"EMBARRASSMINTS" (or "EmbarrassMENTS") Recently, I saw a "Corner for Politics" in a small Maine store, where down east humor provided an appealing product line. Two small jars of candy mints were labeled "EMBARRASSMINTS". One had a picture of a grinning George Bush, and the other label carried a photo of Hillary Clinton with a "shut up and listen to me" facial expression. Are these embarrassMINTS really embarrassMENTS?

WISE OL' MAINE
Speaking from a “summah” perspective "up heah" in Maine, let's begin with some straight talking Maine wisdom, where citizens here are known for direct comments and low-key humor. One gathering place of wisdom is the Nobleboro Village Store where a longtime friend dispensed his thoughts on our "Free"(?) State politics nearly two years after the replacement of Republican Governor Bob Ehrlich by Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley. Noting that Maryland has a political monopoly of Democrats, an observation by a multi-talented senior citizen and one-time Leader of the Maine Legislature, real estate agent, and local minister, all wrapped up in one human being who was equally blessed with a truthful sense of humor asked, "George, is Maryland's state capital building going back to being a ‘DOME WITH A CASH REGISTER UNDER IT’?”

After my sides stopped twitching with laughter and the humor of an "Embarrassmint" faded, I turned to a more serious current example: this year's endless presidential/political campaign wherein the beneficiaries continue to be the political consultants, the ad agencies and the media cash registers.

The bipartisan spirit of former Maine office holders must be unanimous in condemnation of this trend. A poll should be taken up "theah" of the late Senator Margaret Chase Smith (whose first speech on the Senate floor condemned the Communist "witch hunter" Joe McCarthy), and "heah" of Senator George Mitchell (who negotiated a peace treaty for northern Ireland), and Senator Bill Cohen, a moderate Republican who served as Secretary of Defense in the Clinton Cabinet. All of these individuals could work across party lines and help get the job done. Mitchell and Cohen worked together to keep defense business for essential navy ships coming through Bath Iron Works and its efficient production record.

These three Maine Senators succeeded because they were steeped in reality and not tempted by what my longtime friend and onetime boss Milton Eisenhower advised when I started work at the Office of Management & Budget, on White House Fellowship: "George, the biggest danger to avoid in Washington is not getting obsessed, as too many are, with the VERTICAL PRONOUN."

Now may be the time for a REAL poll on whether we are accumulating new business, political, journalistic and even religious embarrassments:

THE BALTIMORE SUN
In the latest "Hurricane Zell": Tribune Company czar and new Sunpapers owner Sam Zell has blown away 20% more of a decreasing newsroom staff, including the entire business section of the paper. This was done last week during the current economic downturn, sending a message that "Zell & Co." simply can't afford to report or analyze economic impacts on business in the Maryland region. It is almost as if the economy is not a factor of value in good journalistic coverage.

Business mogul Zell claims that greater attention needs to be given to advertising; therefore, no Business section is needed. Question: Where do the advertising dollars come from? Political contributors who feed the candidates' advertising appetites? Are more ads from car dealers replacing business news?

The answer to these questions may become apparent when, held to a bright light, a blank Business Section says, "Sorry! Nothing to Report! " Pardon me, absentee landlord Zell! As a human example of the latest "buy out or get out" program, longtime respected business journalist Bill Salagnik was forced out of the newsroom. Is THAT the way to phase down and out a newspaper that once had a solid reputation?

From a declining standard of journalism to another storm, pure politics wins out over government management.

"MARYLAND'S GATHERING STORM"
Speaking of hurricanes, there is another so aptly described by longtime political analyst Barry Rascovar. The "gathering storm" he referenced: "Gov. O'Malley failed to act in support of exceedingly mild budget reductions by the executive agency charged with fiscal management”. In many cases, Rascovar describes "management" as "simply shifting funds from one account to another". Bluntly put, he notes that, "Overall, O'Malley's budget cuts amount to a lost opportunity. He didn't prepare the ship of state for that gathering storm on his political radar screen".

State tax receipts are falling short of estimates by more than $100 million for this fiscal year that closed June 30. How do the O'Malley administration and the Legislature's czars Mike Miller and Michael Busch think the deficit will be closed? Is their answer: by adding further burden to heavily taxed Maryland businesses and citizens having to shell out much more for gasoline and other financial concerns in the months ahead?

Like their national counterparts, Maryland politicians had better move beyond rhetoric and attack ad promises to deliver RESULTS! And, what are those results? Answer: an elementary school answer like Suzanne's and my grandchildren will be learning: "Don't spend other people's money when they do not have it to give you"!

Is this too much to ask of a Governor and legislators whose objective is spending more to be reelected?  4:12 PM •  0 Comments •