Burns-pourri for June

And now for the monthly round up of things you should know about, things you haven’t heard about yet or things you already know but I’m going to tell you what I feel about it anyway, it’s time for Burns-pourri to wrap up June.

Starting up with two things from my blog…

Kudos to Mr. Baker
Former Delegate and Prince George’s County Executive candidate Rushern Baker (D), in a letter published in this week’s edition of The Gazette, gives congratulations to his nemesis for a lack of a better term, current County Executive Jack Johnson (D) for achieving the coveted AAA bond rating from Standards and Poor.

It is a matter of record that Baker and Johnson differ on many issues… let me be honest; I would not be surprised that the two cannot stand each other. Baker notes the animosity adding that they share the same goal of wanting what is best for the county.

Baker says that “some might argue the expansion of the county’s tax-based and diversified economic profiles started before Mr. Johnson, Mr. Johnson at a minimum has allowed that growth to continue.” He is absolutely right in this statement. It should go without saying that I am in that category of those who say that the improvement of the county’s economic profile started long before he assumed office (by Wayne Curry, in my opinion.)

It doesn’t change the fact that in most situations, many new comers would change the plans of their predecessor and use their own ideas. It should also be noted that for a guy who was called a loser by the very man he is praising, it shows that Baker, who is planning another run in 2010 is not only a winner, but he is a very mature individual. Most people in his position would simply stay silent.

Mr. Baker, I know you weren’t doing this to prop your name up, but I have to give you your just due as well as my kudos for taking the high road.

The Worst of Maryland: “A Life Well Lived”
Now on Maryland Politics Today’s E-List, the people who should be known as the Worst of Maryland. This moment is doubly special because it adds two people in the same month, so I guess it’s a tie between Salisbury City Councilwoman “Shanie” Shields and the person that I will be talking about now, a frequent commenter to conservative bloggers, “A Life Well Lived.”

Normally, I do not pick on people who comment on a blog site, but I will explain in a moment as to why I am taking such liberties. You should know that ALWL has crossed such an egregious line as to try to label me as an “Uncle Tom” or a “race traitor.”

On Red Maryland in response to my agreeing with an article demanding an apology from the “Ol’ Black Boy network” regarding their silence about the egregious “I’m so excited” Planned Parenthood donation tape which can be found on YouTube, he wrote:

Do you think Vitter's shame is his alone, like the lone woman who answered the phone at Planned Parenthood - and no other Republican need pass judgement or speak up on the disgrace of the "family values" Republican Senator from Louisiana.

Or, and this will sting, are you getting more and more comfortable with the right-wing pattern of focusing on the real or imagined controversies of liberal African-Americans because you think they are easier targets upon which you can thrust a momentary episode of scorn?

For anyone to say that he didn’t call me an Uncle Tom or a race traitor is simply splitting hairs because the intent of ALWL is clear when he prefaced his last question with “and this will sting.” In addition to this, his comments have no factual basis whatsoever, especially after Mark Newgent, the History Examiner for the Baltimore Examiner (who is also a contributor to Red Maryland,) roundly debunk every one of ALWL’s assertions.

Now, why am I picking on a commenter to a blog? Does anyone remember “MD4BUSH” who crossed the line of decency? This is along the same lines, never mind the fact that I do not take kindly to those that even borderline call me a sellout. Is it an operative within the Democratic Party or someone who really, really hate Republicans?

We don’t know. Everything is pure speculation of who he or she might be at this point. If it helps, Red Maryland contributor Brian Griffiths has a few suggestions that include Maryland Democratic Party spokesman and fellow PolitickerMD.com columnist David Paulson.

As far as my purpose here, no matter who it happens to be, “A Life Well Lived,” is The Worst of Maryland. And remember ALWL, if we conservative bloggers did not believe in free speech; your comments would have been deleted. You are just as liable as I am to criticism, comments, and corrections, in addition to being the public whipping boy.

And now to topics a little more traditional…

Dixon Raided
In case you missed it last week, Baltimore Mayor Shiela Dixon (D) had a wake up call from state investigators at her West Baltimore home. OK, it wasn’t so much a phone call; they just knocked on her door at 6:30 in the morning. In any event, after five hours, they walked away with six boxes and a blue cooler. At the same time, investigators were at a Baltimore County fur shop looking for a couple of coats that she stored there, but shop owners told investigators that she didn’t store them at the shop.

Many people came out in defense of Dixon saying that they should leave her alone. They added that the prosecutor who is an Ehrlich appointee is playing party politics and that if she was a white male, an investigation would not have been a thought.

Sorry folks, they should not leave Dixon alone. She was caught not being completely honest about her connections to businesses doing business with the city. By not disclosing that her sister worked for a company that was bidding on a city contract, it opened a Pandora’s box.

Now EVERYONE should remember that she is innocent UNTIL proven guilty. I think that it should be stated that the investigation helps out Dixon just as much as it helps root out corruption. If Dixon gets a clean bill of ethical help, sans her lapse in judgment by not being honest about her connections, then she can move on and the people’s confidence in her will be boosted (restored in some cases.) If Dixon is proven to be a dishonorable public servant, than the benefit goes to the people of Baltimore and the state of Maryland because it will mean one less corrupt public official in power. I see it as a win-win for all involved.

Oil, Oil Everywhere!
This one is short and sweet. There is enough finger pointing to go around as far as why the United States is dependent on foreign oil, the bottom line is that WE NEED OUR OWN OIL NOW! The people who are anti-drilling says that it’s the country start looking at alternative fuel sources which is well in good, however, we have an immediate problem and Saudi Arabia has just decided to start drilling for more barrels (I doubt it was out of the goodness of their heart.)

Alan Nathan, whose show I produce, brought up a great point in one of his recent Washington Times column. Nathan says, “These crippling prices are caused less by supply and demand than they are by AVAILABLE supply and demand – which has nothing to do with healthy capitalism because said availability is fictionally portrayed.

As a result, these cost manipulations are cultivated by bad-faith advocates who wind up squeezing the very little guys they purport to champion.” There is oil in this country and the companies must be allowed to pull it out of the ground.

kennyburns@marylandpolitics.us