passed, largely on a party line vote. In other words, those voting ‘no’, or going ‘not voting’ would substitute their judgment that administrators must report every incident to the police over the professional judgment of the school administrators. Rep. Barbieri asks the logical question in J. L. Miller’s News-Journal report:
“If it is serious, the school administration will deal with it. If they’re not [serious offenses], then why bring it to the criminal level?” Barbieri asked.
“How many times have you seen two 9-year-olds pushing each other and you called the police?” he asked.”
Uh, never. Which was his point. Beaucoups de Bonus Points for defeating Terry Spence this November despite the Progressive Democrats of Delaware failure to endorse this essential progressive legislator.
5. State Senator Dave Sokola: He’s been such a good senator and solid progressive for so long that we tend to forget just how important he is. Maybe it’s because he doesn’t grandstand, but just gets things done. Which means it’s my job to toot his horn for him. His singular accomplishment this year, by all insider accounts, is helping to get statewide recycling enacted into law. While he was not the prime sponsor of the bill, he, more than any Senator, worked tirelessly to craft an effective piece of legislation that could pass. And that’s Dave’s MO, a serious legislator who seeks to master a subject in order to pass the best legislation possible. He and State Rep. Terry Schooley have had the arduous task of tackling education reform. Both are competent and detail-oriented so, if there’s to be any chance of getting it right, they’ll be the ones to figure it out. Dave Sokola is also proof that you don’t have to sacrifice your progressive principles to keep getting elected, even in a district not teeming with rampant progressivism.
4. State Rep. Darryl Scott: One of the finest legislative years in recent memory by any state legislator. How’s this for a twothreefer?:
The Cellphone Ban While Driving Bill-Enacted Into Law (prime Senate sponsor? Karen Peterson. Why am I not surprised?)
Ban On a Particularly Devastating Health Insurance Company Trick-Enacted Into Law
The Inspire Scholarship Program-Enacted Into Law, no thanks to Senators DeLuca or Blevins.
That’s not a good year, that’s a CAREER! And, this first-term Kent County D won reelection despite a battle-tested challenger and the downstate Rethug Red Tide. Ladies and gentlemen,Darryl Scott-the 2010 State Legislator of the Year.
3. Gov. Jack Markell: It’s official. He’s already the best governor I’ve seen since I started working in Dover. I remember Bert Carvel as being a superb governor, and Jack’s right there with him. He’s got vision, but vision means nothing without the ability to get things done. Competence is essential for progressive policies to flourish. Markell’s environmental legacy is already secure. I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have to steer the ship of state in these uncertain economic times. He has helped to open up our government and to end discrimination where it exists. He has brought in highly capable people of both parties to perform outstanding public service. No wonder that he’s earned national attention. Progressive and competent. I don’t think you can improve on that.
2. United States Senator Ted Kaufman: By far the best decision Ruth Ann Minner ever made. Of course, the decision was forced on her by Joe Biden to presumably ensure a timely coronation for the Beaudhisatva. Ted Kaufman became the single best advocate for regulatory reform in the United States Senate. While the final package was not near what I would have hoped, it would have been far worse w/o Kaufman’s well-researched and brilliantly argued case. Kaufman also stood with the most progressive of senators on virtually every issue. AKA, the Anti-Carper. There simply HAS to be a role for this man in government. Could you imagine the apoplexy that the David Swayzes of this world would have if he assumed a role as regulatory czar in Delaware? Sadly, it’s unlikely it’ll be in Washington as Obama appears to be striving for Clintonian triangulation (aka ‘Screw the Liberals’). Until September, I was convinced that Sen. Kaufman would be my 2010 MVP. And he is 2010’s Most Valuable Progressive. However, when it comes to being the Most Valuable for the Progressive Cause, he’s a mere piker standing in the not-insubstantial shadow of…
1. Christine O’Donnell: Hmmm, let me enumerate just a few of her contributions to our cause. (1) Got rid of top R vote getter Mike Castle. (2) Significantly diminished R turnout upstate (3) Helped ensure continued D control of the US Senate by making herself unelectable. (4) Left the Rethug Party an absolute shambles, which is where it remains today. (5) Helped elect Chip Flowers State Treasurer. (6) Helped D’s pad their margin in the State House of Reps. (7) By so doing, she helped vulnerable progressives like Dennis E. Williams, Mike Barbieri, and Darryl Scott get reelected, and almost singlehandedly enabled Deb Heffernan to defeat Ms. Man-Pants’ fellow teabagger, Tom Kovach. Best of all? She’s not going anywhere! Narcissists like O’Donnell and Palin are influenced far more by reality programming than by reality. They are the political equivalent to that Kate Gosselin, who I still don’t know why she’s famous. Dorothy Parker, I think, once coined the term ‘famous for being famous’. That’s O’Donnell, and, like Palin, you can bet that she won’t willingly leave the limelight. Not only is she El Somnambulo’s 2010 MVP, she has the kind of staying power that I fully embrace!
I also gave consideration to the following before having to winnow my list to 10. In alphabetical order:
Beau Biden, Chris Coons, Bruce Ennis, Melanie George, Debra Heffernan, J. J. Johnson, Michael Katz, Helene Keeley, John Kowalko, Alan Levin, Terry Schooley, Pete Schwartzkopf, Jim Westhoff, Dennis P. Williams.
Congrats to Christine O’Donnell, truly a well-deserved award.
Brilliant list El Som. So glad you focused the spotlight on Mike Barbieri and Darryl Scott. Both very competent and progressive legislators.
Oh and, special thanks to the R’s below the canal in 2010. Without your ignorance Delaware would have been in the same column as all the other states that lost ground. Keep up the good work numbskulls.
” Nothing advances the progressive cause more than competence.” Well put and I agree w/ Auntie. DEGOP gets an honorable mention.
I find it sad that you have bought into the CW line on Kowalko and left him off your list again. What you and the Dover insiders see as grandstanding is the equivalent of condemning Wikileaks because Julian Assange is a “grandstander.”
Without someone willing to stand on the barricades and shout the message, you’re left with the Delaware Way. And if you want to restrict the list to what happened this year, he should be on the list just for his Sunset Committee work in insisting that DIHN, a Carper pet project headed by Roger Roy’s wife, account for its expenditures. It’s precisely that sort of thing — NOT his grandstanding — that really earns him the enmity of many Dover insiders.
The traits you cite as negatives are the result of Kowalko being an outsider. To become “effective,” in your term, a lawmaker must become an “insider.” OK, Karen Peterson doesn’t — but let’s not forget that she has political ties going back to her childhood. Kowalko does not.
The progressive movement needs outsiders, too. Your failure to understand that seems like a blind spot.
I’ve given up on defending Kowalko to El Somnambulo. It’s like trying to convince Christine O’Donnell that Mike Castle is a Republican.
Your choices are your choices–but I don’t know if you’re looking for elected officials or appointments–but I would add Vivian Rapposselli as Deputy of whatever who oversees DFS as a real, responsible, trailblazer in guiding the youth thru foster care and patching the holes that some folks never seem to think about in a child’s life….aging out, college prep, emergency mental health access, foster kids support groups (for the kids), PHENOMENONAL ongoing continuing ed/professional development/ support for foster parents. This is an incredible state for how responsive that department is to needs, and how unsung they are.
I seriously considered expanding the list just so we wouldn’t have this argument this year. Geez-I’ve bought your argument that advocacy is essential and that John is good at it. I also think he has become a more effective legislator–and praised his efforts particularly with the Joint Sunset Committee this year.
I ultimately could not put him on the list b/c (a) I think the 10 I listed were more valuable, and (b)at the risk of starting yet another firestorm, he played a key and, IMHO, negative role in cutting the legs out from under Progressive Democrats of Delaware, which was an essential part of the progressive community and now no longer is. There simply is no defense for endorsing Gerald Brady and not endorsing Mike Barbieri. There is no other honest way for me to look at this w/o asking the question, is THIS the kind of legislation worthy of an endorsement from PDD?:
http://legis.delaware.gov/LIS/lis145.nsf/vwLegislation/SB+293?Opendocument
Here’s what I wrote at the time:
“One of the few remaining nominees for Worst Bill of the Year will be considered in the Senate Education Committee today. Sen. Venables’ (D-Mars) SB 293, co-sponsored by Rep. Gerald Brady (D-Catholic Diocese of Wilmington), would ‘require schools to notify parents of information being taught to their children relating to human sexuality issues, sexual acts, profanity, violence, drugs and/or alcohol. Such policy would ensure parent/guardian notification no less than 48 hours prior to introduction or instructional use. Such policy would afford parents or guardians the flexibility to exempt their children from any portion of said curriculum or materials through notification to the school principal.’ As churches have argued for centuries, ‘Ignorance is the best protection.’ Worked for the pedophile priests.”
John Kowalko’s wife was on the endorsement committee. JK stood up at that meeting and basically pulled rank on anyone who disagreed with him. He succeeded. Whatever his motives might have been it wasn’t on behalf of the progressive cause. Which, ultimately, is what this list is all about and ultimately probably why he isn’t on it. Destroying PDD as it was in no way helped the progressive cause.
Disagree with me on my perspective. But I DO have my reasons for making the selections that I make. I didn’t intend to go into all this detail, but my reasons were not petty ones.
JC–Thanks for the heads-up. It’d sure be great to highlight those in government who actually make a difference, and I’ll take your word that Vivian Rapposelli is one of those people.
You’ll have to explain to me how empowering parents is anti-progressive. Then you’ll have to explain it to all the moderates who will use your position to argue that progressives want to brainwash their children.
By the standard you espouse, Karen Peterson would come in for criticism for undermining single-payer health care in Delaware by standing up for small businesses.
“There simply is no defense for endorsing Gerald Brady and not endorsing Mike Barbieri.”
Unless, of course, you’re trying to mend fences with certain labor constituencies.
“he played a key and, IMHO, negative role in cutting the legs out from under Progressive Democrats of Delaware, which was an essential part of the progressive community and now no longer is. ”
We must have different definitions of “essential.”
I agree that the PDD meeting was not John K’s finest hour, but if you look at the body of work over the course of the year, he is fairly progressive.
Congrats on a well-researched and defensible list, El Som.
You are also on target that SB 293 is legislation that belongs in the daydreams of a Tea Partier in Lubbock, not on the governor’s desk. “Empowering parents” is a Newspeak locution.
Jason and ‘Bulo,
First let me say I do not have to prove my credentials to anyone other than my constituents and the taxpayers of Delaware.
That being said, I never sat on any PDD endorsement committee and i absolutely never promoted or opposed anyone for PDD endorsement. I would love to know what meeting I allegedly imposed my will at (suggest that you have my phone number if you wish to have a face to face)regarding any of the process for endorsements. My challenge is that it is an utterly false accusation and merits an apology to my wife (if her integrity in the process is being challenged).
Furthermore none of those who are commenting, to the best of my knowledge, were on the endorsement committee or had met with the endorsement committee to discuss concerns they may have had. I assume the meeting Jason was probably referring to was to elect new leadership for PDD (which by the way is doing quite well in spite of the willingness of others who never or rarely attended any of the meetings to declare its demise). Some of these people would seem to suggest that they should are able to define a progressive or progressive policies within their own private context.
By the way I make no apologies for defending the endorsement committees explanation, (given at that meeting Jason is referring to) as to why the parameters of the endorsement process, agreed upon by the Steering Committee in advance, had to be honored. I also make no apologies for questioning why a vote should be counted as an absentee ballot when that voter had announced that they were stepping away entirely from PDD and did not even stay for the vote. I also make no apologies for endorsing the value of a specific candidate for leadership after the opposition candidate was given a 15 minute endorsement speech by an outgoing member. I believe enough in the progressive movement that I have attended all of the meetings since the newly elected leadership was installed, (by legitimate secret ballot)and was curious as to how many of the dissenters intend to honor that democratic vote and return to some of these meetings to move the progressive way forward.
And specifically to my good friend ‘BULO I would be very curious to learn what meeting you attended, (or heard of), where I pulled rank (didn’t know that such a poor progressive as myself had rank to pull)in any way, shape or form regarding Brady, Barbieri or any others in the endorsement process. I actually never supported SB 293 and, in fact, opposed it and never supported Gerald Brady or anyone else, for that matter, in the endorsement process or outside the endorsement process nor in any other public or private forum. After the finalization and formal announcement of PDD endorsements I willingly would have opined on my thoughts on individuals if asked but I would never disparage or criticize the individuals selected. That would be a presumption of self-importance that I have never felt entitled to.
Also let me assure you and Jason and everyone else that may be interested that my wife has more progressive credentials and progressive idealistic fervor and commitment than the ten people on your list and if you wish to challenge that please state your case.
Finally, I make know proclamations regarding myself or my accomplishments or lack thereof but I will concede to no one my expectations for what comprises a true progressive mindset and commitment.
Respectfully,
John Kowalko
“Empowering parents” is a Newspeak locution.
Really? Parents shouldn’t be allowed to pull their kids from classes discussing those things? It was shorthand, but I’ll spell it out since you’re so dense: Conservatives use these things as wedge issues to pull support for public schools. But I forgot, you union sorts don’t believe in individual rights — only collective ones.
It has nothing to do with progressivism. If parents want their kids to grow up ignorant, that’s their right. Or do you think you can do a better job?
If parents want their kids to grow up ignorant, that’s their right.
Geezer is his own best rebuttal.
Feel free to actually engage with the content of the bill instead of simply insulting it. It’ll be a first for you, won’t it?
I don’t engage the beggars on Fourth Street, either. I have a life, job and family. Do some research. I would suggest that you do some reading, but your comments don’t suggest that to be a strong suit.
I don’t know anything about the meetings or endorsement process of the PDD, but I was highly offended that Barbieri did not get the endorsement, because I know how progressive his values and beliefs are. As for Kowalko, it would be nice if he would just once defend a fellow legislator instead of his pompous grandstanding!
I’ve read the bill. Have you? C’mon, give it a try — list your actual objections to the bill based on the facts. Can’t do it? Have to wait for your union handlers to give you the script?
I also engage the beggars on Fourth Street, despite having a life, job and family. What reading do you suggest?
“it would be nice if he would just once defend a fellow legislator”
Funny how many people here are demanding, in essence, more of the Delaware Way. But you’re wrong anyway — he made a hobby of defending Bob Gilligan to people who are aware how far from progressive Gilligan actually is. Enjoy life under your blindfold, AQC.
I get Geezer’s point, but there re HUGE downstream societal costs to letting teenagers with stupid parents walk around thinking that you can’t get pregnant the first time you have sex. Just look at our holier than thou teenage pregnancy rates vs. a country like Holland to get a sense of how far a little basic reproductive information can go.
Once you tell other people how to raise their kids — or whether they should have them — you open the door to them telling you how to raise yours. If progressivism involves telling other people how to raise their kids, you might as well fold up the tent now and concede defeat.
As long as they let my kids hear the information and keep abortion legal, I don’t care if they get pregnant or are too religious to abort.
The No. 1 correlate for lower family size has long been high income. The more affluent a society, the fewer children it has, and the more affluent the segment of a society, the lower its birth rate. You’ll notice that a great number of our teen pregnancies involve teenagers who aren’t facing a promising future.
Jason should know – Amish parents abuse their children religiously by deliberately denying them a full education, regardless of what the child wants or needs.
“Amish parents abuse their children religiously by deliberately denying them a full education, regardless of what the child wants or needs.”
Yet in a society that holds parents legally liable for children until they are 18, you can’t really have it any other way. It’s unfortunate, yes. But unless you’re willing to have them take your kids away from you when they gain political power, hands off, IMHO.
We’re supposed to be celebrating the accomplishments of progressive elected and appointed officials in Delaware for 2010. Instead, because one or two people didn’t make *one person’s* list (no disrespect El, your words), everyone is hopping mad.
I swear, sometimes I think Democrats are the only people on Earth who could win the Powerball and start by complaining, “Well, I have to pay more taxes… People are going to ask me for money…”
A lot has been accomplished this year, and next year has the potential to be another solid year. So instead of lamenting what people perceive to be a glaring omission, celebrate the 10 “winners” and the other nominees and look forward to what they’ll hopefully accomplish in 2011.
Sorry…What now? I started humming “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” half way through that and kinda wondered off.
I’m not hopping mad. El Som is one of my favorite people in Delaware. If you want people practicing their secret handshakes and reciting “Thank you, sir, may I have another?” maybe you aren’t cut out for Delta house. Or do I have to resort to emoticons?
Oh, by the way — those would be my two first reactions upon winning the lottery, though not in that order.
And once more, for Belinsky: It won’t take much work. Explain what’s wrong with the bill, or the idea behind it. You have time to sling insults, you ought to have time to explain your thinking — providing you’ve done any.
At one time or another as I finalized my list, 13 different people were on one of the lists. Kowalko was one of them. I’ve given my reason for ultimately going with others.
I knew, just KNEW, that this would once again become a point of contention. That’s why I considered expanding the list. But the ten I chose ultimately felt right to me. Feel free to celebrate them, the others that I considered, others I overlooked. Feel free to submit your own lists. As the Straight Scoop accurately pointed out, this is but one person’s list. I make no claim for being the authoritative voice of progressivism. I’m actually pleased that so many feel so strongly about it. However, I think there’s lots more to discuss than one particular person’s exclusion, not that that’s not important.
You’re right, it’s your list. I couldn’t come up with 10 if you gave me a month, and by the same token I can’t pick one person you should boot off the list to make room for anyone else. This is a quibble, not a war.
I actually wonder how many of the people on this list would be endorsed by PDD today…
I missed John’s comment from this afternoon. So that he isn’t wondering why I thought that it wasn’t his finest hour, I’ll be more specific. It was his when he went all strident and crazy about not counting Rebecca’s vote. I just thought that was a little bit much in light of how much she had given to PDD over the years.
No hard feelings. I get that you are a progressive. I also call ’em as I see ’em.
I hate to ruin Geezer’s reputation by agreeing with him, but the right already exists under the federal Hatch amendment to the Goals 2000 and other federal education laws. The state was just eliminating conflict between the districts and avoiding a bubbling federal suit against a couple of renegade districts. The majority of districts do this already, which is why I do not understand the opposition. It just establishes a uniform procedure for complying with the federal Pupil Protection Act.
Sec. 1017. PROTECTION OF PUPILS
Section 439 of the General Education Provisions Act (20 U.S.C. 1232g) is amended to read as follows:
“PROTECTION OF PUPIL RIGHTS
“Sec. 439. (a) All instructional materials, including teacher’s manuals, films, tapes, or other supplementary material which will be used in connection with any survey, analysis, or evaluation as part of any applicable program shall be available for inspection by the parents or guardians of the children.
“(b) No student shall be required, as part of any applicable program, to submit to a survey, analysis, or evaluation that reveals information concerning—
“(1) political affiliations;
“(2) mental and psychological problems potentially embarrassing to the student or his family;
“(3) sex behavior and attitudes;
“(4) illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating and demeaning behavior;
“(5) critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
“(6) legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers; or
“(7) income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program),
without the prior consent of the student (if the student is an adult or emancipated minor), or in the case of an unemancipated minor, without the prior written consent of the parent.
“(c) Educational agencies and institutions shall give parents and students effective notice of their rights under this section.
“(d) Enforcement.—The Secretary shall take such action as the Secretary determines appropriate to enforce this section, except that action to terminate assistance provided under an applicable program shall be taken only if the Secretary determines that—
“(1) there has been a failure to comply with such section; and
“(2) compliance with such section cannot be secured by voluntary means.
“(e) Office of Review Board.—The Secretary shall establish or designate an office and review board within the Department of Education to investigate, process, review, and adjudicate violations of the rights established under this section.”.
Nice list… Well done.
(As of yet, i’ve seen no others.) I’d take that as a sign that you probably got it right!
The list has an unfortunate partisan flavor with more than one blind spot but it isn’t my list is it? Nothing of the havoc being wrought under RTTT and local school district autonomy vs DDOE (Markell (Sokola)). Nothing on the continuing DE WAY Pay to Play in DelDOT with developers (Markell).
I agree with Geezer that Barbieri comes across as an insider-status quo protector. While I haven’t anything personal against Mike he’s nowhere near the progressive status of a John Kowalko. No one has yet mentioned John’s herculean fight this year against unjust Delmarva Power in the people’s interest.
I like Matt Denn for his probably little known work this year as Chair of the Criminal Justice Council. A whole lot of progressivism going on there with the hiring of Drew Fennel (sp?) and pushing for a new direction of preventative, educational, citizen-based and more access to funding for the smaller not for profits active in the hardest hit communities. The old-style CJC is getting a shake-up thanks to Denn. I guess we won’t see results until next year though.
Maybe Bulo wants to include Senator Katz in his list—looks like he’s on a path to shake it up this year in the 146th!!!!
Did Geezer really say that Barbieri is an ‘insider status-quo protector’? Where? He did praise Kowalko’s ‘outsider’ stance, but I didn’t see him use the words ‘status-quo protector’ anywhere, which doesn’t describe Barbieri at all in any event.
JC-Katz made the list last year and could have made it this year. Let’s just see where this leadership challenge takes us…
“JC-Katz made the list last year and could have made it this year. Let’s just see where this leadership challenge takes us…”
El Som…would love your read on his challenge and how it may play out.
I, too, want to hear El Som’s take on the Katz-DeLuca showdown. C’mon, ES! By popular demand!
Nancy: I don’t know Barbieri at all. I was just speculating that a lot of labor people were fine with Spence and therefore weren’t rushing to endorse Barbieri. I did mention Kowalko’s work in standing against Delmarva, in the day-before posting, so I didn’t see the need to reiterate it here. And I want to be clear that I love Karen Peterson (stop it! not that way!) despite her deviation from progressive orthodoxy on the health-care issue.
David: Don’t tell anyone, but on the issues where we both follow a libertarian bent we’re bound to agree.
Just as El-Som has noted in the past, the top 10 list given above is his list–make your own list.
PDD did, and it is posted. At http://www.progressivedemsdel.com/endorsements/ the 2010 PDD Endorsements are listed:
Chris Coons – U. S. Senate
Chip Flowers – State Treasurer
Richard Korn – State Auditor
Chris Counihan – State Senate – 5th District
Senator Karen Peterson – State Senate – 9th District
Senator Bruce Ennis – State Senate – 14th District
Rep. Helene Keeley – State Rep. – 3rd District
Rep. Gerald Brady – State Rep. – 4th District
Debra Heffernan – State Rep. – 6th District
Rep. Bryon Short – State Rep. – 7th District
Rep. James (JJ) Johnson – State Rep. – 16th District
Rep. Terry Schooley – State Rep. – 23rd District
Edward Osienski – State Rep. – 24th District
Rep. John Kowalko – State Rep. – 25th District
Jim Westhoff – State Rep. – 35th District
Renee Taschner – NCC Council – 3rd District
Lisa Diller – NCC Councilperson – 5th District
Mike Kozikowski – Recorder of Deeds
There is one reason for a candidate to be on that list–they convinced a majority of the members of the PDD Endorsement Committee that they were progressive, and that, if elected, they would be a dependable ally to PDD in furthering progressive initiatives.
There are many reasons for a candidate to not be on the list. They could have failed to submit a survey on time, their responses could have been under-whelming (or for other reasons could have led a majority of committee members to not vote in favor of their endorsement), we could have failed to provide a survey to them to complete.
Note that it is important to set a bar high enough that it means something. This year the PDD Endorsement Committee made a point of seeking candidates who are committed to LEADING the advancement of progressive causes in the next two to four years, and to going on the record to do so.
Note further, that PDD has no list of ‘unprogressive candidates.’ We provided voters with a list of candidates who impressed us this summer. We did not mean to imply that every candidate not on the list are unprogressive, or that there aren’t “more progressive” candidates that are not on our list.
Certainly no list is flawless. Admittedly, ours is heavily weighted to the survey and the candidates’ responses. El Som’s system is heavily weighted to his overall view of the person’s actions. There are strengths and weaknesses to both approaches.
I am convinced that El Som’s list and PDD’s list were both created in 100% good faith.
[I write this as the co-chair of the 2010 PDD Endorsement Committee, and the current PDD Executive Director]
Out of curiosity, Paul, would you think that if endorsements were decided today, would PDD endorse Markell and/or Denn?
I endorse putting this stupid issue to bed. Just sayin’
Yeah, but you’re not on the endorsement committee, slacker.
the current PDD endorsement process is survey-based, and survey-biased. PDD endorsed both jack and matt in 2008 based on their surveys and my guess is that if both were up today for an election, PDD would endorse them. however, that is just a guess.
the process would likely examine actions that each has taken since 2008, to see how progressively they have acted, for instance in balancing the budget in Jack’s case, in championing education and criminal justice matters in Matt’s, and in examining what difficult stances they have adopted on important issues, even when it wasn’t convenient (actually especially when it wasn’t convenient).
in 2010 the ‘litmus test’ question came up. Can one position (such as the bill that ES raised regarding Gerald Brady) be enough to prevent an endorsement? What about unwillingness to champion a woman’s right to reproductive freedom?
Our survey is based on what PDD members asked in 2010 be emphasized. notification of parents of upcoming sex-education matters did not make the cut in 2010 for PDD members, and so this issue did not disqualify Gerald Brady. Stances on pre-emptive war, on support for civil unions, for open and fair redistricting, for support of the environment, for majority rules in the US Senate, for firm caps on greenhouse gas emmissions–these are stances that PDD members insisted be included in the survey, and which the committee used to consider each candidate who submitted a survey.
Other issues were considered, but the survey was the centerpiece of the committee’s decision process.
Note that there is room for those who wish to serve on the PDD endorsement committee in 2011 and 2012. You can help mold the process by which PDD makes its endorsements for the next election cycle, by stepping up and agreeing to join the committee. Our next meeting is Wednesday January 5th at 7pm at DelDems HQ.
I hope to see you then/there!
Great Column El Som. I agree with your selections, but I wish more people could have been added. But that’s the nature of a list, there are always worthy people who are left out.
I was flattered greatly that I was nominated.
However, I agree that I don’t belong on the Top 10, because I lost. If I had won, then I would have been “more valuable” to the progressive cause. I wish I could have won, and there were moments when I thought it was possible, but there were many factors against our candidacy.
What I did not lack, however, was wonderful people who helped. From many of your readers, I was honored by their guidance, their financial support and of course I received great recognition from this website.
You all are doing great work here.
Jim
@Jim Westhoff–
The fact that you lost does not detract from your contribution!
O’Donnell lost and she’s certainly not progressive by any stretch of the imagination, yet she was a huge boost to the progressive cause.
You ARE progressive. Your presence on the ballot and your interaction with the community during your campaign were very “valuable” to the cause. I hope you run again & I’d vote for you if I lived in your district.