Kratovil Raising Majority of Cash from Special Interests

Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) has built a sizable fundraising lead over his most likely opponent, Maryland Sen. Andy Harris.  Over 50% of donations received by Kratovil in the last quarter come from PAC’s.  According to the Baltimore Sun:

More than half of the Democratic incumbent’s donations – $119,600 – came from political action committees linked to some of the most heavily lobbied issues now before Congress. PACs representing health care companies, financial institutions, energy, defense and agriculture interests all contributed.

As a member of the Maryland legislature, Harris is prohibited from raising funds during the legislative session.  This, coupled with Kratovil’s incumbency, explain a portion of the fundraising gap.

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Andy Harris on WICO

Maryland Sen. Andy Harris stopped by to see Bill Reddish this morning on his way to work at PRMC.  As Reddish noted, Harris is in a unique position to comment on ObamaCare.  Andy is a physician; he’s a legislator; and he’s a citizen like the rest of us.

Andy’s take on ObamaCare?

“IT’S A FIASCO!”

“Unlike banks and car companies, a government takeover of our health care system will affect EVERYONE.”

Harris also noted that while proponents of ObamaCare repeatedly point to WHO studies that claim the American health care system IS NOT the best in the world, the rest of the world would seem to disagree.

“As a physician at Johns Hopkins I see patients who travel from all over the world to receive care HERE.”

Harris noted that when Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) was diagnosed with brain cancer, he didn’t travel to Canada or England for care.

When asked about rationing, Harris said it was simple – Everywhere else rations care.  When governments run out of money for health care (and they always do), the first thing they do is restrict hospital admissions.

“Can we improve our current system?  Yes.  That doesn’t mean we should go this route (ObamaCare).”

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O’Malley – “I Never Shook Blago’s Hand”

The Baltimore Sun’s Andy Green writes that our fearless leader thinks that the Federal government should spend $500 Billion for infrastructure aid to the states, it’s the GOP’s fault that taxpayers aren’t bailing out the auto companies AND that O’Malley doesn’t really know disgraced Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich very well.

“I’ve never shaken the governor’s hand,” O’Malley said. “I really don’t know the man very well.”

I shake hands with people I don’t know very well all the time.  It’s a little hard to believe, but of course we all know that Martin O’Malley would never lie.

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The O’Malley Plan – Tax, Spend … and Beg

It’s the NEW MATH.

As Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, newly minted VP of the Democrat Governor’s Association, moves towards another budget expect a great deal of teeth gnashing and shirt tearing.  O’Malley is making another show at fiscal responsibility by announcing a “furlough” of 67,000 state workers.  As usual this is just a show.

While claiming that he will save the state $34.3 million by this “brave” act, at the same time O’Malley is spending $70 million on the purchase of “open space” land.  Keeping the tree huggers happy is the “in thing” among your liberal, Democrat ruling class these days.

Wait!  I thought that the O’Governor was CUTTING state spending?  Sure he is.  In lib-speak this is a cut.

Let’s say that O’Malley really wanted to spend $100 million on buying land.  Let’s say that he really wanted to expand state payrolls by $100 million.  He’s ONLY spending $70 million on land purchases.  That’s a $30 million CUT right there.  Instead of growing the number of government employees, he’ll give some a few days off.  Add the $34 million for the furlough and the $100 million that he wanted to spend, but can’t, and now you’ve cut ANOTHER $134 million!

That’s a SAVINGS of over $164 million!  Wasn’t that easy.

O’Malley has already raised taxes.  Unfortunately, he’s still trying to figure out why tax RECEIPTS didn’t rise with the rate increases.  The O’Governor still thinks that Keynes was correct.

He’s now trying to determine if he can increase your taxes AGAIN and still get re-elected.

No Marty, you don’t have to do that.  Barack Obama is coming to the rescue!  Just put on some knee pads, polish your tin cup and crawl on down to DC.  My children and grandchildren will never be able to pay the crushing debt that is being imposed on them, but hey!

Keynes was right about one thing.  “In the long run we’re all dead”.

For some interesting analysis of the “O’Malley Plan”, check out O’MalleyWatch.com

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Jeb Bush for Senate?

With the announcement that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) will not run again in 2010, the question of who will run has already started.  Will former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush run?  We can only hope so.

Definitely NOT his older brother, Bush has been a man of true conservative principle.  In addition, Bush has polled well with Hispanic voters in Florida – winning a majority of the Hispanic vote in 2002.

Marc Ambinder reports that Bush is pondering a run.  A Bush run will not only help to stop further GOP erosion in the Senate, he would prove to be one more conservative voice in a body that was already lacking conservatives BEFORE the GOP lost control.

h/t – Duck Duck Goose

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John Cannon Dives in Bed With Dems …

… Ego Far More Important Than Principle or Party

It was my understanding that when this new county council came to office in 2006 that the Republican majority had agreed to rotate the presidency and vice presidency of the county council.  This is fairly standard among local governing bodies.

After one year as President of the Wicomico County Council, John Cannon refused to step aside.  Rather than make a big deal, his GOP “colleagues” didn’t make a fuss.  However, this year there was evidently a decision to make a change.

Outgoing council VP Stevie Prettyman (R-2) nominated Councilman Joe Holloway (R-5).  What did John Cannon (? – At Large) do?  He nominated Councilman Bill McCain (D – At Large).  McCain, whose legendary intellectual acumen has led some to believe he is the bastard child of Salisbury Councilwoman Louise Smith, was elected 4 – 3 with Cannon finally showing his true stripes.  This vote is particularly telling given that Holloway is probably the most fiscally conservative member of the council while McCain is the most profligate spender in the crowd.
Read more

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Class Envy? or …

… Franchot for Governor?

An editorial in this morning’s Daily Times read more like your typical Democrat whining, until you get to the end.  To base an op-ed on a report issued by the “Progressive Maryland Education Fund” is suspect at best.  To dance around the edges of “tax the rich” is to be expected from the left.  To call for more state spending while refusing to acknowledge that spending is at the core of the state’s fiscal crisis is to be expected.  To claim that:

Efforts by Comptroller Peter Franchot to more strictly enforce existing tax collections, including an examination of vendors that win state or federal contracts to make sure they do not owe additional taxes to either government, can help bridge the revenue gap and thereby free up funds to help enable more Marylanders to share in the benefits of living in the nation’s wealthiest state.

is ridiculous on its face.

Sure, I would love to see a primary fight between Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and his not so friendly Comptroller.  However, to argue that better tax enforcement is going to “bridge the revenue gap” in Maryland doesn’t even qualify as a pipe dream.

Read more

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Will O’Malley Try to Frag Franchot?

Wally Edge, over at PolitickerMD, raises the question whether Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley will try to kill off fellow Dem and incumbent Comptroller Peter Franchot.  It’s an interesting question.  However, Edge’s caveats raise another question:

While O’Malley may look to frag Franchot IF the slots referendum fails AND O’Malley’s poll numbers are up; what if his numbers are down?  Will Franchot attempt to unseat an incumbent Democrat?

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Vota por Obama! Vota por O’Malley!

My friend and Red Maryland colleague Chet Dembeck provides us with some excellent insight into the “quiet invasion” of illegal immigration. Given all of the problems associated with this topic, we cannot overlook the probability of illegals impacting our state and federal elections.

Don’t be shocked to see signs that say:

VOTA POR EL CHRISTO OBAMA! this year and …

VOTA POR O’MALLEY in 2010

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Will Mike Miller Run?

Just prior to a $1,000 a plate Baltimore fundraiser tonight, Maryland Senate President Mike Miller will announce whether or not he will seek re-election in 2010 (as noted yesterday in Red Maryland). ??????

In 2006 Miller announced that he wouldn’t seek another term in 2010. Of course he’s having a fundraiser. That should be a clue. And this is Maryland, and Miller is a Democrat.

Why would we expect Miller to keep his word?

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