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State Watch
Maryland’s Radical-in-Chief
Taxes and presidential aspirations are inflating in Maryland.
Monday morning at a meeting of Governors at the White House, President Obama could not remember Governor Martin O’Malley’s name.
But as the head of the Democratic Governors Association, the national 527 in charge of electing Democratic governors, O’Malley is someone Obama should be quite familiar with. And as the 2016 elections grow closer, the Maryland Governor who would have likely been Hillary Clinton’s running mate will soon become a household name to political observers.
When this reporter recently asked legislators in the Annapolis capitol building what they think of O’Malley, one of them succinctly described him as a “pious, partisan pugilist.”
O’Malley, when he is not governing or playing the guitar in a Celtic rock band, is starting his unprecedented second term running the DGA, a group that empowers America’s 20 Democratic governors to raise unlimited corporate contributions. And O’Malley has not been shy about tying state business to donations to the DGA, which has allowed his organization to raise more than $20 million last year (a 57 percent increase since 2007), while simultaneously raising O’Malley’s national profile.
A frequent guest of Sunday-morning talk shows, O’Malley is known to often refer to the “Bush economy” and once likened the former President, his favorite villain, to the now-deceased Osama bin Laden. Whether it’s O’Malley, a Catholic, defending the Obama administration for requiring Catholic hospitals to provide birth control, receiving national attention for requiring a “green” curriculum for young students, or being such a vocal supporter of gay marriage that pop band Bye June dedicated a music video about homosexual swan hand-puppets to him, there is little question the controversial, telegenic governor has national aspirations that will take him far beyond the Free State. This ambition was driven home this month in his eagerness to ram gay marriage through the Maryland legislature, whose members knew full well that O’Malley was desperate to match New York Governor and 2016 presidential hopeful Andrew Cuomo’s singular success in getting gay marriage passed in his state.
On February 1, O’Malley delivered a lengthy 33-minute State of the State address to minimal applause, which promised more of the Great Society policies he’s been implementing since his two terms as Mayor of Baltimore, a city left with a rapidly shrinking population and growing crime rate, as popularized by the HBO cop drama, The Wire. (The show’s creator David Simon noted O’Malley was “one of several inspirations” for the character of the ambitious and ruthless Mayor Tommy Carcetti.)
In the address, O’Malley opined, “Asking our fellow citizens to do more will not be popular. But without anger, fear or meanness, let’s ask one another: How much less do we think would be good for our children’s future? How much less education do we want? How much less public safety? How many fewer jobs? There are costs and there are values.”
And those values are attached to a hefty price tag.
As promised, O’Malley will sign Maryland’s same-sex marriage bill this week. In addition, he proposed sweeping tax increases, such as an 18 cent/gallon gas tax increase, across-the-board income tax increases, a doubling of the “flush tax” for waste-water treatment plants, a new sales tax to online shopping, and higher electricity rates for all consumers to subsidize an offshore wind farm near Ocean City.
Interestingly, as a matter of percentages, O’Malley’s tax hike proposals hit families making under $34,000/year twice as hard as families earning over $500,000/year.
O’Malley’s calls for increased taxpayer investments in green energy come on the heels of serious accusations of cronyism. As noted by the Gaithersburg Gazette’s state house columnist Barry Rascovar, one such deal involved plenty of strong arming for Maryland Solar, a company owned by O’Malley’s friend and former Chief of Staff Michael Enright:
Quickly, [the Department of General Services] latched onto Maryland Solar’s idea of not renewing farmer Jeremiah Weedle’s lease for the farmland where he grows wheat, alfalfa and soybeans.
Instead, DGS issued a “request for qualifications” (RFQ) looking for someone to turn the land into a renewable energy project that had to be started by December (so it would be eligible for a huge federal energy tax credit).
Was it merely coincidence that this RFQ was exactly what Enright’s affiliate company had proposed?
A month went by and — surprise! — just one proposal was received, from Maryland Solar. Yet even before bid solicitations were closed, the company informed the Public Service Commission on May 10 that Maryland Solar expected to be awarded a long-term lease for the state land.
About the Author
Matt Naugle writes about state governments for The American Spectator.
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PL| 2.28.12 @ 6:21AM
How exactly he is pious and a Catholic?
Stop with the nonsense.
No Catholic has anything to do with the abomination called homosexuality. Yet we just saw him signing this into law last week, did we not? (Q: Was he vigorously fighting against it? A: No.)
ALSO: With the now 30 year -- on the record for all to see -- ongoing record of Demoncratic ever-expanding abortions (and doing everything to make them more and more prevalent), he's not a Catholic; he's not a Christian.
He's just one more hugely self-centered, egotistical, "me first" guy. In short, a loser. And a deceiver. He is not pious, he is pathetic.
One more big reason to not move there or do any business in Maryland.
PL| 2.28.12 @ 6:58AM
Let me just add: The only reason why Maryland's economic, jobs, and taxation numbers are not completely in the gutter is the Federal Government agencies that dot the state. Don't just think Bethesda, Chevy Chase, Rockville, and all the suburban D.C. areas propped up with your tax payers' monies. Just the many U.S. military facilities in Maryland alone distort any accurate picture of how pathetically the state is doing. The whole state of Maryland is nothing but a federal programs "on the teat" net loss.
You the taxpayer prop up a failing Maryland.
Think of the state as just a Welfare program. This is not so far off the mark.
Gov. O'Malley would be run out of town if the numbers were shown correctly. Maryland bleeds jobs; countless people have fled to the south and southwest in the last six years. Baltimore continues to shrink and get more violent and more criminally active. The drugs and violence and ugliness increase, as good people say adios and leave what could be a very nice place to live.
PaulyD| 2.28.12 @ 9:20AM
PL,
You are oh so right. The only thing keeping Maryland afloat is Washington D.C.
Actually I can't wait for O'Malley to start running for National office. The sooner he is out of the Governor's office and away from screwing up Maryland, the better off Maryland will be.
Gerald Bulkley| 2.28.12 @ 3:40PM
As a conservative in MD please take this lying corrupt bastard!!
I can't wait to leave this state!
Mike Hawk| 2.28.12 @ 6:38AM
If this hack is pious about anything, it is his socialist/ leftist ideology.
oldfart| 2.28.12 @ 7:18AM
I have realtives in Maryland and they refer to the place as the Peoples Republic of Maryland. O'Malley is a hack without the intelligence to get out of a paper bag. He screwed up the city of Baltimore and is now financially doing the same to the State of Maryland. His redistricting plan looks like a bunch of snakes on drugs - all to protect the WHITE political power base, which for some reason the African-Americans are only too willing to bow down to.
I guess he wants to make it while he can. By the next census, 2020, Maryland will be the first minority majority state.
PaulyD| 2.28.12 @ 9:38AM
The demographics in Maryland are very interesting - because of their extreme distortion.
If you pull out a map and look at the D.C. Beltway from a clock code perspective, you can draw a radius from the center of D.C. North to the 12 O'clock position at White Oak and then sweep it East out to Route 3/301, then South to almost the 6 o'clock position at Waldorf. Within this area, almost 50 square miles, the population is almost 100% African-American. It is probably the highest concentration of UN-diversity of a group of people anywhere in the country (maybe Southern San Diego region has more hispanic homogeneity). This is a huge population that is totally dependent upon Federal programs or employment of some type for its existence. It is also a huge Democratic voting block that dominates the rest of the state, just as New York City dominates the politics of the rest of the New York State. As long as this dependence exists, politics in Maryland will never change.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 3:01PM
Take away Baltimore City and Prince George's County and Maryland is a Conservative state.
irmaladuce| 2.28.12 @ 6:26PM
yes, that is true of many states. Take away the the places where all the people are, and it's a Conservative's paradise.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 6:50PM
Not exactly, Irma.
Take away the places where all the out-of-control breeders, crackheads, parolees, illegal immigrants, and welfare Queens are, and then you're definitely right - it's a Conservative state.
tsd| 2.28.12 @ 7:21AM
One more scum bag Democrat
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 7:58AM
I grew up in Maryland, and despite living in New Jersey now for almost 20 years, I still call Maryland "home." There's a vibe to Maryland - a vibe that only native Marylanders really get - that I miss greatly from time to time.
Having said that, the Maryland of my youth is gone. It's been replaced by a job-killing socialist nanny-state run by some of the dumbest, stooge-like Democrats in the country.
O'Malley, Cardin, Mikulski, Hoyer, Van Holland, etc, are useful idiots for the Left that can always be counted on to toe the line on Dem-policy that emanates from DC. The Democrats have eviscerated the once great town of Baltimore, and are now intent on extending their vile tentacles into other parts of the state.
In short, Maryland is a fiefdom of the Democrat Party, and until they throw off that yoke, things are likely to get worse.
Ted Kennedy's Rotting Corpse| 3.1.12 @ 4:57AM
I left 20 years ago myself, but went out west. I was there as California sank into the abyss under Gov. Davis and now fear the same is happening to Colorado under Gov. Hickenlooper (another whacko leftwinger whose actual agenda is not reported by the left-leaning Denver media). I miss some things about Maryland, but not the politics. That state is now Massachusetts Jr. It's a shame really, but this country is rapidly "balkanizing", with the 2 coasts increasingly out of touch with middle America and the south.
Bobloblaw| 2.28.12 @ 8:37AM
""And we will soon enough find out how well this worldview is accepted on a national stage.""
My guess is very well. It is no longer 1980. In the USA of the early 21st century, there is no such thing as too liberal. I think OMalley will play better in IA and NH than Coomo will. But the odds are no worse than 50/50 that the Dems will win in 2016 after winning in 2012.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 2:41PM
Dems will NOT win in 2012.
Bill| 2.28.12 @ 8:47AM
No thanks to O'Molly:
1. 45 cents/ gallon gas tax
2. In-state tuition for illegal
3. Same-sex marriage
Nick| 2.28.12 @ 7:47PM
"That nigger lover President Clinton had the pen and vetoed so many good bills passed by the Gingrich-led Congress."
- Written by Bill, in the Time for Newt to Do the Honorable Thing thread:
http://spectator.org/archives/.....ent_749403
You're a moron and a racist, Bill.
GO AWAY!
Timothy L. Pennell| 2.28.12 @ 9:08AM
"And O'Malley hasn't been shy about tying State Business to DONATIONS to the DGA."
And, therein, lies the root of all of our Problems.
The rest of the story means nothing, compared to that one sentence.
"The pursuit of Money, is the root of all Evil."
Indeed.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 3:00PM
There's nothing evil about the "pursuit" of money.
That's why we all get out of bed each morning and shamble off to the office.
The LOVE OF MONEY is the root of all evil.
Timothy L. Pennell| 2.28.12 @ 3:58PM
You know what I mean, Idiot.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 4:33PM
If you mean it, Wind-Bag, then say it.
Or...better yet...just admit you were wrong.
Words mean things. There's a distinct difference between "pursuit" and "love."
Maybe you should devote a 50-paragraph diatribe to the topic - full of CAPITALIZATION FOR AFFECT - so everyone else can understand, too?
Or would you prefer to share more of your groundbreaking insight...like "Obama is a socialist!"..?
Derek Leaberry| 2.28.12 @ 9:08AM
Re-elected handsomely in 2010 against ex-Governor Bob Ehrlich, O'Malley immediately moved to the left in expectation of running against Andrew Cuomo for the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. In heavily Democratic Maryland, O'Malley is a free man, totally unrestrained by his own party or the inept Republican Party. Taxes are going up. Allegedly a " Roman Catholic", O'Malley has decided to spit in the face of God and push through homosexual "marriage." Government grows unabated. Four requirements for all modern Democrats is fealty to tax raises when possible, support for the growth of government even in the face of heavy deficits, absolute endorsement of the homosexual agenda, and virulent hatred for all things Christian.
For those who don't understand Maryland politics, think of it as a state held hostage by three jurisdictions- heavily black and socially dysfunctional Baltimore(a slum with a great hospital); heavily black and government dependent Prince George's County; and noblese-oblige white liberal Montgomery County which receives 18 % back from the state of the money it's affluent taxpayers provide state coffers. In Maryland's legislature, Montgomery Democrats might as well go about with a big "Kick Me" sign on their backs. Democrats are guaranteed 48 % of the vote in a statewide election and the Republicans 32 %, a very conservative 32 % at that. To win statewide, Republicans are almost forced to sweep the mushy 20 % middle, an ersatz group of muddleheads and German and Polish grandmothers.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 2:43PM
There IS a solution:
Flee to Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, or parts further west and south.
The best way to bleed the welfare state is to simply deny it a source of funds.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 2:50PM
There's a reason that despite being one of the original 13 colonies, there's NEVER been a President from Maryland.
Think about that...
We've had a President from Arkansas(!)
We've even had a President from Indonesia!
But none from Maryland.
That's why O'Malley will never be the Democrat nominee.
For starters, he'll be going up against the well-oiled and well-financed Cuomo machine.
Secondly, Cuomo is actually to THE RIGHT of O'Malley, so he'll garner much better support among patriotic, blue-collar Dems.
Third...and most importantly...Maryland's Democrat "leaders" are among the dumbest in the nation. These dolts are nothing but useful idiots and rubber-stamp votes for the DNC. NO ONE outside of Annapolis takes Martin O'Malley seriously as a Presidential Candidate, and probably not that many people in Annapolis do, either.
You would be hard-pressed to find a more doltish group of Democrats than the fools in Maryland. They actually seem to enjoy their status as useless Party hacks, as long as they can feed from the public trough.
To me, that makes them even more despicable.
PaulyD| 2.28.12 @ 9:49AM
Derek,
We must call on our fellow Americans to end this. Maryland cannot be saved unless Washington D.C. is deprived of the money that feeds Maryland's spending addictions. Cut the Federal Government and you end the economic distortions and the cult of government dependency in Maryland.
WRTolkas| 2.28.12 @ 9:52AM
Grew up in the People's Soviet of Maryland, left there, never looked back. My mother lives in Montgomery County. Where she lives is surrounded by wetbacks. The official response is to not interfere with them. You leave them alone and hopefully they will leave you alone. For years, I've been trying to get her to move to Virginia. From what I've seen in the area where she lives, a five-bedroom house can be sold to accommodate seven or eight undocumented democrat families.
If the likes of O'Malley is elected for president, I'm building my bunker to await the end.
Jim Woodward| 2.28.12 @ 10:21AM
Born in Baltimore in 1947. Lived in and around the city until 1988 and moved to the lower Eastern Shore, on to Georgia, back to the Shore for awhile, now Utah.
At one time Baltimore was the sixth largest city in the U.S. with a population just under 1 million. I believe the population is now under 400,000.
While living there I knew there were areas you just did'nt go to at night. There are more now and they should also be avoided in daylight. I read recently that there are somewhere in the neighborhood of 90,000 abandoned homes in the city. There are still some nice areas: Roland Park, Homeland, the University Parkway area around Hopkins, Fells Point etc. , the rest is and is becoming a wasteland. can you say Detroit?
Baltimore puts on a nice face for NFL and MLB televised games with beautiful shots of the Inner Harbor and all of the glitz. That, however is just a small fraction of the city and you don't want to leave your hotel or apartment and take a stroll late at night.
Crime is endemic in Baltimore, murder, robbery, home invasion and spreading to the surrounding counties, north on the York Rd. corridor, west along Reistertown and Liberty Rd and south into Glen Burnie.
Industry is largely gone. GM, Beth Steel, Western Electric, the Beth Steel Shipyard and many others, all gone.
Baltimore and Maryland.....it's what Democrats/Liberals/Progressives do best!
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 2:56PM
EVERY word you say is true.
I lived in Baltimore from '69 to '93. There was a brief renaissance in the early 80's where it looked like the city might transform itself back into the wonderful, blue-collar, family-friendly town it had been for the first part of the 20th century, but that all ended when the city elected it's first black Mayor, the horrendous Kurt L. Schmoke.
By the end of the 80's, David Simon's bestseller HOMICIDE revealed to the world what the rest of us already knew:
Baltimore is an urban hell-hole.
Like all cities that are run for too long by Democrats (Detroit, DC, Philly, St. Louis, etc), it amply demonstrates the failures of socialism.
Derek Leaberry| 2.28.12 @ 3:21PM
But for Johns Hopkins, the Inner Harbor, a few investment banks and about a half-dozen gentrified neighborhoods, Baltimore would be Detroit.
As for the Eastern Shore, it should apply for statehood and form Eastern Maryland with Anne Arundel, Calvert, St. Mary's and Harford counties.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 4:37PM
Whenever friends tell me they're going to visit Baltimore, I always say:
"Watch your back!"
They think I'm joking, until I convince them I'm not.
Baltimore has a way of lulling people, especially visitors, into a false sense of security. That's because some of the wealthiest, most beautiful neighborhoods back right up to some of the worst neighborhoods in the city.
One minute your strolling along tree-lined streets with stately lawns...
...and then you're running for your life.
The Inner Harbor is NO exception. The projects are only a few blocks away.
Cookie Sewell| 2.28.12 @ 10:50AM
I refer to it as the Democratic Peoples Republic of Maryland. This schmuck is aided by the only "big" paper (like all left-wing rags, constantly losing circulation), The Baltimore Sun, who consistently lauds this clown and his twin musclemen ("Mike" Miller and Michael Busch, who ram all of his desires through the state senate and assembly respectively).
Today they are whining about Voter ID laws and how "racist" they are. Somehow it is neatly forgotten how Ellen Sauerbrey was leading by 6,000 votes in 1994 when Baltimore City suddenly "found" 12,000 votes to put another progressive twit, Parris Glendenning, into office. A complaint was raised but "Honest" Joe Curran, the state attorney general (and O'Malley's father-in-law) noted irregularities and problems with those votes but "saw no need to overturn the election".
The only thing worse is the state of the Maryland Republican Party which has two stalwarts in Roscoe Bartlett and Andy Harris but few rising stars (my own state senator, Nancy Jacobs, is one). From what I can see they spend more time arguing about who is in charge than trying to organize to defeat these career socialists.
Sunrise was my home| 2.28.12 @ 11:04AM
Like other contributors here today in the blog, I am also one who grew up in Maryland. However, it bears today no resemblance to what I knew as a child and then as a college kid returning there to work summer jobs.
I miss parts of it, but this is nostalgia and not the ugly reality of year 2012 Maryland.
I have not lived further north in the northeast, so some here might laugh at what I'll next write. The union democratic stronghold of Baltimore ruins that city and the surrounding area. It is what is much responsible for the decay of a once proud city on the Eastern Seaboard.
In my first third of life I enjoyed the rich history of Maryland, the history of colonial days and the Revolution, the Civil War, so many memories of the Chesapeake, learning to fish, learning to sail, crabbing, growing up.
But -- all these things a man can do elsewhere and feel much better about it today. My home, my dollars, my business, and my life are elsewhere -- because I did not leave Maryland, Maryland left me.
It shames me greatly the Martin O'Malley shares the roots I do. He; however, is a shameful, craven man that does his family heritage nothing but disgust.
Oldefarte| 2.28.12 @ 11:24AM
The pursuit of money is the root of all evil? BS! This country was/is/forever will be a CAPITALISTIC [not a SOCIALISTIC] one, and these radical-extremist politicians like this governor hopefully will one day become extinct [hopefully not due to the eventuality of bankruptcy of his state nor of this nation]. The stupidity of this nation in allowing his socialist-in-chief access to the WH in 2008 is now reeking havoc on us all from the defecit/debt increases, the socialistic public policies, the authoritative-dictatorial personnae of public officials, and this Fidelish state governor is a poster-boy for same. When will this nation ever learn, and will it them be too late????????????????????????
Immortal600| 2.28.12 @ 11:45AM
As a native Marylander, let me echo some of the same sentiments being expressed here. I lived in Maryland for the first 43 years of my life. I was a dedicated Democrat until Bill Clinton came along. By that time it was evident that the party had drifted too far to the left. I haven't voted D since then (20 years). I take that back. I did vote for Glendening over Sauerbrey simply because he favored the stadium deal and she didn't. If Ellen had won I don't think we would have had the Ravens. I moved from MD in 96 and would NEVER move back. I too, call the state "the Peoples Republic of Maryland".
I posted on Facebook this morning (before I read this article)that I believe that O'Malley will run for President in 2016. I'd bet money on it. If you look at Democratic comments out there, his name pops up a lot. No doubt he's positioning himself for a run.
I now live in Florida and will do my best to help defeat Obama this fall. Along with that, we need to get rid of Bill Nelson. I think Connie Mack will be our nominee and he CAN beat Nelson.
Finally one sad fact. I grew up in Essex. It is about 10-12 miles from where that idiot Nancy D'Alesandro Pelosi grew up (I HATE to admit that!). I choose to remember the good old days with the Colts and the Orioles in their heyday. Ah, the memories.....
Melvin| 2.28.12 @ 11:46AM
This guys is a political opportunist in the worst way possible, who just happens to be from Maryland. from reading this, Gov. O'Malley would make Barry look like a rank amateur. O'Malley is Obama on steroids.
Besides O'Malley can cut his Celtic roots rock band crap. For some damn reason most politicians envisions themselves as Steven Tyler or Mick Jagger when they're not stealing money from the tax payers.
This guy is a political thief, cut and dry, who hands out favors like he is some sort of character straight out of Tammany Hall Hell.
He probably portrays himself as some poor working class stiff who took on Boss Tweed, but in reality O'Malley is a reincarnation of Boss Tweed.
Whats next Irish gangs muscling voters at the Pols, Oh excuse me, the New Black Panther has that sector all locked up.
Melvin| 2.28.12 @ 11:53AM
Excuse me I forgot to add, O'Malley portrays himself as a Catholic of Convenience. He's no more Catholic than Obama is Jewish.
The Church needs to toss out some of these Catholics of Convenience to send them a message that God won't put up with their hypocritical crap.
Petronius| 2.28.12 @ 11:59AM
What words would H. L. Mencken have for him?
Patrick| 2.28.12 @ 12:05PM
Maryland is like 30 % black.
Add to that all the govt.workers.
Then all the union thugs in Baltimore.
What do you expect?
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 4:38PM
Who do you think the gov't workers are???
Is it a wonder nothing works?
Jim Woodward| 2.28.12 @ 12:27PM
Cookie,
You are correct about the Republican Party in Maryland. They certainly need new blood. Bartlett is 85 years old and running again. He's a good conservative and one of my cousins has worked for him for years. But when is enough, enough, for a politician? Isn't there a State Senator from that district, Alexander Mooney R, who should be running in his place?
Of course Maryland is a one party state and it matters little that the Eastern Shore and Western Maryland are conservative and Republican. The sad truth is that the population demographics in the cental Maryland corridor, heavily favor the Democrat Party.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't ever recall the Republicans having a majority in the State House in Annapolis. Again, correct me if I'm wrong, but excluding Erlichs one term, the last Republican Govenor was McKeldin; 50 some years ago?
Like Sunrise, I have very fond memories of Maryland, however, I'm afraid she's lost and gone.
Immortal600| 2.28.12 @ 1:03PM
Jim,
The last Republican Governor before Ehrlich was Spiro Agnew in 1966 who, as you remember, parlayed that into the VP spot two years later. If he had not done that (gotten the VP spot), he would have been toast in 1970.
Derek Leaberry| 2.28.12 @ 3:35PM
Mooney was defeated for re-election in 2010 in a Frederick County district experiencing some liberal white flight from Montgomery. He is now chairman of the state party.
Jim Woodward| 2.28.12 @ 1:01PM
Oops. I forgot Spiro Agnew, elected in 1967. but he was only Gov. for one year before becoming Nixons VP in '68.
Owen| 2.28.12 @ 2:12PM
They should parcel off states. Let Md's eastern shore merge with the two lower counties of Maryland.
Let NW Maryland go with West Virginia.
Put DC,except for the capitol and WH,in Maryland.
Owen| 2.28.12 @ 2:13PM
I meant the lower counties of Delaware,not Maryland.
nathan| 2.28.12 @ 3:29PM
I have a question. Why doesn't the Catholic Church just publically excommunicate people like O'Malley and others who clearly advocate positions like gay marriage and abortion that go so totally contrary to the teachings of the Church? Does the Church, the leadership simply lack the courage to say, "you can believe and act any way you want but you're not a "CATHOLIC" unless you publically repent of this nonsense." Time to take a stand folks? Same with Pelosi and others. I mean let them say what they want but let the Church go on record as saying, "here's what being a Catholic means, by your own words you ain't one, come back when you want to rejoin us."
As a non Catholic I don't get this, I really don't.
Clinton| 2.28.12 @ 3:34PM
Because much of the Roman Catholic leadership is hard left on economic and political issues.
Phil Sukalewski| 2.28.12 @ 9:01PM
This will explain it:
http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/da.....nist_devil
Sunrise| 2.28.12 @ 4:31PM
Nathan, you are asking the $10 billion question.
If these popes really are hard asses and hardliners for Catholic doctrine (as they should be), this would be so easy. I believe that the amazing thing is that the people would applaud such Vatican decisions of excommunication, more people would attend services, more people would show interest AND (probably most important to the Vatican) more people would be donating money to the church and church causes.
It would be the easiest thing to do.
Nathan, I don't get it either. To me, if you want to destroy the Catholic Church, just allow Kennedys, Cuomos, Pelsosis and O'Malley's to be considered Catholics in good standing and keep smiling at them as they trample every tenet of the Holy Bible.
I would expect A WHOLE LOT MORE KICK ASS from a German pope.
Doctor Right| 2.28.12 @ 4:39PM
Answer: $$$
Liberal Catholics still drop money into the collection plate.
Nick| 2.28.12 @ 8:02PM
Doctor Right,
That is only part of the problem, I'm afraid.
Yes, there are bishops who are afraid of losing financial support. But, there are far more who have no spine.
And, I place the blame for this on myself, and the rest of the Catholic laity. If we would pray more constantly to Almighty God for bishops and priests with backbones, we would get bishops and priests with backbones.
This has begun to happen, slowly. Compared to the 1980s and 90s, today's American bishops are beginning to look more like John Wayne, rather than Woody Allen!
Clinton| 2.28.12 @ 3:33PM
He's Obama "white."
albert constantine jr.| 2.28.12 @ 3:41PM
I used to see O'Malley periodically playing in Shannon Tide or (The egotistically named) O'Malley's March. One of the songs he would perform was a tribute to the nuns who taught in the Catholic schools (as one of my late aunts once did in Baltimore).
I would hope that any that survive who are paying attention to the damage he has done to the cause of life would give him the good rap with a yardstick across the knuckles that he deserves.
Nick099| 2.28.12 @ 7:37PM
Ahhhh, a dirtball opportunist steeped in the Marxist propaganda.....governing for "The People" while having his hand out to anyone who will pay "to play." What has Maryland degenerated into??????
Richard Baker| 2.28.12 @ 9:38PM
Yet another big spending liberal wants to be President. Maryland is just another lefty disaster and this is a qualification for anything?
Ground Control| 2.28.12 @ 11:37PM
Sounds like Governor O'Malley is a loud mouthed ignoramus. The perfect Democrat! And tying State business to political donations used to be a crime. Why is this jackass not in prison?
POST American| 2.29.12 @ 3:31AM
---Great piece!
BTW
"Understand, the Rockefeller/Ford/Carnegie
ultra rich, TAX FREE, EUGENICS mongering
'charitable' foundations have made it a
proviso for arts etc. grants that the works
and proposals promote RADICAL change. Understand?
------------------RADICAL-------------------"
OR as they put it with a giggle--
-----------------'RA' ---dick----ALLLLL'----------------
These monsters have been at it for
close to a century now,
unaccountable, unmonitored, behind the helm
---and TAX FREE.
AND NOW, in 2012,
'Everything OLD is NEW-Remberg --AGAIN!'
---------------HUAC/ NUREMBERG 2012------------
------------------------start humming the tune!
POST American| 2.29.12 @ 3:32AM
-------------------PERFECTED P.S.---------------------
OR is it
------------------''RA'---dick---------CULL'?
YOU DECIDE
danshanteal| 2.29.12 @ 12:13PM
WHAT SAY THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS BEGIN EXCOMMUNICATING THESE CATHOLIC JERKS. AT LEAST START RIDICULING THEM FOR THEIR MASQUERADES.