Archive for El Somnambulo
R. I. P. Fess Parker
I’ll never forget that, for my first Halloween, I was dressed as Davy Crockett. That was thanks to Fess Parker’s unforgettable portrayal of the coonskin-capped hero.
Parker did not overstay his welcome in Hollywood, became involved in Republican politics as a close friend of Ronald Reagan’s, and became an excellent winemaker as well.
He passed away today [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Thurs. March 18, 2010
The big news is that John ‘Let’s Arm Everyone’ Atkins had to backtrack on his bill that could’ve, well, armed everyone. Here’s the money quote from Delaware’s Most Embarrassing Legislator:
“We’re either going to come in with a substitute bill or an amendment,” Atkins said. “It was never Sen. Booth’s or my intent to allow guns [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Report-St. Patty’s Day 2010
Fearless Prediction #1: Garish green will be worn in Leg Hall today by people who should not wear garish green in this lifetime or any other.
Fearless Prediction #2: For the second consecutive day of this 3-week session, the Senate will have no agenda. Not necessarily a BAD thing, mind you, but couldn’t they at least [...]
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, March 16, 2010
They’re ba-a-a-a-ck. For three weeks…before they break for Easter. The ‘honorables’ (shout out to Ralph Moyed) return to Dover with expansion of casino gambling apparently at the top of the ‘to-do, or not to-do’ list.
I support expansion beyond the current race-track sites, not b/c I was a strong advocate for casino gambling in the first [...]
Memo to Michele Rollins: Bring It On!
Rethugs are virtually wetting themselves (except for the octogenarian Vicmead Hunt denizens, who really ARE wetting themselves) over the possible entrance of Michele Rollins into Delaware’s US House race.
Michele Rollins earned her entree into Greenville gigagazilionaire circles the old-fashioned way: She married into it. A dewy-eyed 1963 beauty queen (the dew formed in the shape [...]
BREAKING: Astra Zeneca to Cut 1/3 of Delaware R & D Force
Ya see, these obscene tax breaks and other incentives come with no guarantee. Say buh-bye to 550 top-paying jobs.
No doubt, what WON’T be cut is Astra Zeneca’s steady stream of contributions to our corporate controlled legislators.
Here’s the bad news:
Cuts at AstraZeneca’s brick complex on US 202 between Wilmington and Chadds Ford include “550 research and development” professionals [...]
Breaking: Sen. Evan Bayh to Retire
Here’s the Washington Post report.
Bayh was a DINO who never took a bold position on anything, unlike his father, Birch Bayh, who was an early opponent of the Vietnam War.
The money (literally & figuratively) quote:
“After all these years, my passion for service to my fellow citizens is undiminished, but my desire to do so by [...]
‘Winter In America’
Only one song resonates with me on days like this, and it’s been haunting me for 35 years:
Gil Scott-Heron: “Winter in America”
What, Exactly, Is Going On In Felton?
SOMEthing is, and it stinks of the Delaware Way.
You may have missed it, but Gov. Markell vetoed a Felton charter change yesterday. I’m not sure I can even recall the last time a governor vetoed a charter change, but it doesn’t happen every day. Or even during every administration.
But the vetoed change suggests an untold [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up: Session of Jan. 28, 2010
As expected, it was a busy day in Dover. The entire Session Activity record here.
In the Senate, as reported yesterday, HB 310, which legalizes table games in Delaware was passed and subsequently signed into law by Governor Markell. It was really the only notable bill passed in the Senate yesterday.
The House was a whole ‘nother story. [...]
Coons Campaign Commercial #1
CAMPAIGN COMMERCIAL # 1: A series of photos of Mike Castle with those giant faux Federal checks. (Wacky Warner Brothers-style cartoon music in background).
COPY: (Light-hearted voice redolent of faint ridicule) “What two things do these pictures have in common? One, each shows Mike Castle presenting a giant check for a Delaware program. And, two (music [...]
Markell Signs Table Gaming Bill Into Law
As expected, HB 310 was fast-tracked through the General Assembly this week, and has already been signed into law by the Governor. Ginger Gibson has the story here.
Gibson reports that companion bill, SB 188, is expected to pass the House soon and will then head to the Governor for his signature.
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., Jan. 28, 2010
Last Pre-Game Show for 6 weeks, as the General Assembly recesses for budget hearings.
That means that today will be busy, with certain bills being fast-tracked for final passage before the recess.
Yesterday’s activity sets the stage for today, meaning it’s time for the…
POST-GAME WRAP-UP
The General Assembly’s latest sop to Del-Tech, SB 202 (or more precisely, SS1 [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wed., Jan. 27, 2010
POST-GAME WRAPUP:
Lotsa brand new bills and brand new committee assignments for them. I’ll discuss the ones I find interesting (and/or worrisome) in my Pre-Game Show report below.
As noted here yesterday, the Senate considered and passed a series of non-controversial house bills. Perhaps the most notable of the lot is HB 249 (Keeley), which requires pharmacists [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Tues., Jan. 26, 2010
Last week that the General Assembly meets until breaking for about a 6-week recess to enable the Joint Finance Committee to conduct budget hearings.
POST-GAME WRAP-UP
A few bills previously discussed here were passed on Thursday. In the Senate:
SB 81 w/SA5(Sokola)-Requires nutritional information to be prominently displayed in fast food restaurants. 15 yes, 5 nos. Who voted [...]
Lie Of the Year?
We have our first nominee, and it’ll be hard to beat.
Ginger Gibson, in today’s News-Journal, reported on how Delaware Park maxed out on political contributions to well over half the members of the Delaware General Assembly. Many of those contributions came right around the time that the existing racinos “beat back proposals to increase the [...]
How Biden Decision Screws Dems Statewide
“I’ve always depended on the kindness of strangers.”-Blanche DuBois from Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire”.
So have down-ballot candidates in every election. The top of the ticket drives out the voters, and those further down the ballot benefit or suffer based on who is motivated to vote in any given election cycle.
Now, riddle me this, [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Thursday, Jan. 21, 2010
Post-Game Wrap-Up
I interrupt this report to start out today with a raging screed. To the surprise of absolutely nobody.
Yesterday, the Delaware State Senate unanimously approved the nomination of Diane Clarke Streett to become a judge on Superior Court. I know this because the Governor’s office sent out a congratulatory release about this. However, not a [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Post-Game Wrap-Up
A complete record of yesterday’s activity is here.
The House of Representatives, with the notable exception of Rep. Earl Jaques, had no problem putting a registered lobbyist on a medical advisory board, and approved HB 3, discussed here in detail yesterday. Any member of the House is welcome to come here and explain why this [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2010
The entire record of the previous legislative session (Thursday, January 14) can be found here.
Key legislation that was passed, most of it previously discussed here, included:
HB 202 (Rep. B. Short)-Designed to protect policyholders when a health or life insurance company is liquidated. Pretty sure that this bill was a Matt Denn proposal from his time [...]
Rethugs Float Newark Developer as Carney Opponent
Bill Stritzinger, whose main claim to fame appears to be trying to build 280 houses on the Newark Country Club site, has been seen making the rounds in Leg Hall, escorted by Monsignor Greg Lavelle, as a prelude to a candidacy against John Carney for the U. S. House of Reps seat. It makes perfect [...]
16Jan2010 | El Somnambulo | 3 comments | Continued
Bulo’s Music for the Masses: R. I. P. Bobby Charles
Far too many of these lately. But I do these tributes so that people remember, or perhaps learn for the first time, about the special musical legacies these artists have left behind.
Bobby Charles, actually Robert Charles Guidry, was a Cajun who was first inspired by Fats Domino and who helped to create that wonderful musical [...]
Legislative Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show-Thursday, Jan. 14, 2010
According to the Legislative Record, nothing happened yesterday.
Of course, in the case of the House of Representatives, we know that committee meetings took place.
So, El Somnambulo, you may ask, why does the record not reflect this? Glad you asked as it gives me yet another teaching opportunity. Yay!
Once the House breaks for committee meetings, it [...]
R. I. P. Teddy Pendergrass
The soul singer who first burst onto the scene with Harold Melvin & the Blue Notes, and was one of the greatest stars ever to come out of the TSOP Sound of Gamble & Huff, has passed away at the age of 59.
Here’s an interview with Teddy talking about his accident that left him paralyzed [...]
Markell Names Widener Dean to Probe Bradley Fiasco
In a move that absolutely had to be made, Gov. Markell has announced an investigation into the systemic failures that enabled Dr. Earl Bradley to abuse children under his care for years. The Governor has appointed Widener Law School Dean Dr. Linda Ammons to head the probe.
From Jeff Montgomery’s News-Journal article:
Allegations date to at least [...]
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