Trump's or Hogan's: Whose Party is the MDGOP?

If I had one hyphenated word to describe my take on MD Governor, Larry Hogan, it would be: Hyper-cautious.

If I had one hyphenated word to describe President-Elect, Donald Trump, it would be: Hyper-Aggressive.

And, in between sits the Maryland Republican Party.  Whose Party IS the MDGOP? In some ways it is Hogan’s and in others, it is Trump’s. This uneasy marriage of these two conflicting sides won’t last long and its general dissolution won’t be pretty, even if it doesn’t make the news.

Why do I call the marriage one of “conflicting sides?” Well, because they ARE conflicting sides, that’s why.

I mean, seriously, although Larry Hogan never (as far as I know, anyway) literally called himself a “Never-Trump” guy, he did vote for his father by literally writing him in for President in the recently concluded election rather than vote for the President-Elect.  Vote for whomever you want, of course, but when you’re the Governor of a state and you go around talking about how you didn’t vote for the guy who won – when he’s of the same party as you – is sheer lunacy.  If you simply can’t bring yourself to vote for the party standard bearer against a corrupt witch, vote the way you want, in that instance, and then shut the Hell up. 

And, now, the President-Elect will soon control the flow of Federal dollars to Maryland – that is the President-Elect you as Maryland Governor, just royally dissed.  Another dissing, for the record? How about this one…

According to a multitude of sources, MDGOP National Committeeman, David Bossie, (formerly the Head of Citizens United – and, most recently, Donald Trump’s Deputy Campaign Manager) earlier this year held a fundraiser for Larry Hogan and gave the Governor a check in the neighborhood of $20,000.  A few days to a few weeks later, The Hogan Administration “thanked” Bossie for his largesse in the oddest way imaginable  - by having/allowing Lt. Governor, Boyd Rutherford, give the  nominating speech on behalf of Bossie's opponent, former-MDGOP National Committeeman, Louis Pope, when Bossie challenged Pope at the Spring GOP Convention (and kicked Pope's bulbous ass).

Common courtesy, not to mention political etiquette, states you do not turn on a benefactor like that. 

It can’t be a good thing when you are a Governor and  you have both the President-Elect and his Deputy Campaign Manager who is also the MDGOP National Committeeman, likely pissed off at you. Maybe I was wrong at the beginning of this piece when I said that Hogan was hyper-cautious.  Maybe it would be closer to the truth to say he is OCCASIONALLY a hyper-dunderhead.  Don’t get me wrong – Larry Hogan is a smart guy.  It’s just that when he screws up, Damn! His screw-ups could be the stuff of legend.

Anyway, back to my question of whose party IS the MDGOP?

Well, although it IS both Trump’s and Hogan’s, for right now I’d have to say it leans a bit towards Hogan.  This perception has been aided by the fact that Hogan Campaign Counsel Dirk Haire was elected Chairman of the MDGOP at  the Party's Fall Convention a few days ago to replace outgoing Chair, Diana Waterman.  The only thing I know about Dirk Haire is that I was told he was handpicked by Larry Hogan to be the new Chair – and, of course, that Haire ran for the position and won.

Yeah, but in this instance – with the rowdiness of certain segments of the MDGOP, and that segment was rowdy well BEFORE the Trump forces entered – that and a dollar will get you a coffee at some place or another.

There is another reason I say that “for right now” the MGOP leans a bit towards Hogan is the fact that the regulars – dare I say most of the “establishment” of the MDGOP – basically act as a country club.  Not everyone, mind you, but a majority of them definitely do.  Acting as a “country club” is certainly something the MDGOP Trump faction does not do.  And, were I a betting man, I’d take the aggressive force to destroy the country clubbers every time. A case in point:

The anti-establishment forces made its first real move four years ago, beginning with MDGOP National Committeewoman, Nicolee Ambrose’s, defeat of MDGOP Establishment War Horse, Audrey Scott, for the position and then cruising to re-election by acclamation earlier this year - and continuing up through the aforementioned defeat of Establishment Waste of Time, Louis Pope, by MDGOP National Committeeman, the guy who would then go on to be the President-Elect’s Deputy Campaign Manager, David Bossie. Indeed, the old line MDGOP Establishment has taken a couple of really sound beatings over the past few years. 

Yeah, so with the state party currently leaning very slightly Hogan’s way, I think it’s only a matter of time before the Trump forces advance and obliterate the MDGOP establishment and make the MDGOP Trump’s party - regardless of who sits on the MDGOP Executive Board.

And, once that happens, all bets are off. 

All bets. Off.

I am Thankful for Snowflakes, Reminders on How Not to Spy, and Other Things

I am thankful for a fair number of things this year, and I’m going to tell you what a choice number of those things are here.  Now, don’t worry – no need to run off and get any tissues or anything like that.  This ain't family related or all that personal.

To begin with, I am thankful for “Snowflakes”:

I’m not talking about that white stuff that occasionally falls from the skies around these parts during the colder months.  Although, it makes things pretty (if you like the color, “white,” it does anyway) enough of those types of snowflakes on the ground leads to potential disasters.  And messes.  And some nasty traffic snarls.

The snowflakes I’m talking about are those moronic packs of idiots who’ve been roaming around protesting and rioting, blocking traffic and shit, because the guy they don’t like beat the witch they did like (but didn’t vote for, by and large) and won an election. In other words, these snowflakes are protesting the election process, itself, as far as I can see – and thus doing nothing other than ensuring that the guy they don’t like and his supporters, dig their heels in all the further and deeper. 

Oh, and I’m also very thankful for whoever the Hell it was who came up with the nickname, “Snowflakes,” for them.  Positively brilliant.

I’m also thankful for Maryland Governor, Larry Hogan’s, father:

As a Congressman during the Watergate era, Larry Hogan’s father went after the beleaguered GOP President, Richard Nixon, with a passion usually reserved by the elite establishment when it comes to further sticking it to the folks who pay for their shenanigans.  But, that’s not why I’m thankful for Governor Hogan’s father.  I’m thankful for Governor Hogan’s father because he was someone for whom his son, Governor Hogan, could vote in the recently concluded Presidential Election.  Seriously, Governor Hogan's disdain for President-Elect Trump borders on the legendary and I guess he couldn’t quite bring himself to vote for Queen Hillary – so he had to vote for someone, right?  Well, whatever, he did vote for someone and that someone was the man who started the whole Hogan Political Dynasty: His father.

Speaking of Governor Larry Hogan, I am also very thankful for his “Bromance” with Maryland Comptroller, Peter Franchot:

I am thankful for their bromance because it makes me laugh. A lot.  And people want to make this whole Trump and Putin thing INTO a thing?  Shit, we’ve got the real deal - a genuine bromance - here with Hogan and Franchot.  And, it’s hilarious.

I’m also very thankful for bad spies – like Maryland Pollster, Patrick Gonzales of Gonzales Strategies:

As some of you know, I’m considering a run against the aforementioned Governor, Larry Hogan, in 2018.  With that in mind, a few months ago – immediately after I posted a flurry of mentions about my potential run – Patrick Gonzales approached me on Facebook.  We take to talking, and later that night I spoke with a few good, trusted, and well connected political friends about it: And, all of us agreed that Gonzales was a spy, at worst, or a double agent, at best.  Seriously, you don’t call someone with whom you’ve never before spoken 4 times over 2 days unless you’re searching for information, right Patrick? Anyway, I baited him by posting another flurry of items and, voila, again Patrick Gonzales calls me another 4 or 5 times over 2 days.  It got to be ridiculous and downright laughable.

Then, a few weeks ago, on the phone one day he asks me – and this is as close to a direct quote as I can recall – “What would it take to get you to not do it (run against Larry Hogan)?” Knowing full well he was a spy, I answered him as audaciously as I could by asking for something that never would be delivered (cash in a bag) and Gonzales responds by saying – and, again, this as close to a direct quote as I can recall – “Well, I don’t think you’ll get that...” I’ll GET that? Why would he even say that unless he was looking for a reasonable answer to report back to someone?!

And, of course, employing some bullshit reason or another, the final time we spoke he said he had to do whatever for Hogan’s campaign.  Imagine that!

Having been in Patrick Gonzales’ position a number of times, myself, I have to tell you, he was a bad – as in an unbelievably lousy – spy. There have been a few other attempts at contact from his end, but, what the Hell?

In the end, I am very thankful to Patrick Gonzales for the reminder on how not to be a spy.

Finally, I want to thank all of you, dear readers - and anyone else paying attention, be you a friend or a foe.  You guys, each and every one of you, really do make life worth living – more than you’ll likely ever realize.  Thank you.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Voting to Feather Your Own Nest

You know, I can well remember a time when it made a difference whether an elected official had an "R" (for Republican), as opposed to a "D" (for Democrat), after his/her name.  I really can.

But that's not so much the case, these days, now is it?

No, not quite so much. 

These days, from the State House where "Republican" Governor, Larry Hogan, holds court and yet Maryland remains governed as though he's heading the politburo to the Damned Harford County Council where the members just went ape-shit and hog-wild with dollar signs in their eyes, being a Republican ain't what it used to be.

A little background...

Here I was, feeling tired and a bit grouchy, when I decided to check my Facebook wall before popping open this bottle of Jim Beam "Fire"...and what did I find? I found my friend Joe Fleckenstein's post in which he said...Oh, Hell, here is exactly what Joe said:

"Great news! The Harford County Council, in a 6 to 1 vote, voted themselves an approximately 18% pay raise tonight. Only Councilman Mike Perrone voted against it. I don't know of anyone in public or private service receiving such a generous pay raise -- well, maybe a few professional athletes. But average people -- heck no! And, I'm sure I'll continue to receive emails from our various councilmen about their upcoming fundraisers for their races in 2018. We have some great representatives, let me tell you..."

Note the sarcasm.  I sure as Hell did.

Keep in mind, folks, that all of the members of the Harford County Council are Republicans. EVERY DAMNED ONE OF THEM.

I have two things to say about the vote on this 18% pay raise.

1) Thank God for Councilman Mike Perrone for voting against this abomination.

2) Screw the other 6 councilmen who voted for this abomination.  Or better yet, make sure each and every one of them faces a primary challenger when they are next up for election.

Again, this is an ALL REPUBLICAN council voting - save for Mr. Perrone - like a bunch of Democrats who are simply out to feather their own nests.

Now understand, the current yearly salary for a council member in Harford County is approximately $36,000.  This 18% pay raise will make the salary approximately $43,000.  For 3 nights of work per month, I've been told.

You really want an abomination? Do the math:  With that 18% pay raise those dunderheads just voted for themselves - that equates to just around $1200 per night's work for each councilmember. Oh, how unbelievably smart and egotistical they must be to warrant THAT kind of money to sit around and vote on things like...things like...well, things like voting themselves an 18% pay raise.

Help me.

Anyway, thankfully, the Maryland Campaign for Liberty is all over this nonsense like white on rice.  They are advertising the Hell out of this self-imposed pay raise and are naming names of the not-so-saintly 6 Councilmen who voted - out of the goodness of their hearts, I'm sure - more money for themselves.  Those "Republicans" are:

"Captain Jim" James McMahan
"Coach" Richard Slutzky
Joseph Woods
Patrick Vincenti
The former Al Gore guy, Chad Shrodes, and
Curtis Buelah

18%. 

What could YOU do if you could increase your own salary by 18%? What could YOU do with making $43,000 for 3 nights a month work - plus the occasional ribbon cutting?

I guess these Republicans thought they could get away with voting like standard leftist lunatic feather nesters.  But, a few of the right folks noticed it and, I'm sure, Maryland Campaign for Liberty won't be letting this go anytime soon. Those guys are tenacious as Hell. 

Please primary those money grubbers and kick them to the curb. 

And, anyone else who is governed by like-minded leeches such as these, y'all do the same. 

Dump them.