More Goldwatergate from the Potomac Almanac, and new developments in the ongoing scandal:

"Bill Frick, I’d never heard of him before he applied." - Milt Minneman, spokesman for the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee

“We all have the same amount of experience as a Maryland State legislator, which is zero,” said Frick.

Now here's where it gets interesting, as the Faustian bargain between the Democratic Party and the gambling industry has been detected in this selection of Bill Frick, as the Almanac states:

"Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer, & Feld, LLP, Frick’s law firm, has lobbied strongly on Capitol Hill on behalf of Indian tribes and the gaming industry in recent years, according to the Web site for the Center for Responsive Politics."

Wow. That pretty much answers the question that most Democrats have been asking, "Why Bill Frick?" As opposed to Don Mooers or Reggie Oldak. Hmm. Interesting. Mike Miller and Ike Leggett, who both back a slots package in a special session, endorsed pro-slots candidates in District 39, and a Leggett associate on the Democratic Central Committee was reportedly an influential voice in Frick's selection. Hmm.

Goldwatergate - The Scandal continues... Today's Montgomery section has a puff piece on Marilyn Goldwater's "unexpected" retirement.

Still shamelessly unable to admit that they lied to the public in their endorsement of Goldwater, the Post bizarrely did not have one of their regular political reporters write the story. Why? Because they've heard quite a bit from me about their failure to cover the Goldwater scandal, and this was done to have yet another excuse why the tough questions wouldn't be asked.

But the Post cannot contain this scandal, which is entering yet another chapter now, with the undemocratic appointment of Bill Frick to serve essentially a full term without popular election. This chapter will be followed by the sure-to-be-entertaining attempts of the Post and Gazette to create your new delegate, through puff pieces, liberal use of his State House file photo, and much magic sprinkling of the "Frick (D - Montgomery)" macro on reporters' keyboards. What will be the final chapter of Goldwatergate? When the people who misled the voters in 2006 are finally held accountable, either by the media or by those same voters in 2010.

For now, enjoy these quotes as the Goldwater scandal continues to reverberate around District 16:

"I think, at 80 years old, it was just time to retire," Goldwater said, comfortable on a tan leather sofa. "It was time to move on and let someone else get a shot at it."

"Critics say Goldwater should have moved on before her last election, in 2006. Now, instead of voters picking her replacement, the county's Democratic Central Committee made the choice."

Before the 2006 election, she said, "I didn't see any reason not to run. I felt well enough. I was making a contribution." - Marilyn Goldwater

Saving the best for last, here is an excerpt from a Post online discussion with Mark Plotkin when an anonymous Reggie Oldak supporter submitted a query:

"Bethesda, Md.: After her showing in last [September]'s election, I would have thought that Reggie Oldak would have been a strong candidate to replace Marilyn Goldwater. Who is Frick, and what swayed the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee (which sounds like how the old Soviet Union chose its leaders) in his direction?

Mark Plotkin: Thanks for pointing this out to me -- I need to get into this selection. When a county committee makes a vacancy appointment, you are sure talking about inside politics. Your comparison to the old Soviet Union is absolutely perfect."

Would Tom Brady have so many Super Bowl rings and so many celebrity girlfriends if it wasn't for... cheating? Likewise, would all 3 of District 16's seats in the House of Delegates be held by Democrats if it wasn't for... well, cheating? Is it cheating when a candidate's Democratic colleagues and the media know she will not serve if reelected - and won't be be reelected if the voters know that - and choose to deliberately cover that up until after Election Day? You decide.

"Bill Frick" is your new delegate. You didn't elect him, he was chosen for you by the Democratic Central Committee. And you, the voter, had... no role in the decision.

Consider this: As a representative of District 16 on the Republican Central Committee, I am a legitimate elected official. Bill Frick is not. I was elected, on a Constitutionally-mandated primary election day, September 12, 2006, on an official ballot in a contest decided by every voter qualified to vote in that election. Bill Frick was not. Frick was elected in a back room by the Democratic Central Committee. In reality, Frick was not approved by anyone in our District. Furthermore, the committee members were elected only by Democrats, which excludes over 50% of District 16's voters - Republicans, Independents, etc. - from having even the slightest indirect role in Frick's selection. So much for democracy.

In 2010, District 16 will finally have a chance to elect Delegates of its own choosing. The voters will remember how they were fooled by Bronrott, Lee, and Frosh, and, quite frankly, will still be trying to figure out who Mr. Frick is, as we've never even heard of him before. Where was Mr. Frick last year while I was meeting voters and doing battle in the arena of ideas? Rest assured, the Post and Gazette - who have boldly still refused to criticize Bronrott, Lee, Frosh, and themselves for their role in deceiving the voters in 2006 -will do their best to get Frick's name out there. That is the job of those two party house organs, after all.

But the voters are tired of these partisan games, bickering, and theatrics. They want new leadership that will allow bipartisan solutions to the real problems Rockville and Annapolis have ignored, and continue to ignore. And now, the poor and working families - and the middle class in general - are going to strike back at the outrageous O'Malley - Bronrott - Lee - Frosh Budget, which they are going to balance on the backs of those very citizens. Those who are least able to afford such a devastating financial hit. It is shameful, shameful. I urge you, register to vote now if you haven't already, speak out for what's right, and get ready to vote in 2010.

One Democratic delegate, Luiz Simmons, has come forward to strongly denounce the Montgomery County delegation's new favorable position on slots. Here are some of his comments as reported in the Gazette:

‘‘For Perez and Leggett to allow themselves to be used is a spectacular capitulation,” Del. Luiz R.S. Simmons said. ‘‘The cachet of a Latino and African-American politician to give a blanket of respectability is another attempt to defuse liberal conviction about the issue.”

"Simmons (D-Dist. 17) of Rockville said gambling will fall hardest on the Latino and African-American communities."

"On Simmons’ mind, however, is a 1999 study from the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago that found the number of pathological and problem gamblers doubling within 50 miles of a casino. All of Montgomery County would be within 50 miles of a slot machine emporium at Laurel Park, a potential site."

‘‘The people peddling the snake oil that Montgomery County won’t be affected just don’t know the facts or just don’t want to discover the facts,” Simmons said.

You have to commend Delegate Simmons for making a courageous stand on the issue under such political pressure from Martin O'Malley, Mike Miller, and Ike Leggett. Roger Manno, Charles Barkley, Richard Madaleno, Kumar Barve, and Sheila Ellis Hixson all refused to state a position opposed to slots, a staggering flip-flop from their supposed positions during Governor Bob Ehrich's campaign for slots. How convenient.

And where is the District 16 delegation? Why haven't we heard from Bronrott, Lee, and Frosh? They're still in hiding as the fallout from the Marilyn Goldwater scandal continues.