Ehrlich: E-Mails Part Of Dems' Orchestrated Effort (MD4Bush-NCPAC)

WBAL-TV ^ | 4/21/05

[William McKinley]

The governor reacted strongly the day after private e-mails between a former aide and someone called MD4Bush became public.

Gov. Bob Ehrlich reacted Thursday to the private e-mails that the 11 News I-Team first reported Wednesday. Collins said Ehrlich is using the e-mail messages to bolster his claim that the Democrats are behind an orchestrated effort.

"It appears that an orchestrated effort was put together to inflict political damage on our administration," Ehrlich said...

Excerpt: Link here.

Mod Note: Historical thread here.

[HowlinglyMind-BendingAbsurdity]

Well, well... As we suspected...

[evad]

The Gov. is a pragmatic republican in a state that is rabidly Pro-Dim. Baltimore and the DC suburb counties (including the infamous Montgomery Co.) usually decide the state and federal elections for the rest of us. MD had an abortion referendum over ten years ago, so no pro-life pol will bear down on it much. Ron Smith is a "paleo-conservative" talk show host who opposes the war, but generally supports the GOP. WBAL's radio and TV stations are somewhat independant of each other. Actually a good strategy -that way you can appeal to the broader populance (and sell advertisers on either).

Couldn't have said it better myself.

It's very disheartening to watch such a beautiful state repeatedly dragged down by the voters in 2 counties and 1 city.....but, that's Maryland.

[FourtySeven]

Why did Ehlrich fire the aide? I remember Steffen apologizing or being asked to apologize by Ehrlich. I'm just wondering.

Ehlrich accepted Steffen's resignation. Steffen resigned because he saw the writing on the wall, that the Dems wanted to use him against Ehlrich, so the best way to contain the mess was to have Steffen resign. Steffen also apologized at the request of Ehlrich.

All of this doesn't show "guilt" on Steffen's part though. As you can see from this thread, and this one, Steffen was clearly prodded and set up by MD4Bush. Since, though, the WaPo is a leftist rag, as well as all other print/television media in MD, both Steffen and Ehlrich knew that there'd be no reasonable way to get the "truth" out, so Steffen was asked to resign. Granted this report was done by WBAL-TV, but expect this side, the side of the truth, to never really be mentioned by WBAL TV again, or the WaPo ever, or the Sun, or any other left leaning media in the state, which is virtually all of them. Thus the need for the resignation and "apology".

Don't take either of those as a sign of guilt though; nothing could be farther from the truth. It's just smart politics, given the reality of the situation.

[conservative in nyc]

I wonder more how the Washington Post got their hands on some of MD4Bush's FReepmails way back in February, while claiming not to know MD4Bush's identity. (Remember - MD4Bush dumped NCPAC's e-mails ONLY on this website tbe night of the first WaPo story) It appears that WBAL-TV just got them in April. At least WBAL is trying to investigate further, unlike the Washington Post.

[mr.sarcastic]

Is Ehrlich a RINO, or an actual conservative? Was the Democrat he was against mired in scandal in the last election?

I would describe Ehrlich as a Rudy Guiliani conservative, which is about as conservative you can be and still get elected statewide in Maryland. His strongest attribute as a politician is his straightforwardness... whether you agree or disagree with him, you always know where he stands.

The democrat he defeated in '02 was Kathleen Kennedy Townsend, the sitting Lt. Gov. at the time. She considered the election a mere formality on the way to her coronation.

[mr.sarcastic]

Welcome to FR. Over the past few days it appears that you've been trying very hard to establish your conservative credibility, but something smells funny. You're trying too hard. You're seem to be from the Maryland area, and you need to read all of the historical threads on this issue before adding your uninformed $0.02. Your opinion on the matter would change. Read and learn, grasshopper.

[DarthVader]

He used to be my state rep and congressman before I went to VA. Personally he is more conservative than he is politically. He does it to set up a coalition to get elected.

He walloped KKT nice, didn't he?

[enots]

Erhlich has already begun to retaliate against the Maryland Democratic machinery !!!!!

Erhlich had Curran's close personal friend and political crony, Gilbert sapperstein indicted March 18, 2005 for an alleged Baltimore school system $3 million fraud scheme.

[GOP_1900AD]

The problem is, if he did, then he'd be on shaky ground in terms of protecting the IDs of all other FReepers. Whereas, with a subpoena, he can in the future, fight any claims that a precedent was set, in instances where the press or even governments try to find FReepers IDs without subpoenas. It's best to err extremely on the side of privacy.

[mr.sarcastic]

Your point is well taken, and I agree with a policy of erring on the side of privacy. I just wonder if there can be some kind of exception for those who violate the privacy of other Freepers by publicly releasing private communications for purposes of defamation. I know... it's a simple concept with complicated legal implications.

All of this could be resolved if someone would just follow through with the investigation and start issuing subpoenas. I'm certain their trouble would result in one heck of a damaging story about the local corrupt democrats or local corrupt media.