Dialogue Delaware Inklings, oddments and the Delaware Way.
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Friday, November 02, 2007
We planning to mail the next one in?
Despite the seriousness of the discussion, there was plenty of ribbing Friday at the first in a series of conferences and forums at University of Delaware to examine the state’s path forward in these uncertain economic times.
One moment of levity came during a morning panel discussion moderated by John H. Taylor Jr., executive director of the Delaware Public Policy Institute.
From the audience, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner commented that she regreted she hadn’t done more with vocational education during her time in office. If she had another year, she said, she would tackle that issue.
Taylor didn’t miss a beat:
“Oh, the governor wants another year in office.”
After the audience finished laughing, Taylor said: “I think we’re out of time.”
Minner, if truth be told, is not.
She has one more year left in her second four-year term.
One moment of levity came during a morning panel discussion moderated by John H. Taylor Jr., executive director of the Delaware Public Policy Institute.
From the audience, Gov. Ruth Ann Minner commented that she regreted she hadn’t done more with vocational education during her time in office. If she had another year, she said, she would tackle that issue.
Taylor didn’t miss a beat:
“Oh, the governor wants another year in office.”
After the audience finished laughing, Taylor said: “I think we’re out of time.”
Minner, if truth be told, is not.
She has one more year left in her second four-year term.
--Maureen Milford
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Thursday, November 01, 2007
OK, kids! Now go tell your mom and dad!
The words were a bit simpler but the answers none the shorter when Joe Biden faced an audience of New Hampshire fourth-graders today.
The Democratic presidential candidate encountered the group in the lobby of the New Hampshire statehouse on his way to filing his candidacy with the secretary of state’s office.
Asked how long he had been in the Senate, the Delaware senator, who was elected in 1972, started talking about the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He then detoured into an aside about how his sister was pushed to be a nurse or teacher while he was encouraged to pursue any career he wanted despite grades worse than hers.
He also gave a detailed answer to a question adults don’t often ask candidates: How did the war in Iraq start? Biden compared the war in Iraq with the invasion of Afghanistan.
“Osama bin Laden set up camps there, and he was getting a lot of help from folks running that country called Afghanistan. And that’s where he planned an attack on America to bring the World Trade Towers down and kill all those innocent Americans. We had a right to, and we should’ve gone, to Afghanistan to try to get bin Laden and those people who’ve done very bad things to America,” he said.
“But the president, I think, he got a little confused,” he continued. “I think he thought the folks in another country, way, way far away, far from here, it’s also far from Afghanistan, called Iraq. He said, ’The guy in Iraq he helped bin Laden do bad things to us,’ and he didn’t. He wasn’t a good guy, but he didn’t help. So we used that kind of as an excuse to attack Iraq.”
Biden also asked the children a few questions, including the names of the past two presidents.
The Democratic presidential candidate encountered the group in the lobby of the New Hampshire statehouse on his way to filing his candidacy with the secretary of state’s office.
Asked how long he had been in the Senate, the Delaware senator, who was elected in 1972, started talking about the civil rights movement of the 1960s. He then detoured into an aside about how his sister was pushed to be a nurse or teacher while he was encouraged to pursue any career he wanted despite grades worse than hers.
He also gave a detailed answer to a question adults don’t often ask candidates: How did the war in Iraq start? Biden compared the war in Iraq with the invasion of Afghanistan.
“Osama bin Laden set up camps there, and he was getting a lot of help from folks running that country called Afghanistan. And that’s where he planned an attack on America to bring the World Trade Towers down and kill all those innocent Americans. We had a right to, and we should’ve gone, to Afghanistan to try to get bin Laden and those people who’ve done very bad things to America,” he said.
“But the president, I think, he got a little confused,” he continued. “I think he thought the folks in another country, way, way far away, far from here, it’s also far from Afghanistan, called Iraq. He said, ’The guy in Iraq he helped bin Laden do bad things to us,’ and he didn’t. He wasn’t a good guy, but he didn’t help. So we used that kind of as an excuse to attack Iraq.”
Biden also asked the children a few questions, including the names of the past two presidents.
He especially liked the answer he got when he asked them to predict the next president.
“You!”
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“You!”
Rudy sets up digs in Wilmington
Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani has established his political beachhead in Delaware.
Guiliani was the first Republican presidential candidate to assign full-time national campaign staff to the First State and this week, he became the first GOP candidate to formally open a campaign headquarters here.
The spacious office suite on North Scott Street in Wilmington will have room for phone banks, volunteers and the other things that go with a presidential run.
Priscilla Rakestraw, one of Guiliani's Delaware co-chairs, said it's a further sign the GOP frontrunner is taking the state seriously. Delaware is one of 20 states where the Giuliani campaign has a full-time operation.
"We're an early [primary] state and Rudy knows how important it is to build momentum," said Rakestraw, who added that Giuliani will be squeezing campaigning time here into the schedule before the Feb. 5 primary. "Rudy has gotten a great reception every time he's come here and we hope to keep building on that."
Guiliani was the first Republican presidential candidate to assign full-time national campaign staff to the First State and this week, he became the first GOP candidate to formally open a campaign headquarters here.
The spacious office suite on North Scott Street in Wilmington will have room for phone banks, volunteers and the other things that go with a presidential run.
Priscilla Rakestraw, one of Guiliani's Delaware co-chairs, said it's a further sign the GOP frontrunner is taking the state seriously. Delaware is one of 20 states where the Giuliani campaign has a full-time operation.
"We're an early [primary] state and Rudy knows how important it is to build momentum," said Rakestraw, who added that Giuliani will be squeezing campaigning time here into the schedule before the Feb. 5 primary. "Rudy has gotten a great reception every time he's come here and we hope to keep building on that."
-- Patrick Jackson
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No fury such as a woman scorned
Last year, Barbara Allsopp was in the eye of the storm over so-called fusion candidates, and ended up running against the late Sen. Jim Vaughn on the Independent Party's ticket after losing a Republican primary to John Feroce.
Allsopp, who was raised a Democrat, went back to her family's party after the election and rough treatment from members of the GOP for her decision to stay in the race.
Now, she's wholeheartedly supporting Rep. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, in his quest for Vaughn's Senate seat in Saturday's special election.
Ironically, Ennis opponent this time around, Appoquinimink School Board President Joanne Christian, is running as a fusion candidate on the Republican and Independent Party of Delaware ballot lines -- with the GOP's full blessing.
Not only has she written letters to the editor of papers around the district and to The News Journal in support of Ennis, Allsopp donated $100 to his cause.
"He's just an icon down in Smyrna. He always gets strong support from the Rs, the Ds and the independents here," Allsopp said. "He's always accessible and ready to help the people, and that's why people here think he's so awesome."
Allsopp, who was raised a Democrat, went back to her family's party after the election and rough treatment from members of the GOP for her decision to stay in the race.
Now, she's wholeheartedly supporting Rep. Bruce Ennis, D-Smyrna, in his quest for Vaughn's Senate seat in Saturday's special election.
Ironically, Ennis opponent this time around, Appoquinimink School Board President Joanne Christian, is running as a fusion candidate on the Republican and Independent Party of Delaware ballot lines -- with the GOP's full blessing.
Not only has she written letters to the editor of papers around the district and to The News Journal in support of Ennis, Allsopp donated $100 to his cause.
"He's just an icon down in Smyrna. He always gets strong support from the Rs, the Ds and the independents here," Allsopp said. "He's always accessible and ready to help the people, and that's why people here think he's so awesome."
-- Patrick Jackson
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The polls, Joe, do not toll for thee
Another primary state poll – and the same verdict for Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden.
A Winthrop University/ETV Poll telephone poll of 522 likely Republican primary voters and 534 likely Democratic primary voters in South Carolina found that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson are in the lead.
Clinton – the front-runner just about everywhere – topped the Oct. 7-28 sampling with 33 percent, followed by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at 23 percent, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 10 percent – and Biden with 2 percent.
On the Republican side, Thompson topped the field with 18 percent, followed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 16 percent, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney at 16 percent, Ariz. Sen. John McCain at 9 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 5 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 2 percent.
The poll had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points among Republicans and 4 percentage points among Democrats.
Find complete results here. Comments [0]
Another primary state poll – and the same verdict for Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden.
A Winthrop University/ETV Poll telephone poll of 522 likely Republican primary voters and 534 likely Democratic primary voters in South Carolina found that Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., and former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thompson are in the lead.
Clinton – the front-runner just about everywhere – topped the Oct. 7-28 sampling with 33 percent, followed by Illinois Sen. Barack Obama at 23 percent, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 10 percent – and Biden with 2 percent.
On the Republican side, Thompson topped the field with 18 percent, followed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 16 percent, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney at 16 percent, Ariz. Sen. John McCain at 9 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 5 percent and Texas Rep. Ron Paul at 2 percent.
The poll had a sampling error margin of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points among Republicans and 4 percentage points among Democrats.
Find complete results here. Comments [0]
It really WAS scary yesterday ...
Supply your own photo caption to this Halloween moment in the U.S. Senate featuring Sen. Joe Biden and Sen. Chuck Hagel, R-Neb., as Joe Biden. HT to Fred Clark.
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Thursday, October 25, 2007
Poll news no better for Biden in N.H.
There was no good news for Sen. Joe Biden in a poll released today of Democratic voter sentiments in New Hampshire.
Not only did Biden register in the low single digits again in the sampling by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, he trailed Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.
The poll by SRBI Research in New York City of 1,514 New Hampshire voters was conducted Oct. 15-21, with a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
That includes 613 likely Democratic primary voters, 498 likely Republican primary voters and 352 undeclared voters.
Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York lead with 43 percent, followed by Sen. Barack Obame of Illinois with 22 percent, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 14 percent, New Mexico Gob. Bill Richardson with 6 percent, Kucinich with 3 percent, Biden with 2 percent, Conn. Sen. Chris Dodd with 2 percent, “other” with 1 percent. Eight percent were unsure.
On the Republican side, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney was on top with 32 percent followed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 22 percent, Ariz. Sen. John McCain at 15 percent, Ron Paul at 7 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 6 percent, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thomson at 5 percent and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, and California Rep. Duncan Hunter tied at 1 percent with “other.” Nine percent of those contacted said they didn’t know.
The poll also provided some perspective on the leanings of potential primary voters, who can choose either ballot when they go to vote.
Overall, 41 percent said they planned to vote in the Democratic primary, 35 percent said the Republican primary and 24 percent said they were unsure.
Of the 352 undeclared voters, about 40 percent said they would choose a Democratic ballot, with about 20 percent saying they would vote in the Republican primary. About 40 percent said they didn’t know which ballot they would choose. Comments [3]
Not only did Biden register in the low single digits again in the sampling by the New Hampshire Institute of Politics at Saint Anselm College, he trailed Rep. Dennis Kucinich of Ohio.
The poll by SRBI Research in New York City of 1,514 New Hampshire voters was conducted Oct. 15-21, with a sampling error margin of plus or minus 2.5 percentage points.
That includes 613 likely Democratic primary voters, 498 likely Republican primary voters and 352 undeclared voters.
Among Democrats, Sen. Hillary Clinton of New York lead with 43 percent, followed by Sen. Barack Obame of Illinois with 22 percent, former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards with 14 percent, New Mexico Gob. Bill Richardson with 6 percent, Kucinich with 3 percent, Biden with 2 percent, Conn. Sen. Chris Dodd with 2 percent, “other” with 1 percent. Eight percent were unsure.
On the Republican side, former Mass. Gov. Mitt Romney was on top with 32 percent followed by former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani at 22 percent, Ariz. Sen. John McCain at 15 percent, Ron Paul at 7 percent, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee at 6 percent, former Tennessee Sen. Fred Thomson at 5 percent and Colorado Rep. Tom Tancredo, Kansas Sen. Sam Brownback, and California Rep. Duncan Hunter tied at 1 percent with “other.” Nine percent of those contacted said they didn’t know.
The poll also provided some perspective on the leanings of potential primary voters, who can choose either ballot when they go to vote.
Overall, 41 percent said they planned to vote in the Democratic primary, 35 percent said the Republican primary and 24 percent said they were unsure.
Of the 352 undeclared voters, about 40 percent said they would choose a Democratic ballot, with about 20 percent saying they would vote in the Republican primary. About 40 percent said they didn’t know which ballot they would choose. Comments [3]
Carper helps pave the way for Judge Southwick
When Judge Leslie Southwick takes his seat on the U.S. Circuit Court in New Orleans, he'll have a handful of Democrats to thank -- including Delaware's own Tom Carper.
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Southwick's nomination to the second-highest level in the federal court system was opposed by civil rights groups and most Democrats who said he wasn’t sensitive enough to the region’s history of race relations.
It all came to a head this week in the Senate, which confirmed his nomination in a 59-38 vote, a rare Republican victory in a Democratic-led Senate.
Carper was among the "no votes when the roll call came, but he had a key hand in victory for Southwick.
The nomination survived a test tally moments before the final vote in which a dozen Democrats sided with Republicans to thwart a filibuster. That left Democrats without the power to block Southwick’s confirmation, even after a heated debate that raised the pain of civil rights struggles in the 5th Circuit, which serves Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas.
“This vote for Leslie Southwick is a vote against the dignity and safety of our families,” said Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese.
But supporters of Southwick’s nomination said the choice was rightly decided on his qualifications — not the turbulent history of the 5th Circuit.
But supporters of Southwick’s nomination said the choice was rightly decided on his qualifications — not the turbulent history of the 5th Circuit.
Particularly sweet for Republicans was the pivotal role played by Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., who sided with Republicans on the Judiciary Committee and voted to give Southwick an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor.
Another bonus for the party out of congressional power: Eight Democrats and one independent joined Feinstein in voting to confirm Southwick.
Feinstein has said that she believes Southwick is qualified, is not a racist and deserved an up-or-down vote by the full Senate.
The final vote to confirm would not have happened without the initial “yes” votes to end debate from Carper, Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and Ken Salazar of Colorado. Support from the three pushed the tally past the 60-vote threshold to advance Southwick to a confirmation vote.
Carper, Inouye and Salazar then voted against his confirmation.
Carper, Inouye and Salazar then voted against his confirmation.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Not The First State on the uniform runway
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OLYMPIA, Wash. — It’s a look that lead-foot drivers know all too well: the crisp black bow tie and blue “Smokey Bear” hat of a Washington State Patrol trooper.
And according to a national trade group, the outfits are the best-looking state police uniforms in the country.
The patrol, which has been wearing the peaked hats and distinctive bow ties for about 70 years, recently was named America’s “Best-Dressed State Law Enforcement Agency” by the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors.
The agency has taken runner-up honors before, but this is the first year the attire has been recognized as tops in the country, said Capt. Bill Hilton.
Judges were impressed by the Washington troopers’ formal uniform, which includes the black bow tie on a long-sleeved blue shirt, with darker blue pocket flaps, epaulets and cuffs.
Matching blue pants sport a dark blue stripe down the side, and the peaked, flat-brimmed dark blue felt cap tops it all off.
With the clothing come a certain bearing, Hilton said.
“You check to see that things are straight before you head out the door, and the brass is shined up,” he said. “Sometimes, my wife will comment that it’s taking me a bit of time to get ready.”
And according to a national trade group, the outfits are the best-looking state police uniforms in the country.
The patrol, which has been wearing the peaked hats and distinctive bow ties for about 70 years, recently was named America’s “Best-Dressed State Law Enforcement Agency” by the National Association of Uniform Manufacturers and Distributors.
The agency has taken runner-up honors before, but this is the first year the attire has been recognized as tops in the country, said Capt. Bill Hilton.
Judges were impressed by the Washington troopers’ formal uniform, which includes the black bow tie on a long-sleeved blue shirt, with darker blue pocket flaps, epaulets and cuffs.
Matching blue pants sport a dark blue stripe down the side, and the peaked, flat-brimmed dark blue felt cap tops it all off.
With the clothing come a certain bearing, Hilton said.
“You check to see that things are straight before you head out the door, and the brass is shined up,” he said. “Sometimes, my wife will comment that it’s taking me a bit of time to get ready.”
The outfit sure looks like a Mustang-stopper but, to be honest, we kinda feel a little sorry for the dog.
-- Associated Press
Who's next, the ice-carving guy from First Night?
The campaign in Iowa has officially morphed into Saturday Night Live.
Today's news: Democrat Barack Obama has won over Iowa’s butter cow lady.
Norma “Duffy” Lyon, known for carving life-sized cows from butter for 46 years at the Iowa State Fair, said she’s backing Obama because he “doesn’t believe in a lot of gobbly-gook” and spends time listening to ordinary voters.
Now this ranks up there in importance with the news we posted just moments ago just below this ditty.
Then again, maybe not. Maybe this really IS what the campaign is all about.
Certainly, the Obama campaign thinks it ranks right up there with FluMist being OK for toddlers.
Obama began airing radio ads today in which Lyon praises the Illinois senator.
In addition to cows, Lyon has carved butter sculptures of Elvis, John Wayne, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”
Now the state fair is a must-visit for presidential candidates, and many hopefuls get their photos taken while gazing at the carvings in a huge refrigerated case.
“It’s the first time I’ve done this,” said Lyon, who retired last year. “He’s my candidate and I want to see him do well.”
Lyon, who raises dairy cows and beef cattle with her husband near Tama, made her endorsement a week after Obama offered a rural plan that would aid smaller farms, expand the renewable fuels industry and establish incentives for organic production.
In the ad, Lyon said that approach appealed to her.
“He wants to hear from the people,” Lyon said in an interview.
And this why we absolutely must let Iowa continue to go first in choosing the best candidates for President of the United States.
The campaign in Iowa has officially morphed into Saturday Night Live.
Today's news: Democrat Barack Obama has won over Iowa’s butter cow lady.
Norma “Duffy” Lyon, known for carving life-sized cows from butter for 46 years at the Iowa State Fair, said she’s backing Obama because he “doesn’t believe in a lot of gobbly-gook” and spends time listening to ordinary voters.
Now this ranks up there in importance with the news we posted just moments ago just below this ditty.
Then again, maybe not. Maybe this really IS what the campaign is all about.
Certainly, the Obama campaign thinks it ranks right up there with FluMist being OK for toddlers.
Obama began airing radio ads today in which Lyon praises the Illinois senator.
In addition to cows, Lyon has carved butter sculptures of Elvis, John Wayne, a Harley-Davidson motorcycle and Leonardo da Vinci’s “The Last Supper.”
Now the state fair is a must-visit for presidential candidates, and many hopefuls get their photos taken while gazing at the carvings in a huge refrigerated case.
“It’s the first time I’ve done this,” said Lyon, who retired last year. “He’s my candidate and I want to see him do well.”
Lyon, who raises dairy cows and beef cattle with her husband near Tama, made her endorsement a week after Obama offered a rural plan that would aid smaller farms, expand the renewable fuels industry and establish incentives for organic production.
In the ad, Lyon said that approach appealed to her.
“He wants to hear from the people,” Lyon said in an interview.
And this why we absolutely must let Iowa continue to go first in choosing the best candidates for President of the United States.
-- Associated Press/News Journal
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Atkins: Forgotten, but not-quite-gone?
The state Department of Justice has quietly -- oh so quietly -- decided that former Rep. John C. Atkins committed no crime by telling his family’s baby sitter to tell no one about what she may have heard on the October, 2006 night that Atkins was arrested following a domestic incident with his wife, Heather.
In a six-page decision dated July 2 but only released publicly on Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Eugene M. Hall ruled there was no evidence that Atkins had committed the offenses of hindering prosecution, tampering with a witness or committing an act of intimidation.
Atkins, who resigned March 27 after the House Ethics Committee found he had brought the chamber into disrepute for the fight with Heather and for abusing the powers of his office to escape a possible citation for drunken driving in Ocean City, Md., takes some comfort in the finding.
“Obviously, my wife and family and I are, I guess, pleased with the attorney general’s investigation and hope this puts an end to a lot of these allegations and rumors that have been floated out there,” Atkins said.
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In a six-page decision dated July 2 but only released publicly on Tuesday, Deputy Attorney General Eugene M. Hall ruled there was no evidence that Atkins had committed the offenses of hindering prosecution, tampering with a witness or committing an act of intimidation.
Atkins, who resigned March 27 after the House Ethics Committee found he had brought the chamber into disrepute for the fight with Heather and for abusing the powers of his office to escape a possible citation for drunken driving in Ocean City, Md., takes some comfort in the finding.
“Obviously, my wife and family and I are, I guess, pleased with the attorney general’s investigation and hope this puts an end to a lot of these allegations and rumors that have been floated out there,” Atkins said.
Atkins, who entered a first offenders program after being charged in the domestic incident, will have his record wiped clean once he completes his one-year probation.
However, Atkins isn’t sure he buys the explanation that the July 2 report was sent to the office of House Majority Leader Richard C. Cathcart, R-Middletown and chairman of the Ethics Committee, but somehow never made it to Cathcart himself.
“There are some people out here wondering, did Dick Cathcart or the House Republicans bury this report solely because it didn’t turn out the way they wanted it,” Atkins said.
Had the report found that a criminal act had occurred, Atkins said, the Republicans who wanted him gone would have seen to it that the report was made public, and quickly.
“It would have been real nice if everyone could have waited till the report was complete before they rushed to judgment,” he said.
Cathcart dismissed Atkins’ charge with one word: “Ridiculous.” He added that it is not unusual for items to be sent to his office but never find their way into his hands.
Atkins might be gone, but he’s not forgotten.
However, Atkins isn’t sure he buys the explanation that the July 2 report was sent to the office of House Majority Leader Richard C. Cathcart, R-Middletown and chairman of the Ethics Committee, but somehow never made it to Cathcart himself.
“There are some people out here wondering, did Dick Cathcart or the House Republicans bury this report solely because it didn’t turn out the way they wanted it,” Atkins said.
Had the report found that a criminal act had occurred, Atkins said, the Republicans who wanted him gone would have seen to it that the report was made public, and quickly.
“It would have been real nice if everyone could have waited till the report was complete before they rushed to judgment,” he said.
Cathcart dismissed Atkins’ charge with one word: “Ridiculous.” He added that it is not unusual for items to be sent to his office but never find their way into his hands.
Atkins might be gone, but he’s not forgotten.
Rumors persist that he will try to reclaim his old House seat from Republican Rep. Gregory A. Hastings, who won it in a special election. He might even wind up on the Democratic ticket, if the Democrats will have him.
Atkins won’t comment on a possible run, but he hasn’t been keeping a low profile. Just last week he was hobnobbing at a House hearing in Dagsboro, pumping hands like the politician he was -- and still is.
Atkins won’t comment on a possible run, but he hasn’t been keeping a low profile. Just last week he was hobnobbing at a House hearing in Dagsboro, pumping hands like the politician he was -- and still is.
-- J.L. Miller
Does this mean he qualifies for CNN debates?
It's probably not a stretch to think that, maybe, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden and his handlers are trying to ignore the polls, which have had his Democratic presidential ratings in the low single-digits since he declared in February.
That's probably doubly true for the weekend poll of 1,000 people Public Opinion Strategies claims to have done, with a margin of error of four percentage points.
In that poll, Biden registered a typical 2.7 percent among Democrats. The kicker being this has him just slightly ahead of Stephen Colbert, the Comedy Central faux political commentator who is threatening to run for president as both a Republican and a Democrat.
Colbert, inserted into the poll on the Dem and GOP sides, weighed in just behind Biden with 2.3 percent, placing him ahead of Gov. Bill Richardson, Rep. Dennis Kucinich and former Sen. Mike Gravel. On the Republican side, he got 1 percent, good enough for dead last.
Now, this all was reported Monday by Chris Cillizza on The Fix blog over at washingtonpost.com, and of course has great legs on the comedy circuit. Chris notes that the polling outfit does almost all of its work for Republican candidates.
Still, for Biden and the three who trailed Colbert, it's not how you want to make the top of a Google search.
You can read the original here.
Or try to find the poll here.
Comments [0]
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Sure, they go for the big giraffe number every time
Who would have guessed it? Bill Clinton=Mr. Romance.
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It seems Hillary let slip with a couple of Bill's Secret Moves to Keep Romance Alive in an interview with Essence magazine, including a few you'll be surprised you never thought of.
“Oh he’s so romantic,” the former first lady said. “He’s always bringing me back things from his trips.”
Like a Chanel watch made of white cubes that "reminded him of teeth" -- and of her recent dental surgery. Kind of a play off of that "I feel your pain" line?
Or the big stuffed giraffe he brought back from a trip to Africa. Don't need to know where he was going with that one.
The New York senator, now a presidential candidate, said she is satisfied with the decisions she has made in her marriage.
“Now obviously we’ve had challenges as everybody in the world knows,” she said. “But I never doubted that it was a marriage worth investing in even in the midst of those challenges, and I’m really happy that I made that decision.”
The "investment" got a little shaky in 1998, news unfolded about her husband’s affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Clinton said she chose to stick it out, which might not be for everyone. She said women should support each other in the choices they make in their marriages.
“I think it’s so important for women to stand up for the right of women to make a decision that is best for them,” she said.
“Now obviously we’ve had challenges as everybody in the world knows,” she said. “But I never doubted that it was a marriage worth investing in even in the midst of those challenges, and I’m really happy that I made that decision.”
The "investment" got a little shaky in 1998, news unfolded about her husband’s affair with Monica Lewinsky.
Clinton said she chose to stick it out, which might not be for everyone. She said women should support each other in the choices they make in their marriages.
“I think it’s so important for women to stand up for the right of women to make a decision that is best for them,” she said.
--Associated Press
Yup, sure looks like Castle's vulnerable
Lots of noise out there about how Blue Delaware's become and how that translates into Big Trouble a year from now for the only Republican in the state's Congressional delegation -- Rep. Mike Castle.
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But if you buy the results of this month's PublicMind Poll by Fairleigh Dickenson University, all that ends up sounding an awful lot like Dusty Springfield politics -- nothin' but Wishin' and Hopin'.
Castle weighed in with a 63 percent approval rating with Delaware voters. No surprise that 70 percent of GOP voters gave him a thumbs-up, with but 12 percent frowning on his work. But Democrats weren't far behind, with 59 percent rating him favorably and just 15 percent giving him an unfavorable assessment.
And that makes him the leader of the 3-man pack.
Castle weighed in with a 63 percent approval rating with Delaware voters. No surprise that 70 percent of GOP voters gave him a thumbs-up, with but 12 percent frowning on his work. But Democrats weren't far behind, with 59 percent rating him favorably and just 15 percent giving him an unfavorable assessment.
And that makes him the leader of the 3-man pack.
Tom Carper, the state's junior Democratic senator, earned a 60 percent favorable rating, with 64 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of Republicans smiling on his work.
Democratic presidential aspirant Joe Biden carried the lowest positive ratings -- and the highest negatives -- of the trio. Biden had a 57 percent favorable rating and a 26 percent unfavorable rating. About 76 percent of Democrats thought well of Biden while only 31 percent of Republicans admitted a favorable opinion. At the same time, 50 percent of GOP voters held a poor opinion of Biden, with only 8 percent of Democrats feeling the same way.
That may be the power of incumbancy, the glow from years in the public eye, or a function of the relative moderate positions taken by the three.
That may be the power of incumbancy, the glow from years in the public eye, or a function of the relative moderate positions taken by the three.
It adds up to a bear of a task for anyone who steps into the ring.
-- Patrick Jackson
Uma, Oprah; Oprah, Uma -- Mitt's ready for Late Night?
In a slip of the tongue, Republican Mitt Romney accused Democratic presidential contender Barack Obama of urging terrorists to congregate in Iraq.
In the midst of criticizing Obama and other Democrats on foreign and economic policy today, the GOP presidential hopeful said:
“Actually, just look at what Osam — Barack Obama — said just yesterday. Barack Obama, calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. ... It’s almost as if the Democratic contenders for president are living in fantasyland. Their idea for jihad is to retreat, and their idea for the economy is to also retreat. And in my view, both efforts are wrongheaded.”
Romney apparently was referring to an audiotape aired Monday in which a speaker believed to be terrorist Osama bin Laden called for insurgents in Iraq to unite and avoid divisions. The authenticity of the tape aired on Al-Jazeera television could not be immediately confirmed.
Romney was addressing a Chamber of Commerce meeting. Spokesman Kevin Madden said: “He misspoke. He was referring to the audiotape of Osama bin Laden and misspoke. It was just a mix-up.”
An Obama spokesman asked to review the quote before commenting.
In January, CNN apologized for mistakenly promoting a story on the search for Osama bin Laden with the headline “Where’s Obama?”
Comments [0]
In the midst of criticizing Obama and other Democrats on foreign and economic policy today, the GOP presidential hopeful said:
“Actually, just look at what Osam — Barack Obama — said just yesterday. Barack Obama, calling on radicals, jihadists of all different types, to come together in Iraq. That is the battlefield. ... It’s almost as if the Democratic contenders for president are living in fantasyland. Their idea for jihad is to retreat, and their idea for the economy is to also retreat. And in my view, both efforts are wrongheaded.”
Romney apparently was referring to an audiotape aired Monday in which a speaker believed to be terrorist Osama bin Laden called for insurgents in Iraq to unite and avoid divisions. The authenticity of the tape aired on Al-Jazeera television could not be immediately confirmed.
Romney was addressing a Chamber of Commerce meeting. Spokesman Kevin Madden said: “He misspoke. He was referring to the audiotape of Osama bin Laden and misspoke. It was just a mix-up.”
An Obama spokesman asked to review the quote before commenting.
In January, CNN apologized for mistakenly promoting a story on the search for Osama bin Laden with the headline “Where’s Obama?”
-- Associated Press/Glen Johnson
Comments [0]
Friday, October 19, 2007
Some Landings are harder than others
Ed Osborne's sentiments about Christina Landing, a development of town homes, apartments and condominiums along Wilmington’s Christina riverfront, have changed drastically over the past few years.
When the townhomes first went up on A Street across from Osborne’s auto repair shop, he fancied himself as a pioneer in the long-barren neighborhood and was thrilled to see a potential huge customer base move in.
He put a sign up on the top of his store that read, “Welcome Christina Landing.”
Now, he says, he feels like a schmuck who was betrayed.
Earlier this year, his property was put on a list for possible condemnation by the city using eminent domain. His property would then be transferred to a developer that would build something more in line with city officials’ vision for the area.
To take the properties, the city must prove that Osborne’s business represents urban blight.
Osborne and others have vowed to fight the possible condemnation to the end.
Last Friday, he had a cookout for supporters. More than 200 people showed up between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Osborne said.
As he grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, Osborne wore a T-shirt that illustrates his current feelings toward the city and Buccini/Pollin Inc., which developed Christina Landing.
It says: “Blight Me.” Comments [0]
Ed Osborne's sentiments about Christina Landing, a development of town homes, apartments and condominiums along Wilmington’s Christina riverfront, have changed drastically over the past few years.
When the townhomes first went up on A Street across from Osborne’s auto repair shop, he fancied himself as a pioneer in the long-barren neighborhood and was thrilled to see a potential huge customer base move in.
He put a sign up on the top of his store that read, “Welcome Christina Landing.”
Now, he says, he feels like a schmuck who was betrayed.
Earlier this year, his property was put on a list for possible condemnation by the city using eminent domain. His property would then be transferred to a developer that would build something more in line with city officials’ vision for the area.
To take the properties, the city must prove that Osborne’s business represents urban blight.
Osborne and others have vowed to fight the possible condemnation to the end.
Last Friday, he had a cookout for supporters. More than 200 people showed up between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Osborne said.
As he grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, Osborne wore a T-shirt that illustrates his current feelings toward the city and Buccini/Pollin Inc., which developed Christina Landing.
It says: “Blight Me.” Comments [0]
Pssst Smyrna! Get your absentee ballots!
The term “absentee ballot” brings back memories in Smyrna, and not very pleasant ones.
Back in 2005, then-Mayor Mark Schaeffer went door-to-door, soliciting absentee ballots on behalf of voters -- which is permitted by town ordinances -- and also handing actual ballots to voters. That is not permitted.
When Schaeffer’s re-election campaign came to a close and the ballots cast in the voting machines were counted, challenger Gene Mullen had a 39-vote lead. But when the absentee ballots were opened, Schaeffer won by two highly disputed votes. That caused such an uproar that the General Assembly waded in, passing a landmark reform of Delaware municipal election laws.
Although Smyrna elections are nonpartisan, Schaeffer is a Republican who once ran against then-Sen. James T. Vaughn, D-Clayton. Were it not for his embarrassing electoral antics, Schaeffer might have wound up as the GOP’s candidate in the race to replace Vaughn, who died Oct. 10.
But Joanne Christian is the Republican candidate for Vaughn’s seat, running against longtime Rep. Bruce C. Ennis, D-Smyrna. Given the Schaeffer debacle, you’d think the GOP would have learned to steer clear of soliciting absentee ballots, at least in the Smyrna area.
Apparently not.
Republican voters in the area recently received a campaign come-on in their mailboxes from the Christian camp. Emblazoned on the front of the envelope, in red letters, were the words, “ABSENTEE BALLOT ENCLOSED.”
Those who opened them found not an actual ballot inside, but an affidavit to request an absentee ballot.
Either way, the episode caused considerable mirth among local Democrats once they got wind of the mailing.
“Can you say one-page playbook?” one cracked. Comments [0]
Back in 2005, then-Mayor Mark Schaeffer went door-to-door, soliciting absentee ballots on behalf of voters -- which is permitted by town ordinances -- and also handing actual ballots to voters. That is not permitted.
When Schaeffer’s re-election campaign came to a close and the ballots cast in the voting machines were counted, challenger Gene Mullen had a 39-vote lead. But when the absentee ballots were opened, Schaeffer won by two highly disputed votes. That caused such an uproar that the General Assembly waded in, passing a landmark reform of Delaware municipal election laws.
Although Smyrna elections are nonpartisan, Schaeffer is a Republican who once ran against then-Sen. James T. Vaughn, D-Clayton. Were it not for his embarrassing electoral antics, Schaeffer might have wound up as the GOP’s candidate in the race to replace Vaughn, who died Oct. 10.
But Joanne Christian is the Republican candidate for Vaughn’s seat, running against longtime Rep. Bruce C. Ennis, D-Smyrna. Given the Schaeffer debacle, you’d think the GOP would have learned to steer clear of soliciting absentee ballots, at least in the Smyrna area.
Apparently not.
Republican voters in the area recently received a campaign come-on in their mailboxes from the Christian camp. Emblazoned on the front of the envelope, in red letters, were the words, “ABSENTEE BALLOT ENCLOSED.”
Those who opened them found not an actual ballot inside, but an affidavit to request an absentee ballot.
Either way, the episode caused considerable mirth among local Democrats once they got wind of the mailing.
“Can you say one-page playbook?” one cracked. Comments [0]
Denn-Valihura lock horns
Insurance Commissioner Matt Denn may be a candidate for lieutenant governor next year, but this week he seemed to be running a little interference for whichever Democrat seeks to succeed him in 2008.
Comments [0]
Denn took loud umbrage at one Republican said to be considering a run for insurance commissioner: Rep. Robert Valihura of Beau Tree.
The issue was a meeting scheduled -- then canceled -- this week of a House task force set up June 30 to study the idea of a state-aided health insurance pool for small businesses, something Denn supports and has pressed in the form of Senate Bill 6.
That measure passed the Senate April 4, but then stalled in the House Economic Development, Banking and Insurance Committee.
Denn first criticized the lack of public notice of the hearing, which was not added to the state Web site’s listing of upcoming meetings or posted in legislative Hall. Denn said he got a letter in late September alerting him to the hearing.
“It’s ironic that someone like Bob Valihura who protrays himself as ‘Mr. Freedom of Information Act’ isn’t posting notice of this meeting,” Denn said. “If it requires more discussion, there should be people to discuss it.”
Denn went on to sday he sees the task force as an attempt to kill S.B. 6.
“It’s an issue that’s been around Legislative Hall for 2 1/2 years and it’s gotten very robust discussion,” Denn said. “I’m convinced they’re trying to run the clock out on it with this task force.”
Valihura, who canceled the Wednesday meeting because of courthouse obligations, attributed the lack of posting to a clerical fumble.
He charged that Denn has failed to provide information requested by the task force. Wednesday’s meeting at Legislative Hall would have been the group’s first meeting.
Valihura said he was taking the group’s charge to study the issue in-depth seriously, and that he “will not dignify Mr. Denn’s charge with a response.”
The panel isn’t required to report its findings until mid-March.
Friday, October 12, 2007
The education Govennor?
Lord knows, it seems we need one.
Exhibit A: This advertisement touting state Treasurer Jack Markell's bid for governor seen at Newark High School's football field during the Yellow Jackets victory against Glasgow on Friday. -- The News Journal/William Bretzger
Comments [0]
Biden shops local
It’s nice to know with all the high-end stores to be found inside the Beltway, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden still shops in Delaware.
The Democratic presidential candidate was spotted strolling solo through Concord Mall Thursday evening.
Wearing a pale blue button-down shirt and slacks, the tall senator stood out among the throngs of sloppily dressed teenagers, who seemed oblivious to the fact that a White House contender was in their midst.
No word yet on whether Biden prefers Cinnabon to Auntie Annies. Comments [0]
It’s nice to know with all the high-end stores to be found inside the Beltway, U.S. Sen. Joe Biden still shops in Delaware.
The Democratic presidential candidate was spotted strolling solo through Concord Mall Thursday evening.
Wearing a pale blue button-down shirt and slacks, the tall senator stood out among the throngs of sloppily dressed teenagers, who seemed oblivious to the fact that a White House contender was in their midst.
No word yet on whether Biden prefers Cinnabon to Auntie Annies. Comments [0]
Biden, Brownback pitch federal Iraq plan
Comments [0]
Sen. Joe Biden and Republican Sen. Sam Brownback, R-Kansas, took the unusual step Friday of holding a joint event to tout their proposal for a political solution to the war in Iraq. Biden, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has been the most prominent advocate of a plan in Congress that would limit the power of Iraq’s central government and give more control to three ethnically divided states.
The two presidential contenders appeared together before the Greater Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations, a civic group that promotes solutions to foreign policy problems.
“We often don’t agree ... but one thing we agree on is that the solution to our situation in Iraq is, quite frankly, more important than who among us will be the next president of the United States of America,” Biden said.
Brownback and Biden sponsored a nonbinding resolution laying out the plan that won Senate approval last month on a 75-23 vote. The resolution was attached to the defense authorization bill as an amendment.
Brownback said reaching across party lines to find a solution in Iraq marks the first time in recent history that opposing parties campaigning for president shed their political labels and came together.
“It is my hope that our appearance will resonate with the vast majority of voters in the heartland who don’t want any particular party to win on the Iraq issue but do want America to win,” he said before the event.
Brownback said the Bush administration’s military surge has had some effectiveness, but it’s now time for a political response.
“Now we need a political surge,” he said. “That’s what this represents.”
The two presidential contenders appeared together before the Greater Des Moines Committee on Foreign Relations, a civic group that promotes solutions to foreign policy problems.
“We often don’t agree ... but one thing we agree on is that the solution to our situation in Iraq is, quite frankly, more important than who among us will be the next president of the United States of America,” Biden said.
Brownback and Biden sponsored a nonbinding resolution laying out the plan that won Senate approval last month on a 75-23 vote. The resolution was attached to the defense authorization bill as an amendment.
Brownback said reaching across party lines to find a solution in Iraq marks the first time in recent history that opposing parties campaigning for president shed their political labels and came together.
“It is my hope that our appearance will resonate with the vast majority of voters in the heartland who don’t want any particular party to win on the Iraq issue but do want America to win,” he said before the event.
Brownback said the Bush administration’s military surge has had some effectiveness, but it’s now time for a political response.
“Now we need a political surge,” he said. “That’s what this represents.”
-- David Pitt/Associated Press