To all Maryland bloggers and friends - feel free to check in!
It's a great time to be a Maryland Kossack blogger, let me tell you.
Maryland is becoming the sort of place that would drive Rush Limbaugh crazy. The Maryland Court of Appeals is about to rule on a case, Conaway v. Deane, that may very well pave the way for same-sex marriage or at least its substantial equivalent, and now has not only numerous openly gay and lesbian Delegates in Annapolis but now an openly partners gay dad in the State Senate, which in Maryland is 1/3 as concentrated. Mind you, that gay dad roach-stomped his nominal Republican opposition, and no Democrat dared - dared - run against him. That same district, MD-18, also a very respectable run by Dr. Dana Beyer, a strong competitor in an 8 candidate race for three Delegate slots. I could go on but it could drive Limbaugh to drug abuse. Oh, wait....
The Republicans lost ground from lacking a veto-effecting 40% share in either house of the General Assembly to lacking now from a more painful, ice-cold distance. Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich took involuntary retirement as Mayor Martin O'Malley prevailed, as did Democratic Congressman Ben Cardin in his race for Senate. Maryland has 6 Democrats in Congress to 2 Republicans. Montgomery, Prince George's County and Baltimore City - together holding about 2.5 million people or about 45% of the state - have no Republicans at all in elected office at the County, State or federal level. None. It's where the Reverend Fred Phelps will live someday, once he's in Hell (which is where he claims murder victim Matthew Shepard is, but I digress.)
On the "Kos Meta" side we have the great pride of a BarbinMD of Baltimore's Fells Point as a front-pager here on DKos - way to go Barb!!
I am pleased to note that the liberal blogosphere is quite healthy in Maryland. We are perhaps a more challenging environment for blogging than you might think. A whole lot of people here are federal employees; while the Hatch Act does not bar political blogging per se, nobody wants to have any issues. Ditto with the massive army of lawyers and lobbyists; a lot of attorneys are scared to comment on anything other than professional topics in blogs, lest Bad Things Happen At Work. This is a real concern, but there was a time when lawyers were expected to be involved in local civic affairs as a matter of course; their relative fear of "Bad Things" is unfortunate when it hinders their civic involvement.
I am pleased that I have found a pretty good way to make a pretty good living as an attorney, but without fearing backwash from my blogging activities at Crablaw Maryland Weekly. In addition, I have joined local attorney Stuart Levine, a long-time blogger on business and tax matters (political affiliation unknown), and 6 other attorneys to provide a real-time digest of Maryland court cases as they are published at Maryland Court Watcher, including the aforementioned same-sex marriage case fairly soon, I am sure.
Among the liberal blogosphere, we have the multitalented and driven Stephanie Dray, a member here at DKos, who publishes routinely at the gorgeous Jousting for Justice (ring jousting being, I swear, the state sport.) In addition to her publications in multiple genres as a freelance writer, Stephanie is active with the local Baltimore County Democratic Party organization and was probably the most passionate and committed voice in the Maryland blogosphere for Governor-elect O'Malley and Lieutenant Governor-elect Anthony Brown.
Matthew Jerome publishes the Blue Pages, with simple but gorgeous design. Matthew is a graduate student in Political Management and provides a good balance of local and national content.
Political Science Professor David Lublin of American University provides a prolific and progressive edge at Maryland Politics Watch.
Kossack Andy Kujan published Kujanblog, with a particular focus on urban matters from the City of Baltimore. I am pleased to have seen Kujanblog develop over the recent months and hope that more Kossacks will give his blog a detailed read.
Public Policy graduate student Isaac Smith published The Old Line with a sharp eye to the details of economics and other policy concerns. I have learned a lot from Isaac, especially when he points out gaps in my reasoning as one would expect from a sharp policy analyst.
We are fortunate that Kossack TerranceDC is now a Marylander, if only by about half a mile or so. Terrance's prominent and beautifully-formatted blog The Republic of T provides thought-provoking material on a variety of topics, most especially on the intersection of gay identity and life with religion, race and other realities of American life. As an aside, The Republic of T is very rich with links to other resources and blogs and is recommended on that basis as well as for the richness and breadth of Terrance's writing.
Prominent blogger Oliver Willis writes from Maryland when he is not working for Media Matters. While Willis does focus more on national issues than on Maryland issues, his blend of snark and hard-hitting policy and politics commentary (and occasional ardent pursuit of l'amour...) provides a great mix of serious reflection and good humor.
I am pleased as well that Maryland's small but committed conservative blogosphere is indeed growing. While others might take a different view, I think that bloggers like the Maryland Conservatarian and Soccer Dad have helped make me a better writer through their thoughtful challenges and counterpoints. I have joined a largely conservative Maryland Bloggers Alliance for just that purpose: to help me become a better advocate through the challenge of people who are both smart and don't think like me. We get along pretty well (well, mostly...;-))
Anyway, this is a short sample of the December 2006 state of the Maryland blogosphere. I could name several dozen other bloggers, but let them name themselves here, along with any Marylander who wants to send a shout out to our neighbors here in the Land of Pleasant Living!
For those not familiar with Baltimore, there are two seasonal sights that I named in the title. In Hampden, a salt-of-the-earth working neighborhood on a rail line and waterfalls where mills once processed lumber, silver and other industrial goods, 34th Street lights up with the most spectacular Christmas displays. Local families get their electric bills for the light displays covered by the Mayor and City Council of Baltimore for this seasonal mini-festival that brings people in from over 50 miles away each year. Conversely, upon the start of Hanukkah which falls on the 15th of December this year, the Hanukkah House lights up in blue and white with massive decoration and festivity in the 6200 block of upper Park Heights Avenue, near the center of Baltimore's large Orthodox Jewish community, and stays lit (with adjustment for the Sabbath) for the 8-day holiday. In the spirit of these rather different neighborhoods expressing good will to all, regardless of your faith or non-faith, may this season be merry and bright for you this year.