New governor offers overdue dose of integrity
While Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend took to the podium on election evening to graciously congratulate Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. on his victory and thank Gov. Parris N. Glendening for granting her the opportunity to serve the people of Maryland, Mr. Glendening was telling a reporter that hers was "one of the worst-run campaigns in the country" ("Townsend moves on down a different trail," Nov. 8).
Not only is Mr. Glendening's remark incredibly tasteless and another reminder why we should be counting the days until he leaves office, it overlooks his significant contributions to Ms. Townsend's loss.
Mr. Glendening guided the state to a projected $1.7 billion shortfall. He also betrayed the mostly Democratic donors who contributed to his campaign by using leftover funds to try to defeat a fellow Democratic officeholder, acted improperly in seeking the chancellorship of the University System of Maryland while governor and vindictively tried to sell off the land for the Intercounty Connector, a project he once supported.
His well-documented personal lapses could not have helped Ms. Townsend's prospects much, either.
I didn't sense any anticipation from the public for Mr. Glendening's wisdom or insight about the election results. And I hope most Marylanders are appalled by his latest betrayal of a loyal supporter and are looking forward to Mr. Ehrlich providing a much-needed dose of character to the governor's mansion.
Gene Harrington
Laurel
Ehrlich's platform isn't much different
It is certain that our new governor has a plethora of things to do, but let's avoid emphasizing the obstacles he will have to face as a Republican in a Democratic state ("Now for the real work," editorial, Nov. 6).
The most important parts of Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s platform -- such as economic development, education and environmental protection -- are not so different from the Democratic platform.
Yes, there will be a struggle over Mr. Ehrlich's slot-machine and abortion policies, but that is it. Other things will go as smoothly as they did for Democratic governors.
Grigoriy Kostrikin
Baltimore
Democrats can block the Ehrlich agenda
Gov.-elect Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., the new political moderate with a conservative congressional record, has promised new leadership on solving Maryland's fiscal, economic and social issues. But he will hardly be in a position to lead.
The heavily Democratic legislature will have the clout to keep him in check by controlling the legislative agenda.
Hence, the only leadership he will exert is on policies that the Maryland Senate and House of Delegates support. And those bodies are unlikely to approve legislation that reflects Mr. Ehrlich's very conservative philosophy on the role of government.
Under Governor Ehrlich, the legislature will govern and the governor will spend much of his time as a ceremonial leader, until he is dethroned by Montgomery County Executive Doug Duncan, Mayor Martin O'Malley or some other Democrat in 2006.
George Dengler
Baltimore
Denying role of race ignores the obvious
The fallacious logic of the letter-writers who responded to the question of racism in the defeat of Judge Alexander Wright Jr.'s re-election bid amazes me ("Voter racism played no role in judge's defeat," Nov. 13).
One writer responded that "Judge-elect Patrick Cavanaugh is a qualified candidate," as if Judge Wright was not. The next says she "certainly recognized the other candidates' names." But the names Finifter and Jakubowski were on the same signs as Judge Wright's name.
The writer of the third letter suggests that the victory of the state's new lieutenant governor somehow shows that racism could not be a factor. I guess we are to believe that those votes were cast for Michael S. Steele, not Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.
Continuing to deny a known factor in politics such as racism to justify the behavior of the majority population does nothing to improve our society.
Pikesville
Offer better reason to add women to club
If one of my seventh-grade students handed in an essay with a broad and unsupported statement like the one found in The Sun's editorial about Augusta National Golf Club -- "It's just not possible these days to play host to the world at a venue that excludes women members" ("Par for the course," Nov. 15) -- I would send it back to be rewritten with some actual reasons.
"It just isn't" isn't a reason that holds up.
Raymond F. Saunders
Towson
American values are simply superior
Fawaz Gerges asserts that "the recent assassination of a senior U.S. diplomat in Jordan should not have been a surprise" ("War plays into hands of Islamic terrorists," Opinion Commentary, Nov. 8).
Indeed, it is no surprise. Yet we Americans would be shocked, surprised and horrified should an Iraqi diplomat be killed here on U.S. soil.
And we all know that any such assassination here in the United States would be roundly repudiated by people across the political spectrum as anathema to our commonly held values.
This comes down to values and morality. And our values are better.
Bruce Blumenthal
Baltimore
It's Israelis' rights that are violated
The letter "Palestinians rights are abused every day" (Nov. 10) was profoundly off the mark.
The writer said that it is the Palestinians whose "basic human rights are violated every day because of their ethnicity," and stated: "There is no simpler or more accurate way to describe the Israeli government's policy toward the Palestinians other than downright cruel racism."
It would be more accurate to describe the policies of the Palestine Liberation Organization and like-minded movements such as Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hezbollah and al-Qaida toward Israel as religious prejudice that violates Israelis' basic religious rights and their human right simply to live.
Barbara Ann Bloom
Baltimore
A welcome tribute to the cauliflower
In all the many years I have been reading The Sun, I have never enjoyed an article as much as I did Mike Tauraso's article "Something to be said for oft-overlooked cauliflower" (Oct. 23).
This was the first time I ever laughed out loud reading a Sun food feature. And, aside from his sound cooking advice -- his recipes cast an appealing light on an otherwise boring vegetable -- Mr. Tauraso has an engaging, humorous and delightful writing style.
I hope to see more of his work in The Sun.
Alice A. Trawinski
East Berlin, Pa.