Eeeeek. Washington Post endorses Governor Ehrlich for re-election.

[nickshepDEM]

Washington Post:

WHEN HE RAN for governor of Maryland four years ago, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s claim to the job seemed to rest on little more than a sense of entitlement and a telegenic, genial personality. In fits and starts, though, he has grown in the role to become a generally proficient, pragmatic governor, if not always a disciplined or mature one. He has chalked up successes on transportation, the environment and education, among other things. For Mr. Ehrlich, the state's first Republican governor in a generation, those are real achievements -- particularly when weighed against the monolith of Democratic dominance in the state legislature. His opponent in the gubernatorial race, Democrat Martin O'Malley, is a smart, adroit politician who has compiled a creditable record as mayor of Baltimore for the past seven years, but he has not made a compelling case for toppling the incumbent. Our choice is Mr. Ehrlich.

Not an overwhelmingly strong endorsement, but an endorsement nonetheless. At least they didnt go on an anti-O'Malley, anti-Baltimore City tirade.

After reading the editorial, read this, it will make you feel a little better.

[ptompkins]

1. I don't think I'll even vote for Gov this election

You know, when it comes down to it, both have flaws. I may just leave this portion of my ballot blank heres why:

If I vote for OMalley
I live in Baltimore County and I work in the city all the time. When I come to the city the traffic lights are not in sync, the pot holes are terrible, and their have been 1,000 murders in the City in the last 4 years. That's 1/2 the amount that have happened in Iraq in the last 4 years.

If OMalley can't fix the traffic lights and he has to put police on the streets to direct traffic who is he going to fix the major problems we have on 695, the MD side of 495, and 270 let alone the much promised ICC (if the ICC should even be built is a different topic).

If OMalley can't stop people from getting killed on the street corners, getting the drugs off our streets, and reducing the crimes that have gone up in Baltimore City (Rape, Car theft, ect) then what makes me think he's going to be able to stop MS-13 on a State level? What makes me think he can reduce Marylands problem with DUI (Yeah, we are one of the few states where DUI went up in the nation.)

If I vote for Ehrlich
We'll get 4 more years of nothing getting done because the legislation and senate will still be completely one sided and Mike Busch and Mike Miller will continue to be the Governor that we did not elect.

I wish we were not so partisan in this state.

[nickshepDEM]

2. Thats a straw man if I ever saw one.

Big bad Baltimore City is going to overrun the entire state with its problems if O'Malley is elected. Why not focus on the decreases in muders, violent crimes, property crimes? Why not focus on the development and renaissance across the city?

[ptompkins]

3. Murder Rates

Murder Rates?

1,000 people have been killed in 4 years in Baltimore City alone!! It's an undisputable fact that can't be hidden.

This goes back to way I'm not sure I'm going to vote for ether of the two.

[nickshepDEM]

4. What was the murder rate before O'Malley

here Ill help you - 320 on average under Schmoke. Under O'Malley 250-260.

[GambitMG]

7. Renaissance?

Spending as much time in Baltimore as I do - I haven't really experienced what I would consider a renaissance. You have?

Matt

[GambitMG]

8. ...

I don't mean that to sound bitchy... I just haven't really felt much of a change.

Now - I'll note that ANY mayor in charge of the city would have a BIG TIME problem with changing the atmosphere and culture of the city, so its not really an indictment of Baltimore... but I've seen first hand the changes made in cities like Boston and New York and I haven't seen much of a change at all in Baltimore.

I have to share the issues I have with the simple infrastructure in the city... the roads are terrible, especially the highways in and around the downtown stadium area which are still being worked on and are damned near undrivable.

And I have to say, the stadiums for the Orioles and the Ravens were supposed to be part of a renovation of that area of the city, and going to as many games as I go to, it is an absolute shithole around both of those stadiums - and frankly its kind of embarassing to bring my family around there - especially when I'm used to the cleaner streets of Boston (which used to be absolute shitholes themselves)...

This is the main reason I said I was "cool" on O'Malley. Again, not "cold", just "cool". I think O'Malley has done pretty well, but I think that there are certain things that may have been done better in his tenure.

And even if murders are down, they're still absolutely horrid... something has to be done about that, whoever does it. Its been far too long that Baltimore is the deadliest city in the nation. It can be fixed, but its going to take a major effort.

Matt

[nickshepDEM]

9. I spend about 70% of my day in Baltimore City.

Renaissance is the only word to describe some of the urban blight that has been turned around in Baltimore City.

A nice article in the City Paper this week-

http://www.citypaper.com/columns/story.asp?id=12784

[LiberalEsto]

16. Lots of 20-somethings are moving there

I have two daughters, 20 and 23, who say many of their friends are moving to Baltimore because, unlike Montgomery County, the rents there are affordable.

[CC]

22. Well I'll take on one of your

points.
You said...

...What makes me think he can reduce Maryland's problem with DUI (Yeah, we are one of the few states where DUI went up in the nation.)

DUI deaths have gone up in MD in the last 4 years under Ehrlich as has violent crime in my county (NOT Baltimore City) and the county next to me, (also not Baltimore City). Now since O'Malley is not the Gov. now and other counties are having the same problems Baltimore City is to me that lays it at the feet of Ehrlich. Baltimore City may still have problems but at least their numbers are going down instead of up like here.


There doesn't seem to be a dem you like, maybe you are in the wrong place.

[kwassa]

5. The Post be damned. Their editorial choices...... are just bizarre

[DaveinMD]

6. this one worries me

the Post is very influential in MoCo.

[bluethruandthru]

10. I don't know if it's the post's editorial that will cost O'Malley votes

in MoCo...I think those of us who live here feel a bit overlooked. As a MoCo resident...I feel a bit ignored by the entire Democratic Party in Maryland. Everything seems to be so Baltimore focused. Even the party's "Media" portion of their website only talks about Baltimore radio and TV stations.

That said...it won't effect my vote at all. All Dem!

[nickshepDEM]

11. I think they count on you guys as being loyal so dont see the need to

spend the cash on advertising, direct mail, etc. down there. Up here, we have a boatload of 'Regan Democrats' (DINO's) who need to be wooed to come back home.

Lets stick together and win this one!

[bluethruandthru]

12. I get really nervous

since my daily commute takes me through the most affluent areas of MoCo. It pretty much a sea of Erlich and Steele signs. Of course...these folks are some of the biggest beneficiaries of bush's tax cuts!

I know these areas aren't indicative of the state as a whole..but I really feel like I'm driving through enemy territory!

[nickshepDEM]

13. In Montgomery County?

Steele signs? That is a little worrisome. I always thought Cardin would break 65% in Montgomery County, possibly even higher.

Im just hoping O'Malley breaks 60%, Ill take 60.00001%.

[bluethruandthru]

14. Maybe Steele just has a great lawn sign campaign!

Keep in mind this is in Potomac...enclave of the wealthiest of the wealthy. I see 10 Steele signs for every Cardin sign...worrisome!

[DaveinMD]

15. there are tons

of illegal Steele signs up. Big deal. Cardin is going to rack up a huge vote here.

[bluethruandthru]

17. From your lips to God's ears!

Steele is such a fake! I don't think he's ever admitted he's a repuke. You have to wonder why that doesn't bother the party faithful.

[Frances]

18. I used to live in north Bethesda

and I'm sure Cardin will win by a big margin there

[philmo]

19. 198 in Laurel has approx. 7 billion Steele signs.

It seems like there's one every 10 feet along both sides of 198 as I drive between Bond Mill and Rte. 1. I hope they're just the work of overzealous volunteers and not a sign of actual PG County support.

[DaveinMD]

20. they are not in yards

they are along a highway. These aren't supporters putting up signs. Republicans always have more signs up there.

[nickshepDEM]

21. There are all of about 2 Steele signs in my area. Ehrlich has a ton

O'Malley is right behind Ehrlich suprisingly. Steele doesnt stand a chance in SE Baltimore County.

[DaveinMD]

28. Dundalk Democrats

will not vote for a black Democrat. They like Ehrlich because he opposed section 8 housing, in their words keeping the ni----- out.

[nickshepDEM]

23. Keep in mind, the Post endorsed Connie Morella in 2002.

She still lost despite being popular and rather liberal.

[Frances]

24. I'll never forget seeing Connie Morella at the White Flint Metro

Station where I was handing out lit for Chris Van Hollen. Connie looked at me for a very long time and got a worried look on her face. I'm sure it was because I was a middle-aged white woman who should have been in her corner.

(To be honest, I did vote for her when she first ran for the Maryland legislature; she walked my neighborhood and made a good impression on me. That was before I realized that voting "for the person instead of the party" was just a slogan to get me to overlook what the Republican party is all about.)

[DaveinMD]

25. using the Morella example

in 1986, when the seat was open, she was trailing Stu Bainum in the polls by about 5 points until the Post endorsed her. This makes me very nervous.

[nickshepDEM]

26. I think Franchot's grassroots appeal will

help O'Malley. Everyone is coordinating campaigns: Gansler, Franchot, Leggett, O'Malley, Cardin, so I dont see many people splitting tickets down there. At least I hope they dont!

[DaveinMD]

27. people in our county

like to think of themselves as educated voter and are often looking for a reason to split tickets. A slight uptick in ticket splitting here could kill us in this race. I hope not, but it does scare me.