Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) promises that a GOP Congress will repeal ObamaCare:

"we will do everything we can" to delay, defund and repeal Obamacare.

Let’s hold Eric to his promise.  Elect a GOP House and Senate – then put their feet to the fire!

H/T – Lynn Mitchell @ SWACgirl and RealClearPolitics

It’s 63 Days to Election Day.  WHERE’S FRANK?

Don’t his constituents have a right to know?

First District Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) really holds his constituents in high regard.  He has refused to hold a public town hall meeting with voters for the last year.  His so called meetings with constituents are tightly controlled affairs more akin to campaign events than actually working with constituents.

Now he has gone so far as to REFUSE to talk to a constituent!  Evidently, Frank’s handlers have convinced him that if it isn’t a photo op or it’s not someone handing him a check, then they just aren’t worth Kratovil’s time!

It’s 67 days until the election Frank.  You’re going to have to come out sometime.  The Obama machine won’t be able to put you over the top this year.  You’ll actually have to talk to people.

In the meantime, all we can do is ask:

WHERE’s FRANK?

It’s not a secret, I’m supporting Bob Ehrlich for Governor.  However, it should not be debatable that Bob’s not the most conservative candidate running.  That honor falls to Brian Murphy.

Brian is a bright young man who has a great future ahead of him.  He has also been blessed with a lovely wife and a family he can be proud of.  He’s full of great ideas and stands on principle.  Regardless of how this year’s GOP primary turns out, I hope that Marylanders will take advantage of Brian’s talents in the future.

Here’s just a few of Brian’s ideas on how we can get Maryland’s economy moving again:

H/T:  RightCoast Conservative

Former Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich takes a few minutes out of his schedule to discuss the business climate in Maryland:

As we’ve noted in previous posts, Maryland is becoming far too dependent on public sector jobs.  Why?  The states tax and regulatory burden is opening hostile to the private sector.

What’s the number one issues in this year’s race?  JOBS!  Unfortunately, without a tax rate of about 200% (which obviously isn’t possible) we can’t all work for the government, despite the wishes of some liberal politicians.  We need existing businesses that want to move into Maryland.  We need small business start-ups.  Ehrlich understands that.  Martin O’Malley doesn’t.

Local lefty stalwart Mike Pretl doesn’t seem to like the fact that Mike Brewington is running for Wicomico County Council as a Democrat.  I really don’t care that much given that I have no intention of voting for Brewington if he makes it through the primary.  As a registered Republican I couldn’t vote for him on September 14th even if I wanted to.

However, I do take issue with a few statements made by Pretl in his Daily Times letter:

Michael Brewington is a nice young man who had an awakening last year and decided to get involved as a tea party activist, since he believes taxes are out of control. He and his compatriots are unaware the overall tax burden on Americans as a percentage of personal income (according to the Tax Policy Institute) is the lowest since 1950.

Brewington filed to run for Wicomico County Council as a "tax cutter." Asked recently what expenses he would cut, he replied that the county shouldn’t cut vital public safety, education or road construction funds; those constitute the largest part of the county budget. He said "we need to review" other spending.

This spending has been scrutinized each year by budget maven Pat Peterson, reviewed line-by-line by the county executive and council, and subjected to careful audit by John Stern.

This diligent process yielded the bare-bones budget Wicomico County is struggling with in this tighten-the-belt year.

Brewington never told his friendly interviewer what "fat" he believes remains to be cut. He said his two major issues are night council meetings — tried many times, including currently — and the Civic Center parking lot, which he opposes. He plans to buy his gasoline out of state, since he dislikes the current use of gas tax revenues by the county (actually by the state).

After failing to register for several years, Brewington is running as a Democrat, since his Grandpop told him Democrats are "for the people."

There are two serious, knowledgeable Democratic candidates for County Council at-large — Dave Cowall and Ed Taylor. They deserve the votes of all serious Democrats.

Mike Pretl

Riverton

The lowest tax burden since the 1950’s?  I don’t know what the basis of that statement is, but I seriously hope that Pretl’s pals – Dave Cowall and Ed Taylor – both campaign on the platform that Wicomico citizens are UNDER TAXED!  Assuming that Pretl gets his wish and both make through the primary, I hope they double down.

Pretl is absolutely correct that Brewington offered no viable specifics as to how Wicomico government can continue to keep providing basic services such as education, public safety, and roads while keeping the revenue cap in place.  While Ed Taylor went on record that he wanted to repeal the revenue cap, he has since altered his position a bit.  Dave Cowall hasn’t demanded a repeal.  Where are the specifics from your crew Mr. Pretl?

I’ve never heard Brewington argue that the county government should cut taxes.  I don’t doubt that he would like too.  However, where is Pretl’s evidence?

As for Pretl’s claim that the current Wicomico budget is “bare bones”, that’s a lefty’s opinion.  There are still areas to cut.  Mr. Pretl may disagree with those cuts but he would have a hard time arguing that they are essential services either.

Pretl has a right to his opinion, along with the rest of us.  However, I don’t want to hear any nonsense about “civil debate” coming from a guy who takes the time pen a letter to the editor that attacks a candidates stance on issues with scant evidence or outright fabrication.

To see the interview where Pretl seems to be getting HIS understanding of Brewington’s stances on various issues, watch this video:

Virginia Senator Robert Hurt and House Majority Leader Morgan Griffith have begun airing ads in their quests to out freshman lefty Rep. Tom Perriello (D-VA) and Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), respectively.  They are basically just name ID pieces, but well done.

See the ads below:

H/T – Jason @ BearingDrift

After nearly losing his seat in 2006, is Del. Norm Conway (D-38B) so afraid of facing two strong GOP opponents in November that he and his allies will stoop to circa 1972 Nixonian dirty tricks to win an election?  I don’t know, but connect the dots and see where it leads you….

Tomorrow morning the Daily Times will run a piece (probably front page) by Worcester reporter Jenny Hopkinson that discusses the “emergency” suspension of Worcester County Sheriff’s Deputy Lt. Mike McDermott.  COINCIDENTLY, McDermott has been the strongest GOP candidate running in District 38-B, which covers all of Worcester County and about 1/3 of Wicomico County.  Here is the expected lead for tomorrow’s story:

Worcester County Sheriff’s Lt. Michael McDermott was temporarily stripped of his police powers while the department investigates a Sept. 2009 incident involving a service weapon, according to his lawyer. McDermott is the mayor of Pocomoke City and a Republican candidate for the Maryland House of Delegates in District 38B.

Worcester County Sheriff Charles T. Martin confirmed that McDermott’s power to arrest was taken away on July 22, and said McDermott is now on administrative office duties. An incident involving McDermott is being investigated, Martin said, but he declined to comment on the specifics of the case because it is a personnel matter.

“Those powers remain suspended until they are reinstated by me or the case is adjudicated,” Martin said. “It’s something that is going to be adjudicated within the system, and he knows the system as well as I do."

Sounds terrible on the surface.  Let’s start at the beginning and see where the story leads.

How Do You Lose A Weapon When Your Boss Has It In His Possession?

According to sources in the Worcester County Sheriff’s office, Lt. Mike McDermott was called into the office of Sheriff Chuck Martin on July 22 and asked the whereabouts of second handgun which had been issued to McDermott.  McDermott claimed that the piece was packed away and locked in his pick-up truck as he had recently been moved out of his office.  Sheriff Martin is reported to have asked him to produce the weapon.  When McDermott could not, the Sheriff stated that he had the weapon.  He reportedly admitted to accessing McDermott’s locked office last fall and took the weapon (which had been packed away in a box) into his possession.

Sheriff Martin then stated that he was placing McDermott on “emergency suspension”.  Martin was reminded that he could not do so without doing it in writing.  At that point he dismissed McDermott.

On Saturday, July 24, McDermott was formally served written notice of an “emergency suspension”.  It is our understanding that this type of action is reserved for the most severe type of complaint.  However, it is our understanding that as of 5PM today, no “Notification of Complaint” has been served on McDermott.  Such notification is supposed to be the first step in any formal disciplinary procedure.

The Shoe Is Gonna Drop!

For some months, non-specific rumors have been spreading around political circles in both Worcester and Wicomico counties that something was going to happen to discredit McDermott.  One Wicomico source has been dropping hints for the last three months that “the shoe is gonna drop” on McDermott.  Two Democrat sources separately intimated that McDermott would be “run out of town on a rail” by the September 14th primary.

While attending an event for 38-A candidate John Phoebus July 23rd, I was told by two credible sources that “McDermott had been placed on ‘administrative leave’”.  Oddly, our sources in the Sheriff’s office state that McDermott was not served with his official suspension until the next day.

The Suspension Is Reversed, Sort Of …

As would be expected, McDermott appealed his suspension.  On Tuesday, July 27, a review board consisting of three senior deputies in the Worcester County Sheriff’s office met to hear McDermott’s appeal.  The board found that the suspension of McDermott was unwarranted and that he should be returned to active duty.  Unfortunately, such a finding must be upheld by Sheriff Martin.  The finding continues to gather dust on his desk while no notification of complaint has been filed and no investigation has begun.

It’s A Personnel Matter

When reached for comment, McDermott would only state that I should speak to his counsel.  However, as the Daily Times has already reported, Sheriff Martin doesn’t seem to have any problem discussing the matter EXCEPT when it comes to the parts that could exonerate McDermott:

Worcester County Sheriff Charles T. Martin confirmed that McDermott’s power to arrest was taken away on July 22, and said McDermott is now on administrative office duties. An incident involving McDermott is being investigated, Martin said, but he declined to comment on the specifics of the case because it is a personnel matter.

“Those powers remain suspended until they are reinstated by me or the case is adjudicated,” Martin said. “It’s something that is going to be adjudicated within the system, and he knows the system as well as I do."

The problem is that our sources state that the problem ISN’T being investigated.  No formal complaint has been filed TO BE INVESTIGATED.  YET, Martin is discussing a personnel matter – which violates the policy of his own department.

WHY?

Start by looking at this video:

Our sources in the Worcester County Sheriff’s office inform us that it is a violation of department policy to appear in uniform supporting a political candidate.  Yet, who do we see going the extra yard for Norm Conway?  Sheriff Martin and several uniformed deputies performing in a campaign video.

Given that McDermott poses the greatest threat to Conway keeping his seat, is it mere coincidence that a man willing to use his own department to promote Conway wouldn’t take the extra step and attempt to destroy McDermott’s candidacy?  I honestly don’t know.

My family and I have always had the greatest respect for Sheriff Martin.  I hope that this whole affair turns out to be a gross overreaction to a minor problem rather than a political hatchet job.  That said, only time will tell.

If McDermott is returned to duty (per the review board), the matter dropped or a formal complaint filed, and promptly investigated (if a formal complaint is filed), then the entire affair could simply be chocked up to a misunderstanding.  Each day that this affair continues without an objective conclusion in sight makes the matter appear more and more sordid.  This does not bode well for either Conway’s candidacy or the last few months of Sheriff Martin’s distinguished career.

Remember when the messiah told Americans that no one earning less than $250,000 would receive a tax increase?  Remember when we were told that the ObamaCare “individual mandate” “WAS NOT a tax”?

Well … when the Obama administration is trying to defend the constitutionality of the mandate, they are telling the courts that it is a TAX.

No federal funds for abortion.  Not a tax.  Is there anything about ObamaCare that ISN’T a lie?

Outgoing Wicomico County councilman John Cannon (R-AL) is seeking the Republican nomination for the District 38-A Maryland House seat.  Cannon is a pretty sharp guy, as the video above will show.  Regardless, Cannon won’t get my vote in the primary; and probably not the votes of my fellow conservatives.

Life, Liberty, and Property

We all grew up hearing those famous words from the Declaration of Independence – “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness”.  How many know that the original draft of the Declaration read, “Life, Liberty, and Property”?  (The term was changed to appease northern delegates who were afraid that such a term might imply their endorsement of slavery.)

Regardless, property rights are at the core of conservative values.  While some of us may be willing to overlook Cannon’s lack of conservatism, it is in this area that he abjectly failed as a member of the Wicomico County Council.  Cannon’s support of a “compromise” to steal the property rights of Wicomico County farmers was (at least) one step too far.

Flip-Flop to the Max

Cannon’s support of the great (and fortunately unsuccessful) land grab would be bad enough.  What saddens me the most is his hedging (some would say fibbing) when asked about this issue by Joe Albero.  Starting at around 4:50 in the video, Cannon ducks and dodges.  He claims that landowners need to be compensated.  Why, then, did Cannon support down zoning of county ag lands without ANY (forget about FAIR) compensation to the property owners?

The bottom line is that John Cannon is a great guy.  He’d fit right in with the Annapolis crowd.  That’s the problem.

H/T – Joe Albero @ SbyNEWS