Sunday, October 29, 2006

MTP Transcript for Oct. 29

Md. U.S. Senate candidates Rep. Ben Cardin (D), Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R)

Updated: 1:49 p.m. ET Oct 29, 2006

MR. TIM RUSSERT: Our issues this Sunday: Only nine days until the midterm elections. The Democrats must gain six seats to take control of the U.S. Senate. This morning, our Senate Debate Series 2006 concludes with another one of the most closely watched races of the year: Maryland, where Democratic Representative Ben Cardin faces off against Republican Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele for this open seat. A new Washington Post poll out this morning shows Cardin with the lead. Democrat Ben Cardin vs. Republican Michael Steele, only on “Meet the Press.”

But first, it’s usually all eyes on Florida or Ohio, but this morning, it is Maryland. Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin, Republican Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele, welcome both.

Read the rest here: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15473528/

I'd put the entire transcript up, but it would go on forever and I'd lose a lot of face page - unfortunately I have not been able to figure out how to put jumps in the blog. I've asked a colleague if she would put it on her blog as she has jumps (and a well-engineered site...)

20061029 The Carroll Sun’s campaign literature

The Carroll Sun’s campaign literature

October 29^th, 2006

Several folks have been in touch about the back-to-back articles by the Baltimore Sun - Carroll Sun branch of the Maryland Democratic Party in Carroll County.

The articles: “Commissioners - Two shun Zimmer as GOP splits support” and “Republicans split in Carroll County - Democrat Beard gains GOP backing,” have appeared in the October 28^th and 29^th, 2006 edition of the paper.

Much of it is inside-baseball that is not a great deal of concern of the many Moms and Dads trying to attend as many children’s athletic events this weekend as possible. Or the folks who are just intolerant of the esoteric machinations of who-struck-john or gotcha politics.

As an aside, the humor as when the Democratic Party opened a campaign headquarters in Westminster after decades of not having one was that it was not needed as long as the Baltimore Sun had an office in town. (In the interest of full disclosure, that is not an original thought - - it was shared with me by a liberal colleague…)

I was happy that the Dems opened a campaign headquarters in town because the more ideas on the table and candidates on the ballot, the better for Carroll County.

On my way home from dinner last night, I stopped the Dems’ headquarters, after I noticed Frank Rammes toiling-away in the front window.

I liked Frank when he was a Republican and I still like Frank, now that he has switched parties. I just wanted to say hi.

Politics is the business of community leadership and I admire everyone who steps forward to offer their services. When it comes to the business of leadership, may the best plan win – and leave the personal politics out of it.

Back to the Baltimore Sun Democratic campaign pieces; I only read them a moment ago and then I only scanned portions of it.

Yawn.

So what is new?

Actually they are both well-written, if you accept them for what they are – persuasive political rhetoric. If the articles had been labeled as “analysis” or if they had been offered as “columns,” that would have been appropriate.

News articles they were not.

I remember well when the dominant party in Carroll County was the Democratic Party. In those days it was quite conservative.

There was consistent and persistent friction between the conservative-wing of the Democratic Party and the more liberal wing. Much of it was just a rancorous as it is today – only it was the different factions of the Democratic Party doing the bickering.

It was around the late 1970s when the Carroll County Democratic Party started to veer abruptly to the left. Around the time that John Willis ran for the House of Delegates.

As time went on, many of the conservative Democrats left the party and it was not until around 1990 or so that the numbers of Republicans surpassed the registered Democrats.

I think that differences of opinion, whether from within a political party or between parties - - are good for Carroll County.

I rather like differences of opinion being tolerated within a party and I think that it is necessary. As the Carroll County Democratic Party leadership became intolerant of different points of view, many left the party.

Of that note, the Republican Party in Carroll County should pay close attention. As soon as the leadership of the Republican Party becomes intolerant of opposing points of view as to the direction of the party, folks will leave.

Hopefully, the leadership of the Carroll County Republican Party will continue to encourage differences of opinion, discussion and dialogue. The minute that those necessary disagreements are no longer tolerated, the party will cease to be relevant in Carroll County.

If anything, the Carroll County Democratic Party would be smart to get back to its conservative roots in order to win some folks back to the party.

Just as I was about to move on with my day, I got an e-mail from a colleague who spent a bit of time writing up a paragraph or two about the two articles and I found the commentary to be thought-provoking.

I will paste them below and then I’ll go back to work. For everyone who got in touch about the two articles… Thank You. I have saved them. In the future, they will be excellent examples as to why the Baltimore Sun has lost its credibility and relevancy… See: “20061029 The Sunset of the Baltimore Sun.”

Meanwhile, my colleague said:

Baltimore Sun Whacks Carroll GOP – Here’s a surprise –

The Baltimore Sun has run two articles in two days critical of Republicans – more specifically about the Republicans in the Baltimore metropolitan region’s stronghold of Carroll County.

Who’d of thunk it!

Competitive local primaries always disrupt party unity. Supporters have made heavy investments in their candidates – with time, money, talents, etc. – and strong emotions after a primary are expected.

Is this something new?

No.

Does this happen only to Republicans – No.

It is part of the fundamental nature of democratic governments – that democracies work best when they run on conflict. Carroll County Republicans have had significant internal controversies in the past:

1) the fight over the 1985 Orphan’s Court vacancy where three members of the Central Committee resigned;

2) the filling of a vacancy in the ballot for the 1986 sheriff’s race where several prominent Republicans supported the Democratic incumbent Sheriff Sensabaugh;

3) the 1990 state senate primary where the incumbent who lost to Larry Haines endorsed the Democrat Jeff Griffith;

4) the 1990 “Victory” slate for Republican central committee; and the list could go on.

Internal strife is not a sign of a party on the brink of collapse (as the Baltimore Sun and the doomsayers would have you believe) but instead symbolizes a big, open-tent, healthy local party that offers the best candidates and the best solutions to problems in Carroll County.

From my perspective …, these Carroll County internal battles are tame as compared to the infighting and back-stabbing... in the (Democratic) delegations from Baltimore City, Prince George’s County and elsewhere.

But the Baltimore Sun will never miss the opportunity to try and make Republicans look bad – no matter where they live in the state.

####

20061029 Newspaper endorsements in the MD gubernatorial contest

Newspaper endorsements in the Maryland gubernatorial contest

October 29, 2006

Below please find links for newspaper gubernatorial endorsements in the Maryland contest for the State House:

20061029 Baltimore Sun Endorsement of O’Malley

20061023 Washington Times endorsement of Ehrlich

20061025 Washington Post endorsement of Gov Ehrlich

20061026 Howard County Times endorsement of Governor Ehrlich

20061015 Hagerstown Herald Mail Endorsement of Ehrlich

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20061029 Baltimore Sun Endorsement of O’Malley

Baltimore Sun Endorsement of O’Malley

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.omalley29oct29,0,4199077.story?coll=bal-pe-opinion

From the Baltimore Sun - O'Malley for governor

October 29, 2006

Putting aside the rhetorical excesses of what has been an extended, if not particularly inspiring, gubernatorial race, voters must choose between an incumbent with, at best, an uneven record and a challenger with a worthy agenda. Both men are intelligent, telegenic and ambitious. But we believe Martin O'Malley, who has performed well in the difficult role of big-city mayor, is the better choice to lead this state through the challenges that lie ahead.

In the next four years, Maryland is likely to face a return of $1 billion annual budget deficits. Issues of growth and development, the continued degradation of the Chesapeake Bay, the quality of public schools, the region's congested roads and strained transit systems, the rising cost of health care and the future of the state's economy are of paramount concern. Such issues require a governor with vision who can work with the General Assembly and overcome what has devolved into a dysfunctional and contentious atmosphere in Annapolis.

Mr. O'Malley has demonstrated these leadership skills. When he was first elected mayor in 1999, the former two-term city councilman inherited a city of rising crime, failing schools and shrinking economic prospects. He was able to reverse course in all these areas. He made fighting crime and beefing up the Police Department a priority, and reduced the number of murders and other violent crimes. He helped rescue the school system from the financial brink. And even the most jaded critic would have to concede that the city's economy has leaped forward dramatically - from the expanding Inner Harbor and east-side biotechnology park to the growing list of reviving neighborhoods, such as Patterson Park and Reservoir Hill.

Of course, neither Mr. O'Malley nor anyone else can claim that the city's chronic problems are now solved. Far from it. There are still too many murders, too much poverty and too many failing students in the public schools to even contemplate such a notion. But the progress under the mayor's tenure is clear and irrefutable. He has demanded accountability to a degree that his predecessors did not - and his CitiStat tracking system has become a national model.

Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has fared less well running a government - despite having far greater power and resources available to him. Too often the former congressman has chosen to score a political point rather than make policy. His slots proposal was a mess, a poorly considered handout to racetrack owners that squandered the administration's political capital. He abandoned his own medical malpractice reform bill when lawmakers insisted it be adequately funded. That tactic kept him politically pure but cost physicians the legal reforms they had sought. And his failure to provide an adequate response to rising utility rates, to remove a less-than-inspiring Public Service Commission or to recognize the problems associated with a looming deregulation of the industry continues to be troublesome.

On too many fronts, from his refusal to endorse a state minimum wage to the rising tuition he forced on Maryland's public universities through budget cuts, Mr. Ehrlich has turned his back on issues important to the middle class. At times, he has not even seemed particularly engaged with the day-to-day demands of the job. And too many of his most noteworthy successes - the $1.4 billion Thornton funding boost to public education, the state's investment in embryonic stem cell research, and the Healthy Air Act curbs on power plant pollution, to name a few - were forced on him by the Democratic legislature.

The incumbent likes to boast that he "solved" the state budget deficit. But mostly, he has deferred the problem by raising fees and taxes to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars annually and by diverting money from the state's vital transportation and land conservation programs. His piecemeal approach to fiscal policies - and an upswing in the economic cycle - have only forestalled the effects of the continuing structural deficit.

The mayor is not without his faults. He has sometimes shown a tendency toward impatience and arrogance, characteristics that have not served him well. But he has also had to endure personal attacks through a rumor campaign that was traced to a member of the governor's inner circle. And Mr. Ehrlich's brand of testiness has proved far more problematic, particularly in his dealings with lawmakers and the press. When confronted with an embarrassing sale of land in St. Mary's County to a politically connected developer, his response was to blacklist a Sun reporter and columnist.

Mr. O'Malley and Prince George's County Del. Anthony G. Brown, his well-qualified choice for lieutenant governor who brings diversity and legislative experience to the ticket, have crafted a platform that promises reforms and new ideas. They have vowed to bolster public education and make college more affordable, improve the health care system, expand drug treatment, protect the environment, focus on the state's expanding knowledge-based economy, alleviate traffic gridlock and increase openness and accountability in state government. All are laudatory goals. Where the proposal falls short is Mr. O'Malley's opaqueness regarding how all of it might be financed beyond cost-cutting and efficiencies.

But at least the Democrats have a vision. Rather than outline any plans for state government in the next term, Mr. Ehrlich's campaign has been devoted primarily to portraying Baltimore as the seventh level of the netherworld. Such a stilted view of reality would be harmless enough if its underlying message were not so destructive.

Mr. Ehrlich wants voters to believe he would have accomplished much more if only the Democrats in the General Assembly had not thwarted him at every turn. But that's not much of an excuse for the inertia of the last four years. Governors from California to Virginia have overcome such political barriers. They show flexibility, build coalitions and strike compromises. Annapolis has never been about monolithic rule. Even under Democratic governors, it has always required balancing the interests of poor and wealthy, rural and urban, liberal and conservative. We have no reason to believe Mr. Ehrlich would address the state's neglected agenda. Mr. O'Malley can, and therefore merits our endorsement.

####

20061029 The Sunset of the Baltimore Sun

The Sunset of the Baltimore Sun

October 29^th, 2006

Fellow Maryland Blogger Aliance member, Soccer Dad has a unique angle on the matter of folks continuing to call for Tribune to divest itself of the flagging Maryland newspaper flagship - - increasing a mere sycophant coal tender for the Maryland Democratic Party, the Baltimore Sun.

Please read his post here: “Eclipsing the sun?”

He also has a link to the Washington Post story about folks clamoring for a sale.

The Baltimore Sun seems hell-bound to throw itself off a cliff and has lost any credibility with me. I do not revel in the slow suicide of the Baltimore Sun. I view it as a tragedy.

The only way out for the Sun at this point would be different ownership.

For more on the subject, read my Tentacle columns:

April 26, 2006 - Baltimore’s Sun Still Dimming

April 12, 2006 - Governor Crothers, Meet Dan Rodricks

January 11, 2006 - Journalism in 2005

January 4, 2006 - A Tale of Two Introductions

December 21, 2005 - Who is Max Cleland?

October 19, 2005 - “The Sun and the Bay”

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20061029 Meet Ben Cardin

Meet Ben Cardin

Meet Ben – from his website: http://www.bencardin.com/

October 29^th, 2006

Ben Cardin has dedicated his life in public service to a basic belief – that by putting principles into action, we can give every Maryland family the opportunity to achieve their dreams.

A third-generation Marylander, Ben Cardin has never forgotten the lessons of his family’s success. Through hard work, Benjamin Green – Ben’s grandfather – opened a family-run, neighborhood grocery store and turned it into a successful wholesale food distribution company. His grandfather’s success taught Ben that nothing is more important than the family around you and the job at hand.

His father, Meyer Cardin, devoted his life to strengthening his community through public service. He served in several prominent positions, including as member of the House of Delegates, Chief Police Magistrate and Associate Judge of the Supreme Bench of Baltimore City.

Ben’s father taught him the value of public service, fairness and honesty. He also taught Ben that government should be there for those who work hard and play by the rules – not just the politically connected.

While still a student as the University of Maryland School of Law, Ben was elected to serve in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was chosen by his colleagues to become one of the youngest Speakers of the House in Maryland history, a position he held for eight years. As Speaker, Ben reformed the state’s ethics laws, made the tax system fairer and passed legislation to make school funding more equitable.

In 1987, Ben was elected to represent Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. In Congress, Ben has developed a reputation for turning his principles into action in order to solve problems and pass important legislation.

The Baltimore Sun once said that “few members of the U.S. House in either party can match his stature as legislative architect and master of bipartisan lawmaking.”

As a senior member of the House Ways & Means Committee and ranking member of the Trade Subcommittee and the Helsinki Commission, Ben is a national leader on issues such as health care, Social Security, retirement savings, trade and human rights.

Ben’s foremost passion in Congress is improving our health care system to give more Americans access to quality care. He has put those principles into action by authoring meaningful laws to expand Medicare to cover preventive benefits such as screenings for breast cancer, prostate cancer and osteoporosis. Ben has also introduced legislation to fix the new Medicare prescription drug bill, which he has called a raw deal for America’s seniors.

Ben also led the fight to oppose President Bush’s plan to privatize Social Security. Alternatively, he authored legislation to help all Americans build and strengthen their retirement accounts and put more money into their IRAs and 401(k) accounts. Worth Magazine named Ben “one of the 100 people who have changed the way Americans think about money.”

Ben believes that every Marylander – no matter where he or she lives – deserves to make an honest wage to provide for themselves and their families. He has fought tirelessly to bring quality jobs to Maryland, including thousands to the state through the Military Base Realignment (BRAC) process. As the top Democrat in Congress on trade, Ben has lead the fight to oppose unfair trade deals that ship American jobs overseas and ignore fair labor standards.

Ben voted against the war in Iraq. By ignoring diplomacy and rushing to war, President Bush has damaged America’s standing in the world. Ben has repeatedly called on President Bush to present the American people with a plan to bring our troops home safely, responsibly and quickly.

Ben strongly believes that education must truly be a national priority. He introduced the Master Teacher Act in 2004 to help put the best teachers in the lowest performing schools. He is also a strong advocate for increasing Pell Grant funding and improving access to student loans.

Ben is also a leading voice for human rights at home and around the world. As the Ranking Member on the Helsinki Commission, he has traveled around the world to address such problems as anti-Semitism and human rights abuses. He co-sponsored the Equal Rights Amendment and the Employment Nondiscrimination Act, as well as legislation to prohibit wage discrimination based on sex, race or national origin. Ben fully supports the rights of women, rather than politicians and judges, to make decisions about their own reproductive health.

As a lifelong Marylander determined to keep our state safe and clean, Ben has secured millions in federal homeland security dollars for local fire and police departments in Maryland and championed programs to clean up the Chesapeake Bay.

Ben and his wife of 41 years, Myrna, grew up in the same Forest Park neighborhood of Baltimore and met in elementary school. They have a daughter, Deborah, son-in-law Jonathan and two grandchildren, Madeline (5) and Julia (2).

For more information on the Ben Cardin campaign, please go to: http://www.bencardin.com/

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20061029 About Michael Steele

About Michael Steele

October 29, 2006

EN ESPANOL

About Michael Steele - from his website: http://www.michaelsteeleformaryland.com/index.asp

Became Maryland's FIRST statewide elected African-American.

One of the first in his family to go to college - graduating from Johns Hopkins University, and receiving his law degree from Georgetown University.

Named one of the Baltimore Sun's 2003 Legislative Session "Winners" for his efforts to work with both sides of the aisle.

Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele was the first African-American ever elected to statewide office in Maryland. Michael made history once again in October 2005, when he announced his candidacy for the state's open seat in the United States Senate.

Since taking office as Lieutenant Governor with Governor Robert Ehrlich in 2003, Michael has produced real solutions to the real problems facing Marylanders. The Lt. Governor has lead the fight to improve access to better-performing schools; worked alongside law enforcement officials to reduce crime and secure communities; strengthened the state's minority business program to foster greater entrepreneurship; and worked with Maryland conservationists to protect the environment for future generations.

Lt. Gov. Steele has helped redefine the state's goals and commitment towards small and minority businesses in Maryland as chair of the Governor's Commission on Minority Business Enterprise Reform. More recently, he chaired the Governor's Commission on Quality Education in Maryland, which recommended institutional reforms to improve the state's public education system.

Michael currently oversees the Governor's Office on Community Initiatives, partnering with faith-based, community and volunteer organizations to assist the state's most needy. Lt. Governor Steele also serves as a strong advocate for the preservation and advancement of the state's five Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Michael continues to work with the Maryland police and the Maryland Vehicle Theft Prevention Council to reduce crime and vehicle theft, and he has forged a strong partnership with the mayors of the state's 157 municipalities while strengthening ties between the state and local governments.

Michael Steele was born on October 19, 1958 at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George's County and was raised in Washington, DC. He graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School, earned his bachelor's degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University in 1981, and received his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1991. Mr. Steele also spent three years as a seminarian in the Order of St. Augustine in preparation for the priesthood.

In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Mr. Steele to serve a term on the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. His other affiliations include the State House Trust, the East Baltimore Development Corporation, the Export-Import Bank Advisory Committee and the Prince George's County Chapter of the NAACP.

A 2005 Aspen Institute-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, Lt. Governor Steele was recently awarded a Bethune-DuBois Institute 2005 Award for his work in the ongoing development of quality education in Maryland.

Lt. Governor Steele is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover Hills, where he attends mass regularly with his wife Andrea and their two sons, Michael and Drew.

For more information on the Michael Steele campaign, please go to: http://www.michaelsteeleformaryland.com/index.asp

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Saturday, October 28, 2006

20061027 Real Clear Politics: Will the Washington Post Push Ehrlich Over the Top in MD?

Real Clear Politics: Will the Washington Post Push Ehrlich Over the Top in MD?

October 28^th, 2006

Real Clear Politics has an excellent analysis post by John McIntyre on October 27^th, 2006 on the gubernatorial contest in Maryland.

October 27, 2006

Will the Washington Post Push Ehrlich Over the Top in Maryland?

Posted by JOHN MCINTYRE

Editorial endorsements don't matter as much as they once did, but Wednesday's surprise backing of Maryland Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich by the liberal-leaning Washington Post could make a difference in a race that is liable to go down to the wire. If the GOP weren't suffering from a 15-point deficit in the Congressional ballot two weeks before Election Day and a Republican president with a sub-40 job approval, Maryland's booming economy probably would have been enough to carry Ehrlich to reelection this year. But there is no question that the anti-GOP mood nationally is hurting Ehrlich in Maryland.

Read the rest here. It is well worth your time.

My take on the 20061025 Washington Post endorsement of Gov Ehrlich is here: “20061025 Washington Post endorsement of Gov Ehrlich.”

_____

20061028 A point of personal privilege

A point of personal privilege

A hearty welcome to the “Privette Papers.”

Posted October 28^th, 2006

Please welcome Mr. Smurf’s friend, “Privette Papers,” to the blogosphere. Mr. Smurf helped me get my blog stated many moons ago and the writer behind “Privette Papers” is a writer-friend of Mr. Smurf’s. Any friend of Mr. Smurf’s is a friend of mine.

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/

20061027 The following scene took place on a BA flight

The following scene took place on a BA flight

Posted October 28^th, 2006

Pasted below is an email that was sent to me by my good friend, “Analog.” Thanks

This is one of the many e-mails that I receive – and perhaps you receive… Time and merit certainly does not enable me to post that many of them, however, this one really struck me. Please read it and enjoy.

The following scene took place on a BA flight between Johannesburg and London.

This is a true story.

A White woman, about 50 years old, was seated next to a Black man.

Obviously disturbed by this, she called the air Hostess.

"Madam, what is the matter," the Hostess asked.

"You obviously do not see it then?" she responded. "You placed me next to a Black man. I do not agree to sit next to someone from such a repugnant group. Give me an alternative seat."

"Be calm please, " the Hostess replied. "Almost all the places on this flight are taken. I will go to see if another seat is available."

The Hostess went away and then came back a few minutes later.

"Madam, just as I thought, there are no other available seats in the Economy class. I spoke to the Captain and he informed me that there is also no seats in the Business class. All the same, we still have one seat in the First class."

Before the woman could say anything, the Hostess continued: "It is not usual for our company to permit someone from the Economy class to sit in the First class. However, given the circumstances, the Captain feels that it would be scandalous to make someone sit next to someone so disgusting."

She turned to the Black guy, and said, "Therefore, Sir, if you would like to, please collect your hand luggage, a seat awaits you in First class."

At that moment, the other passengers who were shocked by what they had just witnessed stood up and applauded.

####

20061028 With One Voice Benefit for CC Safe House

With One Voice Benefit for CC Safe House

With One Voice: An Evening of Fine Music November 4^th, 2006 for the benefit of Carroll County Domestic Violence Safe House

Posted Saturday, October 28^th, 2006

The subject of domestic violence, this benefit concert and the unfortunate reasons as to why we need such a Safe House in Carroll will be the focus of my next Westminster Eagle column - - that should’ve been finished by now but it isn’t…

One of the last times I wrote on this subject was February 2nd, 2005, when I was writing a column for the Westminster Advocate.

(That was in the days when Jamie Kelly was my editor. I’ve been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to work with many talented editors – he is one of the best. Go here and laugh: “20060622 A picture suggestion for Jamie Kelly.”) The Advocate website does not have that column on the site – so go here to read it: “20050202 WA Domestic Violence A Civil Society begins at Home.”

_____

This musical and choral extravaganza will take place at the magnificent St. John Catholic Church in Westminster.

All proceeds will benefit the Carroll County Domestic Violence Safe House. Please join us for an evening you will not soon forget.

Enjoy performances by:

• Children's Chorus of Carroll County

• Masterworks Chorale

• McDaniel Gospel Choir

• McDaniel Madigrals

• Old Line Statesmen Barber Shop Chorus

• Westminster Trombone Choir

When & Where

Tickets

Saturday, November 4, 2006 7:30 p.m.

St. John Catholic Church
43 Monroe Street
Westminster, Maryland 21157

Adults $20 and Children 16 and under $10 Tickets are tax deductible

Purchase tickets:
Carroll County Arts Council
Coffey Music
New Windsor Bank branches
Optics Limited
Stu's Music

For more information, please call 410-876-1233

20061027 Is Gansler Qualified?

Is Gansler Qualified?

October 27, 2006

I’m no sure what to make of the flap that recently came to the surface as to whether or not the Democratic candidate for the Office of Attorney General, Doug Gansler is eligible for the office for which he seeks.

I am aware of one thing, if Mr. Gansler and the Democratic candidate for Maryland Comptroller, Peter Franchot both win, buy stock in any company that makes microphones, grandstands and air conditioners, because there will no end to the hot air grandstanding of these two folks.

Talk about self-love, these two fell madly in love with themselves at birth and it is a passion to which they have always remained faithful. It will be unbearable.

For more information along these lines, please read Barry Rascovar’s column from November 18th, 2005: “‘Democrat,’ according to Peter Franchot,” and my post: “20061016 The Examiner Editorial Franchot’s empty gesture.”

Mr. Rascovar’s column begins, “The way Peter V.R. Franchot sees it, Annapolis consists of good Democrats, who fight for truth, justice and the American way, and everybody else. These other politicians belong to Franchot’s Evil Empire and represent the forces of greed, injustice and cruelty.”

And then it gets better and better and better. Please read it to get an idea as to how quickly we will miss William Donald Schaefer’s responsible approach to government and public service. Yeah, I know darn well what I just wrote…

And wait until you read, “20061016 The Examiner Editorial Franchot’s empty gesture.”

But to go from the frying pan to the fire - - getting back to Mr. Gansler; as I was researching the issue, I came across Attila’s Pillage Idiot October 25th, 2006 post: “Doug Gansler at the bar.”

The top of his post begins:

“I've had my share of fun with Doug Gansler, the Montgomery County State's Attorney, now running for Attorney General of Maryland. But who knows what to make of this latest allegation that he is ineligible to serve as Attorney General, because he hasn't practiced law in Maryland for the requisite 10 years?...”

He then suggests, “Stephanie Dray, our newest member of the Maryland Blogger Alliance, brings you the basic details of the controversy…”

And - - he ends his post with, “For more background, see the MoCoPolitics blog, which sees a real problem for Gansler, even though the writer supports him.”

Be sure to read the entire Pillage Idiot post: “Doug Gansler at the bar” and review Stephanie Dray’s basic details for some grounding on the issues involved.

When ya go to Jousting for Justice’s post on Gansler matter, be sure to take time to read the comments. (Ms. Dray has a great blog!)

After I read Attila’s and Ms. Drays’ post, I stopped researching it as they covered it well.

If you have the delirium tremors for more info read the Washington Post’s October 25^th, 2006 article, “At Debate, Rolle Questions Gansler's Eligibility for Office,” by Steve Vogel. He concludes with what many see is the bottom line:

“…Dan Friedman, a state constitution expert at the University of Maryland School of Law, said in an interview last month that Gansler's credentials should meet the standard. "Bar membership should be a sufficient indicator that a candidate has practiced law in the state," Friedman said. "Therefore, Gansler would be constitutionally eligible."”

Bruce Godfrey over at Crablaw, seems to agree. I’d say that between Stephanie Dray and Bruce Godfrey, they have it nailed.

Perhaps in the future, such issues ought to be adjudicated by a special panel of the Maryland Blogger Alliance and we’d get things back on track and save the taxpayer a great deal of money to boot.

To add some seasoning to the saga, read Phyllis Jordan’s October 26, 2006 post in Maryland Moment, “Gansler Gets Perez Treatment.”

And finally, a colleague who is a legal and constitutional expert, briefed me on this issue with this information from October 25^th, 2006:

Is Gansler Qualified?

Democrat Attorney General candidate Doug Gansler faced tough questions in a court hearing today challenging whether he has the required 10 years experience in the practice of law in Maryland as required by the Maryland Constitution.

Last month, the Court of Appeals ruled that another Democrat candidate, Tom Perez, did not meet the constitutional standard and his candidacy was disqualified.

The hearing was scheduled for the morning, but Gansler did not post - so Judge Silkworth would not conduct the hearing unless Gansler was present.

The court reconvened at 1:30 but appeared unimpressed with Gansler who was not specific about his “practice” in Maryland in the years prior to his serving as state’s attorney and did not cite any Maryland cases or clients prior to the eight years that he served as State’s Attorney in Montgomery County.

The issue could end up before the Governor because the Maryland Constitution (Art. V, § 2) gives the Governor the duty to decide on the election and qualifications of the candidate who wins the Attorney General’s race.

(In fact, there is an 1875 case - 43 Md. 572 – in which the losing candidate contested the AG race before the Governor due to widespread voter fraud, intimidation and violence in the City of Baltimore.)

The Judge is expected to rule in the next few days. ####

At this point, in regards to this year’s Maryland General Assembly and elections; I think that we are all trapped in a Lewis Carroll novel, being read by Hunter S. Thompson and danced to by Timothy Leary.

Friday, October 27, 2006

20061026 Howard County Times endorsement of Governor Ehrlich

Howard County Times endorsement of Governor Ehrlich

http://news.mywebpal.com/news_tool_v2.cfm?pnpID=573&NewsID=757970&CategoryID=5798&show=localnews&om=1

Return incumbents to legislature 10/26/06 ENDORSEMENTS

Governor

In 2002, this newspaper gave a tepid endorsement of Robert Ehrlich for governor.

After observing him in office for the last four years, we have seen a governor who has been willing to take on the Annapolis establishment.

He has provided a good check on the unbridled power of the Democratic leadership of the General Assembly, particularly Senate President Mike Miller.

For this alone, Ehrlich receives our solid endorsement this time around. But we have more reasons to like Ehrlich.

Ehrlich, the first Republican to win the office in nearly 40 years, has been a good fiscal steward, with the state going from a $4 billion deficit at the time he took office to a current $2 billion surplus. Add to this an unemployment rate which is one of the best in the country.

Ehrlich has picked up the slack on neglected transportation projects, including the widening of Route 32 in Howard County.

His opponent, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, has waged an aggressive campaign to put the governor's mansion back in Democratic hands, noting the partisan rancor that has dominated Annapolis under the Republican incumbent.

We agree with O'Malley that the tone hasn't been civilized. And Ehrlich isn't immune from taking part in it. But to place the blame for it at the feet of Ehrlich is simply not fair.

O'Malley certainly brings more to the table than the Democrats did last election when they ran Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

But where Ehrlich has set forth a clear agenda, O'Malley seems content to lob criticism and speak in lofty generalities while offering little in the way of concrete solutions to Maryland's issues.

We think Ehrlich is better prepared and a better choice for governor.

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20061027 AK Rep gubernatorial candidate Palin on creationism

Alaska Republican gubernatorial candidate Palin on creationism:
Teach both

October 27th, 2006

The Anchorage Daily News is carrying the story today that Republican Alaskan gubernatorial candidate Sarah Palin responded to a question at the recent KAKM Alaskan Public Television debate on teaching “creationism” in the classroom: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."

The top of the story is pasted below.

PS: I loved the little secular editorialization right from the get-go, “The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public…” (my emphasis on “volatile.”) I’m curious; what is the criterion for determining that “creationism” is “volatile?”

Was there a fire extinguisher available of a firefighter nearby when the subject came up?

The article goes on to say:

“In an interview Thursday, Palin said she meant only to say that discussion of alternative views should be allowed to arise in Alaska classrooms:

"I don't think there should be a prohibition against debate if it comes up in class. It doesn't have to be part of the curriculum."

She added that, if elected, she would not push the state Board of Education to add such creation-based alternatives to the state's required curriculum.

Members of the state school board, which sets minimum requirements, are appointed by the governor and confirmed by the Legislature.

"I won't have religion as a litmus test, or anybody's personal opinion on evolution or creationism," Palin said.

Palin has occasionally discussed her lifelong Christian faith during the governor's race but said teaching creationism is nothing she has campaigned about or even given much thought to.”

'Creation science' enters the race

GOVERNOR: Palin is only candidate to suggest it should be discussed in schools.

http://www.adn.com/news/politics/elections/story/8347904p-8243554c.html

By TOM KIZZIA, Anchorage Daily News, (Published: October 27, 2006)

The volatile issue of teaching creation science in public schools popped up in the Alaska governor's race this week when Republican Sarah Palin said she thinks creationism should be taught alongside evolution in the state's public classrooms.

Palin was answering a question from the moderator near the conclusion of Wednesday night's televised debate on KAKM Channel 7 when she said, "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. Healthy debate is so important, and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both."

Her main opponents, Democrat Tony Knowles and Independent Andrew Halcro, said such alternatives to evolution should be kept out of science classrooms. Halcro called such lessons "religious-based" and said the place for them might be a philosophy or sociology class.

Read the rest of the article here.

The end of the on-line version of the article included:

• HALCRO: "I think anything that is religious-based in, in concept, you know, really should, needs to be taught in the proper channel -- philosophy, sociology. I don't think it should be taught as a science."

• KNOWLES: "... The answer is no. The reason why is we don't want politics in our science. We actually want more science in our politics. We don't want to just teach all things because it may be politically correct. We want to teach the best science there is, and there is overwhelming evidence, there's almost incontrovertible evidence that evolution is the science that, that we know. And that's what we should always teach, to never compromise on the principles just because it's politically popular."

• PALIN: "Teach both. You know, don't be afraid of information. "Healthy debate is so important and it's so valuable in our schools. I am a proponent of teaching both. And you know, I say this too as the daughter of a science teacher. Growing up with being so privileged and blessed to be given a lot of information on, on both sides of the subject -- creationism and evolution. It's been a healthy foundation for me. But don't be afraid of information and let kids debate both sides."

THE BLOG: Speak out on the issues.

www.adn.com/thetrail

ELECTION: Look at past stories and find links to Web sites.

www.adn.com/elections

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