Yesterday morning, I attended a continental breakfast hosted by the Greater Silver Spring Chamber of Commerce.

It was an easier than usual trip on East West Highway. Until I tried to park at the AFI Silver Theatre, that is. As you know, there are a couple of county garages that are fairly convenient to the Downtown Silver Spring shopping and dining areas. But none are convenient to the Theatre. Maybe there's a secret garage where you pull up and give the attendant the secret handshake. I'm a Republican, so we don't get those kind of perks in Montgomery County.

Anyway, I tried to get to the garage near the Macaroni Grill, the fountain, etc. You know what I'm talking about. But some big truck and a bus forced me into the wrong lane on Colesville, and there was so much traffic, and no way to turn off safely, that I was carried out of town. Then I had to fight my way back into town in a traffic jam.

So just after 8, I finally got there. But, fortunately, it was just getting started. Fellow Republican At-Large candidate Brandon Rippeon was there, as well as Kurt Osuch (State Senate, Dist.18), Pat Fenati (State House, Dist.14), and some other Republican candidates who I had not met before. I saw former Rockville Mayor Susan Hoffmann (who is in charge of Downtown Silver Spring as a county employee), almost all of the incumbent councilmembers, the District 18 General Assembly delegation, and a couple of their Democratic challengers. The only one of the challengers I recognized was Vanessa Atterbeary, who is running for the House of Delegates.

It was great to talk to actual businesspeople and members of the Chamber, as opposed to a political PAC. Every businessperson said they are being hit hard by the council's outrageous Energy Tax increase. One representative from a major apartment management company said they are being devastated by the tax, because many of their apartments come with utilities included. So the company has to pick up the tab for every one of those units. And, of course, the council chose to do this just as the heat wave hit. What a disaster!

My main point was to push my detailed Fiscal Plan. We can't accomplish anything until we fix our structural deficit. Don't forget, you can watch a video and "PowerPoint" presentation about my fiscal plan here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEyFD3XbOZs

And also don't forget to email the video to all of your friends in Montgomery County!

I also talked quite a bit about my economic development plan, which will make Montgomery County the new space industry capital of the world. It won't be as difficult as it sounds. My plan builds on our existing aerospace firms such as Lockheed, the end of NASA's human spaceflight program, the new need for defense firms to make up for the unwise proposed DOD cuts, and - most importantly - our proximity to Goddard Flight Center, multiple air bases and proving grounds, and the Wallops Island launch facility.

I don't know of any other part of the country that can boast all of those advantages.

The time to act on this visionary plan is now, and we can't rely on the same old failed leadership that has missed opportunities like this in the past.

That's why it's time to

ELECT ROBERT DYER!

Visit my website at http://www.robertdyer.net/ for more information and videos on the Robert Dyer Channel, accessible from the Main Menu on the home page!

BETTER THAN

PRICELINE

Exclusive www.RobertDyer.net Video!!!

Have you heard about the latest perk the Montgomery County Council is giving county employees? $7,000,000 worth of paid vacations, at taxpayer expense!

You can hear my comments on that by clicking here:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GXDQR-MtG8Y


As part of their Oscar-worthy performance as overnight fiscal conservatives, the council is faking it better than Milli Vanilli. There's nothing they can do, it's the executive, they say. Yeah, just like it was Dr. Weast a few months ago. The fact is, with the exception of Duchy Trachtenberg and Phil Andrews, this whole council was just endorsed by the MCEA and/or the unions. Big surprise, then, that they are allowing the $7,000,000 of paid vacations to go forward, right?

Membership has its benefits, as they say.

It's amazing that they could not afford raises for police officers and firefighters in the budget, but can give out free vacations.

That's why I've proposed separating public safety employee compensation packages from those of other government employees. There is a higher level of benefit appropriate and deserved for those who risk their lives each day to keep residents safe.

But for non-public safety employees, there is no reason why they should be exempt from the pay freezes, furloughs, and 401(k)s that the taxpayers are dealing with right now. What the executive and council are suggesting, is that the white collar office worker in the private sector must go without more than he or she is now, to pay for gold-plated compensation packages for government employees doing the same job or lower.

Make no mistake about it. People in Montgomery County are hurting. The worst part, is that much of the pain has been inflicted by our county executive and council. Their historic Energy Tax increase has devastated working families, and is literally driving county businesses into bankruptcy.

They did this, and now they must be held accountable.

If you agree, please email my video to 10 of your friends. Visit my website at www.RobertDyer.net. Request a yard sign for your lawn. Tell everyone you know to get to the polls, or use early voting, or absentee ballot, to vote for Robert Dyer!!!

MASTERS DEGREE

IN TAXATION

Exclusive www.RobertDyer.net Video!

One thing you learned upon opening your latest electric bill, is that each member of the Montgomery County Council has a Masters Degree in Taxation.

Combined with its status as a developer-beholden council, it's no surprise that they've eagerly joined some of those developers in creating a fourth level of taxation for some residents of the county. This is happening in Clarksburg and White Flint now. But the truth is, soon these districts will be created countywide wherever "urban town centers" are built in currently suburban, residential neighborhoods of single family homes. The new surprise twist? Even those who have lived in older housing there for decades will be charged the tax. Don't believe it? Just a few weeks ago, the county revealed that residents of The Forum will have to pay the White Flint development district tax! Are you next?

As you might imagine, I've opposed these development taxing districts from the beginning. Now watch a video as I speak to an audience of the tax district's first victims: the residents of Clarksburg.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FCtprtX_H-w

If you oppose having to pay a new, fourth level of taxation, please email this video to 10 friends who live in Montgomery County. A vote for Robert Dyer is a vote against development tax districts!

"NOBODY WANTS TO

COME HERE TO

CREATE JOBS"

Exclusive www.RobertDyer.net Video!!!

Last week, at a debate in Clarksburg, a question was asked regarding where growth in the county should be located to create jobs.

I am not opposed to development or growth. I'll be glad to support the White Flint and Science City plans when the necessary infrastructure is in place to support those massive developments. And after we have first filled all of the existing, vacant office space we currently have in the county.

I talk about this, and then make some very frank comments regarding the economic development situation under the failed leadership of the Montgomery County Council.

Watch the video right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U8H-EJV5lGk

The economic development "authority" passed by the council does not make the changes necessary to attract large corporations. It simply creates another level of costly bureaucracy, and adds new taxes on county businesses (if they haven't gone out of business by then already). It is a phantom economic development plan, much like the phantom "fiscal policy" the council adopted weeks ago. Not surprising, since these are the folks that invented the phantom COLA, right?

If you agree with my comments in the video, please email it to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County today!

ROBERT DYER:

"THE PERFORMANCE

OF A

LIFETIME"

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Enjoy this exclusive video from the JCRC Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forum on the Robert Dyer Channel:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DRBjHUyc9Y

If you like the video, please email it to 10 of your friends in Montgomery County!

ROBERT DYER

OFFERS PREVIEW

OF BUDGET PLAN

TO ELIMINATE

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

STRUCTURAL DEFICIT

Exclusive www.RobertDyer.net Video!!

I am the only candidate for the Montgomery County Council At-Large who has a detailed budget plan to eliminate our structural deficit.

Of course, I could type it all here...

But isn't it easier and more fun to just watch a video about it?

Yes! Watch now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kEyFD3XbOZs

If you think this budget plan makes sense, email the video to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County!

TAXPAYER-FUNDED

TRAVEL?

Exclusive www.RobertDyer.net Video!

One question asked at the JCRC Campaign Forum Wednesday night, was whether or not it would be appropriate for Montgomery County Council members to travel to Israel on economic development missions.

I expanded the question to include all of the trips councilmembers have taken at taxpayer expense, such as the recent election-year theater trip to New York City, ostensibly to "make a presentation" about the budget and new fiscal "policy."

Is it appropriate for councilmembers to travel at taxpayer expense? Find out by clicking on this link to the video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfgdu6y4dXE

"WE CAN'T GO

ON LIKE THIS"

Robert Dyer Delivers Message of Fiscal

Responsibility, Offers Detailed Solution to

Montgomery County's Structural Deficit at

JCRC Candidate Forum

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Thanks to all who turned out for the JCRC Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forum last night. There was a good turnout at the Jewish Community Center on Montrose Road, and a good selection of substantive questions.

I think it went pretty well, even though the audience was clearly majority Democrat, which made my job much harder than the Democratic candidates'. But I welcome the challenge, and the opportunity to explain why voting for Robert Dyer will bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County.

Eric Bernard, Executive Director of the Montgomery County Volunteer Fire and Rescue Association was there in a non-political capacity, collecting signatures for the petition to allow voters to decide whether or not the county's dangerous Ambulance Fee takes effect.

Roger Berliner was in the back of the room at one point.

Great to see Republican activist - and future Central Committee member - Larry Lesser, in such a strongly Democratic room. My fellow At-Large Republican candidate Brandon Rippeon and I needed all the support we could get. There were several people who did have positive things to say after the debate ended, and I think the crowd appreciated any candidate who had honest things to say about the fiscal crisis we face in this county.

To that end, I was the only candidate to present a detailed budget plan, stating exactly where I would cut the budget now, not in January.

You never know what questions you'll get in a debate, but I was ready for all of the ones I got this time. I think that, based on what I've heard about the Germantown debate that was Democrat-only, the Democratic challengers were a little bit more on the offensive in this one. And understandably so, with the incumbents continuing to rack up endorsements from some of their biggest critics, which is kind of surprising. But not entirely. Hans Riemer seems to have moved into the lead, but there are many debates to go, especially on the Democratic side.

There's a lot going on at the JCC, more than you would expect. Even as this debate was happening, other activities were underway in the building. When I left after 9:30, there was a softball game going on under the lights on a baseball field behind the building.

I enjoyed meeting the people who came out. Now it's on to Clarksburg next week!

Here is an exclusive video of my opening statement at the debate:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l7Wi4kWal2s

If you like what you hear, please email the video to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County!

DEBATE TONIGHT!!

Everyone come out to the Jewish Community Center at 6125 Montrose Road in North Bethesda, tonight at 7:30pm!

This will be the first real Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Forum of the election year.

It will be moderated by Debra Rubin of Washington Jewish Week.

For more information or questions, contact: JCRC: 301-770-0881

MONTGOMERY COUNTY:

IT'S RAINING TAX AND

DOGS!

$40 Dog Tax Spurs National Headlines, Punchlines

When I testified in support of the men and women of the Montgomery County Police Department on January 15, 2009, I didn't realize how accurately I was predicting the future.

As you recall, and have been reminded by the cheap shot article in yesterday's Post, the county executive and council were (and still are) attempting to deny retirement benefits for disabled police officers.

They ultimately failed, but in their ongoing quest to shift blame from the council's fiscal incompetence to the police department, they're going to keep bringing back this phony "scandal" again and again.

That 10 degree evening, I pondered the future of the council's scapegoating. Now that the council had targeted senior citizens in their budget cuts, and tried to take benefits away from disabled cops, I said, "I shudder to think who will be next... Girl Scouts and puppies?"

Well, it's happened.

Introducing the Dog Tax. In order to take your dog to any county dog park, you must now pay a mandatory tax of $40, plus $5 for each additional dog you own.

This was quietly announced by the county, as usual.

But this quiet insult to your intelligence - and your pocketbook - has now been picked up by the national media, including USA Today. People all over the country are now laughing (once again) at the fiscal incompetence of our county council, and the over-the-top concept of... a dog tax.

Maybe it's the excessive wagging of tails. Or the high cost of each sound wave emitted by a bark. Or the fiscal toll of a dog catching a frisbee in mid-air.

I don't know what the justification is. We'll have to await the explanation of the proven financial wizards on the council and the council staff. After all, that's why they make the big bucks... ...so they can use us as ATMs to pay off their politicial cronies in the budget.

But wait! Does a tax on puppies mean that... ...Girl Scouts are next?

Hide your Thin Mints!!

ROBERT DYER TAKES

PURPLE LINE PLEDGE

As a long-time supporter of transit, and the Purple Line Georgetown Branch alignment, I have again taken the pledge to support construction of this important light rail project.

The Purple Line not only improves east-west transit access, but extends it to areas of Montgomery and Prince Georges County currently underserved by transit. It will also provide important supporting infrastructure for the Chevy Chase Lake sector redevelopment. Lack of such infrastructure has led to highly irresponsible approvals of the Science City and White Flint plans by the Montgomery County Council.

With light rail, improved Metrobus service, new roads and highway improvements, and my proposal to restore Ride On service cut by the council - and most importantly, a change in leadership on the county council, to make all of this possible! - we will be prepared to meet the challenges of the future in Montgomery County.

PART 2 OF WEDNESDAY'S

CAMPAIGN UPDATE

After interviewing with the Metro AFL-CIO in the afternoon, I attended the District 1 council debate between incumbent Roger Berliner and Ilaya Hopkins at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center.

This is probably more a report about the building than the debate. First of all, the BCC services center could possibly be described as either a fortress or a Rubik's Cube turned into a building. It is a major challenge just to find and get into the building. First you have to figure out where it is, and enter one of two garage entrances off either Woodmont or Edgemoor.

You're just getting started, though! First of all, it's about 120 degrees in the garage. Then you go to the elevators, and first-time customers probably think they're going to zoom up into the services center.

Wrong!

When you get out at the Plaza level, you're only halfway there! Step over the snack wrappers and head over to the next building. Now you're in the lobby. It's about 82 degrees there. Up to the second floor for the debate. Okay, it's 110 up here. I'm not kidding.

It's a packed house of downtown Bethesda residents, candidates for other offices, media and campaign staffers. To the back of the room I go.

There were many appropriate symbols of the state our county finds itself in.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The mics don't work. Somebody decides to point one at a speaker. I think any hard-of-hearing seniors may have lost what little they had left. Just keep pointing it at the speaker. It sounds good, so why not just keep pointing it at the speaker, right?

EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

The mics never did recover. Hopkins went for a large portion without one, and Berliner's had that muffled, percussive school/library mic thing going on.

There wasn't as much heat in the debate as there was in the room.

Apparently, either the budget cutbacks included basics like air conditioning, or this was another example of "green" indoor climate. Like that downright wacky article in the Post Sunday, which was really only stating the future of "green" technology: "smart" meters that will turn off your A/C in the summer. That's "progress" for you. I'll never buy into that, and neither should you.

I was surprised that neither candidate, when asked what they would do to create jobs, mentioned reducing taxes and regulation.

Councilmember Berliner did not seem concerned about our competition in Fairfax, citing the FDA, NIH and other prized county assets Fairfax lacks. Apparently, those weren't enough for Northrop... ...so shouldn't we address our weaknesses, like high taxes, gridlock, and a hyper-regulatory county council?

Hopkins has the advantage of the Doug Duncan endorsement; Berliner has the advantage of the MCEA endorsement, and some of the micro-level, local issues he has successfully addressed within the district.

Eventually, I had to head to the A/C-cooled conference room next door, where you could still hear the debate, since the mics were now turned up loud.

At the end, the moderator - Miranda Spivack of the Washington Post - allowed candidates present to introduce themselves, including myself.

Then, as Berliner and Hopkins gave their closing statements, I got in the right spot between the stairs and elevator, and was able to meet many of the voters who exited at the end.

I also ran into Rob Vricella, who is the Republican Berliner or Hopkins will face in November, and Kurt Osuch, who is running for State Senate in District 18, and who has a lot of buzz surrounding his campaign.

Now, how did I get into this building, and how do I reverse that to figure out how to get to the garage? Another night at the BCC Regional Services Center.

Well, at least I found a copy of the Farm Tour brochure! Simpler times in the rural Upcounty will be an antidote for Bethesda's most confusing building.

EARTHQUAKE!!!

This morning's 5am earthquake (a 3.7 centered in Gaithersburg) was a reminder about the need to make public safety a top priority on the next Montgomery County Council. Our first responders are trained and well-prepared for many scenarios, but our political leaders have failed to prepare the general public for such disasters, and we currently lack sufficient hospital beds for a minor catastrophe, much less a major one.

This leadership vacuum must be filled by new councilmembers on November 2.

Yesterday afternoon I went to downtown Silver Spring for my Metropolitan area AFL-CIO interview. This was a panel interview format, which is sort of like a short candidate forum.

The interview was supposed to go from 2:40-3:25pm, and was to include 14 At-Large candidates. But when I arrived, only Becky Wagner and Jane de Winter were there. George Leventhal arrived shortly thereafter. Ultimately, we were the only 4 candidates who actually showed up for the interview. It turns out that the other 3 incumbents - knowing that the format would allow challengers to comment directly on the incumbents - decided to interview with candidates for other offices, to avoid debating.

"It sounded like a good idea at the time," but ultimately, I don't think it helped them to hide from the challengers. I don't think candidates who didn't want to interview alongside their opponents scored extra points by avoiding the challenge.

Personally, I preferred this format over the canned interviews organizations usually employ. I think the interviewers from each union were able to get a more complete idea of each candidate when you introduce opponents into the interview.

I think the interview went well, but it is obviously a very complex endorsement process with 14 candidates, so we can only wait to hear the final announcements.

Later, I attended the Roger Berliner-Ilaya Hopkins debate in downtown Bethesda, but I will have to bring you that report tomorrow, as I am out of time for now!

CELEBRATE DAMASCUS

PARADE

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

The Celebrate Damascus parade Friday night was probably the high point of the campaign season. Not only is Damascus my favorite town in Montgomery County, but Celebrate Damascus (a.k.a. Damascus Days) has the best parade and fireworks in the county.

When I arrived, my caravan of vehicles was behind a military jeep with servicemen inside. I let the 4-H float enter the Damascus High School parking lot before I followed behind. They were coming the opposite direction on Ridge Road, where parade entries were lined up waiting to get in.

Eventually we were directed to our parking spaces in the section of the lot by Bethesda Church Road. Right next to us was the Weatherbug Storm Chasing vehicle (Weatherbug HQ is right down 27 by the 270 ramp to Frederick). On the other side was a dustless floor refinishing truck. In the 11:00 direction was the convertible of one of my opponents, Nancy Floreen. Dead ahead was a van/RV filled with... parrots!

My only regret about the parade this year, was that by actually being IN the parade, I was unable to see all of it. Or to get video of it for you to watch. Of course, you can still enjoy all of the videos and photos of last year's Damascus parade on the Robert Dyer Channel and my Photos page at www.RobertDyer.net.

But from what I could see from the staging area as we waited for the signal to move out, it was at least as good as last year, if not better. There were 3 live camels as part of a Christmas float. I saw Ronald McDonald in a convertible (and the McDonald's McCafe van was giving out free drinks the next day, by the way).

Santa Claus was spotted far from the North Pole, in the Damascus High School parking lot!

If you think that was interesting, I haven't told you that later, Santa was at the wheel of an enclosed-cab John Deere tractor!

Remember the video I posted of the Damascus Lions Club lion last year? This year, being "behind the scenes" before the parade, I got a spy shot for you of the lion without his mask on!

There was also the Bolivian dance group I recorded for you last year, as well.

This year, I also saw a van for Tom & Ray's restaurant.

Eventually, it was time to enter the line. We had to stop at the driveway of the school on Bethesda Church Road so that 3 tow trucks (that had been waiting there because they were too big to be in the lot) could get in their spot ahead of us.

And then we were underway!

There was a great turnout, with people lined up all the way along the parade route. It was a very friendly crowd. Lots of support. Not even one heckler! It sounded like Damascus is ready for Change Beyond Belief on the County Council!

Candy is often given out to children along the route, but one child even offered me a piece of candy. He must have been a Republican.

The 3 tow trucks had a synchronized horn blast routine that they repeated the entire length of the parade. So, past the Weis Market, KFC/Taco Bell, Red Rooster, the Fireworks Art Cafe, and CVS... ...then left onto Lewis Drive.

People who are lucky enough to live along Lewis Drive have it made for this day every year. Many were holding parties; first with chairs set up to enjoy the parade, and then for the fireworks display. I could smell a few backyard grills going, too.

Finally we got up to the reviewing stand. The man at the microphone announced my name, and said that I was running for the Montgomery County Council At-Large. Then he added, "Why in the world would you want a job like that?" Like I've said before, the people of Montgomery County are not fooled by the council's new talking points; they know that our county has suffered through years of failed leadership, and that we have a gargantuan mess to clean up. The man had a good point; it's going to be a tough job. But I'm ready to serve the great town of Damascus and this great county to get that tough job done. We can't fix 8 years of mismanagement overnight, but together, we can fix it.

Just past the American Legion is the Damascus Volunteer Fire Department Activities Building, from which the delicious smell of chicken was wafting. In fact, one of the chefs was standing at the roadside to watch us go by.

Darkness began to fall as we reached the end of the route, and parked along the curb past the carnival grounds. Right across from the Music Cafe van!

After a break, it was time to head over to the Weis Market parking lot, which has a great view of Montgomery County's best fireworks display. I got some video of that for you, which will be uploaded in the near future.

In conclusion, it was a great night and weekend in Damascus. Lots of voters who said they were going to vote for me, lots of new Robert Dyer voters who came aboard, and lots of outstanding people who represent the real Montgomery County, and the real America. And they were attending perhaps the biggest event of the year in a classic small town.

They don't make 'em like they used to, but we can preserve the best of Damascus and our other rural areas by electing councilmembers who will fight the attempts by the incumbents to turn the whole county into a maze of concrete canyons.

We can win this crusade to transform government into one that serves the People, not the other way around. We'll win with the support of voters like the great people of Damascus.

Thanks to everyone who came out for the parade and was so supportive! It really gives me a boost going forward, and I look forward to seeing you at future events.

Stay tuned for pictures from the event!

It turned out that my blog entry yesterday was a much needed antidote for the incorrect Washington Post coverage of the Montgomery County bond rating "rescue." The Post's Michael Laris - again - did not challenge the official press release, stating that the council's budget cuts and new reserve policy saved the AAA rating.

Not true, of course! It was the council's willingness to increase taxes on the poor, seniors and working families that allowed them to keep the bond rating. Read my entry yesterday for the full story, and how the bond rating is not safe indefinitely - contrary to the assertion in the Washington Post coverage.

WELCOME

It's going to be a busy weekend of campaigning. If you are just hearing about my campaign for the County Council At-Large this weekend, thank you for finding my website! If you are becoming a supporter and joining my crusade to bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County, welcome aboard!

The best thing to do first is to watch my video message

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

and then email it to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County, and are as tired as you are of the council's 8 year record of failed leadership and Madoffonomics.

GIVE YOURSELF

CREDIT

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Montgomery County's Council and Executive announced yesterday that after solving the county's structural deficit forever [no giggling, please!], it has managed to retain its decades-long AAA bond rating.

Now, putting aside the obvious - that the structural deficit still exists, and we face a shortfall of at least $900,000,000 next May, no matter what the wishful councilmembers say out loud or to their friends in the local media - the truth is that the "Six-Year Fiscal Plan and New Reserves Policy" had little to do with the rating agencies' decision. And absolutely does not mean that the county is permanently off the hook in the ratings department.

Why did the agencies renew the AAA rating?

They saw that this council is willing to raise taxes to historic levels, in the midst of a near-economic depression, in an election year. The gamble, of course, is that their friends in the media will spin this massive, regressive tax increase for them, so that they can win reelection in September and November, without hardly having to even campaign.

The agencies also must have been very pleased - for now - that this council was also willing to place that massive tax increase squarely on the poor, seniors and working families. Flat, regressive taxes are the wave of the future, as smart tax-and-spend politicians have begrudgingly admitted that you can only get so much money out of "the rich." The solution that's coming - and your county council is actually ahead of the curve on something here! - is these sort of sledgehammer taxes on the poor, seniors and working families. Top liberal minds have been opining on this for years in papers and lectures, while you were struggling to put food on the table and get the kids to soccer practice after school.

Why do I write that the agencies are pleased "for now?"

Because this out-of-control tax policy can't possibly last forever. The council taxed their way out of their budget deadline. If they will pay a price for those tax hikes in September and November is entirely up to the voters, if they can cut through the fog and storm of hyperspin that the local media are stirring up to get these folks reelected.

So let's say they all get reelected on this policy [I said, no giggling!]. And then when we get to next May, and there is a budget deficit of $900M, the council raises all kinds of taxes.

What happens then, is that we will have even less jobs than we have now, and more home foreclosures. More wealthy people will move out of the county. And so will lower-income residents. The result? Lower income and property tax revenues.

You can keep raising those flat taxes on energy, cell phones, etc., but there will be less and less people, and less and less revenue. Corporations won't move here now; why would they move here in a higher-tax future?

So the high-tax, high-spending council method of operation is simply unsustainable. They squeaked by again now, at high price to you, the taxpayer. But we cannot go on in this fashion forever.

The ratings agencies will be back. Bankruptcy will loom.

And that new fiscal policy won't do anything to stop it.

As I mentioned the other day, not only is the new "policy" pure fantasy ("We don't have a shortfall next year. There, I said it! That makes it true!"), but there is the problem that it is not mandatory for the council to follow it.

Paige Hill of the Sentinel wrote that the policy was not mandatory; yet, in yesterday's press release, Councilmember Duchy Trachtenburg said she and the council voted "to require annual contributions to the County's reserves and mandate balanced budgets."

It can't be mandatory and not mandatory!

Also, the county charter already requires balanced budgets; that was not a new development by the council this June.

Can I correct some other things misstated in this press release?

"As stewards of the County's economy [I told you, no giggling!], the Executive and the County Council have shown real leadership [OK, I guess you're justified in giggling by this point] and a vision for the future by building our reserves and clearing a path towards balanced budgets."

- Duchy Trachtenburg

Not only has there been no leadership, and no vision, but the council has not built its reserves; the non-mandatory plan does not increase reserves until later in the decade! And even if it was mandatory, how could we afford 10% reserves when we couldn't afford 6% now as it is?

"The plan seeks to match expenditures to available revenues without any drawdown of reserves ...and result in a larger reserve for the County, and less spending on government agencies."

Guess what? All of the existing "bills" that were due this year, are all due again next year for the county budget. They will have to be paid. They total about $900,000,000 right now, before storm cleanups, disasters and the teacher pensions that will be returned to the county by the state.

You can't just "will away" a $900M deficit!

Welcome to the real world.

Watch a video message from a candidate for the County Council At-Large who is prepared to implement a fiscal plan that actually cuts spending, and fundamentally restructures government:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Then, please consider emailing the video to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County. 10 people who have to manage their own financial affairs in real world circumstances, and know that the county must begin to do the same.

We can't go on like this!

ANOTHER TRAGIC

EXAMPLE OF WHY WE

NEED TWO UPCOUNTY

HOSPITALS

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

A few months ago, I presented a detailed argument on this blog in favor of building the new Holy Cross Hospital in Germantown, AND the Adventist Hospital in Clarksburg. And I proposed that one of those hospitals have a trauma center, to address the gaping geographical hole that has proven dangerous or fatal to central Maryland trauma patients.

http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2010/03/real-health-care-plan-for-montgomery.html

Since that time, the overwhelming evidence that we need more hospital facilities in the growing Upcounty continues to mount.

This past Independence Day morning, an auto accident occurred in North Potomac. One victim was flown to Suburban Hospital in Bethesda. I have not heard an update on his condition or survival. But the fact is, he could have been taken more quickly to a trauma center in Germantown or Clarksburg, as could trauma patients in Urbana, New Market, Ijamsville and Mount Airy.

Currently, trauma victims in upper Montgomery County, Frederick County and Carroll County are flown to Suburban in Bethesda, or trauma centers in Washington County or Baltimore City. These centers have an excellent reputation, but what about the air-travel time factor?

This is what we must address. Rather than continue to waste taxpayer funds on Madoffonomics, developer deals (Webb Tract), developer tax cuts and Costco, we need to commit our resources to infrastructure.

Two Upcounty hospitals are not only greatly-needed infrastructure, but will also create jobs and reduce health care costs in our county's budget. Let's find the will and the funds to assist in building them.

Yesterday was the biggest day of campaigning so far this year. Early yesterday morning, I traveled to Leisure World for the annual Leisure World 4th of July Parade. I'm very familiar with Leisure World, but I would never have guessed that one day I would be in a parade going around the circle in front of the clubhouse.

There was a traffic jam past the guardhouse, but eventually I was in the lineup in unit #11. Members of the Leisure World Republican Club were already lined up. I think I was the first Republican candidate there. Then Bob Ehrlich arrived. Eventually, we had several candidates for Congress, including Christine Thron, Mike Phillips and Bruce Stern. For U.S. Senate, Corrogan Vaughn, Jim Rutledge, McAndrew, etc. I saw one delegate candidate from District 19, but I forgot her name; she must have just filed, because I had not heard the name before.

Once the parade was underway, it was scorching out, but it wasn't that bad yet. There was someone announcing each candidate as we passed in front of the clubhouse, where seating had been set up. But I encountered enthusiastic residents all along the way.

After drinking some water, it was off to the annual Montgomery Village "4th of July on the 5th" Parade and Festival. Their parade, unfortunately, does not allow challengers, so I could only attend the festival part. Two of my opponents, incumbents George Leventhal and Nancy Floreen, stopped to say hello while I was at the Republican tent. There was an ambulance and a little first aid trailer from the Washington Grove Volunteer Fire Department. It was a pretty successful stop, as I picked up a number of votes.

I took a couple of pictures for you; one of the Montgomery Village Apple Ridge Recreation area where the festival was, and one of the ambulance. Support your local volunteer fire department!

I hope everyone had a great 4th of July weekend. Don't forget to visit www.RobertDyer.net and, if you just found out about my campaign yesterday, a good place to start is by watching my introductory video message!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Then, please email it to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County!

TO TOP IT OFF...

This past Friday, I presented the first detailed analysis of the Montgomery County Council's new fiscal "policy" to be printed anywhere.

But a story in the Sentinel newspaper just added the capstone to the council's folly, and the austerity package that wasn't!

As I mentioned Friday, the new policy does not reduce spending, fantasizes that there will be no shortfalls anymore (even while not reducing that aforementioned spending!!), calls for a questionable 10% reserves when we can't even pay for 6% right now, assumes there will be a massive increase in revenue, doesn't restructure government, and would require a gargantuan tax increase.

Here's the new twist, according to Paige Hill of the Sentinel:

"Compliance is not mandatory."

In other words, the whole thing isn't only smoke and mirrors, but mainly just smoke! Smoke, and an election year joke played on the taxpayers of Montgomery County.

If the spending guidelines (which aren't even delineated in the plan, which also has loopholes to be exploited by the council) are not enforceable, how would the plan have any effect?

How would spending guidelines overrule binding labor agreements signed off on by the council?

On this 4th of July, let's remember the values this nation and county were founded upon. Those included low taxes. And citizens serving a short time in government, not professional politicians who would make a career of taking the public's money and benefitting themselves and their political cronies.

This council is no better than you, the People of Montgomery County. In fact, you pay their salaries. You are the boss. They take orders from you, not the other way around - but you'd have a hard time knowing that, witnessing these folks in action.

Restore the values and fiscal responsibility Montgomery County was founded on this November! Before firing up the grill, going to the fireworks displays, or heading back out to the beach, can you watch this video message...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

And then email it to 10 friends who live in Montgomery County?

We have it easy compared to our Founders, who had to risk their lives in warfare to exercise their freedoms and rights; all we have to do is organize ourselves, and get to the polls on November 2 to exercise and restore ours!

With one press of the touch screen, you have the power to transform our county government into one that serves the People, not the other way around!

Join my crusade today!

Visit www.RobertDyer.net to learn more, and to send me an email to join my mailing list and/or volunteer for my campaign.

You can also request a yard sign for your lawn. Ask your neighbors if they would like a yard sign, too!

Then help spread the word from your desk, TV chair or phone, by simply emailing my video message. And bring one person with you to the polls to vote on November 2!

Together, we will bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County!

ROYCE HANSON

TO RUN FOR

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

COUNCIL DISTRICT 2

"Shocking" Announcement No Surprise to

Readers of www.RobertDyer.net

The Washington Post is reporting that former Montgomery County Planning Board Chairman Royce Hanson (whom readers of this blog know as Dr. Yes) will announce his candidacy for the District 2 County Council seat early next week.

This is not a surprise to loyal readers here, because I predicted this would happen last year! On this very blog. The only difference is, I thought he would run At-Large, because Nancy Floreen would not have the audacity to run for reelection (the fact that the incumbents are all running again, with the records they have, qualifies as the only true shock of this election year).

So forgive me for not sharing the surprise of most people.

The stage is now set for a battle royale between two prominent Montgomery County politicians who both have decades of political activity: Royce Hanson, and Robin Ficker, the 99.9% certain Republican nominee for the seat currently held by Democrat Mike Knapp.

But wait, there's more. A majority of the Democrat establishment in Montgomery County has already annointed Del. Craig Rice as the next councilman from District 2, including the MCEA (before he had even filed!!) and Mr. Knapp himself.

Now what are they going to do? Stand by Craig Rice, thereby setting up a second battle royale in the primary? Or boldly drop Del. Rice and switch to the "sure thing," Dr. Yes?

If you have any interest in politics, this is going to be fascinating.

And possibly entertaining.

Don't forget, that despite her community involvement, prior run for the seat, and early head start in the race, the Powers That Be have already dismissed Sharon Dooley.

That leaves Rice and Hanson.

What will Del. Rice do now? Had a Republican stepped forward to run in District 15, the Rice seat would have been in jeopardy, as he only beat the late Jean Cryor by about 50 votes. So, at the time, the switch to the council race was probably a smart one.

Especially because it must have been communicated to him that he would receive a bounty of endorsements and money, were he to run. I have met Del. Rice during the 2006 campaign, and I was impressed by him and his campaign staff, who seemed like very nice people. He's certainly a politician with a long future ahead of him in Montgomery County and the state of Maryland. But still, I think even many Democrats were taken somewhat aback by the torrent of endorsements for a one term delegate.

So now that the media was positing Rice as the guaranteed winner (although Robin Ficker and the voters might have something to say about that), why would the Establishment put Hanson forward at the 11th hour?

Rice represents the future of the Democratic party, and we have already witnessed this generational and ideological struggle in the Saqib Ali-Nancy King matchup. Progressives, and especially younger progressives, are actively supporting Ali in that race.

Now the "unlimited development" faction of the party (think Steve Silverman, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal, Mike Knapp) is stepping in. If you want "smart growth," meaning unlimited development, Hanson is your man. Just remember, he was not only the guy behind the current plan to urbanize suburban neighborhoods, but he was also the mastermind behind Carmageddon West (Science City) and Carmageddon East (White Flint). You know, the master plans that say, don't worry about infrastructure, we'll accept 9 mph as a top speed(!!).

And Hanson is man who apparently causes that faction to bow when he enters a room.

But here's another interesting point... Not only would Rice be the stronger candidate among the new voters who went to the polls for the first time in 2008 (they tend to be younger and the name Royce Hanson doesn't ring a bell for them), but consider something else:

Craig Rice has done something Royce Hanson never has: WIN!

Hanson lost two elections decades ago, one of them to the legendary Gilbert Gude for Congress.

If the Powers That Be can somehow negate the wide lead Rice has with endorsements, I can imagine Hanson receiving the endorsements of the Post and Gazette.

Older Democrats will supposedly swoon with nostalgia upon hearing of Hanson's announcement. Will they negate the younger voters in the primary?

Del. Rice must now be wondering if he actually left a sure reelection and wandered into what can only be described as a battle royale. Will he be instructed by the party to withdraw and file for delegate again? With, surprisingly, no Republican answering the call of a competitive seat in District 15, the way is pretty clear for Rice's reelection.

Or will he stand his ground and take on the challenge of what could be one of the biggest primary showdowns in county history (like the Leggett-Silverman 2006 race)?

If you can put partisan politics aside, and are a politics fanatic, prepare to enjoy all the intrigue of a classic political showdown; it's sure to be a race for the ages. And a win for the developers, if the Powers That Be can just go ahead and "take the controls."

But is it a fight for the future of the Democratic Party? Or, with Royce Hanson running on legend and nostalgia, is it a fight for the past?

The local media are trumpeting the Montgomery County Council's new "Fiscal & Reserve Policy," which some elected officials have - falsely - claimed has magically eliminated the structural deficit.

Of course, any discussion of the county budget is always confusing at best in Montgomery County, because the county does not ever let you examine the budget online, in Web 2.0 format.

Let me try to present the facts about this "overnight austerity" 180 degree turn by the council, which - as of this hour - has still been unable to stop itself from uncontrolled spending and Madoffonomics.

First of all, the claim of 10% reserves doesn't take effect until the end of this decade. That is to retain spending power, and enable this council to kick the can down the road for the 1000th time.

Having said that, does it make sense at this particular point to have 10% reserves? My recollection is that Wall Street was furious that the council had dropped from 6% reserves to 5%. I don't recall them demanding a 10% reserve.

There is a lot of "fine print" on this reserve policy that needs to be gone over, and there appear to be loopholes. Such as, "Revenue above the required reserves can only be used to fund one-time expenditures." What precisely does that vague statement cover? It would seem to me that a council this clever could define a lot of things as "one time expenditures."

Beyond that, the definition of fiscal responsibility is not simply having a 10% reserve.

True fiscal responsibility means that the budget's size can remain constant in good times and in bad. We now have a sense of the baseline for future budgets. It would be a terrible mistake to increase spending much beyond that level even when a future recovery begins. As you can imagine, 10% reserves could only cover so much.

It's also important to take a powder puff press release and apply a real-world context to it. Think about it. If the county had to close libraries, take dentures away from senior citizens, cut bus service, eliminate school anti-drug programs, and remove police officers from high-risk public schools to meet a 5% or 6% reserve requirement... ...how in the name of Pete could the council possibly pay for a 10% reserve, if revenues remain low?!

Do the council and executive have inside information about the economy that even President Obama, Ben Bernanke, Tim Geithner and the rest of us don't know?

Hmm... This is another clue for you, the citizen, to ponder. A clue that, along with others, shows the size of the tax increases that are coming. If you recall that it took the largest Energy Tax increase in Montgomery County and Maryland history to get to 6% reserves in May, pause to contemplate the tax increase needed to get to 10%! Unbelievable.

That's because of the other problem with this "new fiscal policy" that the local media didn't question the council about: where are the spending cuts? Answer: So far, there aren't any.

So hold on just a minute here, Robert. You're telling me that we are going to 10% reserves, when we currently can't afford 6%?

And about those "recurring expenses?" Some councilmembers have dreamily told reporters that there is no shortfall next year. [No giggling, please!] Some people in the county have at least said that there is going to be a $200 million shortfall next year. [You're getting warmer!!]

Ready for the truth?

The budget shortfall for next May actually stands at $900,000,000 at this hour.

That is BEFORE snow removal costs. That is BEFORE Martin O'Malley or Bob Ehrlich send part or all of the teacher pensions back to the counties next year (the state is broke - this is absolutely going to happen, even if no one else wants you to know it before you vote this fall - for obvious reasons!).

In other words, the idea that all future shortfalls have been magically eliminated, and that we can realistically afford to have a 10% reserve (which won't actually even take effect until these councilmembers have all moved on) is sheer fantasy.

We cannot fix the structural deficit without fundamentally restructuring government. And cutting spending. And creating new revenue streams (my budget plan creates 8 new revenue streams, by the way). And, if necessary, addressing compensation and pensions for non-public safety employees.

And as far as reserves, we only need the amount of reserves that the rating agencies ask us to have. If we find ourselves in the (almost impossible to imagine) position of having a huge budget surplus...

...please remember when you go to vote what the incumbents, and all of the Democratic challengers (except for Hans Reimer, commendably) have NOT suggested we do with a large surplus: Give it back to the People of Montgomery County.

It's your money. If government doesn't need it, and has met the practical reserve needs, it should return the rest to you, the taxpayer. Don't let any self-appointed "expert" tell you otherwise.

Any way you analyze this "new fiscal and reserve policy," it simply doesn't add up. Except as another excuse for raising taxes once the election is out of the way. And that is anything but fiscal responsibility.

But you can take action right now!

Watch my video message about fiscal responsibility, fundamentally restructuring government, and electing a government that does "the right things" (as opposed to trying to do everything), and email it to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

This will only take a few minutes, and then be sure to enjoy your Fourth of July weekend, knowing that you've done your part to restore the common sense and values that this county and nation were founded upon.

Take action today, and on November 2, to elect a new councilman who will restore real fiscal responsibility to Montgomery County: Robert Dyer!

WORTH A THOUSAND

WORDS

Would you like to sum up the failed leadership the Montgomery County Council has provided over the last 8 years? Why should you elect Robert Dyer on November 2? I think this newspaper headline says it all!

Can you imagine the impact this sort of headline has on companies comparing us to the surrounding jurisdictions for relocation purposes?

As you know from reading this blog, Fairfax County has generated an astronomically greater number of jobs than Montgomery County over the last 10 years. The people responsible for that disastrous Montgomery County result are all running for reelection! Do you think they've earned another 4 years in office? Survey says... BRRRRRNNNT!

Oh my, well, I'm sure the voters will have some lovely parting gifts for them backstage on November 2.

Why am I smiling in this picture? Because I have an economic development plan to bring new industries with high-paying jobs to Montgomery County. And we will reduce the taxes and traffic gridlock that scare away large companies from locating here. As you well know, the current council has utterly failed to do either; under their failed leadership, taxes and traffic have greatly increased. Imagine what taxes they'll raise next year when there is no threat of an election!

You can help restore Montgomery County by voting for me on September 14 (or before, by early voting or absentee ballot). You can help by bringing one person you know to the polls to vote for Robert Dyer. And by watching this video,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

and then emailing it to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County.

Elect Robert Dyer and we can bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County! And we can change that headline, kind of like in the Back to the Future movies. After you change the course of Montgomery County history by electing me on November 2, the headline will change too, to read "Fairfax Drops Behind MontCo"

It can happen, and it will happen, if you join me on November 2 in transforming our government into one that serves the People, not the other way around.

Before you blast off for Ocean City this weekend, have you taken an action to change our community for the better? If not, you can do so in about 1 minute: simply pass this video announcement along to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Elect Robert Dyer to the Montgomery County Council At-Large to bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County!

LEVENTHAL,

DE WINTER

GET 60 MINUTES

OF

"ME TIME"

ON

YOUR DIME

Democrat Council At-Large Candidates Enjoy

Full Hour of Free TV Promotion on MMC 16

"What FCC Equal Time Regulations?"

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

Montgomery County Council At-Large Candidate Jane de Winter (D) will "debate" fellow Democrat incumbent Nancy Floreen on MMC 16's Political Pulse program this week. It's sure to be a tense and controversial debate, when both candidates are from the same political party, right?

While almost every Democrat At-Large candidate has received at least 30 minutes of TV time on MMC 16 alone, de Winter joins fellow Democrat George Leventhal in now racking up a full hour of "me time" on the taxpayer-funded channel.

Meanwhile, I still have not received an invitation to appear.

All Republicans have also been excluded from the July 12 County Council At-Large debate being held by the Gaithersburg-Germantown Chamber of Commerce.

This unethical use of public airwaves, exclusion of the other party from a debate, and the unprecedented cancellation of long-traditional candidate forums in May and June by organizations apparently fiercely loyal to the struggling Democrat incumbents, really reflect the use of a 2006-era campaign playbook.

What can you do, other than wait for the reality of 2010 to catch up to them.

The voters of Montgomery County are angry. And now they are significantly poorer, as well, thanks to the County Council's massive tax increases last month. Do you think that made them more appealing to the electorate? Not quite!

So, you could join the handful of people tuning in to the 2006-era Floreen-de Winter "debate" (after all, you are paying for the program to be produced and aired)...

...or, you could join the hundreds of County residents who have tuned in to a video message from a new, next generation Montgomery County leader, with a completely and fundamentally different approach - me!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

Watch my video message right now, and don't forget: if you like what I have to say in this video, be sure to email it to 10 of your friends who live in Montgomery County!

I was on my way to the monthly Montgomery County Republican Central Committee last night, and was caught in a terrible, violent thunderstorm between 270 and our HQ. I've been in heavier rains, but these were torrential. Lightning was striking all around, and it's my understanding that there were a number of power outages in the area. I was on time for the meeting, but I had to just wait awhile in the car outside. There were many nearby lightning strikes, and a few objects were knocked over by the wind around the area. I was about 10 minutes late as a result, but there wasn't anything on the agenda worth being struck by lightning for!

If you are just finding out about my campaign for the Montgomery County Council At-Large, here is a short video message for you:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

If you want to help bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County, and transform our government into one that serves the People, not the other way around, email my video to 10 of your friends in the county!

"SMART" GROWTH

CAN BE A RISK TO

PUBLIC SAFETY

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

I have written before about the issue of parking in "smart" growth developments. But after Roger Lewis' column about the new "Social Safeway," in the Washington Post, once again touted behind-building and garage parking, I have to respond here.

Parking areas in front of commercial businesses are not only welcoming and convenient to passing motorists, but are also demonstrably safer for patrons. As I have written before, consider a customer who is being accosted by a criminal or gang members in a county parking lot. If this were to occur in a traditional front-of-store parking lot, these criminals would have to make a bolder move in victimizing a citizen. Any such criminal activity could be witnessed from the street by passing motorists, pedestrians, and - most importantly - by police passing by on a routine patrol.

Now consider if the incident is taking place behind the store. A passing police officer will not see it happening. Police cannot possibly drive into and behind every single "smart" growth, mixed-use development as they drive down 355, for example. And if the incident is occuring in a private garage, forget about it!

We need to stop putting aimless development, and the greedy political wish for more property tax revenue, ahead of the safety of the public. Not to mention that the current parking in front of county shopping centers has so far helped us avoid the "concrete canyon" concept my opponents want to impose on the county.

Let's keep it that way, and when you hear about "smart" growth, "density," and "walkable communities" - and especially if those terms are applied to developments further than 1/4 mile from a transit station - that's your signal that you've been had. So take action on November 2, and vote for Robert Dyer. I will help us take a responsible approach to development that protects the environment and education, puts the infrastructure horse back in front of the development cart, and preserves the quality of life in our desirable rural and suburban neighborhoods.

AND NOW FOR

SOMETHING

COMPLETELY

SIMILAR...

Democratic County Council At-Large

Candidates to Appear on Political Pulse

This Week... Again!

Republican Robert Dyer Still Not Invited to Appear

This week, Charles Duffy will welcome incumbent Councilmember George Leventhal, and challenger Fred Evans, to his program, Political Pulse. Both are Democrats, and this is Mr. Leventhal's second(!!) appearance on taxpayer-funded MMC 16's two politics programs (he appeared on Inside Out several weeks ago). Meanwhile, I have not been invited even once to appear, and still await my FCC equal time - now up to 60 minutes - on MMC 16.

It will be 60 minutes of softball questions, and no tough follow-ups to my answers.

But for this week, you'll have to settle for Leventhal and Evans. Leventhal voted for unsustainable spending for 8 years straight and played a leading role in destroying the County's finances; Evans was quoted in a local paper saying he would have handled the budget the same as Leventhal, et al. So it sounds like it should be a real debate on there, folks!

Yes, sir! A vigorous discussion of contrasts! Sharp disagreement! Opposing ideas! Philosophical differences that broaden minds, and advance the dialogue through civil discourse!

Just the sort of hearty debate you'll find each week on Political Pulse and Inside Out, where all the guests are Democrats.

People want to hear new ideas, not the same old excuses, Doublespeak, and self-serving revisionist history of the last 8 years.

So let's have a real debate. That begins by not only having candidate forums (all of the forums in May and June were cancelled to protect the incumbents), but by having equal time appearances on both Political Pulse and Inside Out by me, Robert Dyer.

Now that will be (equal) time for something completely different.

But if you can't wait for that, visit my own TV channel, and watch my video message!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nnvmm1YNWfM

And then join me, as we transform our government into one that serves the People, not the other way around! Elect Robert Dyer for fiscal responsibility, and to bring Change Beyond Belief to Montgomery County!

MORE PARKING,

MORE TRANSIT,

MORE RIDERS

Another www.RobertDyer.net Exclusive!!!

I've been promoting the expansion of MARC rail for four years now, and April's ridership numbers are up to record levels on current routes.

Penn Line: +3.5%

Camden Line: +8.9%

Brunswick Line: +3.1%

And this is just the beginning. Why do I say that?

Because there is more demand than there is parking! Part of the Orwellian Doublespeak practiced by developer-backed "smart" growth organizations and blogs, is the bizarre concept of reducing parking - everywhere! And one of the strangest places they want to reduce parking, is at Metro and MARC stations(!!).

Let me get this straight: You supposedly want everyone to abandon their cars, and use mass transit. Okay, so where do I abandon said car? These "smart" growth "proponents" want to reduce parking, and charge higher rates to park in the spaces that remain.

That sounds like a winning strategy, right?

Seriously, it's time to stand up to these phonies with real transit solutions.

The MARC lots at Germantown and Boyds, for example, are in need of expansion. Overcrowding is pushing some potential riders to take their cars instead. If our so-called smart growth politicians succeed in their "no parking, have-the-poor-subsidize-the-rich-fare-increases" plan, transit will never grow beyond the 15% who use it now.

What we need is more parking, at an affordable daily price, at all Metro and MARC stations. And lower Metro and MARC fares. Imagine what ridership might be then. MARC rail for the Purple Line and CCT could allow us to use the money saved to build additional MARC routes or extensions.

Finally, we need to implement a Unified Transit Card to increase convenience and ease of use.

More parking + more transit options + convenience = higher ridership.

PAUL BLART:

GARAGE COP

Montgomery County Council Puts

Public Safety at Risk Again,

Replacing Police Patrols with Security Guards

The latest example of the Montgomery County Council risking the safety of the public for political gain, is the reckless idea of having private security guards replace county police officers on patrols of county parking garages. And it's one that brings to mind one of this blog's "greatest hits:"

http://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2009/02/paul-blart-casino-cop-mommy-whats-slot.html

They haven't even filmed Paul Blart: Casino Cop at Arundel Mills mall yet, and now our County Council is helping to write the script for the third movie: Paul Blart: Garage Cop!

Rather than pay our police officers overtime - a relatively modest amount of money budgetwise - the council would have XYZ Security Agency take over patrols in county garages.

Now, if you were a woman (or a man, for that matter!) returning to your car by yourself after an evening out in Bethesda, who would you want patrolling the garage you are entering? A highly-trained, professional county police officer, or... Paul Blart?

As Tommy the Matchmaker used to say, "Isn't it obvious?"

There is no comparison! Our police officers are trained to deal with any number of violent or potentially-violent situations. What a private security officer can, would, or is allowed to do in a violent crime situation is unclear - and that's assuming these guards would even be armed at all. A police officer would have far more training, discretion and judgement to handle dangerous scenarios than a security officer.

The City of Rockville has its officers patrol the Town Center garages. With our developers and their agents on the county council replacing the county's dwindling number of public surface lots with riskier garages - and with gang activity increasing each day - garage safety is more important than ever.

If you were being accosted by a criminal in a county garage, which vehicle would you hope would round the bend at that moment: a county police cruiser, or Paul Blart's Segway?

Your answer will determine your vote on November 2.

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

JUDGE BODYSLAMS

COUNTY COUNCIL,

EXECUTIVE FOR

"SCAPEGOATING"

POLICE OFFICERS

Wow, someone else in Montgomery County is finally saying what I've been saying for months. That the County Executive, County Council and Inspector General had falsely accused police officers, and one officer who ran a private law enforcement training firm, of ripping off the taxpayers. And of buying "subsidized guns using taxpayer money."

Of course, this was all hogwash. Ike Leggett and the County Council are in a terrible financial hole, thanks to their out of control budget practices. To close the budget gap, they have tried to scapegoat county police officers to cover up their own fiscal mismanagement. They tried to bankrupt Officer (and firm owner) Aaron Bailey, by demanding almost $1 million dollars in compensatory and punitive damages.

In truth, however, these officers were innocent of all charges, and were simply taking the courses approved by Mr. Leggett and the County Council. And, as I argued on this blog months ago, who in the county would we want to have a gun more than a well-trained, law enforcement professional? What is the danger in a police officer owning an additional gun?

Now, a highly-respected Montgomery County Circuit Court judge has ruled in the case, finding the defendant not guilty. In the process, the judge spoke out, and was quoted in the back pages of yesterday's Washington Post, which had initially failed to report this very important story.

Take it away, your honor:

"There was an amount of embarrassment at some point that caused the county to bring this action. If the [executive and council] feel they got duped, or they feel embarrassed, or they feel they shouldn't have to pay [Bailey], well, that's their fault, that's not the defendant's fault. ...I am going to assume that these [officers] got quality courses and are better law enforcement officers for it, and that our county is safer now for having gone to this course. And I'm also going to assume that they got a discount on a gun, and we want law enforcement officers to have guns. It helps to fight bad guys."

- Circuit Judge Terrence J. McGann

What it boiled down to is this, in the words of Post reporter Dan Morse:

"Montgomery County officials were so stung by criticism over a tuition assistance program that they filed a groundless lawsuit against a police officer to recover more than $400,000, a judge said as he dismissed the suit this week."

The exonerated defendant's attorney summed up the executive and council's action in this analysis:

"The county filed its complaint in bad faith and without substantial justification in an effort to deflect clearly anticipated criticism aimed at the responsible county officials... and to attempt to preserve their reputations in the upcoming elections in November 2010. [Bailey and his firm] thereby became the scapegoats for the county's egregious mismanagement of taxpayer monies."

- Attorney Charles S. Rand, on behalf of Officer Bailey

These are words to take with you to the polls on November 2, as you can throw out the politicians who have repeatedly made county police officers scapegoats for their own fiscal mismanagement.

STILL WAITING FOR

INVITE FOR

POLITICAL PULSE AND

INSIDE OUT ON MMC 16

The MMC 16 countdown continues!

Just think, Charles Duffy and Pat Smith, your political program, too, could have a guest who represents the other side of the arguments! Just like the ones on national TV!

That guest would be Robert Dyer!

Now that you've had all of the Democratic candidates for County Council At-Large on your programs, it's time to give some of that taxpayer-funded airtime to a Republican candidate in the race - one who filed months ago.

30 minutes of softball questions, just like they got.

The voters are waiting to find out how long you can shut me out from equal time, which is required by the FCC. It just makes sense to give the voters a chance to hear what I have to say.

And let's have some additional debates, as well!

How about having two more televised debates in July and August?

How about it?

Why can't we have several civil discussions of the issues facing Montgomery County?

MONTGOMERY COUNTY

POLICE OFFICERS CLEARED

OF FALSE ACCUSATIONS IN

TUITION-ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

You won't find this in the Washington Post - the newspaper that falsely accused members of the Montgomery County Police Department of ripping off the taxpayer, simply by taking courses that had been approved by the county government, and outrageously referred to them as "crooked cops" - but the Examiner reported yesterday that Detective Aaron Bailey was not guilty of the trumped-up charges pressed by the county.

Remember I told you that no crime had been committed? Now a judge has said so, as well.

This was only the latest disgraceful episode in which the county executive and council tried to make our county police scapegoats for their own mismanagement of the county's finances.

Last year, they tried to accuse disabled officers of falsely collecting retirement benefits. Every officer was cleared in that case, too, by the Federal government and the Washington Post's own investigation.

According to the Examiner, the county isn't done disrespecting police officers yet; officials are now threatening to "reduce paid leave for officers involved."

Let me get this straight. Ike Leggett and the County Council are going to take away paid leave from police officers who have been cleared of any wrongdoing by a court of law?

It's outrageous.

Support our police officers, and volunteer and career firefighters by electing a councilmember who will restore their raises and COLAs, oppose any attempt to reduce compensation for public safety employees, and - perhaps most importantly - finally restore a sense of respect on the council for these employees and volunteers who risk their lives each day, to protect the citizens of Montgomery County. Elect Robert Dyer!

MMC 16

EQUAL TIME

VIOLATION

COUNTDOWN

CONTINUES

All-Democrat "Political Pulse," "Inside Out" Exclude

Robert Dyer from the County Council At-Large Discussion

My entry that exposed how the county cable office is using "MMC 16" programs "Political Pulse," and "Inside Out" to promote the Democratic County Council At-Large candidates - while not extending a similar invitation to me - has gotten quite a bit of feedback from readers.

Don't worry, we're going to continue to hold them accountable and bring this violation of the FCC's Equal Time provision to the public's attention, until they extend the invitation to me to appear for a similar 30-minute, relaxed, easy-going conversation with softball questions and no tough follow-ups to my answers - just like George Leventhal, Duchy Trachtenburg, Marc Elrich, Hans Reimer, Becky Wagner and Jane de Winter have had!

What are "Political Pulse" and "Inside Out" afraid of? Another viewpoint that doesn't support the incumbents' delusional talking points? A candidate who will actually fundamentally restructure county government, instead of just raising taxes on the poor, the elderly, working families and the disabled?

Do Charles Duffy and Pat Smith want another 4 years of flat, regressive taxes on the poor of Montgomery County?

Is a new type of county leader, with new ideas that might actually solve the major problems we face, an inconvenient voice to have on these programs?

Is it frightening to them to consider that the public might actually find what I have to say appealing?

Let's keep the heat on MMC 16.

What's the deal?

When am I going to receive equal time on this taxpayer-funded channel?

Where's my invitation to appear?

A lot of people are waiting for the answers to a lot of these questions.

It's going to be interesting to see how long they hold out, when the partisan bias is becoming more apparent every passing day.

Is there no intellectual curiosity among the Montgomery County political elite? Imagine if the Greek philosophers had locked themselves in an echo chamber. Where would our civilization be today?

Is this how we advance the county? By advancing one set of messages over and over each week? The same old, failed messages that have left our county's finances, economic base and infrastructure in ruins?

(By the way, there is no website, email or phone contacts for either program, so they apparently are not open to public input).

Charles, Pat: Call me.

ELRICH HAS

"DISCONNECT"

BETWEEN WORDS,

HIS VOTES

Montgomery County Councilmember Marc "No Developer Influence" Elrich is at it again. Four years ago, it sounded like he and Marilyn Praisner might be the only rational voices on development on the council. By 2010, however, Councilmember Elrich's voting record tells a different story. Now that it's time to face the voters, and still hold on to his newfound developer supporters, Elrich is telling quite a few different stories.

In yesterday's Gazette article on the retirement of Royce "Dr. Yes" Hanson, Elrich speaks of a "disconnect" between the Planning Board and residents who live near the future "Science City."

After calling for, and getting, tax cuts for developers (while you, the citizen, got tax increases), Elrich is suddenly sounding like his old 2006 self:

Elrich (correctly) charges that county planners favor an "obscene level" of traffic gridlock. And (correctly, again) that the Planning Board views residents as an "obstacle" to their plans.

"We've heard a lot about planning for 20 years from now, but not for people who live here now - I think that's wrong," thunders Elrich in the Gazette.

"This is the largest group of un-listened-to people I've ever seen," fumes Elrich (actually, it's not - the largest such group is the taxpayers of Montgomery County, who strongly opposed the new taxes and dangerous Ambulance Fee that Mr. Elrich defiantly voted for, in yet another example of the County Council governing against the People - who pay their salaries!).

There's just one problem with all of this unrighteous "No Developer Influence" indignation:

MARC ELRICH VOTED FOR THE SCIENCE CITY

PLAN, AKA "CARMAGEDDON WEST"

AND

MARC ELRICH VOTED FOR THE WHITE FLINT

PLAN, AKA "CARMAGEDDON EAST"

!!!

Talk about a "disconnect."

Mr. Elrich has claimed to oppose this sort of monster, out-of-control development. Yet Science City and White Flint are the most extreme examples of such development. If Elrich did not assert his "no developer influence" independence at those moments, when in the future would he ever do so?

Science City and White Flint were the big tests of whether or not developers would be able to run absolutely wild across the county. Guess what? The developers controlled the Planning Board, Dr. Yes, and the council. They won. And Mr. Elrich did not make a principled vote to stop it.

Now he wants to be his old self again, but it's too late. Pandora's box is open, and if this council and Mr. Elrich are reelected, 9 mph is the new top speed for rush hour in Montgomery County - it says that in the plans Mr. Elrich and every single one of his colleagues voted for!

On November 2nd, you'll have the opportunity to elect a new councilmember - Robert Dyer - who doesn't change his positions every 5 minutes, who stands on principles, who can provide the kind of leadership that can deliver Change Beyond Belief. If elected to the council, I will promote a sensible growth policy that doesn't sell the county's soul to the developers. That protects our waterways, doesn't crowd our classrooms or worsen our traffic gridlock. And I can take action to "stop payment" on the blank check this council gave the developers at Science City and White Flint.

Is that the kind of councilman and growth policy you want? Elect Robert Dyer!

THEY TURNED IT

OFF, MAN!

Did RobertDyer.net do it again? The malfunctioning TV tower lights on River Road in Bethesda that I wrote about yesterday morning were fixed by the evening. I'm sure there were residents who complained about the lights. However, in searching the internet, I could find no one else discussing the issue besides my blog. So it certainly didn't hurt to have my exclusive expose online early yesterday morning.