The Opt-Out Option October 27, 2009

The latest twist in the saga about health care reform concerns a potential compromise on the issue of a new government health insurance plan. It’s the so-called “public option” that would allow people to get their health insurance from the federal government if they couldn’t find affordable coverage in the private market.
Critics claim it will [...]

Where’s Plan B? October 21, 2009

Every city homeowner (myself included) would love to see a lower property tax rate.
On Wednesday, that’s what the Mayor promised as the city’s Board of Estimates approved a land deal to allow for the construction of a slots facility near the football stadium.
The deal is structured in such a way, the Mayor said, to provide [...]

Benching Rush October 15, 2009

Rush Limbaugh has made a ton of money with his daily rants that rely heavily on insults and, in some cases, comments that many consider to be offensive. This, of course, is Rush’s right—to say exactly what he thinks or what he thinks his listeners want to hear.
But there’s another side of this coin. [...]

The Rookies’ Mistake October 2, 2009

There’s an old rule of thumb that good courtroom lawyers try to follow:
In front of a jury, never ask a question to which you don’t know the answer.
The White House needs to take up a slight variation to the rule:
In front of the world, never put the President in a situation about which you [...]

The Mayor’s Money Trail September 23, 2009

On Monday, we did a story on new revelations in the case against Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon. It concerned thousands of dollars in “unexplained” cash that went into the Mayor’s bank accounts in the Spring of 2004.
The revelations are contained in new filings by the State Prosecutor. “Unexplained” is the word used by an investigator [...]

The Credibility Crisis September 14, 2009

Not so long ago, Americans considered a newsman (Walter Cronkite) the person they could trust the most.
Contrast that to a new poll by the Pew Research Center. It finds nearly two-thirds of Americans (63%) believe the information they get from the media is inaccurate.
It also finds an even bigger percentage (74%) believe the media is [...]

What Message? September 8, 2009

Among my favorite memories of growing up are the vibrant debates that often took place at the dinner table. My mother and father frequently disagreed politically so it could get pretty interesting. They never left us out—instead, encouraging us to jump right in.
It taught valuable lessons: don’t be afraid to ask questions; listen to the [...]

Ted Kennedy August 26, 2009

I once heard Maryland’s former Lt. Governor Kathleen Kennedy Townsend repeat what’s apparently a favorite family phrase:
“Character is what happens after you fall.”
Certainly her uncle proved its truth.
Most politicians would never have survived the taint of a scandal like Chappaquiddick.
Ted Kennedy went on to become one of the country’s most influential, effective, and respected [...]

Just What The City Doesn’t Need August 20, 2009

A published report this week tells of the state’s plan to build two more detention facilities in the prison complex that’s become such a landmark in Baltimore. And that’s the point. The goal should be to break up the concentration of prison facilities in the heart of the city—not pile on more.
As it stands [...]

Town Hall Tempests August 11, 2009

If the recent town halls around the country are any gauge, the effort to reform health care is nothing short of a mess.
Confusion, distortion, and misinformation rule the day.
Most have turned into shouting matches. Respect is in short supply.
The elected officials holding the events get credit for simply showing up and taking the [...]