The American Soldier.  A battling archetype born of the relentless spirit and fierce will for a fight that has preserved democracy and freedom ever since a fateful morning 19 April, 1775 on a Concord Bridge and a Lexington Green.  A legend of honor and bravery honed later in the trenches of the Western Front, the cliffs of Normandy, the sands of North Africa, the skies over the Coral Sea, the hills of Inchon, the bars of the Hanoi Hilton, and the insurgent insanity of Ramadi.

Whether sporting the badge of the All Americans (82^nd) , Screaming Eagles (101^st), The Big Red One (1^st Infantry), Hell on Wheels (2^nd Armored),  Seals, Rangers, Delta Force, or Green Berets… or the patches of those who fly – or flew – Mustangs, Fortresses, Voodoos, Phantoms, Tomcats, Hornets, Eagles, Warthogs, Blackhawks, Hueys, and Apaches; the legend continued.  Our fighting force was –and remains – the force… end of conversation.

But with the legend also came scuffs on the shine of that honor as our vaunted military prowess fell victim to the social issues of the times.  Minority soldiers were largely segregated (see Tuskegee Airmen)  and afforded not the respect and inclusion one would expect from a nation forged from the “All men are created equal” of Jefferson’s quill.  The women pilots (Wasps) of WW2 were relegated to fighter and bomber ferry missions while the men flew the combat sorties.  Racism and sexism remained in place even in view of the ultimate sacrifices blacks and women paid in defense of their country.  Change – as it always is – was painfully and abhorrently slow.  Votes, remember?

But in the end it was the scope of a man’s/woman’s  talent, mettle, and courage that would lay claim as to whether they were deemed worthy to wear the uniform of the US fighting elite.

Or was it?   It wasn’t… at all… not even close.

There was a new source of bigotry cookin’ in the kitchen’s of the White House, Pentagon, Congress, and on stoves all across the land of the free: The Gay soldier. Somehow, amazingly, the men in the halls determined ones sexual orientation equated military fitness (socially, ethically, morally) and could, if left unchecked, undermine the entire foundation of the armed services.  Huh?   And God forbid one happened to be a black Gay soldier… or Black Lesbian soldier… whoa, Nellie… sure as hell can’t have that, now can we?  After all, the public hysteria and fear had kept closets of Gay teachers, athletes, cops, coaches, parents and politicians under lock and key for like… forever, in fear of public crucifixion and personal ruin.  I mean, aren’t gay people perverts, disease ridden, and always always looking to infiltrate our sacrosanct family structure so as to get us all (the straight world) to “Change Teams?”  After all, that’s what the rumor mills crank out… gotta be true, right?   If everyone believes it then it must be true.

Well, the soldiers knew all to well the torches were lighted for them too should they dare come out and exercise their constitutional rights so they did what all persecuted folks do to keep breathing: they kept their damn mouths shut so the $^!% wouldn’t hit the fan

But the $^!t did hit the fan cause some brave gay soldiers and political supporters said no way…

The powers that be were now faced with a political hot potato and a simple question:  How to pander to a largely ignorant and intolerant “Family Value” voting populace while adhering to the Constitution (Remember that document?) and appearing to possess any semblance of an open mind?   “Don’t ask don’t tell” (see keep your damn mouth shut) was the palatable compromise fashioned by the White House, Joint Chiefs, and sheep of the Pentagon.  Kinda sounds like the advice given to Sarah Good and the rest of the Salem hunted to keep them from the Magistrates gavel and Puritans gallows.  Didn’t work, Btw.

And now the whole shebang is back as the House voted to repeal “DADT” aka The Gay Ban.  The tally?  234-yea… 194-nay. The Sectarians… er, ah… Republicans are just peachy with DADT.  All but 5 (including the brave Judy Biggert R-Ill) voted to maintain the ban, while the more progressive Democrats (excluding the 26 doctrinaires) wanna scrap it.  Coons, Carney and Spencer – in addition to Ted Kaufman (who we’re liking a lot these days) –  have stood firm with a LGBT community that is tired of orientation having any bearing on anything.   We agree and applaud them  for such a show of common sense, pragmatism, and fairness.   We’d love to say the same for King Castle who cast his regrettable party vote to extend the ban (but he’ll spin it to the middle soon).  We would love to hear Mama and Papa chime in on this but I’m guessin’ Mama would be a hesitant yea and Papa a definite nay.

But even with the yea vote to end the blatant – and thinly veiled discrimination – this amendment has to pass the muster of the same cast of characters that have helped carry on the hysteria up to this point: The President, Joint Chiefs, and Defense Secretary Robert Gates.  They will  digest the slanted findings of a Pentagon study and walk to the podium.   Now how do you really think, given the nature of political pandering in the vaunted “Family Values” environment, the men in the suits and Unis are gonna come down on this?   And in an election year… hubba hubba.   If you’re guessin’ status quo then you are in the majority.  For DADT to be given a ticket to the scrap heap it will require real courage and big balls on the part of the aforementioned playas.   I’m not sure they’ve got ‘em, but will hold out a glimmer of hope they do…

It also in all fairness must be stated that The President has once again declared June LGBT month.  Yes, we applaud this show of support for fairness but it is after all a proclamation, and they are after all just words.  Getting past the hatred to do what is right will take action.

Now here’s something to consider Mr. President and Secretary Gates… and the Pentagon exploratory squad:   I would wager that there were more than a few gay patriots at the Boston Tea Party (ironic ain’t it) and Massacre, San Juan Hill, Gettysburg, Normandy, Pork Chop Hill, Saigon, and Fallujah.  Many have died defending the freedoms of some of the very citizens who still call them names.   I don’t know about y’all, but when a Gay soldier’s casket is flown to DAFB draped in the American Flag, I call that… debt paid.  Hey people; how many of your “normal” friends would truly take a fatal bullet for you and your family?  They did.  How bout we all grow up, take a look at our own “closets,” and finally… finally treat everyone like human beings

And Americans at that.

So the migration to the beaches begins.  Not quite the hot sunny days we were hoping would stretch from mid-week through the weekend – more like late September than late May – but nice enough to fire up the grill, imbibe with friends at the first Jam Session, or stroll in sweater style on the spankin’ new treated planks of the south boardwalk.  Also not so ungodly hot that being jailed in Rt.1 and 13 traffic doesn’t raise ones BP while shooting pissy glances at the boy/girlfriend who didn’t take off early enough to beat the masses.  By and large a fairly good start to the summer.

Actually, if a ‘nor’easter had decided to make a call and wipe out all the Coppertone dreams, it would still be a great weekend.  And why is that, you may ask?

‘Cause it’s Memorial Day.  And should anyone reading this not get it… you really should get it.  Maybe you rode – or are riding – past the expanse of the Veterans Cemetery off Rt. 71 and noticed the fields of Red White and Blue flapping in unison to the now cool breeze.  Or perhaps you visited a loved one – or two – interned there or some other revered spot .  Regardless, it is a scene like this that puts a ‘lil rainy day into perspective.  This weekend has so little to do with bicycles, beer, French fries, fine dining, or negotiating the curves between Ruddertown and the land of Sunday Bloody Sunday while totally smashed.   Nah, this weekend has everything to do with taking a moment to appreciate the sacrifice many brave souls made so y’all could decide for yourselves whether to cross over to Nalu (love that place) or continue up the west side to further experience the Miller High Life.

Yes, it seems like eons since Omaha Beach, Guadalcanal… (the death march), Pork Chop Hill, Khe Sanh, and the fall of Saigon; or even the opening night of Desert Storm.  The fierce street fighting in Kandahar at times touches the senses only as a CNN night light.  But these all have littered our consciousness in addition to our landscape with fields of white crosses that often lie in anonymity as we make our way quickly (we hope) in efforts not to miss the Toss of the Tacos.  Sad isn’t it?

How many of our brethren would love to have stuck around to witness such gaiety and popped a couple of cold ones with us all?  More than one could ever imagine.

This weekend – and Day – is entirely about our freedoms and those whom took it upon themselves to bestow on us all such a benevolent and admirable gift; and at such a dear price.

DE2010.com writes of the political realm and how it has become at times as oily as the tentacles of marshlands and waterways surrounding N’awlins; the protection of our Constitution, Bill of Rights, and preservation of our freedom.  So Mama, Papa, King, Chosen One, Quiet Man, and Spencer for Hire, take a breath if y’all would and get the dubious state of our State and National political specter out of your minds for a couple of days. Think more of why you’re really here and what ya really ought to be doin’.   If you think for a moment that the spirits of those lost are all smilin’ on the many liberties lost while folks were busy securing or keeping their jobs, then by all means fire up the Weber, throw on a Kansas City Cut and pop open a Fife Zin.  But make certain to serve up a side of conscience with them taters…K?

And for our readers?  We wish – along with the politicos – a safe, festive and introspective weekend.  Just remember who provided it for ya and what it takes to keep it.

Ciao

Wait!… you didn’t know there was another songwriting duo that penned under a moniker so very similar to that of the fab four?  Well there is, and if you thought there was a rift between John and Paul (by way of Yoko) then wait till you hear the National Enquire caliber squabble Vladimir and Joseph (post mortem) are causing when simply paired to record this latest politically themed (Get out… really) album coming to you courtesy of SRR ( Spin Right Records).

“Karl Needs a Shave” is a contemporary and contemptuous Rock Opera that is an adaptation of a college (Amherst) newspaper article Candidate Chris Coons wrote some 30 years ago upon his return from Kenya that narrated his metamorphosis from a relative conservative thinker (see Roth and Reagan) to a more progressive intellect (Amazing what a dose of barrenness and destitution  will do to the right side of the brain).   In what we would imagine to be an epiphany in earnest for the young and impressionable Quiet Man has now become a symphony of fodder for the Republican maestro’s of twirl.   God forbid one ever evokes any socialist mantra lest they be perpetually linked heart, soul, and heraldry to that of Marx (Not Groucho).

Now granted, the Title of the article “Chris Coons: The Making of a Bearded Marxist,” certainly has the capacity to raise a few eyebrows – Birched and otherwise –  and should The King have autographed a college paper titled “Mike Castle: Anatomy of a Royal Fascist,” the left would be deep in celebratory gyrations to the resplendence thrown from the sparks of Roman Benito Candles.   So while this leak is not unexpected, it ought to be taken a bit in stride and context of the writer’s influence and mindset at the time.  I mean, wasn’t it Churchill who was quoted saying, “If you are not a liberal at twenty you have no heart, if you are not a conservative at forty you have no brain.”   When we are young, idealism runs on steroids.  Most of us have been there till the bills come due and we realize life ain’t always fair.  That is not to suggest, however, that we ought not continue to fight for fairness; it only means that unfairness will put up its own fight.

So the Quiet Man was not so quiet.  That’s a good thing.  Do we want folks representing us that sit in tacit acceptance and simply follow the crowd?  Labeling  people has no purpose other than to pigeonhole and stereotype.  It would appear to us that Coons has the capacity to see both sides of the fence in his elder years.  This in itself does not make him a great pol or necessarily the best man for the job. But he deserves the shot.   He is after all going toe to toe with a man of similar ilk… a moderate… and that’s driving the provincial crazy; hence, the Marxist nomenclature the opposition hope sticks.

We have no idea of any lasting influence, power, or affect  Coonsy’s Amherst writings have on him at this time.  But shouldn’t we hear him out?

In all probability it is much ado about nothing… but it do make for a hit political record.

How bout, “Come Together”  … Rather than, “Back in the USSR”

Given our recent reports (one picked up by Richard Black of the BBC… “Up in Flames”) on the developing environmental disaster off Nawlins’, some may look at this title as an extension of that coverage.   They would be mistaken.  This piece, while not focusing on the flood of crude with its sights set on Magazine St, does carry an ominous metaphor that is currently drifting towards the shores of the Republican State Convention in less than a fortnight.  The once pristine waters of a unified party are being threatened by a slick comprised of fractured relationships and dissent amongst its very core – and those who feel they should be the core.  Right leaner’s, moderates, Tea’s; all on their own soapbox with a biased and dogmatic view of just what the party must now stand for.  It could get ugly; and at a time when solidarity would appear to be a most valued commodity.

Now for anyone who’s ever been to a political convention, National or State, they would then be familiar with the ancillary revelry, debauchery and hi jinx that accompany the (serious) nature at hand.  It’s a time for struttin’ one’s – and the party’s – stuff while the family elders and network of envoys debate agenda, construct platforms, choose its emissaries (candidates) , and move towards the goal of whuppin’ the Dems in November.  It’s when a party ought to be at its zenith.  On top of its game.  But if the memo sent to the GOP party leadership yesterday by one of its delegates was any bellwether,  there’s gonna be trouble in River City, and it rhymes with T and that stands for TEA.

Ah, the memo.  With residue of Tetley all over it, the manifest was rife with the 9-12 fingerprints: Free market, fiscal responsibility, constitutionally limited Government,  and a constructing a platform the GOP and The Tea’s can agree on, and general intolerance for anyone with the temerity to hold one counter thought.   Actually it read more like a diaphanous threat; Like Glenn Close in Fatal Attraction when she chillingly tells Michael Douglas “That I won’t be ignored.” Yeah, it’s just like that.

Oh, but it gets better.  The said delegate, Evan Queitsch, goes on to Blast… and I mean BLAST… The King as a pert near conservative anti-Christ that stands in the way of true right wing constitutional ideology.  Now The King may be a ‘lil soft in the middle, but the Tea’s are steppin’ outta bonds with that one.  EQ proceeded to list vote after vote, Mike’s record as it applies to the “Global Warming hoax” (Castle siding with the environment), Omnibus Bill, the Wall St. bailout (the King voted in favour), Planned Parenthood; leveling him for voting against an amendment to withhold fed tax dollars from Planned Parenthood (oh, the horrors), and even attacking the King for voting for “Cash for Clunkers,” as they feel it would eliminate affordable wrecks better earmarked for the poor… for the poor now, huh?   This of course is a two way street these cars travel; one to supplying cars to those without; one to boosting the economy by Jump starting some sagging auto sales  Suffice to say, he (EQ) – and his followers – don’t care much for moderation in any form.  And directed at the venerable one!  Get out!  Coonsy’s gotta be turnin’ cartwheels.

And even though there exists some intelligent differences in the rant, his wheels fall off when he whole heartedly endorses Christine O’Donnell, referring to her as a Party Martyr (our words) that would be a player if only the King would debate her… which just ain’t gonna happen.  She is a non factor and a fraud candidate who due to her Tea leaf aura has been embraced as legitimate by those with the Grass Roots.  Maybe she ought to cut her teeth debating Rose.  Now that I would pay to see.

And the cherry on top of it all is the ringing endorsement of the now popular Papa U, who, if the chips fall just right could be the name at the top of the ticket.  But he cannot afford to piss off the very folks who are now pissed off at this shot over the bow.  This makes Mama Rollins a much more attractive candidate and unifier in the eyes of Prissy and Laird… and a bunch of other folks.   Yes, our political scene needs dissention to keep everyone honest, but a party also needs wins… not losses… and this fracture portents a big ‘ole “L” in November if the GOPer’s don’t straighten out their act.  Papa and his team better watch for the yellow light before it changes its mind.  Oh, and K-Wade (mentioned favourably to a T) ought to keep an eye on the yellow light as well… I’m just sayin’… somethin’ ‘bout the company you keep.

So there you have it Soap Fans.  Payton Place has returned for a new season with Chris Coons and John Carney calling Comcast for the full cable package.

Don’t worry if ya missed the original air date… they’ll replay the entire pilot on May 15^th.

No one needs to tell Chris Coons that his personal post position in regards to his Senate race with The King has him at a disadvantage coming out of the gate.  He as a candidate can’t get out of bed without stubbing his toe on the eight ball he’s behind.  Taking on Castle – the fairly (and we mean fairly) popular Castle – was gonna be an uphill battle; this is not news to anyone; especially The Quiet Man.

Trouble is, that after all Coonsy’s ballyhoo during and following his rock and roll three county campaign kick-off tour, he was hoping his campaign was gonna get a jump start, not a quiet down period.  His crusade needs for the voters (especially the undecided’s) to view him as a playa who is triggering State and national buzz as an upstart capable of taking The King to school;  and his Senate hopes with it.

The latest Rasmussen poll, while still waaaay too early, did throw TQM into a cold shower with a dose of numerical reality… ya know, the kind of Aqua Velvet cold slap in the face, reality that 53% to 32% polling numbers will get ya.   A large lead has been a given, but these numbers are similar to those back in February and it seems that The White House lunch with the Prez, some favourable pro Coons Washington buzz, and Chris’ own “Give ‘em hell” (you didn’t say it but you meant it) campaign speeches to date, don’t seem to have facilitated the needle to inch in his favour at all.

Now there’s gonna be lots of talk now (mostly from Mike) about making the Supreme Court campaign finance ruling “Downy soft” so as to keep a lid on Big biz and Big unions on their toes.  This of course would help the King.  He thinks he can cruise without some of the big contributors but knows Coons stays behind the eight ball without all the help he can get from the well fortified Blue Collar crowd.  Publicly, Chris stands with Mike on this – which supplies some palpable ethics spin –  but he doesn’t (can’t) mean it.  Chris has got big numbers and a big public “pro King” consciousness to overcome.  He’s gonna need all the media-buying amplitude he can get his mitts on.

So for now Chris can look forward to Cinco de Mayo, take his staff out for a couple Dos Equis and drink to Nike and hope she buys the next round.

Oh, and don’t be looking for the Quiet Man to be treating Rasmussen to a beer anytime soon.

He’s on Coonsy’s $^!t list.

So there seems to be some banter recently about what a debate will look like once the King and the Quiet Man take the stage.  Not much of the convo centers on the issues (although there are enough of those) but rather the respective heights of the two combatants.  Barack O’Biden had the advantage over a much shorter John McCain and just looked better.  JFK was taller and looked a hellava lot better than Richard Nixon and blew a rumpled tricky away with ease .  And in the mack daddy of examples, Honest Abe Lincoln – all 6’4” of him – towering over his short (5’4”) and stocky opponent, Stephen A. Douglass, commanded the stage in all seven of the 1858 Illinois Senatorial debates as Douglass looked more suited to ride a thoroughbred than he did appear like one.

In many cases – political or not – the taller the person is the more presence he has. (We’d include the ladies, but until Ann Donavan – all 6’8” of Gold medal Olympian – runs for a Senate post, there is no real precedent) A taller candidate seems to rule more of the air hence  being viewed as stronger and often times the winner.  Stereotyped?  Perhaps, but a style and perception issue nonetheless.

So what will the shorter and stockier Coons do to offset the Lincoln-like stature of the King?  A healthy tan?  Perhaps he will point out ahead of time that the King slouches… so how Senatorial is that?  Or maybe he wears a pair of George Costanza shoe lifts; or maybe a box… yeah, that’s it… a soapbox.  Looking all the like a Hyde Park, London Sunday orator…

All kidding aside, the Quiet Man will offset the King’s height advantage with impetuous verve and the King for his part will stand taller than usual as he extols the virtues of his lengthy service.

PS.  Mama and Papa will have a similar discussion when facing K-Wade as the GOP Congressional primary debates shift to a podium rather than those metal cafeteria chairs.  Rosie will have her work cut out as well.  She’ll need some really high heels.

It’ll all be fun.

And that’s the long and the short of it.

The distance between Rehoboth Beach and The New Castle IBEW Union Hall is roughly 86 miles.  On a good day it takes a ‘lil more than an hour 45 to cover the Rt.1/I-95 expanse … as the mud… er, ah… crow flys.  What?  Ya didn’t know mud could fly?  Well, it can; and with the velocity of a Roy Halladay fastball.

More on that later.

As most of you know, Chris “The Quiet Man” Coons made his  State wide “Taking off the Gloves” tour yesterday with rings set up in all three counties… ropes and all.  The only thing missing was a buxom hottie in each locale hoistin’ up the round 1, 2 and 3 cards.  Under ridiculously sunny skies, and a really big flag backdrop, Coons carriage was anything but that of a quiet man.  Speaking to relatively diverse, but mostly white (the hair on the boardwalk not included) crowds, Coons spoke like a boxer that knew he was about to get hit; expecting the next punch.  While some of his speech was  defensive in posture, Coons’ was most certainly not.  Showcasing an incendiary bearing and solid oratorical game, Coonsy  packed some needed muscle, delivering a few blows of his own.  Attacking the King on being a party loyalist in moderate’s clothing, Coons sought to expose Castle as a tired Grand OLD Washington Brooks Brother whose time and act is as dated as a Members Only jacket with the King being the only member.   All the while calling for new blood (getting’ a ‘lil’ clichéd); and that new blood would look just like Chris Coons.  It played well and was delivered with panache, but then partisan rallies are not orchestrated to give the “other guy” any props.   He spoke like a man who knew what was coming next from the King’s pugilistic repertoire.  And the King didn’t disappoint…

Ah yes, the next punch.  Boy was it coming and it was coming fast.  As a matter of fact, it was being spring-spam-loaded by the King’s men before Coons could finish his latte and bagel or shoot out a single syllable.  The King’s men went John L. Sullivan on Coons’ ass opting for bare knuckles rather than the puffy Everlasts.  A mix of mud and blood, the first spam of the fight went right for what the King’s men hope will be a glass jaw.  Citing rhetoric from the GOP playbook, the email was all tax tax tax… spend spend spend… and Coons will take and break the backs (paraphrasing) of Delawareans with his “reckless” fiscal policies.

Now the Dems are calling this muddy; and in a way it is.  But what the hell did they expect?  If I were running against Coons I would keep that hammer down.  If running against the King I would paint him entirely as a career out of touch and wishy washy Closet conservative who plays masterfully both sides against the middle.  Neither one of these attacks totally fair, of course, but since when has the word fair ever been synonymous with politics.

One thing for sure.  Neither one of these guys is gonna go down easy.  And this is only round one and its gonna get fugly.

And after the 12 rounds are over?… they may need to place the Returns Day hatchet under lock and key.

April 19, 2010.  Mark it on your calendar if you’re a Chris Coons supporter, keep it in the back of your mind if you’re on the fence, and take note if you are loyal to the King.

And the significance of this date?  Well the OFFICIAL – not “the unofficial”, or the “soon to be official”, or the “we weren’t official, but we will be”, or “we’d be more official if we had an official looking rally”… officially, of course – Coons, We’re goin’ after the King, campaign Kick-Off.  Didn’t y’all get the memo?  We did.  Taking the 3 County trek K-Wade employed back in January to proclaim his candidacy, Chris is using the “Rally” (aka we want your money) tag to Officially boot his run to Washington.

Thanking all who to date have coughed up the early cash – cited with feigned surprise – thus surpassing the official end-of-quarter fundraising benchmark, Coonsy appears to be officially ready to break out the microphones and streamers, amp up the rhetoric and create a wave pool that will begin to erode the Kings sand Castle.  And boy does the cash come in handy for that; at this moment and any moments to come.

A lil of that cash will now be seeing its way to replacing the stolen – smash and grab – Dell laptop that newly minted staffer, David Hoffman, used to have on his front seat… before a he left her alone in the car.   Hey, Dave, ya had to have Italian, eh?  Hope the Pizza and cheap roho was worth the stop, bro.  On a serious note about that: it truly sucks that one cant have a meal without having to take all their possessions inside with them.

But these realities, while regrettable, won’t dampen the buzz Chris has created  amongst those at the Cap Grille and Hay-Adams.  Many see a much tighter race than originally anticipated.  The reasons run the gambit from the “New blood don’t take my vote for granted Scott Brown syndrome crowd”, to “The White House support engine will prove the better crowd.”  Whatever the analysis or prognostication, it is clear that Coons has gotten early attention.  Most feel the King still takes it, but not without one really excellent “Quiet Man” donnybrook.  Coons and Castle; The Yank (Sean Thornton… Coons) and Squire Daniher… (Castle), sluggin’ it out while the town cheers and wagers on the noses of the combatants.

The wagers and money will instead pour in from the coffers of the National parties, corporate buddies, and unions (thanks to the Supreme Court) and will be heavy ( a 7 mil race likely).  Wont be for the weak of heart; but no good fight ever is… and this will be a good one.

The boards in front of Dolles to the Ag crowd in Dover to the Union boyz in New Castle; the crowds will be partisan and loyal on Monday the 19^th.  And even with the cheers and revelry,  this will be the quiet before the storm… Offically.

This will be a battle for the Jameson’s.

Welcome to the Delaware beaches.  The nations vacation spot.  Fun in the sun.  Dolles and Grottos.   On lazy summer nights the sunburned mass of humanity cruises the boards in Coca Cola style lapping up their quickly melting mountain of Kohr’s frozen custard or with napkin in hand, inhaling entire “Nic-o-bolis”  with mouths opening just short of dislocation.  And on chance that the dolphins dance, there is a spectacle of fins and flapping kites much to the children’s delight.

Further up – or down – the coast the surf fisherman angle their Garcia’s and Penn’s in hope’s of landing a record “Blackfish”.   Whoa!  What, you may ask is a “Blackfish”?  You mean Bluefish, don’t ya?  Ain’t never heard of no Blackfish.

Well, the entire eastern seaboard may soon be one Capt. Hazelwood perfect storm away from painting the whole beach with one long black oily stroke.  Black Gulls and sandpiper’s and bathers no longer in need to oil up with Coppertone.  At least the colour is slimming… or is it sliming?

And what could cause such a Cimmerian scenario?  A hint: take a Black and Decker drill, put it on anabolic steroids and place it on a platform miles off the coast and away from the consciousness of the Suburban driving public.   Sarah Palin (remember her…lol) was crucified for uttering the words “Drill Baby Drill” during her ill fated campaign run.  We as a country were driving past our need for a pic line of foreign oil, weren’t we?  F$$$ the middle east crude pushers, we were goin green… weren’t we?    Hybrids, Solar roofs, Ethanol tax credits, Hydro and Wind.  Hell, we’re even recyclin’.

Seems we had another 180 in Washington as it applies to offshore drilling and now the left – at least on this issue – resembles more the right.  After battling tooth and nail Bush 43’s offshore petro agenda just two short years ago, The O’Biden’s have floated out their own derricks claiming they provide a more balanced ballast.  In Poli-speak; yes, we changed our minds, now support the drill; but it is better and safer and more “balanced” than W’s.  Uh huh.  Says you.  Come on guys, give us a Barack…er, I mean… break.

Against the irate and irascible opposition by those soon to be drilled coastal legislators, the White House is now proposing drilling for more than just oil.  They are drilling to see if they strike any strong and viable support for placing some really big albatrosses a mere 3 miles (is that nautical?… like it matters) off the coastlines of Florida, Georgia, SC, NC, VA, Maryland, Bethany, Jersey, Conn, RI, New Hampshire and Kennebunkport.   But hey, it’s something we need to do to help “reduce our dependence on foreign oil”.  Where have we heard that before?  Our own Sen. Ted Kaufman has broken with party oilers Biden and Carper to blast the proposal citing spill risks that affects could reek havoc to both the environment and tourism should the unexpected come calling.   He don’t believe these reserves are sufficient to stem any tide… just make the tide blacker.  He ain’t alone.  It also awoke a slumbering John Carney today and has him calling out the White House a lil… and we mean a lil.  He left some “we need to “reduce our dependence blah blah blah” wiggle room. But the O’Biden’s now got a civil skirmish brewin’ on Silver Lake.

God forbid we have those wind driven eyesores within a binoculars reach of Dewey.  But give me one of them Gulf of Mexico behemoths (that they evacuated during Katrina).  Now that is a postcard.  Especially if ya like your burger with some Thrasher’s and a lil pint of Havoline.

So we have another in the series of hot buttons rainin’ down on the mid-term boyz; favourites and pretenders alike.  This, like health care is a big one.  We’d like to hear from those who’s political engines are revvin’ up on the tarmac waitin’ for their Delaware to DC commuter flight to depart.  We would love to hear from King Mike, Mama Rollins (when she graces us all with her already made up mind) and Chris Coons; in addition to Urquhart, Cullis, Wade, Izzo (she carries a craftsman w multiple bits), Wangen, and Campbell, give us all the pleasure of knowing precisely where they come down on the issue.  We’d ask Miss Tetley, but we know she’s plannin’ on homesteadin’ on one of them bad boys… at least till the FEC leaves town.   And we know where Scott Spencer stands: out on the boat harassing the platforms construction efforts, looking every bit like Ahab, replete with fuel injected harpoons.  No, we can tell you all where Scott stands and you won’t need an ear to the ground to hear him.   At least he will tell you exactly where he stands… an it ain’t gonna be on the drilling platform.

Speak up candidates.  This is, as Joe likes to say; A BIG F’N DEAL.  The voters got their ears to the ground too.

It’s that time of year, folks.  The signs are all popping up.  Brackets…lots of brackets. Office pools, trips to the Mandalay Sports Book in Vegas, and 2 days of total immersion into ESPN and CBS Sports as to follow every 5-12 upset and budding Cinderella Story.  We are talking about the NCAA Basketball tournament aka MARCH MADNESS.  An event that transcends the sport and acts as a vortex in drawing – for two days anyway – millions of business Americans into its feverous climate.

It also produces 2 days that wont go down as contributing a F’n thing to the GNP as no one…I mean no one has as his or her mission on Thursday and Friday anything other than to log into ESPN, CBS SPORTS; hooking up their Blackberry’s, iPhones , and HTC’s to witness firsthand their hoops prognosticating prowess taking shape.  It is madness.  It is awesome.  It also has prompted many a business to shut off access to company computers in attempt to siphon a dollop of productivity from their employees.  It also produces a number of upsets that confound the pundits and ruin the brackets of even the most knowledgeable fan.

Now we thought that in the spirit of the tournament we would offer our own Delaware political version of March Madness replete with the bracketing, match-ups and the chance to pick some upsets.  There of course doesn’t exist 64 candidates or even a Sweet Sixteen (but give the repubs time and they might get there)  But we do have the what be believe to be fair seedings and pairings.  So have a look pour a beer and pick ‘em.

SENATE

It’s a short field in the Senate with prohibitive favourite Mike Castle the Class of the field.    The early round game with Miss Tetley will be like Kansas playing West Chester; no upset here.  Coons may have the other bracket to himself but there are rumblings that another soul may suit up.  So we’ll call this one for Coons setting up A Villanova – Georgetown 1985 scenario whereas a perfect game would be needed by Coons to upset the King… and we all know how that game turned out.

Seeds

1. Mike (The King) Castle
2. Chris (The ax man) Coons
3. Christine (I’m a real candidate) O’Donnell
4. Guess who?

Castle vs O’Donnell - An unlikely upset scenario.  Tetley’s got prettier Uniforms and looks the cheerleader herself.  The king’s got better scouts and executes to a tea.  He also has Cougars in the band.

Coons vs Guess Who – The mystery Candidate may remain a mystery… may not.  But Coons plays all 94’.

HOUSE

The repubs have made this an interesting bracket due to the number of players and the presence of the female Bobby Knight lurking in the locker room.

SEEDS

1. MICHELE ROLLINS
2. GLEN URQUHART
3. FRED CULLIS
4. KEVIN WADE
5. BRENT WANGEN
6. DOUG CAMPBELL
7. ROSE IZZO

Wade vs Izzo – the winner gets the right to face The Grande Dame in Round two

Urquhart  vs  Campbell – the Old man Conservative against the Constitution.  The Constitution was potent at one time  but in the shredder recently.  Plus Glenn has the storied past and a tougher schedule.

Cullis vs Wangen – Similar styles here but the nod goes to the rifleman

On the Dems bracket there is but one game on tap.

Carney vs Spencer  – this is a match-up that is reminiscent of any team who has ever faced a Petey Carril coached Princeton team in the first round.  The talent wasn’t always equal; but the pace, coaching, and intelligent deliberate style made the Tiger’s a tough out.  Spencer = UCLA?   Interesting possibility.

So we begin the Delaware March to Madness.