Free Republic

THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OF Maryland has just one key responsibility under the law: to finish out the term of the state's chief executive if he or she no longer can serve. But a good lieutenant governor can carve out a meaningful role in the administration of the state -- and that potential is what voters should be looking for in a candidate. Both Democrat Anthony G. Brown and Republican Kristen Cox have experience in government. He served eight years in the state legislature; she's been a Cabinet secretary since 2003. But of the two, Mr. Brown has the experience and...

Free Republic is a longtime hangout for me and sometimes things get pretty interesting. The current big story has all the complexity and treachery of a Russian novel.In October of 2004, a Freeper who goes by the handle of MD4BUSH began making posts on Free Republic urging Republicans to "play dirty" in the 2004 election. MD4BUSH represented himself as a staunch Republican. He lured another poster named NCPAC into his confidence and then posted alleged private "freep-mails" between the two. MD4BUSH baited  NCPAC into discussing sexual rumors about Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. When MD4BUSH brought the exchanges to the attention of the...

Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley yesterday accused agents of Maryland Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s administration of spreading false rumors that he had an extramarital affair, and Ehrlich responded hours later by dismissing a longtime employee. The mayor, a Democrat considering a bid for governor in 2006, said he believes that the widespread and persistent rumors were part of a "concerted and orchestrated and sustained" effort and called on the Republican governor to apologize to his wife and children. "I don't think any of us run for office expecting that this sort of hurt will be heaped on our kids or...

The State Highway Administration purchasing official who paid $26.99 a can for windshield de-icer that costs about 97 cents at retail is still on the job and still has a government-issued credit card, lawmakers learned yesterday. SHA Administrator Neil J. Pedersen told the General Assembly's Joint Audit Committee that the employee and others who paid exorbitant amounts for janitorial and maintenance items have not been disciplined because of a pending criminal investigation. Pedersen said they have retained their credit cards - which were used to purchase such items as toilet bowl cleaner at 16 times its retail cost - because...