Posted on 03/11/2005 8:10:56 AM PST by Recovering_Democrat
FLASH: Sen. Paul Sarbanes (D), longest-serving Senator in Maryland history, is expected to announce this afternoon that he will not seek a sixth term in 2006, ROLL CALL reporting... Developing...
Alan Keyes? (sarcasm button off)
YES! And Lt. Governor Michael Steele is the Republican that could do so! My prediction is that he is the first black Republican Senator since Edward Brooke (Massachusetts Senator from '67-79).
Ping!
Fascinating proposition. What a war that will be.
Sarbanes, the Mr Anonymous of the Senate, to step down after thirty years in obscurity. I have heard that Queasy Mfume will run for this seat? True Marylanders?
Michael Steele? Perfect choice. Here's to hoping the GOP will sink some cash into his candidacy.
Regards, Ivan
Unfortunately, I agree with you. While there is always hope - Bobby Ehrlich was elected Governor, after all - I tend to think that the People's Democratic State of Maryland will return the office to the leftist fold since the state Dem party should have learned that they can not run a complete ditz and expect to win.
In January 2003, Michael Steele earned a place in history when he became the first African American elected to statewide office, and the first-ever Republican Lieutenant Governor in Maryland.
As Lieutenant Governor, Michael Steele serves as a partner, advisor and principal representative for Governor Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Mr. Steele works with the state's congressional delegation, state and local elected officials to promote and implement the administration's policies and initiatives.
His top priorities include improving the quality of Maryland’s public education system, where he currently chairs the Governor’s Commission on Quality Education; reforming the state’s Minority Business Enterprise program; expanding economic development and international trade; and fostering cooperation between government and community-based organizations to help those in need.
Michael Steele rose through the political ranks in Prince George's County to become the first African American County Republican Party Chairman. In 1995, Mr. Steele was selected Maryland State Republican Man of the Year. In December 2000, Mr. Steele became the first-ever African American to be elected chairman of a state Republican Party. Mr. Steele also served as a member of the Executive Committee of the Republican National Committee.
In 2002, President George W. Bush appointed Mr. Steele to serve on the Board of Visitors of the United States Naval Academy. Mr. Steele served as a Commissioner on the National Federal Election Reform Commission, chaired by Presidents Jimmy Carter and Gerald Ford, after the 2000 Presidential Election. Other affiliations include serving on the NAACP's 2001 Blue Ribbon Panel on Election Reform and the Board of Directors of The Hospice of the National Capital Area. Mr. Steele is a member of the Prince George's County Chapter of the NAACP.
Mr. Steele was born on October 19, 1958 at Andrews Air Force Base in Prince George's County. He graduated from Archbishop Carroll High School, earned his bachelor's degree in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University in 1981 and his law degree from Georgetown University Law Center in 1991. Mr. Steele also attended the Augustinian Friars Seminary at Villanova University in Villanova, Pennsylvania, in preparation for the priesthood.
Mr. Steele is a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Landover Hills, Maryland where, in 1998, was recognized as the Man of the Year. He attends mass regularly with his wife Andrea and their two sons, Michael and Drew.
Sarbanes was made immortal with Sarbanes Oxley - which we even in Britain are having to comply with in order to do business with the states. A huge regulatory and accounting headache. Retirement is the least of what I would like to happen to the man.
Regards, Ivan
I think a pubbie could win, possibly. Bentley came close.
I think you may be right, that would be grand wouldn't it?
What about Dingle-Norwood?!
how can you NOT have the sarcasm button ON???
I wouldn't count out a Dem primary fight for either Gov. or Sen. If O'Malley and Duncan do split, I would predict O'Malley staying in the Gov. race and Duncan running for the Sen. From what I can tell, O'Malley is a bit more moderate on social issues than Duncan, so he would be a pariah in the Sen. Dem. caucus.
And from what I hear, it doesn't sound as if Steele would go for Sen. He's already looking ahead to 2010 for the Governor's race then.
Good choice!
Wow, he is really an impressive looking man. I mean, I know, candidates ALl wear a navy suit, white shirt and red tie....but not many look as good as he does. He must be quite athletic and certainly has a good tailor.
Alan Keyes isn't doing anything at the moment, and he actually lives there.
It sure worked in 2002 when KKT was elected governor.
Alan Keyes is a genius but he is an utter idiot when it comes to campaigning.
I love the guy but his lot in life is not to be an elected official. We at FR should be mature enough to recognize that.
KKT was a horrible candidate. No amount of vote fraud could save her.
"Sarbanes was made immortal with Sarbanes Oxley - which we even in Britain are having to comply with in order to do business with the states. A huge regulatory and accounting headache. Retirement is the least of what I would like to happen to the man."
I've gone through three of the SOX audits in the last two months. It's hell having to deal with arrogant bean counters that can't understand what you're saying.
Thanks for the ping. Didn't see this one coming.
So, does Steele go for the Senate seat where he is unlikely to beat a black Democrat, or run for reelection as Lt. Gov with an eye toward running for Governor in 2010? Ehrlich has not been as popular as most if us had hoped and may very well lose his reelection bid, and Steele could go down with him. Unfortunately, I think Steele's best shot is to run for reelection.
Where does Doug D. fit into the scenario? Does he stay in competition for the governor's race?
I'm sure the media will give him the same fawning treatment they gave to Barack Obama. < /sarcasm>
As an "arrogant bean counter", I can say that we are not particularly fond of SOX either. I've spent many late nights in the last couple of months dealing with that stuff.
As far as not understanding what you're saying, imagine trying to learn about every part of a company's operations and accounting systems (which have been developed and tweaked for years) in a period of a couple months, and ensuring that proper controls for those systems are in place and functioning. It's not easy. You're explaining what you do everyday, so of course it's simple to you.
I'll admit that I didn't understand everything the first time through, and I'm sure I annoyed plenty of people.
I like Steele.
His speech at the Republican convention was good.
I listen to him quite often when he comes on the WBAL radio with Ron Smith or Bruce Elliott.
| Stateline With Governor Ehrlich | |
|
AP: Sarbanes To Announce Retirement http://wbal.com/stories/anmviewer.asp?a=29086
Sarbanes, 72, scheduled a midday news conference in Baltimore. His office did not return calls to the AP. Sarbanes Press Secretary Jessee Jacobs would not comment on what the Senator would announce, when contacted this morning by WBAL News. The party sources who disclosed Sarbanes' intentions to retire rather than seek a sixth term did so on condition of anonymity, saying they did not want to pre-empt a formal announcement. Pollster Patrick Gonzales says the timing of Sarbanes announcement is unusual. "If he was running for reelection, there's no kind of hurry in making the announcement, so I find it unusual that he's holding a news conference more than a year and a half ahead of the election," Gonzales told WBAL News. WBAL Political Analyst Frank DiFillipo says he saw Sarbanes earlier this year and asked the senator if he had permission to announce on WBAL if the senator would run for another term. DiFillipo said the senator told him, "absolutely." Mayor O'Malley, former NAACP President Kweisi Mfume, and Congressman Ben Cardin have been mentioned as possible candidates, if Sarbanes retires. In a January Gonzales poll, 56-percent of likely Democratic primary voters said they would vote to reelect Sarbanes if the election were held today. The Sarbanes news conference is set for 1pm in downtown Baltimore. Stay with WBAL for further developments.
Friday, March 11, 2005
WBAL Radio and The Associated Press
Democratic Sen. Paul Sarbanes of Maryland, a liberal and the longest serving senator in his state's history, intends to retire at the end of his term next year, party sources told the Assoicated Press Friday.
Another Watergate Democrat leaves Congress. Good riddance!
Can Ann Coulter move to Maryland and declare? 8-)
Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R). A conservative african-American who I think is fairly popular. He has a chance and should run. Of course that would preclude him from running again as Lt.Gov. in '06 and might hurt Ehrlich's chances for re-election but nevermind that.
"As far as not understanding what you're saying, imagine trying to learn about every part of a company's operations and accounting systems (which have been developed and tweaked for years) in a period of a couple months, and ensuring that proper controls for those systems are in place and functioning. It's not easy. You're explaining what you do everyday, so of course it's simple to you. "
These folks are not real bean counters so I have to apologize. Most of them are Unix types that are trying to audit large MVS mainframe systems and they just don't have the skills to ask the right questions and don't want to hear any answers that don't agree with what they have in their official books. The complexity of some of our systems seems to be beyond them.
This is a great day in the State of Maryland! Maryland Pubbies-we have our work cut out for us.
Any open seat in the Senate is worth contesting. I would love to see the 'Pubbies line up behind Steele. If the 'Pubbies picked up a seat in MD, Cantwell's seat in WA by running Rossi (who would be a shoe-in as a consolation prize), and Corzine's vacant seat in New Jersey, they would be well on their way to the magic "60". At that point, the Democrat Party will become officially irrelevant.
>
> Mr Anonymous of the Senate, to step down after thirty
> years in obscurity
>
not to sure about that... anyone in business or IT has at least heard of him through Sarbanes-Oxley. Although most projects related to that now get shortened to the name "SOX compliance"... it has been a boon to the entire IT industry, best thing since Y2K.
I am very impressed with Steele. It would be a tough road for him and he stands a better chance of being governor. But as a non-Marylander, I'd love to see him in the Senate much more.
He's still alive? I defy anyone to prove he's still alive.
I think Marylanders have a lot less interest in voting for the moved-to-Maryland-celebrity-du-jour than you might think. Despite what Hilary did in New York.
Would be a really dumb move for Republicans, I think. I'd run Steele.
The thumbs down vote on the smoking ban makes it look possible.
Please FReepmail me if you want on or off my ‘miscellaneous’ ping list.
Speaking of Carpet Baggers. My Congressman "Fast Ed Markey" actually lives in Maryland and has a war chest primed for a Senate run. Since it is unlikely that either of my two bastard senators will A) step down or B) DIE, Fast Ed might live up to his name. He has done much renovation to his ramshackle abode around the corner from me (it's his fathre's house) and since he doesn't have to live in the district anymore he will most likley sell. I hate to lay this on a future ACC member but this is realpolitik.
This is Steele's election to steal, er, take. Besides anybody will be impressed by Steele's campaign and ideology; Sarbanes offered nothing but a liberal vote.
I support those guys taking back some seats for the GOP. What I don't agree with is that the Dems are going to be irrelevent. At the peak of thir power in the late 60s I believe they had nearly 70 seats and we're still around. Don't get me wrong but I want the Dems weak too but not too weak. Otherwise that's how RINOism takes effect. An opposition party keeps us true to our values.
Sarbanes said earlier this month he's interested in Tom Daschle changing his residence to Maryland to run for his seat. The whole Red State to Blue state switcheroo.
Yep, it's a no-brainer to me. I think this can be overthought....
Sarbanes isn't running for one reason and one reason only (well, age might be 10% of it)...he's scared S-less of Steele.
If a guy leaves a Senate seat open because he's scared S-less of a guy, you RUN THAT GUY.
Steele has enough prominence now he's wasted as Lt. Governor. Ehrlich will sink or swim on his own.
If it's a no-brainer the Republicans will probably botch it (smile). But a Black and rather Conservative candidate can win, especially against a real lib. Maryland hasn't had a Repub.Senator since when? The 50's? Steele also has valuable government experience, and can be our "Osama Obama."
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