The Tentacle: New history book on Maryland Politics by John Willis and Herb Smith discussed at McDaniel College

State’s Political History Has A New Review

Kevin E. Dayhoff October 3, 2012

“Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance,” written by Drs. John T. Willis and Herbert C. Smith, is an in-depth look at Maryland’s political identity.

Steeped in history and tradition, the dark wood paneling of McDaniel Hall on the campus of McDaniel College was the perfect setting for a recent book talk on the arcane, distinctive, and uniquely byzantine political history of the State of Maryland.. 

The University of Nebraska noted that the reference book is “certain to set the standard for understanding the politics of Maryland for years to come…”

“There are fifteen chapters and well over 300 pages of text. Considering we submitted an 800-page manuscript, one has to marvel at the editorial acumen out there”… Dr. Smith said at the University of Nebraska.... http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5375

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-tentacle-new-history-book-on.html

“It’s truly a labor of love,” Dr. Smith says, “explaining that he and Dr. Willis have gone through a number of updates trying to capture a political system that is essentially a moving target,” according to an article on the McDaniel College website.

The long-awaited 432-page book, written by two longstanding friends of mine, was released on January 1, 2012, and is part of the Politics and Governments of the American States Series by the University of Nebraska Press.

Dr. Willis is the director of the government and public policy program at the University of Baltimore. He has served as Maryland’s secretary of state from 1995 to 2003 and is the author of “Presidential Elections in Maryland.”

Dr. Smith, the director of government relations at the college, has been a professor of political science and international studies at McDaniel College since 1973.

“Maryland, in all candor, is neglected, overlooked… http://www.thetentacle.com/ShowArticle.cfm?mydocid=5375

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See also: http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0930-20120926,0,2507354.story

Labels: Art Library books, Colleges McDaniel, History MD, History MD General Assembly, History MD State Government, History Political, People Smith Dr Herb, People Willis John, Political Science, Dayhoff Media The Tentacle, 

http://www.baltimoresun.com/explore/carroll/news/community/ph-ce-eagle-archive-0930-20120926,0,2507354.story

http://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2012/10/eagle-archive-at-mcdaniel-authors.html

Labels: People Smith Dr Herb, People Willis John, Art Library books, Political Science, History Political, History MD State Government, History MD General Assembly, History MD, Colleges McDaniel, Dayhoff Media Explore Carroll,

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Related – see also: http://marylandreporter.com/2012/01/06/video-authors-smith-and-willis-discuss-new-book-on-maryland-politics/ January 06, 2012 Herb Smith and John Willis discuss their new book “Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance” with Maryland Reporter editor Len Lazarick.

For more information on the book go to the University of Nebraska website here: http://tinyurl.com/7n92yuw

http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/product/Maryland-Politics-and-Government,674904.aspx http://tinyurl.com/7n92yuw

Click here to read an excerpt from Maryland Politics and Government:  Democratic Dominance.

Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance John T. Willis, Herbert C. Smith

January 1, 2012

Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/.../excerpts/.../9780803237902_excerpt.... File Format: PDF/Adobe Acrobat - Quick View Copyrighted Material. Buy the book. Maryland Politics and Government. Democratic Dominance. Herbert C. Smith and John T. Willis contents. List of Tables, vii ... http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/supplements/excerpts/Fall%2011/9780803237902_excerpt.pdf

Sets the standard for understanding the politics of Maryland for years to come

Then, an in-depth look at Maryland’s political identity, with longtime political analyst Herb Smith and party official John Willis, authors of “Maryland Politics and Government: Democratic Dominance.” Herb Smith is a professor of political science and international studies at McDaniel College. John Willis is director of the government and public policy program at the University of Baltimore. He has served as a Democratic party official and was Maryland’s secretary of state from 1995 to 2003.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Contents:

The Maryland identity

A Maryland political history

Contemporary political patterns

Maryland public opinion

Political parties, interest groups, and corruption

The Maryland Constitution

The Maryland General Assembly

The Maryland governor and the executive branch

The Maryland judiciary

The politics of taxation and spending

"Pleasant living" policies and politics

Maryland in the federal system

Local governments in Maryland

Maryland's future

Further reference for Maryland study.

Tucked between the larger commonwealths of Pennsylvania and Virginia and overshadowed by the political maneuverings of its neighbor, Washington, D.C., Maryland has often been overlooked and neglected in studies of state governmental systems.

With the publication of Maryland Politics and Government, the challenging demographic diversity, geographic variety, and dynamic Democratic pragmatism of Maryland finally get their due.

Two longtime political analysts, Herbert C. Smith and John T. Willis, conduct a sustained inquiry into topics including the Maryland identity, political history, and interest groups; the three branches of state government; and policy areas such as taxation, spending, transportation, and the environment.

Smith and Willis also establish a “Two Marylands” model that explains the dominance of the Maryland Democratic Party, established in the post–Civil War era, that persists to this day even in a time of political polarization. Unique in its scope, detail, and coverage, Maryland Politics and Government sets the standard for understanding the politics of the Free State (or, alternately, the Old Line State) for years to come.

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