Will Pipkin Run?

Some First District Republicans are wondering (and many First District liberals are hoping) that Maryland Sen. E. J. Pipkin (R-36) will enter the race to challenge Maryland Sen. Andy Harris (R-7) for the GOP nomination to oust wounded Democrat incumbent Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD).  Fueling the fires of speculation is the Baltimore Sun’s Maryland Politics blog.

Personally, I think Pipkin is too smart to get into this fray.  Pipkin is a good guy.  He’s built a moderately conservative voting record.  He’s shown himself to be a proven vote getter in a moderate – moderate / conservative legislative district.  However, short of running the table, there is only a downside of entering this race.

• Pipkin must give up his Senate seat to run.  Two years ago, Pipkin was able to run and not have to give up his seat in the legislature.  That’s not the case now.
• Pipkin’s a pretty smart politician.  Nomination politics are a world apart from general election politics.  Given Harris’s conservative base, Pipkin knows that driving turnout in a primary is going to be tough.
• If Pipkin enters the primary, loses AND Harris loses the general, Pipkin has to bear some (or even a lion’s share) of the blame.  I’m not arguing that this would be warranted OR fair.  I’m simply stating what would happen.  Pipkin has shown that he’s ambitious.  IF he jumps in, there are many conservative activists (the people who knock doors and make phone calls in the GOP) that would never support him in a future run.

EJ Pipkin has a unique opportunity before him this year.  By staying out of the First District house race, and campaigning for Andy Harris, Pipkin can win the gratitude and support of conservatives throughout the district for a future run.  Jumping in is “make or break”.  Pipkin has proven himself to be relatively prudent as a legislator (although I don’t always agree with him).  I expect that he will be prudent in making his plans for 2010.  Making those plans public sooner, rather than later, will be best for Pipkin, and the GOP.

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Media Monday – 20100104

While Maryland Sen. Andy Harris prepares to formally announce his candidacy to unseat freshman Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD), the Daily Times has decided to get an early start in promoting Kratovil’s re-election.

Starting off with a front page puff piece by Greg Latshaw in Sunday’s edition, the Daily Times makes their strategy for 2010 clear.  Kratovil and his Gannett allies are having a tough time defending his voting record, so the decision has been made to promote Kratovil as “independent” and lowering expectations for Kratovil.  This was a dominant theme of his 2008 campaign and Kratovil and the media are hoping that it might work again.

At least Latshaw’s piece was factual, if a tad fawning.  Sunday’s inside piece by Nicole Guadiano simply re-wrote Kratovil’s voting record.  The three biggest votes that Kratovil has cast to date are on the Obama PORKULUS bill, Cap & Tax, and ObamaCare.  Guadiano claims that Kratovil voted against PORUKLUS.  This simply isn’t true.  Kratovil did vote against the original House version but VOTED FOR the bill that was actually adopted.  (I wonder if DT Managing Editor Erick Sahler will print a correction on that one?)  Kratovil’s vote on Cap & Tax was neatly buried in the middle of the article.  As for voting against ObamaCare, we’ll give Kratovil SOME credit for that vote.  However, voters know that it was their dedication (exhibited by attending town hall meetings and calling Kratovil’s office) which yielded that vote.  Besides, Kratovil still has an opportunity to redeem himself in the eyes of Nancy Pelosi and Barack Obama when the reconciliation bill is voted on.

Read more

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Andy Harris to Announce TOMORROW!

2009 has shown a lot to the voters of Maryland’s First District.  After narrowly electing Frank Kratovil to the US House, we have seen the man who CLAIMS to represent Eastern Shore values vote for the Obama PORKULUS bill, support the Barack Obama / Nancy Pelosi / Harry Reid appropriation bills, vote FOR ACORN before he voted AGAINST them, waiver on ObamaCare despite thousands of citizens turning out at town hall meetings and telling Kratovil NO, and kow-tow to radical environmental groups who have vowed destroy the poultry industry (collectively, Delmarva’s largest private employer).

Tomorrow, we have a chance to begin rectifying the mistake of sending Frank Kratovil to Congress.  Maryland Sen. Andy Harris (R-7) will announce his candidacy to replace Kratovil and give Maryland’s First District a Congressman that actually reflects our values.

On Tuesday, Harris will be travelling throughout the district.  You can meet him at:

10:00 AM
Silver Spring Mining Company
705 Bel Air Road
Bel Air, MD  21014

1:00 PM
Maryland Republican Party HQ
15 West Street
Annapolis, MD  21401

3:00 PM
Holiday Inn Express
8561 Ocean Gateway (US 50)
Easton, MD  21601

5:00 PM
East Coast Iron, Inc.
300 Moss Hill Lane
Salisbury, MD  21804

Come out.  Say hello, Show your support!  This is just the first step, but unless we want to continue to be represented by someone who listens to Nancy Pelosi and Martin O’Malley more than he does the voters of the First District we need to rally around Andy and work to get him elected.

The 2008 elections showed what happens when good men and women fail to act!  Our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be PAYING THE COST!

[photo courtesy of SbyNEWS]

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Harris to Announce Candidacy on Tuesday

Maryland Senator Andy Harris (R-7) will travel throughout Maryland’s First Congressional District to formally announce his candidacy for the US House on Tuesday, January 5,2010.  Harris will be meeting with fellow citizens at:

 

 

 

 

10:00 AM
Silver Spring Mining Company
705 Bel Air Road
Bel Air, MD  21014

1:00 PM
Maryland Republican Party HQ
15 West Street
Annapolis, MD  21401

3:00 PM
Holiday Inn Express
8561 Ocean Gateway (US 50)
Easton, MD  21601

5:00 PM
East Coast Iron, Inc.
300 Moss Hill Lane
Salisbury, MD  21804

After defeating incumbent Wayne Gilchrest in the GOP primary, Harris narrowly lost to Frank Kratovil in 2008.  In a poll taken before Thanksgiving, Harris led the incumbent, Rep. Frank Kratovil by a margin of 52% – 39%.

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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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Wrecking the Economy, Down … Socialized Medicine to Go

For those of us who live in Maryland’s First Congressional District, we should give a big thanks to “Blue Dog Frank” Kratovil for voting to grind our economy to a halt.  What’s next on the Obama – Pelosi – Kratovil agenda?  Socialized medicine.

Think about it; it’s a great combo.  Rather than sitting at home freezing because you can’t afford to pay for your heating bill, you can get in line at the doctor’s office to wait six months for anything but the most mundane care.

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Support Real Fairness, Oppose the Fairness Doctrine

Maryland Senators Andy Harris (R-7) and Alex Mooney (R-3) have introduced SJ11 – a resolution in opposition to any reintroduction of the “Fairness Doctrine”. For those of you too young to remember this oxymoron, the “Fairness Doctrine” required all broadcasters to provide equal time to opposing points of view. Of course, this led to the liberal domination of ALL media.  Conservatives somehow weren’t worthy of equal time.

Since the abolition of this ridiculous rule, Americans have been afforded access to more points of view than ever before. Unfortunately for the left, liberal media like Air America and MSNBC have struggled because they can’t grab an audience in the free marketplace of ideas. This is why the left wants to re-introduce the rule in some form.  For liberal media to survive, they need government subsidy.

Why?  Too many of us support outmoded and simplistic ideas such as limited government and fiscal responsibility.  We can’t have any of that.  Can we?

To show your support for the free market of ideas, show your support for SJ11 at:

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Congratulations Congressman-Elect Kratovil

Congratulations Frank Kratovil.  At noon today, Maryland Sen. Andy Harris stood before the Wicomico County Courthouse and announced that he had spoken with Frank Kratovil earlier today and congratulated him on his election to the US House.

Beginning his remarks with words of thanks to our veterans, past and present, Harris wished Kratovil and his family well as he began the task of representing Maryland’s First District in Congress.  Harris stated that this campaign was a (sometimes heated) debate over the issues facing America, Maryland and the District.  While the election was close, the voters had spoken.

Harris reminded us of his parents’ flight from communism in search of liberty.  Where else but America could a child of immigrants grow up to become a physician, serve in the state legislature and seek election to Congress?

As a fierce Harris partisan, I too wish Mr. Kratovil and his family well on their new journey.  While I expect that there will be severe, and even heated, disagreement over issues during the next two years I am obligated to acknowledge that Frank Kratovil fought a hard race.  He waged a good campaign.

I want to also thank Andy Harris for waging a campaign based on conservative principles.  While Frank Kratovil and his family will be in the prayers of Andy Harris and his family, both the Harris and Kratovil families will be in the prayers of both myself and my family.

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Congratulations President-Elect Obama

I had hoped to put this up first thing in the morning, but I had to go to Crisfield.

Last night was an historic event.  America elected an African-American as our next President.  While I have long predicted that the first woman, and the first African-American Presidents would be Republicans I am obviously wrong on at least one count.  There were no riots in the streets.  The sun rose this morning.  Our flag still has 13 stripes and 50 stars.

On January 20, 2009 Barack Obama will be MY President.  He is to be congratulated for this great accomplishment.  He and his people ran a nearly flawless campaign.  Whether we agree with his policies or not, he will be OUR President – worthy of our support and respect.

Does this mean that I won’t be criticizing a President Obama?  Of course not.  Whether we have a President Obama for four or eight years, I will be an outspoken member of the loyal opposition.  As President-Elect Obama floats trial balloons and President Obama attempts to formulate and implement policy these proposals will have to be analyzed and either supported or opposed.

In all honesty, I am more worried about the Republican party right now than I am a future under President Barack Obama.  Here in my own little corner of the world, I can joke with my friend Ernie Leatherbury (Chairman of the Wicomico Democrat Central Committee) and congratulate him on a job well done.  I can call up my friend Jim Ireton (another Democrat Central Committee member) and congratulate him.  Yet, the First District election is not even decided yet and I am seeing mean spirited attacks on fine people from within my own party (in print and in person).

There are people in the Republican party who I disagree with on certain things.  That’s fine.  I disagree with my Democrat friends on almost everything EXCEPT – we all care about the future of our country.  We just disagree on the best way of going about it.

On November 14th we should know who won the Congressional race.  If Frank Kratovil wins, I will congratulate him.  If, as I hope, Andy Harris wins I will congratulate him.  In either case, I will respect both men (and their staffs and volunteers) for waging a hard fought campaign.

In the meantime, we need to accept the fact that those who supported a winning candidate will want to crow about it.  We shouldn’t take it personally – unless the attack is personal.  Even then, we should be a little more forgiving.

Campaigns are (relatively) easy.  Governing is hard.  The real battles begin in January.

Starting tomorrow, I will begin boring you with a series of thank you’s, along with the normal banter.

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