Jousting for Justice

"It was a last minute thing, and it's at 9pm at night on a Sunday. I doubt there will be too many people there," I told my crowd-phobic sister, in persuading her and her husband to join us at a rally in Upper Marlboro last night. Famous last words.

In spite of my belief that all political rallies involving Bill Clinton will inevitably start at least an hour late, we got in the car and headed down to Prince George's County early. Early! By the time we pulled into the parking lot, the place was already packed.

The swag was everywhere, and O'Malley campaign volunteers had thought of an ingenious way to capitalize on the O'Malley Green branding. They handed out green glow sticks to the crowd, who promptly turned them into jewelry and head bands. And let me tell you, there was standing room only.

In fact, people were getting downright a little too friendly and into the claustrophobic realm as they crowded into the room. Jazz music was playing while we waited. A chorus sang, and the county executive gave a rousing introduction. Then Anthony Brown spoke and really touched some people with his stories of voting in Iraq.

Both O'Malley and Cardin got a raucous welcome. In a role reversal, O'Malley was more subdued than usual, and it was Cardin who threw fire. I could not help but again reflect that this is a ticket in Maryland that I can be very proud of.

My camera only records video in 3 minute intervals and doesn't have the best microphone on it, but due to the steady arm of my husband we managed to get a lot of the speeches.

I was particularly proud of the way O'Malley whacked Ehrlich for saying "multiculturalism is bunk." O'Malley encouraged people to look around the room, and said, "We are a multicultural state, in the most powerful and strongest multicultural nation ever created, on the face of God's multicultural planet."

Visit the site. Lots of vids from the rally and if these don't get you fired up for tomorrow nothing will.

Howard County Board of Elections

I have heard that there are about 10,000 absentee ballots for HoCo. That would mean that ALL of the ballots would have to be for Merdon for him to win. Congratulations Ken!

Dear CDC members:

Mark your calendars for January 11, 2006 at 7:30 p.m. This is when the Howard County State Delegation will hold its public hearing on local bills being introduced during the 2006 session of the Maryland General Assembly. As usual, the meeting will take place in the Banneker Room of the George Howard Building, where the County Council meets. Newly re-elected Delegate Shane Pendergrass will remain as Chair of the House delegation.

Stay tuned for further details about legislation to be considered, etc.

Sincerely,

Kristen Neville
CDC State Legislation Chair

Md. Tactics Similar To Ones in 2002

The six Trailways motorcoaches draped in Ehrlich and Steele campaign banners rumbled down Interstate 95 just before dawn on Election Day.

On board, 300 mostly poor African Americans from Philadelphia ate doughnuts, sipped coffee and prepared to spend the day at the Maryland polls. After an early morning greeting from Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s wife, Kendel, they would fan out in white vans across Prince George's County and inner-city Baltimore, armed with thousands of fliers that appeared to be designed to trick black Democrats into voting for the two Republican candidates.

The glossy fliers bore photos of black Democratic leaders on the front. Under the headline "Democratic Sample Ballot" were boxes checked in red for Ehrlich and Senate candidate Michael S. Steele, who were not identified as Republicans. Their names were followed by a long list of local Democratic candidates.

There's more discussion at The Daily Howler.