Is it significant that Mat Marshall is Bryon Short’s Finance Director?

Filed in National by on October 2, 2015

For the record I have nothing against Marshall. In fact, I happen to like the guy, in spite of his resume. Back when I knew him, he was one of the sharpest and funniest guys involved in DE politics with the possible exception of Matt Denn. He probably still is. So there is that. Mat Marshall as a integral part of the Short campaign probably means that Townsend has a steep uphill climb. But the close connection to Carper is also significant. There is a saying – When You Dance With the Devil, the Devil Don’t Change – the Devil Changes You.

With Marshall’s close links to Carper, it is hard to imagine that the Bryon Short campaign isn’t going to be run as a Team Carper subsidiary. While that didn’t exactly help Sean Barney in the general, Barney did win when only Democrats were voting in the primary. Sure, Barney knocked off a badly damaged Chip Flowers, but did his loss in the general expose the limits of Carper’s power to influence voters?

In short – is Bryon Short lining up to be Sean Barney part II?

Probably not. Whoever wins the Democratic primary will have the luxury of not running against Ken Simpler. So, more than ever, the Dem primary is the election.

An aside: Way back when there was a rally protesting Castle’s lapdog approach to the Bush Administration and its myriad fuckups. At the rally, there stood a cardboard cutout of Mike Castle upon which people were encouraged to express themselves through post-it notes. You probably can’t read it, but there was a note that read, simply: WTF? Mat Marshall posted that note, and it was the one note that came through loudly and clearly on the front page of the NJ the following day.

Castle post it

About the Author ()

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

Comments (22)

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  1. Milli Vanilli says:

    More concerned about Boyle’s Chip Flowers ties. All Marshall’s working for Carper’s campaign tells me is that he has been trained to win elections in Delaware. I’m sure most of the Party’s top politicos are from the Carper/Freel stable of trained race horses.

  2. jason330 says:

    Okay. Everybody worked for somebody. We can agree on that.

    But look, if you want a Democrat that is primarily concerned about the concerns of the 1%, you’d lean to supporting a Carperite. True? Tom Carper’s sensibilities are well known. Can we agree on that?

    BTW – If your response includes the phrase “Brian Townsend is a corporate lawyer” it will be sign that you are being disingenuous.

  3. Milli Vanilli says:

    Jason,

    That’s not fair at all. And I’m not falling for the game where your way of addressing your candidates weakness is by saying…. No you can’t talk about that… Your argument is that you have the right to judge Short based on the fact that his finance director (not policy director) did campaign work for a moderate Democrat, however if others attempt to judge Townsend based on HIS OWN CAREER, that is disingenuous? The idea that you don’t want to address the fact that Townsend’s current job is to ensure that corporations maximize profits at any cost, doesn’t make others disingenuous, it would actually make you disingenuous my good sir.

  4. Milli Vanilli says:

    Hell when MIT Romney used that strategy of … Don’t talk about my career…. At least he had actually retired from Bain Capital. Townsend still serves as a corporate lawyer while he’s running for office and the campaign’s argument is that we are not allowed to talk about it. Oh my goodness. If Brian Short were a corporate lawyer… You wouldn’t stop talking about it. I think the Chip Flowers spin machine is back to work.

  5. Geezer says:

    “Townsend’s current job is to ensure that corporations maximize profits at any cost…”

    Demonstrate that or it’s bullshit. Judging Townsend on the name of his job is no more valid than judging Short on his (multiple) signs of being a “moderate Democrat.”

  6. jason330 says:

    We seem to be at an impasse. This post is a question – Is it significant that Mat Marshall is Bryon Short’s Finance Director?

    Your response is “No” based on your experiences. Mine is “Yes” based on my experiences.

    If the posts asked, Is it significant that Townsend was a lawyer? It would be a different post.

    Also – I work for nobody. So your assertion that his “campaign” said anything in this thread is flatly dishonest.

  7. Milli Vanilli says:

    Geezer,

    I need you to read his office website.

    Experience

    Providing advice to a special committee of disinterested directors regarding negotiations and litigation for a going-private transaction proposed by a controlling stockholder

    Commercial arbitration proceedings in the Delaware Court of Chancery

    Breach of contract actions in various settings, including post-closing price adjustments and stock purchase agreements

    Expedited litigation relating to an international joint-venture

    Litigation involving duties of Delaware limited liability companies

    Discovery matters, including expedited e-discovery and privilege logs

    ,……………

    Definitely the first 3. I mean, corporate attorney’s job is to help companies prevent the loss of revenue or increase their revenue through mergers and other devices. Is this demonstration enough Geezer or do you need a photo of him depositing the corporation’s check too?

  8. Anon says:

    Someone posted on here a couple weeks ago about what a Delaware corporate lawyer actually does. Milli should read that post. It was a good post that clarifies things. I can’t remember where it is.

  9. Milli Vanilli says:

    I did one better Anon, I posted what HE does… Not a general definition of what a corporate attorney (broad title) could do. Tell me, which is more relevant? Hahah… You guys haven’t had your coffee yet. This is easy.

  10. jason330 says:

    Milli has already been flatly dishonest when he attributed my comment to the Townsend campaign, and he is very adept at not addressing the post, which is something people do who are losing arguments.

    “I work for nobody.”

    Can Milli say that without lying? I wonder.

  11. Anon says:

    I read his attorney website. I don’t see why you say it has to do with maximizing profits. The post from a few weeks ago makes a lot more sense. What am I missing?

  12. liberalgeek says:

    I really can’t say enough good things about Mat. I also think that Erik Raser-Schramm is one of the most consistently good people that I have worked with in the party. Both Townsend and Short have been sharp during their times serving in their respective houses.

    Personally, I think that we are trying to discuss the merits of Rocky Road v. Cookies and Cream ice cream. I am pretty happy with either one (and I wish I could have both).

    I can’t say why certain people have endorsed either one, but their origin stories may inspire different people to lean one way or the other. Short won a special election in 2007. Dems haven’t won another until a few weeks ago. Townsend primaried a sitting senator that was not a friend of progressives.

    Both are excellent retail politicians that knock on doors until their knuckles are bloody and their shoes have worn through. And both of them vote the way we like them to vote once in office.

    Honestly, the bomb-throwing strategy for knocking either of them down is silly. Either of them would be excellent additions to the most dysfunctional voting body in the country.

  13. jason330 says:

    What a grown up! You should blog.

  14. Milli Vanilli says:

    I’m sorry Jason. You don’t work for him. I apologize.

    Anon… What are you missing? A clue…

    The post last week just made you feel good. It gave you a reason not to worry about the thing you should worry about. Its like when your boyfriend tells you that girl he’s hanging out with is just a friend. They talk, hangout, and chill from time to time. You don’t ask questions because you really don’t want the answer.

    This is me telling you buddy… Your guy is getting fucked by his friend. I know it hurts, but its best you hear if from me now before you catch something.

  15. Milli Vanilli says:

    I agree LG… But for the record, Jason started it.

  16. Anon says:

    MV, your boyfriend/girlfriend post is just about the most ridiculous thing ever. If you can’t answer my question, that’s ok, but no need to be ridiculous.

  17. Corporate attorneys in Delaware practice within the limited scope of Delaware corporate law. For example, if a company is a Delaware corporation, and if there is a dispute between CEO’s, other corporate officers, the Board and stockholders, the Court of Chancery handles such cases. In order for Chancery to be recognized as the best in the land, the lawyers who practice before it have to be reallyreally good. Most, if not all, of the litigation, is civil.

    I’ll give you an example. If Volkswagen was incorporated in Delaware, and if stockholders decided to sue the officials of Volkswagen who greenlighted the installation of equipment that yielded deliberately inaccurate information in emissions tests, that would have taken place in Chancery Court.

    The meme that Delaware corporate attorneys plot and scheme to help corporations get richer is false, and those who keep perpetuating it are, in fact lying.

    But it must have polled well.

  18. Geezer says:

    “I mean, corporate attorney’s job is to help companies prevent the loss of revenue or increase their revenue through mergers and other devices.”

    None of your examples demonstrates this contention. They are civil disputes, settled in a non-criminal court — corporations vs. other corporations, for the most part.

    What you have demonstrated is that you don’t know what you’re talking about.

  19. Milli Vanilli says:

    It typically polls well here also El, but the Kool Aid is flowing so all bets are off.

    Its not a lie. You’re just being very selective about your description…. Nice VW plug. Yes, because that’s how his law firm makes money, working cases in the Court of Chancery protecting claimants and stockholders as they sue corporations who wronged the public? Beautiful El. That sounds like a great made for TV movie. The Corporate Lawyer Who Stole Christmas. At the end Townsend can go down to Whoville and give all those poor stockholders their shares back.

    Are you insinuating that corporate attorneys who deal in contract breach litigation are not working to ensure their clients are able to keep as much money or extract as much money as possible? Lmao.. Is that what you tried to insinuate with that mash up of talking points and punctuation marks. You’re not even a good liar. I’ll mark it up to the idea that Townsend may put you on staff in DC if you can get him across the finishline, but please give me something better than the talking point…. Corporate Attorneys are people too.

    Yes, you have to be a really really really good attorney to do this type of work. Last I checked only the biggest corporations can afford that type of representation.

    You’re the liar on this El. And a hypocrite. Pushing a corporate stooge cloaked in liberal social issues. Sounds real familiar.

  20. Milli Vanilli says:

    Geezer, stop. Time for your sponge bath. Pop your teeth out and wait for the nurse.

  21. John Manifold says:

    Milli Vanilli’s understanding of the world of commerce lives up to his name.

    And yes, Milli has got to be a guy. Women aren’t that daft.

    http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/commentary/ct-hillary-clinton-bill-presidency-speech-talk-obama-perspec-1001-jm-20150930-story.html

  22. Dominique says:

    I don’t know who this Milli Vanilli person is, but she’s absolutely delightful! I’m sure I disagree with most of her politics (and that’s ok, because chocolate and vanilla and whatnot), but the way she articulates herself is an absolute joy, especially in this den of vipers. Truly refreshing! 🙂

    Oh, and there’s no doubt she’s a woman. Men aren’t that clever.