Are You Will To Take The Plunge?

Al, Dave, and Steve are!  They’re ready to show you just how hard core they are, and what they’re willing to do to prove it.  Yes, that’s right, you heard it here. These boys are  participating in the Polar Bear Plunge on January 30th at Sandy Point.   On the Slate for Fiscal Responsibility Team, we have Dave Aughenbagh and Al Nalley, candidates for delegate in District 12A, Steve Whisler, candidate for county council in District 1, and several other proud patriots.  Now, if you ask me, I’d say they are all a bit looney, but they’re in for a great cause.  Plungapalooza 2010 benefits the Special Olympics, which “provides year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for citizens with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.” (Plungapalooza website)

I’m sure you’re all sitting there wondering two things:

1) How can I help? Well, there are two ways really, you can get in your skimmies and take the plunge as part of our team, or you can open your checkbook and make a donation.  Either way, we’ll take it.  Our goal as a team is $5000.  We need all the help we can get to make it.  Are you with us?

2) Are you plunging, Hillary?  Um, in a word, NO!  I’m more of a open my checkbook kind of gal.  But I’m in for a donation.  You bet your “suits,” I am!

Is It Personal or Is It Politics?

After Bryan Sears released his article highlighting our opponent’s and their “fundraising” committees for the Baltimore County Council races, it’s come to my attention that certain candidates have felt personally “attacked.”  Okay, really just one candidate was upset, particularly over my op ed piece here on the blog, but seriously, THIS IS A CAMPAIGN!  Who is on your campaign committee, especially your “fundraising chairmen” and their practices, are fair game.  To be this early in the race, before the gloves even come off, and getting your panties all up in a wad, seems a bit premature to me.  I mean, don’t you think “unfriending” people on Facebook is more of a personal attack then an op ed piece where you, yourself, weren’t even the centerpiece?
It’s not my place to question someone’s integrity.  Maybe these opponents really think that Smith and Gildea are in this for the good of the candidates.  However, if they truly believe that, then they’re naive.  Here’s my opinion.  I think Smith and Gildea are building a war chest, not for these candidates, but for Executive Smith himself.  See, he can’t run for another term (gee, I wonder where else we could use some term limits), so the only way to maintain his political power is to build a machine equipped with lackeys that he can control.  Of course, I have no proof this.  That’s why they call it an opinion, but it makes sense to me.  They interviewed candidates to see if they were, what, worthy of their “help.”  No one devotes that much time and energy (and money) to something, or someone, unless they have something to gain from it.  So, my question is this:  What would Smith and Gildea have to gain from these investments?  And let’s just say (and I hope this doesn’t happen) that their “friends” win these seats.  Do you expect me to believe that their influence ends there?  What about Executive Smith’s influence?  Where does that end? Or when?

At this point in the game, it’s not about personal attacks.  I honestly hope that the people in this campaign leave the mud on the ground where it belongs for the entirety of the race.  But if our opponents are going to take every single criticism personally…well, you know what they say, if you can’t take the heat, get out of the fire.  And “unfriending” us on Facebook?  Don’t you think that’s just a tad bit childish?  However, please, don’t take that too personally.

Hear Bryan Sears take with Bill Vanko about his War Chest article on WBAL.

On a Lighter Note: Let It Snow

It’s official.  The weather lady says it’s going to snow and it’s going to be a big event.  Yada, yada, yada!  What excited me was what she said at the end of her segment.  Listen closely and pay attention to a very special date.  I might just be looking at my first ever White Christmas.  I know it’s selfish, but I’m totally praying for it.  I’ve never woken up in my own house with snow on the ground, and I’m super excited about the possibility…even if it’s only a 40% chance at this point.

I’ll keep you guys posted!  Oh and for the record:  Since the Pennington’s have moved to Maryland, we have never had a snow event as big as the one they are predicting for tomorrow.  This may turn out to be the wildest winter ever (at least for those of us born and raised in the South).

Also, good to note, that the first snow fall of the season, for the last 6 years, has been on December 5th.  Guess when we moved to Maryland?  Yep, 6 years ago!  Hhmmmm, coincidence?  I think not!

What are you “snowy” day activities?

I Always Liked Steele

Now I think I like him even more.  If we’re going to be smacking down Democrats…sign me up.  And kudos to Justin Ready (@justinready) for making it to The Hills.  Don’t know what I’m talking about, check it out here. Fun times!

Press Release: Baltimore County Republicans Ask Democrats:

BALTIMORE COUNTY REPUBLICANS ASK DEMOCRATS:

WILL YOU SUPPORT THE SMITH-GILDEA DEVELOPER CANDIDATES?

Contact: Chris Cavey

The Baltimore County Republican Party today denounced efforts by two prominent Democrat powerbrokers, Michael Paul Smith and David Gildea, in their efforts to pack the next Baltimore County Council with politicians sympathetic to over development of our County.  The story was first reported by Bryan Sears of Patuxent Publishing.

“Under Jim Smith and his Democrat cronies, Baltimore County has become a political cesspool, polluted by big money from Democrat developers and their special interests that are paying for access to power,” commented Baltimore County Republican Party Chairman Chris Cavey.  “It’s time to drain this political cesspool and reform the County Council in 2010. Only the Republican Party offers real reform and accountability.”

Cavey is asking all Democrat candidates in Baltimore County to clarify whether they would back the Smith-Gildea candidates if they proceed to the general election.  “Will self-styled reformers like Jim Brochin, Bobby Zirkin, Steve Lafferty, and Ruth Baisden denounce such a brazen effort to stack the County Council with candidates handpicked by the Smith-Gildea development cartel? Are they willing to close a blind eye to the deepening corruption within the Council chamber and hope for some of the same cash flow and support.”

Bryan Sears jumped right on this in his blog, Strange Bedfellows, as did Ann Miller on Examiner.com.

Please spread this press release to any and all people you know, have met, brushed by in a check-out line, or have seen breathing.  It’s important that we get the word out about the strategy’s of our opponents.  Getting in bed with development lawyers…there’s no coming back from that.  Really, there’s not.  The people need to know who these men are associating themselves with, and who else is going to do that?

And These People Win Elections?

I just don’t get it.  Why people choose to support Democrats is beyond me.  There all about the money and the power.  Sure they preach about the little people, feeding the poor, taking care of the disabled, but look at how they run their campaigns.  They appeal only to the rich and deep pocketed.  In an article today on ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com, Bryan Sears pointed out how three Democrat contenders in Baltimore County were filling their war chests.  How, you ask?  Well, that would be with $1000 a plate fundraisers and a committee headed up by none other than a couple development lawyers.  Michael Paul Smith, who also happens to be Executive Smith’s son, and David Gildea (also highly connected to Exec. Smith) have pledged their undying support to County Council candidates Tom Quirk (running against Steve Whisler), Gardon Harden (District 5), and Cathy Bevins (District 6).

Of course these candidates have made a pledge of their own.  They’ll accept these guys help and money, but would never return any special favors.  Sure, like these men are doing this out of the kindness of their hearts.  When business owners and developers show up at a $1000 a plate fundraiser, they mean business.  They’re in it for themselves.  They want these people to win because it means something for them.  Why else would they care?

Democrats in Maryland have proven that they are not pro-business, just look at our employment tax, property tax assessments, and all-around hostile tax environment they’ve created.  The one benefit to being the underdog in a completely blue state means that, for once, they can’t point fingers and blame the elephant in the room.  So if these big developers are showing up at these fundraisers, then it means that there is something in it for them.  And on a side note, I’d ask how many of these deep pockets are even from within these districts.  Of course, I have no idea, but it certainly begs the question.

Bryan wrote, “Some community activists say they are concerned over the attorneys’ fundraising for candidates because of the council’s role in zoning and development.”  Activists?  I’d be interested to hear what everyday people walking down Frederick Ave would think about this.  “Whose call do you think they will return first? The developer who gave them $1,000 or the attorney who raised them $50,000?” Donna Spicer, a Loch Raven activist shared with Mr. Sears (how do you define activist anyways?). What about the housewife looking for a sidewalk for her kids to walk to school on?  When do you think her call will be answered.

Another interesting quote in the article came from Cathy Bevins.  “‘I know what it costs to run for County Council,” Bevins said. “I’m going to need $100,000 to $125,000. I’m not going to raise that having $25 (per person) fundraisers.’”  Do you need me to interpret this for you?  Basically they’ll take your vote, but the money is what really matters to them, so if you don’t have tons of it, then you’re not all that important to them.  Really?  And these people still get elected.

Actually, in 2010, let’s hope they don’t.  We have a strong slate of candidates, especially for County Council.  Steve Whisler is all about the people.  Sure, he knows it takes money to run a campaign, but it takes people to win and election.  I’m proud to “work” for a man who listens to the concerns of those around him, whose platform is built on a foundation of community service, who knows who he wants to work for and why.

The last quote I’ll pull from Bryan’s article comes from none other than Tom Quirk himself.  “But this is an important election,” he said, “and there will be a lot of change in the council, and it’s more important than ever to elect the right people.”  I couldn’t agree more, Tom.  Whisler in 2010.

Got Plans Next Wednesday? You Do Now!

Come on, it’s not like you have to go that far, and it is for a good cause (sort of).  The Southwest Area Education Advisory Council is hosting an Elected Official Meet & Greet next Wednesday evening at 7:00 pm at Catonsville High School.

There will be mingling.  There will be remarks.  And if we show up and play our cards right, there might even be a little intimidation.  Don’t you think it’s about time they stand up and take notice of us?  We shall see.

Here a list of the confirmed officials scheduled to be there (drum roll please):

·       Congressman John Sarbanes (tentative) – Representing
Maryland’s 3rdDistrict

·       State Delegate Adrienne Jones- Representing District 10

·       State Delegate James Malone- Representing District 12A

·       State Delegate Steven DeBoy- Representing District 12A

I have to point out a missing name, that of a certain County Councilman.  Oh well, we’ll have to send a stand in.  Steve, I hope you’re available.

For more information, contact Brian Bailey (also running for County Council, on the other side) at  443-618-5404

Be there or be on my hit list (or off my Christmas list for that matter).  Okay, so making idle threats is probably not the best way to get you there, but think about, don’t you think it would be a good use of your time to go, ask questions, and turn some heads.  I’m just saying, that’s all.

From Our Friends at The Baltimore Reporter: Does Sarah Palin Have a Shot?

Why Does Sarah Palin Have a Shot At The Presidency?

By Regina Sztajer

Barrack Obama, the rising star of the Democratic party, has shown himself to be a pushover in the world of diplomacy. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton isn’t much of a help because she and the president are on different wave lengths. How can any world leaders take him seriously when he is illegitimate with the American people? His allegiance is with the Unions and Acorn who he considers his soldiers. He had the nerve to go to Dover Delaware to so called honor the military killed in service of their country but can’t seem to make up his mind to give them additional troops in Afghanistan. Months have past since the military requested additional troops for Afghanistan and he travels around the world apologizing for our failures while our men ands women are putting their lives on the line in the Middle East.

Obama tries to butter up Iran’s President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, a Holocaust denier, who promised to wipe Israel off the map. He has snubbed Israel while giving a speech in Cairo Egypt. Their is mounting disrespect for America by our friends and adversaries. Japan for example, will cease to refuel U.S. warships off Afghanistan while demanding renegotiations of U.S. troop deployment, already agreed upon. They are moving out of Obama’s orbit and into the government of China’s arms. China just refused to revalue its currency to stop America’s bleeding of U.S. jobs, technology and factories to the mainland. They have dismissed Obama’s call for openness. The aren’t showing much gratitude for what we have done for them. North Koreans continue to test nuclear devices ignoring U.S. demands.

Afghan President Hamid Karzai stole the election so brazenly in the face of the Obama administration, mocking the United States claiming legitimacy. His administration decided to scrape the ballistic missile defense of Poland and the Czech Republic while giving in to Moscow while it meddles in the Ukraine. They have no respect for Obama or America and have shown little reciprocity if any.

All of Obama’s personal charm has counted for nothing in global power politics. The national interest of China, North Korea, Russia and etc. are not a comfort to America when they have disused us with impunity. Obama is seen by many as dithering, diffident and a doubting, and who believes his smile heals all. Not So!!!! We in America must put ourselves first, if not who will?

Palin is a rising star in the Republican party. She appeared damaged by the Democrats, who despised her but they were wrong. Obama’s fading star is being pushed away by her brightness. His being shown little or no repect abroad and his Socialist doctrines, which he is determined to shove down our throats, is perfect for her to come out like a freight train on the run. Her new book, Sarah Palin Going Rouge, is a hit selling in the thousands daily. I even bought my copy to read!!

I predict she will win the Conservative Republican base and Independents because in every poll she is level with support and her book tour is creating a huge buzz. She does understand the nation’s fears and will appeal to their hopes for the future. She has to listen to people all across America, in inner cities, small towns, cities and the suburbs who are living with jobless anxieties. She will espouse Reagan’s values and use humor when responding to bad press and controversy because that’s Sarah Palin. Making bit of fun of oneself makes you appear real, after all no one is perfect. Go for it Sarah, you can do it, ‘we’re rooting for you!! The same thousands standing on line in the dead of night to be first online to have their book signed will be first on line at the polling booth.

From Our Friends at the Baltimore Reporter: Dumpster Diving

INVESTIGATIVE ACTIVITY:  DUMPSTER DIVING

By Brujo Blanco

There is a time honored investigative technique known as dumpster diving. This involves going through someone’s garbage to look for evidence of wrongdoing. The legal concept of dumpster diving is that garbage is something that the owner freely abandoned. In the garbage the police (or private detectives) may find drugs, financial records, body parts, illegal weapons, and personal correspondence. When one throws something in the garbage it is gone and free for anyone to discover. There are some restrictions in that one may not trespass on private property to obtain the evidence. This is all very logical except is one is a democrat or a liberal then it depends on the political proclivities of the person abandoning the property/garbage.

Recently the mother load of evidence regarding ACORN wrongdoing was discovered in the garbage. Now the ACORN supporters and other liberal weenies and claiming an invasion of privacy. I wonder specifically whose privacy. If you want to keep something private shred it before you throw it away.

One can surrender one’s privacy by doing things in public such as throwing contraband into the garbage. In the ACORN case the garbage was apparently located in a public place which was a dumpster behind an ACORN office.

Apparently, at least

some of this evidence pertains to the ACORN recent videos that we conservatives and others that want to know the truth have come to know and love. There is evidence that they were preparing ACORN employees to provide story lines for misbehavior to official investigators.

Here is a short article to explain the events to you:

ACORN Document Dump: Trashed Documents Are Relevant to Investigation Posted By Publius On November 27, 2009 @ 2:18 pm In ACORN, Justice/Legal, News, Politics | 285

Have

you heard the one about the pimp, prostitute, politician and the community organizer? Well, thanks to San Diego private investigator Derrick Roach, Californians are not laughing at what is turning into a political nightmare for California Attorney General Jerry Brown and ACORN. On Tuesday, November 24, Attorney General Brown appeared on KABC’s “Peter Tilden Show” [1] after it was revealed that some 20,000 documents had been thrown into a National City dumpster by ACORN employees.

BRUJO SAYS:  Apparently, the garbage/evidence was abandoned in a dumpster in a public area.

The

documents were thrown out in advance of state investigators arriving at the local ACORN office to conduct an investigation resulting from national media attention. ACORN employee Juan Carlos Vera was videotaped giving advice to two individuals posing as a pimp and a prostitute regarding underage prostitution and human smuggling. Without admitting any wrongdoing ACORN terminated Mr. Vera, or so they said.

Documents provided to BigGovernment.com show that Mr. Vera was not terminated but was simply laid off, implying that Mr. Vera is also eligible for rehire. (The document also notes that Mr. Vera was laid off due to “restructuring” related to “videotaping incident.)

BRUJO SAYS: Telling paragraph. No guilty behavior? I believe that this does establish guilty knowledge of criminal activity. I suspect that this Mr. Vera is also receiving a pay check while he is on “sabbatical.”

Other

documents provided to BigGovernment.com show that in the wake of the national scandal involving underage prostitution and human smuggling, ACORN employees were communicating with media, law enforcement and internally among ACORN offices as to how to develop a storyline that could explain the undercover videos taken of Mr. Vera. One of those documents with San Diego television station 10News is shown below:

BRUJO SAYS:  Develop a storyline?  Sounds like lying to me.

As

a result of the undercover videos surfacing and the national media attention that followed, internal documents that were thrown in the trash and recovered by Derrick Roach reveal that ACORN was well aware that personal information for individuals who have applied for services and individuals on so-called “yes lists” needed to be secured under lock and key.

BRUJO SAYS: I wonder if there is any personal information such as personal identifiers and personal financial information found in the dumpster. Is there official information in the dumpster that may have caused damage to innocent individuals if released? More and more negative information surfaces about ACORN. This organization has created a compartmentated operation similar to a rat maze. It is made up of many subordinate organizations under different names.

Ironically, the only part of this tumultuous episode that may in fact be a joke is that California Attorney General Jerry Brown is running for governor, again. At age 71, California’s top cop and erstwhile Gov. Moonbeam might benefit from a refresher course in current law. Attorney General Brown cited a case from the 1960’s where items placed in the garbage were considered private; however, in 1988 the United States Supreme Court ruled in a case, California v.

Greenwood, 486 U.S. 35 (1988), [2] that there was no expectation of privacy when items are thrown in the garbage since it is common knowledge that plastic garbage bags are readily accessible to animals, children, scavengers, snoops, and other members of the public. As for the local National City ordinance prohibiting scavenging through garbage that the ACORN office and its supporters cite, that law was enacted in 1984 and was nullified by the United States Supreme Court ruling just four years later.

BRUJO SAYS: Jerry Brown really

needs to bone up on the law. If you throw contraband out your car window and it is retrieved you can not claim that your privacy was violated when someone finds that contraband and connects it to you.

This paragraph sums up the legal issues. Brown, like other liberals, is going to come to the aid of ACORN. I suspect that ACORN knows were a few of the bodies are buried and will use it to defend ACORN. It is really a tragedy that this organization which is a highly partisan Democrat organization is provided with government funds some of which is used to support a particular party. I also suspect that there are a number of people that are being enriched by these funds. My main problem with this organization is that they are involved in voter fraud which is no doubt being funded by the taxpayer under the title voter registration. Now ACORN is claiming that they have a right to that money. Since when does a non-governmental agency of any kind have a right to money from the government. I guess if you want an answer ask a liberal.

Press Release: Baltimore County Republicans Launch Site for Reform

Subject: Baltimore County Republicans Unveil Reform Web Site

BALTIMORE COUNTY REPUBLICANS UNVEIL REFORM WEB SITE

Internet Site Emphasizes Need for Change

The Baltimore County Republican Party is unveiling a new Web Site that makes the case for reform in 2010, laying out the failures of the county’s Democrat leadership and how Republicans would increase accountability, efficiency, and excellence in government.

“After 16 years of Democrat rule in Baltimore County, people are desperate for new leaders who will reform government and put communities first,” commented Chris Cavey, chairman of the Baltimore County   “Our Republican candidates offer an alternative to Democrat leaders who seem more concerned about political advancement and satisfying the concerns of developers and special interests.”

The Web Site includes the Baltimore County Republican Party’s vision for 2010, as well as examples of the failures of Democrat leaders who controlled every office but one in the County Courthouse:

– Democrat politicians harvest hundreds of thousands of dollars from developers and other special interests while failing to deal with traffic congestion and school overcrowding;

– Schools from Hereford to Sparrows Point are overcrowded, while schools around the county lack air conditioning and are deteriorating with age.

– Baltimore County’s land preservation program for recreation areas has ground to a halt.

– It took a public outcry for Baltimore County Democrats to admit that their lucrative pension system needed to be reformed. To add insult to injury, within days of the pension scandal breaking, a Democrat-appointed commission recommended salary hikes—after discussing the raises in violation of the Open Meetings Act.

There is a blog at the Web Site which will hopefully become an interactive feature for sharing ideas about how to reform Baltimore County.

“We encourage everyone interested in our future to visit this Web Site,” Cavey concluded.  “There is a groundswell for change and reform that the Democrat machine will not be able to silence.”