I-Team: Probe Into Ehrlich's Hiring Possibly Delayed (NCPAC/MD4Bush)

The WBAL Channel ^ | 05/06/05 | WBAL

[conservative in nyc]

The 11 News I-Team has learned state lawmakers may be having second thoughts about a legislative inquiry into the Ehrlich administration's hiring and firing practices.

During Session 2005, leading Democrats in the General Assembly pushed for an investigation into the governor's hiring practices to begin immediately following the legislative session.

But the 11 News I-Team has learned that top Democratic leaders are now thinking about instituting legislative oversight instead of opening a full-blown probe.

WBAL-TV 11 News I-Team reporter David Collins reported at least one political analyst believes an investigation could backfire -- and may even embarrass the Democrats.

--Snip--

Calls for a legislative probe into the Ehrlich administration's hiring and firing practices began after the governor fired his longtime aid Joe Steffen for spreading rumors about Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley's personal life. Steffen admitted doing so on a conservative Web site, Collins said.

But Democrats charged that Ehrlich dispatched Steffen -- nicknamed "The Prince of Darkness" -- to several state agencies to compile lists of state workers for termination due to their political affiliation.

Now, about nine weeks later, the Democrats still haven't taken their probe off their drawing board, Collins said.

"Something like this can really be poisonous if it opens up and you get prosecutors and subpoenas involved because what you are looking at is the past couple of Democratic administrations," political analyst Frank DeFilippo said.

[conservative in nyc]

The Democrats are hesitant to look further into the NCPAC/MD4Bush/Rumorgate issue. I wonder why.... They seemed so gung ho back in February

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush PING!

[Keith in Iowa]

They can't handle the truth apparently??

[Jim Robinson]

"...at least one political analyst believes an investigation could backfire -- and may even embarrass the Democrats.

Hmmmm

"Something like this can really be poisonous if it opens up and you get prosecutors and subpoenas involved because what you are looking at is the past couple of Democratic administrations,"

Hmmmmmmmmmmm

[conservative in nyc]

Seems like the MD Democrats don't want to look into the firing issue because so many of the patronage jobs were created and are still filled by Democrat hacks. And they don't want to look into who spread the O'Malley infidelity rumors because it might come back to haunt them when it is revealed that NCPAC didn't do much of the spreading.

When you pick up a rock, you don't know what will come out from under it.

[advance_copy]

Annapolis DemocRATS: "Nobody in here but us chickens."

[mr.sarcastic]

And, not formally launching an investigation will allow the Dems to continue with unsubstantiated claims, innuendos, lies, and half-truths come election season.

C'mon NCPAC, get those subpeonas rolling.....

[clyde260]

""...at least one political analyst believes an investigation could backfire -- and may even embarrass the Democrats.
Hmmmm

"Something like this can really be poisonous if it opens up and you get prosecutors and subpoenas involved because what you are looking at is the past couple of Democratic administrations,"

Hmmmmmmmmmmm"

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

[Mad_Tom_Rackham]

[But the 11 News I-Team has learned that top Democratic leaders are now thinking about instituting legislative oversight instead of opening a full-blown probe...at least one political analyst believes an investigation could backfire -- and may even embarrass the Democrats.

Ya think?

Out of power and desperate, the Dims have been overplaying their hand for years. IMO, ever time they cry about, say, vote fraud, or campaign finance irregularities, etc., we should agree and jump in with a full and thorough, high-publicity investigation. The Rats are up to their necks in criminal conduct 24x7, and this needs to be exposed big time.

[Abundy]

In speaking with a long-time employee of the MD DNR he was able to admit post-Glendenning that one of the previous heads of wildlife was terminated by Glendenning for, gasp, allowing a drawing of a child and a parent holding guns on the cover of the MD Hunting Regulations...the guy was loved by Wildlife and had done a great job. The day the regs were released he was called into the governor's office and dismissed merely because the drawing portrayed a kid holding a firearm. (never mind he was obviously hunting with his parent)


The Dems really don't want to open an investigation that might expose just how political and unethical Glendenning was.

[GOP_1900AD]

Score one more for us "pajama" brigade members!