Our One Party State April 12, 2012

Competition is what makes private business tick. If the other guy makes a better product, he’ll get more customers. If the other factory owner can run a more efficient operation, she’ll make more money. Contrast this with Maryland’s politics. It’s a total monopoly. Democrats run the show in the state’s most populous jurisdictions and in [...]

Weak on the Water Response February 23, 2012

City officials responded to the scathing audit of Baltimore’s water billing mess by saying none of it is a surprise. So, if they knew the problems were so bad, how come they haven’t been fixed? The explanation is politically familiar. The system is outdated, no one wanted to make the big decisions and spend the [...]

The Mayor Ducks February 15, 2012

Increasingly, Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is using a strategy of avoidance when it comes to responding to questions that are of concern to the public. The latest example came Wednesday. Following the Board of Estimates meeting, Rawlings-Blake took questions from reporters. Here’s how it went: First question: what’s your response to the announcement by the [...]

Paterno’s Legacy January 23, 2012

You don’t have to be a fan of Penn State to struggle with the question of what Joe Paterno’s legacy should be. The man who died Sunday was the winningest major college football coach ever. He was a coach who not only succeeded on the field but gained iconic stature through his many contributions to [...]

Transparency? Nowhere in Sight January 10, 2012

A few months back, I gave Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings Blake credit for sticking to her word and moving forward with a badly needed financial plan for the city. Too bad we can’t say the same about her pledge for transparency. She made the promise of an open and accountable government when she took over [...]

After The Robocall Verdict December 7, 2011

Democrats are giddy about the conviction of Paul Schurick. The campaign manager to Republican Bob Ehrlich was found guilty Tuesday of four criminal charges related to the misleading robocall that was sent to more than 100,000 voters on Election Day 2010. But the Dems’ glee should be tempered by some other realities of politics that [...]

Three Reasons To Be Worried About America November 21, 2011

1) Congress can’t agree on a plan to reduce the federal deficit. This offers more proof that partisan politics trumps any sense of acting for the good of the country. 2) The “one percent” has too much clout. This is closely related to Number 1 on this list. 60 Minutes just told the story of [...]

Paterno’s Departure November 9, 2011

What to think of Joe Paterno? If you visit Penn State, you see his name on the library. An ice cream honors him at the famous creamery. His statue outside the stadium is a popular stop for pictures. It is true that no football coach has ever before (or likely ever will) meant so much [...]

Penn State’s Shame November 7, 2011

Penn State is in my DNA. My grandfather played football there. My father played on the baseball team. Aunts, uncles, cousins, nephews – all of us are Penn State graduates and consider ourselves better off for the education and experience we received. But the scandal that now clouds this proud institution demands swift, firm, and [...]

The Grand Prix’s Results November 4, 2011

It’s time to face the facts about Baltimore’s Grand Prix. No matter how you cut it, the three day racing weekend falls short of what the public was told to expect. An independent study out Friday (weeks late) puts its economic impact, at best, at $47 million — far short of the $70 million promised [...]