G. A. Harrison

Another Questionable Land Deal on Today’s County Council Agenda

April 16, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 11 Comments

SALISBURY, MD – Another questionable real estate deal is catching the eyes of Wicomico County taxpayers. Today the Wicomico County Council is scheduled to vote on the acquisition of 23 acres of land for a new transfer station near Allen.

The purchase price for the property is approximately $150,000. However, the price was originally ~~$250,000~~ $220,000. The price came down only after the county government was offered nearby parcels at a much lower price. This calls into question the legitimacy of the original appraisal. In addition, there are questions regarding personal ties between the family of the landowners and County Executive Rick Pollitt.

This comes on the heels of the county’s approval of a lease / purchase agreement for new office space for the State’s Attorney’s office. Questions were raised when county purchasing director Rick Konrad informed two bidders that their proposals must meet certain requirements or their proposals would be automatically rejected. The winning bidder did not meet those same requirements.

As in the case of the State’s Attorney office deal, it is expected that the pro-Pollitt majority coalition of council members John Hall, Matt Holloway, Stevie Prettyman, and Sheree Sample-Hughes will approve the purchase.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, News Analysis Tagged With: Fiscal Policy, Local Government, Politics

Pollitt, Board of Ed Confuse Public Hearing with NPR

April 12, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

SALISBURY, MD – As Wicomico County homeowners again face an increase in their property tax rates, County Executive Rick Pollitt held a “public hearing” on his soon-to-be-released FY 2014 county budget. It should be noted that no real budget detail was provided for citizens to comment on.

Rather than unveil his budget, Pollitt and the Wicomico County Board of Education used the event to call for more spending on Education. While I came late to the event it appears that little was missed. When I asked two individuals after the event if I missed anything of substance, the responses were nearly identical – “If you heard one teacher speak, then you pretty much heard the whole thing.”

I recognize that Pollitt again faces tough budget decisions. However, repeated acts of political theater do not solve problems. While the Daily Times is giving prominent coverage to Delmarva Public Radio’s current “begathon”, Pollitt needs to realize that public hearings are not supposed to be begathons. They require information for open citizen input. Given that this event was held without providing that information (like his proposed budget), there is no point other than to politicize an already volatile issue.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Education, Fiscal Policy, Local Government, Politics, Taxation

Can Marylanders Afford Martin O’Malley’s National Ambitions?

April 10, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Billions in spending increases. Billions in tax hikes. Same-sex marriage. Repeal of the death penalty. “Green energy” subsidized by taxpayers. A state with already limited gun rights transformed into one of the most restrictive states in the nation. These are just a few examples of Martin O’Malley’s political “accomplishments”.

When O’Malley first ran for governor he was hailed as a “moderate” and “pragmatist”. Kennedyesque – more John than Teddy. O’Malley wouldn’t touch issues such a gay marriage or more restrictive gun control with a ten foot pole.

While he never hid his disdain for the death penalty, he attributed this to his Roman Catholic faith. I sympathize. I too am opposed to the death penalty – because of my pro-life beliefs. Sadly, O’Malley doesn’t allow the Church’s teachings to interfere with Democrat orthodoxy.

What happened? Barack Hussein Obama. In 2008 the Democrat party abandoned the center-left compromise which delivered two terms to Bill Clinton. National Democrats became more radical than in 1972. O’Malley, who has never hid his personal ambition and has always demonstrated fluid political and moral compasses, moved farther to the left.

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Filed Under: Featured Posts, Maryland, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Crime, Fiscal Policy, Gun Control, Politics, Taxation

DelMarVa Dealings – Where the Libs Go to Get Their Dough

April 8, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Much is being made about a possible 2014 match between incumbent Maryland senator Jim Mathias (D-38) and Del. Mike McDermott (R-38B). While McDermott would have to overcome Mathias’ huge money advantage (Senate President Mike Miller will THROW hundreds of thousands of dollars Mathias’ way), a Mathias vs. McDermott race will show the unfathomable divide between “Annapolis Values” vs. “Eastern Shore Values”.

Listen to McDermott on the recently passed budget bill:

While I am a fan of Public Radio Delmarva (actually WSDL), I don’t support Maryland tax dollars going to support it. While I actually believe that SU needs a new library, I can’t imagine where $135 million is going. What about all of that money in the SU foundation? Why can’t it go to help build and equip a new library?

If you attended the recent town hall on Gov. O’Malley’s gun bill you would have witnessed a stark contrast in approaches. McDermott has FOUGHT this bill from the start. Mathias just voted against it (I would suggest for political reasons). You would have seen and heard the passion McDermott brings to this issue. While Mathias wasn’t in attendance, he sent an envoy to read a letter. The categorical difference was apparent to all – McDermott was fighting to protect one of our most sacred liberties while Mathias was tinkering around the edges to make a loathsome bill slightly less loathsome.

As a political junkie, I think a Mathias – McDermott race in 2014 will be exciting. As a citizen of Maryland, I believe that a McDermott candidacy and victory will send a message to those here and in Annapolis who believe that giving up our God-given liberty in pursuit of a few cups from the public trough is a worthwhile pursuit.

DelMarVa Dealings appears each Monday and discusses local politics and its impact on the Delmarva peninsula.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Somerset, MD - Wicomico, MD - Worcester, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Fiscal Policy, Politics, Taxation

Margaret Thatcher, R.I.P.

April 8, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher has passed away at the age of 87. Baroness Thatcher was the greatest women to live during my lifetime one of the greatest Western political leaders of my lifetime and arguably the greatest person ever to hold the title of Prime Minister. She led Britain from the bottom of its post-WWII malaise and re-established the UK as one of the worlds greatest western democracies. A key supporter of Ronald Reagan’s plan to defeat the evil empire of the Soviet Union, Thatcher served as PM from 1979 through the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Take time to watch this portion of Prime Minister Thatcher’s last question time before parliament. At approximately 2:45 into this video you will see the typical attack from the left regarding “income inequality”. As Mrs. Thatcher so ably points out, despite that fact that this “gap” has widened, even the poor in Britain were much better off under her policies. Of course, that doesn’t hold much sway with those who believe that re-distribution of wealth will always succeed, despite the fact that it has NEVER succeeded.

… he would rather the POOR BE POORER provided that the RICH WERE LESS RICH.

Thatcher’s comments regarding the left are as true today as they were in November of 1990. One need only listen to the rhetoric coming from today’s Democrat party leadership.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, International, News Tagged With: Obituary

Media Monday – April 8, 2013

April 8, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

WGMD HOST NOT READY FOR PRIME (OR ANY OTHER) TIME

When I’m cruising through Delaware (or northern Worcester or Wicomico counties) I often bump my dial over one tick from WICO-FM to hear what’s going on at WGMD-FM. While I like talk radio, I prefer some local content and WICO is now 99.9% syndicated. (two public radio stations are now the only source of real local content on the Lower Shore)

Two Sundays ago I happened to tune in and heard some guy named Bill Rogers spouting the most ridiculous nonsense this side of MSNBC. The problem? Rogers claims to be a conservative. Personally, I think we should trade this guy to the left for a future third round draft pick.

What was Rogers’ crime? The guy’s entire show (I only listened for about 90 minutes while I was driving to Seaford and back) was an attack on Libertarians. Sure, everyone has a right to their opinion. I don’t disagree with Rogers’ premise that voting Libertarian is often equivalent to voting Democrat, but Rogers’ reasoning was based on a false premise that I found quite offensive.

Rogers claimed that Libertarians were foolish because of their stance on gay marriage. He specifically claimed that same-sex marriage laws would require churches to marry same-sex couples. He didn’t say this once either. Rogers must of repeated this at least a dozen times in the period I was listening.

It’s bad enough that my party (the GOP) is systematically driving libertarian-minded voters away, now we have a supposedly conservative, local talk host trying to do the same with what are basically lies.

I will concede that the day may come that some court, even the US Supreme Court, may make such an outrageous ruling. However, that day has not arrived … YET. It’s bad enough that nominally Christian denominations such as the Episcopal Church perform what are de facto gay weddings. We have enough battles to fight in the present. People like Rogers don’t need to make up problems. If he is a conservative, as he claims, he also doesn’t need to deliberately offend a portion of the electorate we need to win.

PARKER, CLAYBAUGH SHOW TRUE COLORS … AGAIN

Bad Economic Lessons – It Must Be Budget Time in Maryland

April 7, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

The state of Maryland has just passed a $37 billion budget, chock full of the expected tax hikes and wasteful spending. Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt will unveil his proposed budget on Thursday during his annual dog and pony show at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center. We can expect a proposed $0.07 rate hike. In a lead up to this, Wicomico School’s superintendent John Fredericksen provides an op-ed in today’s Daily Times which again proves that someone with so little understanding of basic economic principles should not be in charge of so much money.

Public schools are important to a community on multiple levels. The perception of high quality schools impacts whether or not a county or city is a desirable place to call home. That same perception can even impact whether or not businesses choose to locate in an area. It is a widely held belief that quality public schools impact an area’s crime rate. There is also the moral argument, which is probably the strongest of all, that we owe our next generation a decent education.

Yet, Fredericksen makes none of these arguments. Instead he tells us that Wicomico County’s public schools are an “economic engine” which grows our local economy. While I realize that none of Fredericksen’s degrees are in something as practical as finance or economics, that does not excuse ignorance about something so basic. I would be happy to suggest several easy reads which might get him up to speed.

Fredericksen’s argument is equivalent to Nancy Pelosi’s laughable statement that unemployment benefits are an economic development tool. Government spending, whether on education, unemployment benefit, or food stamps is a transfer of wealth – NOT a creator of wealth. In the case of state or local spending, where the government cannot run a deficit, this is even more so. Money taken from individuals and businesses for government spending could be put to better use by those individuals or businesses. It could be invested in new plant or equipment. It can create jobs through the CREATION of wealth rather than through its transfer.

Does this mean that public schools are bad? No. We, as a civilized society, have decided that funding public education is something we need to do. Unfortunately, people like Fredericksen attempt to equate spending ON education with quality OF education. Unfortunately people like Fredericksen want you to believe that the spending, in and of itself, is the net benefit to our community.

It’s little wonder that Wicomico taxpayers have such little respect for Fredericksen or the system he is charged with running. That’s the real shame.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Education, Fiscal Policy, Local Government, Taxation

The Observer – The Truth About Austerity … Everywhere But the U. S.

April 6, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

It seems that simple, basic economic truth is coming home to roost in the European socialist utopia. It’s already occurred in Canada. Why can’t our own politicians grasp the obvious?

In a study released Friday at the annual conference of the Royal Economics Society, economists Luca Agnello and Vitor Castro of Italy and Ricardo Sousa of Portugal tracked austerity programs from 1978 – 2009. They found that the best programs shoot for the greatest deficit reductions in the 2nd and 3rd years of a program. They also show empirical data that opposition mounts to austerity programs lasting more than nine years.

Yet, here in the United States, our politicians are unwilling to make real cuts to government spending or to reform entitlement spending. Don’t expect too much media coverage of this study; it violates the current political narrative too much to receive serious consideration. Among the common sense findings:

Reducing public spending lowered deficits more than raising taxes
Trading nations are usually more successful at restoring their public finances
Low interest rates and “sound macro-economic” conditions improve the odds of financial consolidations
Spending cuts are typically deepest in the second and third years of austerity programs before rising again in the final years

IMAGINE – Reducing Spending is MORE EFFECTIVE than Raising Taxes! I wonder what Barack Obama’s reaction would be if he was actually made aware of this study?

Lord Keynes gets a bad rap these days. If he had lived to see the mess that was made from his General Theory he would be ashamed to see what the term “Keynesian economics” has come to mean. Rationalism reigns. Liberal politicians and economists tell us that if you spend X the economy will improve. After spending X, we don’t see the desired result. What is the left’s answer? We didn’t spend enough! (don’t worry, Paul Krugman didn’t receive his Nobel Prize for spouting this macroeconomic drivel)

Common sense has fallen to men and women who fancy themselves gods. While this statement may seem extreme, it is fact. Omniscience and omnipresence are required to “manage” a national economy. That’s either Adam Smith’s “invisible hand” or a god. Since most of these folks don’t believe in either Smith or God …

H/T – D. J. McGuire @ Bearing Drift

The Observer appears on weekends in the DelMarVa Observer and provides commentary on a variety of issues.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, International, National, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Economy, Fiscal Policy, Taxation

The Spectator – What Americans Have to Fear from Martin O’Malley

April 5, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Maryland governor Martin O’Malley wants to be President of the United States. He’s term limited as governor. He’s spent his life as a political executive – first mayor of Baltimore and then a two-term governor. His temperament just doesn’t fit the life of a legislator. So … what’s a guy to do?

In O’Malley’s case he’s looking towards 2016 - when he leaves the governor’s office he’ll have a year to get geared up for the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. No slouch, O’Malley is already starting to build an organization so he’s not going to be left in the dust in this age of the infinite presidential cycle.

O’Malley has been busy burnishing his lefty bona fides for the activist crowd that selects Democrat (and Republican) presidential nominees. Here in Maryland we know – we’re paying the freight. For eight years O’Malley has punished the Once Free State in order to craft his statist gravitas.

In less than 400 well crafted words, the Wall Street Journal’s Stephen Moore explains what our nation has to fear:

34 Tax Increases since taking office (and he has one more session to go)
O’Malley has cost Marylanders an additional $3.1 Billion each year in office.
One of the nations worst gun-control measures
Repeal of the death penalty
Gay marriage (civil unions, we don’t need no stinking civil unions)

The prospect of an O’Malley presidency gives new meaning to “Fear the Turtle” (the diamondback terrapin is the mascot of the University of Maryland). O’Malley may be doing all of the right things to win the hearts of the leftist elites, but his policies have been dangerous for Maryland and will be even more dangerous for our nation.

The Spectator appears on Fridays, focusing on issues which impact our nation and the world.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Maryland, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Columns, Politics

Few Surprises at Chamber / PACE Forum

March 27, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

At Tuesday evening’s final candidate forum before next Tuesday’s Salisbury city elections, there were few surprises; but there were a few. The biggest surprise was that the sponsors of the forum – the Salisbury Chamber of Commerce and SU’s Center for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement (PACE) – through their chosen moderator, Chamber ED Ernie Colburn, gave up all pretense of being honest brokers in this process. For starters, it became abundantly clear that SOME of the candidates had been provided the questions in advance of yesterday’s forum. Candidates were also permitted rebuttals on a SELECTIVE basis.

The first question posed by Colburn was to council candidates about creating a business-friendly environment for the city. After District 1 incumbent Shanie Shields read her answer from a prepared script, a stammering Colburn interjected that “No candidate had been provided the questions in advance”. District 2 challenger Jake Day also seemed to have his answers well prepared in advance. However, he was not as obvious as Shields.

After the first embarrassment, Colburn followed up by attempting to sandbag mayoral candidate Joe Albero. Colburn stated that Albero had called for the closing of the Salisbury Zoo. Albero was at ease when he corrected Colburn, “I’ve never said or written such a thing. My wife worked at the zoo and she would kill me if I ever said such a thing.” Albero has been a critic of the zoo in the past and has called on the zoo to be more financially self-sufficient. Our research was unable to find any instance where Albero called for the zoo to be closed.

TAG TEAMING CANDIDATES

One new approach in this debate was a “tag team” approach taken by Day and incumbent mayor Jim Ireton. Ireton never referred to Albero. In a weak attempt to tie Albero and Campbell together, he would say “my TWO opponent”, while pointing to both Albero and Campbell. Day attacked Albero directly by claiming that NO ONE has called for 500 affordable housing units to be built on existing downtown parking lots. Ireton’s downtown plan does call for 500 housing units. Speaking on the matter over the past two years he has called for some or all of those units to be “affordable” housing. Even while trying to call Albero out, Day equivocated; saying “I think” and “I’m pretty sure”.

WHAT’S WRONG WITH TRANSPARENCY?

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Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, News Analysis, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Politics

Media Monday–March 25, 2013

March 25, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 3 Comments

SHOWING BIAS IN A BETTER WAY?

The Daily Times seems hell bent on queering this year’s Salisbury mayoral / council elections just like they’ve tried every other time in recent memory. Will they be successful? We’ll know next week.

After a series of scandals destroyed what little credibility remained at Salisbury’s Daily Times, new publisher Tom Claybaugh and managing editor Michael Kilian faced a tough choice:

Report the news as fairly as possible (I don’t believe that anyone is 100% objective) and be honest on the op-ed pages (if you are going to claim to be the “voice of the community”, then print op-ed which reflect this).
Continue the paper’s old bias, just try to be more like their big city rivals and commit more “sins of omission” rather than print easily verifiable lies; and certainly don’t encourage reporters to actively participate in their own stories.

All the News That We WANT to Print

To most of us, choice number 1 is obviously the best path. In an industry that appears to be dying, regaining credibility amongst readers is a good place to start if you want to rebuild. The

Daily Times

can claim some good young reporters. They’ve shown that, when allowed, they can provide good, accurate coverage of local news. Alas, Claybaugh and Kilian have decided on a darker path. Rather than report all of the news, the DT seems determined to only run stories which aid their preferred candidates.

How can I make such a claim? Haven’t they run stories critical of Jim Ireton? One! Haven’t they run stories critical of Jake Day? Less than one. Who really cares that the Jakester has a heavy foot?

I’m not claiming that the DT has savaged Joe Albero or Debbie Campbell. They haven’t. That’s the

Daily Times

of old. Besides, like Katherine Crowell four years ago, I don’t believe that Jeremy Cox would allow his name to be put on pieces that are riddled with lies and innuendo. No, the DT is playing the stealth game.

Where is the story on Joe Albero’s economic development plan? Where is a thoughtful analysis of Jake Day’s slick manifesto (which you can’t even download from his site anymore)? Where is an analysis of Jim Ireton’s attempt to raise taxes (more than once) while he claims that he never raised your taxes (worth at least four Pinnochio’s over at the WaPo)? Where is the story about Ireton and Day’s lack of basic math skills (how do to add 500 residential units downtown, plus commercial space when you have less than 100 available parking spots (after you have sold off all of the riverfront lots – which has merit – plus Lot 1 between the library and the plaza?). WHERE is the story about national real estate interests doing ~~a mailing~~ two mailings for Jake Day?

They’re no where to be found. Why? Mr. Kilian doesn’t want the public to learn too much about the candidates running for office. If they did, the DT’s favored candidates wouldn’t stand much of a chance. Unfortunately, things are worse on the op-ed side of the shop thanks to Mr. Claybaugh and op-ed editor Susan Parker.

WE Decide the News, WE Decide YOUR Opinion

Have you bothered to ask yourself why there haven’t been many letters to the editor in support of Joe Albero or Debbie Campbell? The answer is simple … the Daily Times won’t print them.

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Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Media

City for Sale

March 22, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

AVAILABLE After April 2nd
Small City, Population 30,000+
Waterfront Opportunities Available
City Government willing to SUBSIDIZE Real Estate Development
Contact Jake Day

That’s the REAL message that showed up in voters mailboxes yesterday in a mailer from the National Association of Realtors.

When was the last time that a NATIONAL Political Action Committee got involved in a LOCAL race in a city the size of Salisbury?

If you read Salisbury council candidate Jake Day’s “plan” the reason is clear – Day’s “solutions” for Salisbury’s local economy are focused almost exclusively on DOWNTOWN and on SUBSIDIZING RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT.

Is Jake Day channeling the political corpse of the previous Salisbury administration?

Developer Reimbursements
Failed TIF’s
FREE or SUBSIDIZED Capacity Fees

Are Day and his backers hoping that putting a NEW FACE on an OLD PROBLEM will make voters forget that they are still paying for past mistakes and that Jake Day wants the Salisbury taxpayer to DOUBLE DOWN?

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Corruption, Local Government, Politics

Tri-County Council – An Efficient Use of Your Tax Dollars?

March 21, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Next week the Tri-County Council will hold its regular meeting. Where? The safe assumption would be that the meeting would be held at the organization’s new $10 MILLION facility at the corner of US 50 and Walston Switch Road.

You would be wrong. The Tri-County Council is holding its meeting at … a brew pub.

Why are YOUR tax dollars – and that’s what funds the Tri-County Council – being used to hold meetings at a brew pub when you have already paid for perfectly good meeting space?

Wicomico County councilwoman Sheree Sample-Hughes is the chairman of the Tri-County Council. Maybe you should ask her.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Local Government

Balkanizing Salisbury

March 20, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Imagine you lived in a city carved up into little wards or districts. Then imagine that your city council members are given “discretionary” funds to dole out for “projects” or to fix potholes and street lights. It sounds like Chicago, New York, or Washington, D.C. Well if Jake Day is elected to the Salisbury City Council, this is what he has in store for you.

Rotten Boroughs

Across the sea in Great Britain, they used to have “rotten” or “pocket” boroughs. These were parliamentary constituencies (districts to us Yanks) that were, in effect, controlled by one person (or a small group of people). The British wisely changed their election practices in the 19th century.

At last month’s Democrat Club meeting Mr. Day announced that if he was elected he (along with councilwomen Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields) would re-visit re-districting and change the council to a seven member body elected from individual districts. He had previously announced at the Salisbury Chamber / PACE forum that he supported a seven member council. (NOTE: this would occur REGARDLESS of who is elected mayor as charter changes cannot be vetoed.)

What’s wrong with that? If you divide Salisbury into seven districts which are roughly equal by population you will have created FOUR rotten boroughs. Think about it. Salisbury would be governed by AT LEAST four districts where the total votes cast to elect the majority of council would be less than half (probably less than a third) of the votes cast to elect the other seats.

The facts are simple. The current District 1 simply doesn’t show up to vote in city elections. Neighborhoods such as Church Street / Doverdale, the Presidents and Princeton Homes don’t show up to vote in city elections. Residents of Camden, the Park area, the neighborhoods along North and South Schumaker Drives – they show up to vote. Yet – they will be effectively disenfranchised when it comes to city council representation. It is easily conceivable that you will have council members (from a majority of districts) elected with fewer than 100 votes. Some could be elected with fewer than 50!

Bottom line – a group like SAPOA could literally buy a majority of the city council ON THE CHEAP! Is this YOUR vision for a better Salisbury?

Slush Funds

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Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Politics

Balkanizing Salisbury

March 20, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 2 Comments

Rotten Boroughs

Bottom line – a group like SAPOA could literally buy a majority of the city council ON THE CHEAP! Is this YOUR vision for a better Salisbury?

Slush Funds

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Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Politics

Jim Ireton’s Work Schedule

March 20, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Yesterday we highlighted Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton’s interview on Delmarva Public Radio. In addition to being scarily anti-business in his rhetoric, Ireton also made the following comment:

I get up every day and barrel at 110%.

Really Jim? What do you “barrel” at?

For the moment, let’s ignore the debate as to whether a “part-time” mayor can successfully operate a $51 million enterprise. (I believe the record indicates a big NO on that one.) Let’s ask two other questions:

Is Jim Ireton really a part-time mayor?
Is Jim Ireton really devoting the time he supposedly spends as mayor to making Salisbury a better place to live and to work?

If your definition of being “part-time” is spending one second or more per week, month, etc. to the job of being mayor I’d have to give Ireton a free pass. However, IF (like me) you define the term as spending 20 – 30 hours per week at a task then the answer is clearly no. This ties directly in to question two.

For four years, and particularly during the last two, Jim Ireton has spent a fair piece of his “mayor time” engaged in political grandstanding, partisan politics, and pushing an agenda that is not even tangentially connected to making Salisbury a better place to live and to work.

In August, 2011 Ireton took time out of his supposedly busy day to picket the Salisbury office of Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD). He has time to picket, but not to sit down with city council and engage in civil, honest discussion of issues facing our city? Did this make Salisbury a better place to live and to work?

In June, 2011 Ireton called a press conference to attack the city council majority for not backing his planned luxury apartment project at “The Bricks”. In his press conference Ireton implies that council members Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Tim Spies are racists (sound familiar?) and intimates that racial discord could follow (with councilwomen Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields cheering him on). Ireton’s rantings before the press are numerous, and (sadly) legendary. Do any of these things make Salisbury a better place to live and to work?

Ireton has travelled to Annapolis to lobby for issues such as gay marriage. Unless Ireton has some undisclosed plan to make Salisbury a mecca for gay marriage (with the tourism dollars that would follow) we have to ask – Do any of these things make Salisbury a better place to live and to work?

Ireton has lent his name and the prestige of his office to a campaign to strip gun rights from our citizens. Do any of these things make Salisbury a better place to live and to work? (Criminals will still get guns. C’mon … They’re CRIMINALS)

So … what’s your definition of “part-time”.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Economy, Local Government, Politics

Ireton Views on Business and Profit

March 19, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Last week, Don Rush of Delmarva Public Radio interviewed both candidates for mayor of Salisbury. The contrast was startling. While this was not candidate (and SBYNews publisher) Joe Albero’s best interview, he was relaxed and discussed the issues facing the city. Incumbent mayor Jim Ireton was agitated, sarcastic, interrupted Rush numerous times, and let the world know that Salisbury is NOT a business-friendly community.

See the interviews below. Ireton’s starts at about 29 minutes in.

Ireton claims great accomplishment. Nothing is his fault. If something didn’t happen it was because of the city council, specifically Debbie Campbell. If businesses believe that Salisbury isn’t business-friendly, it’s THEIR fault, not the city’s. Oh … and he PLANS to do lots of things IF he’s re-elected.

For every ten people that come to the city, five feel they’ve been treated OK. – Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton

What is most disturbing is Ireton’s attitude towards business. If you make a profit, you need to pay more. If the police have to come to your business TWICE in TWO YEARS, the city (NOT a judge) should be able to shut you down. If you appeal, you have to appeal to the same person who already decided to close your doors.

If you are a businessperson looking to move to Salisbury and you hear the mayor sarcastically asking questions like, “Who made that profit?” or “Somebody’s making money somewhere.” do you think that Salisbury is a great place to do business?

Ireton states, “For every ten people that come to the city, five feel they’ve been treated OK.” Ireton thinks that’s acceptable! Do you deal with businesses who take the attitude that they only need to satisfy 50% of their customers? If you are a business do you want to move to a city that takes this attitude? If you are a businessperson in Salisbury, do you want to expand in a city that takes this attitude?

You don’t have to give away the store to attract businesses. You don’t have to make Salisbury unsafe to encourage businesses to expand. You do need a sea change in attitude. Satisfying 50% of your customers is NOT acceptable. Making Salisbury “more progressive” isn’t going to attract business.

Thanks to PAC-14 for providing the video.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, News Analysis, Salisbury Tagged With: Economic Development, Economy, Politics, Video

Jim Ireton’s Respect for the Salisbury Taxpayer – Part 2

March 18, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 5 Comments

Giving YOUR Money Away to a Select Few

Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton LOVES to spend other people’s money. OK, he’s a liberal. Actually, Jim’s politics are somewhere to the left of Karl Marx. Ireton has seldom seen a government program he didn’t love. If Ireton is re-elected, AND if Jake Day is elected to the city council, Jim has a plan to spend some MORE of YOUR hard earned money. It involves re-developing downtown.

Ireton wants to sell the downtown parking lots for a song, subsidize them by waiving the capacity fees for water and sewer, and HOPE that Salisbury will somehow be re-born.

Does anyone believe that adding 500 “affordable housing units” downtown is going to re-vitalize Salisbury’s local economy? Evidently Ireton, along with Jake Day, councilwoman Laura Mitchell, and councilwoman Shanie Shields do.

The “logic” goes something like this:

You build X “affordable housing units” downtown.
Businesses such as grocery stores, pharmacies, and other retailers will RUSH to build stores.
Downtown will be MAGICALLY re-vitalized.
The world will be a better place.

Does that make sense to you?

500 Affordable Housing Units

OK, we sell off the parking lots, take EDU’s (water and sewer capacity) away from industrial development that could actually create jobs that pay a living wage, and 500 more housing units appear. Do you think that businesses will then flock to downtown? Ireton and his pals do.

Grocery Stores, Pharmacies, and Boutiques … OH MY!

Before a retail business decides to invest in a site they look at certain things, including traffic count and parking. Would you build a grocery store based on a target population of less than 2,000? Of course you wouldn’t!

But wait, wouldn’t people from outside the immediate area come? Would they? I live to the southeast of downtown. There are at least three grocery stores and at least seven pharmacies closer to my home than the downtown plaza. Well, maybe the people who live over on the west side will come? I can think of at least two grocery stores and two pharmacies that are closer. Well maybe the folks from Newtown? Maybe. Where are they going to park? Remember – Jimmy, Jake, Laura, and Shanie have sold all of the parking except for the parking garage. Do you really believe that those folks from Newtown are going to walk across US 50 and then schlep their groceries back on foot?

OK, I’ll agree that one convenience store might succeed under the Ireton plan.

It’s MAGIC!

The notion that this will re-vitalize downtown, much less Salisbury’s local economy is too ridiculous for real comment. Downtown CAN be salvaged. It CAN be re-vitalized. It just won’t happen by throwing subsidies at a few developers.

You need a solution that drives traffic. Business people will then be willing to invest their own capital. Look at Joe Albero’s plan. It not only makes sense, it offers a REAL, free-market driven solution for downtown as well as a plan for the city’s entire economy.

Subsidizing residential development was a failure during the real estate boom! Salisbury borrowed millions of dollars that were handed over to a select group of residential developers. What did that yield? Temporary construction jobs. Subsidizing retail doesn’t yield jobs that pay a living wage.

The key is to allow development without unnecessary government interference. The key is show potential employers – not just downtown, but throughout Salisbury – that the city will treat businesses, and residents, like valued customers.

Why can’t Jimmy Ireton learn from past mistakes; both his own and his predecessor’s?

Part 1 – Thrift Travel Inn

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Business, Economic Development, Economy, Fiscal Policy, Politics

Media Monday–March 4, 2013

March 4, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

WANTED: Pabulum, Pandering, and NO QUESTIONS

Sunday’s Daily Times provided one of the most disturbing editorials I have read in a long time. Tom Claybaugh, Susan Parker, et al, have the chutzpah to rip their shirts and lament low voter turnout in city elections and then turn right around and call on candidates to shovel sh## rather than talk about real issues:

We do not want to hear anything from any candidate about what someone else has done or failed to do, might do, has said, really meant instead of did say or, worst of all, is thinking or intending to do.

It’s little wonder voters are so disengaged.

Voters don’t vote because they feel that little or nothing will change. Yes, there is a certain amount of civic disengagement; but ultimately people will turn out IF they feel that their vote means something.

Jim Ireton has had almost four years to accomplish something, yet the Daily Times won’t examine his record and doesn’t want candidates OR citizens questioning it. When Ireton announced his run for re-election he claimed that he had kept his promises. At the top of his list – not increasing taxes. Where is the front page expose on the FACT that Ireton not only proposed a tax hike, he tried to veto the FY 2013 budget BECAUSE it didn’t include his tax hike? and … The list goes on.

DT readers, and all other Salisbury citizens, deserve a newspaper that asks ALL CANDIDATES tough question. Candidates need to ask tough questions about their respective opponents’ records and proposals. Citizens should do the same. Unfortunately, Claybaugh & Co. simply want to feed voters pabulum about their chosen candidates, pander to the lowest common denominator, and most importantly – avoid asking their favored few any TOUGH QUESTIONS.

Let’s hope the reporting side of the shop didn’t get the memo.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Media, Politics

Jimmy’s Respect for the Taxpayer–Part 1

March 4, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 1 Comment

Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton LOVES to spend money – OTHER PEOPLE’s MONEY. Being a lifelong government employee, Ireton sees nothing wrong with doling our cash because, in his mind, there is ALWAYS MORE WHERE THAT CAME FROM.

Today’s example – Salisbury’s Thrift Travel Inn

This infamous haven for hookers and drug dealers, Salisbury’s poster child for rent-by-the-hour, no-tell lodging luxury was finally demolished last November.

That’s a good thing, right? In the end it was; but not if the city had done it “Jimmy’s Way”.

Ireton brought a proposal to the city council calling for the hardworking people of Salisbury to pay for the demolition. Why not? It’s other people’s money. The evil, obstructionist council, led by Debbie Campbell, said NO!

Why would they do that? Those mean, nasty people on city council thought that it was more appropriate for the property’s owners to pay for it. Shame on you Debbie Campbell! You took away another opportunity for Jimmy to call a press conference!

Of course, this hasn’t prevented Ireton from taking all of the credit during his campaign for re-election. I wonder if this is another of Jake Day’s examples that the “mayor needs a partner”.

If Salisbury has any hope of revitalizing its economy, it deserves a Mayor AND a Council that respects the hardworking people and businesses of Salisbury. These are the folks who pay the bills.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Fiscal Policy, Local Government, Politics

Media Monday – February 25, 2013

February 25, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 3 Comments

Daily Times Attempts to Control Election

While I have been pleased to recently discuss an immense improvement on the NEWS pags of the Daily Times, Susan Parker’s op-ed pages have taken a serious turn for the worse. From op-eds calling on elected officials to violate the law to refusing to publish letters to the editor that they don’t agree with, the DT seems to be attempting an undue influence on the current Salisbury city elections.

Wait a second G.A., you’ve always maintained that a paper should print ANYTHING it chooses on the op-ed page.

You’re right! I have no problem with the DT, or any other outlet, saying anything it wants PROVIDED that it’s labeled “opinion”. However, I do have a problem with the DT claiming that its op-ed page serves as an outlet for community opinion. They would be more honest if they simply admitted that their op-ed pages serve as an outlet for community opinion that THEY AGREE WITH.

A great example is a letter submitted last week by Kay Gibson of Salisbury. While you can read it on SBYNews, you won’t see it on the pages of the Daily Times. Why? Parker and her boss, General Manager Tom Claybaugh, don’t want any criticism of Jake Day to appear prior to Tuesday’s primary. They don’t want to risk voters learning the truth and possibly showing up and casting their ballots for the evil incumbent, Debbie Campbell.

Why was Gibson’s letter so offensive that the Daily Times doesn’t want you read it? Gibson has the temerity to expose the poor behavior and rank stupidity of councilwomen Laura Mitchell and Shanie Shields while also noting that Day is taking, at least, some of his talking points from Mitchell.

Unlike most letters to the editor, Gibson’s piece calls on readers to do something that Claybaugh, Parker and crew evidently fear most – examine the facts and draw your own conclusion! Gibson cites the URL where readers can listen to the council meeting she refers to. Because she’s limited to 250 words, Gibson is limited to presenting more facts:
[Read more...]

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Media, Politics

Eastern Shore’s Most Famous Sign?

February 25, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

As some of you may know, my family is from Tilghman Island. In the last few weeks if it comes up in conversation that my family is from Tilghman, or the person already knows, I’m asked, “Have you seen ‘The Sign’?”.

What sign?

Erected in front of a home about 3/4 mile north of Knapps Narrows Bridge, the owner obviously has no love for either our president or our governor. Given the fact that Talbot County residents were subjected to BOTH property tax and income tax hikes thanks to Martin O’Malley and his Democrat minions, it’s little wonder there’s no love for the governor. Higher federal tax rates and a crippling national debt may explain less that charitable feelings towards the president.

Perhaps the owners should have added a cute little graphic and copyrighted it? Oh wait! Both Obama and O’Malley would have wanted the newly earned cash. Another “Lesson in Socialism“.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Feature, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Talbot Tagged With: Politics

A Lesson in Socialism

February 21, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 1 Comment

I have to PROUDLY thank my eldest son for bringing this to my attention. The producer has illustrated a valuable lesson, with great humor.

Just as there’s no incentive to work hard if everyone gets the same grade, these principles apply to a whole array of real life examples:

Why is government so inefficient?

When your are spending other people’s money, and it’s almost impossible to lose your job, what is the incentive to spend money wisely and carry out tasks efficiently?

Why does cutting taxes actually increases government revenue (in the macro)?

What is the incentive to work harder to make more income when the government takes an increasing share of every new dollar earned? At some point the marginal utility of each dollar earned becomes less than spending work time on more leisurely activities.

How did unions destroy American manufacturing?

Starting off as a great (and necessary) idea, America’s labor unions morphed into organizations that demanded pay hikes without productivity increases. Why increase productivity when you have nearly the same job protection as a government employee? Oppressive work rules, along with unsustainable benefit packages, either put companies out of business, incentivized employers to move to right to work states, or move their operations overseas.

SOCIALISM - Driving everyone down, NOT raising anyone up!

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Video

Media Monday – February 18, 2013

February 18, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 7 Comments

The Daily Times Host Its First Community Forum

We’ve always been vociferous critics of Salisbury’s Daily Times, specifically its city reporting. While the Daily Times appears to be in continual decline, like most (all) of its print siblings, the journalistic side of the paper is putting out some of its best work in years. Do we agree with everything written by reporters like Jeremy Cox, Jennifer Shutt or Vanessa Junkin? Of course not; I’m quite sure they wouldn’t agree with us.

Last night the Daily Times hosted its first community forum in relation to the 2013 Salisbury elections at First Baptist Church. The focus of the meeting was council District 1 and the mayoral race. The DT will host another forum on Thursday at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center for District 2. While the meeting was sparsely attended, about 15 people, the DT’s Jeremy Cox, with the assistance of Jennifer Shutt and Earl Holland, ran a thoughtful meeting. Citizens had the opportunity to express their opinions on a variety of issues and where able to prioritize those issues.

The meeting started off with a couple of folks, one definitely appearing to be a shill for Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton, attacking mayoral candidate Joe Albero and questioning his residency. Cox quickly shut down the dual attacks by noting that the purpose of the meeting was to get people’s opinions on specific issues and to guide the DT as to what issues they should look into. Cox noted that the question of Albero’s residency had already been looked into.

After folks had a chance to vote, three issues were prevelant (in order of votes cast):

Attracting businesses / jobs to Salisbury.
Bringing high quality (and / or “living wage”) jobs to Salisbury.
Affordable housing.

Miguel Mitchell offered several good ideas regarding economic development, specifically in regard to Salisbury possibly taking part in a start-up business incubator. G. A. Harrison pointed out that too much was expected from council in this area, because the mayor’s office executes policy. One problem that Salisbury faces in economic development is that the last two administrations have failed miserably when it comes to issuing permits in a timely fashion and getting Public Works to respond to business needs.

Overall, this was a great first step in attempting to gather ideas and “take the pulse” of the city for the upcoming elections.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Media, Politics

Is Joe Albero a Racist?

February 10, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

In part one of a multi-part series on SBYNews I examined today’s Daily Times article about Joe Albero and race. Rather than re-print the piece here, I am linking to it:

A Tale of Two Stories, Part I

There are a few things I would like you to keep in mind -

Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton has a history of playing the “race card” whenever he feels politically threatened or believes that he may use it to his political advantage. Before calling Albero a racist he literally stood on a street corner and called a majority of the city council racists because they would not rubber stamp one of his proposals.

Ireton has played fast and loose with the truth from the day he was sworn in as mayor (I can’t authoritatively comment on before he was mayor). Since announcing for re-election he has really turned the “Truth-O-Meter” upside down. Whether discussing race, his attempt to raise property tax rates, or falsely taking credit for the city’s relatively sound fical condition and lower crime rate, Ireton views ignored truth as something to be ignored or twisted if it serves his political purposes.

While Ireton attempted to spoon-feed DT reporter Jeremy Cox with a lot of out-of-context, or misrepresented garbage, Cox worked hard researching what Ireton submitted to him and performed numerous interviews with Albero, and other cocerned citizens, in order to present a much more accurate story than we would have read had it been written by either of his two predecessors (and quite a few other former city reporters).

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, News Analysis, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Media, Politics

From Bias to Irresponsibility

February 9, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Historically, a newspaper has been important to the lives of a community’s citizens. It has been a place to not only learn about events locally, but also what is occurring around a region, nation, and the world. The op-ed section permits citizens to opportunity to express their opinions as well as learn the opinions of their neighbors. A level of trust inherently goes along with publishing a newspaper as its readers want to be able to believe what is printed within its pages. What happens when a newspaper breaks that trust with its readers.

Growing up I not only enjoyed the daily newspaper of wherever I was living, I respected its place in my community. Even from an early age I recognized the bias inherent in coverage; the publishers rarely shared my world view. I had to seek coverage from multiple sources and I learned to critically evaluate what I read. Growing up in Virginia I new that the Daily Press and the Virginian-Pilot weren’t going to provide full coverage of the things that mattered to me, so I also read the Richmond Times-Dispatch. Sadly, if you live in Salisbury, MD and its environs (as I do now) you are saddled with a daily newspaper that not only doesn’t share your world view, it attempts to mold the views of its readers by deliberately using its news and editorial pages as little more than propoganda in support of its chosen candidates and policies.

This past week I witnessed the nadir of a daily newspaper. The Daily Times has called on the Salisbury city council to violate the very laws they are sworn to uphold. In their effort to prop up a mayor who is spinning out of control, they actually want elected officials to commit an illegal act! I almost understand their dilemma. To date they have refused to acknowledge that Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton has taken the attitude that he is above the law when it comes to the tenure of his acting fire chief. They were faced with two choices – ignore the incident or go “all in” support the illegal behavior. Regrettably, they chose the latter.

Attempting to turn the tables on a council majority that is prohibited by law from providing the reasons for their refusal to confirm Ireton’s choice as fire chief, the Daily Times news and editorial staffs think themselves clever by calling on the council to violate their oaths of office:

Instead of hiding behind “personnel matters,” tell us why this man who has capably managed the department for the better part of the past four years on an interim basis cannot be the department’s official 22nd chief.

As this same group of “journalists” prepares to go to press attacking Ireton’s opponent in the upcoming election with charges of racism, they should be careful what they wish for. While the council is tip-lipped about its reasons for denying confirmation to Ireton’s pick for fire chief, one reason appears to center on charges of racism within the Salisbury Fire Department, particularly among its top officers. I wonder how they will defend this.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Media

Daily Times Calls for Council to Ignore Law

February 7, 2013 by G. A. Harrison 2 Comments

For years we, along with many others, have been a severe critic of Salisbury’s Daily Times. While the paper appears to provide somewhat balanced coverage of other local news, their coverage of Salisbury politics, city government, and the Wicomico Board of Education (BOE) has been biased almost beyound measure. To add insult to injury, the DT has refused to disclose multiple relationships with public officials (i.e. the fact that their former Executive Editor is married to the communications director of our former Congressman or that their former Managing Editor is married to the public information officer of the Wicomico BOE).

We have also had many disagreements with their editorial views. However, op-ed is just that – opinion. Susan Parker and company have a right to their views just as we have a right to ours. That changed yesterday. In an editorial in Wednesday’s paper, Susan Parker called for the Salisbury City Council to violate the laws of the state of Maryland and the city of Salisbury.

One of two things should take place now: Ireton should provide additional candidates for the council to consider or the City Council should reconsider and approve Hoppes for the permanent position.

Either way, city residents are owed an explanation. Ireton has explained his position; he has the chief he wants.

Instead of hiding behind “personnel matters,” tell us why this man who has capably managed the department for the better part of the past four years on an interim basis cannot be the department’s official 22nd chief.

But first, show some leadership and make a decision.

Throwing salt on the wound, the DT’s news coverage of the current battle between Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton and the council over acting fire chief Rick Hoppes refuses to acknowledge that Ireton is willfully ignoring the laws he swore to uphold.

At Monday’s meeting the council voted to extend Hoppes’ role as acting chief. The council has refused to confirm Hoppes as the department’s chief but are prohibited from providing the public their reasons because the matter is personnel issue. We find this as frustrating as the Daily Times seems to.

On Monday council president Terry Cohen stated that there were substantive reasons for their refusal to confirm Hoppes. Noting that the law prohibits them from discussing the matter publicly, Cohen called for Hoppes to waive his confidentiality privilege and then the council would hold a public meeting to discuss their reasons for refusing to confirm Hoppes as chief.

To date, Hoppes has not taken the council up on their offer. Ireton certainly doesn’t want Hoppes to take the council up on their offer; he has made too much of a political issue out of claiming that their vote was over personal vendettas and personality clashes. While the council majority may be mind numbing in there attention to minutae, there is no indication that they refused to confirm Hoppes for frivilous reasons. Therefore, we doubt Hoppes will agree to have his dirty laundry aired in public.

While we may disagree with the Daily Times, we have never accused their staff, particularly Parker, of being stupid. Why then would Parker call for the council to violate the law? We smell a political motivated bait and switch. Ireton feels that he is above the law. It’s tough to ignore and even tougher to rationalize. Drawing attention away Ireton’s actions and placing the attention on the council majority might salve her guilty conscience.

Wouldn’t it have been more constructive to:

Call on Ireton to obey the law.
Call on Hoppes to waive his privilge because, as Parker writes, “city residents are owed an explanation”.
Call on the council to amend the charter to strip away the confidentiality privilege from all positions that must be confirmed.

Of course, that doesn’t fit the DT’s Salisbury paradigm – everything that council members Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Tim Spies do is evil and / or misguided and the streets would be paved with gold if only the voters would wise up, get rid of them, and agree to higher taxes and more wasteful spending.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Media, Politics

Ronald Reagan’s Birthday

February 6, 2013 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Today is the 102nd anniversary of the birth of Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States, victor of the Cold War, enemy of world communism, and architect of the longest period of economic growth in our nation’s history.

The Ronald Reagan Foundation will host a celebration webcast beginning at 8:30 AM (EST).

Filed Under: Featured Posts, National, News Tagged With: Conservatism, Holiday, Liberty, Video

Politics, Not Leadership, Reigns in SBY

September 4, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 1 Comment

SALISBURY, MD – Last week we outlined Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton’s actions regarding the $1.4 million FEMA grant for the fire department. In Jimmy Ireton’s world, scoring cheap political points far outweighed public safety. One week has passed. We are one week closer to next spring’s city elections. Ireton is pulling another cheap political stunt.

This week we are told that Ireton is seeking to raise the annual salaries of Salisbury police officers by approximately $4,000. Is he really? Sadly, NO. Instead, the brave, hard working men and women of the Salisbury PD are being used as so many political footballs.

While Ireton and councilwoman Laura Mitchell bask in the Obamaesque glow of the Democrat National Convention and help to cement their places as Salisbury’s liberals-in-chief, Ireton is attempting to play games with the lives of Salisbury’s police officers and the safety of its citizens. By refusing to provide the RESPONSIBLE members of the city council with basic information such as the city’s year end cash position and how much money was returned to surplus at the end of FY 2012, Ireton is again attempting to goad the council members into voting against this latest proposal. WHY? To score political points on Jimmy’s ROAD TO RE-ELECTION!

Citizens should ask a couple of questions questions:

Ireton Prefers to Fiddle While Salisbury Burns

August 29, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

One thing has been made crystal clear during this whole episode, in Jimmy Ireton’s world politics will always trump public safety … or good public policy.

SALISBURY, MD – There are some things you will not read in the Daily Times. You will never read a factual article that criticizes Wicomico’s Board of Education. You will never read that the world’s weather runs in short and long term cycles and the notion of “climate change” is a myth. You also won’t read about Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton’s fits at Salisbury council meetings or the true actions of certain council members.

While Salisbury firefighters, and the town’s citizenry, may have been happy to see the Salisbury council accept a $1.4 million federal grant to hire additional firefighters, one person was VERY disappointed – Mayor Jim Ireton. Repeated attempts to goad the council majority into voting no failed. Ireton’s claims that the council was “holding this money hostage” fell on deaf ears. A 4-0 vote for acceptance would have been a 5-0 vote if Ireton had CHOSEN to act his age rather than perform like a two year old.

One thing was crystal clear Monday night; Jim Ireton believes that scoring cheap political points FAR exceeds the safety of the citizens of Salisbury.

If the twelve additional firefighters were so desperately needed, why has Ireton failed to request the additional firefighters in any of his budgets? Why were firefighters and police officers furloughed? If this grant was so important, why did Ireton REFUSE to allow the fire department to apply for it until THREE DAYS before the application deadline?

None of these questions will be asked by the mainstream media. Ireton will never have to answer them. Why? Because attacking council members like Debbie Campbell is far more important than solving the city’s problems.

WHY DID CAMPBELL VOTE NO?

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Filed Under: Featured Posts, News Analysis Tagged With: Local Government, Public Safety

Why Can’t YOU Re-Write History?

August 26, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

The world has certainly changed since I was in school. Growing up in the ‘60’s and ‘70’s I learned foolish things like words have meaning, truth isn’t relative, there are certain immutable laws, and that history is the study of things which occurred in the PAST.

Fast forward to the present. We have seen people and institutions decide that they can simply change the definition of words in order to justify their actions. We need look no further than the Episcopal Church, which gets around little things like the biblical definition of sin by simply pronouncing that “modern scholarship” has determined that certain behaviors are not really contrary to God’s Word; or that even if the Bible says that some activities are contrary to God’s Law, we have to put them into a “cultural context”.

Cultural relativism has blossomed to the point that there is no right or wrong. There is no truth. Instead the opinion of the majority, or of certain political or cultural elites, should take precedence over “facts” or principles which we have been held as true for hundreds or even thousands of years. The basic laws of economics cease to function simply because a politician says so. While we haven’t reached this point yet, I am waiting for some pronouncement that 2 + 2 ≠ 4!

Lately, we’ve seen some groups believe that they can re-write history. Sure, the interpretive revision of some “scholars” has been around for years. No, I’m talking about the belief that events or accomplishments can simply be erased from the collective consciousness. Ever read George Orwell’s 1984?

As a coach, Joe Paterno won more football games than anyone else in history. Yet, the NCAA believes that it can re-write history. By mere administrative fiat, Paterno’s wins can somehow be made to disappear because he may (or may not) have made an error in judgment which did not occur on the football field and had NOTHING to do with football.

Friday we were told that Lance Armstrong didn’t really win the Tour de France seven times. While I swear that I watched Armstrong win each of those titles on television, I must have been wrong. Perhaps a memo from Winston Smith’s colleagues at the Ministry of Truth will arrive in my inbox shortly.

The US Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) admits that it has no hard evidence that Armstrong cheated:

In June, USADA announced it had assembled 10 former Armstrong teammates who were willing to testify that Armstrong cheated, and it had also found tests results that were “fully consistent” with blood doping.

“Fully consistent” isn’t the same thing as scientific fact or “guilty beyond a reasonable doubt”. The USADA has a history of bullying and threatening athletes into testifying. If it can be proven that Armstrong cheated at some point AFTER his Tour de France wins, that does not diminish his seven titles. If it is proven that Armstrong did something that is illegal now, but not then, that cannot negate his accomplishments. Or can it?

It appears that the NCAA and the USADA are but the latest soldiers in a war designed to irrevocably change our culture and our way of life. Words simply mean what we want them to. Knowledge, and morality, are simply relativistic constructs which change with the culture, or the wind. History is no longer prologue; it is a weapon to be used to address past wrongs … real or perceived. This begs the question – Who will decide who is wronged?

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Culture, Sports

Daily Times Refuses to Provide “The Rest of the Story”

August 15, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

IRETON CONTINUES TO CHOOSE CHEAP POLITICS OVER LEADERSHIP

SALISBURY, MD – Salisbury’s Daily Times continues its practice of misinforming its readers when it comes to Salisbury’s city government. In fact, things have gotten so bad that they aren’t even capable of telling the whole story even when they are right.

Monday evening, a motion to include acceptance of a $1.4 million federal grant for the Salisbury Fire Dept. on the meeting’s agenda failed. According to the administration of Mayor Jim Ireton this effectively killed the grant. As far as this goes, that is true. What about “the rest of the story”, including another Ireton hissy fit where he ordered all city employees to leave the council meeting?

On August 1st, council president Terry Cohen asked Ireton to provide any deadlines. Ireton refused to do so until Monday afternoon when he attempted to bully Cohen into putting the item on Monday’s agenda as an “emergency” item.

Why wasn’t the grant on Monday’s agenda to begin with? Great question … and fair. At the previous work session, several questions were asked by council members. They included little things like how much would the city have to spend over the next couple of years to accept the grant and what happens when the grant expires. Will the city simply fire the firefighters or will the city raise taxes to pay for those positions into the future? To his credit, acting chief Rick Hoppes did attempt to respond to the questions posed to him. Unfortunately they were not complete. As usual, Ireton’s office obfuscated.

[Read more...]

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Media, Politics

Virginia Will Be Better Off If McDonnell is Passed Over for VP

August 11, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 1 Comment

Our friends at Bearing Drift have called it. The Virginian-Pilot has run a front page story about it. Will Virginia governor Bob McDonnell be Mitt Romney’s pick for Vice President?

I sure hope not. Such a move would be bad for the nation … and for the Commonwealth.

A formerly great leader, in the conservative Virginia tradition, McDonnell has displayed a series of character flaws since becoming discussed as a potential Vice Presidential nominee. Bluntly, McDonnell has suffered from “Eric Cantor syndrome” – the willingness to do or say nearly anything to further one’s political career or chances.

When McDonnell was named chairman of the RNC platform committee, that should have been the key signal that he was no longer in the running. Unfortunately, McDonnell and his supporters seemed to double down on their hopes. If Mitt Romney names his running mate in the next few days, we can only hope that McDonnell will reflect and attempt a return to principle and moderately conservative governance.

McDonnell and his advisors need only look at this year’s Senate race to see what happens when a politician waivers from their core principles or allows ambition to take precedence.

George Allen IS the greatest Virginia governor of my lifetime. After reforming the state government and setting a standard for all successors to follow, Allen went to Washington but seemed to be more concerned with “getting along” than changing America. Allen was expected to launch a bid for the White House in 2008. George just forgot one thing … he needed to get re-elected to the U.S. Senate in 2006. Assembling a campaign team with “national experience”, Allen lost his seat to Jim Webb and ended all hopes of a presidential bid.

Ambition is a good thing; if it motivates you in the right direction. George Allen had to learn that lesson the hard way. We hope that Bob McDonnell can learn from the mistakes of others, as well as his own recent mistakes, and move forward in a positive, principled direction.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Opinion / Editorial, Virginia Tagged With: Conservatism, Politics

Kent County GOP to Open HQ Today

August 3, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

from the Chestertown Spy:

CHESTERTOWN, MD – The Kent County Republican Central Committee and Republicans of Kent are pleased to announce the Grand Opening of the GOP headquarters at 200 High Street on Friday, August 3. Ribbon cutting will be at 5:30 pm. Former Kent County Commissioner Alex Rasin has been asked to cut the ribbon with assistance from Commissioner Bill Short and other Republican elected officials.

The Republican Party of Kent County will be hosting First Friday receptions from 5:00 to 8:00 pm until the 2012 election. Our “Rally for Romney” will commence immediately after the ribbon cutting on August 3 with a welcome speech by Audrey Scott, former Chairwoman of the Maryland Republican Party and Co-Chair of Maryland for Romney. Refreshments will be served.

On Friday, September 7th Congressman Andy Harris is the invited guest speaker as we “Connect with Andy Harris”. And visitors can “Meet and Greet Dan Bongino” on Friday, October 5. Dan is the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. Friday, November 2 will begin our “Election Countdown”.

These First Friday events are open to the general public as well as our 350 Republicans of Kent members. Our phone number at the GOP HQ is 410.778.2306. For more information on joining our club, Republicans of Kent (annual dues are $10), please visit www.gopofkent.com or call 410.708.8814.

Filed Under: Chestertown, DelMarVa, Maryland, MD - Kent, News Tagged With: Announcement, Politics

UVA Claims Giving Has Doubled Since President’s Reinstatement

August 3, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – An article published in the Virginian-Pilot provides frightening insight into the current state of Mr. Jefferson’s university and Mr. Batten’s newspaper. Readers are told that giving to the University of Virginia doubled after the Board of Visitors reinstated president Teresa A. Sullivan. Bob Sweeney, the university’s senior vice president for development and public affairs, wants us to believe that the four days between Sullivan’s reinstatement and the end of June was an adequate sample size to imply Sullivan coming back is the impetus for increased giving compared to the previous 16 days (between Sullivan’s forced ouster and her reinstatement). How is that for poor scholarship? Did Sweeney ever take an introductory statistics course?

As for the Virginian-Pilot, and the AP, they should know better. In fact, it appears that they did; but published the article anyway. Here is the closing paragraph:

It’s unclear how long the temporary boost following Sullivan’s reinstatement will last. Fundraising totals for July are not available yet and Sweeney said July and August are typically slow months.

How’s that for hedging one’s bets? If giving in July and August are down, it’s because they are “slow months”. If giving is up, I’m sure that Sullivan’s minions will giver her all of the credit.

We have no opinion as to Ms. Sullivan’s performance. We also have to be careful in assessing the actions of Rector Helen Dragas and cheerleaders such as Paul Tudor Jones (our opinion of both is decidedly negative). Yet, Dragas and alumni such as Jones made compelling arguments for Sullivan’s dismissal. Now Sullivan is clearly put her PR machine into action. Regardless of her future performance, Sullivan is all but untouchable.

There is only one clear winner in this ongoing debacle – Sullivan. Virginia governor Bob McDonnell played the fool by intervening in this matter and then re-appointing Dragas immediately after Sullivan’s reinstatement. Dragas and the visitors who forced Sullivan to resign showed that they cared more about a prestigious appointment than the university they claimed to love. We only hope that the current and future students of UVA don’t suffer because of the ego and folly of a few.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Opinion / Editorial, Virginia Tagged With: Education, Philanthropy

O’Malley’s New Wicomico BOE Appointment Just More of Same

August 3, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 2 Comments

SALISBURY, MD – Yesterday it was announced that Maryland governor Martin O’Malley had appointed Kim Hudson to replace Michele Wright on the Wicomico school board. Some local Republicans are seething because, once again, a Democrat governor has ignored the recommendation the local GOP central committee. Fiscally responsible voters are concerned that this is another voice for wasteful spending. Our response? Who cares? Hudson can’t be worse than Wright.

Let’s face it, the Wicomico County Board of Education hasn’t had a vocal champion for fiscal responsibility since the departures of Robin Holloway and Sue Hitch. GOP central committee chair Dave Parker decries O’Malley’s appointment:

"We did our part. We interviewed six people, cut the list in half and sent the three best forward, but that wasn’t what (O’Malley) wanted," Parker said. "I want the best people for the education of our children in Wicomico County and I don’t think that is a political issue. It is now and that’s too bad."

Really Dave? When wasn’t this political? The Democrat central committee always gets its “suggestions” appointed. The GOP central committee sees its recommendations appointed when it puts forward individuals who will agree to waste taxpayer dollars or keep their mouths shut. Case in point – the Wicomico Republican Central Committee recommended the appointment and reappointment of Wright and the appointment of Carolyn Elmore. When Wright was appointed to her first term she had the strong backing of both the central committee and many local elected Republicans. Ditto for Elmore’s appointment. Result? A supposedly “bi-partisan” BOE that never saw a dollar they weren’t willing to flush down the bureaucratic toilet.

Expect Hudson to support any boondoggle suggested by Supt. John Fredericksen, EXACTLY like her predecessor. Hudson wants the BOE to have access to unlimited funds. In Kim Hudson’s world, any dollar spent in the name of “education” can’t be misspent. Yet, the Wicomico County schools spend millions upon millions of dollars while Johnny still can’t read. The same mindset also allows schools to crumble without maintenance while people like Hudson call for building new schools, which will also crumble because building schools look good on a superintendent’s resume and keeping schools in good repair doesn’t.

Hudson’s impact on the school board will be ZERO. She is merely one more profligate among profligates. Some speculate that Hudson might be a bad enough BOE member that this could motivate voters to demand an elected school board. Unfortunately, County Executive Rick Pollitt and Delegates Norm Conway (D-38B) and Rudy Cane (D-37A) are keeping Wicomico voters from voting on an elected school board. Nothing Hudson does will impact this.

The net result – NOTHING. The BOE will demand more money. Wicomico taxpayers will continue to see their tax bill rise each year (thanks to Conway and Cane). A majority of a supposedly conservative county council will continue to fight over the scrap handed to them by Pollitt while refusing cut wasteful spending. Kim Hudson will simply smile and tell us, “It’s for the children”.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Education, Fiscal Policy, Local Government, Politics

Government, Not Internet, Is Cause of Postal Service Default

August 1, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 1 Comment

Today the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) will default on a $5.5 billion payment to the federal government to cover retiree health benefits. In September they will default on another payment of $5.65 billion. The federal government would like you to believe that the cause of the postal service’s decline is due to the internet. I wish that were the case.

The USPS, once a department of the federal government and now a quasi-governmental agency, can only blame its “benefactors” in Washington for its demise. Sure, the internet and cultural changes have impacted demand for the the USPS’s bread and butter first class mail service. Myriad other “businesses” have faced similar challenges over the last 25 years. Some have risen to the challenge and thrived. Others have gone the way of the buggy whip.

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Filed Under: Delaware, DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Talbot, Opinion / Editorial, Virginia Tagged With: Business

Show Your Support for Family, Liberty

July 31, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 1 Comment

All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing. – Edmund Burke

Tomorrow you have an easy, simple method to show your support for liberty, justice, and the American family. Simply go to Chick-Fil-A for breakfast, lunch, or dinner (or all three if you are able). If you like chicken, you’ll enjoy a great meal. If you are like me and aren’t a big chicken eater, get some waffle fries and a drink. Regardless, eating at Chick-Fil-A tomorrow will show those that want to curtail free speech (at least speech that supports family values) and redefine the American family that there are still plenty of Americans who believe in simple things like God-given liberty and the traditional family.

Why the fuss? Chick-Fil-A, the Cathy family (owners of the Chick-Fil-A brand), and its 1,600+ franchisees support horrible things like free enterprise, entrepreneurship, the traditional American family, and the right to operate under Biblically-based principles. Ever wonder why Chick-Fil-A stores aren’t open on Sunday?

Because of their support of the traditional American family, those promoting anti-family values such as same-sex marriage are attacking Chick-Fil-A. They have gone so far as to attempt to drive Chick-Fil-A franchisees from college campuses and left wing, anti-family politicians have even attempted to prevent Chick-Fil-A franchises from opening locations in their area.

Here is what Chick-Fil-A has to say:

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Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, National, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Business, Family, Religion

Media Monday – July 30, 2011

July 30, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Why Is Freedom of the Press the Only Inviolate Freedom?

You often hear (or read) in the media that the First Amendment is inviolate. Yet, media coverage of our most basic freedoms begs a question or two:

Why are the other enumerated freedoms listed in our Bill of Rights no less important than those in the First Amendment?
Are those “sacred” freedoms found in the First Amendment really inviolate, or does this only apply to “freedom of the press”?

In Sunday’s Daily Times we are told that we need to have a discussion about gun control. Our liberal friends shouldn’t expect the Lower Shore’s paper of record to go much farther on this issue. They would lose too many readers and advertiser if they actually endorsed gun control or overtly supported Attorney General Doug Gansler and his attack on law abiding citizens who wish to carry a handgun. Leave more strident opposition to the Second Amendment to outlets such as the Baltimore Sun or the Washington Post.

While the Bill of Rights guarantees “freedom of the press”, it also guarantees a “right to keep and bear arms”. The Daily Times asks why a requirement to register a gun is wrong when we have to register cars. I wonder what their response would be if they had to have a permit for their printing press? Should we be having a “discussion” about placing restrictions on a free press?

Of course, we won’t even bother discussing little annoyances like the Tenth Amendment. I doubt the editorial boards of any of the above mentioned papers even know that one exists.

Even the First Amendment isn’t sacrosanct to most of today’s mainstream media. They seem to forget that there are other parts to the amendment than freedom of the press. As activist courts have changed “freedom OF religion” to “freedom FROM religion” we have heard little from the mainstream media other than applause. Ironically, thanks in part to the media, secular humanism has become the established religion of our media AND our government. I wonder if we should be having a “discussion” about that.

Where is Local News on the Radio?

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Filed Under: DE - Sussex, Delaware, DelMarVa, Featured Posts, MD - Wicomico, National, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Media

Cucinelli Behind Bolling in Money Race

July 19, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Never to lose an opportunity to spin negative about Virginia AG Ken Cuccinelli, the Washington Post has reported that Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling leads Cuccinelli in fundraising for the 2013 GOP gubernatorial nomination battle. True enough. Bolling is ahead … for now.

Here’s what the WaPo neglects to tell you:

The nomination will now be decided by a convention; not a primary. Cuccinelli’s strong appeal among conservative GOP activists heavily favors a victory for the incumbent Attorney General.
Bolling’s current fundraising advantage will melt away as contributors realize that Bolling’s chances of victory has gone the way of buggy whips and the Edsel.
Even if Bolling maintains a money advantage, short of promising to pay for registration fees and hotel rooms, it’s difficult to buy the kind of support needed to win a convention (unless your opponent is flat broke). Primaries can be bought with expensive, usually negative, media campaigns. Grassroots activism is tougher to come by.
The list goes on …

Granted, nothing is a sure thing. That said, Cuccinelli is the voice of the conservative, activist wing of Virginia’s GOP. The liberal media tried to dismiss Cuccinelli in 2009 and hope to do so again in 2013.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, News Analysis, Virginia Tagged With: Campaign Finance, Politics

MDE Secretary – “Let Them Eat Cake”

July 19, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Thanks to Del. Mike Smigiel (R-36)

Maryland Environment Secretary Robert Summers displays the arrogance typical of Democrats in the Baltimore – DC corridor. We shouldn’t be surprised that an elitist, “limousine liberal” like Summers thinks that $8,000 is a “modest” sum and that no hard working Maryland citizen should resent ponying up to install a new septic system so that the Chesapeake Bay MIGHT become a tiny bit cleaner.

A career academician and political appointee, Summers has spent his adult life spending other people’s money. It shouldn’t be a great surprise that Summers takes the attitude that no cost is too great to reach some rationalistic ideal. Of course, it also means that he gets to continue to spend YOUR hard earned money.

Delegate Smigiel hits the nail right on the head:

In closing Secretary Summers said that these costs are not more than those on public water systems are already paying. I doubt that anyone on public systems are being forced to pay tens of thousands of dollars to have a child or parent move into their home. The Secretary leaves out of his equation the fact that Septic System owners also pay through out the life of their systems the cost of cleaning and maintaining them.

The Secretary never addresses the taking issue, nor does he attempt to justify the heavy handed tactics of circumventing the legislature other than to say, we believe we can pass regulations without the legislature.

If there was ever any doubt that Gov. Martin O’Malley and his minions have declared war on rural Maryland, the legally questionable tactics of O’Malley appointees like Secretary Summers should leave no doubt.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Environment, Politics, Video

WMDT Is Latest Media Outlet to Join Ireton Political Hack Fest

July 9, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

It’s usually the Daily Times that earns our wrath when we analyze hack reporting and a lack of journalistic ethics among DelMarVa’s media outlets. Let’s face it, a decent newspaper in almost all but its reporting of Salisbury city politics just can’t help itself when it comes to attacking certain elected officials. Since the election of Jim Ireton as Salisbury’s mayor, they have even subscribed to the old adage: “The enemy of my enemy is my friend”. Their intense hatred of council members Debbie Campbell, Terry Cohen, and Tim Spies has motivated them to form an obvious political alliance with Ireton (whom they despised until his falling out with Campbell, et al) and council member Laura Mitchell. Unfortunately, another local media organization is attempting to surpass the efforts of the Daily Times when it comes to poor reporting and a lack of ethics. That organization is WMDT. There’s also a new bully in town – WMDT General Manager Kathleen McLain.

In response to the council’s refusal to bow down and adopt his latest plan for downtown revitalization, Ireton did what he always does – call a press conference. Attacking Campbell, Cohen and Spies, Ireton called on the broadcast outlets present to knock go knock on these council members’ doors and “stick a microphone in their faces”. “Demand answers!” as to why they wouldn’t support his plan. Only one outlet took up Ireton’s call to ambush elected officials at their homes – McLain’s WMDT.

Guess who was in the audience adding her support? Ms. McLain. Guess who was part of the “Revitalization Committee” that added their collective names to Ireton’s plan? Ms. McLain. Guess which TV station dispatched a reporter to the home of council president Terry Cohen (frightening her children to the point that her daughter was brought to tears)? WMDT (of which McLain is the GM). Guess whose reporter sheepishly admitted that she was ordered to attempt an ambush of Cohen at her home? McLain (WMDT reporter Jemie Lee). Guess which outlet presented a one sided view of Ireton’s dog and pony show without even disclosing that McLain was part of the group promoting Ireton’s plan? WMDT.

Here is the video of Lee’s one sided piece attacking the council majority’s decision:

Mike Pretl’s Smooooth Rhetoric About ObamaCare and Its Costs to You

July 8, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 1 Comment

Saturday’s Daily Times had a great op-ed from Wicomico County’s favorite tree hugging statist – Mike Pretl. I’m not being facetious; it is a great essay. Pretl’s piece is a well written example of political propaganda at its best; persuasive but seriously lacking in the fact department.

Pretl tells us that only those who refuse to obtain coverage will have to pay “the tax”. Untrue. For starters, ObamaCare isn’t just ONE tax. There are many taxes which we will be paying:

Medical Device Manufacturing Tax
High Medical Bills Tax
A Reduction in the Limits on Flex Spending Accounts
Surtax on Investment Income
Medicare Payroll Tax Increase

It’s small wonder that the bill was written so that these taxes don’t take effect until AFTER the 2012 elections.

Pretl points out that there are many benefits to ObamaCare. He’s correct. There are many benefits. Unfortunately, Pretl always fails to remember that there is no such thing as a free lunch. The end result of ObamaCare will be to put us all into a single payer system – socialized medicine. This is exactly what Obama, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Martin O’Malley, AND Mike Pretl hope fore. That’s fine. They, like you and I, have a right to their opinion. I just wish that they would all admit it. To his credit, if you have a conversation with Mike about this issue he will admit that he wants a single payer system. He just refuses to call it what it is – one more leap down the road to serfdom.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, National, Opinion / Editorial Tagged With: Health Care, Politics

Will Virginia’s New Voter ID Law Disenfranchise Voters?

July 8, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

RICHMOND, VA – Mike Baker of the Richmond Times-Dispatch has published an article attempting to argue that Virginia’s new voter ID law will disenfranchise thousands of legal voters while only preventing a relative few fraudulent votes. Such an argument should only persuade those who have adopted belief in the nanny state.

You need an ID to drive to the polls. You need one to cash a check or for literally hundreds of other types of transactions. Yet, we are to believe that if people have to show ID at the polls some atrocity against democracy has been committed.

Of course, if you don’t have an ID you can still cast a provisional ballot. Yes, you have to follow-up by providing proof of identity after the election. On the one hand, leftists and people like Mr. Baker want you to believe that voting is sacred. On the other, they also want you to believe that having to follow-up with your local electoral board is simply too great a burden to carry out this sacred duty.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Opinion / Editorial, Virginia Tagged With: Politics

Will Salisbury Fix the Mess at Bateman / Onley Road?

July 2, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

SALISBURY, MD – The Salisbury City Council is expected to vote tonight on the city’s plan to rearrange the intersection of S. Division Street, Bateman Street and Onley Road. Will they?

After years of Mayor Jim Ireton and TWO separate city councils attempting to come to an agreement it looked as if there might be an end (albeit unsatisfactory to area residents) to the problem of routing school buses down Onley Road. Unfortunately, a disclosure by a representative of Salisbury University at the council’s last work session may cause the project to be put on hold again.

The council learned that SU had offered the city a portion of the northeast corner of its athletic field which runs along S. Division and Bateman Streets. While not addressing the concerns of the residents near Onley Road, SU’s donation could easily address other problems of routing traffic through this staggered intersection. Unfortunately, and true to form, the Ireton administration chose to withhold this information from council.

Now we’ll have to see how the majority reacts to being deceived by the Mayor’s office once again.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, News Analysis, Salisbury Tagged With: Local Government, Politics, Transportation

Bill Bolling Showing Desperation

June 15, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

I had a lot of respect for Virginia Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling. HAD. Bolling is so desperate to win his party’s nomination for governor in 2013 that he is sinking to levels usually reserved for the most radical Democrat. Hypocrisy, and dishonesty, is of no concern when you want to win an election.

Bolling, who has previously been nominated for the Virginia Senate and for Lt. Governor by convention, now argues that conventions are evil. Because active duty military personnel serving abroad cannot attend a convention, Bolling is NOW crying foul.

Three years ago we had troops serving in Europe, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and at other locations throughout the world; just as we do today. Naval personnel are deployed all over the globe. Virginia has a proud tradition of military service, so of course many of those soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines are Virginians. Yet, I don’t recall any such shirt tearing by Bolling when he accepted his party’s nomination for LG in 2009. So why now?

Today the State Central Committee of the Republican Party of Virginia (RPV) meets in Richmond. Among the items on their agenda is to change the method of nomination for Governor, Lt. Governor, and Attorney General in 2013 from primary to convention. Last October the State Central Committee opted for a primary. However, the make-up of the committee has changed during this year’s round of District Conventions.

OK, so why does Bolling oppose a convention now?

The conventional wisdom, and one to which Bolling obviously subscribes, is that Bolling will lose a convention to AG Ken Cuccinelli. Yep, he probably will. Cuccinelli is, justifiably, very popular with the party’s conservative faithful – the same people who tend to turn out for mass meetings and conventions.

Bolling has served Virginia well in the legislature and as Lt. Governor. He simply faces tough opposition. Does that mean he should stoop to hypocrisy?

I am reminded of a past Lt. Governor, John Hager. Hager served as Lt. Governor and was sorely abused by his opponent, former Attorney General Mark Earley, while seeking the party’s nomination for governor. While Hager, always a gentleman of the first order, lost the nomination, he exited that stage with his head held high and continued to serve the Commonwealth and his country.

I expect that, regardless of the State Central Committee’s decision today, Cuccinelli will wage a tough, honorable, and conservative campaign. The Attorney General has not been pushing for the State Central Committee to change its method of nomination. Recent polls show that Cuccinelli holds a commanding lead over Bolling if a primary was held. Bolling’s recent behavior indicates that regardless of the nominating method Virginia Republicans can look forward to Bolling doing anything to become governor of the Old Dominion.

Filed Under: Featured Posts, Opinion / Editorial, Virginia Tagged With: Politics

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly of Wicomico County’s Budget

June 12, 2012 by G. A. Harrison Leave a Comment

Yesterday the Wicomico County Council passed County Executive Rick Pollitt’s FY 2013 operating budget. While Wicomico continues to endure one of the highest unemployment rates in Maryland, citizens and businesses alike will face higher taxes; placing even greater difficulty on those struggling to keep their homes and adding one more impediment to to a business sitting on the bubble as to whether or not to hire new employees.

For the first time since adopting a county executive form of government, the Wicomico council passed a budget without cutting one red cent from the Executive’s proposed budget. Several council members (we choose not to embarrass them by giving their names) have actually argued that not one dollar of Pollitt’s $117 million budget is being wasted. While I’m not aware of anyone claiming that Pollitt’s budget is a cesspool of profligacy and corruption, failing to acknowledge that some spending is wasteful or unnecessary forever surrenders any claim to fiscal conservatism on the part of these council members. To add insult to the injury of a tax hike, six of the council’s members when on a frenetic spending spree last Wednesday, adding an additional $600,000 to the county’s budget.

THE GOOD

Unless you happen to be a county employee, there’s not much good to be said. Prior to submitting his budget, Pollitt had already agreed to a 2% pay increase for the county’s deputies. He also eliminated furloughs for all county employees. Not to be outdone in the area of spending other people’s money, a majority of council members tacked on a 2% increase in pay for all other county employees. “FAIRNESS” seems to have replaced “It’s for the children” as the excuse du jour for spending taxpayer dollars.

Yes, the Board of Education got a little more money than they received last year. Contrary to popular opinion, I am not one of those who seems to believe that ten cents spent on public education is ten cents too much. However, I do believe that the Board of Education continues to spend money on items that are questionable at best. That should not be confused with a belief that the BOE throws millions of dollars into the fiscal dust bin.

I am also confident that State’s Attorney Matt Maciarello is pleased with this budget. He requested some additional funds and received them during the council’s “feeding frenzy”. Not all of the funds disbursed last Wednesday were bad calls. It was the mouth foaming zeal in which council members spent other people’s money that was most disturbing.

THE BAD

Where Is Jim Ireton’s Budget Veto?

June 7, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 2 Comments

SALISBURY, MD – The Daily Times has published multiple times that Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton would veto the budget passed by the Salisbury City Council. Yet, a press release issued by City Clerk Kim Nichols states that the amended budget passed by the council is law. What happened?

The answer is simple. A veto would have resulted in one of two things:

The mayor’s veto would have been overridden. or …
The city would have no budget.

Allowing the city to enter FY 2013 would be the height of irresponsibility. Ireton should be applauded for not allowing the baser side of his nature to get the better of him. Allowing the city government to shut down due to hubris would have been unthinkable.

Filed Under: DelMarVa, Featured Posts, Maryland, MD - Wicomico, News Analysis, Salisbury Tagged With: Fiscal Policy, Local Government, Politics, Taxation

Wicomico Council on Spending Spree

June 7, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 2 Comments

With revenue estimates revised (and revised again) from County Executive Rick Pollitt, a majority of the Wicomico County Council went on a feeding frenzy Wednesday. While taxpayers will be forced to endure a 9.28% increase in the real property rate, council members Stevie Prettyman, John Hall, Matt Holloway, Bob Culver, and Sheree Sample-Hughes decided to dole out raises for every county employee, along with a host of other spending increases. Only council president Joe Holloway advocated restraint. Councilwoman Gail Bartkovich had to leave the meeting before the end of the day’s spending spree was over.

I Thought the Charter Prohibited the Council from Increasing Spending?

It does. However, in a politically astute move by Pollitt and County Administrator Wayne Strausburg, the Executive handed council a pot of money and essentially said “Have some fun! Spend it however you want.” The increased spending will technically come from the County Executive in the form of an amendment.

Now, with four Republican council members abandoning any sense of fiscal restraint, Pollitt can complete this term without worrying about the council yanking the spending chain. Any criticism of Pollitt’s poor fiscal record by Prettyman, Hall, Matt Holloway, or Culver will be dismissed by Pollitt as mere hypocrisy. He will be correct.

Bellying up to the public trough and gorging themselves on every available taxpayer dollar, these self-identified “conservatives” have formally subscribed to the Pollitt school of governance – raise taxes to the extent possible and spend every last nickel.

Where Did the Money Come From?

This is the $64,000 question. On May 1st Pollitt submitted a proposed budget with total revenue of $114 million. On May 25th he submitted an amended budget proposal with total revenue of $116.2 million. The $2,173,593 difference was made up of a grant from the state to help cover the cost of the teacher pension shift and a $605,756 increase in income tax revenue. The difference in revenue numbers also conveniently equaled the amount of the teacher pension costs.

The increase in income tax revenue is questionable. However, since the revenue estimates are supposed to come from the state it is difficult to question. The $605,756 “increase” in projected income tax revenue allowed Pollitt to avoid cuts necessitated by the teacher pension shift. It was mighty convenient.

On Tuesday night the council held its public hearing on the budget. Those were the revenue numbers being used. Wednesday morning the council met for its final budget work session. “Miraculously”, $589,224 in additional revenue was available (at least according to Pollitt’s budget amendment). One more example of Pollitt and his staff riding in at the 11th hour.

To characterize the county’s revenue projections as “suspect” is an understatement. This deepens our concern over council’s decision to adopt the Pollitt approach to spending.

In addition to these suspect increases in projected FY 2013 revenue, another $3.5 million “fell from heaven” in the form of higher than budgeted income tax revenues for FY 2012. The next time you knock your car out of alignment due to a pothole, call your council members and ask why they didn’t ask to use some of those funds for road maintenance.

How Much Do We Have Left?

Wicomico Teachers’ Union Demands Money That CANNOT Be Appropriated

June 6, 2012 by G. A. Harrison 2 Comments

SALISBURY, MD – After spending thousands (or tens of thousands) of dollars in an attempt to garner public support for $38.7 million Wicomico County tax dollars being funneled to the Board of Education (WCBOE), members and allies of the Wicomico County Education Association (WCEA) marched down Glen Avenue last night and demanded that the Wicomico County Council appropriate $2 million in excess of County Executive Rick Pollitt’s proposed FY 2013 budget. After disrupting the beginning of the council’s meeting and heckling speakers who opposed more funds for the WCBOE, supporters of the additional $2 million – Pollitt’s budget already contained funding that was $500,000 above maintenance of effort (MOE) – begged, pleaded, cried (literally) and threatened council members. In the end, it was all for naught. Even IF a majority of the council wanted to appropriate the funds, the county’s charter prohibits them from doing so.

Why? Well, if anyone deserves blame it would fall on the WCBOE. Their initial budget request which was submitted to the County Executive did not include the additional $2 million. The county’s charter does not permit council to increase spending on ANY line in the budget submitted by Pollitt. They can only cut spending. State law, which trumps the county’s charter, does allow the council to increase funding, but ONLY to the extent that a county executive has cut the budget request of the local board of education. Pollitt did not cut the WCBOE’s submitted budget. Therefore, council CANNOT increase spending.

This begs a question. Is Dave White, president of the WCEA, incompetent? The union’s leadership? Or … was last night’s piece of political theater designed merely as a prelude to the 2014 elections and an attempt to return to the spendthrift policies which led to the implementation of Wicomico County’s revenue cap?