Democrats fear ethics probe will absolve Ehrlich

A proposed investigation into Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s firing of Democrats is moving slowly because Democratic leaders fear it will exonerate the governor, a Maryland legislative committee member said.

"You run the risk of finding nothing. That's what is scaring people," said Sen. Lisa A. Gladden, a Baltimore Democrat named to the investigatory committee. "They are afraid of finding nothing."

Still, some lawmakers are concerned that political operatives on the state payroll are scrutinizing whether other state employees are loyal to the Republican governor, Ms. Gladden said.

The General Assembly leadership has started to shift the focus away from Mr. Ehrlich and toward the patronage system, which allows the governor to fire without cause any of the more than 7,000 politically appointed state workers.

Democratic lawmakers called for a probe after learning Feb. 8 that longtime Ehrlich aide Joseph F. Steffen Jr. had used e-mail and Internet chat rooms to spread marital infidelity rumors about Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, a likely Democratic challenger for governor next year.

Mr. Ehrlich immediately fired Mr. Steffen, who worked as a spokesman for the Maryland Insurance Administration.

Democratic lawmakers questioned the administration's personnel decisions after press accounts described Mr. Steffen as a political operative who called himself "Dr. Death" because he rooted out Democrats to be fired from state jobs.

Whenever a case like this comes up, one has to ask "Qui bono?" -- "Who benefits?"

There are essentially only three people with a realistic chance of being Governor of Maryland after the 2006 election -- Governor Ehrlich, Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley, and Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan. Anyone else is in the race for entertainment purposes only.

Now, spreading this rumor about O'Malley, even though it has been widely reported that it is not true, hurst O'Malley's chances. And using our friend Mr. Steffen (NCPAC) to link it to Ehrlich diminishes his chances of re-election.

Who beenfits from hurting Ehrlich AND O'Malley? Doug Duncan. (A real sleazeball, BTW.) This is why I will not be surprised if "MD4Bush" turns out to be a Duncan operative. Jim should reveal this person's identity before the scandal completely fades into the woodwork and Doug (Klinton Jr.) Duncan gets away with his dual hit job.

O'Malley's people should realize that an ethics investigation that clears Ehrlich also helps O'Malley by making this sleazy scheme backfire on Dougie Boy.

Cool!

gee, this is kind of sort of like why the dems would love to go after Delay in an ethics committee investigation, but they know full well, he hasn't done anything that hasn't already been set aside previously as unfounded or as being unworthy of any claims of willful or otherwise conduct..

BUT THEN, it would also open the door for a Jim McDermott ethics probe as well by same said committeee and there IS a lot of rotting meat in that thar fella's butt to chomp into, ethics-wise. ;-)

Life is just so unFaiR to the poor little maggot infested c'Rats these days... they are rotting FRom within.. ;-)

Hmmmm? Looks like the dems are having the same problems all over the place. The dems have shut down the ethics committee in the House - so DeLay cannot be absolved of the ethics charge against him - AND SO THE DEMOCRAT - McDermott WON'T BE THROWN OUT OF THE HOUSE - BECAUSE HE WAS CONVICTED OF A CRIME.

Poor democrats .. they're just having problems all over the place.

http://www.nbc4.com/politics/4390904/detail.html

Poll Shows O'Malley Ahead Of Ehrlich In Governor's Race
Ehrlich Favored Over Duncan

POSTED: 5:32 pm EDT April 18, 2005
UPDATED: 6:04 pm EDT April 18, 2005

WASHINGTON -- The race for governor in Maryland is more than a year away, but a new poll shows Gov. Bob Ehrlich is facing a tough re-election challenge.

The poll by Potomac Inc. shows Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley leading Ehrlich 45 percent to 39 percent with 16 percent undecided. The poll has a margin of error of 3 percentage points.

A similar poll taken in January 2004 showed the two men even at 40 percent with 20 percent undecided.

Ehrlich would fare better, though, if he faced the other top Democratic challenger: Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan. The new poll shows Ehrlich leading Duncan 44 percent to 38 percent with 18 percent undecided.

http://www.time.com/time/
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1050272,00.html

The 5 Best Big-City Mayors

Wonk 'n' Roller
MARTIN O'MALLEY / BALTIMORE
By MARK THOMPSON/ WASHINGTON
Monday, Apr. 18, 2005

EXCERPT

The telegenic O'Malley is known for his brashness, a trait honed by years of fronting a Celtic rock band and being the eldest son among six siblings. He briefly gained national attention in February for saying that in cutting urban aid, President George W. Bush "is attacking America's cities" in much the same way that the 9/11 hijackers did. His fellow mayors grimaced, and O'Malley quickly backed off the analogy. He also attracted headlines when rumors he was having an extramarital affair ("despicable lies," O'Malley said) exploded into public view, and Republican Governor Robert Ehrlich fired an aide for spreading the story on the Internet.

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.