Archive for March, 2017

Campaigns don’t start with a three county tour…

Filed in National by on March 31, 2017 12 Comments
Campaigns don’t start with a three county tour…

…they start with a tip to the DL tipline.

A person close to Simpler says that he is NOT running for treasurer in 2018. And that he does plan on running against Carney for governor in 2020.

Also – I’ve heard that if Simpler doesn’t run for Tres. look for Kathy McGuiness to run for that office. Could Ken be so generous as to give Park City a running start? Simpler is rumored to be a big supporter of KMcG and in looking at her facebook page, she’s planning on running for something.

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I’m calling it: Ken Simpler will beat John Carney

Filed in National by on March 31, 2017 6 Comments
I’m calling it: Ken Simpler will beat John Carney

After taking in Carney’s “shared sacrifice” budget proposal a couple of things have become clear to me.

1) Carney has no imagination. He isn’t a leader. He is just following along what Jack Markell did, right down to adopting Markell’s January swansong budget proposal wholesale. This budget shows no guts and fewer brains.

2) He doesn’t care about courting Democratic constituencies. The gutting of the Coastal Zone Act in order to preserve “offshore tax shelter” tax rates for wealthy corporations and individuals speaks volumes.

3) Carney is trapped in 1990’s. This budget does court two constituencies – the state chamber of commerce, and “moderates.”

Does he really think that he is going to run a race that ignores Democrats (because he thinks he has those votes tied down) while trying to appeal to the state’s persuadable Republicans? My sense is that he is thinking precisely that because it is what would have worked in the 1990’s.

This budget demonstrates…

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Is it way too early for DE pot enthusiasts to get psyched?

Filed in National by on March 31, 2017 16 Comments
Is it way too early for DE pot enthusiasts to get psyched?

I’m seriously asking. Some friends who follow marijuana policy more closely than they follow politics at large are rather excited by this development: Delaware took a major step Thursday toward becoming the ninth state to legalize recreational marijuana use. State legislators unveiled a bill that would allow state residents 21 and older to purchase up […]

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March 31, 2017 Open Thread

Filed in Delaware, Open Thread by on March 31, 2017 11 Comments
March 31, 2017 Open Thread

Gov. John Carney: Fix budget, update Coastal Zone Act; Suspect killed by NCCo police shot earlier by Phila. cop; Delaware legislators say they have votes to legalize pot; Working group to consider future of Wilmington’s Baynard Stadium

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Sussex Dem’s Shakeup Shocks Good Old Boys

Filed in National by on March 30, 2017 54 Comments

I didn’t know what to make of the change in leadership in the Sussex County Democratic Party, until I read this update by Claire Snyder-Hall. “The Sussex County Democrats had their Caucus on March 27th, and they overwhelmingly elected Jane Hovington as their new chair, reportedly shocking establishment Dems. Jane had the support of progressives, […]

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John Carney Address Live Blog

Filed in National by on March 30, 2017 15 Comments

Some procedural crap going on now. Passing motions to enable the session, etc. BTW – this is going out live on FB. All of my observation will go in the comments section below.

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NYTimes: Trump Officials Fed Nunes Intel That Nunes Fed Back to White House

Filed in National by on March 30, 2017 5 Comments

Jesus H. Christ: https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/30/us/politics/devin-nunes-intelligence-reports.html?hp&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&clickSource=story-heading&module=first-column-region&region=top-news&WT.nav=top-news The takeaway: A pair of White House officials played a role in providing Representative Devin Nunes of California, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, with the intelligence reports that showed President Trump and his associates were incidentally swept up in foreign surveillance by American spy agencies. Several current American […]

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General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., March 30, 2017

Filed in Delaware, Featured by on March 30, 2017 2 Comments

Time stands still this afternoon at 2:30 as John Carney applies his monotone to his monochromatic budget address in the Senate Chamber. It must be said again: Carney’s lack of vision is shocking.  This is a bean counter’s proposal.  A percentage of this, a percentage of that.  No thought given to prioritizing what’s most important […]

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Carper Steps Up on Gorsuch Filibuster – Now What about Coons?

Filed in National by on March 30, 2017 17 Comments
Carper Steps Up on Gorsuch Filibuster – Now What about Coons?

In an uncharacteristically direct and forceful statement, Tom Carper has announced that he will support the Democratic filibuster of Judge Neil Gorsuch.

I believe that moving forward with Judge Gorsuch’s nomination will send a signal that it’s acceptable to put partisan politics over fidelity to our Constitution. It is not. While I do not believe that two wrongs make a right, I believe this may be our only opportunity to right a historic wrong. Therefore, I am left with no other choice but to oppose Judge Gorsuch’s nomination until we find agreement on moving Judge Garland’s nomination forward at the same time.

The complete statement is below the fold.

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March 30, 2017 Open Thread

Filed in Delaware, Open Thread by on March 30, 2017 1 Comment
March 30, 2017 Open Thread

Delaware correctional officer pension boost proposed; Report: 41% of Delaware graduates not ready for college; Joe Biden honors late son Beau’s legacy; Legislative bills could pave way for Dover Mall road

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Support Network Delaware and not just with your good wishes, but with money

Filed in National by on March 29, 2017 9 Comments
Support Network Delaware and not just with your good wishes, but with money

Network Delaware is the successor to the Eugene Young campaign. They are a very active group of activists who deserve our support. Click through for the details.

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Trump Issues Three-Word Executive Order

Filed in National by on March 29, 2017 3 Comments
Trump Issues Three-Word Executive Order

(CNN) President Donald Trump signed a three-word executive order Tuesday, which administration officials said defines his approach to governing while giving agency heads wide latitude to implement his vision.

The executive order simply read “Fuck shit up.” Although terse, the order was not viewed as cryptic but was immediately and broadly understood by Republicans throughout all levels of federal, state, county and local governments.

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March 29, 2017 Open Thread

Filed in Delaware, Open Thread by on March 29, 2017 3 Comments
March 29, 2017 Open Thread

Delaware immigrants perceive greater threat; NCCo Executive Matt Meyer: No tax hike in coming year; Delaware bill pushes changes to charter school rules; Man shot in the head Tuesday afternoon in Wilmington; Steele named Indian River superintendent;

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