Ok, I'm a Virginian, born and bred but my parents have moved to Maryland. As a red-stater, I look longingly at that state for its liberal leanings, but as of late I've begun to realize Maryland may not be all that great. The problem in Maryland is an entrenched Democratic party that has gotten fat and lazy and doesn't really reach out to voters particularly well any more. They're not going to go Republican, but the party organization is fossilized and ineffective. On top of that, Maryland is home to some of those apologist "centrists" in our party who seem to exist only to capitulate to the Republican Party.
Today the Washington Post ran one of their wonderful fluff pieces about the "excellent working relationship" between Governor Ehrlich and the State Comptroller, the "Democrat" who has lately been helping Ehrlich in his "public service announcements," which more and more sound like election ads bought with public money.
First of all, the Post talks about why Willaim Schaefer had problems with the last Governor, Paris Glendenning. He describes the man as a "dummy" and offers one thing as a reason- Glendenning turned off a fountain during a drought and that was supposedly to "get [him]." I'm sorry, but I don't think Glendenning conjured up a drought to go after anybody. And you know what? If you're going to poison the working environment of state government, I'd hope you'd do it over something a little bit more important than a fountain. Sorry, but that's just dumb.
It then goes on to describe this man in greater detail. I'm not impressed. First of all, he seems to have a cavalier attitude towards the state of Maryland. He talks a great deal about who's "a good man" and all that, but he doesn't make much mention of what policies are best for the state and why he has lavished praise on Ehrlich, whose record is only remarkable for the paucity of his achievements. His legislature has been busy, but his main actions have been to push slots on counties that don't want them (and fail) and to help prop up Wal-Mart's predatory hiring practices by vetoing bills with strong bipartisan support. Ehrlich's reign as governor has been filled with lovely quotations like "Multiculturalism is bunk."
But this "Democract" says things like he'll have to leave the state in the general election because he doesn't want to support either candidate. Get off the fence, buddy. It's not a good place for anyone, and you do your state and your party a disservice by pretending to be on both sides. If you're a Republican, get the hell out of our party. Ehrlich does not represent what is best for Marylanders, and your chummy little routine with him isn't a good thing. I don't care how many friggin fountains a man turns on, that doesn't make him a good governor. I'm pretty angry that that kind of BS is what makes decisions in our government.
The last bit of this article bugs me the most. Schaefer, an employee of the state government, acts annoyed that Ehrlich's predecessor "[took] him to task or [bawled] him out." Sorry, but my boss has been pissed at me once or twice too. If you can't take that, STOP WORKING. You are NOT above criticism, no matter what your job is. If you have a vote on a matter of policy, the Governor has every right to contact you and inform you of his position. If you've worked hard to create a poisoned atmosphere in the first place (like taking personal offense to water conservation measures), then you can't really expect that person to be nice to you all the time. If you're a cantankerous old fart, expect some crankiness in return. I'm glad that William Schaefer is comfortable with Governor Shithead. I'm also glad that it seems most Marylanders, intelligently, are not.
So Schaefer, why don't you make your trip to the Caribbean now? We don't need any more "centrist" turn-coat Democrats here. Maybe you and Zell Miller can go find somewhere to retire to and figure out more ways to prove you're spineless, deceitful and willing to help those who work so hard to make America a meaner place.
My heartiest and most heartfelt "screw you" to all of those who think that kind of thing is okay. You wanna capitulate to the Republicans, get the hell out of my sandbox. Those people are evil. They proved it to me by what they did to Max Cleland. They proved it to me by condoning and defending torture by American troops. They proved it by their shameful actions in the Plame affair.
They did it by proving the only thing they stand for is power and their retention of it. Capitulating at this point is the same as signing non-agression treaties with Hitler. Morally bankrupt, and stupid to boot.
We need to clean house.
James