Let's get political

The Political Science minor in me is getting all giddy about the elections here in Maryland. Don't worry, there will be nothing very insightful in the following but I wanted to record at least some of my thoughts now that we have about five months before the elections. Maryland is going to be fascinating, I can just tell. In the last week, I've heard Bob Ehrlich say on the Mark Steiner show that he has never used e-mail in his life. I'm serious, he actually said that. I don't know if it's true, or if he just misspoke, meaning he'd never used it as governor, but he said it was the best decision he's ever made. Weird. It reminded me of when George Bush, Sr., was fascinated with the bar codes at a supermarket in his second election campaign.

Then, today Ehrlich fired a guy who called gay people "sexual deviants." It came swiftly, and I'm still a little shocked about it. This is the governor that refused to sign the domestic partnership bill. But it is an election year, and he needs those centrist voters as he once again tries to show he is a centrist, something he somehow was able to convince voters of last election. I think that "somehow" was because people didn't like screetchy little Kathleen Kennedy Townsend more than anything else.

As for O'Malley and Duncan, I'm still undecided, but I like O'Malley and basically think he's done a good job for the city of Baltimore. Despite obvious faults, the city is a better place then when I moved here five years ago, and things continue to improve. I don't like Duncan's negative campaigning so far, particularly his criticism of the schools, which have improved markedly in the time since I've been here. Still, I guess he has to go negative, but I don't have to like it. He still could win me over though, I suppose. I think I'd prefer someone in the governor's mansion with a little better finger on the pulse of Baltimore. We shall see.

As for the senatorial races, I still really like Mfume. I think he's really underestimated, still, and could easily win this thing. But I also like Cardin, who is as solid as a rock. I'm just a slave to my memories of seeing Mfume eight years ago at Michigan State and being bowled over by his speech, and have continued to be impressed by him during the campaign. I'll be happy if either of them trounces Steele.