20060813 KDDC The politics of going negative

NY Republican Senatorial primary debate and why it reminds me of the upcoming Carroll County primary.

August 13th, 2006

Let’s back up before we even attempt to go forward. Apparently New York Senator Hillary Clinton has two Republicans vying to run against her in this fall’s general election.

The New York Republican primary has former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer going up against a former President Reagan administration Pentagon official, Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland.

So far, by many accounts, it would appear that they are running neck-and-neck to see who can be the most unpleasant.

Now perhaps this essay is about the New York Republican Senatorial primary and maybe it’s not. Perhaps it serves as a good allegory for the Carroll County primary?

In Carroll County we have a number of folks who are trying to unseat various incumbents.

Whether some or all or none of the incumbents need to be replaced, is, to be simplistic about it – up to the voters. Inside baseball ain’t going to do it. And if any of the incumbents fail to be re-elected, I either hope or pray that negative politics is not going to do it.

So far, I’m not seeing a lot of campaigning that is reaching the average, overworked, busy Mom and Dad voter at the kitchen table.

Unseating an incumbent is hard to do. Usually a challenger needs to have an overwhelmingly persuasive and compelling platform to unseat an incumbent – or ride the wave of a sea change on the part of the electorate in approach to government. That kind of change of difficult to cultivate in an election campaign, it will only come from the grassroots.

Of course, if an incumbent has demonstrated incompetence, malfeasance, dereliction of duty or a plain and simple palpable lack of skills, knowledge and ability in which to do the job, then that is another story.

None of the incumbents has demonstrated that lacking. Oh sure, there is lots of political spin and rhetoric being bandied about, however, we also have too many young reporters in the county who have never learned or simply don’t have the time for the follow-up question.

The superficial will get ya through the article, but in the long run it is not sustainable...

In the case of the Senator Hillary Clinton’s New York contest, there is no such sea change on the part of the New York constituency and nothing short of miracle is going to prevent her from winning this fall. That’s reality politics.

Regardless of how you may agree or disagree with her politics, unless you are a New York voter, it doesn’t matter. The only thing that matters is the facts on the ground in New York.

On a political theory level, being unpleasant will work for sure if you’d like to win the primary and lose the general and be forever remembered as an unpleasant person.

I mean, after being unpleasant for months, whadda ya goin’ to do after the election?

Most folks know that you can’t get to a positive by utilizing the negative. It may work in the short term, but eventually folks catch on that it was not simply situational that you are a negative and unpleasant person, that it is systemic – it is who you are.

Sorta like the rule to never date a married person. What they are doing to their present partner, they can and usually do to you. And when they do you wrong in the future, they will rationalize it just as well as they are rationalizing it to date you now.

Apparently a few folks running for election in Carroll County have yet to figure this out.

And another thing while I’m on a roll; for those who want to plead that the elections this fall are not about taxes, think again. One wonders how many times that must be repeated before it will change reality and make it so.

I’ll put it this way. Taxes and big government are an issue with me. We don’t need bigger government; we need better and cost effective government – in Annapolis and in Carroll County.

As far as temperament, I would almost rather vote for a pleasant accessible, well-intentioned person with integrity - with whom I disagreed about certain issues than vote for someone with whom I agreed, yet was absolutely unpleasant about promoting their position.

A memo for challengers to the incumbents. I don’t care a rat’s ass about voting the incumbents out. That’s your thing. Hopefully the election is not about your personal feelings, it is about what you bring to the table professionally. I care about voting in folks who have a vision and a positive plan for families, schools, growth and lessening our tax burden.

Think about it, the two approaches are not the same. I’m voting for someone who is thoughtful, well versed in the issues, has a positive plan for the future and a person I can take my problems to (without a preachy condescending lecture.)

It is back to basics time. As a young man, my Mom hammered into me, it is all about what I do that counts. She never cared about what the other kids did. That was not of her concern. I cannot get to heaven based on the sins of others.

You will not be elected based on the perceived sins of the current incumbents or your personal dislikes of certain individuals. You will be elected because the voters believe that you will do a better job.

Stay positive. Voters ultimately want to know what you are going to do. You can say more about what you are against by saying what you are for and are going to do.

If you would like to get in touch with your feelings, go skeet shooting with me. Otherwise, this is about winning an election. I have no interest in electing enraged individuals.

Of course, the purpose of a primary is to win – and win in such a manner that a candidate will carry some momentum with them into the general election.

Going negative always needs to be carefully weighed. Usually folks who are behind go negative because they will often feel that they have nothing to lose.

Many folks become fixated upon serving as an elected official to “contribute and make a difference in the community.” Therefore, anything and everything it takes to win is justified by the winning.

My world view greatly disagrees with that position. There are many ways to serve, make a difference and contribute to a community beyond being an elected official.

I have had a practice and policy to “never” go negative. Although I have been the brunt of a negative campaign or two. When friends and colleagues pleaded with me to respond, I choose not to. If I had to win by going negative – the office and position was simply not worth it to me.

At this point in time, I have no regrets. If the electorate wanted to “hire” someone who moved their ball forward by being unpleasant, that is up to the voters. Ultimately everyone gets their karma.

So anyway, I was surfing the net as I was putting together some thoughts for my next Tentacle column and came across this in the Examiner… This… Well, what is it? I thought I had been diverted to The Onion.

This would be believable if it were on Saturday Night Live – but it is not. Apparently it was live, perhaps a little too live.

And these are the folks that the Republican Party is going to send up against New York Senator Hillary Clinton? I’m not sure whether to laugh or cry.

This is pathetic. Except for one great line: "John, you are like the Clintons," she said. "You taxed and spent like Hillary and behaved like Bill."

I wonder if they later exchanged addresses so that they may exchange holiday greeting cards this winter?

Did they remove all sharp objects from the room before the debate?

I’m sure that Senator Clinton is laughing – and will continue to laugh all the way back to her Senate seat this fall.

If this is what it is going to take to defeat Hillary Clinton, than maybe it is not worth it for the karma of the party? She is simply not that important in the grand scheme of things.

Likewise, if the challengers in Carroll County want to continue to be negative, the incumbents are going to laugh all the way back in office this fall.

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N.Y. GOP Republicans Have Heated Debate
By BETH FOUHY, The Associated Press
Aug 9, 2006 10:34 PM

NEW YORK - The two Republicans vying to challenge Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton this fall tore into each other Wednesday in a debate dominated by angry accusations of personal and professional misconduct and abject dishonesty.

From the early minutes of the hourlong forum sponsored by all news cable channel NY1, former Yonkers Mayor John Spencer found himself repeatedly on the defensive about his unconventional private life and its impact on his tenure as mayor from 1996 to 2004.

While married to another woman, Spencer fathered two children with his then-chief of staff and substantially raised her salary. He eventually divorced his first wife and married his chief of staff.

So with an opening question from debate moderator Dominic Carter about whether a candidate's personal life should be off-limits, the responses got very personal, very fast.

Kathleen Troia "KT" McFarland, a former Ronald Reagan-era Pentagon official, immediately accused Spencer of engaging in adultery and nepotism and said it spoke to his lack of credibility to serve in office.

Read the rest here, if you can stand it - - it gets better, err, Hmmm, I mean worse…

Civility, Hillary Clinton Watch

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20060813 KDDC The Pillage Idiot has wonderfully struck again

She’s everywhere she’s everywhere

August 13, 2006

The above photo, “Doctored photo of Lebanese woman,” is from the Pillage Idiot and once again it is priceless. Thanks.

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20060813 KDDC Just hanging

August 13^th, 2006

Posts have been few and far between in recent days. All apologies, but life has interfered with art. Yard work, column deadlines, doing a little art and hanging with the wife.

Then, last night, just as I was ready to work at the keyboard, my ISP went dead. Recently, fortunately, this does not happen often. But it made me sad.

So today, I’m trying to catch up on my reading.

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20060811 KDDC Clip Board Man

Clip Board Man
(c) Kevin Dayhoff
August 11, 2006

20060811 KDDC Who are these Westminster community leaders

Who are these Westminster community leaders?
August 11th, 2006

This is an undated photograph, but I will hypothecate that it is from around 1959... Hint: the store in which they appear in front is now a Joni Mitchell song - "...they tore down paradise and put up a parking lot."

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20060811 KDDC Tuscan Whole Milk 1 Gallon 128 fl oz

Tuscan Whole Milk 1 Gallon 128 fl oz

Perhaps I am sleep deprived from staying up too late working on my next Westminster Eagle column, but this is sheer hysteria and mayhem.

Be sure to enjoy reading the comments.

Hat Tip: Sharp as a Marble – “The reviews were so hilarious” “I blew milk out my nose. Tuscan, Whole Milk. I’d swear it was almost like a joke or something.”

Mr. Allen gives a Hat Tip to: SondraK

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20060810 KDDC yalla ya Nasrallah

yalla ya Nasrallah

August 10^th, 2006

As I was roaming around the “e-Clair – Oh byte me” web site, I stumbled across the following gem: “Time for another Chorus!”

Well, I guess this is not for the faint of heart, but here goes. “Time for another chorus!” refers to a video on the You Tube site… “yalla ya Nasrallah - song from Israel.”

The introduction from You Tube reads: “with English subtitles. the Israelite answer to the leader of Hezbollah, Nasrallah - a song in Hebrew that let him know what we think about him… with the background clip of the combat engineering IDF corps (with an extraordinary girls unit) and a taste of the IAF.”

Getting to this video is a bit of a chore, but hang in there. It’s been flagged. When ya get to the site, you will be greeted with: “This video may contain content that is inappropriate for some users, as flagged by You Tube's user community…To view this video, please verify you are 18 or older by logging in or signing up.”

Hey, I read Ann Coulter, so I registered with You Tube some time ago. I figure after Ann Coulter, there is little that can shock me…

You could go to the Israeli site and play it, but I could not get the video version to play, only the audio – so You Tube is your best bet.

Some of the comments are the unpleasant back and forth that unfortunately seems to go with worldwide internet, however, one post was helpful: “The words in English may seem somewhat childish, but in the original Hebrew idiom, they're much more intelligent. The translation is quite literal, and doesn't capture the flavor of the original. It's the kind of things a soldier might say/think -- not the most high-brow intellectual material…”

PS: Speaking of You Tube material, while you are at the site, check out: “Girl takes pic of herself every day for three years.”

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20060810 KDDC The Daily Kos Solution Ay caramba

The Daily Kos Solution

August 10^th, 2006

Ay caramba.

(I found the picture pasted to the left, on a web site called e-Clair. Check it out. I got a lot of value grazing thought the site.)

I read with interest this afternoon - – Little Green Footballs calls to our attention the Daily Kos solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah; throw Israel under a bus: “Daily Kos: Why the US can impose a one-state solution on Israel-Palestine.”

Hat Tip: Wonkette…: “LGF readers make fun of DailyKos, ‘what total maroons!’”

The only thing that I would add to the Daily Kos solution is to teach the Israelis and Hezbollah “Kum Ba Ya.” That’ll work.

This is one of the many situations in which the comments are nearly as – well maybe even better than the original post. Be sure to click on: Little Green Footballs.

The new leadership of the Democratic Party are the likes of Al Franken, Michael Moore, Cindy Sheehan, Move On.org and the Daily Kos.com. Think about it, did you ever think there would be a day when Senator Hilary Clinton of New York would be considered a “moderate?”

Of course you know that the terrorists are just a misunderstood gaggle of mates and if we only would extend an olive branch out to them and give them some love; perhaps they would stop killing innocent civilians on a global scale.

Yeah right. Can you say Simona Toretta and Simona Pari? Those were the two Italian peace and love activists who ventured to Iraq and almost lost their heads – literally. Those friendly misunderstood terrorist kidnapped them and threatened them to within an inch of their lives. I’m sure it was all about a failure to communicate.

Well, actually it was all about hatred. News flash – the terrorists wanna kill you, you infidel.

Several years ago the folks with Bush-Derangement-Syndrome were often the source of a petty political annoyance. They were criticized for not having a vision or a plan and were fairly easily marginalized.

We were better off when the Democrats did not have a plan as now - as a vision is starting to coalesce, it’s not too pretty. It used to be that intellectually speaking, liberal ideology was about as stimulating as motel furniture. You could get through a night with it provided you don't have to hang around in the morning. Now, we can’t even sleep soundly with it.

Former Connecticut Democratic state party chair George Jepsen wrote in the Harford Courant right before the election, “Our Connecticut Democratic ticket in November will be stronger with Ned Lamont on it because he will drive Democratic turnout. Thousands of Democrats who would otherwise feel voiceless will go to the polls for Ned, helping in turn every Democrat on the ticket…”

Do not overlook that when the Italian peace activists were being threatened with having their heads handed to them, leading world leftists and anti-war activists were embracing the terrorists at a “Hezbollah sponsored conference in Beirut… and proclaimed their support for the very Iraqi resistance that was threatening to kill their comrades,” according to a recent column written by University of California, Irvine professor Mark A. LeVine.

If the new Democratic plan and vision is run off a cliff, as much as we may want to cheer them on, this is not good for the nation in the bigger picture or the long view.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060809 KDDC Senator Joe Lieberman versus the Lemmings

Senator Joe Lieberman versus the Lemmings

August 9^th, 2006

I stayed up to see the Connecticut primary results of the Senator Joe Lieberman versus the Lemmings, err, the Ned Lamont campaign the other night.

Unfortunately the contest went as I predicted.

For my take on the contest, please read my Tentacle column for this week – Wednesday, August 9^th, 2006: “Joe Lieberman v. The Lemmings.”

And bear in mind that I filed that column quite a number of days before the Tuesday primary.

To read the spin earlier today, the main stream media would have you think that the Connecticut primary was a bellwether test of President Bush’s approach towards the global war on terrorism, and the war in Iraq, in particular.

To be sure, there are certainly some strong arguments for that point of view.

It was also another reminder of the strength of the blogosphere to affect change and make a difference in politics. That dynamic is only sure to grow.

Be sure to graze the Daily Kos web site. At least here, here and here… You get the picture. Whether you agree or disagree with the politics of the Daily Kos, this is one powerful juggernaut. Take note of the number of comments on any given post.

Yes, the site can be a bit course from time to time. That will change with time. Right now, it wants to be heard and relevant. As both goals are achieved, hopefully some of the unpleasantness will be mitigated.

Getting back to Tuesday’s Connecticut primary, not to be overlooked is how this was a test to see exactly what direction the national Democratic Party is going as we draw closer to the fall elections.

The Connecticut primary certainly peels back the layers of the onion on the vituperative dispute among Democrats about the future direction of the party, with the old-line centrist party stalwarts facing enormous challenges from the young-left on issues of national security and the Iraq War.

Be sure to read the August 9th, 2006 Press Briefing by Tony Snow, which began at 1:18 P.M. CDT at CrawfordMiddle School in Crawford Texas.

Press secretary Snow said, in part:

“As for the primary election in Connecticut last night, I know there's a lot of concern and interest about that. Democratic voters in Connecticut have made their choice, and they have chosen Ned Lamont over Senator Lieberman. Just a couple of observations. Key leaders in the national Democratic Party have made it clear -- let me back up. This is a defining moment in some ways for the Democratic Party. I know a lot of people have tried to make this a referendum on the President; I would flip it. I think instead it's a defining moment for the Democratic Party, whose national leaders now have made it clear that if you disagree with the extreme left in their party they're going to come after you. And it is probably worth trying to trace through some of the implications of that position, because it is clearly going to be one of the central issues as we get ready for the election campaign this year, that is, the mid-term elections.”

Read the rest of his remarks here. It is worth the time.

Certainly the Democratic Party’s lurch to the left is precipitously gaining numbers and momentum. Sorta like, well – lemmings to the sea.

In the parlance of political-wonk-speak, I believe that the soft on terrorism left leanings of the Democratic Party will not serve them well this fall as it fails the “Daddy – Mommy test.”

In times where the American public is concerned for their safety, national security and when the electorate feels threatened, the tendency is to vote for a “national daddy.” (Doesn’t have to be a male or female, just someone strong on national defense and public safety.)

In good economic times and eras of peace, the electorate votes for a “national mommy,” to address social, family and economic issues.

And memo to the Democratic Party, the “it’s patriotic to be against the war,” ain’t cutting it.

The news coming out of Connecticut today is that Senator Lieberman is going to run in the general election as an Independent.

And odds are that he will win.

Things are getting curiouser and curiouser. It’s going to be an interesting several months.

Buckle up; it is going to be bumpy ride.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060809 KDDC An Intelligent Conversation

How’s this for an opener to have an intelligent conversation with a liberal?
August 9, 2006

Posted to the left, a gentleman at the Ned Lamont after-election rally and festivities intellectually expresses his feelings about Sean Hannity of Fox News.

Cute.

I sure hope the rest of the Ned Lamont folks are a bit more articulate.

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20060808 KDDC The Howard County Gang of Four bloggers

The Howard County Gang of Four bloggers

August 8, 2006

HoCo Hayduke reports, “In case you haven't heard, the Gang of Four (Local Bloggers) will be sponsoring an on-line candidate forum for most local elections beginning in October. More details here.”

Actually, the author of the HoCoMD Blog kindly emailed me the press release earlier today. Thanks.

This is a great opportunity for Howard County voters and a perfect role for the four blogs: HoCoMD Blog; The Hedgehog Report; HoCo Hayduke; and Howard County Blog.

Historically much of my family is from southern Carroll County and I have always followed Howard County politics. For quite sometime, I have followed by way of these four Howard County blogs.

I have only written one column that specifically deals with Howard County politics. In the Tentacle, I wrote on December 14, 2005 a column entitled,

“Politics in the Enchanted Forest:” “The political silly season has already begun in Howard County, known as the former home of the "Enchanted Forest." In our neighboring county, politics have recently started to resemble the storybook theme park that prospered in Ellicott City from 1955 to 1988.”

Since 2000 the blogosphere has had a profound affect on government and politics. This great leveling of the playing field or great democratizing of information dissemination, news and analysis is a good thing.

For more of my take on this dynamic, please read my Tentacle column from January 25, 2006,

“How is Internet media held accountable?” The slug reads: “On January 19 The Washington Post put an abrupt end to one of the components of the latest experiments in this grass roots democracy dynamic we call blogs – the real-time, live “comment” section.”

For more commentary on the contemporary state of the main stream media, see my Tentacle column from January 11, 2006,

“Journalism in 2005” The beginning of that column reads: “When one thinks of the mainstream media in 2005, the consistent theme is that of a reluctant, haughty and often pretentious dinosaur with its out-of-touch editorial boards. One can only hope 2006 is better.”

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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Pasted below is the information from the Association of Howard County Bloggers press release:

For Immediate Release

August 8, 2006 – Howard County, Maryland

An association of Howard County bloggers announced today that they will be conducting an on-line forum consisting of candidates for local and State office.

The association consists of the four major blogs covering political news and events in Howard County. They will be issuing to each of the general election candidates identical lists of questions in which they will be asked to supply answers to by October 1st.

“Each of our blogs are different.” said Ian Kennedy, author of Hocohayduke. “I think we all agree that they reflect a broad spectrum of county opinions. Even those with similar political leanings don’t always agree, but sometimes we all agree.”

Once questions are formulated, distributed, and the candidates have responded the authors will then offer the answers to the public on their web log sites with four unique commentaries accompanying each and open to the public for additional comments.

“We will all develop and agree upon the questions and length of response, and then we will all share the answers. We will probably not share the same opinion or analysis of the candidate’s responses.” said David Keelan, author of HoCoMD Blog.

Evan Coren author of Howard County Blog added, “We will provide a forum where anyone can engage the candidates, read candidate’s answers to important questions, and ask follow up questions on our blogs. Readers will also be able to discuss the candidate’s answers and have a civic discourse with the candidates and each other.”

David Keelan agreed, “I like the idea of having three sets of eyes looking over my shoulder and ready to tell me if they disagree. It helps keep the partisan tone down and keeps the analysis and opinions more level”.

David Wissing, author of the longest running local blog, the Hedgehog Report added, “I think people will respond to this because we think they are interested in this type of perspective.”

About the Association of Howard County Blogs

The association consists of four Howard County based blogs.

• howardcountyblog.blogspot.com
• hocomd.wordpress.com
• hocohayduke.blogspot.com
• www.hedgehogreport.com

What is a blog?

Blog is short for weblog. It is a type of website where entries are made similar to a journal or diary and displayed in a reverse chronological order.

Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. Many blogs, including all of the blogs in the Association of Howard County Blogs allow their readers to post comments and discuss the issues posted on the blog.

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20060808 KDDC Chair throwing politics in Florida

Chair throwing politics in Florida
August 8, 2006

They take their politics seriously in Florida – if not feloniously. As the words got heated on a talk show, one candidate obviously felt at a loss for words and demonstrated his disdain for his opponent – by throwing a chair at him.

I have found two versions of the video. One is on the You Tube web site. Unfortunately, not only was the action captured on the You Tube version, but also the words. Words which we were raised not to use in polite company.

Another version is found on, what I have surmised to be, Tampa Florida’s Channel 10. It does not have the naughty words and has much of the context as to what lead up to the chair throwing. (The Tampa channel 10 version also includes a lead-in commercial…)

You Tube’s narrative explains, “Political Candidate Joe Redner (Tampa) was debating on a local show when his opponent got so pissed he hit Redner with a chair. Politics in Florida! Redner also happens to own the most famous adult club in the Southeast, the Mons Venus.”

It gives even more absurd – go here: “Joe Redner wants to settle the score.”

Hat Tip: Hot Air.

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20060807 KDDC Cindy Sheehan head buts Godzilla in Beirut

Cindy Sheehan head buts Godzilla in Beirut. All hell breaks loose.

Thank you LGF.

Beirut (Rhoiders)

Kant BeTrue, Staff reporter and photojournalist, Rhoiders

Monday, August 7, 2007

In this exclusive photo captured by Rhoiders, the smoke is already rising as chaos grips Beirut after Ms. Sheehan’s encounter with Mr. Godzilla.

According to Green Helmet Guy, Ms. Sheehan and Mr. Godzilla were exchanging heated words, when she just, up and head butted him.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan quickly announced that it was all the fault of the Israelis. “This is yet another part of a larger pattern of violations of international law in the war between Israel and the innocent besieged Hezbollah,” U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan said in a report Monday.

In a released statement, Ms. Sheehan’s publicist, The New York Times edition of Al Jazeera, quoted Ms. Sheehan to say, “A klog iz mir! A feier zol im trefen. I just thought he was that lying bastard, President George W. Bush and I wanted to exchange pleasantries. You get that maniac out here to talk with me in person.You get America out of Iraq and Israel out of Palestine and you'll stop the terrorism.”

Mr. Godzilla was overheard to moan, “Get this mashugga manzer away from me.”

In a related matter, Ms. Sheehan would neither confirm nor deny that she is dating Mel Gibson, “although I admire his intellect and progressive ideas about living with diverse cultures. He is indeed my hero, anyone who can stick their foot in their mouth as well as he does has my respect.”

More on this unfolding story as it develops

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

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PS: Please be aware that the base of the photo was developed by Little Green Footballs: “Doctored Beirut Photo: the First Draft.”

I was first inspired by the Pillage Idiot. See this great web site here.

Then, as I was grazing the LGF site, I stumbled across the LGF post about Cindy Sheehan’s latest utter nonsense, “Cindy Sheehan, Propagandist’s Friend.” In the comment section, “bluegrass boy” – comment number 21 said: “woulnt it be cool if some one would photo shop her!?!......she is one grizzly image to come out of this war...”

Well, that was all the inspiration that I needed – I simply could not help myself.

Thank you Little Green Footballs and “bluegrass boy”… And oh, I tried to leave LGF a heads-up, but the site's registration is closed at the moment…

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20060807 KDDC Reuters Photoshop altered photos of Beirut

Reuters Photoshop altered photos of Beirut

August 7^th, 2006

So many folks have covered the Reuters Photoshop mess so well, that I have just hung back. I was also on deadline for my regular Westminster Eagle and Tentacle columns. (This Wednesday’s Tentacle column will be on Senator Joe Lieberman versus the lemmings.)

I wasn’t going to do anything with it until I was grazing the Pillage Idiot’s web site and spit out my Dr. Pepper laughing at his Photoshop version of the Beirut-Reuters photo mess. It is not to be missed. Go there now.

Little Green Footballs also has done a great job.

A Hat Tip goes to Michelle Malkin, who first called it to my attention…

Once again, the blogosphere comes through. The coverage of the Israeli-Hezbollah conflict has been so biased against Israel; there are sure to be many more inconsistencies to be discovered as the MSM has been beside itself in a race of who can bash the Israelis the best – or the quickest...

Check out Charles Krauthammer’s column here.

Kevin Dayhoff writes from Westminster Maryland USA.

E-mail him at: kdayhoff@carr.org

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20060807 KDDC S A Miller writes about MOM

MOM article by S. A. Miller writing for the Washington Times.

Posted August 7th, 2006

This was called to my attention by the watchful eye of The Baltimore Reporter. Thank you.

You may read Mr. Farrow's remarks here.

I wonder if this will be in the Baltimore Sun

Filed under:

• local news

— Robert Farrow @ 9:33 pm

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O’Malley rapped for ‘neglecting’ Baltimore

By S.A. Miller
THE WASHINGTON TIMES

August 7, 2006

BALTIMORE — Mayor Martin O’Malley is being criticized by residents, community activists and officials who say he is neglecting the city in his quest for the Democratic nomination for governor. Critics say Mr. O’Malley has failed to address accusations of illegal police arrests, has disregarded historic preservation and is ready to quit as mayor without fulfilling promises to reduce crime and improve schools.

You may read the rest of Mr. Miller's article here.

20060807 KDDC Steele Submits Sun Survey Answers to Marylanders, Not Paper

Steele Submits Sun Survey Answers to Marylanders, Not Paper

TEMPLE HILLS, MD – Today, Michael Steele’s campaign for U.S. Senate publicly posted the answers to the Baltimore Sun’s candidate survey on the www.SteeleforMaryland.com website, deciding not to submit the survey to the paper.

Steele said, “After careful consideration, I have decided not to submit to the Baltimore Sun my responses to its candidate survey, but instead to post them on my website for the people of Maryland to view unfiltered and without bias.

“In 2002, the Sun editorial board concluded that I brought ‘little to the team but the color of [my] skin.’ And although I have spent my years as Lieutenant Governor chairing the Commission on Quality Education, reforming the state’s Minority Business Enterprise program, and promoting policies to reduce crime and protect our environment, their attitude toward me and my campaign has progressed little.

“Therefore, I have decided to take the Sun’s questions and my answers straight to the people of Maryland instead of giving their editorial board’s judgment – and past inflammatory and personally insulting statements - any further credence. Marylanders can view my answers to the Sun’s survey questions by visiting http://www.steeleformaryland.com/MichaelSteeleSunSurvey.htm.

“I am hopeful that the hiring of a new publisher may help shift the Sun toward listening to the views of all Marylanders. I also encourage the new publisher to increase diversity among the paper’s editors and management staff because they are at the heart of what perpetuates these paternalistic and stereotypical attitudes toward certain politicians and leaders from a certain part of the community.”

Michael Steele’s responses to the Baltimore Sun’s candidate survey can be found by visiting http://www.steeleformaryland.com/MichaelSteeleSunSurvey.htm.

The Baltimore Sun’s 2002 editorial which stated that Michael Steele “brings little to the team but the color of his skin” can be found on the Sun’s website @ http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.endorsegovnov03,1,1616905.story.

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Pasted below, please find Lieutenant Governor Steele's answers:

Michael Steele's Responses to Baltimore Sun Survey

1) Should judicial candidates be potentially subject to a filibuster, or should that rule be changed?

The bi-partisan “Gang of 14” should be applauded for coming together to find common-sense solutions when partisanship threatened to tear the Senate apart.

Many state and federal districts have had judicial vacancies prolonged due to political posturing in Washington. This must end. If a nominee is clearly qualified to serve as a judge, the nominee deserves an up or down vote. Any nominee outside of the mainstream would not receive the votes necessary for confirmation, so the threat of a filibuster would not apply.

2) Is the current U.S. energy policy adequate? If not, what changes would you support?

All one has to do is look at the price of a gallon of gas to know that our energy policy is not adequate. My family paid $600 in gasoline costs for the month of April alone. While current energy costs are a strain on middle-class families, they are a real crisis to many of Maryland’s working families. This is unacceptable and has had a negative impact on families all across Maryland.

To provide immediate relief for Marylanders, I have called on President Bush and Congress to enact an immediate moratorium on the federal gas tax - more than 18 cents per gallon - and an immediate moratorium on the 24 cents per gallon diesel tax. Moreover, Congress should approve legislation to suspend the tariff on ethanol imports.

But those actions are designed to deal with our immediate crisis. Congress must roll up its sleeves and work to solve the underlying problem - our dependence on foreign sources of energy. To do that, I’ve called on Congress to double President Bush’s budget request for biomass and bio-refinery research, and create market and tax incentives for E85 fuels, hybrid technologies and alternative energy sources. Tax credits for hybrid and alternative fuel vehicles need to be renewed and expanded. Additionally, we must increase fuel efficiency standards for automobiles – not just this year, but over the next several years.

Our dependence on foreign sources of energy has been an important issue for generations. Repeatedly, Washington has failed to act – and failed us – on this issue. Marylanders deserve leadership on creating and sustaining real energy independence.

3) How would you address the growing gap between Americans who have adequate health care insurance and those who don’t?

In 2003, a survey of Baltimore City revealed that almost half of those interviewed (47.1%) were currently without health insurance. We do not have a quality problem or even a quantity problem like our neighbor to the west (West Virginia). We have an access problem. We need to increase access to health insurance through Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and high deductible policies, so individuals and families can purchase the insurance that's best for them and meets their specific needs.

As Lieutenant Governor, I worked with legislators to create the Office of Minority Health and Health Disparities, and worked to pass the Health Care Services Disparities Prevention Act to require the Maryland Department of Health to reduce health care disparities – like the number of uninsured - based on race, gender, ethnicity and poverty. The Senate has to get serious about closing this gap on the federal level as well.

Additionally, I believe we need to create a health care system that works for small business owners and small business employees. Millions of them are going without health care today just because bureaucrats in Washington won’t wake up to the fact that our current system is burdensome and ineffective. That is why I support allowing small businesses to band together and compete for better insurance options. With Association Health Plans, small employers will be able to pool their health insurance costs and have greater purchasing power to achieve better benefits for their employees.

To help increase our nation’s seniors access to affordable care, I have called to extend the sign up period for the Medicare Prescription Drug plan. Maryland seniors need more time to learn about the different drug plan options available to them so they can make the best choices for their health care. Once again, Washington has failed Marylanders by rushing through a program just to meet a government deadline, instead of acting in the best interests of our seniors.

4) What should be done about the enormous federal budget deficit?

I often hear politicians jump through complicated hoops when trying to explain why we have such an enormous deficit. Of course, any such discussion quickly devolves into partisan name calling. The time for partisan rancor and political double talk has passed. The plain truth is we are spending more than we have in the bank. We’ve all heard it said that we are mortgaging our children’s future. Not true, we are now mortgaging our grandchildren and great grandchildren’s future. When a “bridge to nowhere” receives millions of dollars in funding, we know Washington has lost touch with reality; and until Congress places real priorities on spending, deficits will always be a pressing concern.

Congress must also enact pro-growth policies that encourage the economy to expand: like making tax relief permanent and repealing the death tax. As we saw with the most recent deficit figures, a growing economy will in fact reduce the size of the budget deficit. In order to achieve optimal economic growth, Congress must adhere to sane spending guidelines while promoting smart policies devoted to growing businesses and creating jobs.

5) Are federal affirmative action programs necessary and effective?

Studies show enormous disparities still exist in education, healthcare, employment and economic opportunities along racial lines in the United States. I believe programs are still necessary to help close these divides. I support giving people opportunities. Programs must be fair to all Marylanders – of every color – and they should focus on economic empowerment.

6) What further investment - monetary and military - if any, should the United States make in Iraq? When should U.S. troops leave Iraq?

There is no doubt that war requires sacrifice and fiscal constraint. We have a responsibility to ensure that our armed forces have the supplies, the equipment, and the technologies they need to get the job done.

It is imperative we improve conditions on the ground so we can bring our troops home as quickly as possible and have the Iraqi people take control of their own destiny. At the same time, we should not publicly state a timetable for implementation. I do not support a “cut and run strategy.” Any politician out there talking about timetables and timelines is playing into the hands of our enemies who have an enormous capacity to wait. It would be a disaster for us to cut and run, as it would destroy our credibility in the region for at least a generation. At the same time, it is the Iraqi’s themselves that will ultimately have to make democracy work in their country. We should stay there only long enough to give the Iraqi people the tools they need to secure the very democracy they voted for three times. After that, it’s up to them.

7) Do you support easing federal restrictions on embryonic stem cell research? And please outline any specific proposals on this subject.

I am very encouraged by innovations in technology that make it possible to treat and prevent disease without the willful destruction of human embryos, including innovative technologies practiced right here in Maryland. We have a lot to gain through furthering stem cell research, but medical breakthroughs should be fundamentally about saving, not destroying, human life. Therefore, I support stem cell research that does not destroy the embryo.

8) Discuss your views on immigration reform, particularly with regard to undocumented aliens already in this country.

Congress’s unique inability to multi-task highlights our nation’s need for common- sense immigration reform. Until we see Congress take some real and immediate steps to secure our borders, we can hardly expect Americans to seriously consider proposals for dealing with those illegal immigrants already in our county and those employers who fail to adequately report them.

Nearly 1.2 million people were arrested trying to illegally enter the U.S. through the Mexican border last year alone, and an estimated 500,000 evaded capture. This is unacceptable. When a patient has a serious laceration, the doctor’s first priority is to stop the bleeding, and then they can decide if simple stitches or surgery is needed to fix the problem for the long term. First thing’s first: secure our borders and then we can deal with meaningful immigration reform.

9) Name two senators, one past and one present, whom you would most choose to emulate. Why?

In my opinion, Senator Charles "Mac" Mathias was a senator’s senator. He was a gentleman and a dedicated public servant who proved himself to be an independent thinker and consensus builder. He took difficult stands on issues even when it was unpopular to do so. Senator Mathias did not stand in the doorway of opportunity; he helped to create it by standing up for civil rights, voting rights, and inclusion for all Americans.

Of today’s sitting senators, I am especially inspired by Senator John McCain, who works above the partisan fray that is too often stifling progress in Washington. Like Senator McCain, I am not afraid of being an independent voice in Congress who calls it like he sees it. I am going to Washington to shake things up, work with both sides of the aisle, and build bridges over party nonsense to achieve results for Marylanders.

10) If you now hold public office or have in the past, briefly identify your top three accomplishments while in office.

The reform of the state’s Minority Business Enterprise Program is certainly one of my proudest achievements as Lieutenant Governor. When I took office, the state had a dysfunctional, fraudulent system that gave minorities hope with no sense of substance. Here are some of the significant changes we were able to make:
- Eliminated the 10-day waiting period for prime contractors to name their subcontractors.
- Established a small business reserve pool where ten percent of all the state’s procurement contracts are to be carved out for small businesses.
- Established a Mentor Protégé Program where large companies are partnered with small companies and they provide guidance and opportunities for small business owners.
- Led an historic trade mission to Ghana and South Africa where many small businesses got opportunities to expand their business on a global market.
- Lobbied for increased funding for the Maryland Small Business Development Authority which gives much needed capital to the state’s small business community.
- Worked to create a linked deposit program that allows banks doing business with the state to create a pool of money that can be accessed to provide capital for small and minority-owned businesses.

As Maryland’s Lieutenant Governor, I have led reforms in our education system to better educate our children by better rewarding our teachers, better equipping our schools and better involving parents. I headed the Commission on Quality Education in Maryland which proposed 30 recommendations to strengthen schools in our state and ensure every Maryland child has the keys to the door of opportunity – a quality education. I am proud to say the Commission has produced real results for Maryland students, and many of my 30 recommendations are being funded and implemented today.
- I worked to provide millions of dollars in funding for many of the recommendations in the Commission on Quality Education in Maryland, including $2 million for Professional Development Schools that advance the skills of Maryland teachers;
- $1.45 million to strengthen services for those with Autism and fund the launch of the Autism screening pilot program;
- And $2 million to create a Science, Technology, and Mathematics Academy to advance students' skills in the subject areas that will play a major role in the economy of the 21st Century.
- Made historic improvements to the Maryland Teacher Pension System. Through the passage of the State Employees' and Teachers' Retirement Enhancement Benefit Act of 2006, I worked with legislators to provide teachers and state employees hired after 1998 with a benefit equaling 54 percent of their salary after 30 years service (an increase over the current 42 percent of salary).

Additionally, I have worked to secure Maryland communities that are too often victims of gang violence, drugs, and crime.
- With the help of the Office of Crime Control and Prevention and the Maryland State Police, I worked to combat the proliferation of gangs threatening the well-being of Maryland communities and the safety of Maryland children.
- I convened a Statewide Planning Group to develop a strategy to both prevent and respond to gang activity.
- Though the Vehicle Theft Prevention Council, I also worked to provide more than $1.4 million to law enforcement agencies aimed at reducing car theft in our state.

20060805 KDDC Henry Ford quote

"Don't find fault, find a remedy."

20060806 KDDC Rudy Giuliani on immigration reform

Rudy Giuliani on immigration reform
Posted August 6, 2006

I found this on the Weekly Standard's web site:

Former Mayor Giuliani is correct. Please see my Tentacle column from May 31st, 2006: "The Great Mexican Maginot Line."

According to the Weekley Standard:

Thursday, August 03, 2006

Rudy on Immigration

Last night, in an interview with Fox's Bill O'Reilly, Rudy Giuliani again put himself squarely in the president’s camp on immigration reform. The mayor is for tough border security, but he has also made the case in recent speeches that real reform must include a guest worker program and a “path to citizenship.” On Fox, Giuliani argued that comprehensive reform is not only practical but also aides in fighting crime and thwarting terrorists. Some highlights: GIULIANI: Yes, yes. National Guard short-term solution makes a lot of sense. Increasing the border patrol. O'REILLY: In the long term. GIULIANI: Long-term over a period of time would be the permanent way to do that. But you've got to seal the border. And you've got to do it with personnel. And you've got to do it with technology. You've got to have both. And we have to know who's in the United States. We need to have information about who's in this country. And then you have to have a way in which people can regularize themselves as well. I mean, you need to get people out from under the table. O'REILLY: So you would give them a pathway to citizenship? GIULIANI: I would say -- this is a classic thing where you've got to do both, carrot and stick. O'REILLY: Yes, but you got to do -- I think the stick first. GIULIANI: You've got to do both. O'REILLY: You know, you stop it and then back. When you were the mayor in New York, illegal immigration rose in this city tremendously. I mean, you can't get a cab now with an American in there. GIULIANI: But crime declined immensely…. GIULIANI: The Immigration and Naturalization Service would only deport 1,500 to 2,000 a year. So I said to myself I have 398,00 illegal immigrants because the federal government is not going to do anything about this. It can't. So I had to figure out how do I deal with it so that I regularize them, so that I. O'REILLY: So how did you do that? GIULIANI: They don't commit crimes. They don't - well, we made sure that their children were allowed to go to school for which we were criticized. But if I didn't do that, I would end up with children on the streets. If I had just said well, illegal immigrants can't have their children in school. And we tried to make their lives reasonable. O'REILLY: How about city services? GIULIANI: It would have been. O'REILLY: Did you give them city money? GIULIANI: Sure, we did. If they were necessary services. We allowed them, for example, to report crimes. O'REILLY: Without being -- asked what their status was. GIULIANI: Because we wanted the criminals who were committing the crimes. O'REILLY: Right. GIULIANI: A criminal can beat up an illegal immigrant today. He can beat you up tomorrow. So we need the. O'REILLY: So you took the practical approach to it? GIULIANI: But you've got to take a practical approach to it. There are 12 million illegals in this country. We got to stop illegals from coming in. And a tremendous amount of money should be put into the physical security that's needed to do that. People and technology. At the same time, you've got this tremendous number of people who are below the table. As long as you don't know who they are, as long as you can't get them to come forward, you can't identify them, you can't photograph them, you have to figure out who they are, then you have a dangerous situation. O'REILLY: It's interesting. GIULIANI: Now terrorists can hide in that group. O'REILLY: Oh, absolutely. GIULIANI: And criminals can hide.

Posted by Daniel McKivergan at 05:33 PM | Immigration | Permalink

Immigration Reform

20060805 KDDC Vietnam Memorial Visitor Center Approved

Photo by Flickr user adrummer_boy.

Vietnam Memorial Visitor Center Approved

Jeff Beam, writing in the DCist reports that the long awaited Vietnam Memorial visitor center has been approved:

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund announced yesterday that their proposed Visitor Center received the final go-ahead from the National Capitol Planning Commission, which oversees the approval and design of monuments and memorials in D.C. The privately funded, $100 million complex will supplement Maya Lin’s 1982 Memorial Wall, with exhibits and programs to tell the story of the Vietnam War and commemorate the soldiers who fought it. The Visitor Center will be built just west of the Wall in the area between it and the Lincoln Memorial; however, NCPC requires that it be completely buried and hidden from view, in order to preserve the openness and visual order of the Mall. The Polshek Partnership, architect of the Clinton Library and the Newseum/Freedom Forum, was selected in 2004 to design the Center.

Read the rest of his article here.

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