Archive for El Somnambulo
Bulo’s Adrenalin-Fueled Music for the Masses-The Top 5!
Put down that cuppa Joe, you won’t need it:
5. The Clash-Brand New Cadillac
4. Steely Dan-Bodhisattva
3. The Blasters-One Bad Stud
2. The Rolling Stones-Rip This Joint
1. New York Dolls-Personality Crisis
13Aug2010 | El Somnambulo | 2 comments | Continued
‘Bulo’s Adrenalin-Fueled Music For the Masses-Part I
Every year, WXPN-FM, the public radio station affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, does an 885 Music Countdown of some sort, and enlists the ballots of its listeners. This year’s theme is the 885 Ultimate Road Trip Songs. For me, that means songs that make me want to roll down the window, bash the steering [...]
12Aug2010 | El Somnambulo | 14 comments | Continued
Carper Tries a Campaign Combover…Er, Makeover
The Red Phone must’ve rung in the stately Carper manse, meaning that Ed Freel was likely on the line. The conversation could well have gone like this:
Freel: “Boss, we’re not going to be able to get away with this feel good moderation we’ve been peddling for over two decades now. People have figured out that [...]
‘Non-Partisan’ CRI Reveals Its True Agenda
Any lazy members of the media who still consider the Caesar Rodney Institute non-partisan ‘go-to’ guys will want to reconsider after they’ve read this post. Either that, or admit that they’re in the tank for the Rethuglican agenda.
You see, the non-partisan think tank has just sent out a solicitation packet to businesses and, likely, individuals [...]
‘The Lower 41′: Fool’s Gold
“Things are seldom what they seem, skim milk masquerades as cream.” Gilbert & Sullivan
Inspired by DelDem’s incisive district-by-district analysis, today I focus on two districts where the conventional wisdom anticipates highly-competitive contests. The contrarian in me strongly disagrees. Feel free to express views contrary to the contrarian. Vociferously.
Many think that the 18th Rep . District [...]
El Somnambulo’s List
*Who I’m Giving $$’s To This Campaign Season.*
PRIMARIES:
RD 8-Quinn Johnson: Far too valuable a first-termer to risk in a low turnout primary.
RD 9-Richard Griffiths: Whoever wins the D primary will likely be the favorite in November. I’m going with the candidate who had the guts to jump in when it looked tough, not the opportunistic [...]
Working Families Party Polling for…Themselves
Got called by a pollster tonight. Always love to try to figure out just who’s polling and for what purpose. Tonight’s was easy.
Some guy from Canada (he even said ‘or-gan-eye-zation) ostensibly polling the Castle/Coons race. Asks me my opinion of certain or-gan-eye-zations first, the D’s, the R’s, and the McGlincheyites.
Then asks me who I support [...]
The ‘Lower 41′: Q: Are We Not Districts? A: We Are Paramecium!
Guidelines for drawing districts following the Census call for compactness, contiguity, and honoring the integrity of community, wherever practicable.
Today, we ‘honor’ four districts that were drawn with none of those standards in evidence. Artificial constructs designed to preserve an artificial majority. Any or all of the four could have, and should have, been grounds for [...]
5 Who SHOULD Be Challenged
2nd RD-Hazel Plant: “Vote for me and I promise to not show up for work. This is a promise that I’ve proudly kept for the last two terms, and I’m deeply committed to not showing up for the next one either, should you honor me by voting for me to continue in my no-show job.”
11th [...]
The ‘Lower 41′: Smith & the City
Three districts. All three tied up in the redistricting politics of 2002, particularly as applied to the City of Wilmington. At least two of the three to inevitably be very much involved in the redistricting of 2012. One of these districts may not even survive. At least not in Wilmington. Its # could show up [...]
12Jul2010 | El Somnambulo | 1 comment | Continued
The ‘Lower 41′: To Cathcart and Beyond!
SECOND OF A CONTINUING SERIES
My scholarly treatise on semiotics, the Hapsburg dynasty, Game Theory, and Gerald Brady will just have to wait for another day.
Exigent circumstances in the form of House Minority Leader Dick Cathcart’s retirement have taken precedence. And, while we’re at it, we’ll look at another intriguing ‘Appo’ (as Joanne Christian puts it) [...]
The ‘Lower 41′: Surveying House Elections for 2010
FIRST IN A CONTINUING SERIES
2010 represents the Last Best Chance for Republicans to retake control of the Delaware State House of Representatives, control that they lost in 2008 after 24 consecutive years in the majority. Do they have a chance? What seats are in play? What are the storylines in all 41 districts? How do [...]
Disgraced DeLuca To Call Senate Back
Tony “I’m Only Lying When My Lips Are Moving” DeLuca has agreed to call the Senate back for a September session to consider HB 399, the Inspire Scholarship legislation.
A great article in today’s News-Journal captures DeLuca demonstrating his skill, or lack thereof, at the art of prevarication. Here are just a couple of samples:
“Is it [...]
Tony DeLuca Has Disgraced His Office. Markell MUST Call Senate Back.
One person. One person with power he does not deserve. One person who has continuously thumbed his nose at the public’s right-to-know. Tony DeLuca. Remember the name.
That one person, on his own, and in defiance of legislators from both parties, destroyed the hopes and dreams of hundreds of students who need scholarship assistance to attend [...]
Blogging the House: The Final Chapter
House is back in session. I’m starting this at 7:45 p.m. and will continue until I and/or the wine hold out. House is considering SB 228(McDowell). Gerald Pepper of the Insurance Commissioner’s office is testifying. D. Short is asking questions. Uh-oh, given his choice between KWS and Gene Reed, floor manager Gerald Brady has asked [...]
30Jun2010 | El Somnambulo | 9 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wednesday, June 30, 2010
This’ll be quicker than I’d like. Going to work early so that I can take in the live feed of the last night of session later. Plus, my internet is zotzing in and out, courtesy of the criminals at Comcast. You can’t spell ‘bandwidth’ without ‘bandit’.
The Budget Bill passed the Senate Wednesday, 16 Yes, 4 [...]
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 29, 2010
The last two days of session are not like the other days of session. How are they different? Let me count the ways:
1. While the House and Senate may still post an agenda (or agendas), dozens of other bills can and will be considered. This makes the last two days the most dangerous days when [...]
General Assembly Post-Game Show/Pre-Game Report: Wed., June 23, 2010
The bullies were out in full force in Dover yesterday. And the ‘Honorables’ responded in less than Profiles in Courage fashion. AKA, a ‘Dog Bites Man’ story.
The armed thugs who are the NRA and the Delaware Sportsmen’s Association, aided and abetted by ‘law-abiding citizen’ John Atkins, forced their bill through the House to turn housing [...]
General Assembly Post-Game Show/Pre-Game Report: Tues., June 22, 2010
Only six or seven days left in this session of the Delaware General Assembly, and bills are still being introduced in large numbers. Why? Because there are many reasons to introduce legislation. Here are some: (a) To pass something the legislator deems worthwhile; (b) to pass something sought by the Governor or other State agency; [...]
22Jun2010 | El Somnambulo | 5 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 17, 2010
Hell hath frozen over. Whether by design or accident, a significant roll call has escaped the clutches of the Senate censors. I hereby posit that Colin Bonini threatened a gaseous eruption that would have rendered the Senate Chamber uninhabitable. I encourage your snarky theories as well. The significant roll call in question is Tuesday’s vote [...]
17Jun2010 | El Somnambulo | 12 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wed., June 16, 2010
If you’re getting this report on your Delaware Liberal I-Phone app, you’ll want to pull over onto the shoulder before reading this. The Delaware State Senate voted yesterday to ban the use of hand-held cell phones while driving. This is a signature accomplishment for this General Assembly and the bill’s sponsors, Rep. Darryl Scott and [...]
16Jun2010 | El Somnambulo | 10 comments | Continued
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Due diligence is essential during these last weeks of session, as bills fly through w/o, in many cases, much consideration either by the legislators or the public.
Other bills will be introduced as props for the upcoming campaign. Cassandra will have a particularly instructive one for you in another post today.
Lobbyists are swarming around the Hall, [...]
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Thurs., June 10, 2010
Following yesterday’s session, Big Brother will have an even tighter hold on your wallet. You’ll now pay $110 instead of $75 for a red light violation caught on camera, courtesy of HB 189(Mitchell). The bill passed the Senate and heads to the Governor. And, in the spirit of creeping Big Brotherism, don’t refer to these [...]
10Jun2010 | El Somnambulo | 12 comments | Continued
General Assembly Post-Game Wrap-Up/Pre-Game Show: Wed., June 9, 2010
So many fascinating bills in committee today that the post-game wrap-up will be somewhat truncated. Here’s what happened. Every bill I highlighted yesterday passed unanimously, with the exception of SB 245(Sokola), which requires that student teachers undergo criminal background checks. Three senators voted ‘no’, the three naysayers open to speculation. Maybe Bernard’s buddy can fill [...]
9Jun2010 | El Somnambulo | 6 comments | Continued
Delaware General Assembly Pre-Game Show: Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Here’s what happened on Thursday. Bills that passed that were of interest to me had previously been discussed here. Legislators introduced some interesting new bills, most of which I’ll discuss when/if they’re considered in committee or on the floor.
I’ve already discussed HB 443(George) and why I think it’s essential. For those whose lips get tired [...]
Social Media
