Breaking News:

Washington Post

Protects PEPCO;

Covers Up 2007

Thanksgiving Day

Blackout

Today's Washington Post contains only a brief, vague paragraph regarding PEPCO's Thanksgiving Day blackout yesterday. It mentions not a word about Thanksgiving dinners being ruined. It mentions nothing about the cause or why it took PEPCO so long to turn the power back on, when they knew it was an important holiday. Could it be that, like Bill Bronrott, Marilyn Goldwater, and Susan Lee, the Post was also the recipient of PEPCO cash?

This blackout was a disgrace and there is no excuse for the Post covering it up. I even called the news desk and left my name and number, which I was told would be forwarded to the Metro editor. Almost 24 hours later, I have not received a call. It turns out they don't need comments from the victims of PEPCO's 2007 Thanksgiving Blackout, because they are going to cover it up to help their apparent friends at PEPCO. PEPCO: The Grinch that Stole Thanksgiving. THE WASHINGTON POST: The newspaper that helped the Grinch make a getaway. Regardless, PEPCO must pay the bills for those customers whose Thanksgivings they ruined yesterday.

PEPCO has reached a new low. PEPCO is the Grinch that Stole Thanksgiving!! PEPCO turned off all power to my street from 4:00 to 7:20 P.M. Everyone's Thanksgiving dinner was ruined, thanks to PEPCO. Don't give me any of that baloney about the wind; there was not a single limb or tree down on the line. In fact, much as during PEPCO's infamous January 1999 eight day blackout(!!!), power was momentarily restored for about two minutes before going out again. I am tired of these fake power outages. Is this Cuba or the United States? Last time I checked it was the U.S., so turn the power back on, comrades!!

With the outrageous rate increases, endorsed by Bill Bronrott, Marilyn Goldwater, and Susan Lee, customers expect an improvement in service. A Thanksgiving blackout is a new low for PEPCO. Even more than Christmas, Thanksgiving is a day that requires power in order to cook the Thanksgiving dinner. I realize this is not a priority for PEPCO and their friends on the extreme left who protect them, but for the rest of America it is a priority.

The fact is, as I told you last year, Bronrott, Goldwater (and possibly her successor, Bill Frick, in the future), and Lee all get a fat check each year from their friends at PEPCO. In return, they allow PEPCO to raise your rates to new levels, while customer service hits a new low. Comcast has the same deal going. So there is no accountability, no competition, your rates go up, and you can't get a single live person on the phone to complain to. It's outrageous. Get this straight: YOU WILL NEVER HAVE EXCELLENT SERVICE FROM PEPCO OR COMCAST UNTIL YOU ELECT NEW REPRESENTATIVES WHO AREN'T BEHOLDEN TO THEM.

Anyone who knows me knows that Robert Dyer is the People's Crusader when it comes to PEPCO's high rates and failure to provide the level of service equal to the excessive cost. Last year I made competition in utilities a major issue in my campaign. Robert Dyer is apparently the only one who will speak out on behalf of the citizens of Bethesda. PEPCO must pay the bills for every customer who lost power today, including food that had to be thrown out, and the restaurant bill for those of us who increased the 5% of Americans who eat Thanksgiving dinner at restaurants today.

To PEPCO and their elected friends in Annapolis and Rockville, the Grinches who Stole Thanksgiving: Bah humbug. To everyone else, Happy Thanksgiving.

Breaking news:

BRONROTT, FRICK, AND LEE

VOTE FOR SLOTS

Welcome to the Waffle House, ladies and gentlemen. Although we can understand Bill Frick voting for slots, as his law firm Akin Gump is a major lobbyist for the gaming industry, Bill Bronrott and Susan Lee have no such pro-slots history. Bronrott and Lee have told you for years that slots are the instrument of the devil himself, and will surely lead to moral and societal decay in Montgomery County. (If the County Council doesn't bring us there first). Now the new Bronrott and Lee join "The Gambler," Bill Frick, in voting for the slots referendum which will almost surely be approved by Democrats statewide in the 2008 election. Why? Because they've all flip-flopped on slots for personal and political gain.

I've already told you in the past how the casino industry mysteriously offered no support or outreach to slots supporters such as myself in 2006. They also transferred their massive financial contributions from popular former governor Bob Ehrlich to Martin O'Malley that same year. This was a Faustian bargain between the gaming industry and the Maryland Democratic Party that is now reaping the benefits for the industry and Democrats alike. It is an embarrassment for both the gaming industry, which stabbed Republicans in the back like nobody's business last year, and for their new best friends the Democrats, home to District 16's own hypocrites, Bronrott, Frick (even he weakly claimed to be anti-slots), and Lee. And also for the 5 Republican delegates who joined the Democrats in voting for yesterday's bill. For shame, for shame.

"Gimme, gimme, gimme."

Brian Frosh turns to a colleague during Senate passage of the largest, most regressive tax increase in Maryland history, exhorting him to get more taxes out of the residents of District 16. This included a Frosh measure that would have forced summer vacation renters to pay Maryland income taxes, thereby devastating the rental home and condo market in Ocean City. Another day, another billion dollars for the extremist, far-left agenda in Annapolis.

Photo: The Gazette

BREAKING NEWS:

BRONROTT, FRICK, AND LEE VOTE FOR HIGHEST,

MOST REGRESSIVE TAX INCREASE IN

MARYLAND HISTORY

District 16's delegates, William Bronrott, Bill Frick, and Susan Lee have voted for the largest, most regressive tax increase in Maryland history. The bills they voted for not only rob working families but savagely penalize the most vulnerable in our community: the poor, children, the sick, the disabled, and the elderly. It is shameful. Shameful.

Having taken $4 million from Maryland children, Governor O'Malley and his allies Bronrott, Frick, Lee, and Frosh are now going to prey on the senior citizens and disabled of District 16. In another move out of (really far) left field, they are putting a 6% tax on snow removal service! Again, this is not a misprint. The majority of customers for snow removal are the elderly and disabled who need professionals to clear walkways and driveways. Don't expect any sympathy from these greedy Democrats if you are elderly or disabled. As I told you earlier, there is no low that is too low for these individuals when it comes to taking your hard-earned money.

Environmental Hypocrisy, Vol. 247, Chapter II

Let the oil spill in the San Francisco Bay be a lesson to anyone - such as the ultra-hypocritical Washington Post - who is calling for oil drilling near the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay. As we've seen over 2007 in Rockville and Annapolis, the unthinkable is becoming reality all around us. I support additional drilling for domestic oil, but not in highly sensitive environments like the Maryland/Virginia coast. Yet this is what the Post and others are proposing. These are the same people who want to put an environmental catastrophe off the coast of Ocean City by building a turbine farm that will harm wildlife and mar the view of el mar. We need to stop this. But let's review the environmental "achievements" of Democratic Annapolis in 2007:

• Banned Dish Detergent. Effect on Bay pollution/environment: zero.


• Passed "Clean Cars Act," adding $3000 to sticker price on cars when Maryland dealerships are already suffering from lower sales. Effect on Bay pollution/environment: zero.

The Robert Dyer environmental plan actually addresses the contamination and pollution in our environment without resorting to scare tactics, distortions, and pseudo-science. Highlights include tough measures to reduce the three actual sources of Bay pollution, a revolutionary solar energy program that will clean the air and cut energy bills, new rail transit options, a real crackdown on polluters, etc. Importantly, it does not punish the taxpayer or harm wildlife like the plans and laws currently eminating from Annapolis. These days, punishment and harm are about all that is eminating from Annapolis.

Chuck E. Cheese is asking you to call your delegates and senator to stop the madness. Yes, it's true: Martin O'Malley is even going after your children's money, with a tax increase on arcade games! That is not a misprint. O'Malley is taxing video games. And haircuts. And public parking lots and garages. And landscaping service. Gift cards you don't use? The unused amounts are scheduled to be seized by O'Malley and his far-left cronies in Annapolis. They are shockingly out of touch with the residents of Maryland, as such arbitrary gift card deadlines are under investigation by Attorneys General nationwide. Remember, this is the governor who said slots were "morally bankrupt," but is now the biggest proponent of one-armed bandits in America. And of the largest, most regressive tax increase on the poor and middle class in American history - that's no joke, run the numbers yourself. Like the Washington Post, there is absolutely no limit to how low down and dirty O'Malley and the far-left will get in foisting their extremist agenda on every man, woman, and child in the state of Maryland.

And what a tremendous embarrassment for the Washington Post last night, as Republican Corey Stewart won reelection in a landslide in Prince William County. The Post put every resource they had behind Mr. Stewart's opponent, as they continue their gentrifying blitzkrieg into Washington D.C., and Northern Virginia. They even stooped to call one Republican "clownish" in their pathetic roundup of endorsements. We remember well how the Post insulted Republican candidates in the most childish way last year, and then proceeded to lie in their endorsement editorials. It is shameful, and unethical. And once again, it has failed.

Christmas starts earlier every year. The Heat Miser, aka Governor Martin O'Malley, has already taken his throne in Annapolis and is prepared to drain the lifeforce of every poor, middle-class and wealthy individual in the state of Maryland.

In 36 years, I have never witnessed a regressive tax plan of this magnitude. The sheer number of new taxes being proposed is simply beyond belief. It's more a question of "which taxes are not going to be increased?" Martin O'Malley, Bill Bronrott, Susan Lee, Bill Frick, and Brian Frosh make Bill Clinton seem like a supply-sider by comparison. Usually, a government proposes increasing the income tax or the sales tax; not both.

Local Catholic Church officials released a document reminding lawmakers that taxation should be based on the ability of an individual to pay. A progressive tax system takes more from those who can afford to pay more. The O'Malley plan is not progressive at all; it is the largest regressive tax increase in Maryland history.

What does the average working-class Maryland man do after work? He might go to a bar or pub, smoke cigarettes and have one or more drinks. Well, guess who's working the bar tonight? The governor himself, and that tab is going to send our working-class man into bankruptcy. How about a whopping $3 tax ($2 MD + $1 Federal) per pack of cigarettes? At a pack a day, that comes to $1095 a year! Now add on Montgomery County's own Jennie Forehand $2 liquor tax on those frosty mugs... $730 a year! Granted, I'm not endorsing this as a healthy lifestyle, but the lower one's income is, the more likely a person is to smoke. Here our self-proclaimed "progressive" governor has added almost $2000 to the financial burden of those least able to afford it, and that covers only 2 of the taxes on the list.

And speaking of healthy lifestyles, if you belong to a gym or health club, and are trying to live a healthy lifestyle, the governor is going to punish you! Shame on you for working out! Now pay the new O'Malley-Bronrott-Lee-Frick-Frosh health club tax.

How about driving up the already inflated cost of rent with the new real estate services tax? Martin O'Malley will do it. So desperate is he for every last cent that he can redirect to a far-left agenda and his wealthy campaign contributors, that he is willing to devastate the already devastated poor across the state of Maryland.

So let's have a quick taxation tutorial: Taxes serve 3 purposes in society, and one can argue against all three, but three they are. First, taxes provide funds for government, which ideally exists to protect the Constitution rights of all Americans and should limit its involvement in our lives. Second, taxes can affect the economy in positive and negative ways. Finally, taxes can be used to modify behavior, although I would argue that in most cases that is not true. Behaviors are notoriously hard to change, and citizens simply end up paying more taxes.

What, then, to make of this nightmarish O'Malley mother of all tax increases? It raises incredible amounts of money from the poorest among us and does not even clarify what that amount will be spent on. I'm proud to have opposed the outrageous, unfunded Thornton mandates during the election last year, when every intelligent person knew that a) we could not afford it, and b) the money has had no effect on the worst schools in the state. I have advocated switching to a funding system based on merits of particular projects and reforms. This would not only keep the budget within its means, but would also force jurisdictions such as Baltimore to finally provide the education its students deserve. All the politicians supporting this simply want more money to play with and give to their bigshot contributors - who then pay them back with more contributions.

Stop the madness; call your delegates and senator and tell them you oppose this inhuman, mean-spirited, draconian, regressive tax scheme. But no one should be surprised; if you elect far-left Democrats, your wallet is going to take a hit. Don't blame me, I voted for Ehrlich.

~

Crime Wave Continues

I hate to keep saying I told you so, but I continue to be absolutely vindicated as the violent crime wave continues in Montgomery County. I was the only candidate who talked about crime during the campaign last year, and our current delegates famously have done nothing to stop our current crime wave that is now in its second year.

Are you ready for this? 6:40 P.M., Halloween night... The Safeway in Twinbrook, packed with customers. Four masked men with guns shoot a cashier and get away. The record of our elected officials during this violent crime wave has been shameful.

I leave you with this quote from the Gazette today, if you want to know the effects of government inaction on violent crime:

"Ghassan Abbasi, who moved to the neighborhood two weeks ago, came upon the crime [scene] as he approached the supermarket last night."

‘‘I just moved here from California actually,” he said. ‘‘That was an ugly sight to see right away.” Abbasi says he is already considering moving.

The latest assault on Ocean City is now coming from a wind power corporation and its allies in Annapolis. Just this year, developers and their elected buddies slated the historic Trimper's amusement park for destruction in favor of "mixed use development." While those of us who realize that Trimper's is essential to the historic inlet area of Ocean City are fighting that proposal, now a second front has opened: an oceanfront, to be precise.

Hopefully you are sitting down at the moment. A New Jersey company, arm in arm with paid-off government officials, is attempting to ram through a wind farm directly off the coast of Ocean City. They did this in Delaware. They successfully pulled off a scam here in Maryland to have an environmentally-damaging wind farm constructed in Western Maryland, thanks to their campaign donations to members of the General Assembly. Now they want to destroy the natural view and environment of our classic seashore. Ladies and gentlemen, the line must be drawn here.

Understand the implication of this wind farm: It is absolutely going to be visible from the shore. It is hideous and manmade. It is going to severely harm birds and aquatic life. It must be stopped. The time is now to start writing your elected officials and letters to the editor. Wind farms off the coast are a no go, much like drilling.

~

Now, of course, don't count on being heard in the Washington Post or Gazette. First of all, you should know that the Washington Post - without informing its readers - has some financial interest in oil. It will be interesting to find out what the Post's position is on this wind farm proposal. What's their connection to oil? We don't know. But here's what we do know: they constantly criticize Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, a rival oil producer and U.S. supplier. And most shockingly, the Post endorsed drilling for oil near the entrance to the Chesapeake Bay and off the coast of Ocean City!!! This from the supposed environmentalist Washington Post.

Need more evidence of the Post's unethical reporting? They have still refused to print the truth about new delegate Bill Frick, that his law firm is a major lobbyist on Capitol Hill for the gaming industry. This, of course, when we are about to vote on slots in Maryland. It is shameful reporting, unethical, and there is no excuse; they are aware of the conflict of interest and have willingly chosen to protect Mr. Frick and his Democratic colleagues.

Not enough? The Post also refused to tell the public about the laughable appointment of the Purple Line Advisory Group by the Planning Board. Apparently, critics of developers and the Planning Board needed not apply - I was not named to the Group. Here is the statement I released following the approval of the small list chosen by staff, not the Planning Board:

"As a citizen who volunteered to serve on the Purple Line Functional Master Plan Advisory Group, I am disappointed in the process by which the members were chosen by the staff of the Montgomery County Planning Board.

The Planning Board staff has done nothing more than assemble the usual suspects, rather than having fresh faces review an increasingly stale debate. This looks like a list of people who should be testifying before the Advisory Group, not sitting on it. It primarily includes individuals who have already taken a position for or against a specific alignment, and equipment, for the Purple Line project. Mier Wolf's town of Chevy Chase is spending $250,000 to stop the Purple Line. Developers and business interests on the list, by contrast, will benefit from the Purple Line. My impression was that this commission was to be made up of average citizens, to assist in reaching a compromise that would benefit the entire community. It is difficult to imagine how this particular panel will be able to reach an objective consensus.

My letter of interest highlighted three concerns: cost savings, environmental impact, and disability access. I do not see a single person on the list who reflects comprehensive environmental concerns. Who on this list is going to be focused on ensuring that stations and equipment are fully accessible to riders with disabilities? I also recognize only one person on this list as a Republican, when this should be a bipartisan or nonpartisan effort. Apparently, these were not concerns of planning staff.

Finally, I question why the staff is only presenting these few, out of eighty applicants, to the Board for approval. Staff answers to neither the County Council nor the citizens, and therefore should not be deciding who is appointed to such an important endeavour."

Robert Dyer
Bethesda

~

In closing, the results are in for that "mixed-use" development: Rockville Town Center has so far been a failure. The restaurants were not upscale. I thought Bobby's Crabcakes was supposed to be the Ruth's Chris of crabcakes. It turned out to be a sandwich shop. Rockville is nothing like Bethesda at night. And there are just a handful of people living in the condos and apartments. Before this scheme spreads any further throughout the county - Royce Hanson admitted this week what I already knew: a secret plan by developers, politicians, and the status quo to build a "Bethesda Row" along 355 from Bethesda to Clarksburg. This is outrageous stuff. The demand is not there. The housing and office spaces are vacant. Stop it. Now. The environment and quality of life will suffer for the financial benefit of the developers. In 2010, vote the developers out of office, and put citizens back in charge of our community. After all, we live here. They don't.

One small step towards finally getting bus service to downtown Bethesda along River Road. This was a major issue in my campaign. It boggles the mind: in a county where politicians claim to support mass transit use, and a cleaner environment, there is no bus to take you from the River Road-area suburbs of Bethesda to the downtown! In other words, by not offering this service, county officials are implicitly advocating automotive travel for 100% of trips to downtown Bethesda.

On the eve of Bethesda's biggest annual event, the Best of Bethesda/Taste of Bethesda, tomorrow, October 6 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM, I have taken my message to the top. Montgomery County's cable channel 6 aired a live program in which one could ask questions of County Executive Ike Leggett and County Council President Marilyn Praisner. I managed to get through and made my case for the River Road express bus to downtown Bethesda. Both officials promised to forward this proposal for review, and to determine the potential ridership for the route.

Such a bus would allow residents to avoid the traffic and parking problems in downtown Bethesda. One could simply disembark from the bus and use the Bethesda Circulator to access restaurants, shopping, and all of the other amenities the downtown offers. Senior citizens, and minors who can't drive, would finally have a one stop service to downtown Bethesda.

Best of all, the environment would be cleaner. This would be an excellent route to use a natural gas, hybrid, or hydrogen-powered bus. We have to make the commitment to a cleaner environment and this is a tangible and easy way to accomplish this. I would hope that, eventually, the route could officially be an "Express Bus," using not only an environmentally-friendly vehicle, but also the new technology that would enable it to change lights to green as it approaches each intersection. It can be done. So write to the County Executive and Council, and tell them you want bus service to downtown Bethesda on River Road.

I've been the only one following the 2006-2007 crime wave, and the only one who warned that we needed to give police officers the tools to compete in this new age.

The latest reports are coming in, and sadly, once again I am thoroughly vindicated. I wish that the policies promoted by Delegates Bronrott, Goldwater, and Lee; Senator Frosh; and Governor O'Malley had not resulted in a continued crime wave. But examine the reports, and ask yourself: who do you trust? Certainly not Bronrott, Lee, Frosh, O'Malley, and their allies in Annapolis.

Here are the headlines:

Time magazine: A Surge in Cop Killings

"[T]he nation's police officers...are being targeted and killed in greater numbers than at any time in recent years."

"Police officers killed in the line of duty surged to the highest midyear count in nearly three decades...up nearly 60% over last year."

"You have to come to the conclusion that some of these heinous criminals just don't care. Earlier in our history there was a code of some sense of respect, even among the most heinous criminals, that you would never harm a police officer, certainly never kill a police officer." - National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund President Craig Floyd

"Miami Police Chief John Timoney's answer to the emboldened attacks on his colleagues is to give them matching firepower...AR 15s, a military-grade assault weapon. "Cops understandably feel they are outgunned," Timoney says. "Nine, ten months ago we looked at what can we do to give the officers a fair chance." "

Hmm... "Nine, ten months ago," I was running for office and advocating "matching firepower." My opponents had no comment on our crime wave.

What crime wave, you say? You haven't been reading the papers.

From The Gazette's latest edition:

"[H]ome invasions...have been concentrated mostly in the Bethesda and Potomac areas, according to police."

‘‘'It seems like every time we have a home invasion — except one time in the Fourth District,” said Cpl. Jimmy Robinson, a police spokesman, ‘‘it is usually in the Bethesda or Potomac area.'”

"There were 22 residential burglaries in the Second District between Aug. 14 and Sept. 12, police records showed."

Failed leadership on crime, in the wealthiest state in America.

Photo: Carl Juste/AP

Goldwatergate is a now a runaway train. Outrage is bipartisan here in District 16, and if anything, the Democrats are even more furious. No one had any clue that Bill Frick would prevail over Reggie Oldak or Don Mooers. Just listen to what one Democrat, calling him or herself "bitter in bethesda" had to say on the progressive blog, Free State Politics, the day after the Frick appointment:

"...the selection of Bill Frick in District 16 was the result of a coordinated effort both within and without the Central Committee, an effort which made not even the slightest nod towards the interests of the voters of District 16."

"Bill Frick, a young (32) activist with an appealing personality but a thin resume."

"Does anyone believe that, in a contest before the voters of District 16, that Bill Frick would have stood a chance against Mooers, Oldak, or any of the other candidates? The answer is no, not a chance."

"Not to mention the utter contempt shown for the voters of District 16, 99% of whom probably don't even know who Bill Frick is."

"[T]he Central Committee was motivated by an unknown agenda and picked a clearly inferior candidate."

"Was the District 16 fiasco orchestrated or motivated by outside forces?"

Sure, you'll find a few apologist Democrats who'll tell you Frick was superqualified and a real swell guy, and why-don't-you-pretend-this-didn't-happen-keep-quiet-about-slot-machines-slot-lobbying-Akin-Gump-Miller-Leggett-O'Malley-and-get-back-on-the-bandwagon. But the majority opinions are certainly more entertaining.

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.

An indictment of failed leadership:

Maryland is now officially the wealthiest state in America.

Maryland is officially #4(!) on the list of states with the most violent crime.

This is what do-nothing "leadership" on crime ends in: disaster.

And no one should congratulate themselves on the wealthiest label. That has ended up in the hands of a few, not working families. It's worth remembering that powerful statistic from the 2006 holiday shopping season: many fewer Americans shopped; the smaller number that did shop bought more than ever. That reinforces the fact that the rich simply are getting richer and the poor, poorer. Now the talk out of Annapolis and Rockville is "tax working families." Remember, gas taxes, service taxes, vehicle-related "fees," road and bridge tolls, and cigarette, alcohol and hospitality taxes are taxes on the poor and working families. The wealthy are willing and painlessly able to pay such "nuisance" taxes. To working families, these taxes are absolutely devastating. Not everyone in Montgomery County is rich; many sacrifice and work hard to live in this relatively safe area with excellent schools. With credit and mortgages now denied to the average citizen, the powers-that-be are now going to drive up the already outrageous cost of apartment rent in Bethesda and elsewhere. Stay tuned for a full analysis of this and other real-world economic issues, as our elected officials continue to wreak havoc on working families statewide.

The slots machine continues to convert opponents to supporters in Montgomery County. In this pull of the arm, the industry got three matching photos of County Executive Ike Leggett in the three windows. What payout is due? The potential compliance of Montgomery County's Democratic delegates in legalizing slots. I don't know if any hypocrisy can match that of Annapolis' record on the environment, but the slots flip-flop is coming close.

It turns out that Ike Leggett had a secret, off-the-record meeting with our Democratic delegates on July 30, according to the Washington Post. The article goes on to state that "some people at the meeting objected," but only State Senator Jamie Raskin went on the record. Who else "objected," and why haven't we heard from them a full month later? Obviously, because they are now on board the Slots Express. This political sham concocted in a team effort between the Democratic Party and the casino industry, caused me to cancel my reservation on the Slots Express. Because that train was assembled by less-than-noble causes, I suspect it is heading to a dark destination where I and most Marylanders don't want to go. And the evidence keeps pouring in, as Thomas Schaller wrote in a recent Baltimore Sun editorial:

"During his term, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., Mr. O'Malley's predecessor, spent a lot of political capital trying to move several versions of a slots bill through the General Assembly, to no avail. He and other Republicans now complain that their efforts were thwarted precisely to deprive Mr. Ehrlich of a political victory before his re-election bid - and there's some truth to that."

My bottom line question for Governor O'Malley is, why, when Maryland was just named the richest state in America, is he going to balance decades of mistakes by the Democratic legislature on the backs of working families? Nothing should be done until every reform and cut can be applied to the budget. If there is truly no other recourse, any tax should be on those who can afford to pay it, not the poor. Were the current talking points to become law, it would be an immoral action by this governor and legislature.

Crime Wave Continues; County Police Running Out of Bullets

As I am the only person who is following the violent crime crisis in Maryland, here are some of the latest stories. We already know that while the county government wastes funds on the strangest things - including unethical County Council vacations paid for by lobbyists, as reported in today's Post - it for some reason cannot afford to renovate Bethesda's 2nd District Police Station! Like I kept repeating during the campaign, priorities and values, priorities and values. What are the priorities and values of your elected officials when they can't even provide basic facilities for the men and women protecting our community? Now the county government has failed to provide enough funds to cover the cost of ammunition. It's outrageous. But we don't need more firepower, say our elected officials, because there's no serious crime. Well, try this on for size:

Here are two quotes from the July 26 Worcester County Times:

"Berlin is a hotspot for year-round drug activity." - Joel Todd, Worcester County State's Attorney

"There is some gang activity in Dorchester County and we remain alert and vigilant." - Worcester County Sheriff Charles Martin

As they say, the first step is admitting you have a problem.

Tom Perez said, "Hit me!" this week, and shadow governor Peter Franchot was all too happy to oblige. Tom Perez - former liberal on the Montgomery County Council, and now a Martin O'Malley cabinet member - The Gambler? Who knew? We all found out this week when Secretary Perez released a favorable report on gambling in Maryland that sounded awfully familiar. It included language and talking points directly from the casino industry. Franchot echoed my reaction in a press conference in Salisbury, and he is absolutely correct.

It's mighty strange. A year ago, when I was running for Delegate and popular Governor Bob Ehrlich was running for reelection, the casino industry was nowhere to be found. But recently, every time you flip a light on in the state of Maryland, casino backers are scurrying towards the cabinets. What's going on here? Let me tell you. The casino industry has shown its hand.

This was a risky bet that paid off big for the slots business. Here's the deal: Bob Ehrlich made the case, and slots were a sure bet for Maryland. But, hold it, said Mike Miller and other partisan Democrats in Annapolis. "If slots come in now, Bob Ehrlich will get all the credit!" Leveraging their power, slots were amazingly tabled until 2007. Now, the same Democrats who blamed slots for every societal ill are suddenly lining up behind the one-arm bandits.

I was in favor of slots up until this point. On paper, slots make sense to provide desperately needed funds. But now I'm questioning what we're getting in return for slots based on not only this political sham, but my personal experience during the 2006 campaign.

In 2006, I endorsed slot machines for racetracks, just as O'Malley has. But in all the months of the campaign, I never heard one word from anyone in the gaming industry. Remember, all of my opponents were against slots. You would think the industry would have reached out and had a dialogue on the issue. But there were no words and certainly no financial contributions. (The same goes for all of those phony medical societies which claim to be so concerned about medical malpractice reform). This revealed that they were more concerned with helping elect Democrats than helping the residents of Maryland. Count me as a new skeptic about slots now. I question the casino industry's commitment to the state of Maryland and to assisting our horse racing industry.

Peru Earthquake

This has been a terrible tragedy. It is important locally, as many Peruvians live in the area. I am hopeful that the U.S. will offer a temporary amnesty to immigrants from Peru until the situation can be stabilized. Here are some quotes from an AP report on the current chaos in Peru:

"As many as 80 percent of the people in quake-hit urban areas may not have access to clean water and many rural communities still have not been reached to assess the damage, said Dominic Nutt, part of an emergency assessment team in Peru for the aid agency Save the Children."

"'The situation is probably worse than first imagined,' Nutt said."

"We don't have water. The tents have not arrived," said Maria Tataja, 38, who shared an open-fronted shelter with nine other people.

"There is nothing to eat. There is a lot of looting going on," he said. - Motorcycle taxi driver Marco Coila

The Goldwater Scandal Continues to Unfold

Reaction to the resignation of Marilyn Goldwater continues... To update, the Democratic colleagues of Ms. Goldwater, and their friends at the Washington Post and The Gazette, deliberately misled the voters regarding her health condition. As a result, we lost 1/3 of our representation in Annapolis in 2007. Further, now that she has resigned, 12 Democrats - not the voters - will choose a replacement who will serve almost a full term without ever having been approved by the residents of District 16. It's outrageous. On that very subject, here is a quote from an objective Democrat from a Gazette article:

[Former Democratic delegate Cheryl C.]Kagan and others pointed out that one-tenth of the county Annapolis delegation could effectively be chosen by a majority vote of the Central Committee — or 12 people.

‘‘These legislators will not have been elected, but selected,” Kagan said. ‘‘I think it raises questions about the fairness of the process.”

So much for democracy.

You've been had.

It's official, Marilyn Goldwater has stepped down. Exactly as I warned you would happen. I predicted she would not serve if reelected, and she never cast a single vote this year. I also predicted that she would cross the finish line on election day and resign. It just happened. District 16 was cheated out of 1/3 of its representation for a full year in Annapolis.

Bill Bronrott, Susan Lee, Brian Frosh, the Washington Post, and The Gazette all told you that Ms. Goldwater could and would serve a four year term. They did not tell you the truth. Now they must be held accountable by the voters and the press. But don't expect much from the press. Predictably, neither the Post nor the Gazette contacted me - the candidate who lost as a result of the Goldwater fraud, for comment. Never mind that I had the highest number of votes behind the Democrats, and would have won had the voters known the truth about Marilyn Goldwater. Just a small detail, in the partisan, megacorporate world of the Post and Gazette.

Enjoy some quotes from today's soft-hitting articles:

‘‘I’m very sad to leave, but one has to know when to say goodbye,” Goldwater (D-Dist. 16) of Bethesda said in a telephone interview. ‘‘I hope that I’ve made a contribution that has helped people, and now it’s time to let other people do the job.” - from The Gazette

Wasn't 2006 the time to say goodbye and let other people do the job? Not after scamming our community out of 1/3 of our power in Annapolis? Why is now conveniently the time to say goodbye? Because the Democratic Central Committee - not you, the hard working taxpayer and voter - will choose your Delegate. That's right - they arbitrarily will choose your Delegate for you, after denying you that ability on November 7, 2006. So much for democracy.

"During the campaign, she denied speculation that if she were elected, she would resign and have the Democratic Central Committee appoint her successor. The Gazette endorsed Goldwater in 2006." - The Gazette

Well, at least they admit they endorsed her. Will they admit that they lied to you in that endorsement?

‘‘I think this was a good time to do it, to give [the committee] time to decide, and give whoever takes my seat time to get acclimated,” Goldwater said. ‘‘To wait any longer would have been unfair to everybody.”

‘‘To wait any longer would have been unfair to everybody.”

I couldn't have said it better myself. But why didn't Marilyn Goldwater say that in 2006 and just allow Reggie Oldak to fill the spot on the ballot? And why did Bronrott, Lee, Frosh, the Post and the Gazette deliberately mislead the public?

Remember that in 2010.

‘‘To wait any longer would have been unfair to everybody.”
-Marilyn Goldwater

I was right again. The results are in, and our elected officials have failed to keep their promises to clean up the Chesapeake Bay. As we know, they banned dish detergent, a useless move that will make life more difficult, more expensive, and more primitive for working families statewide in 2009. Useless, because even environmentalists acknowledged that detergent accounts for no more than 3% of phosphorus in the Bay, even by the most extreme measurements. Meanwhile, medical waste continues to flow down from Pennsylvania, industrial and energy-based pollutants continue to be put into the air and ground water, and polluters continue to dump toxic waste into tributaries and the Bay itself. And because these culprits have paid off our officials with massive campaign contributions, those officials simply will not take action until we vote them out of office.

Examine the latest report, quite a contrast to the fiction we've heard from O'Malley, Bronrott, Lee, and Frosh:

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration report "shows that the mid-Atlantic region, including the Chesapeake Bay, has the greatest concentration of estuaries with moderate to high levels of nutrients - the largest contributor to pollution. And the bay is one of the worst estuaries in the nation when it comes to pollution that creates oxygen-starved 'dead zones.'"

"Nutrients like phosphorus and nitrogen come from fertilizer and stormwater runoff as well as dirty air and outdated sewage treatment plants." - The Capital newspaper, Annapolis, MD

(Please note that they did not mention dish detergent as a source - as I just mentioned, it is not a significant source by any measurement.)

For shame, for shame.

In 2010, let's vote for real leadership for the Chesapeake Bay.