Gov. Ehrlich Chooses Running Mate

WTOP on-line ^ | June 28, 2006 | no byline

[sitetest]

WASHINGTON -- Maryland Governor Bob Ehrlich has chosen a running mate, WTOP Political Analyst Mark Plotkin has learned.

Ehrlich will choose Kristen Cox, the current Secretary of the Department of Disabilities, as his lieutenant governor. Cox, who is almost completely blind, will be named by the governor in Annapolis on Thursday.

Cox, 36, served in the Bush administration in the Department of Education in 2001. She lives in Towson with her husband and two sons.

Incumbent Lt. Governor Michael Steele is currently running for U.S. Senate.

Ehrlich and Cox will face Democrats Martin O'Malley and Anthony Brown in the November election.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Wouldn't being able to do things like read bills and survey damage be important?

For one thing the article says she's "almost completely blind." But even if she can't read normally, there's such things as Braille and Kurzweil machines. Description and tactile maps would help her survey damage.

In any case, considering how many politicians get elected who can't think, having one who merely can't see would be a step up.

[sitetest]

Dear moose2004,

Registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans 2-1 in Maryland.


sitetest

[Vision]

Do you know of any successful blind politicians?

[JohnnyZ]

Its all about political correctness. Its just plain stupid and transparent.

OTOH, what's to say this lady wouldn't be better than most other choices, regardless of her physical characteristics? At this point I know nothing to say she wouldn't do a good job.

One might surmise that she's dealt with adversity and worked harder than most to live a full life despite being nearly blind.

[the Real fifi]

Well, then we can laugh when they are proven wrong by the voters yet again.

Ehrlich and Steele won in a very predominately Democratic state and even the phony poll shows how well-regarded he is. He has accomplished a lot when you consider he is constantly fighting a rearguard action from the local press and Dem state legislature.

He's a fine, decent man and the only sort of Republican who can win in Md.

[JohnnyZ]

Post 15 cowboy

Stupid AND rude, good start. But can you complete the trifecta?

[Vision]

Can you stop being a drama queen and make a point?

[sitetest]

Dear the Real fifi,

"He's a fine, decent man and the only sort of Republican who can win in Md."

All the assertions made herein are dubious. He has turned out to be neither a fine nor a decent man. As to what sort of Republicans can win in Maryland, we know that the fiery conservative Ellen Sauerbrey came within 5,000 dead people in Baltimore of winning in 1994.

As well, the presence of Mr. Steele on the ticket likely put Mr. Ehrlich over the top in 2002, and he is very much more conservative than Mr. Ehrlich, especially on most social issues.

It is not at all obvious that we have to run a Democrat-Lite to win the statehouse.


sitetest

[JohnnyZ]

Can you stop being a drama queen and make a point?

Something intelligent like "Duh, blind people can't be politicians, uh, uh, they can't see things"?

No, I don't think I could approach that level of, um, "intelligence".

[NicknamedBob]

Thanks for the ping.

[Vision]

Ok, how about more extremely obvious things like what image this will put in the mind of voters. It's not really a choice of strength. I've never heard of her in local politics.

[Celtjew Libertarian]

Do you know of any successful blind politicians?

Some days, I think all of them are blind... 8>).

In any case, I couldn't think any off the top of my head, but with a little research, I found Thomas Schall, who was a Congressman and Senator from 1915 to 1935 and Thomas Gore, who was a Senator from 1907 to 1921 and again from 1931 to 1937.

I can't find anyone who's risen that high since then -- then again, it's been a quick search. Richard B. Teitelman is currently a judge on the Supreme Court of Missouri -- I guess justice is blind in his case.

In any case, I don't see what's to prevent a blind person from being a successful politicians, especially as technology is more and more able to make up for loss of vision.

[MinorityRepublican]

Ping!

[Vision]

I'm sure she can be anything she wants to be.

She's the Secretary of the Department of Disabilities. Not exactly a front line culture war or high stress position. What's going to happen when the papers are stabbing her in the back, Mike Bush stalls slots, and the owners of Pimlico are threatening to move the Preakness to another state. And, she have to become a historically great figure in the history of blind politicians to achieve the governorship after Ehrlich is gone.

I don't like this at all.

[Vision]

And, do you think the country could be ready for a blind women president since the governorships are the bush leagues for POTUS. I just see this as a huge waste of resource by an insecure politician. And can you imagine what happens if O'Malley wins?

[Hillsdale Guy]

What do we know about her positions and record?

[Celtjew Libertarian]

I don't know enough about her to judge how she'd be as a politician in a high-stress position. And it's quite possible that her being blind was the major factor in her getting the nomination -- I certainly think it was a factor. How she'll handle pressure is a legitimate question, as it is for any politician.

However, your original question was how she is going read bills and deal with disasters. Quite a different question.

[Vision]

However, your original question was how she is going read bills and deal with disasters. Quite a different question

Those are all my points. What is your point?

[JohnnyZ]

do you think the country could be ready for a blind women president since the governorships are the bush leagues for POTUS

There's no way in hell I'd vote Ehrlich for President, he's too liberal. So there's an equal or better chance that this lady would be worth voting for some day, in your hypothetical scenario.

[sitetest]

You're welcome.