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I Love a Charade
I hope everyone had a blast celebrating Independence Day – even more so in spite of, or maybe because of – the unexpected and bizarrely timed resignation of Alaska’s Governor and former VP candidate, Sarah Palin.
Of course, bizarrely timed or not, Sarah Palin at least announced SOMETHING – unlike Maryland’s former governor and now talk show host, Bob Ehrlich, who remains safely on the fence while being besotted with the imploring cries of those in his dwindling, yet adoring, flock.
Still, if the parades of July 4th just passed are any indication, Ehrlich is doing one Hell of a job not running for governor. Either that, or the Ehrlich Pest Control company has some vocal fans which, since they at least get rid of pests, would make more sense.
Let’s look at just a few of the parades, for example:
Talk show host Ehrlich was at the Dundalk Parade with his handlers, glad handing and shaking it up like every other non-candidate does. Actual candidates and actual elected officials were there, as well, Baltimore County Executive Jim Smith among them. And, of course, there was the usual coterie of local delegates and various hangers on. Bob does love Dundalk and, by most accounts, Dundalk loves the talk show host.
Then there was the Catonsville Parade. While Mr. Ehrlich did not grace Catonsville with his non-candidate presence, supporters of his (or of Ehrlich Pest Control) were, indeed, present, These fine folks were wielding “We Heart Ehrlich” signs, much, I’m sure, to the chagrin of rival pest control companies and Governor O’Malley, the latter of whom was in the Catonsville Parade and received both cheers and jeers. Senator Mikulski, perhaps noticing some thunder on the right, was also at the Catonsville Parade and, likewise received a mixed greeting.
And, of course, there was the Bel Air Parade. To begin with, love him or hate him, you have to give O’Malley props for attending the Bel Air Parade for the simple fact he had to know he was going to get booed with a vengeance in Harford County. And he did, as did newly minted Congressman, Frank “Reporting Violations” Kratovil.
Yet, unlike the non-candidate talk show host, Bob Ehrlich, these two actual elected officials did the parade route, as did Ehrlich protoge and would be Congressman, State Senator Andy Harris. Of course, along with boos he received, Governor O’Malley was also greeted by more of those “We Heart Ehrlich” signs that either the pest control company or supporters of the former Governor had given out in advance of and during the parade.
Interestingly enough, those doing the most for Mr. Ehrlich at the Bel Air Parade included Harford’s own Senator Nancy Jacobs, for whom I have a lot of respect, and “Young Turk” Ryan Nawrocki, of whom I am beginning to admire his sheer audacity…or am increasingly amazed at his, and the whole Ehrlich Family’s, escalating political tone-deafness. I’m not sure which…
(Rather than advertising for a pest control company at the various July 4th Parades, MD Republicans could have been handing out the above and actually supporting an actual candidate for governor. But, nooooo……….!)
Regardless, whatever is going on in the collective minds of Team Ehrlich, what they don’t seem to realize is that Bob Ehrlich’s “Hamlet” act is beyond getting old and tired. Except upon those most hardcore faithful of his who apparently believe that to get to the future you have to resurrect the past, Ehrlich’s Hamlet routine is not engineering suspense and longing – but, rather, derision and ridicule. I hear it all the time – in terms far harsher than I’ve ever written on this blog.
No matter who gets the GOP nod for governor, whether it’s Mike Pappas, Bob Ehrlich – should his ass ever get sore enough to get off that fence one way or the other – or someone else, that person is going to have one Hell of a fight on his or her hands when it comes to trying to take out Governor O’Malley in 2010.
In order to take on a fight of that magnitude, the last thing you need is Hamlet, displaying an arrogance that is nothing sort of breathtaking, playing on the emotions of his most ardent supporters. What you need is someone with backbone, someone who’s willing to damn the torpedoes no matter what anyone else is or isn’t doing. Is that “someone” Mike Pappas? Well, to date he’s the only one to throw his hat in the ring without regard to, or concern for, Mr. Ehrlich’s designs or timetable.
It is true that the MDGOP was once Bob Ehrlich’s party. That’s no longer the case. For the first time in 15 years it really is no longer “all about Bob” – or at least it shouldn’t be if the party has any hope for any manner of future success.
And no number of “We Heart Ehrlich” signs are going to change that.
