20061006 Congressman Bartlett announces 100M in Federal Funding for 6th Dist. and MD

20061006 Congressman Bartlett announces 100M in Federal Funding for 6^th Dist. and MD

For additional information please Contact: Lisa Wright 202-225-2721

October 6, 2006

Congressman Roscoe Bartlett Announces Nearly $100 Million in Federal Funding That He Secured for Projects for District Six and Maryland Companies in FY 2007 Defense Legislation

Washington, DC - Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, Maryland’s only Member of Congress on an Armed Services Committee, served a vital role shaping defense legislation this year as Chairman of the Projection Forces Subcommittee as well as a Conferee to the Fiscal Year 2007 National Defense Authorization Act (FY07 NDAA). Along with securing $532.8 billion for our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines and ensuring America’s continued naval superiority in the FY 07 NDAA, Congressman Bartlett also secured nearly $100 million dollars in federal funding in the FY 07 Defense Appropriations legislation for companies in the Sixth District and Maryland statewide. The funds will continue development of innovative technology and equipment providing the men and women in the Armed Forces with the best tools to complete their missions and win the war against terrorism.

“Our men and women serving in harm’s way deserve to bring only the best in technology and equipment to the fight so they can complete their missions and come home safe,” said Congressman Bartlett. “Each year I am grateful that I can apply more than twenty years of engineering and patenting experience along with my fourteen years on the House Armed Services Committee to make sure current and future generations of soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines are equipped with the best defense in the world. I work very hard to help our Armed Forces identify and acquire the capabilities to overcome any threat and I couldn’t be more proud of our Maryland companies who make such significant contributions to keeping Americans safe at home and abroad.”

In the FY07 NDAA, Congressman Bartlett advanced development of the Navy’s future fleet by funding the lead replacement amphibious assault ship and the dual lead DDG-1000 destroyers, while also providing advance procurement funds for the next generation aircraft carrier. It also continues to build-out the fleet of Virginia class attack submarines, San-Antonio class amphibious ships and Littoral Combat Ships and provides funds for the modernization of the Navy’s Arleigh Burke class destroyers and the Air Force's fleet of strategic airlift and bomber aircraft. These actions will ensure U.S. Navy will acquire the capabilities needed to meet future threats. Steps were also taken to ensure that current capabilities are not retired prematurely by requiring for the Department of Defense to maintain a minimum strategic airlift force structure of 299 aircraft and limiting retirements of KC-135E aerial refueling aircraft and B-52 bombers.

FY 07 Defense Appropriations Funding Secured by Congressman Bartlett

Maryland 6^th District Subtotal: 34.1M (M=millions)

Maryland Statewide Subtotal: 63.5M

Maryland 6^th District and Statewide Total: 97.6M

FY 07 Federal Defense Appropriations Funding Secured by Congressman Bartlett in Maryland’s 6^th District

Mack Truck/Volvo, Hagerstown, MD 3M

This $3M will accelerate Mack Truck’s development of an innovative hybrid electric powertrain for heavy-duty trucks for the military with potential for commercial applications. The new powertrain will reduce fossil fuel consumption; reduce maintenance costs and reduce emissions below 2007/2010 EPA standards. A first generation hybrid electric vehicle has been delivered to the Air Force for testing. Funds requested in FY07 will be used to improve the electrical system to deliver a better than 40% improvement in fuel efficiency.

Alliant Tech Systems, Rocket City, WV 12M

Though this plant is in West Virginia, most of the company’s employees live in Maryland’s 6^th district. This $12M is for Ballistic Trajectory Extended Range Munition (BTERM). BTERM provides a ballistic trajectory, Global Positioning System and Internal Navigation System guided solution to the Navy's requirement for affordable, long-range, precise fire in support of ground maneuver warfare and expanded littoral war fighting capability. Its optimized full system solution allows lower Average Unit Production Cost and higher reliability reducing life-cycle cost for Naval Surface Fire Support.

Northrop Grumman, Hagerstown, MD 5.6M

This $5.6M supports the production of the Advanced Surface Radar Technology (ASuRT) program within Northrop Grumman. The program will focus on the development and adaptation of electronic components to new form factors for application in the Navy’s next generation surface ship radar systems. These new innovations are promising lower cost modular surface ship radar designs that can be quickly and economically scaled to meet the Navy’s needs.

Invitrogen, Frederick, MD 1.1M

This $1.1M for immunoarray technology will provide the Defense Department’s biodefense program with a flexible analytical tool to support force protection,

FY 07 Federal Defense Appropriations Funding Secured by Congressman Bartlett in Maryland’s 6^th District

(continued from p. 1)

intelligence/threat assessment, and non-proliferation compliance monitoring. This technology will allow for rapid and inexpensive characterization of new and novel

pathogens, expedited development of countermeasures (vaccines and therapeutics) to biological threats, and provide a core technology for improved detectors and diagnostics.

Research Acquisition Building, Fort Detrick, MD 12.4M

This $12.4M will reduce a critical shortfall of administrative space at Fort Detrick. Two Fort Detrick activities have conducted operations out of substandard WWII wood facilities and trailers for more than 10 years. Funding this project now will synchronize construction activities with building demolition requirements and provide existing administrative facilities that do not have office, conference, or administrative support space the infrastructure they need to work effectively in a clean safe environment.

FY 07 Federal Defense Appropriations Funding Secured by Congressman Bartlett for Companies in Maryland

Smith Industries, Edgewood, MD 13.1M

$6.6M will go to the Army National Guard (ARNG) so Guard Members can be equipped with the same modern equipment used by Active Duty units. The ARNG has a requirement for over 18,000Automatic Chemical Agent Detection Alarms and has only 3,733 in inventory leaving an ARNG shortage of over 14,000 units. This will help fill that shortage and expedite equipment delivery to our troops. $6.5M will acquire Profiler equipment which provides critical meteorological information required for accurate artillery fire and optimizes the performance of both current and future artillery weapon systems. The Army National Guard readiness is compromised because of a critical equipment shortage in Profiler technology. This funding helps eliminate that shortage providing Maryland Guard members deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan with the most effective solution for artillery fire.

BD Technologies, Hunt Valley, MD 1.9M

This $1.9M supports research within the Defense Technology Objective for Alternative Delivery Methods for Recombinant Protein Vaccines program to protect military personnel deployed all over the world. It will be used to develop novel vaccine-delivery device combinations to improve the performance of biodefense vaccines. This funding will allow expanded clinical testing of vaccine/device products and continued development of scaleable technologies to produce powder biodefense vaccines.

Chesapeake Sciences, Annapolis, MD 1.3M

This $1.3M will accelerate development of the Navy’s TB-33 Fiber Optic Towed Array to field common Twinline thinline capability for submarine and surveillance platforms. Funding will allow for additional enhancements to the baseline TB-33 design that are

FY 07 Federal Defense Appropriations Funding Secured by Congressman Bartlett for Companies in Maryland

(continued from Page 3)

required to establish a fiber optic approach that provides array architectural flexibility to meet both littoral and deep ocean operational needs providing fleet life-cycle cost savings

exceeding $200M over the life of the program when compared to conventional technologies.

Martin State Airport, Middle River, MD 8.8M

This $8.8M will support national defense and Maryland homeland security missions. It will provide a Fire and Rescue Station to support a fleet of A-10 Thunderbolt II and 8 C-130J Hercules aircraft and possible future Cargo Aircraft producing jobs and enhancing the safety of airport operations. Funding for this facility is two-fold: not only will this Fire Station serve the Martin State Airport, but it will also serve as the unique hazardous materials firefighting capability for both Baltimore and Harford Counties. This funding will support the local economy, Warfield Air National Guard base, and Martin State Airport, keeping the active Air National Guard(ANG) flying capability in the Baltimore area. It will sustain over 1,500 military positions and up to 500 full-time personnel.

Thales Communications, Clarksburg, MD $11.3M

This $11.3M combines three separate efforts by Congressman Bartlett to upgrade equipment for our soldiers. The President’s Budget had included $19.1M to procure upgrades to Special Operations Command’s (SOCOM’s) Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) as well as $7.7M in research and development funding for the radio system. Some Members of Congress proposed eliminating this $19.1M. Congressman Bartlett made it a priority to help restore funding for future advances in innovative software-based radios that Special Forces soldiers reported are vital to successful missions. $9M was restored to research and development. A second effort for Thales by Congressman Bartlett was for the Tactical Automated Security System (TASS) which is the primary physical security system used by the United States Air Force on expeditionary missions. This $1M integrates existing JTRS technology with the TASS’s Advanced Communications Module (ACM) to improve bandwidth, reduce obsolesce, and eliminate the need for a stand alone portable device for intrusion detection. Third, was $1.3M for range extension for the JTRS Multiband Inter/Intra Team Radio (MBITR) considered vital by Special Forces soldiers to the successful overthrow of the Taliban in Afghanistan. The increased ranged performance will allow the warfighter to communicate over obstructions that would normally inhibit communication through a series of repeaters.

AAI Corporation, Hunt Valley, MD $1M

This $1M provides funding to develop Lightweight Small Arms Technologies to reduce the weight and size of both weapons and ammunition carried by infantry soldiers and marines by 30-40% compared to current systems. This technology will be a lightweight machine gun, which will be assessed versus the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (5.56mm). The objective is a "clean slate" approach that will yield weapons and ammunition that are reproducible in quantity, robust, easy to operate and maintain, and stay reliable under all conditions.

FY 07 Federal Defense Appropriations Funding Secured by Congressman Bartlett for Companies in Maryland

(continued from Page 4)

DRS Technologies, Bethesda, MD $15M

This $15M will complete the development of the Permanent Magnet Motor System (PMMS) to enable it to be tested and possibly installed on the next generation destroyer DD-1000 or cruiser CG(X) warships. Activities to be completed include incorporation of changes resulting from Land-Based testing, repackaging of PMMS design to reflect the changes in DD-1000 requirements, and performance of shock analysis to demonstrate requirement fulfillment. The PMMS has been demonstrated to be much more efficient, smaller and lighter than other motor technologies, including the induction motor that is the current baseline motor on the DD-1000. This lighter propulsion system will increase future warship operational capability by allowing for carrying additional weapons and equipment, extending fuel range, and increasing fuel efficiency.

Beamhit, Columbia, MD $1M

This 1$M expands the existing, highly successful Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS) Naval Reserve program to help provide equipment to all Naval Reserve Centers. This funding will provide effective small arms training for over 1000 Navy Reservists. The LMTS is a proven laser-based marksmanship training system engaging various types of targets using a sailor’s own assigned weapon without the use of live ammunition. LMTS supports individual marksmanship from the first stage through the advanced sniper skill level. LMTS is the only basic rifle marksmanship system that can be used indoors, in a regulated confined environment, or outdoors, in realistic weather and light conditions. This system contributes to individual sailor and unit readiness, improves skill retention, better prepares for unit mobilization, greatly reduces unit-training costs and achieves environmental cost avoidance associated with traditional live fire training. Most of all, it effectively prepares our reservists for small arms precision when deployed in hostile envionments.

Titanium Powder, Baltimore, MD $4.5M

This $4.5M will allow for Titanium Powder, a company from Illinois, to procure facilities in the Baltimore area to begin mass production of titanium in powder form using its ‘Armstrong Process.’ This will significantly reduce costs for U.S. production of this vital metal. Titanium, is highly valued because it is lighter and stronger than steel.

Wesley Brown Field House, Annapolis, MD $5.6M

This $5.6M to the United States Naval Academy restores funds to a $26.7M project for the Navy midshipmen. The $5.6M had been taken out of the overall project putting its completion in jeopardy. Congressman Bartlett ensured the $5.6M was restored maintaining the integrity of the project so it may be completed for the overall welfare and fitness of our Navy’s future officers.

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20061005 Professor Simon Stow at William and Mary

Professor Simon Stow at William and Mary

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff October 5^th, 2006

Posted above is a photomontage from the class I observed Thursday, October 5^th, 2006 at the College of William and Mary. For more explanation, please see my previous post: “Breakfast and a class at William and Mary.”

I attended a Government 303 class: “Survey of Political Philosophy – Ancient Political Thought, Fall 2006.

Today’s lecture was on Plato’s Republic, Books III-VI.

I did not take my laptop to class. I wanted to quietly observe in the back of the room and I was concerned that bringing a laptop would attract undue attention.

I was incorrect in that assumption. Out of about 40 students in the class, 7 took all their notes on a laptop.

And for another even greater reason that I was wrong; the students in the class were very focused and could have cared less nor have noticed that an aging political scientist was in the back of the room taking notes. I could have taken a clanky typewriter to class and I don’t think anyone would’ve noticed.

I’m not in a position to keyboard much more this evening as I am on deadline for my next Westminster Eagle column…

But I was very impressed with the class and the professor - although, of course, drawing conclusions from one brief experience may be erroneous. Then again, I have had a good opportunity to take many classes and observe many professors and I liked this professor.

Indeed, I have been very impressed with William and Mary and the students who attend.

But getting back to the class I observed; ‘Ancient Western political theory and thought’ is a very difficult class to teach. Professor Stow really brought Plato’s Republic to life. The professor was animated, engaging and he successfully brought the Republic to the today with contemporary references and examples of relevancy.

I'm a big fan of Plato's Republic as it is the basic foundation of all western government and a political scientist will draw upon it throughout a professional life and the students in this class have a great opportunity with this professor to learn, what is otherwise dry and difficult material.

I took many pages of handwritten notes; however, a nice William and Mary student e-mailed me electronic notes from the class… (A big thank you.) I’ve pasted a sampling of the major issues discussed in the class below, from the students notes...

Stowe’s Recap- Glaucon missing the point of the ideal city; too many details

Socrates- justice nothing to do with laws- cutting the head off of a hydra 104 426c

Diodotus says the same in Thucydides- he took from that that laws aren’t enough, led to might becomes right; Not what Socrates was saying, he’s saying it’s who you are, not what you do

Objective= fixed standards; Subjective=contextualized/Arbitrary; Intersubjective= grey area- widely shared values

Justice is about who you are-

Why is Socrates claiming agent based case?

About training the soul to become more just

In an era when many pundits are busy at the keyboard writing about examples of left-wing professor’s running amok on today’s college campuses. I have not seen too many examples in what I have observed at William and Mary and McDaniel College in Westminster.

To be sure, I can only imagine that examples exist to perpetuate passages such as this one I read recently: “Sadly, in regard to extreme liberalism being force fed to our children, many colleges and universities are still, as they were in the 1970s, havens for professors who profess politically correct, virulent anti-American thinking.”

I’m back to work on my next Westminster Eagle column.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061005 Williamsburg from the back deck

The plantation from the back deck
Well sorta, kinda...
Williamsburg Oct. 5, 2006

20061005 Breakfast and a class at William and Mary

Now this is breakfast.

October 5, 2006

Breakfast and a class at William and Mary

Posted October 5, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Breakfast at The Gazebo in Williamsburg. Next I get to observe a class at William and Mary. I will be attending a government class: “Govt. 303: Survey of Political Philosophy.”

I can’t find a current syllabus on-line. I received a current syllabus electronically from the student that has facilitated me attending the class. I found a similar syllabus for the class, from 2004, here:

This course will examine the works of several key political philosophers in the Western tradition, starting with the Greeks, through the Romans up to early Christian political thought. We will be concerned to read and analyze these thinkers’ central texts, seeking to discern what is being said, what this tells us about the politics of the societies in which they were written, and how this compares and contrasts with our own society and thought about politics. In addition to the study of specific thinkers and specific texts, we will also seek to consider more broadly what it means to think critically about politics, and the strategies available for doing so.

Course Requirements: Two short papers (6-8 pages) 30% each; Final Examination 30%; and class attendance and participation, 10%.

Required Texts: Available in the Bookstore.

Thucydides History of the Peloponnesian War (trans: Rex Warner)

Plato The Republic (trans: Allan Bloom)

Aristotle The Politics (trans: Carnes Lord)

Cicero The Republic (trans: Niall Rudd)

Augustine The Political Writings

The professor is Simon Stow. Simon Stow HOME - Bio - Publications - C.V. - Courses - Daisy - Government Department

Simon Stow received a BA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Corpus Christi College, Oxford in 1993; an MA in Political Science from McGill University in Montreal in 1997; and a Ph.D. in Political Science from The University of California, Berkeley in 2002. He joined the Department of Government at the College of William and Mary in the fall of 2002 where he teaches classes in the history of political thought, and Senior Seminars on topics in political theory.

Professor Stow's research focuses on the use and abuse of literature in political thought and analysis. Arguing that -- influenced by a 'Political Turn' in literary criticism -- there has been a 'Literary Turn' in much contemporary political theory, he seeks to identify what is promising and what is problematic about the use of literature in contemporary political thought and analysis…

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Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061004 Commissioner candidate Zimmer responds to Dangel

Commissioner candidate Zimmer responds to Dangel

October 4, 2006

On Carroll County Commissioner candidate Mike Zimmer’s web site, he responds to some negative campaigning by Ross Dangel.

It boggles one’s mind when folks complain about dirty and negative campaigning by being as equally negative, unpleasant and divisive. In many cases, the very folks who are doing the self-righteous complaining are the same one’s who are just as guilty of dirty and negative campaigning themselves…

In all candor, the folks who have engaged in many of the unpleasant letters to the editor, have been disappointing.

Pasted below, please find Mr. Zimmer’s response. Below that, for balance, please see Mr. Dangel’s letter to the editor…

Editor, Mt. Airy & Sykesville Gazette 10/03/06

Dear Editor:

The letter you printed on 9/28/06 from Ross Dangel contained a number of false statements.

For starters, the Republican Central Committee did not endorse me for Commissioner. As a former Central Committee member, I can assure all voters that our by-laws expressly direct neutrality during a primary.

Mr. Dangel’s statements regarding the Central Committee’s voter guide were equally mistaken. This questionnaire was issue oriented. Candidates were free to either participate or not. Commissioner Perry Jones and I both chose to respond. The majority of our answers were identical.

Now let me turn to the ugly campaign tactics that were directed toward me. A supporter of Delegate Susan Krebs attempted to smear me with a series of letters to various papers. How do I know about her Krebs association? I called the author of the letters directly and that was her explanation.

Each paper allowed me to respond and correct the record. Such false mudslinging has no legitimate place in a political campaign.

I, therefore, agree with Mr. Dangel’s final point that voters should reward candidates who stick with the issues and with the facts. That is exactly the sort of primary campaign I ran. I don’t plan on changing a thing for my General Election effort.

Very truly yours,

Michael D. Zimmer

_____

This campaign was full of dirty tricks

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2006

Ross Dangel, Eldersburg

Politics can be a dirty business, but this year’s primary was exemplary for its dirty tricks.

It’s little surprise that Perry Jones was unsuccessful in his re-election bid. While he was arguably outworked by many of the candidates, he was also outmaneuvered by an organized effort on the part of the Republican Central Committee to unseat all three incumbent commissioners by endorsing competitors and creating a misleading Republican voter’s guide.

Campaign sign shenanigans were just the appetizer for questionable full-page ads run the weekend before the primary by an unregistered Republican PAC (the Carroll County Republican Club) claiming to be the voice of the party.

An extremist new tabloid newspaper was also mailed to the entire county claiming official ‘‘Republican” pedigree. This newspaper accused Commissioner Jones of not residing in the county and featured the same questionable ads, which also ran in another local paper.

With such a low primary voter turn-out, all it took was a few hundred people to be deceived for this strategy to be effective.

I noticed many people bringing the deceptive Republican Central Committee’s voters guide with them into the polls. The guide intimated that candidate non-response was an effort to hide positions on issues.

There was, however, no disclosure that the questionnaire itself was done against the expressed wishes of state Republican leadership, or that candidates had been expressly asked not to respond to the questionnaire by John Kane, the head of the Republican party in Maryland.

Even the endorsement of Mike Zimmer by the central committee was done against party guidelines, which specifically require the endorsement of incumbent party candidates.

In addition to Zimmer, the central committee supported the re-election efforts of the entire incumbent delegation, with the exception of Del. Sue Krebs.

Perhaps worst of all was the misleading attack campaign waged by Larry Helminiak, now chairman-elect of the central committee. In his efforts to demonize Krebs, no fewer than six direct mail pieces containing innumerable false statements about Ms. Krebs voting record on taxes, positions on development, immigration and even the schools were mailed to all registered Republicans not listed as Krebs’ campaign supporters.

The investigations of all this primary skullduggery will surely drag-on long after the Nov. 7 election, but voters would be wise to take note of the perpetrators, so as not to reward their efforts by ever voting for them or the other candidates they worked so hard to deceive us into supporting.

These ugly campaign tactics must be eliminated, and the best way to do this is to vote for candidates who run clean campaigns and don’t resort to deceptive ads and dirty tricks.

####

20061004 Dinner at Tequila Rose

Dinner at Tequila Rose on 7207 Merrimac Trail in Williamsburg, VA.
October 4th, 2006 Kevin Dayhoff

20061004 Mayor O’Malley criticizes Hampstead bypass

Mayor O’Malley criticizes Hampstead bypass

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff October 4^th, 2006

A journalist-colleague I work with, Chris Cavy, just e-mailed me information that on the Baltimore Transit Alliance Questionnaire for Candidates for Governor. O’Malley went out of his way to single out the Hampstead By-Pass as part of a criticism of Governor Ehrlich’s transportation funding.

Mr. Cavey writes: “Unbelievable it is actually that high of a priority to pick on Hampstead’s long awaited transportation needs rather than any other project in our State.”

In a follow-up phone call with Mr. Cavey, a fellow Tentacle columnist and a regular columnist, every second Tuesday with the Jeffersonian, remarked: “I’m surprised and annoyed that a candidate for governor would have such a shallow grasp on the transportation issues in Carroll County and would go out of his way to criticize a basic infrastructure improvement critical for Carroll County’s future.”

Well – it is unbelievable that Mayor O’Malley would go out of his way to alienate all the moderate voters in Carroll County who understand that without a bypass, Hampstead’s future was being strangled by gridlock.

What was Mayor O’Malley thinking?

Below please find the question and answer. To view a PDF of the entire questionnaire, please find it here: For some background and introduction go here.

The Baltimore Transit Alliance writes:

Gubernatorial Candidates Offer Support for Transit

Responding to a questionnaire issued by the BTA, Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. and his challenger, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley both voiced strong support for transit in the Baltimore region. The candidates provided written responses on topics such as additional funding, commitment to maintaining the schedule for the Red Line planning process, and bus route restructuring. Although both candidates generally support BTA priorities, including construction of the Red and Green lines, improved connections to Washington, and short term improvements to the local bus network, the responses reveal differing priorities. Ehrlich's list of major issues facing transit in the region included safety and reliability of existing services, improvement of Mobility services for people with disabilities, bus route reform, and completion of the Red Line study. O'Malley called for a "first-class transit system," enhanced public participation in the planning process, bus system improvements, an "overhaul" of the MARC Train service, and incentives for businesses to locate near transit stations. To see the questionnaire and full responses from the candidates, click here.

4. For the Red Line, do you support completing the planning process by 2008 and initiation of construction by 2010?

Governor Ehrlich: My budget includes full funding for planning and engineering of the Red Line and money to start construction in 2010.

Mayor O’Malley: Yes. The Baltimore region has waited a long time for an east-west connector system that integrates the various modes of mass transit within the region. With the continued growth of the region, the upcoming challenges associated with BRAC and the possibility of shrinking federal funds for mass transit, we can ill-afford to wait any longer for implementation of the Red Line. While recognizing the need to follow the federal process, I will work toward achieving the milestones laid out for the initiation of construction of the Red Line in 2010.

As the elected leader of a largely transit-dependent community, I am acutely aware of the current administration’s practice of offering up unpopular, infeasible alternatives for review as a way to delay real progress. Major transit projects demand an open and participatory process, without losing a sense of urgency.

At the current time there is no funding to construct the Red Line, yet during the four years the Ehrlich administration has raided the Transportation Trust Fund, widened I-95, and built the Hampstead bypass. The current debate on funding is largely a zero-sum game because the Ehrlich administration hasn’t shown the leadership to bring fiscal balance to Maryland’s long-term transportation challenges. Instead, his regime assaulted the Transportation Trust Fund, diverting over $500 million to non-transportation programs.

_____

When I get a chance I’ll follow-up with this issue with more commentary and responses from Carroll County leadership.

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Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061004 Howard Co Blogger’s candidates’ questionnaires

Howard County Blogger’s candidates’ questionnaires

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff Oct. 4, 2006

Hat Tip: David Keelan’s Howard County Blog

For my previous post about the Howard County Gang of Four – go here.

Or here.

I first noticed this on David Keelan’s blog. He also some excellent commentary on the Howard County election scene.

Running for office is an exercise in how to avoid complete physician and mental exhaustion. Hat’s off to everyone who took the time to fill out the questionnaire – and hats off to everyone who has left the comfort and safety of the cocoon of their family and homes to participate in democracy. It is not for the faint of heart and they are all winners.

(Update: I just read on the Howard County Blog: "Nate Sandstrom had an article on the bloggers candidate forum in this weeks Columbia Flier/ Howard County Times.")

Mr. Keelan wrote: “Kudos to Dave Wissing for compiling the responses for the Howard County Blogger Association forum.”

Be sure to read the rest of Mr. Keelan’s post here.

Below, from Mr. Keelan’s post, I have pasted the folks who are running with the hyperlinks to their responses.

Mr. Wissing’s Hedgehop Report post: “HoCo: Online Candidate’s Forum” is here… “… you can see the full list of responses here.”

All of the Howard County Bloggers are to be applauded for serving the public with the candidate questionnaires:

• http://howardcountyblog.blogspot.com/
• http://hocomd.wordpress.com/
• http://hocohayduke.blogspot.com/
• http://www.hedgehogreport.com/

Responses

County Executive

Chris Merdon - Republican
Steve Wallis – Independent

County Council

Tony Salazar - Republican - District 1
Gina Ellrich - Republican - District 2
Jen Terrasa - Democrat - District 3
Donna Thewes - Republican - District 3
Tom D’Asto - Republican - District 4
Don Dunn - Democrat - District 5
Greg Fox - Republican - District 5

State Senate

Allan Kittleman - Republican - District 9
Ed Kasemeyer - Democrat - District 12
Sandy Schrader - Republican - District 13

State Delegate

Gail Bates - Republican - District 9A
Warren Miller - Republican - District 9A
David Osmudson - Democrat - District 9A
Elizabeth Bobo - Democrat - District 12B
Rick Bowers - Republican - District 13
Mary Beth Tung - Republican - District 13

Board of Education

Allen Dyer
Sandra French
Joshua Kaufman
Roger Lerner
Di Zou

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Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061003 Dinner at the Taphouse in Williamsburg

Dinner at the Taphouse in Williamsburg
October 3, 2006

20061003 Who was Oriana Fallaci?

Who was Oriana Fallaci?

My latest column is up on the Tentacle: “Oriana Fallaci, a refreshing approach.”

On September 15, Oriana Fallaci, the Italian lioness of letters, died of cancer. Although Ms. Fallaci was one of the world's greatest conservative artists of letters; she is - to this day - relatively unknown in the United States.

Born in Italy on June 29, 1929, Ms. Fallaci served in the resistance during World War II. She began her journalistic career in 1950 as a teenager and went on to be a war correspondent in Vietnam, the Middle East, South America and the Indo-Pakistani Wars.

She continued her career by interviewing many of the world leaders of our time and consistently took no prisoners. Her aggressive journalistic style is the stuff of myth and legend.

Ms. Fallaci would often wax philosophical about existentialism and then abruptly switch to calmly delivered, aggressive questioning that disarmed the greatest men of words. The many world leaders she interviewed included Henry Kissinger, the Shah of Iran, Ayatollah Khomeini, Lech Walesa, Willy Brandt, Walter Cronkite, Omar Khadafi, Yasser Arafat, Indira Gandhi, Golda Meir, and Sean Connery.

In later years she penned a series of books and articles in which she was critical of the Muslim religion and culture.

It was only by a cruel coincidence that she passed away three days after Pope Benedict XVI recited the words of Byzantine emperor Manuel II Palaiologos at the University of Regensburg in Germany, which reflect a view that the religion of Islam is spread by the sword.

Read the rest of the column here.

For my previous posts about this legendary journalist, go here and here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com

www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061001 Les chiens ne sont pas admis

Les chiens ne sont pas admis

A sign found in a window in Williamsburg

Par arrete prefectoral – Les chiens ne sont pas admis dans les magasins d’alimentation.

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20061003 Attila of the monitor

“Attila of the monitor”

© Kevin Dayhoff October 3, 2006

Above please find an exclusive photo of the Attila, at the Pillage Idiot, in the midst of hand-to-hand combat with his computer equipment.

The Pillage Idiot reports that he has been having technical difficulties with his computer equipment.

Of course, I have never had any such problems. NOOOOO! I’m sure that you noticed how many posts that I made last week – and before it was all over – I moved my site…

Attila remains in our hearts and prayers, there’s hardly anything worse that having a dysfunctionate conversation with one’s technology – well, except if it’s “Chisel guy.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com

www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061002 Aromas Williamsburg

"Aromas"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff Oct. 2, 2006

20061002 Drinking the Kool-Aid

Drinking the Kool-Aid

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff October 2^nd, 2006

I so enjoyed the latest post by Attila at the Pillage Idiot.

Attila writes: “With my friends, unlike so many liberals I've encountered, we can tactfully avoid contentious political issues to maintain our friendship, and with my friends, you simply couldn't hope to find nicer, more decent people.”

However as his post continues; he has had experiences in which folks just won’t let go of their all-consuming need to tell everyone about their outrage with current politics…

In my experience it is folks who erupt about Republicans or President George W. Bush – or the Carroll County Republican party.

Oh, give it up already.

I take an enormous amount of pride in saying that I have not a clue as to what party many of my friends are registered and often do not give a rats-behind as to what is their political views.

Having many writer and artist friends, my life is full of many folks who hold different political views than me. They are great folks, with integrity and work hard to contribute and make a difference in the community.

For the most part, when I get together with friends, I’m much more concerned with the welfare of their family, their latest vacations, what books and movies or art shows they are interested-in these days or how their children are doing in school.

Talking about food, landscaping, vacations and pets is much more human and ultimately more rewarding.

Although I can enjoy talking politics, I hardly ever talk politics with my elected or appointed official friends and like it that way.

I’m especially am not fond of artists who “get political” in my face. Politicizing the arts is as bad as politicizing a friendship. (Oh yes, I believe that Hollywood-types or performers maintain their first amendment rights; however, I reserve the right to not patronize their movies – or art shows. Shut and sing.)

On a personal level, at best, I can find it amusing that for some folks, everything in their lives is based on their hatred of President George W. Bush and Republicans. But usually I avoid the humor by avoiding their company.

Folks for whom everything is political are clueless one-dimensional bores.

Please go to Attila’s post – and be sure to follow the links and also read the comments… It is way too funny.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061002 ScrappleFace reports Rumsfeld out, Woodward in

ScrappleFace reports Rumsfeld out, Woodward in

Posted October 2, 2006

ScrappleFace is reporting that President Bush will soon let go of the Secretary of Defense, Donald Rumsfeld and hire Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward. Read the report here and be sure to read through the comments.

Meanwhile, if you are not a regular ScrappleFace reader, you should be – go to the ScrappleFace site now and prepare to laugh.

Bush Fires Rumsfeld, Nominates Bob Woodward by Scott Ott

(2006-10-02) — White House sources today said that President George Bush, under increasing pressure to ‘win the peace’ in Iraq, will fire embattled Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, and nominate Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward as his replacement.

The unnamed sources said White House Chief of Staff Andrew Card made the recommendation to the president after reading Mr. Woodward’s new book “State of Denial.”

“It’s clear that Bob Woodward gets more solid information from people at the Pentagon, State Department, National Security Council and White House than Rumsfeld does,” said one anonymous official. “Rummy and Bush are arrogant and work in a vacuum which leads to bad decisions. Everybody talks to Woodward, plus he’s humble and nobody has a better grasp on what would have worked in a given situation.”

Mr. Woodward declined to comment for the record, but unnamed associates said the venerated journalist would “jump at the chance to use his fabled powers of hindsight to lead the Pentagon. Plus it would allow him to work more closely with all of his unnamed friends in the top echelons of government.”

Bob Woodward is best-known for a series of anonymously-sourced articles he wrote with Carl Bernstein more than three decades ago that resulted in a movie starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman.

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20061001 The Pizza Shop

"The Pizza Shop"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff Oct. 1, 2006

20061001 Cheese Shoppe Williamsburg No. 2

The Cheese Shoppe
(c) Kevin Dayhoff Oct.1, 2006

20061001 They're not talking anymore

"They're not talking anymore"
(c) Kevin Dayhoff October 1st, 2006 Williamsburg, VA

20061001 Who is this Carroll County community leader?

Who is this Carroll County community leader?
Jeff Glass

20061001 kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

As of October 1, 2006 kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff on October 1, 2006 Cross-posted here.

Please add http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/ to your bookmarks now.

For my latest posts please click here.

I’ve got lots of work to do on the new site, but little by little, I’ll get it done. I intend on my moving all the links eventually.

I will leave the site, which contains all the previous posts, up indefinitely…

For more information click here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org http://www.thetentacle.com/ Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report http://www.thewestminstereagle.com/ www.kevindayhoff.com has moved to http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/

20061001 Election Websites

20061001 Election Websites

October 1, 2006

Beard - Dennis Beard, candidate for Carroll County Commissioner

Brinkley Re-Elect David Brinkley, Dist.4 Frederick and Carroll Cos. Sen. David Brinkley

Cardin - Ben Cardin, candidate for US Senate from Maryland

Carroll County Board of Elections

Carroll County Republican Candidates And Contact Information

Carroll County Times 2006 Election Website

Craig - David Craig for Harford Co. Executive

Gouge - Re-Elect Carroll Co. Commissioner Julia Walsh Gouge

Haines - Re-Elect Dist.5 Carroll and Balto. Cos. Sen. Larry Haines

Hogan, Patrick N, (R) Re-elect for Frederick Co. Dist 3A

Kittleman - Elect Dist.9 Howard and Carroll Cos. Sen. Allan Kittleman

League of Women Voters in Carroll County MD

Minnich - Re-Elect Carroll Co. Commissioner Dean Minnich

O'Malley for Maryland Governor election web site

Shewell - Elect Dist.5A Carroll Co. Del. Tanya Shewell

Steele - Elect Michael Steele for Maryland U.S.Senate web site

Stocksdale - Re-elect Dist.5A Carroll Co. Del. Nancy Stocksdale

Vote on Nov. 7, 2006. If you want an absentee ballot, click here

Webb, James - Democratic Candidate for US Senator from Virginia

Zimmer - Mike Zimmer, candidate for Carroll County Commissioner

20060930 Williamsburg

Williamsburg No. 1
(c) Kevin Dayhoff September 30, 2006

20060930 NBC VeggieTales and the Superhero Guidebook

NBC, VeggieTales and the Superhero Guidebook

Posted by Kevin Dayhoff on September 30^th, 2006

I’ve been a big fan of VeggieTales for quite a number of years.

While channel surfing this morning, I came across VeggieTales on the television. I had read on Michelle Malkinapparently NBS has a problem with VeggieTales. She makes some excellent points here on Hot Air. recently that

Never mind that NBC finds it okay to air Madonna in a faux crucifix scene…

Whatever.

What I got a kick out of - while watching VeggieTales on TV this morning - was that, yes indeed they don’t refer to G_d or the Bible, (at least in the segment that I saw…) but as I had the show on in the background, I heard them refer to the “Superhero Guidebook.”

What stitch? I can see me referring to the Bible in the future as a “Superhero Guidebook.” I used to carry around a Bible in the farm truck and once someone asked why? My response was that I carried it around for “emergency instructions.”

Meanwhile, “Big Ideas,” the folks who are the creative masterminds behind VeggieTales, has something to say about it all:

VeggieTales & NBC

What's the Big Idea?

September 22, 2006

Two weeks ago, VeggieTales made its debut on national television. After 13 years and 50 million videos sold, many people are familiar with Bob & Larry and their brand of "Sunday Morning Values, Saturday Morning Fun!" But putting VeggieTales on TV has got some people asking, "Hey, what's the big idea?"

Some think that because of its teaching of Judeo-Christian values, VeggieTales should not be allowed on TV -- or at least should be restricted to a time slot or channel for religious programming. Others feel that VeggieTales should be on TV and in the exact same format that is familiar to millions of families. Well, VeggieTales is on TV and is not in the same format as the DVDs -- and that's created a bit of a stir! Keep reading to hear how this all happened.

Read the rest of the Big Ideas’ post here.

God Bless and use the Superhero Guidebook for emergency instructions as often as necessary.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA. E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org www.thetentacle.com Westminster Eagle Opinion and Winchester Report www.thewestminstereagle.com www.kevindayhoff.com