Delmarva Dealings

• Why The Proposed Wicomico Budget Amendment Is Bad Policy

  On Tuesday, November 10th, the Wicomico County Council will hold a public hearing on County Executive Rick Pollitt’s proposed budget amendment.  Nominally, this budget amendment is to correct a revenue shortfall caused by a loss of over $6 million in state aid to the county.  In reality, Pollitt’s amendment ... [...]
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  Fetched: November 09, 2009, 2:08am EST
  

• Speak Out Against Crime in Salisbury

  Attend this evening’s Salisbury City Council meeting.  During public comment ask this simple question: Will you continue to support the rising crime rate or will you take action against crime, starting now? Let the Barrie Comegys bloc – Gary Comegys, Louise Smith, and Shanie ... [...]
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  Fetched: November 09, 2009, 2:08am EST
  

• Electricity Rates to Go Up on Shore?

  Do you want to pay more for your electricity?  Probably not.  Unfortunately, that could be in the cards unless you speak out! On Tuesday, November 10th there will be a public hearing of the Maryland Public Service Commission at Salisbury University.  The hearing will be at 7:00 PM ... [...]
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  Fetched: November 07, 2009, 5:08am EST
  

• We’re Back! – No Nefarious Activity

  We’re Back! Sorry for the hold up, but I’ve been on the road all week and couldn’t fix the problem that brought the site down last Friday. For those of you concerned that enemies of truth, justice, and the American way were at fault, don’t worry.  The ... [...]
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  Fetched: November 07, 2009, 5:08am EST
  

• Support Conservatives – Not Republicans

  Former New York Gov. George Pataki has endorsed Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman over GOP candidate Dierdre Scozzafava in the race for New York’s 23rd Congressional District.  Principle over party is now the cry! As Hoffman narrowly moves into first place in a three way race, we are fast ... [...]
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  Fetched: November 07, 2009, 5:08am EST
  

• Red Kettle Drive Kicks Off, Let The Sniping Begin

  Is it possible to sap the spirit of giving from Christmas?  No, but some Easter Shore residents sure give it a go. Yesterday the Salvation Army kicked off its annual “Red Kettle Drive” with a breakfast in Salisbury.  These giving individuals, and many others, will spend countless hours ... [...]
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  Fetched: November 07, 2009, 5:08am EST
  

• Are Budgets “Moral Documents”?

  As an Anabaptist I’ve been a fan of Jim Wallis and his Sojourners movement for some time.  I believe in peace.  I believe in justice.  However, I do not always agree with Wallis’s beliefs as to how we reach these goals.  I believe that peace is best obtained through a [...]
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  Fetched: October 29, 2009, 11:05pm EDT
  

• 45 Years Later – It’s Still “A Time For Choosing”

  Originally broadcast 45 years ago, Reagan’s words are as true today as they were then.  Sure, the Soviet Union has fallen (thanks to him).  Sure, tax rates are a little lower (again, thanks to him).  However, the ideas that an ex-Democrat spoke of 45 years still hold true. With ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 29, 2009, 11:08am EDT
  

• Rick Pollitt Takes Dog and Pony Show on the Road

  Wicomico County Executive Rick Pollitt took his anti-revenue cap show on the road this morning.  Speaking before a Salisbury / Wicomico Economic Development (SWED) meeting, Pollitt and a member of his finance staff argued that the county’s existing revenue cap is simply unsustainable. I would agree that the ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 28, 2009, 2:11pm EDT
  

• Wicomico Taxpayers Receive Back Door Tax Increase

  The arrogance of bureaucrats never ceases to amaze me.  They spend the TAXAPAYERS’ money yet act as if it’s from their personal discretionary account. A current example is the $4 million purchase of the Powerwave campus on the corner of US 50 and Walston Switch Road, east of ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 27, 2009, 2:08pm EDT
  

• Tragedy Ahead for Virginia?

  Voting for Barack Obama in 2008 has proved to be an embarrassment for Virginians.  With just over a week to go before Virginia’s statewide elections, voters could be in for a tragedy: [...]
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  Fetched: October 26, 2009, 11:04pm EDT
  

• Delaware Legislators Call For More Financial Transparency

  Rep.-Elect Ruth Briggs King (R-Georgetown), along with other members of the Delaware House GOP Caucus, has called for more transparency of legislative and judicial expenditures.  King (R-Georgetown), along with State Reps. Richard Cathcart (R-Middlewtown) and Dan Short (R-Seaford), recently sent a letter to the Senate Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca and [...]
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  Fetched: October 25, 2009, 5:39am EDT
  

• Margaret Thatcher’s Birthday

  Today is the birthday of the Right Honourable Margaret Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, LG, OM, PC, FRS; first woman Prime Minister of HM United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; co-architect of the renewal of the UK and British conservatism; hero of the Cold War. [...]
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  Fetched: October 25, 2009, 5:39am EDT
  

• Desperate AG Candidate Plays Race Card

  Democrat Attorney General Candidate Steve Shannon has not only fallen in the polls (he’s running 15 points behind GOP candidate Ken Cuccinelli), he has fallen to the depths of playing the race card.  In his last debate with Cuccinelli before the election, Shannon called Cuccinelli a de facto racist for [...]
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  Fetched: October 25, 2009, 5:39am EDT
  

• Where Is Our World Going?

  The College of William and Mary held their homecoming this weekend.  Guess who was the homecoming queen?  A self-described “gender-queer” individual by the name of Jessee Vasold. At the risk of offending almost everyone, I can only ask, “What is the world coming to?”. From the Daily ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 25, 2009, 5:39am EDT
  

• A Vote for Deeds IS a Vote for HIGHER TAXES

  Bearing Drift’s Brian Kirwin hit the nail on the head – the Washington Post’s surprising (yeah, right!) endorsement of Democrat Creigh Deeds is BECAUSE Deeds promises to raise taxes. [...]
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  Fetched: October 23, 2009, 11:39am EDT
  

• Creigh Deeds on ObamaCare

  With Virginia’s statewide elections less than two weeks away and approximately 50% of 2008 Obama voters saying that they are unlikely to turnout, it seems Democrat gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds doesn’t quite know what to do.  Reverting back to “Mr. Me Too” won’t drive the left to the polls.  Publicly [...]
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  Fetched: October 23, 2009, 11:39am EDT
  

• Where Will Education Cuts Come From?

  There is no joy seeing Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley finally admit that the state’s level of education spending is unsustainable.  If O’Malley had confessed that simply throwing money is not the solution to any problem there would be some cause for applause; unfortunately, this is a lesson that O’Malley ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 23, 2009, 11:39am EDT
  

• Kratovil Raising Majority of Cash from Special Interests

  Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) has built a sizable fundraising lead over his most likely opponent, Maryland Sen. Andy Harris.  Over 50% of donations received by Kratovil in the last quarter come from PAC’s.  According to the Baltimore Sun: More than half of the Democratic incumbent's donations ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 23, 2009, 8:06am EDT
  

• Fight Climate Treaty NOW!

  In a few weeks newly minted Nobel laureate Barack Obama is expected to sign a new climate change treaty in Copenhagen (sight of Obama’s recent Olympics debacle).  This treaty will, if ratified by the Senate, prove far more insidious than the recently enacted “Cap and Tax” legislation: ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 22, 2009, 5:45pm EDT
  

• Beau Biden and a Chaotic Delaware AG’s Office

  Delaware Attorney General Beau Biden is considered by many to be the front runner to take the Senate seat once held by his father, Vice President Joe Biden.  Or I should say that HE WAS, until news started leaking out regarding the hapless state of the Delaware AG’s office. ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 19, 2009, 2:42pm EDT
  

• Maryland Teachers Endorse O’Malley, Kratovil

  In the words of that great scholar Gomer Pyle, “SURPRISE! SURPRISE! SURPRISE!”. The Maryland State Teachers Association (now traveling under the moniker “Maryland State Education Association”) has endorsed Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley and Rep. Frank Kratovil for re-election. Why would this, or any other supposedly non-partisan group, endorse ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 18, 2009, 11:36pm EDT
  

• The Messiah To The Rescue

  Will the messiah help Virginia gubernatorial candidate Creigh Deeds make up ground in his uphill battle against GOP candidate Bob McDonnell?  I doubt it.  However, if by some strange turn of fate Deeds does become Virginia’s next governor, Obama will certainly take credit.  If he loses … At ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 18, 2009, 11:11am EDT
  

• Let’s Talk About the Issues … Not

  Democrats, and their cohorts in the media, love to accuse Republicans of “going negative” and “not talking about the issues”;  that is, until issues aren’t on their side.  Two cases in point – the New Jersey and Virginia governors’ races. New Jersey - Gov. John Corzine (D-NJ) has ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 18, 2009, 11:11am EDT
  

• Frank Kratovil Votes to Bring Guantanamo Detainees to US

  Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) voted on Thursday to bring terrorists to the US to stand trail.  HR2898, an appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security, allows for Guantanamo detainees to be brought to the US for trial. Kratovil, who claims to be the “most independent Democrat in ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 18, 2009, 5:36am EDT
  

• Jim Ireton’s Answer to Salisbury’s Crime Problem

    When Jim Ireton was running to be Salisbury’s mayor there was no question that crime was a TOP concern of voters.  Things don’t seem to have gotten much better since his election.  At Tuesday’s meeting of the Salisbury Crime Taskforce Ireton provided some hint as to his solution for [...]
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  Fetched: October 14, 2009, 11:37pm EDT
  

• Tort Reform Will Save $54 Billion

  Why won’t the Democrats even discuss it? Obviously they won’t discuss tort reform because trial lawyers rank up there with hedge fund socialists, Hollywood, and Big Labor as primary funders of the coming “People’s Revolution”.  That said, when the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) admits that tort reform would save ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 13, 2009, 11:43pm EDT
  

• Snowe to Vote YES on Senate Health Care Bill

  *** BREAKING NEWS *** Liberal GOP Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME) has indicated that she will vote for the health care bill currently before the Senate Finance Committee. "When history calls, history calls," Ms. Snowe said in a statement. "I happen to think the consequences ..." [...]
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  Fetched: October 13, 2009, 11:43pm EDT
  

• League of Conservation Voters Shows True Stripes

  Was there ever any question that the Virginia League of Conservation Voters was merely an auxiliary of the DPV?  If there was, it went by the wayside in this year’s gubernatorial election. The VLCV has endorsed Democrat Creigh Deeds.  No surprise there.  However, to claim that “Mr. Me ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 12, 2009, 11:40pm EDT
  

• Frank Kratovil and the Taxachusetts Plan for Health Care

  My Red Maryland colleague Brian Griffiths has an excellent post which discusses just some of the pitfalls of the Mitt Romney health care plan now reeking havoc on the poor citizens of Massachusetts.  Reading it I was reminded of some statements made by then candidate, now Congressman Frank Kratovil ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 12, 2009, 11:40pm EDT
  

• Should Tea Party Activists Take Over GOP?

  Politico asks the question.  Red State’s Erick Erickson provides a response: “Grassroots activists need to start infiltrating the party,” said Erickson. “The only way to start getting [the establishment] back is to start pounding them with every fist we have.” On many levels I ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 12, 2009, 2:35pm EDT
  

• WCBOE Fiddlin’ Along With Board President Mark Thompson

  This is an update to last night’s story regarding the misstatements of Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE)  President Mark Thompson. WCBOE “Public Information Liaison” Tracy Sahler is back in her office today, but she’s hiding the facts from the public.  To understand the extent to which the ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 09, 2009, 2:12pm EDT
  

• It’s Been A Rough Week At the Wicomico Board of Education

  Wise people learn from their mistakes and view adversity as opportunity.  This may be a cliché, but true none the less.  One thing we have learned this week is that the people running the Wicomico County Board of Education (WCBOE) are not wise men and women. After being ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 09, 2009, 8:10am EDT
  

• Fredericksen Tries to Spin “Dirty Book” in Wicomico Schools

  John Fredericksen, Superintendent of the Wicomico County Public Schools, is attempting to draw attention away from the core issues revolving around yesterday’s report of inappropriate material found in an elementary school library.  Fredericksen wants the public to believe that issue is closed with the POSSIBLE removal of the book ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 08, 2009, 2:04am EDT
  

• Devenyns Resigns from Wicomico Department of Corrections

  Doug Devenyns has resigned as the head of Wicomico County’s Department of Corrections. Press Release from the office of County Executive Rick Pollitt:     POLLITT ACCEPTS CORRECTIONS DIRECTOR’S RESIGNATION For Immediate Release Salisbury, MD October 7, 2009 ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 08, 2009, 2:04am EDT
  

• Wicomico Schools Peddle Smut to Children

  Many years ago, when I was a child, public schools had librarians.  These kind, quiet ladies made sure that our schools were stocked with material that would help us learn AND was appropriate for our age.  Today, at least in Wicomico County, schools don’t have librarians.  They have MEDIA ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 06, 2009, 2:14pm EDT
  

• 3rd Quarter Blog Rankings

  The Delmarva blogosphere continues to grow.  Back in August we published a few statistics about blogs based in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.  We promised to start doing a quarterly report.  Here it is. For each state we’ve listed a cross-section of blogs with their Alexa ranking and growth (or ... [...]
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  Fetched: October 05, 2009, 11:39am EDT
  

• Why Doesn’t Maryland Have Right to Carry?

  Maryland Delegate Mike Smigiel (R-36) has published a great letter on his blog from a citizen of Cecil County.  The gentleman expresses many of the same concerns we hear from other law abiding Marylanders.  Yet, the leftist government of Maryland refuses to allow honest, law abiding citizens to exercise ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 24, 2009, 11:36pm EDT
  

• Stoplight Cameras in Fruitland?

  Right Coast Girl, the blog of local AFP leader Julie Brewington, reports that stoplight cams are coming to Fruitland.  Stoplight cams are highly controversial, particularly in conservative counties such as Wicomico.  What makes this especially interesting is that this blog post went up 3 days before Greg Latshaw’s article ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 24, 2009, 11:36pm EDT
  

• Ken Cuccinelli Endorsed by Virginia FOP

  GOP Attorney General candidate Ken Cuccinelli has received the endorsement of the Virginia Fraternal Order of Police.  According to FOP President Tommy Edwards:   "Ken Cuccinelli's outstanding recognition of the problems faced by the Supreme Court Case Melendez Diaz, his early and outspoken push ..." [...]
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  Fetched: September 24, 2009, 11:36pm EDT
  

• Gary Comegys Simply Can’t Keep The Stories Straight

  Salisbury city councilman Gary Comegys smells blood in the water; so does the Tilghman Times.  Sadly, they can’t quite figure out whose blood it is.  Is it Councilwoman Debbie Campbell’s?  How about Mayor Jim Ireton’s?  Therefore, Comegys is trying to play both sides against the middle, while Councilwoman Louise ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 23, 2009, 11:12pm EDT
  

• Who Is Running Salisbury?

  I thought that elections were held last spring.  However, the person who was elected mayor of Salisbury certainly isn’t the person running the city’s government.  If Salisbury mayor Jim Ireton really is in charge, he must be schizophrenic, because he publicly states that one thing will happen ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 14, 2009, 2:41pm EDT
  

• Why Do Our Elected Representatives Support ACORN?

  Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) Sen. Ben Cardin (D-MD) Rep. Frank Kratovil (D-MD) What do these folks have in common?  They’re Democrats.  They’re left wingers. … and they all support ACORN. While Barack Obama’s former employer is using YOUR tax dollars to assist child prostitution rings, YOUR ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 14, 2009, 2:41pm EDT
  

• Joe Wilson, Hero?

  Much has been made on talk radio and in the conservative media about Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC) “being pushed under the bus” by his own leadership.  This is hogwash in its worse form.  Wilson certainly isn’t being pushed under the bus and he certainly isn’t a hero for speaking ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 12, 2009, 11:11pm EDT
  

• “Daily Times” Becomes the Story in TapeGate

  Salisbury has become one of the most dangerous cities in America.  The spendthrift policies of the Barrie Tilghman administration has led Salisbury to the its own fiscal crisis.  A newly elected mayor has shown an inability or unwillingness to control his own police chief.  You would think all of ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 12, 2009, 5:12pm EDT
  

• Campbell Responds to Political Attacks

  Salisbury City Councilwoman Debbie Campbell held a press conference this afternoon to respond to the baseless, manufactured, charges lobbed at her by political detractors: “In an attempt to put some of this foolishness to rest, I am here today to answer questions regarding this matter. ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 10, 2009, 11:12pm EDT
  

• A Season for Action?

  Were anyone’s minds changed by Barack Obama’s speech?  There was nothing new, except for a “promise” to make some effort on tort reform (I’m holding my breath on that one).  There certainly wasn’t any detail. The most interesting part of the speech was Obama’s claims that it would ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 10, 2009, 5:10am EDT
  

• The O’Malley Furlough Sham

  Today is Labor Day.  On Friday, while on the road attempting to earn a living, it seemed that every five minutes it was announced on the radio that Friday was the first “furlough” day for state employees.  Pretty interesting that it turned a three day weekend into a four ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 07, 2009, 11:13am EDT
  

• It’s For The Teachers …

  It definitely isn’t “FOR THE CHILDREN”.  If it were, the Baltimore Teachers’ Union would be attempting to duplicate the success of KIPP’s Ujima Village Academy.  The problem is that the Ujima Village Academy is a charter school. Teachers at the Ujima Village Academy work two hours more per day ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 07, 2009, 11:13am EDT
  

• When You Can’t Argue … Ridicule

  If you live on the Northern Neck AND you oppose ObamaCare, you’re just dumber than a sack of hair.  At least that’s the view of certain members of Virginia’s lefty blogosphere.  Why not?  The Obamamaniacs can’t win the argument on merit, so let’s ridicule the good voters in Virginia’s ... [...]
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  Fetched: September 07, 2009, 11:13am EDT