O'Malley Hates MARC Train Commuters

Since this blog is supposed to be about Martin O'Malley and his destructive socialist-leaning policies, I should probably blog more about him. Seems like I've blogged pretty much about every thing except Martin O'Malley.

While I was away on vacation I saw on the news that a MARC train had to stop because of heat or a train broke down or something. It seems that MTA officials have no idea. And in the MTA's infinite wisdom (leadership comes from the top down, right?) they decided that the best policy for commuting the train problems to the passengers was to not communicate with them. In fact, the temperate outside was a scorcher - upper 90's, maybe even 100°? And the officials or train conductors refused to allow the passengers to open the doors to get a breeze. It wasn't safe, I'm sure they said. Because being in a +100° rail car is safer.

Part of the MTA system is the money-losing crime-ridden failing Light Rail train.



Think of it from the MTA's and Governor O'Malley's perspective - do you really want to tell the passengers who are suffering from heat exhaustion and lack of hydration that you are sitting on the train because something's broken? (Or as they would say in south Baltimore - something's broke. Or as they would say in Edgewood - something's all broked up). That just let's them know that you're incompetent. As any good lawyer (like O'Malley) would tell you - it's better to say nothing than admit you did something wrong.

Then something startling happened. Governor O'Malley and Senator Ben Cardin rode the Apology train. And they loaded the train with lots of apologies and promises along with a few bottles of water and Michael Dresser from The Sun. There they got to enjoy stunning photo ops with their bigg cheesy insincere smiles. I have to admit, however, that the rolled-up sleeves made it look like he was getting down to business. They promised to do more so that this would not happen again. Most people on the train just looked pissed off.

The next day - another train got stopped on the tracks. It wasn't for hours like the previous day, but according to the news the MTA actually kept the passengers informed this time. "Attention passengers, we are stopped. We'll let you know when we're moving again."

Why do I sound like such a cynic? Because I was an MTA rider for 4 years and know exactly what they were going through. No communication. No bathroom. No water. Sometimes not even any air conditioning or heat. It seems to be the policy of all of the MTA systems.

The liberals want more people to ride public transportation. I'm okay with the concept. But when you treat your clients like inconsequential pieces of rat turds (as is the implied policy under O'Malley), then it is ridiculous to even think that anyone should use public transportation.

O'Malley will say that they've made the necessary changes to make it a better system. Nice reactionary policy there, Gov'nah! So when this happens again (it always does - it's the MTA!), then what will he say? He'll say that it's Ehrlich's fault for not properly funding public transportation years ago and that he's now moving forward. Unfortunately for the MTA passengers (and most Marylander's in fact) no one is moving forward. We're just spinning around in circles.

Randallstown's Economic Destruction

I hate it when politicians take credit for when the economy does really well. Anyone who has taken Introduction to Economics, be it macro or micro, knows that the economy is bigger than the politician. They call it a business or economic cycle for a reason. It goes up. It goes down.


Bill Clinton once claimed that he had beaten the business cycle. He said this during an upturn on the market. He didn't say too much during the downturn in 1994. And he's been very quiet during the downturns that have followed since his Presidency.

So turning local, have you been down Liberty Road in Randallstown lately? There's nothing there! So if politicians want to take credit for the good times, let's place the blame squarely on their face for the bad times.

Here's one of several empty stores in the Deer Park Shopping Plaza in Randallstown that Elijah Cummings has let fail. He's been unable to get new tenants that will generate tax revenue.


Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith loves this empty car dealership because it allows his entourage of gas-guzzling SUV's a good place to turn around and head back to safer ground. Remember all those speeches that he gave recently about how we need to bring businesses back to Randallstown? No? That's because he didn't give them. He doesn't care about Randallstown because he's too busy gearing up his campaign for State Senate.



Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger (2nd District) has allowed several car dealerships to go out of business. I haven't heard him hollering about needing to help this economically depressed area. I can only assume he doesn't care about Randallstown.


Remember Prestige Imports? They always had exotic Italian sports cars for sale such as Lamborghinis and Ferraris, in addition to other high-end used cars. As you can see there isn't much going on there except dead trees and unkempt lawn. I haven't heard Ben Cardin talk about the loss of jobs along the Liberty Road retail corridor, so we can only imagine that he doesn't care about Randallstown either.


District 4 Baltimore County Councilman Kenneth N. Oliver doesn't buy his cars from Antwerpen Automotive in Randallstown. Why? Because they went out of business. I guess he now has to shop for cars in Kevin Kamenetz' District 2. Councilman Oliver - why have you allowed this economic destruction of your district to occur?



District 10 House Delegates Emmett C. Burns, Jr., Adrienne A. Jones, and Shirley Nathan-Pulliam - you won't be buying food for your Memorial Day cookouts from Giant in Randallstown Plaza, will you? Nope. Because it's been closed for a couple years now. Dozens of employees are now on the state's unemployment role. And this large building sits empty. The three of you should work together to get a thriving food retailer back in Randallstown. Instead, you've sat in Annapolis and have been ineffective leaders.

State Senator Delores G. Kelley - are you embarrassed that there are so many empty stores in strip malls throughout your district? You have been so busy blowing sunshine up Martin O'Malley behind that you have totally ignored your district and the jobs are now all gone. And it's your fault!



Senator Barbara Mikulski - you are responsible for the entire state of Maryland. We depend on you to help us grow. But instead, we've watched your failures. Look at this picture of one of dozens, if not hundreds, of abandoned and empty retail buildings in Baltimore County. Why have you allowed so many people to lose their livelihood? It's not fair! Do something about it. And by doing something I don't mean more government jobs or extended unemployment benefits. I'm talking about creating an economic environment that will allow those so called greedy millionaires to open new stores and hire people. Because the last time I checked poor people don't hire people.

Because Ben Cardin Thinks He's Smarter Than Adam Smith

You all know who Adam Smith is right? If not, you should. He wrote A Wealth of Nations and it's the Bible of economics. It discusses efficient uses of resources, the relationship between supply and demand on price, among other things. A Wealth of Nations reads like common sense (but not Common Sense by Thomas Paine). Unfortunately, common sense eludes our elected officials.

Today, Maryland liberal extremist Ben Cardin declared that it's ridiculous that airlines are going to charge for carry-on bags. He and Charles Schumer of New York (pronounced shoo-mah), have vowed to introduce legislation outlawing the practice of charging for carry-on luggage.

Let's sit back and examine this for a minute. Why would airlines be adding fees for baggage? Probably because they are not making enough revenue to cover expenses, so instead of raising ticket fees, they add fees that passengers can avoid if they choose. Or - are they just being greedy and want to make more money?

If the airlines are, in fact, being greedy and want to make more money, then what is going to happen? Well, air travel is normally considered a luxury (with exceptions to politicians, salesmen, and limousine liberals), not a necessity. If it costs too much to use their service, people will find alternatives - drive, take a train, take a bus, or not take a trip. The airline industry's supply is challenged by other industries that can provide similar services. If they charge too much, consumers have a choice to use alternate transportation methods or not travel. Thus, if consumer usage of airlines goes down, so does airline revenue. So are the airlines really going to get more money from the consumers?

Let's assume the far left-wing arm of the Senate passes this bill and it eventually becomes law. What happens next? The airline industry is prohibited from increasing bag fees, so in order to increase revenue they'll increase other fees and/or raise ticket prices. Does the consumer really benefit from government interference in pricing models? Is Congress going to come back and tell the airlines how much they can charge for ticket prices? Don't think that idea is that far-fetched.

So, Senators Schumer and Cardin - before you go passing laws forcing more government interference into the economy, think about the consequences of your actions and what it will really accomplish. Remember - your constituents aren't THAT stupid.

Back to States' Rights - Not Really

Hard left-wing liberal Maryland Senators Babs Mikulski and Ben Cardin have submitted a bill to the Senate to remove control of locating liquefied natural gas facilities from the federal government to the state. Currently the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has the power to place these facilities where they think they will best serve the country, regardless of what the states and the people want.

The bill that our Senators submitted would effectively repeal a 2005 law that transferred the power to the commission. Both Senators are praising their own efforts to give the power back to the people of the states, despite years of ripping power away from the people.

However, any smart person can figure this one out. Marty O'Malley doesn't want to bring more jobs to Maryland. He wants to keep as many people in Maryland either on the payroll of the government or dependent on hand-outs from the government, thus securing Democratic votes. If we start allowing companies to come here and create jobs, people will start thinking about keeping their money and liberty and all of those other dangerous thoughts.

A couple hundred people protested this LNG gas facility and the route it would take into Pennsylvania. However, you never see people coming out to support new business - just to protest new business. If the facility and pipeline were already built, then people who moved here most likely wouldn't bat an eye at the fact that there's a natural gas line running down the road.

Opponents claim that it will be a target for terrorists. Just like all the other gas pipelines that have been attacked in the United States? So while Babs and Benny are claiming that this bill will give the states the right to decide what we want to do, the real reason is that Marty doesn't want it and if he gets to make the decision, then it isn't going to happen.

And again, Maryland will lose another opportunity to move forward.

Is Blair Lee Steeling from Eludius?

You may recall a couple of weeks ago I went off on our liberal lapdog Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski for not getting any booty for Maryland while Congress and the White House handed out the booty to Montana, Louisiana, and Nebraska in order to get their vote. In some legal circles this would be considered illegal. Anyway, Blair Lee calls them out for the same thing in his most recent article. You can read his article here and mine here.

Senators Cardin & Mikulski Hate Colleges

We are supposed to be curbing urban sprawl, right? And we have a lot of colleges in the Baltimore \ Washington area, right? Then why did Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulski seek $1 million for a new training center in Mount Airy that will train health care workers and dental hygienists?

After bragging about the her accomplishments in Warshington to help all Merlanders, Senator Mikulski said that the facility will be shared by the community colleges of Howard, Frederick, and Carroll Counties. I'm not attacking the allocation of money to this institutes of a little bit higher learning. However, I question what kind of facility can be built for $1 million. Seriously - houses in my neighborhood go for $500,000, so that would equate to 2 houses. They are going to construct a 5,000 ft facility with 4 parking spots to help train people? Senator Mikulski - is it near the wooder?

Would it not be better money spent to allocate the money to the existing colleges to expand their existing programs at their existing campuses that already do this very same function? Or does that make too much sense? Does Ben get a great thrill out of seeing money burn? I know Cardin and Mikulski need to show off spending money for Maryland. It's better to waste money than to get no money in the eyes of these 2 shallow tax and spend liberal extremist politicians. And we know that these 2 Senators are not good with money after supporting the $200 quadrillion health care plan.

So while Senators Cardin and Mikulski pontificate about being green and saving the environment on even numbered days, be wary of the odd numbered days as these are the ones that are the most destructive.

Cardin & Mikulski - Harry Reid's Lap Dogs

We all know that Senators Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski are tow-the-line tax and spend liberals that salivate at the mere mention of any socialist programs. Mention tax increases for the rich and middle class and Cardin gets that kid in a candy store grin. Mention increasing the size of the federal government and Mikulski starts jumping up and down doing the YMCA.

If you haven't heard already, Nebraska Democrat Senator Ben Nelson basically extorted millions of dollars from Americans not living in Nebraska. Americans will now have to foot the bill for expanding Medicare coverage in Nebraska, Nebraska-based Mutual of Omaha, won't have to pay taxes on so-called Medigap insurance, and I think some hookers from Harry Reid's home state of Nevada were thrown in for good measure.

In Louisiana, well-known home of corrupt local politics, Democrat Senator Mary Landreau secured a $300 million bump in Louisiana's Medicaid funding.

What sweetheart deals did Senator Cardin and Senator Mikulski secure for Maryland? Nothing. The only thing we can be sure of is that Maryland, home of a lot of middle class Americans, will get socked with huge tax increases that will be needed when Obamacare's dubious savings never appear.

Instead of rallying for our state, they romped around Harry Reid's podium like a couple of Pomeranians in heat sitting, speaking, rolling over, and basically wagging their tails to his every command. Unlike Nebraska and Louisiana whose Senators held out for their booty, our Senators were the first to sit on Harry Reid's lap.

Nebraska - win. Louisiana - win. Maryland - lose.

Air Jamaica and the Congress Hate Marylanders

After reading and hearing this story on the news yesterday, I'm not sure who hates people from Maryland more - Air Jamaica or our U.S. Senators Ben Cardin & Babs Mikulksi.

Yesterday passengers were stranded on an Air Jamaica flight on the runway at BWI airport for more than 8 hours because of the heavy snow. In an effort to keep up communications with passengers, the pilots told them nothing. The plane got stuck on the runway. Multiple efforts to help the plane were unsuccessful. When the plane was finally able to return to the terminal, the passengers were punched in the face and given a coupon for a sandwich at Subway. No food or beverages were provided on the plane. And no hotel accommodations were provided when the flight was canceled. Thank you for flying Air Jamaica!

In similar news, it appears that the U.S. Senate, which includes Ben Cardin and Babs Mikulski, will pass the socialized healthcare plan that they keep telling us that we all want. Now we will be forced to wait in hospital lobbies for 8 hours with no food or beverages. Communication with the patients will be prohibited (though I think that's currently the law). When we enter the room doctors will be required by law to punch us in the face and give us a coupon for a free sandwich at Subway. Fortunatley, however, someone else will pay for it. Probably wealthy Americans that make over $50,000 per year. Small businesses will probably also be punished and hit with a healthcare plan tax.

Welcome to the modern age of customer service.

A Fool and His Money

You know the expression A fool and his money are soon parted? Well in the case of Maryland State Delegate Jon Cardin, a fool and only a little tiny bit of his money are soon parted.

Delegate Cardin made the news a couple of weeks ago when he somehow finagled a deal with Baltimore City Police to conduct a marriage proposal prank. Cardin and his girlfriend were staying on a friend's boat somewhere in the Inner Harbor. The police would then come aboard and demand a search of the boat while the Foxtrot helicopter circled above. This would give the impression that they were searching for drugs or something of that nature. The police then find the ring, all the while keeping his girlfriend thinking that they are in trouble. Then Jon would get down on his knee and propose.

The good news is that she said yes. The bad news is that she is marrying a politician who abused the power of his elected position for special privileges.

Once the incident was exposed he issued a half-hearted apology. Once the half-hearted apology was exposed, he issued a real apology and said that he used bad judgment and would reimburse the city for the costs of the operation. Baltimore City Police Commissioner Fred Bealefeld then determined that the total cost was $300 (or more likely some out-of-college intern calculated it and he supports it).

$300. Bad judgment? Is this insulting or what? How stupid does the city think everyone is? And if it weren't for his last name, Cardin would not be getting off so easy. His uncle is U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, one of the Maryland Senators that favors Obama's socialized healthcare plan. If his last name was Eludius he probably would have been arrested.

So when are a fool and his money not parted? When you're a Cardin.

Filling Senate Vacancies

I'm interrupting this string of blog posts about my vacation to comment on a post by Maryland House of Delegates member Saqib Ali on his blog.

Saqib Ali, if you don't know, once commented on my blog about me listing him as one of the 10 Democrats in the state that needs to be kicked out of office. I do not have any disdain for Delegate Ali, I just do not agree with his politics. Nor do I condone his violation of Wikipedia policy of updating articles about yourself, which he has done regularly. It is a well-written biography and advertisement, but that's not why I'm talking today.

Delegate Ali recently wrote House Bill #369: Special Elections for US Senate Vacancies Act. As the law currently reads, when a Senator leaves office either to appointment to a another office or by some other situation, the Governor of the state appoints his or her replacement until the next election cycle. Clearly, the Governor is going to appoint someone that he or she wants in office and politics being politics, you know there is some kind of kick-back, back-door shenanigans going on. We already saw this in Illinois when Governor Rod Blagojevich offered Obama's Senate seat to the highest bidder. The seat was eventually given to totally incompetent former Illinois State's Attorney General Roland Burris.

Delegate Ali's new law would mandate a special election called by the Governor of Maryland should a U.S. Senator from Maryland vacate his or her seat. I totally agree with this part of the bill. I do not agree with interim appointments as they, the appointee, usually end up getting elected in the next election cycle anyway without having to properly go through normal election channels to gain recognition, raise election capital, and gain the acceptance and trust of the people. Instead, the Governor picks the candidate of his or her liking, someone who will agree with him and push his agenda on a national level, then the candidate gains favor with the Congress and can easily attract funds for reelection. The intention of this bill is right-on. Congratulations, Delegate Ali, for submitting this part of the bill.

Unfortunately, Delegate Ali also included a provision that would not allow the bill to go into effect until January 2015, many years (hopefully) after we kick O'Malley out of office. The reason Delegate Ali gives for the inclusion of this provision is "so as not to seem to impugn the the integrity of our current Governor."

As if the Governor had any integrity. This totally leaves O'Malley a blank check to appoint a new Senator of his liking should Ben Cardin or Babs Mikulski suddenly decide to leave office mid-election cycle (if we could only be so lucky). Why is the thought of impugning the integrity of Governor being placed above the will of the people? The real intention of this provision is to protect the rapport of the Democratic legislators and their Governor when they vote to approve this bill. Imagine the pissing match O'Malley would have with the Democrats in the General Assembly that voted for this bill without the provision. I think it would make for great headlines!

What is more important? The reputation and rapport of the current gang of motley politicians, or the allowing the people of Maryland to choose which Senator will represent them in the United States Senate?

Unfortunately for Maryland, Delegate Ali is making that decision for us.