Is Maryland getting more politically muddied?

[Stinky The Clown]

I see a lot of "what-ifs" .... and its gotten me to thinking .......

In 2006 we have a race for governor. O'Malley and Duncan seem to be on the tip of everyone's tongue, but neither one has announced. O'Malley was just re-elected in Baltimore. There has been a rumor (completely unfounded, but I heard it from two sources who are neither on line sources nor Dem insiders) that O'Malley is in the throes of some sort of personal scandal. Might Rupersberg also consider a run?

We also have the possibility of an open Senate seat if Sarbannes retires. I dare say no one will challenge him if he decides to run. But if he does indeed, retire, what might that lead to? Some have speculated that Kweisi Mfume may run for it. Might Dutch consider this? O'Malley or Duncan? Actually, if either O'Malley or Duncan run for it, that should leave the governor slot to the other one.

Anyway, it all seems pretty much up in the air.

Anyone have any thoughts or insight?

[Debbi801]

1. From what I have heard, after asking the same question...

it is highly unlikely that Dutch would run for governor.

Having said that, I have also heard much speculation and rumor about O'Malley recently. None of it good, unfortunately. I am hoping that it is inaccurate, because I could see it hurting him if he decided to run for governor.

I can't see Sarbanes retiring, at least not in 2006.

Debbi

[nickshepDEM]

2. I think....

The race for Governor is going to be being pretty tough for us Dem's. As the incumbent Ehrlich has the obvious advantage but, he is defintley beatable.

If Sarbanes retires Lt. Gov. Michael Steele might run for his seat and he would be pretty tough to beat regardless of who runs for the Dem's.

I have this weird feeling in my stomach about 2006. Im 20 and have never participated in any campaigns but, I plan on doing so in 2006. And let me tell you it has me really nervous. Its one thing to just get out there and vote. But to put your hard earned time and money into a campaign seems like a whole different level.

[Romulus]

3. "scandal"

I read somebody's post at sunspot.net's forums that claimed that O'Malley had an affair or something with a Bal'mor newscaster, who transferred to NYC to "spare" O'Malley the embarrassment. And maybe got pregnant with his kid. :shrug:

I don't live in Bal'mor, so I didn't know what they were talking about. This was in early 2004. I'll see if I can dig up the old thread and post a link.

edited to add:

http://www.baltimoresun2.com/talk/forumdisplay.php?f=13

I couldn't find the original thread that I was talking about, but the gist of some other threads was that O'Malley was involved with Sade Baderinwa of Baltimore ABC(?): http://abclocal.go.com/wabc/bios/bio_sade_baderinwa.html



Here is one Sunspot thread that implies the info:
http://www.baltimoresun2.com/talk/showthread.php?t=4524&highlight=sade

This seems pretty lame, so it probably will NOT turn out to be "the" scandal (if there is even "A" scandal :eyes: )

[shireen]

4. i heard it too

I heard the same thing, and there was a kid.

During the last election, O'Malley won. Kids and wife were on stage with him, all acting like one happy family.

O'Malley private life is his business, not mine, so that alleged affair is irrelevant to me. But if he runs for Governor, the Republican thugs are going to have a field day with this matter.

[Stinky The Clown]

5. Yeah, that's the one I had heard

I didn't know it had been in the Sun!

[shireen]

7. Another Clarkie!

Hey Husb2Sparkly ... are you in the Baltimore area? Noticed your Clark avatar. I did campaign work for Wes during the primaries in Baltimore. Mostly kept a low profile, but was in regular contact with Davis Bookhart/our fearless Baltimore leader. Did you catch Wes a few months ago at Hopkins? What an amazing speech! And I got to meet him later. :-)

- shireen

[Stinky The Clown]

8. I remember when he was scheduled to be at Hopkins.

We were out of the country and missed it. We still regret that.

[Romulus]

9. sunspot.net forums, NOT the paper

the forums are like any other internet rumor mill . . .

[DaveinMD]

6. both are definitely running

any rumors that they aren't are being spread by the other candidate or the Republicans. I'm pretty close to being a Maryland insider.

[AuntiBush]

10. Rumor!

I live in Maryland and it was a Repuk rumor. Matter-of-fact, O'Malley's wife is young, great looking and vibrant, not the type to "take it!" I don't think so but I guess you never know.

Lesson learned from Clinton: We should not judge our politicians by how their live their intimate personal life, less their devil worshipers, major crooks, etc.

I'll say this, O'Malley can't get a grip on Baltimore City's crime problems (like the murder ratio), but, he has put up quite a few majorly sucessful fights against the Gov and came out the big winner every single time!

[Stinky The Clown]

11. I'm not sure any big city mayor can get a grip on crime

O'Malley ...... Schmoke (let's decriminalize pot) ....... Guiliani in NYC ..... Daly (pops and son) in Chicago ...... name any big city mayor. The statistics may move a little from one guy to the next, but crime, overall, just won't go away.

Crime is as much, or more, a sociological issue as it is a police issue. Squeeze the bad guys here and they turn up over there. Jobs and dignity will do more than cops and jails. And I'm more a law and order type than a bleeding heart type, but without the money for **meaningful** programs that change the underlying fabric of society, it will be more of the same for generations to come. Until the population at large gets away from the hate and retribution mindset and gets on to helping and loving their fellow man, this won't change.

All of this is not to say that there are not sociopaths who are just plain bad. For them, we need the jails. For the average drug dealer or break and enter guy ...... alternatives that change the culture of crime are needed.