DEGOP has, literally, one issue – and it isn’t a very good one

Filed in National by on August 15, 2014

Copeland is really phoning it in, and why not? He doesn’t have any viable statewide candidates so why should he try to make an actual case for Republican governance? He has clearly decided to punt on this round of statewide and focus his energies on building for 2016. But he still has to make a show about caring, so while he hasn’t committed himself and the party to any coherent policies – he has chosen a campaign theme of sorts. That theme is a mild queasiness around the idea of “one-party rule” in Delaware.

This is just the latest iteration of the perfunctory messaging coming out of Greenville:

GOP Reaction To Flowers Announcement

Newark, DE: The Chairman of the Delaware Republican Party Charlie Copeland responded to Democratic State Treasurer Chip Flowers announcement that he intends to complete his term and not seek re-election:

“Chip Flowers has long been the center of controversy and his announcement this morning brings to a close yet another scandal in Delaware’s Democratic Party. Controversy and the Democrats seems to go hand-in-hand these days, and the Chip Flowers scandal is right there with Jack Markell’s campaign finance scandal, the Medical Examiner’s Office scandal, and the growing list of other scandals that make the case for bringing an end to one-party rule in state government.

“Though, one has to wonder why these allegations are surfacing one month before the Democratic Primary Election between Mr. Flowers and Sean Barney. It’s widely known that Mr. Barney is Jack Markell’s handpicked candidate to win the State Treasurer’s race in 2014. I wonder: at this critical point in the Primary Election season, when voters are starting to decide how they will vote, are the recent news reports leaked to the News Journal politically motivated to influence the outcome of the election?”

Feel the passion!

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Jason330 is a deep cover double agent working for the GOP. Don't tell anybody.

Comments (25)

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  1. kavips says:

    Copey’s quote: ” It’s widely known that Mr. Barney is Jack Markell’s handpicked candidate to win the State Treasurer’s race in 2014″… rings true. I don’t think there is a soul in Delaware who disagrees with that.

    But isn’t it always better to vote for an unknown againsts someone you know who is bad?

    Sean Barney’s boss put someone who paid a $976,000 fine for MISLEADING HIS INVESTORS, in charge of investing the state’s money…

    Sean Barney is the last person this state needs in office. What can anyone tell us about the Republican treasurer candidate who is not Sher? I’ve liked what I’ve heard so far. Barney is better than Sher, but the other Republican is immensely better than both…

  2. Delaware Dem says:

    Since Kavips views Flowers’ situation as a literal lynching (his words on his blog), obviously in his eyes, Flowers did no wrong.

  3. EvanQ says:

    I couldn’t agree more…the ineptitude of the Delaware GOP is…For Christ’s sake…it’s embarrassing…with everything going on in the D house…the GOP should at the very LEAST be mounting some kind of substantial challenge…We might as well be walking around with our hands up screaming “Don’t shoot! Dead Party walking!”

  4. SussexAnon says:

    By resume, Ken Simpler is a qualified candidate. Barney? Not so much.

    The only thing Barney has going for him is they will vote for a brick if it is registered (D). Oh and Carpers and Markells roledex.

  5. Jason330 says:

    Those are pretty big advantages. But you forgot one…He is also a decorated veteran who volunteer for a front line assignment when he could have used his connections to snag an office job.

    I guess that alone will pull in a lot of Republican voters who are always going on about how they support the troops.

  6. John Manifold says:

    Shorter Kavips: You can’t vote for Sean Barney because an investment firm [to which he has no connection] was fined because of improper SEC filings that occurred when Barney was 19 years old.

  7. puck says:

    Shorter Kavips: You can’t vote for Sean Barney because of his defense of an investment firm [to which he has no connection] fined because of improper SEC filings that occurred when Barney was 19 years old.

    Fixed that for you.

  8. Rufus Y. Kneedog says:

    “He doesn’t have any viable statewide candidates…”
    I disagree with that.
    I dont think Wagner can win now with the Flowers debacle. The only report he released in months and he didn’t know Flowers was at the game?
    But I think Simpler can beat Barney.

  9. Geezer says:

    I notice that even John Manifold can’t come up with a reason to vote for Barney other than what team he’s on.

  10. John Manifold says:

    Both Barney and Simpler seem to have talent and growth potential. Pick your sides and let’s see how the winner develops over the long term.

  11. Geezer says:

    Nice try. Sean Barney is in this race for the same reason Cheryl Valenzuela is — he’d like a political career and this looks like an office he can win.

    Please explain why I should vote for him instead of someone already knowledgeable in the field of service.

  12. cassandra_m says:

    So Sher gets the Kent County GOP endorsement and claims that this is a victory over political bullying. What’s this story about?

  13. John Manifold says:

    Take your pick. Barney has 15 years of public service and study for in-depth public service. Simpler’s also a smart guy with successful real estate interests. There are voters who say, “he’s made a lot of money. Let’s vote for him.” Very 1980’s. If that’s you, Simpler is your man.

  14. RunCV79 says:

    She didn’t get any endorsement from the Kent GOP – they didn’t endorse when the overwhelming majority wanted to endorse Simpler. In her eyes, by keeping them neutral, that is a win.

    Sher is a shadow candidate. She is nowhere that voters are and her campaign is being run by her consultant from his desk in Oklahoma. Did anyone watch the video from the debate on WDEL earlier this week? She is literally reading responses out of a three ring binder. Not sure this woman had any original thoughts at this point.

    Oh yeah, “more jobs, less government”. Unless they are backing her loans or buying her goods. Such a hypocrite. She represents everything that is wrong with a political candidate.

  15. Geezer says:

    It has nothing to do with making money. He works in the field; Barney doesn’t. If Barney wants a political career, let him get his hands dirty in the General Assembly. We don’t need another Carper.

    As usual, you’re just shilling for Democrats because they’re Democrats. Very 1880s.

  16. John Manifold says:

    An hotel manager “works in the field.” Vocabulary fail.

    I like the Bill Bradley idealist. Please follow your conscience and cast the generation-affinity vote for the MBA.

  17. Geezer says:

    No, verb tense fail.

    “Previously held the position of Managing Director at Citadel, LLC, a global investment fund.”

    But you knew that. Follow your brown nose to the “D” lever.

    Is Tom Carper also a “Bill Bradley idealist”?

  18. John Manifold says:

    In finance, “managing director” is roughly equivalent to sales manager.

    [In some cases, it means “salesman over age 40.”]

  19. There are no Republican endorsements this cycle. We are trying something new. Focus on the Democrats and let Republican voters make the decision unhampered. I don’t know where the one person got the idea that an overwhelming majority wanted to endorse Ken Simpler. The majority did not want to endorse anyone. My guess would be that the majority of our committee would vote for him because her campaign is losing momentum and with Flowers out, the best candidate to get women activated becomes a non issue. Sher can recover and is loved by many here, but many think it is the wrong race for her, but they won’t cut the legs out from her campaign either. A lot can change in 3 weeks. The insane attacks on her are almost reaching a tipping point of backfiring. It could get the COD effect of rejecting beating up on a woman especially one as competent, accomplished, and dignified as Sher.

    Have a straw poll for personal preferences if you like, but the party machinery is open to all Republicans.

  20. Geezer says:

    So that means he wasn’t involved in the financial field?

    You still haven’t made any case at all for Sean Barney except for his “potential.” What I’ve heard in debates is that he’ll be a yes-man. I’m sure that for Carper fans, that a qualification. For the rest of us, it’s a disqualification.

  21. SussexAnon says:

    “Simpler presently serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Rehoboth Beach-based Seaboard Hotels. He previously managed a successful billion dollar portfolio for a global financial institution, Citadel LLC. Simpler is a board member for Draper Holdings, the parent company of WBOC TV, and a finance committee member of Beebe Healthcare.” – Cape Gazette, today. The question remains open as to whether this is a new kind of reasonable Republican not hostile towards gays, minorities, women, etc. I am skeptical after the Lopez snow job.

    Barney, your serve……

  22. Geezer says:

    The treasurer has no ability to display his hostility towards anyone but the Cash Management Board. I’m not willing to vote for Simpler for any other office, just this one.

  23. In The Know says:

    Not exactly, Geez. The treasurer does have the ability to display hostility to anyone he chooses. However, expressing hostility toward individuals or toward any entity other than the CMPB is irrelevant to the office and, as recent experience indicates, a near certain express trip on the road to political suicide.
    I’m with you on Simpler 100 percent. (I’m familiar with your attitude toward people who try to give 110 percent!)

  24. Geezer says:

    You put it better than I did. Thanks.

  25. mouse says:

    It’s sad. At one time the Republicans fielded reasonable candidates who supported environmental and middle class issues. Mike Castle, Bill Roth, Bill Lee and several local GOP legislators were all viable even to a liberal like me. Now they are just like the national party putting forth haters, racist, witches, rubes and religious nuts. Its sad. I don’t really want to vote for Democrats by default but unless there is a Green Party candidate, there is little choice