The Land of Melting Wings

By Bill Woodcock

Discover the Insightful World of "The Land of Melting Wings"

Dive into the intriguing collection of the best blog posts from the acclaimed blog "53 Beers on Tap," written by Bill, a renowned blogger from Howard County, Maryland. "The Land of Melting Wings" serves as a captivating first-person account of the history of Howard County and beyond, spanning local, state, national, and international affairs.

Experience life in suburban Maryland during the 2000s and 2010s, captured through Bill's keen observations and thoughtful commentary on the events and topics of the day. Celebrated by fellow bloggers, elected officials, and community leaders, "53 Beers on Tap" was truly a community treasure, and "The Land of Melting Wings" brings its essence to a wider audience.

If you're interested in exploring the engaging world of suburban life, politics, and culture, "The Land of Melting Wings" is the perfect read for you.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: May 23, 2023
• ISBN: 9798350900842

Book preview

June 12, 2014

There's bears!!!

Now for something just a little more fun on this Thursday.  We all know there are deer in Howard County.  Heck, they're our upper middle class version of rats.  And raccoons, and hedgehogs, and foxes, and skunks.  And snakes of all sorts-- holy smokes, only within about the last five years or so have people come clean and recognized that copperhead snakes reside here.  I've only known that since I was about six years old, when my dad shot one a few times.

Yep, I said shot.  And you still wonder why I am this way.

Well, now comes something new.  Bears!  Of the honest to goodness, lions, tigers and variety.  There have been a number of black bear sightings in Howard County and you can read about all the beary goodness here.

I for one, welcome this wayward bruin.  And I'd like to think that there was more than one.  Anything that can whoop ass on these deer, other than things with fenders or things that shoot.

I'd also like to think that maybe Mr. Bear can do what so many other families have done, and find a home here in Howard County.  Bears equal hilarity!  Who hasn't guffawed at news video of a black bear playing on a hammock, rummaging through someone's stuff, or being tranquilized and taking an epic fall out of a tree, onto a trampoline and then to the ground?

I can tell you this: the presence of bears are gonna make working at the polls over the next couple weeks more fun!

Happy first day of World Cup 2014. 

Let's be careful out there.

June 19, 2014

Change the Name

Today was going to be my post about the brawl between the HCPSS and the HCEA.  But I think I am going to defer about this until the weekend.  Also contemplating the tone and form of my post.  What is striking me here is that people on both sides think that their side can win.  It appears to me that things have gone well beyond the point where either side could claim a win, but this is about the only opinion I believe you will get from me on this entire matter.

Instead, I'm taking this Friday post opportunity to write about an issue I've long wanted to write about, but have never had the chance to do so.  Until now.  And that's the nickname of Washington's NFL franchise, the Redskins.  When the Redskins name was christened, the franchise was located in Boston and home games were played at Fenway Park.  It followed the team to Washington in 1937 and has been in the NFL for going on 82 total seasons.

And the name needs to be changed.  Now.

I think this editorial says it best, but allow me to add my own special panache to the discussion.

About a month or so ago the National Basketball Association had a situation where an owner said ridiculously derogatory things about African Americans, but stopped short of racial epithets.  However, he expressed the sentiment that African-American money wasn't necessarily welcome in the patronage of his team.  The next night, before a playoff game, his own players refused to display their team's logo-- a red, white and blue basketball in motion with the words Los Angeles Clippers across it-- and due to the resultant firestorm of opinion, the commissioner of NBA decided to ban this owner from the NBA for life and force him to sell his team.

The Redskins name hasn't been the subject of a firestorm.  No, this situation has been more like a fire underneath a huge pile of tires.  It's hot, intense, smelly, destorys the environment around it, but it lasts for a very long time and it's hard to put out.  I wonder: what would happen if the Washington NFL franchise were called the Washington Warriors (a trademark Dan Snyder happens to own, supposedly for a proposed Washington-based arena football team) And suddenly, he were to propose calling the team the Redskins?  Would it be OK?  I think not.  So if the racial slur is preexisting its OK?

Taking a stand against racist sentiment in the NBA is applauded and yet a team name based in racist sentiment in the NFL is OK?  Good God, if someone in one of my fantasy leagues wanted to name their team something with a racial slur attached I'd think they were nuts.  So what if someone out there formed a real league with teams with nickanames that are slurs for Chinese, Koreans, Irish, English, Germans, Jews, Whites, Asian Indians, Italians and Latinos?  I can think of foul words for each of those groups.  But all good because it's preexisting, right?

The reasons why to keep the Redskins nickname are honestly lame and tired.  Speak not to me of history.  I care not for your burgundy and gold colors, nor even for your logo, which, in itself, I don't find offensive.  But the name attached to it is an abomination and must be expunged.

Happy World Productivity Day!

Let's be careful out there.

What Really Happened: The Redskins had their name changed twice since then—first as the Washington Football Team in 2020, then as the Washington Commanders in 2022. So much for all those belligerent responses I received to this post way back when.

July 02, 2014

Please Attend CA Board July 10: Inner Arbor Discussion!

I know it's almost the holiday weekend, but we have to get this word out there before the holiday, and will get it out again after!

The CA Board of Directors will have their next meeting on Thursday, July 10 starting at 7:30pm at CA Headquarters.  There will be another discussion of the Inner Arbor and it's important that supporters of the Inner Arbor plan attend.

This will be another opportunity to express support on the plan.  Doubtless that some members of the CA Board, and others attending, will use this meeting as another chance to claim that the current plan for the Inner Arbor represents material changes from the concept design plan.

However, the reality is that the design elements currently scheduled to be built within the Inner Arbor are consistent with the concept design plan.  Material changes would be things whose inclusion would alter the use of the park.  Such as, building a sports facility within the park.

So why is this important or relevant to you?  Because the Inner Arbor plan contains some innovative design concepts by world- renowned architects.  Because when built, the Inner Arbor will be a unique attraction for all generations to enjoy.  It will be something that will bring people to Columbia-- not just to work and shop, but to live.

More on this as time draws nearer.  For now, please plan on attending this very important meeting!

Let's be careful out there.

July 06, 2014

We Are the 99% of Columbia

Back to life, back to reality, True Believers.  As glorious a three-day weekend as it has been, back we go to work, school-- maybe a few of you lucky ducks are on vacation, but most of us aren't, so there!

And kicking off the week with the Inner Arbor project.  As you know, and read from here last week, the Inner Arbor will be a discussion topic of Thursday night's CA Board meeting at 7:30pm at Columbia Association headquarters. 

And also as discussed previously, it would seem like some CA Board members want to claim that the current design of the park represents a material change from the original design concept plan.  And still others in this town (not sure of any CA Board members are among them) want to complain that the Inner Arbor Trust and it's board, who were created by an act of that same CA Board, is doing its work in the shadows, all surreptitious-like, see?  And so nothing that goes on without full openness and transparency can be good for the residents, can it?

And so the battle is joined.  On many fronts.  It represents basic, fundamental differences between visions for the future of this place called Columbia, and it is a battle worth fighting.  Because at stake is nothing less than our power of self-determination.

There is nothing wrong with trees, pathways, some nice views, and perhaps even a couple places for people to gather.  What occurs to me though, is that those places exist all through Columbia and Howard County.  And in considering downtown Columbia, a different message should be conveyed.  One of energy, vibrancy, fun, forward-thinking, attractiveness.  A park in downtown Columbia should be a destination, not a pastime.  

And that's why the Inner Arbor plan, in its current form, is exciting.  Because it IS that!  It is a design that has been built to draw people to downtown Columbia.  To improve and maybe even change perceptions of downtown Columbia.  A work that can stand as its own or blend into the rest of downtown Columbia's fabric.

So some want to claim that this plan is a material change from the concept plan that the CA Board approved.  That's simply not true.  the current plan represents a later stage of the plan, but the current plan clearly keeps the concept of the original plan.  If it didn't, there would be different uses now planned for the park.  But I see no plans here for an amusement park, sports stadium, or parking lot.

And so when logic and reality happen to inconveniently spoil the plans of those who would make lemons out of lemonade, those people do what they invariably do.  They attack the process in which decisions get made and the reputations of those involved.  And this is a sad development, albeit one well known from the Columbia playbook.  Suddenly, the Inner Arbor Trust becomes a secret corporation making decisions without resident input.  As if, of course, the Columbia Association itself is not?  In fact, CA begat the Inner Arbor Trust!  Yet none of those CA Board members who want to complain about the Inner Arbor Trust care to admit that.

And let's also not forget that those same CA Board members are also the ones who wanted to discuss the Inner Arbor without any resident input.  Yes, seems like openness and transparency only count on the books when it benefits them.  Otherwise, openness and transparency be damned.

What it all comes to is this.  For far too long, Columbia has been a place where a vocal minority can prevent progress.  Regardless of the impact upon the majority of Columbia's residents.  Because the same 50-60 people show up at meeting after meeting after meeting and go on about how life is unfair and Jim Rouse's dream and all that.  Because 99% of the people who live in Columbia don't have time for CA Board games.  They're too busy working, commuting, caring for their families, volunteering, and otherwise being of service to their community.

And so we owe it to these residents to advocate for progress.  To advocate a Columbia which moves forward, ever forward.  Not one which thinks and dreams small.

Finally, I must urge you all, again, to attend the CA Board meeting Thursday.  Be an advocate for moving Columbia forward.  If you don't want to be part of speak out, that's OK.  But show up and have your presence felt.

Monday is National Strawberry Sundae Day.

Let's be careful out there.

July 20, 2014

Mission BBQ Opens Loudly, Pandora Leaves Quietly

There were a couple of notable developments in the business community this past week in Howard County.  They serve notice that while Howard County remains a rich environment for consumers and that the restaurant business in the HoCo remains pretty strong, that not all is rosy in the economy, and that there is still, and always, work to be done in order to maintain Howard County as a good place for business to do business.

Mission BBQ opened last Monday in Columbia Crossing shopping center, as Luke Lavoie notes here.  Week 1 would, by observation, stand as a rousing success.  Driving by the location a couple times last week during dinner hours, the restaurant was so popular that dozens of people were seen in line, out the door to the restaurant.  And when I stopped in for dinner on Saturday (which was awesome!) we went at the very un-dinner hour of 3:30pm, and by 4:30pm, the place was packed and the line was nearly to the door.  Howard County’s newest restaurant is off to a terrific start!

The negative development was the move of the Pandora jewlery headquarters, and its 600 jobs, from Columbia to downtown Baltimore, as evidenced in this article.  The silver lining here is that, and again, this is just me speculating, that there will be very little to no job loss for any current Pandora employees.  Probably the most serious impact upon employees will be much different commutes and the impact of what I would imagine would be increased parking rates.  Still, losing an employer isn't a positive development for the county's business environment.

An interesting point of note about the article in the Baltimore Business Journal.  In detailing possible sites that Pandora had considered before the move, a new building in downtown Columbia was considered, except that there wasn't a suitable building to be found and the company couldn't wait for a new building to be built.  So it stands to reason that if downtown Columbia development were moving with better dispatch, that there would possibly be a better location and that Pandora possibly wouldn't have had to leave.

So while on the good side of this, there will doubtless be better and bigger commercial real estate space in downtown in the future, right now there isn't.  This needs to change and this is why projects to revelop downtown need to move forward.  Doing so is better for the county's commercial environment, better for the tax base, and honestly, better for every single Howard Countian.

July 21 is National Junk Food Day.  Go ahead, get yourself some Cheetos, some Funyuns, and have at it!

And let's be careful out there.

July 25, 2014

Allan on the Air!

There's been some stuff written about Allan Kittleman's TV ads that have debuted this week, the first ads of the 2014 County Executive campaign.  

My thoughts?  Never thought you'd ask.

I think this is straight out of the Kittleman playbook.  Allan's campaigns have always portrayed him as the Regular Joe who just wants less government and wants people to have more of the money they earn.  At it's best, that portrayal is very compelling and you can't help but admire the guy.  At it's worst, the portrayal comes across as more than a bit condescending.

But that's what he's telling we the people in these ads.  Hey, I'm Allan, I'm a Regular Joe, and these people who are Democrats and Independents support me.  And the ad, incidentally, doesn't exactly emblazon the fact that Allan is a Republican.  If it’s mentioned it's subtle.  Instead, it's mentioned that he's a proven, independent leader, which is his campaign's slogan.

But to have that hit home, Allan's going to have to lean upon more than his support for marriage equality, which is a tune he has been playing, in my opinion, way too much lately.  And he's going to have to do more than be a good guy who has conservative values and wants to save people money.  He's going to have to come up with innovative solutions to problems local government faces that are different than those of his opponent.  And I'm not sure the yellow pages approach to government that he's espoused in past campaigns is going to work.  Which means that if it's a service that one can find in the yellow pages, that government shouldn't be providing it.

Another blogger says that Allan's flushing cash.  I'm not totally sure I agree.  I think spending money on TV ads this early is a risky proposition, but I think that what the Kittleman campaign is doing is framing the candidate.  It's risky, but it's a risk Allan as taken before and is comfortable in taking.  And in fact, looking at the voter registration numbers, it's the risk he has to take.

When will Watson hit the Waves?  Damned if I know.  But when she does I will be here, God willing, with commentary and more thoughts!

July 25 is National Threading the Needle Day!  OK then.

And let's be careful out there.

August 03, 2014

Watson Hits the Waves

OK, so Courtney Watson's first campaign commercial has made it to air.  And I promised I'd post about it, and I promised I'd name the post what I did, and so I did!  Because Good ol' MM sticks to his promises at every possible opportunity.  And so, here is my assessment:

It is scarily similar to Allan Kittleman's.  In that, it's the sort of opening statement that the candidate needs to make, at this time.

Despite having served on the School Board, she needs to introduce herself a bit countywide, and this commercial does that.  And the message she chooses to introduce herself as a County Executive candidate is a very dense one, that hits upon several themes in a scant 30 seconds; among them, continuing the current way of life in Howard County in terms of schools and other things, the belief that government has a role to play in local life through attracting businesses and jobs to the HoCo, and that her method of governing will be participative and inclusive.

The thing that I will note about both opening commercials is that they stay away from portraying the candidate as a strong leader.  The Kittleman ad talks about how it's OK for Ds and Is to vote R, and in the Watson ad, the candidate says words to the effect of I have a role to play in continuing a great way of life in Howard County.

I can't help but think that at some point this bright electorate in Howard County is going to want to know about these candidates' thought and decision-making processes.  They're going to want to fill in the skeletons they have seen so far.  And so that process had begun in earnest.  It will be fascinating to follow the reveal of these candidates to the county as a whole over the next month or two.

August 4 is National Chocolate Chip Day!

Let's be careful out there.

August 04, 2014

Go to the Fair, 2014 Edition!

Hey, HoCo LoCos!  It's time for those eight greatest days of summer called the Howard County Fair!  Go here to check out all the pie-eating, pig-judging, Oreo-frying action!  BTW it's OK to fry Oreos at the fair, because it's for a school PTA.

Really, if you don't go to the fair, you are missing out on the Howard County experience.  It's good to revisit Howard County's agricultural heritage, and in fact, agriculture is still quite a chunk of Howard County's present!  What with all the dickering about matters in Columbia downtown, and the US1 and US 40 corridors, not to mention the heinous place known only as GEDS, it's easy to forget that a sizable portion of this county doesn't give a hoot over all that folderol!!!

You've already missed the Sunday parade, but there will be another one on Friday night!  So get your butt there, because every day you're missing something awesome!  For example, Tuesday and Wednesday nights, there will be Monster Truck Madness starting at 7:30pm!  Monster trucks are the gateway drug to that ultimate motorized fair thrill, the demolition derby.  And I want a demolition derby at the Howard County Fair, by God.

And let's be careful out there.

August 11, 2014

The Quietly Inexplainable

It has been an interesting summer in Howard County.  There have been a lot of good and exciting things this summer of 2014.  Lots of developments that suggest that Howard County is a community that is becoming mature.  Great new businesses coming to the county, fantastic festivals and community gatherings-- all these speak to the spirit of Howard County becoming much more than a place where people go to bed at night.  It is indicative of a locale that is coming into its own.

But in each community there is dark as well as light.  Earlier this year, there was the shooting at Columbia Mall.  And more recently, there was the recent event at Merriweather that left two dead, dozens in the hospital and lead to several dozen arrests.  And as a result, we learn that being a community that has finally arrived, that finally has an identity-- that this thing has a price.

And the price is that there will be, as happens everywhere, things that go on that simply don't make any sense.  That defy explanation.  And these two events aren't the only inexplicable events that have gone on in Howard County ever.  Not even this year.  But these events-- these things that go on unscheduled, unheralded, quietly, but with sudden and deafening impact-- these things pull and test the resilience of the fabric of this community.

And so far, the fabric of this community has been up to the test.  That means it's been woven well.  Let's hope it continues that way.

Let's be careful out there.

August 21, 2014

I Want To Be CFL Commissioner

Lost amongst all the other sports news in Baltimore and the US this week, is the fact that Canadian Football League Commissioner Mark Cohon has decided not to seek a third term as Commissioner, and will step down in April 2015.  No word yet on the search for his replacement.

I am today announcing my candidacy for CFL Comissioner.  Below I will list my qualifications and outline my vision for the Canadian Football League.

My qualifications.  I have been a fan of the CFL for over 30 years, from when CFL games were shown on American television during the 1981 NFL players' strike.  I became fascinated by the differences between the CFL game and the NFL game-- 12 players on a side in the CFL, the longer and wider fields, the single point, multiple players in motion at the snap-- it seemed like if not a more athletic game, certainly a more agile one.  And that belief was verified when the Baltimore CFL Colts came to town in 1994.  I was one of the first ten season ticket owners for Baltimore's CFL team and cheered the Stallions on to two Grey Cups, including victory in the 1995 Grey Cup.

After the Stallions moved to become the new Montreal Alouettes in 1996, it became hard for me to get my CFL fix.  Family vacations to Toronto always included a trip to an Argos game and a stop in Hamilton to see the Canadian Football Hall of Fame.  In recent years, I have been able to follow CFL games on the Internet and on NFL Network and ESPN, and have been excited by the development of the league over the past several years.

And I love the game of football.  Played it, coached it, watched it in various forms over the past forty-plus years.  It is the ultimate team sport, and also, the team sport that incites the most passion, the most visceral feelings in its fans.  I get that people live and die with their teams and I would look to instill total passion for the CFL into every corner of Canada.

My vision for the Canadian Football League.  I would love to complete the work began by Commissioner Cohon, on two fronts.  First, I would complete the job of establishing a CFL franchise in the Maritimes.  Moncton if need be, though I would be open and would possibly prefer siting the franchise in Halifax.  Second, I would work with Argos management, Toronto's city fathers and business leaders on improving the Argos' profile in the Toronto sports scene.  

I would also explore some potentially exciting new initiatives.  I believe the example of Touchdown Atlantic could be used to bring the CFL to additional cities, using exhibition games as a precursor to franchises.  Looking specifically at Quebec City and London as homes for the 11th and 12th CFL franchises.

And as to my own imprint upon the league.  I would aggressively market the CFL as an integral part of Canada's heritage.  Every December, I would propose a goodwill tour that would send CFL Ambassadors to every possible corner of Canada, including visiting Canadian Forces abroad.  And a second, mini-tour that would possibly access areas not contacted in December, such as Nunavut and the Northwest Territories and possibly Yukon.  There would also be targeted, city-specific marketing campaigns in the existing CFL cities starting in February and running through the spring.  I would further reach out through the CIAU and junior football leagues to expand the CFL game.

I would also call upon our commercial partners and the North American medical community to develop new materials for uniforms, pads and helmets that can absorb more force and that can encourage safe tackling.  I believe this is an area in which the CFL can lead on the continent.

I would take advantage of the Internet to expand the CFL's availability globally.  The CFL has opportunity to bring gridiron-style football to every corner of the planet through the Web and through television partnerships.  

And I would work with franchise ownership groups on ways to increase the value of their franchises.  Further stadium upgrades and improvements are some ways to achieve this.  I would explore opportunities for CFL Clubs to own their own training camps and possibly their own local cable TV channels, along the lines of local sports networks in the US.

This is but a sampling of what I will do as CFL Commissioner.  My experience as a program and consensus builder, a man of vision, and as a student of organizational development will enable me to be successful in this position.  And my distance from the current CFL structure is a strength, not a weakness.  I bring a fresh viewpoint, tinted with fond thoughts of what the league can become, but untainted by political motivations and baggage.

22 August  is only 10 days from Canada's Labour Day, which is 1 September.

Let's be careful out there.

What Really Happened: This post actually made a Calgary Radio station’s morning show. Sadly, they never called me for an interview. Nor did the CFL, for that matter. Pity, but not the worst thing that ever happened in my life.

August 26, 2014

Politics and Bias

I engaged a local Oakland Mills resident in a bit of an argument online over the weekend.  In fact, on that den of rational thought and scholarly thinking called the howard-citizen listserve.  This person was trying to claim that, when Walgreen's began to explore Oakland Mills as a destination, that there were 1000 people who signed a petition to have the Walgreen's be located at the village center.  Whereas I do recall that petition, and recall that this person was involved in collecting signatures, I recalled the actual number to be closer to 100, and shy of that figure in fact, and consisting of this resident's neighbors on Lightning View Road.  Who were already upset at the time over a proposal to build townhomes on the Columbia Medical Campus property-- a proposal which never became reality.

This resident failed to validate my point of view, saying that I was in the pocket of Ken Ulman and Marsha McLaughlin, along with the rest of the OM Village Board at the time.  And so here we go.    Of course that claim was foolish.  But the claim was made by association.  And that's how way too many people behave in these parts.  Everything is part of some conspiracy, like everyone in Howard County who loves progress and bringing nice things here is part of some sort of cabal.  We all have secret meetings and cackle incessantly at our ingenuity and our wanton torture of these wonderful people.  And apparently, my political and community involvement qualifies me for this cabal.

Which brings me to the other topic of today's zesty topicality.  Because I'm sure that what I write next will be discounted due to my involvement in Democratic politics.  But I think facts are stubborn things and that elected officials, especially those who stand for higher office and make claims about their record, should be held accountable to them.

Now there's this website about County Executive candidate Allan Kittleman.  It's not a production of the Watson for County Executive campaign, though by the authority line, it is tied to a local Democratic slate account.

But what it is, is quite objective about Allan the K-- about what he says he is versus what his actions in government and in politics reveal that he is. And I don't think you can say you're independent by voting your party line an overwhelming percentage of the time.  I don't think showing sensitivity and progressive thought on a few particular issues qualifies you as a progressive on all issues.

And as it relates specifically, I am glad to see Allan Kittleman, as well as Courtney Watson, support the Inner Arbor plan, as well as support marriage equality.  But from there-- despite what commercials may indicate, we have some pretty stark differences between our County Executive candidates.

A week from Friday, September 5, I will publish my County Executive endorsement.  But before then, I encourage everyone to check out the above website and think for yourselves.  Because if Allan wants votes from Independents and Democrats he has to prove sympathy with them on more than a few issues.  And on those issues, I don't think his record proves that he is in sync with the mainstream, or even that he truly walks his own path among those of his party.

August 26 is National Dog Day.  Who knew?

Let's be careful out there.

August 29, 2014

More Than 50% Plus 1

Late start this morning.  Late start being before 7:30am.

A loyal reader replied to one of my posts earlier this week with a current status update on John Willis.  The former Secretary of State and Glendening sycophant is strategizing the Brian Frosh campaign.  And now I know this after I chose to support Frosh!  Yiminy!

I find people like John Willis a necessary, albeit irritating, part of the political process.  John's probably the best stats person in the state and numbers people are needed.  It's important, in strategizing an election, to see a path of victory.  A formula of turnout and raw vote count that gets you to fifty percent plus one.

Problem is, for me, it's never been about the numbers.

For me, the message is the thing.  Because the message is how you bring people to your cause.  The message is how you separate yourself from your competitors.  The message is how you state your case that your set of skills, talents and experiences can bring the most good to the citizens of your district.  And for me, math without message is a much bigger political problem for a campaign then message without math.

And that brings me to the current situation in Howard County, which is suggested by the recent fundraising reports.

We have known for some time that the local Republicans have chosen to not run County Council candidates in the 3rd and 4th districts.  And their candidates for Council 2 and State Delegate and Senate in 13 are barely getting any financial support.  Hell, Bob Flanagan's fundraising totals for Delegate in 9B are even abysmal, although I think in that district there is a thought that the district naturally leans Republican so money doesn't much matter.  I think that thought is incredibly wrong but we'll see.

But the prospect of noncompetitive, or even interesting, elections in Columbia point to a strategy.  A strategy to suppress voter turnout.  A strategy to go for the 50 percent plus 1, regardless of the message.

Who are the beneficiaries?  Looks like the local GOP have put their eggs in the Kittleman basket, with the hope that if there's a Republican tide, that maybe Kevin Schmidt and Bob Flanagan get pulled along.

That's all nice, and it's a legitimate political strategy, to suppress turnout in one area in order to achieve a bigger goal.  In fact, that's what John Willis and crew did to me in 1998.  Fail to support a moderate, pragmatic candidate in a Republican district, in order to suppress Republican votes and in so doing, enhance the chances for a Democratic incumbent. In this case, the aforementioned Parris Glendening.

I am glad that Democratic political strategy in Howard County and Maryland have grown beyond such political Neanderthalism.  Because if it hadn't, the Maryland GOP would be much stronger.  And I can think of at least two current Democratic nominees who possibly wouldn't even be Democrats today.

As to Republican political strategy-- well, the evidence speaks to itself.  How can you, as a party, state a legitimate claim to the mantle of government in Howard County when you don't even compete in every corner of it?  

In the end, I believe that politics is about more than fifty percent plus one.  It's about fidelity of message, about answering the questions Mr. and Mrs. Howard County have when they talk around their dinner tables, or on the kids' ballfields, every evening.  And to even have the right to compete for those votes-- that's not something to trifle with.  That's something that demands serious care.

Yesterday was National Ghostbusters Day!  How fitting.

Let's be careful out there.

September 04, 2014

My Refresher With Allan

   Earlier this week I met with Republican County Executive nominee, State Senator Allan Kittleman.  He took me up on my invitation to chat and talk about why Democratic and Independent voters should vote for him in the General Election.  We met at a local Starbucks; I had the trenta cool lime refresher; Allan had nothing.

   We had a nice talk and I thank Allan for taking time out of his busy schedule to meet with me.  Howard County is blessed to have many public servants who are in the profession for the right reasons-- first and foremost, to make life better for residents.  Philosophies and approaches will definitely compete, but I believe no one can question that Allan Kittleman is a public servant for the right reasons.

   We had a far-ranging discussion, covering many reasons why Democrats and Independents should vote Republican for County Executive, and also addressing some matters raised so far during the campaign.  So what I present below is a description, without editorial comment.  I will leave that for you, True Believers, to provide.  

   On marriage equality and related issues, he stated that these issues aren't ones he has championed only in recent years.  He voted for medical decision making for same sex domestic partners during the 2007 or 2008 session, when he served as Minority Whip.  Further, Allan stated that he has been the only candidate for County Executive who has actually fought for marriage equality, having attended numerous equality rallies and participating in a number of debates, including on the radio and against Delegate Gail Bates at the League of Women Voters.  Going against party orthodoxy and trends, Allan feels that his support for marriage equality caused the issue to pass in more Republican areas such as Anne Arundel and Frederick Counties.

   Beyond marriage equality, Allan pointed out that he has been the Republican co-sponsor on legislation regarding gender identity and expression in 2013 and 2014.

    Allan pointed out other social issues on which he feels that he has been on the more progressive side.  For example, he co-sponsored medical marijuana decriminalization legislation with Senator Bobby Zirkin of Baltimore County, and voted for the recent legislation to repeal the death penalty, which earned him the support of Baltimore City Senator Lisa Gladden.  Both Zirkin and Gladden have publicly endorsed Kittleman.

   During our discussion, Allan took a recent Team Howard Slate mailer to task.  The mailer makes claims regarding Kittleman's gun control record.  In the mailer, there is a quote that appeared in the Baltimore Examiner from 2006, attributed to Kittleman, regarding weapons for school administrators.  Allan Kittleman stressed that the quote was never said and that he has been responding to claims that he did make the statement since 2006.

   Allan also addressed comments regarding his support of the school budget when he served on County Council.  Kittleman stated that he voted for every single council resolution concerning the school budget.  He did say that in 2003, he did vote against increasing the piggyback tax to the maximum, but that vote was specifically about the tax, not about the schools.

   Our discussion of education was most enlightening.  And I learned something new about Allan Kittleman-- earlier in life, he wanted to be a teacher.  He enjoys going to schools and talking to and supporting kids-- be it meeting with a class of first graders to participating in simulated Congressional hearings, as he has dozens of times over about the last ten years-- brings a special joy.  And it's also, in a political sense, talking the talk in addition to walking the walk.  It's citizen service.

   With regard to the political influence of education unions, Kittleman feels that there are a lot of educators and parents who are going to vote not for who the apple ballot endorsements, but for who is sincere about providing the best education for their children.  Allan feels that he has met a lot of parents and educators who know that he knows how to keep Howard County's schools great.

   Last, we talked about the election itself, and I wanted Allan to address what I addressed concerning the local Republican Party last week; specifically, failing to compete the election countywide.  Keeping the focus on his own campaign, he said that he is competing the election county-wide, and that as evidence of this, he has already had six town hall meetings around the county, he is going to Oakland Mills on September 9 to speak to their village board, and he has been to other village centers.  

   It was an extremely interesting conversation and I received much, much more information than I had expected.  I hope I have captured everything accurately; I'm sure I'm going to hear about it if I didn't!  And if I did.

   September 5 is National Cheese Pizza Day!

   Let's be careful out there.

September 12, 2014

The Most Negative Campaign Tactic of All

Running late this morning so only time for a quick Friday thought.

I appreciate the commentary to my post from yesterday.  Those commenters did a great job in proving my point, and they are both valued contributors to this blog.  I would like to augment an item I pointed out in my response to them.

I didn't say, nor have I said, that I condone anything false or misleading in anyone's campaign literature or mailers.  I believe in fact-checking and I feel that there are a couple cases where fact-checking was lazy at best.  And those who know me know that lazy is a word I don't use lightly.

I think that the right to vote and the franchise to vote is a solemn one.  I also think that there is one local political party in Howard County that has already ceded two seats on the County Council to the other one, and I know from talking to several active local members of this party, if they had their druthers, they wouldn't have a third Council candidate running either.

Further, I know from these people that the explicit reason why this party isn't running or supporting these Council candidates is deliberately to suppress voter turnout and participation, in hopes of getting their County Executive candidate elected.

Now what party is this?  It's not the Democratic party, that's for sure.  And if you ask me, suppressing voter turnout and participation is a pretty base, low campaign strategy.  Not suggestive of a party with a positive message to sell to the people of Howard County.  And a very, very, negative campaign tactic.

And last, I will also state that there is one candidate for County Executive who has been chair of their local party's Central Committee, and who has participated in party strategizing on the state level as well.  And that candidate, I hope, is ashamed of their local party's tactics.  Maybe someone asked that candidate at one of those town hall meetings they had.  And maybe they can report what that candidate said.

Let's be careful out there.

September 16, 2014

Stars + Bars = Gun

I have yet to opine upon the controversy that came up last week and this over the displaying of the Confederate Stars and Bars battle flag at River Hill High School recently, at a Glenelg-River Hill football game, as well as by two Glenelg High School students, presumably when the first student got in trouble for displaying his flag at River Hill.  The community concern over the incidents hit a crescendo when all five County Council members, HCPSS Superintendent Renee Foose, local leaders of minority communities and others attended a rally Monday night at George Howard Building.

Of course, I've never been one to stray away from controversy.  And there has been some stuff to write about these last several days.  But part of me has been dumbfounded.  Part of me recalls Howard High talent shows in the 1980s when, as student bands would play the song Freebird, a band member would hold or wave the same flag, as Lynyrd Skynyrd does in this video.  And back at HHS, the administrators would make kids put the flag away.  But no one threw hands or was visibly offended.  African-American students?  Basically thought the white kids who would pull that stuff were dumbasses.

And Confederate icons are closer to us than we think.  A statue depicting a meeting between Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson sits almost directly across the street from the Baltimore Museum of Art, next to Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore.  And I once owned a golf shirt from Musket Ridge Golf Course, and you can see their logo, which contains the national flag of the Confederate States of America.  

So what does all this mean?  Two things are clear.  One, that Confederate icons remain a symbol of division and racial inequity and discrimination.  There is little argument that the Confederate battle flag has been co-opted by racist, hate -filled groups like the Ku Klux Klan.  So, not saying the flag was on the greatest ground to