Archive for August, 2013

Daily Delawhere 8.31.13

Filed in Delaware by on August 31, 2013 3 Comments
Daily Delawhere 8.31.13

From the Rehoboth Bandstand Flickr Feed.

Continue Reading »

The wingnut’s “Jedi Council” and the glowing past of future debt ceiling brinksmanship

Filed in National by on August 30, 2013 0 Comments
The wingnut’s “Jedi Council”  and the glowing past of future debt ceiling brinksmanship

While the teabagger dreams of a no holds barred apocalyptic debt ceiling fight that would leave Obamacare defunded and the having the budget balanced on the strength of Paul Ryan’s tax-cut magic beans seem to be fading, I read this story of how the wingnuts WANTED it to go down, and it is “the crazy.”

Here is the deal. In the January following Obama’s reelection, conservative lobby groups were worried that House Republicans would lose their resolve to fight Obamacare on the beaches, on the seas and oceans, and in the air, whatever the cost may be.. (This is before the rise of Ted Cruz and the GOP Senators move to into the wingnut limelight.) So Michael Needham, the CEO of Heritage Action for America, and Chris Chocola, a former congressman and now president of the Club for Growth were let into a super secret meetings of a group of hardcore nutbags led by Paul Ryan. The group – no shit – called themselves the “Jedi Council.” The council used their mind control powers to persuade the wingnut lobby groups that they had a plan to crush the ACA. It was a plan that kicked off at the GOP retreat in Williamsburg, Virginia.

Continue Reading »

TGIF Open Thread [8.30.13]

Filed in National, Open Thread by on August 30, 2013 15 Comments
TGIF Open Thread [8.30.13]

80% of Americans believe President Obama should receive congressional approval before using force in Syria. 80% of Americans cannot agree on anything, Mr. President. They agree on this. This is a no-fucking-brainer, Mr. President. You want a way out of that fucking corner you painted yourself into, this is it. Seek Congressional Authorization. If you don’t get it, your hands have been tied by Congress just as David Cameron’s were.

Continue Reading »

Treasurer Flowers to Speak at next PDD meeting

Filed in Delaware by on August 30, 2013 0 Comments
Treasurer Flowers to Speak at next PDD meeting

As you may recall, Treasurer Flowers’ plans to invest state funds to achieve higher returns for the Treasury ran into some push back from the Governor and some in the General Assembly at the close of the legislative session at the end of June. So the Progressive Democrats for Delaware (PDD) invited Treasurer Flowers to speak in an open forum on his plans for investing state money and his goals for the Treasurer’s office. The forum/meeting is Wednesday, September 4, 2013, at 7 pm, at the Democratic Party Headquarters, 19 E. Commons Blvd., in New Castle.

Continue Reading »

Syria

Filed in National by on August 30, 2013 31 Comments
Syria

I find it very interesting that both political parties are pulled in two different directions (and sometimes three) on the issue of Syria.

On the Democratic side, you have the peace movement, the adherents to which believe the use of any military action anywhere is wrong and should never be pursued, even for humanitarian reasons. And then you have the Liberal Do-Gooders, who sometimes want to be the world’s policemen to stop atrocities like what happened in Yugoslavia and the Rwanda in the 1990’s, and what is happening now in Syria. And then you have those Liberal Warhawks who believe, just as most Republicans do, that the military option is generally preferable as the first tool of our foreign policy, not the last resort. The difference between them and the Neocons on the Republican side who believe the same is that Liberal Warhawks are generally followers, scared and scarred into sounding and acting tough on foreign policy through the experience of Vietnam and Republican attacks on “Democratic weakness” that followed.

On the Republican side, you have the aforementioned Neocons, who literally are war pigs. They want to be at war all the time. This is not hyperbole. They wanted to invade Baghdad in 1991. And again in 1998. They truly want the American flag flying over the capitals of all the world, but most importantly, in the Middle East. There is not a war they will not fight, or a fight that they will not turn into a war. They dominate the Republican Party, and they have scared many Democrats into acting the same way as well. This group was born during World War II, got high off American superiority then and during the Cold War, and now believe that if America is not leading the fight and winning a war everywhere, it is losing everywhere.

Making more noise recently is the other force at work in the Republican Party: the libertarians, which I think includes the former isolationists or non-interventionists. I will let Steve Newton take it away….

Continue Reading »

Polling Report: Lt Governor & Syria Bombing Excuse Thread

Filed in National by on August 30, 2013 4 Comments
Polling Report: Lt Governor & Syria Bombing Excuse Thread

Bad reasons to bomb Syria lay thick an putrid the ground like vomit piles on Bourbon street. The British Parliament and I haven’t heard a single good reason. The worst reason, according to DL readers, is to prop up Haliburton share prices (28%). My favorite bad reason to bomb Syria is to maintain out “credibility”(19%) cuz… you know, our credibility is soooooo precious. The inviolate “red line” (15%) is a bad reason that speaks to trying to prop up the President’s credibility, as if the President’s credibility is a thing. The algebra reason holds that 1 chemical weapon death is equal to 500 conventional weapon deaths in moral repugnance (13%) …and you thought you’d never use algebra in once you graduated. pfft…

Finally, the angry old guy who didn’t become President but still gets tons of airtime on TV wants to bomb Syria (11%) was another top bad reason.

On to the Lt. Governor Poll. Comment away. Or don’t. See if I care.

Continue Reading »

Daily Delawhere 8.30.13

Filed in Delaware by on August 30, 2013 1 Comment
Daily Delawhere 8.30.13

From Van Luvender on Flickr.

Continue Reading »

Carney Misses Chance for Bipartisanship

Filed in Delaware, International, National by on August 29, 2013 1 Comment
Carney Misses Chance for Bipartisanship

When it comes to John Carney’s cherished bipartisanship vs. the obligation to do the job he was elected to do, John Carney has chosen…neither.

According to this article, 162 members of the U. S. House of Representatives have called for a debate in Congress prior to any authorization of attacking Syria. 62 Democrats are among those signing the letters to call for such action. John Carney is not among them.

Continue Reading »

Wilmington Fast-Food Workers To Join Nationwide Strike Today

Filed in National by on August 29, 2013 58 Comments
Wilmington Fast-Food Workers To Join Nationwide Strike Today

This is great news. A livable minimum wage for fast food workers will put a lot more money in the local economy by preventing multi-nationals like Yum Brands from moving profits to off shore tax havens. I hope other Delaware fast food workers see this and decide, in time, to participate in this worthy effort.

Wilmington Fast-Food Workers To Join Nationwide Strike Thursday
Movement for $15 and a Union Without Retaliation or Unfair Labor Practices Reaches Wilmington

Wilmington , DE– Fast-food workers in Wilmington are expected to walk off their jobs Thursday as part of the largest-ever strike to hit the $200 billion industry. Inspired by strikes earlier this summer in seven cities across the country, Wilmington workers will walk off their jobs for the first time, calling for $15 an hour and the right to form a union without retaliation or unfair labor practices.

Continue Reading »

Daily Delawhere 8.29.13

Filed in Delaware by on August 29, 2013 1 Comment
Daily Delawhere 8.29.13

From Karen Mallonee on Flickr.

Continue Reading »

Late Night Video — Dr. King Justifies The Poor People’s Campaign

Filed in National by on August 28, 2013 0 Comments

The Poor People’s Campaign was the effort that Dr. King was involved with organizing when he was assassinated. This campaign was designed to focus on the needs of the nation’s poor people — of all races and nationalities. In 1968, King was traveling the country raising awareness of this campaign for economic justice, which was supposed to occur in the spring. Dr. King was assassinated in April, and even though the People’s Campaign seemed to be derailed, it started on Mother’s Day — with thousands of people converging on Washington, DC. Resurrection City — the tent city — was created on the mall and the protest continued for almost six weeks. The occupation ended in violence and the campaign for economic justice failed. Today’s question is what might have been different if Dr. King lived to see this through?

Continue Reading »

Recent polls discussion thread

Filed in National by on August 28, 2013 3 Comments
Recent polls discussion thread

When I put up an new poll, I’m going to try and remember to put up a discussion thread for the garrulous amongst us. The out going poll reveals a broad agreement among DL readers on the question of who is likely (and who is unlikely) to be our next governor.

Matt Denn 42%
Flowers 21%
Other 17%
Biden 16%
Urkle 4%

Continue Reading »

#DreamDay Open Thread

Filed in National by on August 28, 2013 5 Comments
#DreamDay Open Thread

This is an Open Thread for those of you following the activities today.

Continue Reading »