Open Under New Management
Jul 1st, 2009 by David Anderson
Update: Someone already is trying to say on another blog that I intend to censor comments. No way. You are free to say what you want as long as it does not cross the line of defamation. That means that you can be mean, disparaging, lampoon, but don’t defame someone. I hope that you won’t be mean, but that is not something I care about. If you do drop the f- bomb or something don’t be surprised to see a f**. That isn’t too hard to deal with. Not much is changing in that regard. I am just putting it out there.
Welcome to a new phase of Delaware’s premier right of center blog site. It is where policy meets common sense. National, state, and local issues are all in bounds.
The good news is that Maria, Elbert, John and I will still contribute to the public discourse. Even better is the fact that we are adding new voices like Tim and Wiseman who will bring perspectives previously unheard in the Delaware blogosphere. A local perspective is more vital now than ever before with Delaware Tonight becoming a casualty. We will also give a different view of national and international issues as well. Add to this the likelihood that Dave and Smitty are still welcome to mix it up and make occasional posts after their self imposed hiatuses, and I believe the best days are ahead.
There will be new features including “first draft of the news” which will feature local news releases. We will also try a calender of events which will include local activities and opportunities for activism. GOP, 9/12, DFPC, Chambers, Citizens for Prosperity, and other organizations will have opportunities to publicize events. We will also post important hearings and meetings of government bodies. We may even link to some guy’s Coastal something or other for family entertainment. On days that you only have time for one stop for local information, we want it to be here.
I think any one who knows me will understand that I am about grace, a measured civility, and forgiveness. In that vein, the reset button is now pressed. I am restoring the link to Delaware Liberal and establishing one to Delaware Republican. Everything starts fresh. Consider this the year of jubilee. My condition is that the past disputes nor any disparagement based upon them not be continued here. They will be deleted. You have your own sites to say whatever you desire.
Some basic rules are as follows. Defamation in general gets deleted. This is about the issues. I understand that people will get called out by name and even teased or lampooned that is part of the game. I just want to be clear there will be a line. It is called liable and defamation. Try to keep out the 7 words and don’t be surprised if they are edited if you don’t. Remember that the comments are those of the participants, they are solely responsible for what they say. Contributors have freedom to post any reasonable thing they want. If you don’t like it, tell them.
A word about our founder. I have the absolute highest regard for Dave Burris. He is a terrific person from a wonderful family with a wonderful family. He has the heart of an entrepreneur. The great among us are not satisfied with the status quo. He is a slightly restless soul who has a desire to transform the society around him. He has already had a positive impact on Delaware politics and is having one in the business community. That positive restlessness is the stuff of giants. I know that we shall see even more from Dave Burris in the future. We need a policy voice for small business and we shall do whatever we can to help him out. Thank you Dave for the opportunity to continue.
Thank you, my friend. I wish you well.
any budget news from Dover?
how big was the spending increase over last year?
If you do drop the f- bomb …. Dave
Good for Dave!
Do gratuitous ‘f-bombs’ really make for ‘hot blogging’? There are times when a vulgarity may provide a certain emphasis. However, a steady diet of them marks the source as a lout.
Dave is a gentleman with enough courage to use his real name on line. He also seems to be able to shrug off insults that are often a mark of frustration.
Annoni, there was no spending increase, in fact a decrease (2%?). So your prediction of a 6% increase was way off the mark!
That said, I am distressed at the additional $5 million cut from schools, because Kowalko broke with the Dems on the $.02 per can tax increase on a can of beer. I don’t get it!
According to the News Journal, the budget was cut 8.1%:
Kowalko held out on principle for a franchise tax increase rather than an alcohol tax increase, but his colleagues preferred to cut schools instead. Also from today’s News Journal:
noman,
then there was also the part about Oberle telling the bond bill committee to not do that to the schools, but instead tap the rainy day fund. Apparently Oberle’s drum beat was different from that of the bond bill committee and they (members of both parties) didn’t want to hear it.
Question: If we have a rainy day fund, when in the f-bomb (that was for Art and David) is that fund allowed to be tapped? What are the rules/restrictions? It seems to me they are decided on the fly, and that decision is basically that it’s not politically prudent to tap it.
I suspect the rainy day fund is critical to our credit rating. Our state credit is based on our cash on hand, plus our ability and political will to collect taxes.
I am happy to be wrong on my budget prediction.
As for the rainy day fund, it will be tapped before the budget year ends. Look at difference in “stimulus funds” in the Gov’s budget vs the Leg budget. That’s hoped for money, not commited funds. 6-8 months from now the Legislature will be “shocked” by a budget “crisis”.
My problem is that there is no fundamental reform. We are still wasting at least 10% of our budget.
So this is a comedy blog? I mean “It is where policy meets common sense,” is a joke, right? No, you’re serious? Delusional David does it again.
Welcome to the right side MJ. Come by anytime.