A Week in the Life of Governor O’Malley – To Do or Not To Do Wall Street Journal columnist, citybizlist blogger, City Paper founder, economic conservative, social libertarian Russ Smith wrote an editorial in the The Wall Street Journal and citybizlist last week entitled “Maryland’s Do Nothing-Left” regarding the slow start of the O’Malley administration.

Smith wrote, “Could this be a new model for the Democrats? Lots of talk aimed at the party’s base, only to be followed by very little substantive action once handed the responsibilities of governing?”

eViews wanted to bring some third party objectivity to Russ Smith’s editorial. Press releases were used as the data points. A comparison with Pennsylvania Governor Rendell provides an interesting reference.

In just one day of press releases, Governor Rendell exhibits a broad swath of initiatives and responses related to economic development, agriculture, the environment, flood recovery, housing, youth and taxes.

Can someone show me anything at all that O’Malley has done since he started his term in January? Smith states that “He’s looking to get a sense of the national mood before committing himself to policy.” He continues “ … the media are letting the governor get away with doing nothing.”

Russ Smith’s conclusion was “Sometime even doing nothing has its risks.”

If political expediency is O’Malley’s modus operandi , here’s one that piggybacks on Blue and Red. On Friday, Barack Obama unveiled his plan for a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (NLCFS). In January 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger of California established a low carbon fuel standard for transportation fuels sold in his state. Obama’s proposal would create a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard (NLCFS) based on the California proposal. Republicans and democrats are coming together for the good of all.

Perhaps it’s time for less touring, signing, congratulating and applauding, and more time for “making government work again” as was the title of O’Malley’s April 10th press release.

“Politics is the art of postponing decisions until they are no longer relevant.”

Henri Queuille

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Governor O’Malley’s April

April 11 – Governor O’Malley Tours Green School in Montgomery County

April 10 – Governor O’Malley Signs Legislation to Make Government Work Again

April 9 – Governor O’Malley Congratulates General Assembly on Successful Session

April 3 – Governor O’Malley Applauds Creation of The Maryland Life Sciences Advisory Board
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Governor Rendell’s April 18th

April 18th – Governor Rendell Responds To Court Ruling Regarding Willow Grove

April 18th
Governor Rendell Announces $927,000 Investment To Help PA Businesses Increase Use of Recyclable Materials in Finished Products

April 18th

DCNR Explores Innovative Soil Solutions To Boost Survival Of Urban Trees

April 18th

DEP Releases Third Round of Test Results From Environmental Assessment in Selinsgrove

April 18th
Earth Day Celebration Brings Agriculture To Urban Philadelphia Students

April 18th
Governor Rendell Proclains April 22-28 Energy Conservation Week

April 18th
Governor Rendell Say Luzerne County Receiving Additional $650,000 To Create Jobs Fund Flood Recovery Efforts

April 18th
Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian American Affairs Comments on VA Tech Tragedy


April 18th
Latest State Investment For Wilkes-Barre Housing Project To Create New Opportunities for City’s Young Adults

April 18th
Pennsylvania Gives Storm Victims Additional Time To File Income Taxes

Labels: Governor O'Malley, Maryland, Politics, Russ Smith

  3:26 PM •  1 Comments • Links to this post

A TRIBUTE TO THE HONORABLE J. CARTER BEESE, JR. The premature death of The Honorable J. Carter Beese, Jr. earlier this week left many Marylanders stunned, saddened, and ultimately puzzled.

In the annals of charmed lives, the Honorable J. Carter Beese had made an improbable and Algeresque journey from son of an FBI agent in New Jersey to the rarified halls of government and business. From afar, his life seemed miraculously blessed. The road to Alex Brown in the early 80s had three typical entry points: Gilman, Griswold or The Harvard Business School, rather than his New Jersey and Rollins College roots.

Yet Mr. Beese swam with the sharks and Captain Krongard, rising with the tide to become Vice-Chairman of Alex Brown before uniquely taking the road less traveled by other former Brownies - government service with the SEC and OPIC.

Perhaps his passing will give us time to reflect. A quote from another New Jersey native comes to mind:

“When things are bad, we take comfort in the thought that they could always get worse. And when they are, we find hope in the thought that things are so bad they have to get better.”
Malcolm Forbes

His life was honorable, and we will remember it.

Labels: Alex Brown, Carter Beese, Maryland

  2:15 PM •  2 Comments • Links to this post