20060723 KDDC Annual Tawes Clam Bake

The annual J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake in Crisfield

The annual dinner theatre of Maryland politics

July 23^rd, 2006 by Kevin Dayhoff

Caroline and I have attended the Crisfield event in the past, but our family schedule did not allow us to make the pilgrimage this year.

We’ve always enjoyed it when we have attended in the past. It is quite an experience. It has, over the years, taken on a larger than life, cult-like politico-religious aura. Sorta like going to church once a year at Easter. The annual political pilgrimage to the Holy Grail of politico-religious ceremonies.

Caroline and I have been traveling down to the Eastern Shore for many many years, especially after my brother was transferred to the Easton Black and Decker plant in 1983.

Not only is the shore visually beautiful, but native Eastern Shore folks are a special breed. After spending a few days on the shore, one really comes to understand that there really is no life west of the Bay Bridge.

If it were not for the force of family that has been in Carroll County for generations since the 1700s, I would’ve moved to the shore many years ago for the quality of life.

I’ll bet that folks on the shore have a longer life expectancy that those of us who persist in the hectic hornet’s nest we call the Western Shore. Well, now that I think of it, I’ll bet that folks who live in Southern and Western Maryland have longer life expectancies also.

We were first drawn to the Tawes festival because we are history buffs and enjoy the fact that the legacy of J. Millard Tawes has lived on for so many decades after his celebrated public service for the citizens of Maryland.

We also like seafood.

For a previous post about J. Millard Tawes, see my April 28^th, 2006 entry: “20060426 Sept. 2000 Tawes Card Crisfield Museum Presentation.”

For more about Governor J. Millard Tawes or the Clam Bake, click on “J. Millard Tawes Historical Museum;” and here, or here.

The soap opera that we know as Maryland politics has also certainly been a bonus for us. It is the dinner theatre of Maryland politics. Crisfield has great food, great company and great theatre.

Actually, many really nice folks go there and it is the one occasion to see colleagues and leaders in a relaxed social setting.

Except when the event occurs during an election year. Then all the possers come out of the woodwork, as if most regular folks can’t tell when someone is obviously out of place at an event in which they only appear when it is in their own self-interest.

Apparently two of the best political writers in the Maryland region made the annual trek, Tom Dennison and Alan Brody, who write for the Gazette. Things would be different – as in, for the better – if we had more writers like Messrs. Dennison, Brody and Doug Tallman, who also writes for the Gazette.

In a Friday, July 21^st, 2006 article in the Gazette, filed by Messrs. Dennison and Brody entitled: “Retail politics, wholesale fun - Candidates! Voters! Apparatchiks! Crab guts! Tawes shindig has something for everyone,” the event has been brought to life in a manner that makes other writers envious.

The only thing that could have made it better is if a scratch and sniff could have been provided to allow the readers the smells of Old Bay, crabs, beer and thousands of folks all crowded together in the heat and humidity of the lower shore.

They introduce the piece by saying:

CRISFIELD — Politicians came by land and by bay — one even left by air — to Maryland’s premier political frat party, known as the J. Millard Tawes Crab and Clam Bake, a sweaty 30-year tradition that serves as the kickoff for the fall’s busy election season.

Read the rest here, it is worth the effort of the click and the time to read it.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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