Ehrlich

Sunday mornings are whenRobert L. Ehrlich Jr.gets to share his right-wing political views with the rest of us, but his most recent column was more extreme than usual ("It's not easy being attorney general," July 29). He defends Jim Crow politics in the South and anti-immigrant bigotry in Arizona. But the most outrageous position he takes is to defend the cruel voter suppression measures in a number of states designed to keep minorities and low-income voters from exercising their right to vote.

Happy Father's Day … In over two decades in politics, my least favorite political type was the unabashed "hot dog," that media-seeking missile who would happily sell his grandmother for a 30-second hit on the evening news. The most dangerous place in the world is between such an animal and a television camera. This personality type is plentiful on Capitol Hill, where the most outrageous statements of the day are sure to lead that evening's headlines. After all, 5,000 Capitol Hill reporters have to report something of interest every day. All this is by way of background as the enormity of the IRS scandal continues to hit home with the American public.

At first blush, my reaction toRobert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s column ("Wondering aloud: thoughts on religion and politics, energy and athletics," March 4) is, how could a seasoned politician have so many unanswered questions? But on closer reading, the object is to promote sharply partisan falsehoods by implication. Let's consider a few of the whoppers. First, there is the notion that President Barack Obama should be regarded as anti-business. Compare the performance of the stock market during the president's term with that during the Bush years and tell me which president should be regarded as anti-business by Wall Street.

It was quite entertaining to read Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s recent column alleging President Barack Obama has made numerous foreign policy blunders ("Obama foreign policy follies befuddle both left and right," June 9). Unfortunately, Mr. Ehrlich was only successful at lobbing in all of the political buzz words like Obamacare, Benghazi, Bill Ayers, Jeremiah Wright (!) but with no cohesive message or argument. Predictably, in a column supposedly about foreign policy, the governor also chose to mention President Obama's "dismal" domestic track record and "distressing" judicial appointments.

Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. confirmed Tuesday that he will try to reclaim his former job as governor, hoping to benefit from a national anti-incumbent sentiment that emerged since the last presidential election and has deepened during the health care debate. If victorious, Ehrlich, a Republican, would become the first politician in modern Maryland history to win a rematch after losing as an incumbent governor. Ehrlich was defeated by Democrat Martin O'Malley in 2006, the only sitting governor ousted by voters that year.

Re "Ehrlich pledges no new taxes if he is returned to Annapolis" (Aug. 26): If Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. is returned to office, maybe he should reduce the "fees" that he increased. Roger L. Kegley, Abingdon

I have to agree with letter writer Howard Bluth ("Ehrlich's talk of Obama's radicalism strains credulity," July 25). If he wants to be taken seriously as an opinion-maker,Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.needs to do more than just spout the usual right-wing clichés about the "left-wing mindset" and "European Social Democrat economic model. " His columns always make my eyes glaze over. As it is, Mr. Ehrlich just comes off as a hack. He sounds like somebody who aspires to writing slogans for bumper stickers.

Robert Ehrlich Jr.'s recent column ("Obama's foreign policy reset has little to show for it," Oct. 28) could not be further from the truth when it states that Iran is "oh-so-close to acquiring a nuclear weapon. " In fact, our own intelligence agencies have stated that Iran has neither nuclear weapons nor a weapons program and ended its former program in 2003. Mr. Ehrlich has been wrong about his support for a disastrous war in Iraq, his calling for military action in Iran and his willingness to allow Israel to dictate U.S. foreign policy.

Republican National Committee Chairman Michael S. Steele spoke briefly at a state party fundraiser Thursday evening and repeatedly urged audience members to work hard for a victory in November. "My friends, don't screw this up," Steele told a roomful of about 700 at the BWI Airport Marriott. "We've got work to do. Don't take a good night for granted. This is going to be work. Hard work. We've done it before." The night saw the closest public interaction between Steele and Republican former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. in recent months.

Is George F. Harrison Jr. the nom de plume of Gov. Martin O'Malley's press secretary, or is it that The Sun only publishes anti-Ehrlich missives ("Ehrlich would be wise not to focus on the past," Readers respond, April 13)? As anybody knows who was involved in the issue during the Ehrlich years, the failure to pass a slots bill lies squarely at the feet of House Speaker Michael E. Busch. Because of Mr. Busch and Mr. Busch alone, Maryland is 10 years behind Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia with respect to this source of revenue and jobs.

While some of the examples given by Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. may be debatable, certainly there should be no argument about the foreign policy of the administration is now in tatters ("Obama foreign policy follies befuddle both right and left," June 9). In Egypt, we intervened to allow the overthrow of the existing government for one that represents an Islamic authoritarian regime. In Syria, we have refused to intervene, allowing Iran and Russia to control the destiny of the uprising with both sides now antagonistic to democratic ideals.

Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. was named for his father ("Multiculturalism is the enemy of democracy," June 2). My dad was named for his father, and his father before him. My dad was named Giovanni. He was born in 1925 in Pennsylvania. When he entered school his name generated scorn and derision. So he became just John. My paternal grandmother and her siblings were born in the same Pennsylvanian town. They were first generation American born children of Italian immigrants. When they entered school, their teachers changed all of their names.

One positive result of the usually strident commentaries by former Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. has been the thoughtful letters from readers pointing out the flaws in the governor's arguments ("Multiculturalism is the enemy of democracy," June 2). Having successfully put himself up for public office, I suppose Mr. Ehrlich has earned the forum he employs to spout his thoughts, however pedestrian. But just because he has the temerity to be out front with his views doesn't mean they are well-informed.

As is often his wont, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s recent column on Obamacare provided a very one-sided narrative using gross generalizations and failing to provide context for his arguments ("Lost jobs, higher costs: Obamacare hits home," May 26). Mr. Ehrlich notes that landmark legislation typically passes Congress with some degree of bipartisan support. However, the examples he provides were all approved more than 48 years ago, at a time when many elected officials strove to do what was best for their constituents and the country.

On this Memorial Day weekend, as we remember with deepest gratitude the sacrifice of America's military heroes, we also offer our thoughts and prayers for the victims of the Oklahoma tragedy. I've dedicated a half-dozen columns to the single most dangerous federal law passed in many years, the (not so) Affordable Care Act (aka "Obamacare"). History buffs observe that landmark pieces of legislation typically pass Congress with some degree of bipartisan support. (See, e.g., the Voting Rights Act of 1965, the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Social Security Act of 1935 and the Medicare Act of 1965)

One of the more enjoyable aspects of my public career was an excellent relationship with public safety unions. Law enforcement, fire and EMT groups were supportive of my races for the state legislature, Congress and governor. Although not unheard of, such consistent support made for some uneasy moments when national labor organizations (almost exclusively associated with Democratic candidates) were informed about public safety union support for "that Republican Ehrlich. " From a personal perspective, it was easy to separate the unique nature of public safety's job description (public protection being the No. 1 job of government)

The O'Malley campaign ads on radio using Ehrlich sound clips out of context are proof of two things: 1. O'Malley is very worried about Ehrlich's momentum 2. O'Malley prefers gutter politics over substance It is clear that the current Governor has ceded the high road in the current campaign. Anyone who stoops as low as he has in his radio ad campaigns reveals his or her true character. We want substance, not ridiculous sound bites taken out of context from our leaders.

There is one thing in our political discourse that bothers me greatly, and that is how we so easily denigrate tens to hundreds of millions of our fellow Americans to express our biases ("How the welfare state has grown - and sapped America's economy and culture" April 7). There is no excuse for it. It is so demeaning. It reminds me of one of the Star Wars movies, where the Death Star destroys a whole planet. Just like that. Rid of it, them. Mr. Ehrlich do you even realize that is what your thoughtless rhetoric does?

"Bumps in the road. " - President Barack Obama on the unrest in Libya and elsewhere in the Middle East that included the deaths of U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens, an information officer, and two Navy SEALS. "Crude and disgusting"… "an insult"… "blasphemy"… "[its message] must be rejected by all who respect our common humanity. " - President Obama on the infamous anti-Muslim videotape that was originally blamed for the Benghazi terror attacks. Benghazi happened "a long time ago. " - White House spokesman Jay Carney on May 2, 2013.

Richard E. "Dick" Hug, a prominent businessman and prolific fundraiser for Republican candidates, died Saturday. He was 78. Mr. Hug was the finance chairman for three Maryland gubernatorial campaigns - Ellen R. Sauerbrey in 1998 and Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. in 2002 and 2006 - becoming known as the $6 million man after he raised that amount for Mrs. Sauerbrey's unsuccessful attempt to unseat Gov. Parris N. Glendening. He belonged to numerous civic boards and associations, including the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, and he served a stint as chairman of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce.