Ilk

Not entering into a political debate with the writer ("Many reasons why the voters decided to re-elect the president," Catonsville Times, Nov. 28), but even if he was 100% correct in his gratuitous assertions, his attempt at an explanation and reconciliation is all for naught because his arrogant, elitist, and condescending last sentence ( "It's time for the losers to stop whining and acting like the world is coming to an end. Man up, for God's sake.), I believe, rightly sums up his caustic character and political acumen.

How dare your letter writer compare President George Bush to Egypt's President Hosni Mubarak and to Nazi war criminals after World War II. America, before, during and after the Sept. 11 attacks on our soil, also had our U.S. Embassies, Ambassadors, our U.S. ally Israel, our Marines and American civilians abroad, attacked and murdered by terrorists who were aided and abetted by Iraq andal-Qaidaand their assorted mercenaries. Our brave soldiers were volunteers defending our country which is still being threatened.

I am a subscriber and read The Sun every day, and I force myself to review The Sun's editorials and commentaries. I do this to stay informed about the oppressive activities of the ever present liberal government leadership in this beautiful state. Two articles written by Susan Reimer and Paul Jaskunas ("Presidential campaign 'legitimately' toxic?" and "A false self-reliance") in the Friday, August 24th edition of The Sun are examples of the typical political climate that is alive and well in Maryland.

Formerly the Funk Box, the club is still in transition. Business owner Tim Walther hopes the new band schedule will skew more indie, inching away from its one time lineup of mostly jam bands. Where -- 8-10 E. Cross St. / 410-625-2000 Web site -- eightbyten club.com. Notable -- The spring-loaded floor adds a noticeable bounce to a packed dance floor, and the upper and lower levels have large bars, considering the size of the place. During the next few weeks, Walther is planning to add a new sign and an awning outside and a new lighting rig inside.

English Civil War tensions in the mother country played out in a furious skirmish between Colonial Puritans and Catholics in present-day Annapolis, a rumble known as the Battle of the Severn. On or about March 20, 1655, a band of 130 Catholic men, led by a governor, William Stone, and other officers sworn to serve Lord Baltimore set sail from St. Mary's City up the Chesapeake Bay. Their objective was to quell a settlement of Puritans, who had recently come to Maryland and founded a village named Providence.

Like Garrison Keillor, whose column used to appear in The Sun, Dan Rodricks underestimates the power of the tea party in American politics ("Question for tea party: What now?" Aug. 4). He should have read John Malagrin's letter right across the fold ("Tea party congressmen are the last great hope," Aug. 4). The tea party isn't Republican or Democrat, but the embodiment of the American peoples' frustration with the current direction our country is heading and the continued growth of government.

Garrison Keillor: In your commentary of Jan. 20 ("Despite all the screaming, common sense will prevail"), you were right -- common sense did prevail in Massachusetts on Tuesday night. It's funny how history does repeat itself. While you ignore and ridicule the Tea Partiers as hollering and waving their arms and having "paranoid hallucinations of the right," their message has again been heard as the "shot heard 'round the world." The only folks that havent heard the message are you, the current occupant of the White House, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.

Al Eisner's cynical letter should be labeled under the heading "Be careful what you wish for" ( "Md. Needs a referendum on same-sex marriage," July 26). In chiding Gov. Martin O'Malley for pulling Maryland "into the gutter" by making same-sex marriage a part of his 2012 legislative agenda, Mr. Eisner urges what many consider to be totally un-American: Putting a minority group's rights up for a popular vote. Marriage for same-sex couples has existed in Massachusetts for over seven years now, and for all the fear mongering, doomsday scenarios, scare tactics and exaggerated hype, Massachusetts maintains the lowest divorce rate in the U.S. People recognize that the sky hasn't fallen since gay marriage was legalized there in 2004.

Columnist Marta Mossburg's latest screed against the governor and legislative leaders is creative and thought-provoking but ultimately disingenuous ("The gospel according to O'Malley," Jan. 18). People who work hard in a capitalist society are entitled to be wealthy, but they are not entitled to be greedy. The real agenda of Ms. Mossburg and her ilk is to keep all their money. If they can paint those who seek to improve society rather than their own bank accounts as tax-hungry tyrants, they stand a good chance of not having to pay their fair share.

I am furious beyond words at the arrogance and corruption demonstrated by the leadership of the Maryland General Assembly in failing to pass a tax bill to implement the budget for next year, all for the benefit of the gambling industry for crying out loud! ("After breakdown, what?" April 11.)The one constitutional obligation imposed on the legislature is to pass an annual budget. The leadership, particularly Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller, chose to hold implementing that budget hostage in order to expand gambling in Maryland, even before the original slots parlors are fully operational.