Time for housecleaning

With the primary now history, I’m going to considerably shorten the sidebar of links, particularly the campaign blog links and the Maryland U.S. Senate race. So most of the campaign websites will fade away sooner or later as the campaign that spawned them has become defunct. Some of the websites had a sort of “goodbye” notice on them already. Here’s a sampling.

Thomas Hampton, U.S. Senate: My sincere thanks to anyone who voted for me, and moreover, to anyone who voted, period.

*****

Stuart Simms, Maryland Attorney General: Thank you! Thank you!

We did the best we could with the time and resources available to us.

Congratulations to Doug Gansler and the other successful candidates.

Now on to a Democratic victory in November! Let’s take back our state and nation.

*****

William Donald Schaefer, Maryland Comptroller:

To the residents of Maryland:

I want to thank those who worked so hard for me in this campaign and throughout the 50 years I’ve been fortunate to serve the people of Maryland in public office.

I especially want to highlight and compliment the excellent staff of the Comptroller’s office who are the smartest and most dedicated workers in Maryland government. I am deeply honored to have served along side them these eight years.

Although I will not continue as Comptroller next year, I hope a tradition of serving people will continue. I would consider that my best legacy.

I also want to congratulate the nominee Peter Franchot who ran a good race, and I wish him luck. If he wins the general election, he will inherit an excellent agency and I’m sure he will maintain it as such.

No matter what the coming years hold for me, I will fondly remember my years in public life. There is nothing like public service. I have been asked many times what my proudest accomplishment has been. My answer is: everything was important. Everywhere I go around the state, I see something that I can be proud of, whether a revitalized neighborhood or a tourist attraction.

I’ve also been asked, how do I want to be remembered? Two words: “He cared.”

*****

Doris Schonbrunner, Wicomico County Sheriff: Major Doris Schonbrunner would like to extend sincere thanks to the citizens of Wicomico County who voted for her and supported her candidacy during this 2006 election. Your confidence and your support are greatly appreciated.

(You’re welcome.)

*****

Larry Dodd, Wicomico County Council District 5: I would like to thank the citizens of Wicomico County for giving me the opportunity to serve them for the last four years. It has been an honor to represent the citizens of Wicomico County as a member of the Wicomico County Council. Best wishes go out to the Candidates in the General Election on November 7, 2006.

*****

So this afternoon I’ll be working on the site and deleting a good number of links. I’m also deleting one winner, since Rudy Cane is already assured of reelection I’ll take that one off to squeeze things that much closer together. You should be able to find his e-mail and general info on the Maryland General Assembly website.

Well, now I can work on a few other things that have been sort of backing up. I’ve found a couple items outside the realm of electoral politics that I think are worth commenting on so I will over the next few days.

Primary election wrapup

Just going through all the results, particularly in races I endorsed. I’ll start with the state level and work my way down. (There’s an update at the bottom.)

The governor’s race was set back on July 3rd. No, that wasn’t the day Doug Duncan dropped out, it was the day the fourth and final duo of governor and lieutenant governor filed. Obviously Ehrlich/Cox and O’Malley/Brown made it through their primaries. But little known is that we have two other hopefuls in the race, Ed Boyd with James Joseph Madigan for the Green Party, and Christopher A. Driscoll with Ed Rothstein of the Populist Party. I would expect if anything they take a few far-left votes out of the O’Malley column, and that might pick up one to two points for Ehrlich.

It’s now become possible that the entire statewide political landscape could be different come January, as the venerable incumbent William Donald Schaefer was knocked out and Peter Franchot, who was way behind in the polls a few weeks ago, stormed to victory on the Democrat side. Franchot won the urban counties to get the victory, since Wicomico voters selected Owens with 45% of the vote and Schaefer had 36%. He’ll face Republican Anne McCarthy in November, McCarthy’s 43% statewide was a little below her 50% performance here.

(By the way, I really liked Schaefer’s press conference. Watch out Ocean City.)

Meanwhile, retiring Attorney General Joe Curran will be succeeded by either Democrat Doug Gansler or unopposed Republican Scott Rolle. Gansler won easily over Stuart Simms, who got a late start because he was Doug Duncan’s running mate. It’s too bad, Simms is a nice guy – I spoke to him briefly in Crisfield at the Tawes gathering.

The U.S. Senate race turned out to be pretty much a landslide for both winners. All of the pundits who were worried that the two dozen lesser candidates would doom Cardin and hand the race to Mfume looked pretty bad as Cardin still won by 4 points. The closest of the also-rans besides Mfume was Josh Rales, with 5% of the vote. The Democrats’ monoblogue-endorsed candidate, Dennis Rasmussen, was fourth with just under 2%. So much for “common-sense” moderatism. As it turned out, the candidates on the Democrat side who answered my Ten Questions combined scored a whopping 6.15% (but 11.77% here in Wicomico County – did I help them?), and while I thought the number of words in just one of Lih Young’s TQ answers was larger than her statewide vote total, I checked and she outpolled her most long-winded answer by 1,738 votes to 850 words. On the GOP side, the question was whether Michael Steele would crack 90% and he didn’t quite make it, only getting a shade under 87%. Republican answerers of the Senate version of Ten Questions managed only 4.99% of the vote (3.91% in Wicomico, so the Ten Questions REALLY didn’t help the Republicans) – then again the answerers on my side were either too moderate, barely literate, or way-out there wacko!

I did get the matchup I expected in the U.S. House District 1 race, although it was closer than I thought it would be. While I didn’t know much about Christopher Robinson, apparently some people did because he only lost by 10 points, 43% to 33%. 2004 candidate Kostas Alexakis was a distant third with 23%. But Robinson actually carried Wicomico County by 10 votes over Dr. Jim Corbin, who I endorsed. I look forward to debate regarding the merits of health care currency and the fusion surge between him and incumbent Wayne Gilchrest.

Now I can turn to the General Assembly. Despite the fact that monoblogue endorsed two District 37 Democrats, it didn’t help much as they were steamrollered by more established candidates. But I expected that. Actually, they both did a little better than I thought they might – I figured Ronald Warden would get just 10% (he got 24% – 26% in Wicomico County against Hilary Spence) and Charles Cephas Sr. I had pegged for about 25% (he finished with 30%, 21% in Wicomico – Rudy Cane’s home county.) So as expected it will be Spence against incumbent Rich Colburn in District 37 and Rudy Cane gets another 4 years in Annapolis representing District 37A. Now the District 37B race I had pretty close to what I expected, I figured about 45-40 Atkins over Quinn and it turned out 44-42. Both of the monoblogue endorsees will face the incumbents, who also did about what I expected and left Redgie Lancaster the rest. I figured he’d get 15%, he only got 9% (14% in Wicomico County.) But by 75 votes, my order was reversed – I thought Addie Eckardt would poll higher than Jeannie Haddaway. I could still be correct though after absentees are counted. That’s the lone instance where I got my endorsed candidates on both sides (Atkins and Quinn against Haddaway and Eckardt).

In District 38, I only had to endorse two races, since Senator J. Lowell Stoltzfus was unopposed and so were Delegates Page Elmore, Jim Mathias, and Norm Conway. I was happy to see District 38A voters decided the gameplaying by the Somerset and Wicomico Democratic parties wasn’t going to fly and advanced Patrick Armstrong by a easy 18 point margin. And as I stated in my endorsement, any District 38B Republican was more than qualified enough to take over in Annapolis, the voters selected Michael James and Bonnie Luna. I got half a loaf there, I thought Jack Lord (who monoblogue endorsed with James) was better because of his common-sense law enforcement and farming background. But Luna will also be fine to take the place of one half of the Conway/Mathias duo along with Michael James.

Out of the candidates who answered my MGA Ten Questions, 5 of 8 advanced to the general election. I lost Sonny Bloxom and Jack Lord from District 38B, and the death of Tony Bruce ended his District 38A campaign. But Rich Colburn, Jim Adkins, Addie Eckardt, Patrick Armstrong, and Michael James play on.

Time to look at Wicomico County races. My endorsed candidates for County Executive both finished last in their fields. Bob Culver managed only 23% on the Republican side and the underfunded Tom Taylor the same 23% on the Democrat side.

Regarding Alessi vs. Corbin, I remarked at Monday night’s Central Committee meeting that I thought the Alessi campaign was going to be a race akin to a NASCAR driver who runs out of gas on the backstretch of the last lap – could he hold off the competition and coast to victory or would he be nipped at the line? The events of the last couple weeks or so all but crippled the Alessi campaign. However, I’m of the opinion that the 40 vote margin will hold up.

There are about 650 outstanding ballots total. But remember, of those ballots not all are GOP voters. My guess is that between 350 and 400 of these ballots are Democrats – absentee ballots are skewed toward the older population and that’s the “daddy” population of the people who say “I’m a Democrat because my daddy was a Democrat.” So out of a probable best case scenario of 300 votes left, Corbin has to get close to 50% of the votes to overcome Alessi because a percentage also goes to Culver – it would have to go something like 140-100-60 just to even the numbers out, then we’d have to sweat out a recount. And the fewer GOP votes left, the better Corbin has to do.

I have to congratulate Mike Lewis. I STILL think Major Doris would be the better Sheriff, but the voters spoke and it was shocking how well he did. I figured maybe mid 40’s but 60% blows my mind. I honestly think Lewis getting radio ads at the end pushed 10-15% his way and away from Doris. And the whuppin’ Kirk Daugherty laid on the Democrat field surprised me as well. So monoblogue went 0 for 2 on Sheriff endorsements. I did them awhile back, but I was in a hurry to put the last post on and forgot to add those to it. D’oh!

Overall for County Council monoblogue didn’t do so good on endorsements. The only district one I got was Sheree Sample-Hughes in District 1, her hard work paid off to the tune of about 70% of the vote. Neil Bayne was blown out in District 4 and Larry Dodd lost big in District 5. monoblogue did better on the at-large but that wasn’t too difficult, the only misstep was underestimating Brenda Hughey-Jones and way overestimating Carl Crumbacker. Then again, had I heard from Hughey-Jones at the NAACP forum that she missed it may have changed my mind.

When I add up the totals on monoblogue endorsements, I still have 12 of 23 candidates alive. Obviously I’m in favor of the Republicans in the general election so it was just a matter of trying to pick who I felt the best Democrats were as far as political leanings or unique and debatable ideas (or just avoiding chicanery.)

There’s one more important race left, and that’s how I fared in my Central Committee race. I’d like to say “thanks a million” to everyone who voted for me, which I suppose means they all get thanks roughly 300 times each. I have 3,200 votes at the moment and sit in 6th place of 7, but I’d have to believe that I’ll pick up another 100 or so from the absentees + provisionals. I’m not sure that’s going to keep me out of the basement though – Ed Heath is only 4 votes behind me and I believe a fair number of provisionals will come from his side of the county.

John Bartkovich has the most Central Committee votes with 4,142 – that means so far 69% of Republicans voted for him to remain on Central Committee and 31% either don’t like him or didn’t care to vote for him. (By the same measure I’m at 53.28% of ballots, but remember I started with near zero name recognition aside from 100 or so daily monoblogue readers and I’ve lived in this area less than 2 years.) The order was pretty much what I expected though, and I’m not that far out of fourth (140 behind Dave Goslee, Sr.) So I guess I’ll take this as something to build on for the next election. I am interested to find out once the results are all tallied up how I did in the two precincts I walked, 5003 and 5004. Aside from small portions of Precincts 5002 and 8002, that’s pretty much where I campaigned.

Now we start thinking about November, and I’ll continue to contribute to the Central Committee discussions as an outsider (I believe my term doesn’t begin until January.) But I’ll be out helping when and where I can for those who I support the most. It’s time to kick some Democrat ass. Oh yeah, also time over the weekend to drop a LOT of sidebar links!

Editor’s note: with the first batch of absentee ballots today I’m now just 1 vote ahead of Ed Heath – as I expected I didn’t do as well with absentees. Now I have 3283 votes, which means I got only 48.2% of the possible 172 absentee votes. Oh well, I guess someone has to be the cow’s tail and it’s likely going to be me. At least there’s still one close “race” since, as I expected, Ron Alessi picked up ground (23 votes) on B.J. Corbin so he’s all but official now.

Summary of monoblogue endorsements

Here are the endorsements for local and state races that have appeared on monoblogue.

U. S. Senate: Democrat Dennis Rasmussen and Republican Michael Steele are my choices to square off with the Green Party’s Kevin Zeese, who’s already on the November ballot.

U.S. House District 1: In my opinion, incumbent Republican Rep. Wayne Gilchrest should vie for reelection against Democrat Dr. Jim Corwin.

General Assembly:

Senate District 37: It’s only because he’s not a sure vote with the liberals in Annapolis, but Ronald Warden Sr. should advance to face incumbent Republican Sen. Rich Colburn.

House of Delegates District 37A: In a Democrat-only battle for the seat, I feel there should be new blood in Annapolis, thus Charles Cephas Sr. gets my nod.

House of Delegates District 37B: This four-person ballot would be best if it pitted James Adkins and Tim Quinn as Democrats against incumbent GOP Delegates Addie Eckardt and Jeannie Haddaway, although Republicans have a third solid ballot choice in Redgie Lancaster.

Senate District 38: Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus has no primary or general election opponent.

House of Delegates District 38A: Democrat chicanery can be prevented by voting for Patrick Armstrong to square off with Del. Page Elmore come November.

House of Delegates District 38B: Hopefully current Democrat Delegates Norm Conway and Jim Mathias will have their Annapolis careers ended by two of these five great GOP candidates (Sonny Bloxom, Michael James, Jack Lord, Bonnie Luna, and Bill McDermott.) My picks from that group would be Jack Lord and Michael James.

County Executive: My picks for the final contest would be Democrat Tom Taylor vs. Republican Bob Culver.

County Council at-large: In my view, the best final four would be Democrats Carl Crumbacker Sr. and Bill McCain against Republicans M.J. Caldwell and John Cannon.

County Council districts: November matchups should end up like this:

District 1: Sheree Sample-Hughes would be unopposed.
District 2: Stevie Prettyman, the incumbent, is set for another term.
District 3: Incumbent Republican Gail Bartkovich is up against Democrat Michael Pretl.
District 4: GOP candidate Bryan Brushmiller will hopefully compete for the seat against Democrat Neil Bayne.
District 5: Incumbent GOP councilman Larry Dodd is my pick to survive the primary and face Democrat Ed Werkheiser.

On campaigning

This blog post is unprecedented, as I begin it on my lunch hour at work. I’m saving it to a Word file then e-mailing it to my regular address from my work e-mail account. But, seeing as I’ll have a Central Committee meeting tonight and I wanted to get this as well as a summary of my endorsements online as early as possible, I’ve chosen to use this method and give up my lunch hour to do so. I’ve attended the Central Committee meetings monthly since just before I filed back in June, and tonight’s meeting should be a wrapup for the current crop and something for the four newcomers to get up to speed with.

It may seem a little strange that I actually put up a campaign for the position seeing that I’m essentially unopposed; it’s just a matter of whether I come in first, seventh or somewhere in between. But when I was working the Republican booth at the Farm and Home Show, I got a couple comments where the person had sent in their absentee ballot and told me, “I’d have liked to vote for you but I didn’t know you.” To me, if you’re a Republican, it’s probably best that you know the people who represent you in party matters and where they stand on issues.

So I decided to put together a small flyer that I could introduce myself with and outline my platform. For those of you Republicans who are reading this in an area that’s roughly bounded on the east and north by the U.S. 13 bypass, on the west by Beaglin Park and Civic Avenue, and on the south by Schumaker Pond, you already should have this because I would’ve dropped this by your door. (I covered this in a week on foot and by bicycle, 400 flyers worth!)

For those who didn’t see it, the body of the flyer reads as follows:

On September 12, vote in the Primary Election for…
Michael Swartz
Wicomico County Republican Central Committee

I’m running to change the Wicomico County Republican Party for the better, and make it the majority party in our county. I believe that the Party should:

● Reach out to young adults and get them involved with the political process
● Encourage contested primary elections – no “free rides” for incumbents
● Take advantage of the power of the Internet to inform and educate voters

If you want the “status quo” you can vote for all seven of us. But if you want progress please make just ONE vote – Michael Swartz for Central Committee!

I have nothing against the other six men who will be joining me on Central Committee, but the way I worded this was intentional. It’s a way of polling whether there’s a mandate for change out there. If I do well in the precincts that cover the areas I’ve delivered my fliers to, it tells me that people want some things done differently. I know that many others will read this on monoblogue but I get roughly 75 to 150 readers a day, so I’m only going to reach 100 or so voters this way and that won’t be enough to tip the scales in most areas.

But those people I actually talked to in my rounds were generally positive about my agenda, particularly about getting more young adults involved. I looked up the dates of birth of most of my fellow Central Committee members from Board of Election info and I found out that, by about six years or so, I’m going to be the youngest person on Central Committee (we’ll range from 41 to 83, with the average age about 60.) Another way of expressing my goal is, that the next time this position is up for election in 2010, I’d like people who were born in the 1970’s, 1980’s, and even 1990’s to seek the post. And make us work for re-election. I actually enjoyed getting out and doing this little bit of campaigning I did – I was dog tired at the end of a couple days but this last weekend I really liked getting out and biking through neighborhoods I’d never gone through in my travels.

Actually, I’ve done literature drops for quite a long while. I think the first campaigns I worked on were in 1995, and I was one of those who did the leg work in several areas of Toledo trying to spread the word. (As it turned out, that was a year the Republicans there scored some rare victories.) But in doing this I’ve come up with some tips for others who do that work, I’m sure many of us will be doing that between now and November.

First and foremost, be prepared. It’s best to have (or make up) a logical walking list of the areas you want to do the dropping in. I spent time before I went out writing out a list on a small sheet of paper I could stick in my pocket and look at as I went.

One rule I follow is that if I come to an address on my list where I see a “No Trespassing” sign posted, I respect the owner’s private property rights. In that case, if they have a streetside mailbox I’ll tuck the flyer in between the mailbox and post (it’s illegal to place a flyer in the mailbox itself.)

Also, I try to be as quick and unobtrusive as possible. I’m not necessarily out to speak to each voter – if they are outside I’ll certainly be happy to speak to them but, first of all, for a lit drop I’m trying to cover territory rather quickly and secondly, having a politician come knock on your door in many cases gets the same reaction as one has when a telemarketer calls. I’ve found the best scenario is having a porch with a storm door because I can roll up the flyer and slide it inside the pull handle, generally it stays there pretty well. If there’s a doorknob or the lever won’t hold the flyer in place, then I slide it under the doormat, or under some object on the porch to hold it in place. And I chose red as my color because it contrasts to 98% of doors so the literature is visible from the street – someone will pull in and wonder what’s on the door handle.

The other portion of this post (as I’ve arrived home now) will be my response to the NAACP questionnaire, called “Value Our Vote!” As it states on what would be the cover:

The questions in this document have been framed to require a candidate to indicate their support or opposition to a critical NAACP policy area. The NAACP position on each of the questions is one of “SUPPORT”. If a candidate answers “OPPOSE” to any of the questions, please ask for an explanation for that response. This is why Mary Ashanti got a five page letter, out of 20 questions I think I opposed 17 or 18.

Here’s what I wrote back:

August 11, 2006

Mary Ashanti
NAACP, Wicomico County Branch
P.O. Box 1047
Salisbury, MD 21804

Dear Mary:

Enclosed please find my responses to the 2006 NAACP Candidate Checklist. Since there are a number of these items that I oppose on principle, I decided that it would be easier to handle this in a letter format. I’ll begin as your checklist does, with Section I: Education.

Section I: Education

Promoting School Readiness – Enhancing Resources and Opportunities in Early Childhood

Do you support or oppose universal preschool?

As I read the question, I am led to assume that the intent of the NAACP is to have compulsory preschool similar to compulsory school attendance for children from kindergarten to the age of 16 to 18, depending on state law. In that case I OPPOSE universal preschool. To me, I believe it should be up to the parent whether to send their child to school before they attain the regular school age. Some children are simply not ready to socialize and mature at a later age than others, thus to place them in a situation where they are forced to interact with other children leads to a disruptive environment for both that child and the others in the class. To me, parents know best whether their child is ready for such a situation.

K-12 Academic Resources: Giving students, communities, and schools tools for success

Do you support or oppose fully funding the “No Child Left Behind Act”?

Because there is nothing in the Constitution that dictates a federal role in education, I feel that NCLB was a mistake to adopt in the first place. To answer the question at hand, I OPPOSE fully funding the Act. However, that is not to say I don’t think states shouldn’t make a priority of funding education. Moreover, “tools for success” to me means teaching basic subjects and not the politically correct curriculum that seems to be present in primary and secondary education today – meanwhile history, geography, English, basic math skills, and economic education are sorely lacking in today’s high school graduates.

Affirmative Action – Safeguarding Equality

Do you support the continuation and expansion of affirmative action in education and employment in order to ensure equal opportunity for women and people of color?

Affirmative action as a concept was a good idea when adopted. However, it has developed into a quota system in many cases, where a person who may be more qualified is denied an opportunity because of gender or pigmentation. Personally, I believe there should be a Constitutional amendment that reads as follows:

“Congress shall make no law that codifies discrimination for or against any person based on their race, religion, gender, or sexual orientation. This Amendment shall also be construed to include a prohibition on Congress enacting additional criminal code or punishment solely based on these factors.” To me, that is true equality under the law and I OPPOSE artificial “safeguards” like affirmative action.

Section II: Health Care

Access to Health Care – Ensuring our Health

Do you support or oppose universal health care and the expansion of existing public health resources such as Medicare, Medicaid, and SCHIP?

Universal health care run by the federal government would be a colossal mistake. In countries such as Canada and Great Britain, wait times are longer for required procedures and health care is rationed because of a strain on resources from people who believe their health care is “free.” Thus, I OPPOSE universal health care – however, a Massachusetts-style act to mandate people carry health insurance may be worth a look at the state level.

HIV/AIDS – Supporting the Battle to Save Lives

Do you support or oppose increasing public finding for clinics and private health centers that provide free and/or subsidized HIV prevention and treatment for individuals living with HIV/AIDS?

On a state level, I would SUPPORT this, although I’d call out for churches and other private charities to step up their humanitarian support for these victims, particularly the innocent children.

Obesity – Campaigning for a Healthier Diet

Do you support or oppose mandating that food and beverage vendors in government facilities provide products that promote healthy nutritional choices and raise awareness about healthy eating habits needed to combat diseases such as obesity and diabetes?

I OPPOSE a mandate on this, but do encourage vendors to do this voluntarily. As a person who has lost quite a bit of weight in the last year I found that self-discipline with a little help from pharmaceuticals (which, by the way are not covered by my health insurance) has gone a long way in combating my own case of obesity and reduced my risk for diabetes, heart disease, etc. But everyone has choices in life to make, I chose to take advantage of medication that helps to curb my appetite in an effort to retrain myself to eat less and make the exercise I already did more effective in dropping my weight.

Section III: Criminal Justice

Fair Trials and Sentencing – Advocating for Equal Justice

Do you support or oppose the reconsideration of full-term sentences?

Because each case is different and it’s apparent that the NAACP wants a blanket position on the issue, I choose to remain neutral with my answer. There are extreme cases where this is warranted but on the average I would say there’s no need to reconsider sentences.

Rehabilitative Services – Reviving Rehabilitative Education

Do you support or oppose restoring voting rights for ex-offenders?

Once again, this is a case where a lot depends on the nature of the felony, and the willingness of the ex-felon to be a contributing member of society. Maryland has a law that already allows ex-felons to regain voting rights if they meet certain conditions and it seems like a fair enough law as is. To the question as worded I remain neutral except I would oppose a federal law mandating this.

Death Penalty – Divorcing Death and Penalty

Do you support or oppose imposing a moratorium on the death penalty?

In this case, I OPPOSE such a moratorium. People on death row have been convicted by a jury of their peers and have gone through a number of appeals and judicial reviews. I’m convinced that one who is sentenced to death has done the crime and it’s been mandated by the state that they should be put to death for it. Some states choose not to institute the death penalty and that is their right and prerogative to do so.

Section IV: Economic Empowerment

Employment – Supporting a Fair Wages (sic)

Do you support or oppose increasing the minimum wage by $2.10 for all employees over the next two years?

I OPPOSE a raise in the minimum wage, as it’s a proven job killer for those on the low end of the scale. Fewer than ½ % of employees now actually earn the $5.15 wage and most of them are teenagers. Furthermore, an increase in the minimum wage will exacerbate the illegal immigrant problem as more employers may decide to pay substandard wages “under the table.”

Minority-Owned Business – Building Entrepreneurial Success

Do you support or oppose the creation and maintenance of local and state programs to foster the growth of minority businesses?

I SUPPORT programs that foster the growth of all businesses, not just minority-owned ones. But an important part of fostering growth is also pruning programs that have run their course or outlived their usefulness.

Economic Reciprocity – A Fair Return on Investment

Do you support or oppose the creation of laws promoting economic reciprocity?

I’m not sure I understand the concept well enough to form an informed opinion on the matter, so I will remain neutral on the subject.

Section V: International Affairs

Immigration Reform – Continuing to Build on America’s Promise

Do you support or oppose immigration reform that creates a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants?

You mean illegal immigrants. To me, the law is the law and unless there’s a threat to themselves or their families because of their opposition to a tyrannical government, illegals should be sent back to their country of origin. Political asylum is one thing, economic asylum is another. I would (and do) strongly OPPOSE such reform.

Darfur – A Campaign to End Genocide

Do you support or oppose the deployment of U.N. troops to protect civilians in the Darfur region of Sudan?

I would SUPPORT such a measure if the multinational forces were all from the African continent and the rules of engagement were such that they could take offensive as well as defensive actions. Operating solely as peacekeepers is not enough. Unfortunately, the U.N. has a poor track record in such cases.

Section VI: Civic Engagement

Voter Registration – Engaging Voters

Do you support or oppose challenging the implementation of laws that restrict voter registration and education efforts?

I SUPPORT these efforts with certain caveats. In my view, this support does not extend to opposition to requiring voters to show identification at polling places and other laws intended to reduce the incidence of voting fraud. I have a blog that has as part of its intent to educate voters in ways other than 30 second commercials, so this is a subject close to my heart.

Voter Education – Learning How Voting Can Make a Difference

Do you support or oppose funding non-partisan efforts to educate minority communities about local or state elections?

I SUPPORT any and all efforts to educate the public in general (not just minorities) about the importance of voting, and more importantly, knowing the issues and candidates that their votes are cast for. As I stated in the answer above, I’m making just such an effort and it’s not costing the taxpayers a dime. Further, I commend the NAACP for its efforts to educate voters with its three candidate forums.

Election Protection – Protecting the Vote

Do you support or oppose protecting voters from being required to show voter identification in order to vote in elections?

I feel your question as stated is 180 degrees out of phase with protecting voters. Not showing voter identification when ID’s are required for many other mundane tasks is simply an invitation to fraudulent voting by unscrupulous parties. Since I’m in favor of photo voter ID’s that are as tamperproof as possible and linked in with the computer voting machines we have in Maryland, I OPPOSE a measure like the NAACP proposes.

Veteran & Family Support – Supporting America’s Heroes

Do you support or oppose the immediate removal of troops currently in Iraq?

I find it interesting that on one hand the NAACP wishes to send U.N. troops to Darfur because of genocide but opposes our troops in Iraq who are fighting the very enemy responsible for that genocide (Islamofascists.) To truly support America’s Heroes, we must let them do the job they volunteered to do! Thus, I OPPOSE with the strongest of terms any removal of troops from Iraq prior to their mission being completed.

Emergency Preparedness – Planning for the Unexpected

Do you support or oppose the allocation of additional local, state, and federal budget dollars for emergency preparedness and disaster relief?

I SUPPORT this on a local and state level but OPPOSE this on a federal level, given their disastrous record of accomplishment in the wake of last year’s Gulf hurricanes. Also, I must say that while local and state governments share in the blame for the New Orleans fiasco, shame on residents for not taking matters into their own hands and being prepared. It must be stressed that emergency preparedness begins at home!

(Editor’s note: the last question asks if I’m a NAACP member.)

To answer the final question, I am not a member of the NAACP and as long as they are diametrically opposed to what I feel is Constitutional government, I would not consider becoming a member. As you said in one of the forums, we are all colored to one extent or another but advocating larger, more controlling government as most of your positions would does little to advance people but instead chains them into dependence on the government instead of the pillars of family, friends, and faith that used to hold sway in the black community.

With that, I will close my remarks. I do want to thank you and the Wicomico County Branch of the NAACP again for holding these candidate forums. Many of the complaints I have with the NAACP organization come from actions of its national leaders and tend to overshadow the good your branch does for the local community. I look forward to working with you on issues where we can find agreement and amicable discussions about those we don’t.

Respectfully submitted,

Michael Swartz
Candidate, Wicomico County Republican Central Committee

It’s unfortunate I haven’t heard about that because it was like answering my own Ten Questions times two. I am curious how many others answered the questions and whether they were politically correct about this and agreed more often than not with the NAACP.

Tonight is my last night of campaigning, so to speak. At 7:00 in the morning the polls open and probably about 15 to 16 hours later I’ll know just how successful my little bit of campaigning was. The order of finish in the race I’m in will certainly tell a tale of what the Republicans in Wicomico County think of their party. But if I finish fourth (behind the three incumbents, who have much more name recognition than I) I’ll consider this a pretty successful campaign and start working on all the other GOP survivors’ bids for election.

For County Executive

In 2004, Wicomico County voters laid the groundwork for a new office of County Executive, the first of whom would be elected in 2006. Originally the Republicans had Brian Kilgore as one candidate, but he dropped out rather quickly after announcing his candidacy last fall. It wasn’t until late last winter that we finally had hopefuls make their commitment to the race; in order of filing they were Rick Pollitt (Democrat, filed March 3), Bob Culver (Republican, filed March 13), Ron Alessi (Republican, filed March 21), Tom Taylor (Democrat, filed May 4), and B.J. Corbin (Republican, filed on deadline day, July 3). This left two seeking the Democrat nomination and three vying for the GOP slot.

Once again, I’ll go through the hopefuls by party, beginning with the Democrats.

Rick Pollitt is the city manager in Fruitland, and points to how the town has grown and achieved success under his leadership. However, they also have a high tax rate, and Pollitt has openly questioned the revenue cap that county voters also approved in 2004, claiming at one point that he’d prepare not only a regular budget, but a shadow budget of sorts that would show what the county could spend money on if it weren’t tied up by the revenue cap. In his campaign literature, Pollitt states that he’d “(p)repare a budget that provides the most bang for the buck within the limits of our funding resources while acknowledging there will be serious needs underfunded until our community finds the will to fill them.” Or, in so many words, until we lift the revenue cap.

Currently Pollitt serves as well on the Board of Education so I feel it’s quite possible that schools, while important, might get a little bit too much of a kid glove treatment as he’d “open a channel to the Board of Education as it relates to budget and the needs of the school community.”

On the other side in his self-described “David vs. Goliath” matchup is Tom Taylor. Taylor is what I would describe as a Reagan Democrat, stressing private property rights, citizen preparedness, and allowing citizens more of an ability to defend themselves as they see fit.

Taylor fits in with Wicomico County in many ways. Our county is one where the Democrats lead in voter registration, but where the Democrat party has not had a gubernatorial or Presidential candidate carry the county since William Donald Schaefer in 1986. Essentially, it’s a conservative hotbed where voter registration means less than it does in most places.

On the Republican side, it’s highly probable that a fiscal conservative will be elected (although I feel one candidate stands above the rest in that regard, more on that as I continue.) Wicomico County, based on its overall voting record in races for executive positions and its overwhelming approval of the revenue cap just two years ago, is no place for a “taxer and spender.” Because he provides an insurance policy against government overwhelming the masses in Wicomico County, I’m urging our county’s Democrats to follow the age-old example and let David slay Goliath. Tom Taylor is your best pick for County Executive.

As a member of the Republican Party and as a blogger, I’ve heard a lot about the County Executive race on our side that pits Alessi, Corbin, and Culver against each other. With his tirade against the local bloggers, Ron Alessi has struck me as possibly a little confrontational. I know my fellow bloggers want what’s best for Wicomico County, and for a guy who says “let’s pull together for a better future”, dismissing claims made against him and his associates and supporters as personal attacks seems to be an odd manner of handling the rope. Compare this to how the other party in the campaign finance imbroglio, M.J. Caldwell (who also has plenty to lose in his bid for a County Council seat) has handled the affair, stating his side quietly and without heated rhetoric.

There’s one other item that Alessi has stated which leads me to believe that he’s seeking the job as a means of settling old scores. During the NAACP forum (from monoblogue, July 15):

Alessi did say, though, that his “first priority” (accompanied by his finger thumping the podium for emphasis) would be to solve problems with the educational structure that he claimed hadn’t been addressed in the eight years since he previously ran for a County Council seat.

To me, then, we have two better quality candidates, B.J. Corbin and Bob Culver, either of whom would be fine in the County Executive post. What swayed me to my decision was something else that was said during the NAACP forum by one of the candidates who said the county needs a “strong leader” who could handle a $120 million budget but say “no” when it’s required.

Corbin stresses his experience working for an agency that dealt with both the private and public sectors, the Private Industry Council. As someone who worked within government and ever-tightening budgets, I’m sure he feels that his strong suit is trying to do more with less and that’s a good attribute to have. But, like Pollitt, I have that worry in the back of my mind that maybe Corbin is a little too close to government, and just might say yes when saying no is required.

As a businessman, Bob Culver has created jobs, figured out how to make payrolls, and been a successful entrepreneur. And as I stated above, he is the one who talked about strong leadership and saying no when required. To that end, I think he’s the better overall choice for Republicans so I urge them to follow my lead and vote for Bob Culver on Tuesday.

Tomorrow, I’m going to revisit my endorsements and review my own campaign for the Republican Central Committee. Because I was at the NAACP forum (the sole GOP Central Committee candidate there), I was given a candidate survey and insofar as I know, I’ve never seen the answers publicized. So tomorrow I’ll take care of that, I sent a five-page letter outlining my views to Mary Ashanti because of the format of the questionnaire and the request that certain answers be explained further. I think you’ll enjoy it.

For Congress – Maryland’s 1st District

This will be a pretty short post. Because Rep. Wayne Gilchrest is unopposed, it’s obvious the Republican nomination is his. He has three Democrats who are out to challenge him; 2004 candidate Kostas Alexakis, Dr. Jim Corwin, and Christopher Robinson. Here I’ll endorse the Democrat I think should face Gilchrest in the fall.

Unfortunately, Robinson is the only candidate of the three who actually lives on the Eastern Shore (in the town of Trappe.) While that should give him a leg up, unfortunately I have no idea of what positions he has. So it leaves me with the other two who would purport to represent the Eastern Shore from the outskirts of the Baltimore metro area.

Having reviewed the two websites and gotten an idea of their positions on the issues, I’m inclined to go with the candidate who has two ideas that at least show some “out-of-the-box” thinking on his part. Sure, both are “cut and run” candidates as far as Iraq goes, but the two ideas that merit further discussion and study are a separate currency for health care needs (health care dollars that can be purchased with regular dollars) and what he terms as the “fusion surge”, an effort that he likens to the “space race” of the 1950’s and 60’s, to develop alternatives to fossil fuels. While I’m more likely to disagree with the ideas as federal government enactments, perhaps they’re something that could be useful at the state level or even, in the case of the “fusion surge”, an item that can have a monetary reward akin to the “X prize.”

Based on the theory that these and other topics are issues worth debate and discussion on the campaign trail as things heat up, I’m urging Democrats to vote for Dr. Jim Corwin as their nominee for the First Congressional District.

For Maryland General Assembly

Tonight as promised it’s time to reveal my endorsements for the Maryland General Assembly races that are contested on Tuesday. In Districts 37 and 38, the total is six, four on the Democrat side and two on the Republican ledger. Only District 37B has both Democrat and Republican primaries contested.

I’m going to start with the District 37 Senate race. Democrats in that area have the choice between Hilary Spence and Ronald Warden Sr. with the winner squaring off against incumbent Rich Colburn and possibly an independent candidate, Moonyene Jackson-Amis.

As you know, I look at things from a conservative viewpoint. Hilary Spence speaks about a few pet issues: health care, growth, education, and the environment. From looking at her stances, it appears that she would be a reliable vote with the Democrats in Annapolis and we on the Eastern Shore really don’t need more of that. With the little bit I’ve found about Ronald Warden, at least it seems like he’s less likely to be a lapdog in Annapolis. Maybe the 2002 primary loser is closer to what the Eastern Shore wants and needs, so I’m urging District 37 Democrats, who by and large are the moderate-to-conservative types that still exist in a few areas, to reject Spence and vote for Ronald Warden, Sr.

Another Democrat race will decide the seat in House of Delegates District 37A, as no Republican filed. The incumbent, Rudy Cane, seeks a third term in Annapolis, and has a challenger in Charles Cephas, Sr.

If you go to the Cane website, you read his positions and they are generally moderate to somewhat liberal. However, when he votes in Annapolis, once again he reverts to the party line. In fact, at the NAACP forum, he pointed with pride at his votes on the Fair Share Health Care Act, calling it a “win-win” because it goaded Wal-Mart into improving its health care coverage. But we may never know if that bill prevented the company from going ahead with its Somerset County distribution center and possibly 800 good-paying jobs, a large portion likely held by the minority population.

On the other hand, Cephus is quite passionate in his beliefs and promised to fight for the “underdog.” One thing that I got from him at the NAACP forum is that he wanted to convince other delegates to adopt his positions by force of argument. He also wanted a living wage and more affordable housing, so the race comes down to a battle between Tweedledum and Tweedledee in most instances.

So, if for no other reason than to get some new blood into the General Assembly, Democrats in District 37A should elect Charles Cephus, Sr. to the House of Delegates.

One other Democrat race remains in that area, House of Delegates District 37B. This is a three-way battle for two seats between James Adkins, Robert Cheek, and Tim Quinn. Now I understand that sometimes people have other things in life that prevent them from doing much on the campaign trail, but in District 37B there’s only two Democrats who are apparently running for the post. I know next to nothing about Robert Cheek, and there’s ideas here and there that the other two have (particularly Adkins) that I can find palatable and/or workable, so it’s not quite by default that I urge District 37B Democrats to advance James Adkins and Tim Quinn through the primary election.

On the GOP side in District 37B, again three vie for two slots – incumbent Delegates Addie Eckardt and Jeannie Haddaway, and challenger Dr. Redgie Lancaster. This is one of those unfortunate situations where three excellent candidates are pitted against one another. Lancaster is a Reaganesque Republican whose platform is pretty basic – he’s pro-life, advocates private property rights, school choice, and, most interestingly, making Social Security and Medicare taxes deductible as charitable donations. I think he’d be an outstanding Delegate, at least based on his platform. The only knock I’d have on Redgie is that he hasn’t made it around to our part of the district to campaign, or at least I’m not aware of him doing so. And, we have two good Delegates now in Haddaway and Eckardt, both of whom have spent at least some time campaigning in the Wicomico part of the district.

So here’s what I’m going to say about the situation. All are excellent choices; however, Haddaway and Eckardt both have a voting record and are supposed to serve their constituents. Since I’m not a resident of District 37B I cannot complain about their service to constituents, the only beef I’d have with Haddaway is not answering the Ten Questions (Eckardt has.) But if you do have a problem with either of the two I’d encourage you to consider Redgie Lancaster. If not, then you are just fine voting for the incumbents. I know it’s a little on the wishy-washy side, but it’s my blog and that’s the way I’ll handle this!

Now I’ll move southeastward to District 38, which is my home district.

In District 38A, we have a race that’s not a race. On the Democrat side, the contest was supposed to be between Patrick Armstrong and Tony Bruce. Due to the passing of Mr. Bruce, the contest is now between Armstrong and a candidate to be named later, as it were. I actually have seen the name Daniel Powell bandied about as the man warming up in the bullpen as Bruce’s proxy. (Hat tip: JFA). I spoke to one of the Democrat Central Committee members today at Riverfest and he told me that whether he wanted to support Armstrong or not as the person who actually made the effort to secure a place on the ballot, the Wicomico people would be outvoted by the Somerset side (who back Powell) because that’s the population proportion of the district.

Even though Armstrong is on the wrong side of many issues, it’s now become a battle between the people and the proverbial smoke-filled room to select a candidate. If Tony Bruce had been unopposed for the District 38A nomination, then it’s perfectly fine for the Democrats to select a surrogate, they just did that for Bennett Bozman’s District 38B seat. But Armstrong is on the ballot and whether he wants to mount a campaign or not is his business. (Perhaps he may do better if he’s not feeling like his party is stabbing him in the back.)

The portion of my website that’s devoted to links is headed “Let the people decide.” Because of the situation in District 38A, the people have one choice, and I think they should take advantage of it. District 38A Democrats should reward the effort and eschew backroom politics by allowing Patrick Armstrong to face Page Elmore in the November election.

Finally, we get to House of Delegates District 38B. Is there any possibility we can change the rules and allow 4 Republicans and no Democrats on the November ballot?

Bill McDermott didn’t answer my Ten Questions, but he did put his NPAT answers on his website, which indicates he’s fairly conservative on moral issues but much less so with our pocketbooks, advocating large increases in state school spending.

Bonnie Luna is the sole candidate who hails from Wicomico County’s portion of the district and I’m sure is quite sincere when she says that she wants to bring civility back to Annapolis. Unfortunately, in that regard it takes two to tango and the other side takes no prisoners.

Sonny Bloxom points to his 16 years of experience as a Worcester County Commissioner and is definitely conservative. He’s also bluntly outspoken about the issues, which I think would bode well for him in Annapolis but can rub some the wrong way at times. (That’s fine, I do the same with monoblogue.)

There’s a very good chance that two of the three above will make it through the primary, and I’d support any of those three without hesitation over the pro-Annapolis, anti-Eastern Shore tandem of Conway and Mathias. But this year I’m looking for good candidates who come from making their living outside of politics where I can get them, which makes my final choices for endorsement Michael James and Jack Lord.

I know Jack Lord has run before and was an also-ran in 2002, but he’s one of the “good guys” you like to see in the political world. Before anyone else had made much of a move to begin their candidacy, Jack filed practically on day 1. He also has spent time in two occupations where common sense runs rampant: law enforcement officer and farmer. Common sense is what we need in Annapolis, not politics.

Meanwhile, Michael James brings a solid business background and has created jobs through the private sector. James also has espoused conservative values and has one other sort of intangible asset I like to see, as his campaign manager is a young man named Dustin Mills. It shows me that he’s interested in a peripheral way in something that’s a campaign plank of mine and that’s getting more youth involved in the political process, particularly on the conservative side.

As I said above, any of the five would be outstanding choices for Delegate. But I can only vote for two and that’s the two I’ll select on September 12. Whether it will be the two I select on November 7 remains to be seen, but you’d better believe that those who make it through this GOP primary have my votes!

For United States Senate

Tonight I’m continuing my series of endorsements by looking at the race for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Paul Sarbanes. There’s 29 candidates of all political stripes vying for the post, but only Kevin Zeese of the Green/Populist/Libertarian Party has assured himself a berth in the November election, the others all seek the Democrat or Republican nomination. Not counting Zeese, here are the candidates from the two parties; not in ballot order but in the order they filed for the position and their hometowns.

Democrats:

Charles U. Smith, 56, Baltimore, filed 10-13-05.
Thomas McCaskill, 68, Fort Washington, filed 10-31-05.
A. Robert Kaufman, 75, Baltimore, filed 1-3-06.
Kweisi Mfume, 57, Baltimore, filed 1-20-06.
James Hutchinson, 62, Bethesda, filed 3-27-06.
Anthony Jaworski, 60, Kensington, filed 4-12-06.
David Dickerson, 44, Cockeysville, filed 5-31-06.
Ben Cardin, 62, Catonsville, filed 6-2-06.
Mike Schaefer, 68, Baltimore, filed 6-7-06.
Joseph Werner, 46, Fallston, filed 6-21-06.
Teresa Scaldaferri, 65, Avondale, filed 6-26-06.
Dennis Rasmussen, 59, Towson, filed 6-29-06.
George English, 66, Silver Spring, filed 6-30-06.
Allan Lichtman, 59, Bethesda, filed 6-30-06.
Josh Rales, 48, Bethesda, filed 6-30-06.
Bob Robinson, 62, Havre de Grace, filed 7-3-06.
Blaine Taylor, 59, Towson, filed 7-3-06.
Lih Young, 65, Rockville, filed 7-3-06.

Republicans:

Daniel Muffoletto, 51, Ellicott City, filed 7-7-05.
Corrogan Vaughn, 40, Baltimore, filed 7-7-05.
Thomas Hampton, 52, Severna Park, filed 9-6-05.
Daniel “Wig Man” Vovak, 34, Montgomery County, filed 1-11-06. He uses a Washington, DC mailing address on his application.
Earl Gordon, 56, Olney, filed 1-27-06.
Ray Bly, 57, Jessup, filed 1-30-06.
Michael Steele, 47, Annapolis, filed 4-7-06.
John Kimble, 46, Beltsville, filed 7-3-06.
Edward Raymond Madej, 61, Pasadena, filed 7-3-06.
Richard Shawver, 59, Sykesville, filed 7-3-06.

For sake of record, Kevin Zeese of Takoma Park is 50 and he filed way back on 9-12-05.

With the number of candidates on the Democrat side, one would think I had to wade through reams of material to simplify making an endorsement. But this was pretty easy because many of the candidates answered my Ten Questions and I’m on the mailing list for the two most highly regarded officeseekers (who didn’t answer, tsk tsk.)

I thought some of the candidates answered my Ten Questions reasonably well (for Democrats anyway) but overall I believe the “common-sense moderate” Dennis Rasmussen came up with thoughtful answers that could play to both sides of the aisle. I particularly liked his take on Social Security, which he termed “a disaster” – it showed he could be amenable to positive changes there. Also refreshing was his Iraq stance, where he termed that “(i)t is too late to argue the merits of being in Iraq. The question is how do we objectively measure and achieve a winning outcome? The consequences of losing Iraq will affect the next several generations.” He’s exactly right; instead of being a “cut and run” liberal, Dennis wants to see us through. Rasmussen also favors a sort of trade-off in energy policy. In exchange for stricter CAFE standards for automobile gasoline mileage, he’s willing to not just allow, but provide incentives for LNG exploration on the North Slope of Alaska.

Because of his stances on the issues and the belief that there should be more Democrats like him in Washington, I’m endorsing Dennis Rasmussen for the Democratic nomination to the U.S. Senate.

Now to the Republican side. It’s a bit unfortunate that our race has the big fish in a little pond, otherwise known as Lieutenant Governor Michael Steele. A truly unbiased Maryland GOP would allow a little more breathing room for two other candidates who I’ve found have intriguing views, Thomas Hampton and Corrogan Vaughn. Both have a few items among their policies that took me aback, but both have many items that could be considered good, conservative planks in their platforms. In particular, Vaughn (who, by the way, is the OTHER black conservative in the race that no one speaks about) has a definite sense of what duties Congress has under the Constitution, and would be unlikely to seek to go beyond those duties.

With these two men, I can see a Catch-22 situation. Perhaps it would’ve been best for them to start at a smaller level than attempting to run a statewide race with national media attention, seeing that we’re closest to the political fishbowl that is inside the Beltway. But on the other hand, had they sought and won a lesser office, that may have tarnished the shiny principles they can both run on as outsiders.

So that basically leaves the odds-on favorite, Michael Steele. Is he a perfect candidate in my eyes? No. Some of his ideas on issues lean a little more moderate than I’d like them to. But, reality is that in a statewide race in the blue state of Maryland circa 2006 we have to start someplace and if we as conservatives can get 70-80% of what we want in a candidate who can win this race, I guess we’ll have to take it. (I suppose one can call it the Ehrlich Principle.)

Because at 40 he’s the second-youngest candidate in the field, I’d certainly like to see Vaughn run for a lesser office, perhaps the U.S. House. (Maybe he could move to the Eastern Shore and 1st District in time for 2008.) But in 2006, the GOP needs to go with a person who’s a proven statewide winner, and that person is Michael Steele. I’m urging Republicans (like they wouldn’t anyway since he’s been the de facto nominee since Day 1) to cast their vote for Michael Steele in the primary.

Ten Questions…MGA Debate (part 3)

Just as I finished off the U.S. Senate seat “debate” below, here is the final portion of the responses from folks vying for General Assembly seats. Once again, I’ll go through the roster of people who I thank for taking time to answer this experiment in reporting and informing potential voters, the Ten Questions.

By the way, despite the court ruling overturning the law, I’ve decided to leave Question #9 in the debate, which dealt with early voting. I doubt the Democrats are through trying to tinker with the voting rules, although they may not feel the urgency as much since Maryland is likely a pretty safe blue state in 2008. (At least they like to think so, wait until monoblogue gets a wider audience!) But it’s good to know the candidate’s stance on the issue, is it not?

Senate District 37:

Rich Colburn, Republican – website and original responses.

House of Delegates District 37A: no responses.

House of Delegates District 37B:

Jim Adkins, Democrat – website and original responses.
Addie Eckardt, Republican – website and original responses.

Senate District 38: no responses.

House of Delegates District 38A:

Patrick Armstrong, Democrat – website and original responses.

House of Delegates District 38B:

Sonny Bloxom, Republican – website and original responses.
Michael James, Republican – website and original responses.
Jack Lord, Republican – website and original responses.

Part one, dealing with Questions 1 through 3, is here and part 2, with Questions 4 through 6, is here. I’ll resume here with Question #7. Tomorrow, as I will for the U.S. Senate seat, I’ll endorse those contested races in both parties.

Question #7:

For the Eastern Shore, transportation can sometimes be tricky because of Bay Bridge traffic and traveling to and from the beach on a summer weekend can be a real headache. Solutions advocated range from another Bay Bridge to a ferry service to a light rail system, and as always people want the existing highways improved. What transportation improvements do you feel are a priority for the Eastern Shore, and how would you pay for them?

Richard Colburn (R, Sen 37): One of the transportation improvements that are a priority for the Eastern Shore is the complete dualization of MD Route 404. According to AAA, this highway is one of the most dangerous stretches of highway in America. Therefore, dualization would make it safer for everyone, including local traffic and Western Shore traffic. Also dualization of Route 404 would increase utilization of that highway, thus, lessening traffic through Easton, Cambridge, and Salisbury. A new Dover Bridge is also desperately needed since it links Southern Caroline and the northern portion of Dorchester County to Easton Memorial Hospital. These improvements would be paid for through the gas tax. I would support an increase in funds for transportation by implementing a dedicated sales tax in those areas that have the full benefits of a mass transit system. We cannot afford to continue funding mass transit transportation costs through the gas tax, which should strictly be used for construction and maintenance of highways and bridges. Mass transit needs a dedicated funding source.

Addie Eckardt (R, 37B): Transportation is always an area of concern for the Shore as the numbers of cars on the roads increase each year. There was an opportunity to address the issue of traffic and the Bay Bridge this year and the results was simply “Yes we need a bridge but not in my back yard”, so actually not much happened. Now is the time to plan if in fact a bridge is necessary and it probably will be. A monorail has been suggested but determined to be cost prohibitive. I think one reasonable option that I have worked on is to expand small business from homes as an option and this is occurring. With the expansion of broadband and other technology, the possibilities are tremendous. If we are serious on the Shore about diversifying our economic bases we can offer more opportunity to stay on the Shore to work. The counties will have these decisions so that the Shore does not become just a bedroom community. In the meantime, I think that toll roads with certain access for local users are a possibility – at least we could cover the increasing cost of our roads and bridges. If we adopt a policy of all who use contribute and initiate a conversation on how to improve and maintain our highway system I think we can establish a plan.

James Adkins (D, 37B): The immediate priority is to leverage state and federal funding to correct transportation problems that directly impact on driver safety. No doubt someone in the State Highway Administration already knows where these areas are. Long term we have to visualize what type of transportation network will be needed in our future. How are we going to deal with commuters? How are we going to deal with the ever increasing traffic to Ocean City and other weekend destinations? These are questions that need to be addressed. We probably should start planning now for mass transportation entities that will be essential to preserving our quality of life in the over the next fifty years.

Patrick Armstrong (D, 38A): I believe that we must focus on improving the highways we have and in looking into the addition of a new Bay Bridge. If it were to be deemed economically feasible for a ferry or light rail crossing to succeed than I would strongly support both measures in an attempt to lessen the stress of traffic on our highways and the Bay Bridge. Were a light rail system to be in place to bring residents from Baltimore and neighboring counties all the way to Ocean City than I would see that as a major step toward reducing highway traffic, environmental impacts, and reducing the strain on our oil supply. If this would be used by residents I would strongly support such a project as would I support a ferry crossing.

Sonny Bloxom ( R, 38B): We need to dualize certain highways that have increased traffic on them and have become dangerous, such as US 113, 404 and 589. Also, we need to go ahead and build the overpass at US113 and Rt. 12 and the one for Rt. 50 and 589. The state can afford to do it, they just need to stop putting so much of the highway user revenues into the mass transit on the western shore.

Michael James ( R, 38B): With the growth we have seen in recent years, there are several needed road projects. Dualization of 113 and 589 are very important, as are many other projects. As a state delegate from 38B, I will fight for our fair share of transportation funding. This will be important due to the large sums of money the metropolitan counties will be looking for to fund the ICC and mass transit.

Jack Lord ( R, 38B): Another Bay Bridge is necessary. But not in that same location. The tolls should be raised to $5 and the money put aside in an untouchable account where the State can’t use it for any this else other than to build a new bridge.

Question #8:

Drugs and gangs are a growing problem on the Eastern Shore. The local authorities do their best but we’re a long way from fighting the problem successfully. In what ways do you think the General Assembly can best address this crime issue, and what tools do you see working best?

Richard Colburn (R, Sen 37): The most significant tools that will help fight drugs and gangs are sufficient funding and community cooperation. First, funding will help train officers and provide programs for education and public outreach. Cooperation is needed from schools, social services agencies, and community residents to identify problems and to report them to police. Crime prevention methods should be employed and police presence should increase in areas that are known for drug dealing and gang activity.

Addie Eckardt (R, 37B): Much crime is driven by substance use, and that has been an ongoing concern of mine. About 80-85 % of the jail population is fatherless and has substance abuse issues. Treatment is necessary and can work. Maryland has some of the finest diagnostic tools available in the country for determining who can benefit from treatment and who cannot. The issue has been how to implement the programs and how to pay for them. I have been an advocate of employment in recovery models so that individual cannot only benefit from treatment but also from job training. Many who get out of jail have no aftercare and no ongoing support to continue the behavior change over time. The Governor initiated two programs: one for those in jail and who are returning to the community and another for those as an alternate to incarceration. I also have been an advocate of drug courts and while I have been in office we have gone from one or two to almost one in every jurisdiction. What has been necessary is the research to support what interventions work and what doesn’t and we now have that information.

James Adkins (D, 37B): As the Eastern Shore grows and changes, we will have to deal more and more with the problems that jurisdictions on the Western Shore have been dealing with for years. The General Assembly needs to listen to local law enforcement agencies as well as the Maryland State Police to see what legislative tools are needed to help them deal with the problem. And like everything else, the state will have to apply resources/funding to help deal with these issues as the local level.

Patrick Armstrong (D, 38A): Gang violence starts small and spreads. We need a strong crack down on gang violence in Maryland. The General Assembly needs to consider increasing state funding for police in areas where a limited tax base cannot afford the necessary improvements to police forces. The lower shore needs such support to curb gangs and violence. The General Assembly must also stand strong in supporting after school programs on the lower shore. Nothing has proven more effective in stopping gang proliferation than healthy after school programs for kids in danger of falling through the cracks.

Sonny Bloxom (R, 38B): The Maryland State Police could be part of a local task force to fight gangs just like they are now doing with illegal drugs.

Michael James (R, 38B): Working to stop the flow of drugs is the most important part of reducing gang related crime. The drugs are the financial lifeline that keeps the most violent criminals in business. I am in favor of increasing funding for undercover agents and officers as well as increasing money for training to ensure our law enforcement agencies stay current and have the most capable personnel as possible, and technology that is superior to that of the criminals.

Jack Lord (R, 38B): This is more of a local issue and should be handled by the local police departments with help from the Combined Drug task forces In each county.

Question #9:

This year, you will be the first in the history of the General Assembly to be nominated and elected through the use of early voting. Proponents have stated that early voting is beneficial for turnout, but others claim the new regulations will encourage fraud and have petitioned to place the issue on the ballot as a referendum. In addition, these same laws have made absentee ballots available upon request with no reason needed. With that in mind, are you in favor of repealing the early voting laws, and why?

Richard Colburn (R, Sen 37): No one has ever given me in over twenty-eight years of politics, a reason why they were unable to make it to the polls on Election Day. The early voting laws passed recently by the Maryland General Assembly do not require proper voter identification. Therefore, early voting laws should be repealed. The citizens of Maryland deserve competent, credible, and nonpartisan elections. A fair and safe election is the bedrock of our American Democracy.

James Adkins (D, 37B): Until it becomes obvious that there is a problem with fraud, I support the law. The more the population is engaged in the political process, the better our democracy will be. The key is to make sure that the process is fair to all and that it does not favor one party or another. It is being used successfully in other states. Early voting may need some tweaking here in Maryland, but let’s see how it goes before we decide to throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Addie Eckardt (R, 37B): I did not support the early voting legislation and I would support legislation to repeal the laws. The Constitution clearly sets out how voting is to be handled and I do not believe the early times will address the issue of access. Those who want to vote and consider it an important right will take the time or make the time to exercise that right. We have a mechanism for early voting and that is by absentee ballot. I think citizens have many reasons for not voting and if we wanted to seriously address the issue we might convene some focus groups at the local level and gather information about the reasons individuals don’t vote. Responsibility is a significant factor.

Patrick Armstrong (D, 38A): No. I believe that early voting is essential to providing working families convenient access to the polls and will give a voice to those on the shore who are far away from their designated polling places. I also believe that increasing access to absentee ballots will improve voter turnout and accomplish the goal of easy access for citizens on the shore.

Jack Lord (R, 38B): I think a better system would be to require photo ID’s and allow absentee ballots for any one who couldn’t vote on election day. And repeal the early voting part.

Sonny Bloxom (R, 38B): Early voting laws should be amended to require you to vote in your home county and to require a photo ID.

Michael James ( R, 38B): As of this writing, the early voting has been struck down by the courts. I was always opposed due to the potential for widespread fraud.

(Editor’s note: Michael James was the last responder to the Ten Questions among this group.)

Question #10:

It is almost a certainty at this early date that either Governor Ehrlich will be reelected or Baltimore mayor Martin O’Malley will take over the governor’s chair early next year. If you are elected to the General Assembly and the representative of the opposite party (i.e. a Democrat would be working with Governor Ehrlich, a Republican would be working with Mayor O’Malley) wins election, with what issues do you see being able to find common ground with the governor?

Richard Colburn (R, Sen 37): The issues that will be common ground for all parties are growth, education, and the general welfare of all of Maryland citizens. We must always try to not let partisan views interfere with the general welfare of Marylanders. Governor Ehrlich is the fourth Governor I have had the opportunity to work with. If Martin O’Malley is elected, and I am re-elected, he will be the fifth Governor I will have worked with. I have always tried to have a good working relationship with every Governor since it benefits my constituents on the Eastern Shore. However, I always draw a line when a Governor decides to implement policies, pushes legislation, etc. that would be detrimental to the Eastern Shore and its residents (i.e. Governor Glendenning).

Addie Eckardt (R, 37B): I have had the opportunity to work with Governors from both parties and have been able to work on issues of common ground. For example, Initiatives involving economic development- the Hyatt development and Eastern Shore Hospital Center relocation; the One Maryland program and tax incentives that resulted in the regional councils; Historic tax credits; Cultural Heritage Tourism Areas; Arts and Entertainment Districts; the Children’s Health care program; Senior prescription programs; Small group health insurance reform; Education investments; child care and children coming to school ready to learn; environmental issues- clean air, water and lead paint remediation to name a few

James Adkins (D, 37B): We have to talk about Maryland’s future. Where do we want Maryland to be in twenty or thirty years and beyond? Our focus needs to be on accomplishing things that are important to Marylanders and the future of this great state. No matter who gets elected, both parties will have to reach across the aisle with the intent to work for a better and brighter future for Maryland. We have to get beyond party politics.

Patrick Armstrong (D, 38A): I have supported Governor Ehrlich’s budget plans and his fiscal responsibility. I support his dedication to stem cell research. I also support limited slot machine usage at certain Maryland racetracks under strict containment conditions. I believe working with either Bob Ehrlich or Martin O’Malley will involve great cooperation and a healthy spirit of ideas. I would like to be elected to represent the lower shore in the General Assembly regardless of an individual’s vote for Governor. Crossing party lines is a great show of just how much choice we have in America when we go to vote. I hope that members of both political parties will choose me when voting for the House of Delegates.

Michael James (R, 38B): I believe regardless of who is Governor, I will find common ground on issues related to economic development. This would include making sure farming is profitable, job creation is important and tourism is promoted. I have said from the beginning, to have a strong community for our families, we need to have a healthy business community. That is just common sense. For the record, I believe Governor Ehrlich will be re-elected by a margin of at least 4 points.

Jack Lord (R, 38B): Unlike the current Delegates I would vote for bills the help Worcester/Wicomico counties. I would work with the Governor if money were available to bring some jobs and industry to Worcester county.

Sonny Bloxom (R, 38B): I would have to wait and see what O’Malley would propose, but based on his liberal past and his arrogant attitude (he is just like Parris Glendening except he has a backup band!), I think it would be difficult to find common ground, other than on economic development issues.

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Unlike the Senate debate, I really enjoyed reposting all of the answers on the MGA debate posts, probably because they’re short and concise enough for the reader to appreciate the candidate’s stance without all kinds of rhetoric.

Tomorrow, as I said, I’ll make my endorsements in contested races. What that means is that I’m going to do the endorsements just for certain districts and primaries, not all 12 possibilities within Districts 37 and 38.

Senate District 37 – Democrat only (Hilary Spence, Ronald Warden Sr.) Republican Sen. Richard Colburn is unopposed. There is an independent (Moonyene Jackson-Amis) who’s petitioning for a spot on the November ballot as well.

Senate District 38 – no endorsements required, Sen. J. Lowell Stoltzfus is unopposed.

House of Delegates District 37A – Democrat only (Del. Rudy Cane, Charles Cephas Sr.) There’s no Republicans on the ballot.

House of Delegates District 37B – Republican (Del. Addie Eckardt, Del. Jeannie Haddaway, Redgie Lancaster) and Democrat (James Adkins, Robert Cheek, Tim Quinn) will both get endorsements.

House of Delegates District 38A – no endorsements required; because of the untimely death of Democrat candidate Tony Bruce, both Patrick Armstrong (D) and Del. Page Elmore (R) are not opposed on the primary ballot. However, if Bruce wins postmortem the Democratic Central Committees of Wicomico and Somerset Counties will officially select a replacement candidate, scuttlebutt says they already have.

House of Delegates District 38B – Republican only (Sonny Bloxom, Michael James, Jack Lord, Bonnie Luna, Bill McDermott). Democrat Del. Norm Conway and Del. Jim Mathias are both assured of primary victory.

This means I get to endorse just 5 of the 12 possible races, although I may have to hold my nose to do so. But I promised to endorse both sides regardless of worthiness.

Ten Questions…Senate Debate (part 3)

Here is the final portion of my U.S. Senate “debate” that all started when I first sent out the “Ten Questions” back in early May. Four months later, it’s time for the voters to decide if any of the responders are worthy or if those who deigned not to respond still merit their vote. For my part, I wasn’t too impressed with any of the answers I got from the Republican side, but I would’ve liked to hear from the six who didn’t reply (Gordon, Shawver, and Vovak did; Bly, Hampton, Kimble, Madej, Steele, and Vaughn didn’t.) I also never got responses on the House side from any of the four candidates.

If you want to look back, part one is here and part two is here. Part one also introduces the speakers once again, plus I have the websites of those who have them linked to the right in the U.S. Senator (Maryland) category. I’ll have a much shorter list of links in a week.

This part begins with Question #7 and concludes with Question #10. On Question #10, George English is featured, when he answered the Ten Questions he deferred to his website with the exception of that particular question.

Tomorrow, I reveal my endorsements for the U.S. Senate seat from both parties.

Question #7:

Back to domestic issues. One pillar or goal of the Bush administration was to enact Social Security reform in the second term, but it has stalled because of claims there’s no problems with the program and privatization reforms are simply a way to enable Wall Street to profit. Do you think the Social Security program is fine as it is, or what changes would you advocate happening with the program?

Richard Shawver (R): Social Security reform? Social Security is voluntary for U.S. citizen, mandatory for legal aliens.

Lih Young (D): Clean up government; lack of accountability, unreliable records, accounting, bookkeeping, records, files; improper complaint processing. Prosecute, eliminate “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks” with unjust deprivation of resources (public, private) by various unlawful, unethical, immoral acts, frauds, crimes; deprived of people’s salaries, benefits (fringe benefits, insurance benefits, retirement, pension, annual/sick leaves), insurance benefits, retirement, pension, annual/sick leaves), unjust manipulation, influence: improper records, bookkeeping; improper shuffling of processing employees’ earnings, benefits, calculation of social security benefits; unjust deprivation of resources (public, private) by various unlawful, unethical, immoral acts, frauds, crimes; unjust manipulation, influence: improper records, bookkeeping; improper shuffling of processing and employees’ earnings, benefits, calculation of social security benefits; unjust denial of benefits; damage/harm supposedly workers, retirees, elderly, beneficiaries, families, socials relations, endless damages/harm (physical, mental, bodily, financial), unjust manipulation and influence: medical services, insurance plans and coverage, rehabilitation services, etc. .The problems are not just in SSA agencies, but also related agencies, e.g., Maryland State Department of Education, Barbara Smith and Susan Page, employees or phony persons, falsification, false records, refuse to provide information, files for inspection, etc.

Clean up government. Support universal national health insurance (all, Medicare, Medicaid, prescription, uninsured, catastrophic); single payer (government); simple, effective, equal, quality, meaningful, merit, accountability, preventive, affordable, low premium, cost containment (goods, services, wholesale, professional review); public funded research should benefit taxpayers not to benefit a few; public education, consumer protection. Eliminate deceit, frauds, “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks” operation, unjust practices.

Prosecute, eliminate abuse, misuse, frauds, crimes, victimize people, deprive resources, capability (public, private), fraudulent charges; unnecessary medical services, drugs, medication, equipments, surgeries, catheters, etc.

Earl Gordon (R): (I oppose) every effort by the administration to tamper with the social security system. This system is the only federal program that guarantees citizens some form of social security from complete economic destitution. There are no valid reasons to disturb the program at this time, without replacing it with a system that offers better social security guarantees to the American people, something the President’s plan does not do. If the administration wants to tackle a big issue that is of value to the American people, it should tackle the national health care issue. Ducking this issue in the light of the frequency of international travel and the international medical situations that are presented by AIDS, SARS, the Asian Bird Flu, and international terrorists using chemical and biological weapons, is tantamount to ducking a vital national security issue.

Mike Schaefer (D): This is the 3rd rail of politics and we can expect little from leadership of either party on this issue. I favor more liberal IRA programs, but so many people do not understans self-saving programs or have the money to fund them annually, and we must help those least able to help themselves. I think the program is working well but would increase the investigation of abuse, there are many dead-recipients whose families continue to cash benefits without any criminal consequences, possibly a payback and that’s it; and I now personally of recipients who cash their check, report it stolen promptly, get a new check issued, and months-later the US cancels the first check and charges it back the innocent business entity having taken it—this is long after the crook has disappeared, thus there is no recourse for the trusting businessperson. The government knows who the crooks are but public policy makes them untouchables. That is wrong, they belong in jail.

Daniel “Wig Man” Vovak (R): I believe social security should only be for retired people, not for health care purposes. There must be firm, age-based eligibility requirements and they should be consistent. Before there is any financial change to the current social security system, the private amount that each person has invested into it over a lifetime must be easily accessed through the internet and through a local office.

David Dickerson (D): As U.S. Senator, I would propose that everyone has the right to maximize their contributions to an IRA. The present retirees or the citizens approaching retirement have no problem, but they do have the responsibility to sustain the system for their children and grandchildren. Current projections show that Social Security faces a long-term financial imbalance. The Trust Fund is projected to be exhausted in 2041 (according to the Social Security Trustees) or in 2052 (according to the Congressional Budget Office), after which Social Security will be able to pay only about 75 percent of promised benefits. Hence, reforms to restore long-term Social Security solvency are essential. If no changes are made, revenue transfers totaling $4 trillion, in today’s present-value dollars, would be needed to pay currently scheduled benefits over the next 75 years. The amount needed to assure permanent solvency over the infinite horizon is $11 trillion. Many of our government employees have better health and retirement plans than the normal Marylander worker, and I believe that there should be the same rights of Social Security Planning afforded to everyone!

Kevin Zeese (Green): The problem is bigger than Social Security, it is retirement security. As part of re-making the U.S. economy for the 21st Century we need to develop a retirement system that works. Social Security was designed as a supplement to savings and pensions — neither exist anymore. Thus, we get starvation retirement if all people have is Social Security. I have a lot of plans for remaking the economy, democratizing our economy, so that wealth is shared more equitably.

Blaine Taylor (D): I reject all President Bush’s suggestions regarding Social Security enacted by President Roosevelt in 1935 for what they really are: attempts to destroy the entire system. It only works if we’re ALL IN IT, with no one OUT OF IT. The major problem is that politicians of both parties are spending Social Security funds for programs other than Social Security—and I would stop that immediately. Reform CAN be achieved WITH the other 99 members of the US Senate, not AGAINST them. Common sense. listening, and a willing heart CAN prevail.

Dennis Rasmussen (D): Social Security is a disaster, and unless common sense returns to the Congress, instead of protecting and defining ideologies, we will have a new generation of poor and no system surviving past 2050. Social Security needs to be maintained at current levels to assure a reliable safety net for Americans approaching retirement. We must also assure all working Americans that their private sector pensions will be remain secure and available at their time of retirement. Borrowing from Social Security trust funds has weakened the financial stability of the system. Measures must be taken to assure that adequate funds will be in place to provide full benefits to retirees as originally promised by Congress.

Allan Lichtman (D): Social Security is a social insurance system – a basic income safety net for all working Americans. I will work tirelessly to strengthen Social Security and fight any attempts to privatize Social Security, which would cut guaranteed benefits and explode our national debt.

I also oppose “privatization-lite” as advocated by my opponent Ben Cardin. This misguided scheme would have the managers of Social Security, rather than individuals, invest a hefty share of your payments in the stock markets, rather than relying on bonds that bear the “full faith and credit” of our national government.
Privatization-lite would imperil the economic security of seniors and homeowners in Maryland. By, in effect, dumping government bonds to free funds for stock market investments this privatization plan would by simple supply and demand drive down the price of bonds and drive up interest rates, putting a drag on Maryland’s economy and eroding the property values of every homeowner in our state. The plan would reduce guaranteed Social Security benefits with private account benefits at the mercy of the ups and downs of the market. It would raise the administrative costs of Social Security by requiring a permanent new bureaucracy to handle private accounts and potentially subject its managers to political pressures on their investment decisions. Even worse would be “passive” investments by Social Security managers with no control over how corporations spend our money. If the market declined it would mean either a reduction in benefits or a government bailout, with money that we don’t have in times of deficit spending.

As the first steps to strengthening Social Security, I support committing Congress to stop the raid on the Trust Fund to finance other unrelated budget items, such as the mismanaged and seemingly endless Iraq War. Congress should pay back to the Social Security trust funds those money borrowed and spent for purposes other than Social Security programs.

I support rolling back the fiscally irresponsible Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans that are draining the Trust Fund.

I support a careful study of a variety of potential reforms that will address Social Security’s funding problems while ensuring that Social Security continues to meet its purpose of providing income protection and economic security to America’s working families. Possible solutions include lifting the cap on social security taxes, while exempting from taxation the first $10,000 of income to make the payroll tax both more progressive and more responsive to changes in the economy. The payroll tax falls most heavily on low and middle income workers, and today some 70 percent of workers pay more in payroll than in income taxes. That is unacceptable.

Question #8:

Some in Congress have raised the question of “pork” or excessive earmarks because our federal budget always runs in deficit and eliminating these earmarks would be a simple way to help balance the budget. But no Congressman or Senator wants to cut their district’s or state’s project. To balance the budget, would you consider sacrificing some of your district or state’s federally-funded projects or would you prefer measures to enhance federal revenues to meet the gap?

Lichtman: Although I oppose excessive earmarks or “pork,”which should be debated in the Senate, I would not sacrifice needed infrastructure projects in the state of Maryland. There are better ways to help balance the budget.

1. Develop a plan for bringing the troops home from Iraq and recouping for domestic priorities the enormous costs of the war.

2. End subsidy payments to corporations and farm price support payments to large agri-businesses. ($25 -50 billion)

3. Stop the administration from permanently abolishing the estate tax. Even keeping in place the an eased estate tax that affects only estates of $3.5 million of or more (5 out of 1,000 estates) with a 45 percent tax would save nearly $40 billion.

4. Improve tax collections and stop the administration from cementing in place tax cuts that affect only high-income filers and one-time bonus tax breaks for business, ($100-$125 billion)

5. Replace Bush’s confusing, wasteful prescription drug plan with a more efficient, user-friendly plan like the one developed by Boston University School of Public Health. ($40 billion)

6. Reform antiquated business practices at the Pentagon and eliminate needless and redundant weapons systems. ($60 billion)

7. Eliminate tax breaks to extractive industries and other unnecessary corporate tax breaks. ($20 billion)

Dickerson: I would prefer measures to enhance federal revenues to meet the gap!

Taylor: Right now, the National Debt is our biggest monetary problem bar none, and for that reason alone the current incumbent President deserves inpeachment, as well as for his Hitlerite way of lying us into the entirely bogus Iraq War, into which he allowed himself to be suckered by Tel Aviv. The basic problem is that we have been in an overheated wartime economy since our last declaration of war on Dec. 8, 1941. We need to switch to a peacetime economy for the rest of this century, and stay there. All of the Bush tax “reforms” need to be thrown out, the minimum wage raised to $ 10 in 2007, and state pork issues examined by all Senators on a case-by-case basis, weighing how the benefit to Maryland is compatible with that of the nation at large. I will not make a blanket decision on matters that haven’t even been put before me on my desk for a decision, but I would proceed as stated above, employing common sense. That’s the best answer I can give you at this time.

Shawver: There only a deficit, because Congress won’t do their job, Article 1, Section 1-10.

Zeese: No question — wasteful earmarks are one of the root causes of corruption of politics and waste of taxpayer dollars. But, we need to do much more than that to balance the budget and reduce our debt. My tax plan, attached, would help a great deal. But we also have to end corporate welfare — over $300 billion annually — as it takes money from workers and gives to the wealthy and creates an unfair playing field for small and medium sized businesses as they do not receive the welfare that big business receives. We also cannot afford to be the world’s policeman — with military bases in 120 nations, half of our discretionary spending being on the military and spending as much as the whole world combined on military. I would look to the former military leaders at the Center for Defense Information for cuts in military programs that are wasteful, duplicative and no longer needed. Tens of billions, maybe hundreds of billions could be cut with no adverse effect on our security.

Schaefer: That’s an easy one. We can find county, city, state, or joint-powers agreements, funded with very very low-cost tax free obligations, to finance anything that is a boondoggle; the President needs line-item veto so he can “kill” a number of pork items in any budget. These items are not lost, the community and political leadership then decides (a)level of necessity, and (b)alternative ways to fund it. Do not let West Virginia’s Robert Byrd have anything to do with the budget. He is the king of pork. Always has been, always will be. We need to enhance federal revenues, but do so in order to reduce our staggaring federal debt. This is called fiscal responsibliity, which is in short supply with too many Congresspersons and Senators.

Young: For issue of economy and federal deficit:

Focus on principle, merit, fairness, cost-effectiveness; not for the best interest of the people. Redirect priorities, budget, focus. Improve productivities which increase government revenue. Eliminate: waste, abuse, nonsense projects, unnecessary expenditure, abandonment of land, properties, resources, “fraud-crime- networks”; less social problems, less government expenditures; public debt/ bond (burden of taxpayers and future generations; more time, resources for people, families, less traffic congestion; unjust abandonment/ destruction/ lease-out/ sale public land, buildings, schools (free or without fair compensation, even decades long leases); purchase/ lease-in/ construct land, facilities (at outrageous costs, many times market values); improper planning, misleading, deceit; improper reserve fund (not savings for potential capital investment, but by borrowing, public debt, bond); raising taxation, fees, bond/debts mainly to benefit a few; false excuses, unjust practices, manipulation, misleading, deceit, influence; abuse of power, litigation, legal costs; especially by legal/judicial personnel; “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks”; false citations (issued by city manager, police, inspection; municipal, traffic, or phoney – refused to give identities or full names), improper/unjust legislative bills, proposals, appropriation, expenditures; ineffective/nonsense projects, programs (e.g., Greater Rockville Partnership, Rockville Housing Enterprise, Annual Night-Out, Rockville University, Citizen Police Academy, CALEA police accreditation, City Attorney Paul Glasgow, related law firms, “fraud- crime- injustice networks”); Rockville City Attorney Paul Glasgow: not salaried employee, highly paid contractor; conflict of interest, ethic rules (more serious than usual employees; county, state, federal); abuse of power, litigation, complaints, files, contracting (arbitrary criteria, selection); improper complaint processing, procedures, proceedings, legal services (disservice); improper land deals, abandonment of public land, resources, properties; improper procurement, not open bid (e.g., Rockville Town Center, goods, services; all stages; design, development, construction, etc.); abuse of public land, resources for private gains; benefit a few: reimburse private expenses; improper or no records, responses, files, pleadings on complaints/cases; resolution, remedies on complaints/requests; false citation, harassment, arrest, intimidation, conspiracies, cover-up numerous serious unlawful acts, fraud- crimes, frivolous cases/litigations, unjust influences, manipulation of televised camera; without proper public hearing; as part of “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks” operation.

STOP/ELIMINATE: OFFICIAL FRAUD, SCAM, UNJUST DEVELOPMENT PLAN, e.g., Rockville Town Center Plan (misuse/abuse of power, law, litigation, public resources); public fund $99+millions (upward, city, county, state, federal) mainly to benefit a few, “fraud- crime- injustice networks”, which in turn hurt people and society further; destroy families, communities, businesses, democracy, fair election process, peace; cause serious socio-political- election- media problems; worse than Florida election 2000, World Trade Center 9-11-2001 incidences, President George Bush’s wars, President Richard Nixon’s Watergate, financial/ accounting/legal disasters (e.g., Enron/ WorldCom/ Anderson).

Reduce: the need for people to drive or get on the roads; traffic congestion, stress, accidents; the need to go to courthouses, administrative or judicial hearings/ trials; false citations (traffic, municipal infraction); abuses, unjust manipulation; taxation, fees, burden to residents; the need for more family members to work; need for multiple jobs for each person; need for cars; more trips; more stress, fatigue; abuse, waste; unjustified budget, appropriation; taxation, fees, public debt, people’s burden; improper processing of complaints, assignment of cases/hearing across all jurisdictions; unjust cancellation of hearings/ trials; unjust deprivation and rulings without affidavits, hearings, trials; need for appeals, further complaints. Provide mass transit services, bus schedules, (good, frequent, reliable); proper implementation of laws, and processing of complaints/ cases. See also other issue statements – interrelated.

Rasmussen: The system of “earmarks” has been an integral component of the U.S. budgetary process. In past years, this system, if used in a prudent and limited basis, allows the funding of priority projects when that response is appropriate. Unfortunately, in the past several years, out-of-control spending by Congress has resulted in absolute abuse of this budgetary mechanism. Earmarks have exploded from approximately 1,700 to 16,000 in the past five years. This is irresponsible and unacceptable. Earmarks should be continued as long as there is timely and full disclosure as to the sponsor of the earmark, the reasons for its request and its appropriate justification.

Vovak: Congress needs to cut spending. Period.

Gordon: This economic expansion should take the shape in many forms including the following:

(1) This country should seek an 80% improvement in the quality of life for all its citizens in the next twenty five years, because at present America is becoming one big, congested, semi-socially dysfunctional society.

(2) One of the best way (sic) to reverse this trend is by the impostition of a national economic development plan that is coordinated by a Office in the Federal Government that should be designated the National Economic Development Counsel. This counsel would be responsible for choosing at least ten different areas in this country, in ten different States where the Federal Government should then designate as national economic expansion zones and to build twelve new Philadelphia-size cities in the next twenty five years, with the surrounding industrial, living, and social infrastructure to support a population of at least sixty million Americans.

This project should be funded by private and government funds. This kind of economic activity would generate a boom in economic growth and at the same time creating a society where congestion would decrease and the quality of life would improve tremendously, not only for the present generation of Americans but for all future generations. (These cities and their surrounding areas would be built with the most advanced environmentally friendly technology and human imagination in history.)

The revenue that would be generated from all of the above economic activities would be sufficient to augment the other sources of income that would go to pay for a national health care plan as well as a more advanced and humane national education system. What the Republican Party and this nation need is not narrow minded so called sham compassionate conservatives. This nation needs constructive, visionary, and big thinking compassionate capitalists with big investment plans.

Question #9:

Now to the question of trade. When I go to a store, many’s the time that I see a product is made in China – hence we run a large trade deficit with that nation. President Bush has advocated a hemisphere-wide free trade zone that would add Central and South American countries to the umbrella originally created by the NAFTA agreement a decade ago. Given these items, and knowing also that the number of manufacturing jobs in this country remains flat to slightly lower even in this era of steadily expanding employment, where do you stand – do you see free trading eventually shifting our economy to one mostly comprised of service and technology jobs, or do you feel we should take more steps to preserve our core manufacturing positions?

Lichtman: We must take steps to preserve and strengthen our manufacturing positions. Such steps would include eliminating the current tax incentives for shipping jobs and investments abroad. We should also strengthen federal support for small businesses that are the driving engine of our economy. We should drastically reduce dependence on the fossil fuel economy and move towards the development of a robust alternative fuels industries with the promise to improve the economy and create more jobs. We should reduce the deficit to keep interest rates under control and limit the financing of our debt by foreign nations. We should support workers’ rights to organize unions which increase the number of good, stable jobs and negotiate trade agreements only with adequate safeguards for labor and the environment.

Gordon: What America needs is an economic anti-desertion law that makes it illegal for American firms to close a manufacturing plant in this country and go build the same kind of plant in a foreign country. This law should be based on the law that makes it a crime for a member of the U.S. Armed Forces to desert the Armed Forces. A clause should also be added to this law that makes it a crime for any public official or private banking entity to give support to any deserter. If we do not take these kind of legislative actions the neo cons are going to lead this nation down the path that the Romans of ancient times tread.

Rasmussen: We can no longer think in terms of the U.S. economy alone. We are truly a global economy. Free trade or limited restricted trade benefits both buyer and seller in the long run. The promotion of trade between nations also promotes peace. Nations that trade have an economic stake in each other do not make war on each other – military or economic.

Another economic truth is that production follows cheap labor and nothing will ever change that. But America can and does compete. Who does the world look to America for brain power, technology, medical breakthroughs, particularly when it comes to quality, dependable high skill-level workers? They look to the U.S.A. Where do the world’s automobile manufacturers, computer manufacturers, medical manufacturers come? They come to the U.S.A. for those skills and quality. What universities and educations are the most sought after? It is the U.S.A., again. We should welcome and embrace global trade, because in the end, the world wants and needs what we produce and consume.

The trade deficit is primarily an illusion – we are the largest market in the world today. If we buy the goods of the world in sheer volume, we buy more than the rest of the world. To believe that the rest of the world or individual nations buy an equal amount of our product is unrealistic. China may, in the future, alter that balance. We need to monitor China’s expansion plans very carefully and develop a strategy of containment.

Dickerson: Great question! Part of the reason that I decided to run for U.S. Senate is that I do not see many candidates that understand the military and global business. I’ve lived in Europe and Asia, and I can tell you, our Federal government has too many lawyers and lobbyists. We need to “make things” or we will all be working for lower wages. We need people in our U.S. Senate and Congress that understand the importance of engineering. Our wages have already been dropping over the last five years. We cannot stop outsourcing and offshoring, so we need to create new ways to gain the competitive advantage. As U.S. Senator, I will work with Maryland companies to export. I can use my international sales experience to develop business for Purdue in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and the Far East. Look at all of the business that Tyson Chicken got from Russia. Could that have something to do with the Clinton Administration? I would look to expand on attracting foreign direct investment in the shore to increase wages. Our US $ is at an all time low, so we are very attractive. The shore needs to think about how they can ship goods directly to Europe rather than sending them to Baltimore or Norfolk. Our country cannot sustain itself economically if we are a service society.

Taylor: Trade: I was the press secretary for Congresswoman Bentley on Capitol Hill during 1991-92 when the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) was being negotiated. From that moment to this, I have failed to see how it benefitted the US one whit. We don’t need more Mexicans, and I’d have to see what we’re getting from Canada before I’d move to repeal NAFTA altogether. As for China, we are already WAY out of whack there, with billions owed to the Chinese to pay off our OWN deficits! This strikes me as not only stupid, but also criminal! We lost the battle to maintain a manufacturing base in this country a decade ago. Should we try to reinstate it? I don’t know, but I would like to sit down for a few hours with Mrs. Bentley and just listen to her views on that subject before making a decision. No one knows better than her. Naturally, the Democratic unions would be all for that. We are ALREADY there as far as being a service-and-technology economy dominated and propped up by American bayonets, just as President Eisenhower warned we would become in his last speech from the Oval Office on Jan. 19, 1961. Ending the wartime economy—and switching it to a peacetime economy for the entire 21st Century—is truly THE domestic challenge for this and future generations of Americans. If we don’t do this, I am entirely convinced, as an historian, that we shall either destroy the planet via outright world war in the short term, or strangle ourselves in envirnomental chaos in the slightly longer term. CAN we turn all this around? Yes, we CAN! We were great under FDR and Reagan, and it’s time for greatness again. War is not greatness, but mentally dull stupidity.

Zeese: These so-called “free” trade agreements are not “free” at all — what they really do is empower multi-national and national corporations. We need trade agreements that pull up labor, consumer, environmental and human rights standards, not agreements that pull them down (as these do). Under current law, a corporation can challenge a democratically passed law by going to the World Trade Organization in Europe and complaining that the law is a “restraint on trade” that allows them to overthrow the law. Democratically enacted laws should have greater power than corporations — who should be subject to the law. The U.S. is hemorrhaging jobs and is losing money on international trade. We have a record trade deficit, record federal deficit, rapidly rising federal debt limit (more than doubled in the last five years) and record high personal debt. If we continue on this course we will see a failed economy and the catastrophe’s that go with it. We must re-make our economy for the 21st Century. We need to invest heavily in education to stay competitive in the world. We need to rebuild out nation’s infrastructure. The American Society of Civil Engineers warns that our infrastructure is failing and there is a “looming economic crisis” because of our failure to address it. We need to shift from a fossil fuel economy to an environmentally sustainable economy that relies on abundant clean energy. How do we pay for all of this — see my tax plan.

Young: Major transaction or land deal, local- global, should be rigorously reviewed objectively by academically very well trained, based on merits, priorities, cost- effectiveness, social cost-benefits, etc., through competitive processes, general soliciting, fair market mechanism; not arranged by the developer or inner circle; should be openly discussed with residents, in official meetings, Mayor/Council/ public hearings; not misleading, concealing, unjust manipulation or influence; not rushed through as the consent agenda items as mall purchases of goods and services. Eliminate, prevent: abandonment of public resources, land, properties to benefit a few or “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks” including developer, government attorneys, lawyers, law firms, etc.) at the expense of general public and future generations, including other jurisdictions, especially with grants and public debts from the state and federal; sold, leased out (secret hidden agenda, even huge acres, decades-long lease) with zero or no fair compensation, despite citizen’s objection; unnecessarily leased private properties for government use at very high costs even with short lease (a few years or shorter); with extra high costs to construct building, furnish expansive equipments; and when construction is done, lease expires, completed products abandoned or free to a few; often disguised by partnership, economic development, school, education, public safety, etc.; several rounds of unjust abandonment and purchase; misleading public roads, highways, when abandoned to private; unjust projects, appropriation; misuse, abuse, misappropriation; false road construction, maintenance; false records: land, roads, maps; unjust demolition of building even in good condition to initiate new construction, project, purchase, including library or school.

Schaefer: We must preserve our core manufacturing so long as it is efficient. Any country importing to the US should have equivalent exporting from the US to their country. It is disheartening to call a US firm’s help-line and be speaking to someone on the other side of the world with limited ability to speak English and not a clue as to the community or state where the caller resides. The government can do it. If I wanted to mail 100,000 political mailers from Canada or Mexico, at cheaper postage, the USPS requires payment of both the US and foreign postage for any mailings exceeding 200 items. I wish this protective attitude existed in other commerical areas of government operations.

Vovak: America should take steps to preserve our core manufacturing positions.

Shawver: NAFTA is unconstitution (sic). Article 1 Section 1-10.

Question #10:

This question should present you with the shortest answer. Given that in 2008 either you will be seeking re-election to the House and hoping for some coattails at the top of the ticket, or preparing to work with a new President (for the Senators), if you had a short list of 3 to 5 names you’d like to see seek the job, who would they be? Please note that they do not have to be candidates who are considered to be running for the post at this time.

Young: To have someone who will be willing, capable, and able to solve socio-political-election- media problems. Top 3 priorities:

(1). Society is in vicious cycles, as in need of revolution, if we don’t act. First, prosecute, eliminate “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks”. Oppose: unjust practices, manipulation, influence; bad legislative proposals, hidden agenda with false excuses (economic development, housing, transportation, whatever) for private gain (officials, developers, lawyers, etc.); nonsense grants, programs, projects: facilitate “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks”=cruel tyranny= robbery machine; continuing, on-going, expanding, penetrating, threat, coercion, victimization, deprivation, discrimination; endless immoral-unlawful acts, rob/destruct resources (public, private; business, civic, political), frivolous litigation, levies, foreclosures; improper processing of complaints, proceedings, docketing; cause vicious cycles: socio- political- election-media; civil-human rights, people-slave. E.g., Problems (A): OPM, DOJ, IRS, SSA, FBI, law enforcement, National Park Service (Prettyman?), Library of congress (Neil Gladd), financial/brokerage/ accounting/ bill-payment processing/ collection agencies, insurance, car-dealers Lakeforest Oldsmobile; phone/utilities/cable, judges, legal/court personnel, detective/ process server/ impersonators or with phony names; Leslie Gradet, Tamera Jones, William D Roessler; offices of treasury, comptroller, attorney general: Joel Jacob/Jacobson, Gail Malle-Davis, Sylvia J. Brokos, Mary Hawse, Linda Tanton, Gerald Langbaum, John Barry, Pamela Porter, Leo F. Partridge, Mark Vulcan, Jamis Riley, James Britt, Audrey Thomas, Jeanne Lippy, Jesse Rosenburger, Ralph Lepson; transcribers Margaret Bauer, Senators: Walter Baker, Barbara Hoffman, Thomas Middleton, Trooper: Marty Sealey, Vincent Mass, State Election Board Ross Goldstein; Lobbysts/municipal attorneys/lawyers/affiliates, Paul Glasgow, David Venable, Joseph Stoltz, Jr., Barry Gordon, Stephen Perouka, David Steinberg, Wolpoff & Abramson, Richard D. Mirsky, Poppleton, Garrett & Polott, P.C., Marc Sliffman, Samuel White, DOEd Susan Page, Barbara Smith?, accountant Hilda K. Matijevic..more.

(B): The problems are interrelated horizontally and vertically, among all issues, locak0 global. Montgomery County Circuit Court Loretta Knight, Bettie Skelton, District Court Clerk Jeffrey Ward, Administrstive Judge Cornelius Vaughey, Sheriff Elliot Tolbert, etc. government attorney John McCarthy, Kristen Bender are part of the “:fraud- crime- networks: with harassment, false arrest, imprisonment, false citation, false trespass, false testimony, withholding witnesses, etc.

( C). False frivolous levies, liens, garnishment, foreclosure, tenant-hold-over- eviction, etc. Thousands of cases are pending in the court systems for years or even decades; probably filed by “fraud- crime- networks” while continuing to victimize people; without proper services and proceedings; major causes of “homelessness” and poverty; not because of the problems of citizens, but because of unjust judicial/court/legal personnel, and court auditor Robert Romero as part of “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks”. Judges include John Debelius, Durk Thumpson, Ann Harrington, Louise Scriver, Lawrence De Beard, etc.

(D). Further example of violating Constitution or Bills of Rights (U. S. and State), police brutality or sheriff misconduct, attorneys and affiliated law firms and related “fraud- crime- injustice networks” operation are evidenced with official misconduct, e.g., District Court Judge Gary Everngam, Judge Gary Crawford, Sheriff Earnest Turner, other court personnel for improper processing of cases, including failing to docket, concealing of pleadings, falsification, denial of fair trial or jury trial demand, counter-claim, cross-claims, etc.

(E). Problems of privatization, irresponsibility, disabilities of government attorneys and judicial/legal/court personnel. Problems are very serious, expanding, local- out of state- nationwide- global; exporting injustice everywhere, including overseas. In Rockville city, in Montgomery County, in State of Maryland, in New Jersey Monmouth County, Judge Robert McLeod, Judge Patricia Bueno Cleary (?).

(2). Restore: principle, fairness, cost-effectiveness, accountability, reliability, capability; fair election, justice, peace (including civic, non-profit organizations), “check and balance”; Restore: TRUE essence of democracy, fair election process; easy access to government, files, records, transcripts; not unjustly manipulated, influenced, misled by wrong person, information, or “official misconduct- government gang- fraud- crime- injustice networks” = serious causes of socio- political – election –media problems, which destroy people, families, society, peace, justice, democracy. Based on merits, justification; double standards, improper processing of complaints, procedures, proceedings; falsification, false records, tampering of evidence, data; harass, intimidate complainant, witnesses; false charges, citation, bond, imprisonment, disparities, improper treatments, etc., disguised by abuse of laws, power, authorities.

(3). .Promote quality, competition, people input (policies, issues, officials, judges); televise public hearings, citizen/candidate forum/debate; maintain, disseminate meaningful accurate information, records, capability, reasoning, good sense of justice, public interest.

Zeese: I’m not impressed with any of the front runners right now. And, don’t see many on the horizon. I am most hopeful by the Unity08.org process that is seeking to build outside of the two parties or find leaders from both parties who will put the people first.

Lichtman: Russ Feingold, Wesley Clark, Hillary Clinton, John Edwards, Mark Warner.

Schaefer: You overlook that I am not running for the House, my term will be six years and I am up for re-election in 2012, to my 2nd and last term as a US Senator.

Have no idea who will be in Maryland’s political world in 2012. If I had to name three, they would be:

(a)John Sarbanes, assuming he wins a Congressional bid now or before 2012; Democrat.

(b)Marin Alsop, new Conductor of the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra; if she finds a “home” in Maryland, and in 2012 having six years leading our state in a cultural manner—she would be a respected candidate who would perhaps bring harmony to a cacophony of political sounds in the 100 member US Senate;

(c)Marcus Allen, a doctor of chiopractic medicine, who will at that time be a leader in city, county state or federal office, an African-American success story, who would bring credit on Maryland as a Democratic Nominee and who has a great interest in political issues affecting Maryland, health care, and is not the football legend but Maryland is used to great names…

You are right, haste makes waste, thought you wanted us to pick OUR successors, you want us to pick the 2008 President.

Of those living or dead, would pick Bob Hope, Arnold Schwarzenegger, US Army Lt. General Claudia Kennedy.

Of those expected to be on the political horizon in 2008:

1. Mark Warner, former Governor of Virginia, Democrat
2. Nancy Pulosi, who will have been Speaker of the House or perhaps a US Senator by then, Democrat
3. General Colin Powell, who’ll have time to be more
active in the years proceeding 2008. The office would seek the man. Could belong to either party.
4. Joseph Liberman, if he remains in Senate leadership and/or seniority.

Gordon: (I am) John Adams/Teddy Roosevelt/Lincoln/Goldwater/Ike/William P. Rogers/and Melvin Laird oriented.

Dickerson: Well, instead of names, I think that it is more important that all of us, as Americans, work together to define the personal profile of a U.S. Senator in 2008. I counted 18 filed candidates for U.S. Senate from the Democratic ticket, so that tells us something. That tells us that many people are not satisfied with many of the candidates that were running or that they believe our country needs a change. It could also mean that they feel that the Democratic Party needs to embrace a respect for life and family values. Everyone is winning by running because they are engaging in dialogue and provoking thought amongst the Maryland voters. I, for one, think that our next U.S. Senator from Maryland needs to embody the core competencies of Jefferson and Franklin, and many of our founding fathers. He or she must understand our militia or military, and that comes from service to your country. How would the Congress vote to send our men and women in harms way if they had their children in the military? I write this to you on July 4th, and do you think that our founding fathers were even thinking of passing a law that would permit the burning of our flag? Our independence was won with the help of the French, and it was the cross-cultural leadership of our founding fathers that spearheaded our victory. We need a U.S. Senator with a global thinking, understanding of our local needs, and most importantly, a diplomat with the trans-cultural competency to secure strategic alliances that win peace and prosperity for Maryland. Tom Friedman’s book, The World is Flat, illustrates that we do live in a global world! I ran for U.S. Senate because I care about the future of my state and nation, and I hope that we all begin to think of what type of person we need in the U.S. Senate. It is not about Republican or Democrat, but more about if the person understands the world, business and our military.

Taylor: Who would I like to see President from 3-5 names? Immodestly, I would run myself in 2008 as a favorite son candidate to see enacted the program I’ve outlined above. From the current crop of would-be candidates, let’s dispose of most of them: Sen. Clinton lied about the murder of Vince Foster and helped cover it up; she goes. I would prefer GOP Sen. Libby Dole of North Carolina if have a woman we must. I would fire Secretary of State Rice for the liar that she is, period, over the bogus Iraq War; Sen. Barbara Boxer was right about her on that score. Having read all the books by and about Sen. McCain—and having heard him speak—I am not impressed. As a fellow Vietnam veteran, I have nothing but admiration and sorrow for the many long years he spent as a POW, but if it weren’t for that singular fact, we wouldn’t be having this conversation at all! While I admire former Mayor Giulani for his performance during 9/11, when actor Jimmy Woods portrays you, that’s never good! I would prefer Gov. Scwharzenneger of California, but we’d have to change the Constitution to do that to accomodate a single man, and THAT would be a dangerous precedent. I voted for GOP Sen. Bob Dole in 1996, and Ralph Nader in 2002. I discard our own Gov. Ehrlich as a crypto fascist who has surrounded himself with butt-kissing politcal gangsters of the worst sort, and Mayor O’Malley as simply incompetent. I’m not opposed to naked ambition per se, but I’m not impressed by the former—10 years my junior—or the latter, almost 20; neither are veterans, another minus in my book. If I could not be elected myself, I would want some of the latter people to be running: our very own Republicans, like Congressmen Roscoe Bartlett and Wayne Gilchrist—the fighting Marine from Vietnam!—or Democratic Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger—the trusty lifeguard!—and current Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith. These are men’s men that I would fight alongside, and women’s men who are compassionate, are smart and dedicated, and aren’t IN LOVE WITH THEMSELVES! They are, in fact, the kind of men “to go to the well with” when the Indians attack, so to speak, and it’s nice to know that there are still men left in this world whom I can admire.

Shawver: At this time I have no one in mind.

Rasmussen: As a Moderate, Common-Sense candidate for the U.S. Senate, I would favor candidates that show an ability to govern from the middle.

I am drawn to Sen. Biden’s approach to international issues. I admire John Kerry’s plan to make sure that all children have healthcare. I appreciate John Edward’s concern for the poor. I am a fan of General Wesley Clark and his strong military leadership. However, the 2008 election is, politically, a lifetime away. After evaluating all declared candidates, my support will go to the candidate whom I believe can best lead America through consensus, integrity, and an ability to develop common-sense policies.

Vovak: Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, George H. W. Bush.

Each of those candidates is a proven winner. Ford is my favorite, though.

George English (D): Regarding my choice for President, my first choice would be Representative Dennis Kucinich, whom I have seen and heard during the 2004 campaign and my second chioce would be Senator Russ Feingold. Mr. Kucinich spoke about about his first job working for a newspaper in Ohio during the Vietnam War. He had to visit the homes of the parents of sons who had been recently killed in Vietnam to borrow photos that would be used in the deceaseds’ obituaries. Many of these homes were very modest and their dead sons obviously had been the center of their parents lives. Mr. Kucinich recalled how palpably he felt their soul-wrenching grieving and how devastating their loss was when he spoke with them. That is why he was one of the few members of Congress to resist the stampede to war in iraq and made the issue the highlight of his unsuccessful campaign for President. I hope that he runs again for President and that the citizens of this country will now listen to him and recognize how courageous he was and still is by his steadfast opposition to the war. Mr. Feingold impresses me with he personal integrity, a virtue which I find seriously lacking in most members of the Congress. Their fixation with “Political Correctness” has morphed into “Political Cowardice”. The interminable morass this country now finds itself mired in the Middle East is the direct result of their moral weakness.

******************************

And so ends this “debate” of sorts. I hope it was informative and interesting, and you managed to make it through the dense morass of Lih Young’s answers. Needless to say, she’s not the person I’m endorsing on the Democrat side.

It’s amazing to me that we have over two dozen people who have decided to basically sacrifice several months of their lives and deal with a pile of paperwork as they have to file with the Board of Elections and watch every penny, even if they don’t have to file reports. Come Tuesday, all but three of those people will have their hopes dashed as just one Republican and Democrat will remain in the race. The Green Party’s Kevin Zeese is already assured a spot on the November ballot.

What I’m going to again attempt to do after the smoke clears is get the survivors on the GOP and Democrat sides to answer my Ten Questions and keep Kevin Zeese’s close at hand. Hopefully I can do a similar debate with just one post close to Election Day so people can compare and contrast. If the Republican and Democrat don’t answer the Ten Questions, by gosh I’ll make up an answer for them from things I can find out – this will work by hook or by crook!

Shorebird of the year – a season wrapup

Tonight I’ll close the book on the Shorebirds season by reviewing the numbers and also taking a look at how the players I selected as Shorebird of the Week fared, and, of course, select my pick for Shorebird of the Year.

First of all, the final Standings Report.

The Shorebirds finished the second half on a 5 game losing streak, with four of those coming at the hands of the Hagerstown Suns across the Chesapeake. As a result, Hagerstown passed us and Delmarva brought up the rear in the SAL North with a 27-42 second half record, 19 1/2 back of Lakewood, who won the half with a solid 47-23 record. What I’ve done is laid out the overall season records of each team in the 16 team league in order of finish. The parenthesis afterward indicate their finish in each half. An asterisk indicates the team is with the Shorebirds in the North Division.

1. Augusta 92-47 (2,1)
2. Lakewood* 84-55 (4,1)
3. Charleston 78-62 (3,3)
4. West Virginia* 74-62 (2,2)
5. Lexington* 75-63 (1,6)
6. Asheville 74-63 (5,2)
7. Columbus 72-68 (4,4)
8. Rome 71-68 (1,6)
9. Greensboro* 68-69 (5,5)
10. Hickory* 67-70 (6,4)
11. Greenville 67-73 (6,5)
12. DELMARVA* 64-73 (3,8)
13. Lake County* 64-74 (7,3)
14. Hagerstown* 58-82 (8,7)
15. Savannah 56-83 (7,7)
16. Kannapolis 42-94 (8,8)

Ironically, last season Kannapolis was the league champion (over Hagerstown) and this season both are among the bottom feeders. Had the standings been kept for a full season, Kannapolis would’ve finished a whopping 48 1/2 games out.

As an aggregate we finished 19 games behind Lakewood, who would have won a full-season title by 8 1/2 games over West Virginia, bridesmaid in both halves. But the BlueClaws get to square off against Lexington instead for the North title. The South Division playoff features the Rome Braves against the Augusta Greenjackets. The Greenjackets were runner-up to Rome in the first half but blew away the South in the second half. Despite the fact that the playoffs are set so the first-half winners have home field advantage, the pitching of both Lakewood and Augusta should carry them through to a pretty good matchup for the SAL title. If Augusta plays like they did when I saw them here, though, the Greenjackets should master the BlueClaws and take that colorful matchup.

If you look at the numbers, what most likely killed the Shorebirds this season was ineptitude at the plate. They had an aggregate batting average of .237 which was dead last in the league, and a full 40 points behind West Virginia, the squad with the best average. Some of Delmarva’s other team offensive rankings:

Runs scored: 582 (4.25 per game), 12th
Doubles: 231, 8th
Triples: 27, 11th
Home Runs: 79, tied for 12th
Walks: 534, 2nd (Columbus led with 569)
Strikeouts: 1,068 (3rd)
Stolen Bases: 101 (12th)
On-base percentage: .325 (10th)
Slugging percentage (total bases/at-bats) .355 (14th)
OPS (total of on-base and slugging percentages) .680 (13th)

All in all, they had an anemic and punchless offense this season, which did them in on a number of occasions.

On the other hand, the pitching was great for the first half of the season but faded toward the end. The Shorebirds finished 8th in the league in total ERA with a 3.76 mark. Lakewood paced the circuit with a solid 3.10 ERA, which is the reason they’re in the playoffs. Other pitching rankings among the SAL teams:

With just 4 shutouts, Delmarva outpaced only Hickory (who had 2) in the category.
Saves: 36, 6th
Runs allowed: 623 (4.56 per game), 10th
Home Runs allowed: 76, tied for 3rd
Walks allowed: 471, 9th
Strikeouts: 1015, 10th
WHIP (walks+hits/innings pitched) 1.37, tied for 9th

Aside from the stinginess of our pitchers in giving up the longball (which may be a factor of Perdue Stadium), our pitching faded at the end into mediocrity. Both categories quickly explain why Delmarva wasn’t much of a factor in the SAL this season.

Looking ahead to 2007, we may get some help. While Bluefield (the Orioles Appalachian League rookie team) only finished 31-38 (8th in the 10 team league), Aberdeen (Baltimore’s Class A Short Season club) finished 41-34 and tonight’s loss (along with a comeback win by Brooklyn) cost them the wild-card berth in the NY-Penn League.

During the season, each Thursday I selected a Shorebird of the Week, in total 22 players were honored. Here’s a rundown of how they fared on the season.

April 6: Josh Potter

Potter spent the full season in a Shorebirds uniform as he did in 2005. For the year, the Pennsylvania native made 42 appearances with one start, posting a 4-8 overall record with a solid 3.04 ERA and 2 saves. Most importantly, he walked only 34 in 91 2/3 innings while striking out 70. Potter will turn 24 just before next season, hopefully 2 good Delmarva seasons will get him up the ladder for 2007.

April 13: Arturo Rivas

A fan favorite, Rivas batted .257 in 93 games with Delmarva before being called up to Frederick. In 35 games with the Keys he actually hit better, a .275 mark. Arturo ended up among the Delmarva team leaders in RBI despite only being here about 2/3 of the season, collecting 42 RBI’s and 5 home runs. The Venezuela native turns 23 during the off season, so starting 2007 in Frederick would probably be right in line with his development.

April 20: Lorenzo Scott

Scott’s 29 stolen bases paced the team, but one thing he’ll have to work on for a chance in 2007 is making better contact – 140 strikeouts is far too many for a leadoff hitter (although he also walked 60 times, which was second on the team.) Toward the end of the season Scott usually batted in the 9th spot.

Lorenzo finished with a .258 average in 113 games, with 4 home runs and 32 RBI. The onetime Ball State Cardinal will turn 25 about the start of spring training, which means he may or may not get that chance at another Delmarva season. It may come down to one final shot for him to maintain his career come March.

April 27: David Hernandez

One of a crop of young Delmarva starters with good stuff, David was among those pitchers who seemed to tire in the second half of the season as the innings mounted. Hernandez ended up leading the team with 145 1/3 innings pitched in 28 starts. He also was responsible for the most “K”‘s being plastered on the board with 154 (4th in the SAL.) David’s record on the season was a somewhat deceptive 7-8 and he finished with a 4.15 ERA. The only concerns for the Orioles brass would be walks and longballs – David had the second-most on the team in each category, walking 71 and giving up 13 home runs. But he won’t turn 22 until May of next year, so another half-season in Delmarva wouldn’t hurt in getting him valuable experience.

May 4: Chorye Spoone

The second of three young Shorebird starters I selected as SotW, this 20 year old (turns 21 a week from Saturday) also had a team high 7 wins but 9 losses. Similarly to Hernandez, the Maryland native tired after the All-Star break, going from a excellent 2.33 ERA before to a 4.56 ERA afterward (overall his ERA was a respectable 3.56.) Spoone was the pitcher who allowed the most walks on the team (80 in 129 innings) so he needs to work on control for next year. I’m guessing he’ll be a mainstay of Delmarva’s 2007 pitching staff.

May 11: Kyle Dahlberg

The stocky backstop just did hit his weight this season (he’s listed at 6′-3″ and 211) as he managed a .218 average in 71 games. Kyle split catching duties with a number of players this season, mainly Brandon Snyder in the first half of the year and Zach Dillon toward the end. But he ended up leading that group in games and at-bats. While the average may not seem like too much, bear in mind that Dahlberg hit just .174 for Aberdeen in 2005 so maybe another season in Delmarva for the 23 year old (24 just after Opening Day) could start him hitting enough to move up the chain.

May 18: Mark Fleisher

If nothing else, Mark has the most vocal fans (or at least fan) of any player. Even on the radio broadcasts from Hagerstown, I’d hear the yell, “Come on Mark!” But Fleisher put together a pretty good 2006, he was right up among team leaders in most of the offensive categories. For the season he batted .261 with 16 homers and 67 RBI, and showed a good eye at the plate, striking out just 84 times in 421 at-bats. Mark was especially good after the All-Star break with a .275 average, 9 homers and 38 RBI. Since he’ll just turn 23 in a few days, I think he’ll have a pretty good chance of seeing Frederick sometime in 2007 – the question is whether we’ll see much of him in Delmarva. Just work a little bit on that fielding.

May 25: Brandon Snyder

Perhaps it may have been a little bit too much to live up to. Brandon started the season here but after the All-Star break the #1 Oriole pick in the 2005 draft found himself sent down to Aberdeen. To make matters worse, he’s spent time on the disabled list at both stops. Thus, 2006 was sort of a lost season for Brandon.

With the Shorebirds he hit just .194 in 38 games, with 3 home runs and 20 RBI while striking out 55 times in 144 at-bats. He fared better in Aberdeen, hitting .234 in 34 games. While it could have been in the Orioles’ plans to send the 19 year old prospect down once Aberdeen got its season going, I’m sure they would’ve liked to see him with about 350 at-bats or so in maybe 110-120 games.

Hopefully 2007 will finally be a full season for Brandon and I think the Shorebird fans will be reacquainted with him come April.

June 1: Brandon Erbe

The youngest of the SotW starters’ trio, Brandon was treated with kid gloves this year. While he made all but one appearance as part of the regular pitching rotation, I don’t recall him going more than 5 innings in a start and by the end of the season he was going just three or four. But I predicted not much more than 100 innings for the 18 year old, and he finished at 114 2/3 for the season. Quite possibly the talent may be worth the special care for the Orioles though, as he struck out 133, walked only 47, gave up just 2 home runs, and allowed only 88 hits. Outstanding numbers that a 5-9 season record fails to show, but a 3.22 ERA does give a clue to. Like the others, Brandon fell off his terrific first half numbers as the season ground on, going from a 2.34 ERA in the first half to a 4.25 mark in the second. Erbe is probably one of (if not the best) pitching prospects the Orioles have so hopefully you saw him this season.

June 8: Juan Gutierrez

In 2005, Juan put together a nice campaign for the Shorebirds and he was expected to mentor the younger catchers when the Orioles placed him back here for another season. Unfortunately, this season was one of regression for Juan and quite possibly may have been his swan song in the pro ranks. While he did shine in a brief callup to Frederick (.387 in 10 games) Gutierrez had a disastrous offensive season with Delmarva, hitting just .162 in 67 ballgames. Even worse, he managed just a .129 mark after the All-Star break. In the world of pro baseball, a 25 year old player who isn’t hitting low-A pitching is likely looking for work. You have to hope that he stays in the game somehow, but I’m afraid his playing days are done.

June 15: Brad Bergesen

When healthy, Bergesen was as solid as any of the other starting pitchers Delmarva sent out; in fact, of the group he likely had the most pinpoint control – allowing just 10 walks in 86 1/3 innings. But Bergesen lost two large chunks of the season to various maladies and that put a damper on what was otherwise a decent season. Bergesen finished 5-4 with a 4.27 ERA and typical of a pitcher who stays around the plate, gave up 97 hits in that 86 1/3 innings. Fortunately, he also has age on his side, as he’ll only turn 21 this month. Brad is another pitcher who I’m thinking the Shorebirds will be counting on in 2007, at least to begin the season.

June 22: C.J. Smith

C.J. was a player who played here in 2005 and went to extended spring training this season, but upon his return to Delmarva couldn’t find either consistent playing time or his hitting groove. After a forgettable 36 games where he batted just .183 with a homer and 12 RBI’s, the Orioles organization let him go. However, the 24 year old native of Florida did latch on with the St. Louis organization, where he toiled for a team called the Swing of the Quad Cities. There he did a little better, batting .237 in 25 games. More importantly, he improved his OPS from an anemic .550 with the ‘Birds to a more respectable .728 mark. (SAL average is about .700 for that stat.) Whether the signing by the Cardinals organization was just to fill a need or if he’s gained back a little bit of prospect status remains to be seen (C.J. was a 5th round pick by the O’s in 2004.) But it’s unlikely we’ll see him playing in Perdue again.

June 29: Quincy Ascencion

“Q” is another fan favorite who was rewarded by being selected to the league’s All-Star team this past June. What surprised me in looking up his numbers was the fact he stole 14 bases, he’s more fleet of foot than I would’ve guessed. But Quincy had a nice season here, hitting .260 in exactly 400 at-bats. While he hit no home runs on the season, he did show enough line-drive power to finish third among the Shorebirds with 27 doubles. And with the exceptions of the bagel in the home run total and two fewer steals, Quincy managed to improve upon his 2005 numbers so it’s possible he’ll get a shot at playing in Frederick next season. Since he’ll be 24 by then, it may be up to the Orioles to test him at a higher level since he’s played two full seasons at Delmarva.

July 6: Ryan Steinbach

Honestly, I was surprised Ryan didn’t do better this season at either stop. In the times I saw him, he looked like a pretty decent player. But the numbers weren’t there – he hit just .217 in 60 at-bats here and only .156 in 19 games at Frederick. Turns out it’s a real possibility I may have seen his one and only pro home run here back in August as he dropped one just over the M & T Bank sign. He ended the season with the Keys going 5 for his last 17 but striking out 8 times in that period as well. The one thing he did well for the Shorebirds – he walked 17 times in his brief stay, which gave him a .397 on-base percentage despite the .217 batting mark.

July 13: Trevor Caughey

Trevor, we hardly knew ya. He literally made his last appearance for the Shorebirds the day before I picked him as SotW. I believe he’s been let go by the Orioles organization but the Minor League Baseball website still shows him as active. Pitching just 5 1/3 innings for Delmarva, he finished with a 6.75 ERA, most of the damage being done in one terrible outing against Lakewood where he gave up 4 runs and walked 3 in 2/3 of an inning. But he wasn’t doing well at Frederick either, showing a 5.50 ERA in 36 innings spread over 25 appearances. He struck out 37 but gave up 8 gopherballs, which likely was his downfall.

July 20: Zack Dillon

One of the few second-half additions that made a positive impact, Zack became a regular at catcher and when he was rested from duties behind the dish, he usually was placed in the DH slot. 2006 marked the pro debut for Zack (who played college ball at Baylor), and he did quite well, hitting .262 with 3 homers and 21 RBI in 54 games here. Especially to his liking was Perdue Stadium, he hit .288 here but .239 elsewhere in the SAL. He can be forgiven for tailing off at the end of the season, as he finished the campaign mired in a 3-for-23 slump that dropped his final average 20 points. I think Zack will begin the 2007 season here sharing time with Brandon Snyder at catcher but getting those extra plate appearances as the DH. It’s sort of unusual for a 20th round pick to start at this level, but Zack did a nice job.

July 27: Blake Davis

Blake is another Shorebird who went from college campus to Perdue Stadium, after finishing at Cal State-Fullerton and getting selected in the 4th round by the O’s he made his pro debut here July 11, a game I attended. I seem to recall he booted his first chance at shortstop (one of 17 errors he committed in 50 games) but at the plate he was among the leaders, hitting .271 with 3 homers and 20 RBI, and swiping 9 bases. With the advanced placement, he may get a shot at jumping to Frederick quickly (if not before) next season based on these numbers and the regard they place him as a 4th round selection.

August 3: Vito Chiaravalotti

Vito was likely the closest thing to an overnight sensation that the Shorebirds had this year. Acquired from the Blue Jays organization in July, Vito wowed the fans with what seemed like nightly moon shots that majestically soared well out of Perdue Stadium. He was here for just 28 games and collected 27 RBI in that span, hitting .262 and 8 longballs during his month or so stay. But the longball magic seems to be limited to Delmarva. When Vito was picked up by the Baltimore organization, he was hitting only .190 in 42 games at AA New Hampshire. Drop him down two levels and he crushes the pitching.

But with Frederick he hit a horrid 3-for-40 (.075) without a home run. For the season as a whole, just a .201 average. While Vito was a great find for the month we had him, it’s not likely that a guy who turns 26 in October will be playing pro ball much longer.

August 10: Jarod Rine

Jarod might be another player on the last stop of his pro career. You know, I always hope that players who are sent down can find that spark that sends them back on their way up the organizational ladder, but even being picked as SotW did nothing to enhance Jarod’s chances. Following up a .213 average in 70 games in Frederick by hitting only .155 here doesn’t do much for career longevity. Compounding that was the .209 mark Jarod posted last season for the Keys. There’s no doubt Jarod is speedy (21 stolen bases each of the last two seasons) but in baseball you rarely can steal first and that’s likely Jarod’s downfall – at 24 (25 in November) it wouldn’t be a surprise to find the Orioles cutting him loose, even though he was a 9th round draftee.

August 17: Jon Tucker

Jon was the batter who had the highest average for Delmarva, hitting .280 in his 261 at-bats with the Shorebirds. He briefly made it up to Frederick and was respectable there, hitting .250 in 60 at-bats. The most important stat to me though was the fact that he struck out and walked an equal 43 times apiece, and that’s why Gary Kendall often placed him in the leadoff spot despite only 9 steals (compared to Lorenzo Scott’s 29.) And you can’t overlook 21 extra base hits among his 73, which is good for a small guy (5′-7″, 170) – heck, several bigger Shorebirds didn’t have that good of a ratio. He turned 23 during the season so I think Jon may be ticketed for Frederick in 2007.

August 24: Stu Musslewhite

I don’t know what it was about Stu, but despite hitting only .237 and just 3 home runs, he found himself third on the team with 53 RBI’s. And he always seemed to find a spot someplace in the lineup, whether playing short, second base, or third base. He even would run out between innings when he wasn’t in the lineup and catch the warmup tosses by the pitcher. Yes, odds are as a 24th round pick, the Orioles chose him simply to fill out the rosters at the low minor league levels, but you gotta root for a guy who may not be the most talented but certainly seems like a gamer who can make a difference. It says something when a guy who doesn’t hit all that well still manages to drive in that many runs, including a walkoff grand slam.

August 31: Ryan Finan

Ryan led the team in the following categories:

131 games played, 427 at-bats, 80 runs scored, 112 hits, 31 doubles, 17 home runs, 78 RBI’s, 198 total bases, and 85 walks. He was the top qualifying batter (370 at-bats to qualify) with a .392 on-base percentage and a .464 slugging percentage.

With that record, two things are certain – number one, if he’s not given a shot in Frederick next year it’s criminal; and number two, I saved the best for last as far as SotW picks go.

This year's Shorebird of the Year sporting the Harley Davidson uniform.

I’m picking Ryan Finan as this season’s Shorebird of the Year. Honorable mention as best prospect belongs to Brandon Erbe.

And I’ll start this all up again April 5, 2007. That will be next season’s lidlifter for the Shorebirds as they begin on the road in Lexington. The first home game will be a Friday the 13th affair against the West Virginia Power, just 218 days from now. Boy does that suck, I hate off-seasons.

Dogging the blogs

Before I begin, as promised on Friday the U.S. Senate and Maryland General Assembly “debates” are posted below in the next two posts.

But I was pretty perturbed after Ron Alessi’s diatribe yesterday morning. In his “view across the river” he savaged the local blogosphere, and unfortunately some members of my own party are joining the amen chorus on Alessi’s side.

Be honest here – if it weren’t for the local blogs would we have anywhere near the news coverage that we do? There’s a lot that the citizens of Salisbury and the Eastern Shore would be unaware of had it not been for the efforts of people who have found an outlet to tell stories that may or may not have been covered in the regular media. Now the regular media gets many of its story tips from those who spend the time writing up news and first-person accounts of their investigations, discoveries, and other information that they feel is worth sharing. In this case, Mr. Alessi and his allies seem to feel they are being piled on for things they may not feel are germaine to his campaign. But Ron spent almost his entire time on the air Tuesday morning answering Bill Reddish’s questions that pertained to topics brought up by the local blogs, then went out of his way to trash them with his closing statement.

I’m going to say right here that I’m not a supporter of Alessi’s bid for County Executive, but my mind was made up long before this WICO incident occurred. Of the three candidates in the race on the GOP side, I think he’s the least desirable but that’s based on factors other than lawsuits or campaign finance. Simply put, I feel both Bob Culver and B.J. Corbin have more to offer the county.

Saying that, I do feel sometimes that we bloggers go out of bounds on occasion. Obviously we all have our points of view, and we’re not unknown to slant the facts to make our arguments. But it’s relatively easy to determine our point of view up front, and we in the blogosphere forgo the pretense of balance for the most part. (Gee, my predecessor blog to monoblogue was called “ttown’s right wing conspiracy” – where do you think I stand?)

In my case, I have a bias but when I put on my reporter hat, most say that I’m very good at recounting the events that took place. When I get reaction to my reporting, it’s more often than not positive because I write down what happened then translate it to my website so others may know what I saw and heard. And if I speculate, I say so. If you want opinion I have plenty of that to go around as well.

And one opinion I have is that, if Ron Alessi wanted to score points with the voters by trashing the local blogs, he’s got another thing coming. What he forgets is, for all the things the blogosphere may not be as it evolves and grows through its infancy, one thing they are is passionate. And it’s the most passionate voters who go out in September to pick their party’s candidates.

Speaking of passion, I came across a post today on Gunpowder Chronicle I thought was worth mentioning and supplementing with my own opinion as it ties to my campaign for Central Committee.

In his post, GC lists the members of Congress who voted for McCain-Feingold. On it were 2 of the 3 who represent the Delmarva Pennisula in the House, Mike Castle of Delaware and our own Wayne Gilchrest. (Virginia’s Thelma Drake was first elected in 2004 so she didn’t vote on it.)

And this brings me to a platform plank I have. In November I’ll have the choice between a Republican who’s no better than a 60 or 65 on the American Conservative Union ratings (most are in the 80’s or 90’s) or a Democrat who’s sure to be well under even that miserable total – only a handful of Democrats are above 50 according to the ACU. My Republican nominee voted for McCain-Feingold, voted against ANWR, and joined a call for debate on Iraq when this was already done twice before. But, of course, I have no choice in the matter because no one wanted to run against Wayne Gilchrest and I’m sure the Maryland GOP would frown on someone who dared to do so. (It’s why Michael Steele is a presumptive nominee despite having primary opposition.)

Because of my experiences in Ohio with the state GOP playing similar games, I am a strong proponent of contested primaries. If someone of a more conservative mindset wants to challenge Gilchrest in 2008, I’d welcome him or her with open arms to the race, Maryland GOP be damned. It should be up to the voters to decide, not a handful of people in Annapolis who think they know who the most “electable” person is. Those types are the people who kept Arlen Specter in the Senate rather than supporting a better candidate in Pat Toomey.

Yeah, there I go, causing trouble again and I haven’t even been elected yet. Have I told you all that I’m a guy seeking some changes in how the Republican Party in Wicomico County and the state of Maryland is run?