Maryland, the Old Line State, the frequent battleground for
the Civil War, has become the tipping point for Democratic dominance along the
Eastern Seaboard.
the Civil War, has become the tipping point for Democratic dominance along the
Eastern Seaboard.
Where New Jersey Governor Chris Christie failed, where
Charlie Baker of Massachusetts may stumble, Republican Governor of Maryland Larry
Hogan is winning, taking the conservative message of fiscal prudence, limited
government, and individual liberty and prosperity to a poverty-stricken, tax-weary
Commonwealth overwhelmed by public sector union greed and progressive political
pandering.
Charlie Baker of Massachusetts may stumble, Republican Governor of Maryland Larry
Hogan is winning, taking the conservative message of fiscal prudence, limited
government, and individual liberty and prosperity to a poverty-stricken, tax-weary
Commonwealth overwhelmed by public sector union greed and progressive political
pandering.
The last governor, Democratic two-termer Martin O’Malley,
checked off every left-wing policy talking point: driver’s licenses for illegal
aliens (and granting the illegal alien youth crowding the border places to
leave), gay marriage, and even took a shot at gun control. Like Obama, O’Malley
shot himself in the foot tangling with the Second Amendment, and widespread
advocates stormed Annapolis. So frustrated
were law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, Western Maryland petitioned to secede
from the state and set up their own Commonwealth. Who could blame them? The
state government became so onerous, that allowing kids to play by themselves is
now a crime, as well as chewing a pop tart to look like a pistol!
checked off every left-wing policy talking point: driver’s licenses for illegal
aliens (and granting the illegal alien youth crowding the border places to
leave), gay marriage, and even took a shot at gun control. Like Obama, O’Malley
shot himself in the foot tangling with the Second Amendment, and widespread
advocates stormed Annapolis. So frustrated
were law-abiding, taxpaying citizens, Western Maryland petitioned to secede
from the state and set up their own Commonwealth. Who could blame them? The
state government became so onerous, that allowing kids to play by themselves is
now a crime, as well as chewing a pop tart to look like a pistol!
Maryland, the not-so-Merryland where unfettered Democratic
dominance has turned the religious haven of persecuted Catholics (Lord
Baltimore) into a haven of special interests persecuting businesses, taxpayers,
and all citizens who believe that the government should protect the rights of
the people, rather than the people securing the interests of the state. Did I neglect
to mention that the state’s Obamacare health insurance exchange failed, to the
tune of hundreds of millions of dollars? So badly, that Marylanders looked to
equally unequal and illiberal Connecticut for leadership. Ouch!
dominance has turned the religious haven of persecuted Catholics (Lord
Baltimore) into a haven of special interests persecuting businesses, taxpayers,
and all citizens who believe that the government should protect the rights of
the people, rather than the people securing the interests of the state. Did I neglect
to mention that the state’s Obamacare health insurance exchange failed, to the
tune of hundreds of millions of dollars? So badly, that Marylanders looked to
equally unequal and illiberal Connecticut for leadership. Ouch!
![]("http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7d/Larry-Hogan.JPG") |
| Governor Larry Hogan (R-Maryland) |
Enter Larry Hogan, the Hero of the Maryland and the National
GOP. Who is Larry Hogan, and why should Republicans across the country care? This
former son of a Congressman took Obama’s mantra of Hope and Change, and
established an interest group for all working Marylanders: Change Maryland.
GOP. Who is Larry Hogan, and why should Republicans across the country care? This
former son of a Congressman took Obama’s mantra of Hope and Change, and
established an interest group for all working Marylanders: Change Maryland.
Getting more “likes” the Governor O’Malley’s Community Facebook
page, Hogan’s private associate railed against Annapolis’ tax-and-spendthrift
profligate policies. According to Politico, “Change Maryland” turned into a public
clearing house blasting Maryland’s bad policies without relenting. Hogan’s new media and bipartisan outreach
created a consensus of disconnected taxpayers and local residents Taxed Enough
Already.
page, Hogan’s private associate railed against Annapolis’ tax-and-spendthrift
profligate policies. According to Politico, “Change Maryland” turned into a public
clearing house blasting Maryland’s bad policies without relenting. Hogan’s new media and bipartisan outreach
created a consensus of disconnected taxpayers and local residents Taxed Enough
Already.
In 2014, Hogan launched his campaign for Governor against
Democrat Anthony Brown, the hand-picked successor who would continue the same
profligate, elitist policies of his Democratic predecessor. Brown talked up
environmentalism and gun-control. Hogan listened and learned from the
frustrated and angry Maryland electorate, fed up with the outrageous tax hikes,
spending increases, public sector union grubby grabbing, and the flight of
businesses and economic growth out of the state. O’Malley and the Annapolis
legislature were so tone deaf to the needs of their constituents, they enacted
a rain tax on three counties to deal with the bad roads and polluted Chesapeake
Bay. A rain tax? Are you kidding me?!
Democrat Anthony Brown, the hand-picked successor who would continue the same
profligate, elitist policies of his Democratic predecessor. Brown talked up
environmentalism and gun-control. Hogan listened and learned from the
frustrated and angry Maryland electorate, fed up with the outrageous tax hikes,
spending increases, public sector union grubby grabbing, and the flight of
businesses and economic growth out of the state. O’Malley and the Annapolis
legislature were so tone deaf to the needs of their constituents, they enacted
a rain tax on three counties to deal with the bad roads and polluted Chesapeake
Bay. A rain tax? Are you kidding me?!
Granted, Election 2014 was destined to be a bad year for Democrats,
with the six year itch dragging down the incumbent President’s party. However,
let no one forget that Republicans controlling Congress lost seats in 1998 to “Slick
Willy” Clinton, a reminder that political cycles provide no guarantees.
with the six year itch dragging down the incumbent President’s party. However,
let no one forget that Republicans controlling Congress lost seats in 1998 to “Slick
Willy” Clinton, a reminder that political cycles provide no guarantees.
Hogan got busy, and so do his massive team of volunteers.
Not waiting for inner city residents to “Get the message”, the Maryland
Republican Party took their message to urban
Baltimore County, and upset the political (read, “liberal Democratic”) establishment.
Election Night, two surprises shook the GOP from their dogmatic doldrums: Ed
Gillespie of Virginia was within striking distance of unseating Democratic
incumbent US Senator Mark Warner, and Larry Hogan won a decisive victory in
deep blue Maryland.
Not waiting for inner city residents to “Get the message”, the Maryland
Republican Party took their message to urban
Baltimore County, and upset the political (read, “liberal Democratic”) establishment.
Election Night, two surprises shook the GOP from their dogmatic doldrums: Ed
Gillespie of Virginia was within striking distance of unseating Democratic
incumbent US Senator Mark Warner, and Larry Hogan won a decisive victory in
deep blue Maryland.
The day after Hogan’s historic win, Bloomberg
News pundits shook their heads, scrambling to understand: “How did Larry do
it?” They inadvertently answered their own question, outlining Maryland
residents’ heavy taxation and weariness of Democratic machine-chicanery, and
Hogan’s better campaign to correct those problems.
News pundits shook their heads, scrambling to understand: “How did Larry do
it?” They inadvertently answered their own question, outlining Maryland
residents’ heavy taxation and weariness of Democratic machine-chicanery, and
Hogan’s better campaign to correct those problems.
Governor
Hogan got to work quickly, expanding school choice (and charter schools),
making state government efficient and accountable, with good customer service,
and tackling the state’s heroin epidemic. Most importantly, he pressed for
fiscal restraint, the end of government waste, and the repeal of high taxes and
fees. In his first year, Hogan fulfilled his campaign promise, and repealed
the dreaded, hated rain tax. The otherwise Democratic legislature eased regulations
to improve the economic
climate in the state. The part-time legislature also cut off expensive,
worthless state contracts.
Hogan got to work quickly, expanding school choice (and charter schools),
making state government efficient and accountable, with good customer service,
and tackling the state’s heroin epidemic. Most importantly, he pressed for
fiscal restraint, the end of government waste, and the repeal of high taxes and
fees. In his first year, Hogan fulfilled his campaign promise, and repealed
the dreaded, hated rain tax. The otherwise Democratic legislature eased regulations
to improve the economic
climate in the state. The part-time legislature also cut off expensive,
worthless state contracts.
Last week, Hogan
declared before the state capitol: “It’s
a great time to be a Maryland Republican, isn’t it?” Thinking ahead for his
party and the state, the Governor is targeting key counties, seeking to engage
then expand Republican registration. At the Maryland GOP convention, Hogan
declared: “We’re back!” National Republicans needs to pay attention to this unlikely
hero, who helped revive a brand once badly defeated and declared all but dead.
If the GOP can bounce back in this one-party Democratic mid-Atlantic state,
there is no stopping a Republican resurgence in moribund Rhode Island,
desperately dry California, or in many other otherwise intimidating inner city
communities.
declared before the state capitol: “It’s
a great time to be a Maryland Republican, isn’t it?” Thinking ahead for his
party and the state, the Governor is targeting key counties, seeking to engage
then expand Republican registration. At the Maryland GOP convention, Hogan
declared: “We’re back!” National Republicans needs to pay attention to this unlikely
hero, who helped revive a brand once badly defeated and declared all but dead.
If the GOP can bounce back in this one-party Democratic mid-Atlantic state,
there is no stopping a Republican resurgence in moribund Rhode Island,
desperately dry California, or in many other otherwise intimidating inner city
communities.