Hey Folks. I am exhausted. Being a man of routine, I feel completely disoriented. My time is off. My daily schedule is gone. My 10 a.m. Green Tea de-stress is a memory. The morning links an aspiration. But at least I am surrounded by good pizza.
I have done my best to keep up with the comings and goings on the various blogs. I also noted that Larry Carson's Political Notebook is early (again). The focus is the Council redistricting that will occur over the next Council's term. As a Republican, it disappoints me that our Party, and many of our candidates, were playing silly games like the Taxpayer Protection Initiative while the most important election cycle of the next decade (for Council purposes at least) was underway. To the extent that they were looking to mobilize, shouldn't they have been locking down precinct leadership structures and holding Party-wide fundraisers? Instead, they were yelling at people about imagined tax increases, calling them stupid, and distancing themselves from the HoCo electorate. And they wonder why no one goes to Camden Yards.
Larry also noted the dueling fundraisers held in Western Maryland by the two County party heads: Ken Ulman and Allan Kittleman. Glad to see that a little bankruptcy wasn't going to get in the way of a good shin-dig.
I'm fascinated by this article about the Executive candidates meeting with PATH...you know...the group that aggressively campaigned for Healthy Howard this summer: The Rev. Gerry Bowen of St. Augustine's Roman Catholic Church in Elkridge told the crowd that PATH collected and spent $50,000 — enough to buy health insurance for eight people — to organize a door-knocking campaign for 221 volunteers. They talked to 4,380 people, and Anne Gould, one of the volunteers, said they helped 395 people get health care, including 254 either enrolled or applying to Healthy Howard. This may be inappropriate, considering the context, but DAMN!
Not surprisingly, Ulman committed to forming an insurance co-op, and Trent resisted...sort of. She said she would "look at it." ("You mean look at it and say 'Hell No', right Trent?" I hear from the far right). Ken gladly committed to helping "frail" Seniors stay in their homes, Trent qualified her commitment. I mean, if this article was titled "Republican Candidate Tortured In Front of 200 People," the substance would not have to change one iota. I congratulate Trent for participating, and hope that the next forum is before a hardcore conservative group...in...Howard...nevermind.
Dr. Beams has a strong supporter for Council District 5...in Council District 3.
Brian Meshkin sets the stage for his SIFY program, which will include "six innovations in four years." I would love to hear what you all think. Hopefully the ideas (don't say it) for saving money (DON'T SAY IT) do not involve (shut your mouth!) any Collections suits against the Board. (Now you've done it).
I'm tired. I hope the week is moving along well for all of you.
