The Top Eleven Delaware Liberal Posts of 2011 [Delaware Stories]

This was an active year politically for an off year. From more embarrassment, incompetence, and betryal from Karen Weldin Stewart, resulting in a legitimate primary challenge, to a showdown over a basketball hoop in Claymont, to the demise of Tom Capano (for which we are all grateful), to the Tigani scandal, to the constant entertainment that the teabagging whackjobs down in Sussex provide, it was a fun year, if you enjoy insanity.

It should be noted that our local stories were more popular than the national stories, which is what you would expect. This is local blog after all. And we will strive to be the best local blog once again in 2012.

Again, the only criteria in determining the top stories is page views.

1. “Comment Rescue: State Trooper Flat Out Lying to Claymont Man,” by Jason330

I have a lot of slack for law enforcement. They have an exceedingly tough job, but as “Another Mike” points out, this Claymont basketball hoop drama is effed up in a score of ways.

2. “The Battle of the Karens,” by Delaware Dem

Finally, Karen Hartley Nagle might be useful. She alleges Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart, her senior adviser, Elliott Jacobson, and Kelly Services wrongfully terminated her for missing seven days of work to prepare for and attend court hearings in March, according to a suit filed Monday in Kent County Superior Court.

3. “Tom Capano is Dead,” by Delaware Dem

Tom Capano, the murderer of Anne Marie Fahey back in 1996, was found dead today in his solitary cell in the state prison near Smyrna. No foul play is suspected, and it appears that Capano died of natural causes. Capano was serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole. He originally was sentenced to death, but certain provisions contained in Delaware’s capital punishment law were found to be unconstitutional by the U.S. Supreme Court, and thus Capano’s sentence was reduced to life without parole.

4. “Races to Watch – The Very Early Line,” by Jason330

Predicting next year’s statewide elections as only Jason can.

5. “Tempers Flaring in Sussex? – UPDATED,” by MJ

We received a tip this evening that there was some sort of physical altercation at County Council the Sussex County GOP offices between Councilman Vance Phillips and Sheriff Jeff Christopher. Georgetown Police were called to the County Council Building by the sheriff. The matter is under investigation by the police and no arrests have been made at this time. Note that during this altercation, one of the people was armed (guess who?).

Phillips and Christopher have been bumping heads since the beginning of the year over the sheriff’s desire to make himself the top lawman in the county, contrary to Delaware law. Phillips is not on-board with the move.

6. “Did Tony DeLuca Resign From the State Senate And Not Even Know It?” by El Somnambulo

I believe that the answer is yes.

I believe that legal precedent established in this state also says yes.

I believe that, according to law, Tony DeLuca is illegally serving as President Pro-Tempore of the Delaware State Senate and illegally serving as a member of the Delaware State Senate.

I shall now proceed to explain to you why I believe this to be true.

7. “Breaking – John Sigler Gives DE GOP Imprimatur to Sussex County Racist Gathering,” by Jason330

Details are still emerging, but in the face of strident objections by Delaware’s remaining sane Republicans, state GOP Chairman John Sigler attended a “Take Back Our State event” hosted by the racist WGMD radio personality Bill Colley. As of now we are not sure if this “Take Back Our State event” was a full blown KKK meeting, or some subsidiary group affiliated with more mainstream Republican racists.

8. “HUGE Story: Tigani Pleads Guilty to Election Charges,” by El Somnambulo

The Delaware Way links in the story are many. Contributions from Tigani to Joe Biden, the Democratic State Committee, Ruth Ann Minner. The Governor’s Office directly intervening to give Tigani the sweetheartiest of all sweetheart deals.

The real key is the fact that he pleaded guilty so readily. He must be spilling his guts out to the Feds…or had better be. It must not end with him. The News-Journal excerpt quoted above defines the term quid pro quo. The memo from Minner’s Chief-of-Staff to DELDOT on the proposed sweetheart deal made clear what the quid pro quo was all about. Allow me to quote: “Make it happen.”

9. “Primary for Insurance Commissioner,” by MJ

Mitch Crane, former Acting Director of Consumer Services and Investigations under Insurance Commissioner Karen Weldin Stewart, filed paperwork today that will enable him to raise money for the Democratic nomination for Insurance Commissioner in next year’s election. A formal campaign announcement will be made in January.

Crane, who lives in Lewes, is a lawyer and former judge. He’s been traveling the state lining up support for his run since he retired from the IC’s office in January. He has been active in Delaware Stonewall Democrats, currently serving as President, and the 14th RD Committee.

10 (tie). “Andrew Staton expected to run for new Senate seat,” by Delaware Dem

Andrew Staton, a Rehoboth Beach realtor and chairman of the 14th District Democratic Committee, announced today on his Facebook page that he is “considering a run for the new State Senate Seat covering Dewey, Rehoboth, Lewes, and Milton.” Joan Deaver and Pete Schwartzkopf have decided to skip the race and remain in their current respective positions, and have given Staton the nod to go ahead with his own campaign.

11. “On Jack Markell,” by Delaware Dem

A number of Delaware’s bloggers were invited to a Governor’s Roundtable with Governor Markell this morning at his offices in Wilmington. Cassandra, Unstable Isotope, Jason330, El Somnabulo, and myself attended from Delaware Liberal, as well as Nancy Willing from the Delaware Way, and Tom Noyes from Tommywonk. The good folks at Delaware Politics were also invited, but David Anderson indicated that they would not be able to come. As an aside, and maybe it is a measure of Delaware Liberal’s success in attracting so many contributors to its ranks, but I am not pleased that the blogosphere in general (progressive and conservative) seems to have shrunk. But that is an issue I will address in another post later today.

The Governor invited us to this roundtable for two reasons. The first was stated, the second less so but obvious nonetheless. First, it has been nearly two years since our last meeting in March 2009. Personally I was shocked by that, and I thought there had other meetings more recently and frequently. But I suppose that is a function of living in a small state where I get to see and speak with Governor Markell and Senator Coons and Congressman Carney and Senator Carper and Lt. Governor Denn on a number of occassions. So we need to schedule these meetings more frequently. And I imagine they will be scheduled more frequently as 2012 approaches.

Secondly, this roundtable was scheduled so that Governor could push back against recent criticism from some corners, including here at Delaware Liberal, that his budget did not reflect progressive priorities, and that those who were hurt the most by the Great Recession are being asked to sacrifice the most, while those who suffered the least are being protected the most. El Som made that criticism both here at DL and to the Governor this morning. You can tell that criticism stings him, so he wanted a chance to respond, a chance I will give to him now. El Som, Unstable Isotope, Cassandra and perhaps even our illustrious founder, Jason330, will offer their takes on today’s meeting in either separate posts or in the comments below.