That said, are you encouraging this constant muttering on your buddy’s blog about the election being rigged? Some day he (and you) might just have to accept the fact that he is unelectable.

Check your facts before you ATTEMPT to offer an informed opinion.

You can keep saying that the county was evicted until the cows come home. Unfortunately the documentary evidence contradicts you.

Mike…you never cease to amaze me…even now…with all the crazy extremist, loony stuff you write about! First, I think you owe me a “thank you” for your theft of a term I have been using here on the ES for several years…LIV – Low Information Voter.

I like how you try to twist its use, to describe the Democratic turnout for Rosen. In truth, it is, according to several GOP strategists I know, a term that they came up with, in order to describe Fox News viewers. By connection, we can expand that to Limbaugh, Beck, O’Reilly, Savage and Hannity listeners, as well.

These GOP strategists decided that LIVs were exactly what they were looking for; they needed little convincing and almost no substantive data, in order to support their candidate. The only thing that was needed was the ability of the candidate to use the same set of LIV words and soundbites that were being used by Fox and friends! Easy, really!

Now, back to your incorrect assertion: if you had taken a basic Poli Sci course in college, you would have learned that in any election, whenever there are 2 candidates running, each one will always have a base support of about 30% – 35%. The key is to reach the middle 30%-40% who will decide the outcome.

Another reason why LaFerla’s write-in vote was low, is because Andy, being Andy, wanted to avoid any form of debate, so he refused to acknowledge LaFerla as his opponent, instead, referring to Rosen as his Democratic opponent. In truth, it might have been why her vote was as high as it was…”Anybody but Harris!”

You talk a good line about Andy Harris caring about the people on the Shore, but you obviously don’t say anything about his voting record. From the 4 bills he introduced in his first term, having to do with extending reduced tariffs on foreign-made shoes (does Andy have a foreign “foot-fetish”?) to his failure to assist 1st District victims of Hurricane Sandy (and much more I could include here), Harris has proven, on the record, that he cares little for the people here; he only wants their vote? I mean, why else co-sponsor the Harriet Tubman Nat’l Park bill and then allow it to become the only Nat’l Park to be unfunded? Could it be he thought he would receive the African-American vote in the 1st District? Highly unlikely!

You are very good…just like Andy…in putting together cute-sounding cliches and soundbites, but you lack the ability to seriously debate or support any of the nonsense you expound. Limited Information Blogger??? Hmmmmmm!

BTW…thanks for the compliment…I’ve always liked the term feisty…I envision John Adams, Theodore Roosevelt, Harry Truman…all feisty advocates for their beliefs and truth! Looking forward to the debate, and being at the LaFerla Victory party on Nov. 4, 2014!

And no, knowing the County Executive doesn’t automatically disqualify someone. However, doing business with friends and family of friends does deserve extra scrutiny.

I didn’t say that the deal was crooked. I said it was questionable. Why did the administration tell council that the county had been evicted from the previous site when that was not true? I will admit that the site which was approved today is better than the previous site. That’s not the point. I am merely questioning whether or not the taxpayers’ money is being but to its best use.

The election is effectively over. Now comes the work of governance for Ireton, Day, Mitchell, and Shields. Will Day fall in line with Ireton to raise taxes? Will Day, Mitchell, and Shields stand firm against Ireton’s lock-out ordinance or will Ireton simply let it die a quiet death? Who will Ireton appoint as city attorney (assuming Day, etc. keep word about repealing charter change)? Will Day support Paul Wilber if that is the Ireton appointment? These are (just some of) the things that are will tell an interesting story in the future.

BTW – look for a post-election analysis as soon as the video from today’s show is available.

The only way that you will ever get a story that you agree with 100% is for you to write it yourself. It is also probable that you are a victim of the current paradigm that all news must be “analysis” which is a (often bad) hybrid of news and op-ed.

I understand your view on this, I truly do. As I was getting around to comments, I’m also preparing for a radio show Friday. I can make a case (whether I agree with you or not) for everything except the turnout numbers. If they only applied to Albero, I could see it. However, it does not explain Campbell. Apathy is one thing, but to see turnout drop like a rock after 10 years of incremental upticks (turnout was still abysmal), there is something else going on.

Take care.

I am not a campaign manager for either candidate. Joe Albero and Debbie Campbell are friends. I support their respective candidacies. I volunteer some time to help them. And …?

You must share the same pipe as “Mark”: “You’re also their close friend – you’ve never denied that before.” Where have I ever denied being their friend? For goodness sake, why would anyone make a statement that is so easily proven to be a lie?

I refer you to the comments I left to “Mark”: “I would be interested in a discussion if you were, but you simply deny provable facts.”

But wait! You’re not into having a discussion. You are just interested in saying things that aren’t true but somehow fit your narrative (in a bizarrely twisted way).

Second, do you know what a straw man argument is? BTW – that is a rhetorical question.

This post is not an argument at all, therefore it can’t be a straw man. It’s just straight reporting. I’m sure that you don’t like my using Jake’s own words against him, but I’m not the one who said them.

I would be interested in a discussion if you were, but you simply deny provable facts. I’ll take you at your word though. Let’s start by you answering a couple of questions for me:

Who sent the two mailings?
How many pieces do YOU think were mailed?
What is your basis for that estimate?

Try answering those. I would also ask that you refrain, in the future, from comparing anything I’m involved with to the Romney campaign. I plagiarized NOTHING (of course it’s OK for you to accuse me without ANY evidence to your claims). I did not support Romney for anything. I live in Maryland. My vote for President doesn’t count.

AGAIN, I am not a campaign manager for either. I charge for those services and I can assure that neither has written me a check. I’ve volunteered some time doing some things that I happen to enjoy doing. So what?

Where did the mailings come from? They were paid for by the PAC out of Chicago. It says so right on each piece. Where were they mailed out of? Fairfax County, VA. Neither sounds like the Lower Shore to me. As for this $2,000 nonsense – there were about 18,000 pieces between the two mailings. Do you think you can do that for $2,000? Oh, and then there’s the cash contribution from the same NATIONAL PAC. Are you claiming that Jordan Gilmore (Jake’s treasurer) is lying?

As for the other stuff, it’s just too disjointed to understand, much less respond to. Everything I write is clearly labeled as news, op-ed, analysis, or feature. Now – if you wanted to argue that I should have labeled this post as “News Analysis” rather than “News”, I would have probably conceded the point rather than waste this time, corrected (properly) and moved on. Instead, you are trying to argue that this post is false. Pictures (unaltered) of mailings promoting Jake’s campaign. Jake and Jordan’s own online discussion. Let’s get real. I couldn’t make this stuff up if I wanted to.

I assume the “false attacks” you are referring to is that Jake Day’s campaign has been the beneficiary of over $10,000 in PAC spending by a real estate group out of Chicago. That is a FACT, not an attack. C’mon – I posted pictures of the mailings. I provided a cost breakdown. Do you deny they exist? Do you think design, printing and postage are free? If so, you are most definitely on something.

“Few principles”? Really? I’m not the one denying that a National PAC is throwing money at my campaign. Jake is. You are. Again, I posted his statement. These are real.

Now, let’s go to the Citizens United decision. Again – WRONG. I never supported it. I understand it, but I don’t like it. Of course, you would never like my solution to campaign finance solution (which really isn’t mine, but George Will’s):

NO CASH
No Corporate money
No UNION money
No FOREIGN money
Other than that – NO LIMIT

All contributions must be reported online within 72 hours of receipt using a system similar to VPAP

Of course, that would put the left right out business – no union money, no foreign money.

Next time you decide to sling trash – come down off whatever you’re on first.

If the DT was serious about covering issues they could have given us at lease one article a day since January. What have we gotten instead? Fluff. Do you honestly care if Jake Day has a heavy foot or that Joe Albero had to fight a tax charge over a technicality?

It’s like the crap about Jimmy being gay. I don’t care about that and I think it speaks volumes that so many people want to titter anonymously online, including on Albero’s site. However, I do have a problem that Jim took time from trying to fix Salisbury’s problems to go to Annapolis and lobby for same-sex marriage. I’d have the same problem if he were straight. If he did it on the taxpayers’ dime (which I’m not totally sure about) then I think he should be horsewhipped out of town. I have similar problems that he took part in protesting Rep. Andy Harris’s office. Redefines “mayoral”.

Apparently, the Daily Times is just “one step above the National Enquirer”; well, I guess that’s better than being down a full flight of steps from the NE, like Joe’s SBYNews blog. It’s incredible to me, a retired attorney, that he hasn’t been sued for copyright infringement or trademark infringement. Ahhhh, to be practicing again!!

The Daily News editorial, endorsing Jim Ireton, was unbelievably gracious in reference to Joe, calling his failed businesses, tax liens, falling down buildings and extensive criminal background, “some baggage.” That like saying that Michael Jordan plays some basketball!

Will you retract your allegations if the DT doesn’t do an “expose” on Albero? Sure, when Albero is taken seriously as a candidate!!!

First of all I have NEVER said or implied that IF Albero loses it would be the DT’s fault. I did say that they are hell bent on queering the election. That’s not the same thing. Regardless of who wins, it’s a COMBINATION of work, money, AND media.

You are also incorrect that I deem the Daily Times irrelevant. I believe that it tries very hard to make itself irrelevant. I am continually shocked at friends of mine – smart, well-read people all – who keep telling me that they stopped reading the DT years ago. That is an area of genuine concern. We know that their financial situation indicates a declining readership (like almost every other daily).

One of the areas where Albero and I disagree is his attitude towards the DT. I criticize them, but I don’t hold them in contempt. I have held some of their practices in contempt, but that’s part of my criticism. I WANT the DT to be a good, even great, paper. I think every city should have a daily paper. While I don’t always agree, I’ve enjoyed reading reporters like Jeremy Cox, Jennifer Shutt, Brian Shane, and Vanessa Junkin. Unlike many of my conservative friends, I don’t believe that these reporters TRY to slant the news. I simply recognize that they have a world view that is to the left of mine and I can’t expect them to write about stories that they are either not aware of or where they don’t have access to all of the facts.

Your last premise is also wrong. IF Albero loses, it will be neither the fault of the DT nor SBYNews. IF Albero loses, it will be because of a number of factors, including the DT and SBYNews. There are seldom any silver bullets in a political campaign. This also applies to Ireton. IF he loses, it won’t be because he’s gay (although I’m sure a few people won’t vote for him for that reason) or because he’s a leftist (although a lot more won’t vote for him because of this) or …

Jim has failed as a mayor. I think Joe can be a GREAT mayor.

You make a valid point about discouraging people from running for office. However, that doesn’t mean that the blogosphere should shut down. One of the things that Joe and I disagree on is comment policy. That said, he’s running a business that is successful. His site, his rules. I believe that the comments on SBYNews speak more about our culture than they do about Joe Albero.

Because of the blogosphere being what it in today’s society, you will be hard pressed to find a viable candidate to run for a local office because of rumor and innuendo and for the lack of fact checking. Who in their right mind would run for a local office with all the Joe Albero’s of the world.