Biography
Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. was governor of Maryland from 2003 to 2007 and represented the state for four terms in the U.S. House of ...
Our limitless debt
May 27, 2012
The U.S. debt clock is rapidly approaching $16 trillion. This year's federal deficit is in excess of $1.3 billion. These are staggering sums, mind-numbing in their sheer size. And for the 99.9 percent of us who were not math majors, almost impossible to get one's brain around. But comprehend it we must, as the deficit and what to do about it remain central to the outcome of Campaign 2012.
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In D.C. schools, Obama chooses unions over kids
May 20, 2012
Just when you thought the District of Columbia Opportunity Scholarship Program for poor, predominantly minority kids was fully protected from politics, here comes the Obama administration with another broadside.
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Key demographics of the 2012 campaign: youth, women and Hispanics
May 12, 2012
Campaign 2012 is now joined. The darts heretofore traded between the Obama and Romney camps now have extra-sharp tips. And it's going to stay this way through to Nov. 2. Most pundits predict a "razor close" and "particularly ugly" campaign. I concur.
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Student-athletes need a degree, not a paycheck
May 6, 2012
Many of you know I was fortunate to play high school football at Gilman and college football at Princeton. What most of you do not know is that I worked as a graduate assistant on the Wake Forest football staff to pay for my room and board during law school. These experiences instilled in me a strong sense of the appropriate role of academics and athletics in our secondary schools and colleges. So it should come as no surprise that I have a strong opinion as to the increasingly aggressive calls to pay college athletes in revenue-producing sports.
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Do we have what it takes to beat al-Qaida?
April 27, 2012
Does the U.S. (and the West) possess the internal fortitude to pay the required price to defeat contemporary enemies such asal-Qaidaand its progeny?
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Democrats' insulting play for the 'women's vote'
April 22, 2012
The all-out battle for women's votes has begun in earnest, with the respective presidential campaigns each seeking to take advantage of real (and perceived) mistakes by the opposition and its acolytes.
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Ehrlich: Maryland will reject same-sex marriage
April 13, 2012
Maryland's present flirtation with gay marriage is only the latest chapter in a long-running culture war. In the "Free State's" case, it will ultimately come down to the people through a ballot initiative. A likely result: a coalition of Catholics, African-Americans, Hispanics and conservatives from both sides of the aisle send the measure to a decisive defeat. (Such a result would make Maryland the 32nd state to defeat a gay marriage referendum.) Opponents of all stripes will be tested in unique ways. First and foremost will be how to go about stating an opposing opinion without the usual "ism" and "phobic" charges from the secular left. It's not so easy — being on the cultural defensive never is.
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Obamacare and birth control: Women's health isn't the issue
April 8, 2012
My 16-year career in two legislatures (eight in the Maryland General Assembly and eight in Congress) included many debates on the most divisive issues of our time: Capital punishment, affirmative action, war and peace, impeachment, entitlement reform and abortion rights were guaranteed to generate partisan strife and emotional debate.
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A death-knell for employer-funded insurance
April 1, 2012
The Supreme Court directed a harsh spotlight on Obamacare this past week, but the problems with the law go far beyond the constitutionality of the "individual mandate." One of the great unknowns generated by the passage of Obamacare goes directly to the heart of health care choice: the notion that increased employer costs and regulatory burdens would cause employers to simply pay fines (and send their newly insurance-deprived employees to state-run exchanges) rather than continue employer-subsidized insurance. That some of the largest American companies would consider such a move has caused plenty of Democratic heartburn. In one scenario, AT&T estimated its health care costs would drop from $2.4 billion to $600 million if the company eliminated employee coverage and paid the government-mandated fine instead.
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Obamacare: the 2,300-page monstrosity
March 25, 2012
The most important six hours of recent American history will start to unfold on Monday. That day, the Supreme Court begins three days of oral argument on the legal challenge to President Barack Obama's health care reform law ("Obamacare").
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Give pols a pass for verbal miscues
March 18, 2012
My elementary school principal was fond of reminding his students that the last perfect person walked this Earth 2,000 years ago. (Note to the litigious types over at the ACLU: It was permissible to provide such insight in light of the school's affiliation with the Lutheran Church.) The reminder was typically offered whenever a misbehaving student admitted to a youthful indiscretion. Our wonderful Mr. Zielski simply wished to teach his kids that the human condition means mistakes will be made along the way, and owning up to them will earn forgiveness here and in the hereafter.
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Road to energy independence goes through ANWR, Keystone
March 11, 2012
Sometimes, it is worth our time to step back, to take the long view about seemingly intractable issues affecting our country.
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Wondering aloud: thoughts on religion and politics, energy and athletics
March 4, 2012
Some things I've been wondering about:
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Wondering aloud: thoughts on religion and politics, energy and athletics
March 4, 2012
Some things I've been wondering about:
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Voter ID laws uphold system's integrity
February 24, 2012
Two recent bulletins place progressive outrage about voting rights in interesting perspective.
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The father factor
February 19, 2012
Epidemics typically generate an emotional response from the afflicted, especially where the disease brings about great carnage. Yet, one of the most gruesome conditions within contemporary America proceeds apace, with only periodic bursts of serious attention.
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Gingrich: Inside look at a paradoxical politician
February 12, 2012
One of my favorite activities this primary season is to read the seemingly endless analyses of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich. The profiles run the gamut from glowing to scathing; just about every Washington pundit has a strong opinion of "Mr. Speaker." Yet, most of the talking heads have not worked with the man or known him very well.
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Missing Maryland's 'Voice of Reason'
February 5, 2012
The thought of Ron Smith leaving us so soon is still difficult to fathom. Up to and including his last show on Nov. 28, he was as entertaining, opinionated and combative as ever. He was the self-proclaimed "Voice of Reason," firmly entrenched in the WBAL saddle, issuing quick-witted responses to those who had the guts to engage him on the airwaves. Even with the looming and unwelcome specter of a grave prognosis, when Ron was behind the mic, life temporarily resumed its regular order for him and his loyal listeners.
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Ehrlich and The Sun: Once adversaries, now partners
January 28, 2012
Yes, you read it right. No, it's not April Fool's. But it is a new day for The Sun and the Ehrlichs.
