Delaware Politics

Campaign Slogan: CHANGE YOU CAN BELIEVE IN

Now, with John Podesta, Eric Holder, Rahm Emanuel, Hillary Clinton, Tom Daschle and legions of junior Clinton vets, what should the new slogan be?

1. CHANGE YOU’VE SEEN BEFORE
2. BACK TO THE FUTURE, or
3. WE DIDN’T REALLY MEAN IT

  A.)  It is not our immediate task to “introduce ” socialism, but only to bring social production and the distribution of products at once under the control of the soviets of workers’ deputies.

  B.)We’ve got to make sure that people who have more money help the people who have less money.

  A.)  Attention , must be devoted principally to raising the workers to the level of revolutionaries ; it is not our task to descend to the level of the “ working class”.

  B.) People are very hungry for something new . I think they are interested in being called to be a part of something larger than the sort of small , petty , slash and burn politics that we have been seeing over the last several years.

  A.) The most important thing is to know how to awaken in the still undeveloped masses an intelligent attitude towards religious questions  and an intelligent criticism of religion.

  B.)  This notion that’s peddled by the religious right - that they are oppressed is not true. Sometimes it’s a cynical ploy to move their agenda ahead. The classic example being that somehow secularist are trying to eliminate Christmas, which strikes me as some kind of manufactured controversy.

  A.) Democracy for an insignificant minority , democracy for the rich - that is the democracy of capitalist society.

  B.) We live in a culture that discourages empathy. A culture that too often tells us our principal goal in life is to be rich, thin, young, famous, safe, and entertained.

  A.) Revolutionary Socialist Democracy has always included the struggle for reforms as part of it’s activities. But it utilises “economic” agitation for the purpose of presenting to the government , not only demands for all sorts of measures, but also ( and primarily) the demand that it cease to be an autocratic government.

  B.) When special interest put their thumbs on the scale, and distort the free market, the people who compete by the rules come in last.

  A.) A revolutionary class cannot but wish for the defeat of it’s government in a reactionary war.

  B.) I’m not opposed to all wars . I’m opposed to dumb wars.

  A.) Our school teachers should be raised to a standard he has never achieved , in Bourgeois society. This is a truism and requires no proof.

  B.)  and instead of just talking about how great our teachers are, we will reward them for their greatness, with more pay and with better support.

  A.) The art of any propagandist and agitator consist in his ability to find the best means of influencing any given audience, by presenting a definite truth, in such a way as to make it most convincing , most easy to digest, most graphic , and most strongly impressive.

  B.) So as President I”ll invest in renewable energies like wind power, solar power, and the next generation of home grown bio fuels. That’s how America is going to free itself from our dependence on foreign oil. Not through short term gimmicks, but through a real , long term commitment to transform our energy sector.

  A.) We say: our aim is to achieve a socialist system of society, which , by eliminating the division of mankind into classes , by eliminating all exploitation of man by man and nation by nation, will inevitably eliminate the very possibility of war.

  B.) I trust the American people to realize that while we don’t need big government , we do need a government that stands up for families who are being tricked out of their homes by Wall Street predators ; a government that stands up for the middle class by giving them a tax break; a government that ensures that no American will ever lose their life savings just because their child gets sick. Security and opportunity ; compassion and prosperity aren’t liberal values or conservative values they are American values.

  A.) = V.I. Lenin

  B.) = Barack Obama

  Allowing for differences in writing styles and translations of Lenin’s writing ,and if you exchange the word “change” for “revolution” , there seems to be a lot of similarities in the views the the two men held and hold for government’s role in the life of the people and how to go about achieving the power to enforce those views.

There are many points of view within the Republican Party regarding the Auto Industry bailout. Here is another one from a man who served two Presidents.

(Pat condemned Paulson’s 700B bait and switch.) So Republicans are right to be enraged. They are victims of the biggest bait-and-switch in political history. But they are now about to do something terminally stupid. With GM, Ford and Chrysler teetering on the brink, they are turning a cold stone face to Detroit and are about to follow the counsel of that quintessential Bushite Dick Darman, who said of our computer chip industry, “If our guys can’t hack it, let ‘em go.”

America responded — by letting George H.W. Bush and Darman go.

Are Republicans aware of what they are about to do?

When workers, execs, engineers, dealers, salesmen and suppliers are all factored in, the Big Three employ 3 million people who contribute $21 billion a year to Social Security and Medicare, and $25 billion in federal income taxes. Add in all the businesses that depend on the auto industry, and we are talking about one-tenth of the U.S. labor force.

As columnist Tom Piatak of Chronicles and Takimag.com writes, 850,000 retirees, and their families, depend for pensions and health care on the Big Three. If they go under, the burden falls on us.

And to let the auto industry die is to write America out of much of the economic future of the planet.

House Republicans kept Rep. Dick Cathcart the caucus leader. He is now the minority leader. Rep. Danny Short is now the minority whip.

Congratulations to the winners. You have your work cut out for you.

UPDATE: Romney to appear on Your World with Neil on FoxNews 4p. and late night replay 11/19.
In an OP-Ed in today’s New York Times, Businessman and the man who should be Secretary of Treasury (some would argue President-elect), Mitt Romney gave his view on reviving the auto industry. Gov. Romney’s father turned around American Motors in the 50’s which gives him a unique perspective. He proposes a managed bankruptcy. The government should give guarantees only after the structure is fixed. Here is a quote to wet your appetite. Click the link for the full article.

My friends at Delaware Liberal are reporting the fact that Dennis Rochford will be the Chief of staff for Governor Lee– I mean Markell.  Seriously, this is a great choice that I would have expected from a Lee administration.  Denny Rochford is a first class individual.  He is smart, capable, and will be a voice for fiscal restraint and reason. 

  Rochford is taking a risk politically, but I think that we should give him a pass.  It takes courage to answer the call to service when it is against your personal interests.  Denny Rochford is the best news of the day for those of us who want an administration which exhibits common sense and fiscal restraint.  Today we are all Markell supporters–I am sure that will change soon enough–we are all invested in the success of this state.  I am glad the governor elect has given a nod to us as well.

May God bless our new Governor-elect and give him wisdom to tackle the crisis in front of us.

I have given some critiques of the current President’s policies.  Some were favorable and some were critical.  I admit that I am puzzled by some recent actions, the Katrina aftermath, high spending, lack of fundamental tax reform, federal education mandates, the expansive Patriot Act, and couldn’t believe that he stuck with Rummy’s stubborn refusal to adopt a new war strategy as long as he did.  Yet some people would ignore the many real successes of this good man to bash Republicans and Conservatives.  They lie and pretend the last eight years were some apocolypse.

The fact is this President has done a great deal of good here and abroad.  The American people elected him twice for good reason.  Here is a dose of balance and reason.

President Bush restored a measure of balance and common sense to environmental policy.  The repeal of the drilling ban resulted in an immediate puncture of speculation and falling energy prices starting that very day.  He refused to be bullied into ill fated international recession under the name of environmentalism.

President Bush kept us safe.  He took bold and decisive actions to make our government better equipped to disrupt terrorism.

President Bush maneuvered the economy through challenges that would have sent us into recession 3 times over.  The 9/11 attacks, the natural disasters,  energy price shocks, international market issues, commodity while being able to carry us threw two wars.

President Bush won his war.  In spite of people in leadership declaring that we lost Iraq and Afghanistan was hopeless, he proved them wrong and through iron will and the willingness to adjust, left success not failure for the next President.

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Tags: Bush Legacy, President Bush

The folks at Delaware Liberal were concerned with our choice to put Michael Steele’s image in the masthead. So I have replaced Mr. Steele with the true hero of DelawarePolitics.net for a few days.

Crossroads - Cream Live 1968

Standin’ at the Crossroads.

Everyone has a solution to my Party. Those at the switch for many years saw nothing wrong, yet here they are today, telling me what’s wrong with the party, and they crow that it’s not enough of them. When did T.O. come in (We need me a little more of me)?

Standin’ at the Crossroads.

As I dare to care to make change, here I am once again, being told that I am not far-right enough to belong. Do I continue to fight, as my instinct and innate being tell me to do, or do I step off and let the whole thing complete it’s impending implosion, as my logical reasoning is screaming to my brain?

Standin’ at the Crossroads.

I really do need a break. It’s politics, a mere game played chess-master wannabees that never seem to be able to find that final check-mate move (not the politicians, but the puppet masters and the puppets bound by the strings of loyalty). Keep attacking with your pawns, fellas, the ultimate stale-mate is fast approaching and the board will be annihilated.

Tags: Delaware GOP, National GOP, Republicanism

From Citibank.
From JPMorgan and Chase, Co.

I am now officially in fear. What will I try to do now? Start a business. I kid you not. Can’t be any worse than being (potentially) unemployed.

Freaking economy.

Tags: economy, layoffs, unemployment

What in the name of kissing sisters was that mess yesterday?

Sad thing is, in spite of the awful play calling of Andy Reid (58 passes against 17 running plays…in an OT game), McNabb is taking big heat for this debacle.

Excuse me!

Sorry you haters, McNabb isn’t the problem, at least not to the extent many claim he is. 75 plays, 58 are passing plays…WT-freaking-F?

I was for a long a time a Reid defender, but how can anyone be that anymore? He bring a good talent-evaluation ability in his large frame, but beyond that, I can’t say he has anything else anymore. Face it, Andy, on-field coaching appears to have passed you by and like my GOP, you have done nothing to adapt to the times.

75 plays, 58/17 passes/runs (psst…Andy…that is at 77.33% rate of passing plays).

Ever hear of Brian Westbrook? We know you have. Ever hear of Correll Buckhalter? We know you have. How about Lorenzo Booker? You traded for him!

Andy, please…step down, or step up(stairs), just step the hell out of the way. Do what you do best: take all of the blame. This time, take the responsibility and consequences, too.

Tags: Andy Reid, Football, NFL, Philadelphia Eagles

So much for a fundamental realignment, the GOP is within 2 points of the Dems on the generic ballot. Freed from the shadow of President Bush, the GOP is rising in the polls. That bodes well for the Chamblis race.  This just proves that with good leadership, we will have a resurgence.  It is not a given, but a realistic opportunity.  In other polling, 78% of Republicans believe the next President will be one of them.

I propose that we get behind a leader who knows how to build a party in the blue states.  We need our own 50 state strategy.  I endorse Lt. Gov. Michael Steele for RNC chairman.  Please sign the petition at http://www.draftmichaelsteele.com/ or read more about him.

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Democrats call for counting every vote even when they have to divine the voter’s intent as in FL 2000 or pull them out of a trunk as in MN.  Yet, they seem to have little interest in insuring that the 31st district vote is right.  The Democrats are silent even though the odds are in their favor.  The Dept. of Elections found that in some districts in Kent County the absentee ballot was not counted accurately because of a design flaw which threw off the scanner.  A hand count in the 29th district changed the result of the election.

The 31st district race is about a couple hundred votes apart and there are nearly 800 absentee ballots.  The GOP asked for a recount.  It should be given because their is a mathematical possibility of changing the result  combined with a proven problem with the count.  It would not take unreasonable manpower nor time.  It could be done in an hour with staff and  volunteers watching from both parties. 

I think the end result would be the same, but until it is done I don’t know that it will be the same.  Senator Connie Mack won because he had a disproportionate victory in absentee ballots some years ago.  It happens.

I am fine with winning or losing, but I am not fine with not having confidence in the actual count.  There is no reason to avoid counting the ballots.  It will take less time and expense than going to court.  More importantly, it will insure the public does not lose confidence in there vote counting.  It also raises federal voting rights questions, it is a minority district and potentially votes are being diluted.

Kent County Department of Elections, please count every vote.  Don’t hide behind technicalities.

Is the DE GOP in Crisis? Back in Feb. I wrote this on firststatepolitics.net. Unfortunately, most of the suggestions and observations for the future are still valid. This post is in the top 3 hits on the old blog for the last week so I thought I would bring it back, including the insightful comments. The predictions came to pass and the suggestions are still out there. Is anyone listening.

It seems like the party’s best efforts have fallen apart. If it were the result of lousy leadership that would be a comfort because then we could just change the guys at the top and everything would be all right. Sadly, the problem is more fundamental. Our leadership is dedicated, energetic, and open to new ideas. The problem is that the party no longer has any real connection with the majority of the state. Thus many candidates who are strong are hesitant to run.Republicans complain rightfully so about the Minner/Carney administration mismanaging our money, but then our legislative leadership joins with the administration in allowing it. The recent changes dealing with prevailing wage means that some workers who are supposed to benefit, won’t have a job. Schools have to wait to be built. Roads stay on the drawing board. Taxpayers pay the same amount for less benefit from government. It is a lose, lose, lose proposal. They did not demand fundamental reform before giving hundreds of millions in new fees and tolls to the transportation trust fund. We could have at least plugged the hole before pouring more money in. It is an illusion like thinking the bucket is okay because you are pouring water in faster and it looks like it is filling up. You are still wasting water. We are still wasting money and with this change the hole has just gotten larger. We need to rediscover our identity.

We need to take a page from the Canadian Alliance, which is the conservative government in our neighbor to the north. The Progressive Conservative Party was so devastated by changing trends and poor leadership that it collapsed into oblivion. It went from over 200 seats to 2 in one election. The truth is that the collapse had been under way for years. The opposition was just not ready for prime time. Stephen Harper had a vision to rebuild a Conservative movement. Understanding what he did is important enough that I will write a post or series of posts on this….

7:51pm — The voting has concluded.

Speaker Bob Gilligan

Majority Leader Pete Schwartzkopf

Majority Whip Valerie Longhurst