Democratic Party

Gov. Martin O'Malley will nominate his younger brother and long-time political advisor Peter O'Malley to lead Maryland's Democratic Party, according to several top Democrats. The governor will forward his pick for chairman at a meeting set for March, the sources said, and state Democratic officials will have to vote to approve the nomination. In Maryland, the governor's nomination has typically been selected as the leader of his party. A top Democrat said the governor expects Peter O'Malley to build the party as it "prepares for the successful re-elections" of Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin and President Barack Obama in 2012.

On Saturday, I went to the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear, an event that might more accurately have been called The Rally For Ironic, College-Educated, Eastern Seaboard Liberals With Blocky Glasses Who Pay Their Taxes Mostly Without Complaint and Want Only to Enjoy Funny Skits and Good Music. An estimated quarter of a million people flocked to the National Mall to see co-hosts Jon Stewart of "The Daily Show" and Stephen Colbert of "The Colbert Report," plus a variety of special guests, entertain the crowd and live television audience for two hours.

"Man up, Harry Reid," Republican senatorial candidate and tea party darling Sharron Angle recently said in one of the more sexually telling comments about the current state of American politics. Ever since the gender gap was discovered by pollsters in the 1980s, it has been accepted wisdom that a majority of American men support Republicans, while a preponderance of women back Democrats. Republicans have been called the "daddy" party, supporting a strong defense, and Democrats have been deemed the "mommy" party, supporting social welfare priorities.

I wonder why Maryland is facing another large budget deficit, especially after passing a $1.7 billion tax increase in 2007, the largest tax increase in our state's history. Is it the economy or is it overspending by the Democrats? If the governor and his willing Democrat members in the legislature who have a veto-proof majority had not done the following the Maryland budget would not be in crisis: increase state spending in 2008 by $1.8 billion; purchase land from politically connected friends under Program Open Space; freeze college tuition 3 of last 4 years; increase the rolls for Medicaid participants; grant asylum to illegal aliens who the Democrats now call "new Americans"; author a slots bill with inflexibility that did not allow for the best possible locations; spend the entire budget surplus left by the previous governor in Mr. O'Malley's first year; wait to cut the vacant state jobs.

Democratic Rep. Frank Kratovil and Republican challenger Andy Harris are running dead even in Maryland's hottest midterm election contest, a new Baltimore Sun poll shows. The same candidates fought to a near draw two years ago. In the latest poll, each man was favored by 40 percent of likely voters. This year, with control of Congress in play, Maryland's easternmost district features one of the most closely watched, and expensive, House races in the country. Both sides have subjected voters to a heavy dose of negative advertising that has shaped opinions about the candidates.

This is in response to "Bartenfelder needs to start acting like a Democrat"(Readers respond, Oct. 14). I've known Joe Bartenfelder since our days at Towson State University, back in the mid-'70s, and though it may be infrequent, it's always a pleasure when our paths cross! I'm at the opposite end of the political arena; there's no agenda here, and Joe's not the kind of guy that needs me or anyone else to vouch for him. This commentary is generated purely out of my respect for him and for knowing him as a decent, hard-working, ethical man. In respect to Brian Bailey's comments, I realize that unity within the party translates to strength and hopefully victory on election night, but too many politicians have put their party ahead of the interests of the people they serve!

Democrats are under siege — not only at the national level but here at the local level in Baltimore County. You need only turn on the television to see the unending attacks from the radical right or answer your door to find tea party foot soldiers. They are asking us to turn our backs on the progress we embraced as Democrats when we retook Congress and the Maryland governor's office in 2006 and the presidency in 2008. For the first time in more than 20 years, Baltimore County saw a contested Democratic primary race for county executive.

Nothing government does is more eye-glazing than redistricting. It's the ultimate insider game, a job-protection racket for politicians. But before you turn the page, consider this: The power being handed to Maryland's next governor won't merely determine which legislators represent you. It will help mold the kind of government we get — and whether Washington, in particular, will continue along the same sad, counterproductive path that has...

Republican Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. accused a state Democratic Party employee of "inappropriate" behavior Thursday when the worker directed a question at the former governor while monitoring a campaign event. Isaac Salazar, communications director for the Maryland Democratic Party, was not allowed to finish a question about unemployment benefits and Ehrlich ignored his subsequent interview attempts as a lunchtime session with about 30 small-business owners at a Howard County restaurant broke up. "It's a no-class move to do what he did," Ehrlich said.

Last month, I finally turned 18, and even before my actual birthday, I registered to vote. This November is going to be huge for me because I've been looking forward to exercising my full democratic rights for a long time now. However, this year's election will be a true testimony to the limitations of a two party system as deeply rooted as ours. For the past four years, we've had Gov. Martin O'Malley who, as a Democrat, I believe has let down the Democratic Party. And the four years before that, we had Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. who was much too conservative for my tastes.