In Md., it was, and it will be, the Year of Joe (NCPAC/MD4Bush)

Baltimore Sun ^ | 1/2/06 | C. Fraser Smith

[conservative in nyc]

Joseph F. Steffen Jr. was the Ehrlich administration's Katrina.

The case for awarding him such year-end eminence rests on the impact he made as Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.'s designated prince of patronage, the headline-making endurance of his work and its devastating potential for the Republican Party in Maryland on the eve of an election year.

Joe Steffen has more name recognition than many of the candidates who think they can break through at some level in the political scrum looming this year.

He is destined to become a negative bumper sticker for Mr. Ehrlich's administration. In the early years, that distinction would have gone to James C. "Chip" DiPaula Jr., the governor's sunny and astute numbers-cruncher who now is his chief of staff.

Joe Steffen pushed him aside, making himself and his party synonymous with trench-coat enforcement of patronage prerogatives. What Mr. Steffen and others in the Ehrlich administration did in state offices might have been sold as a purge of workers who had been in their jobs too long. A healthy thing, many would have said, an overdue pruning of the tree.

Legislative hearings now under way will try to discern the extent to which the party designation D meant dismissal. Such a policy would not be good government - or even good politics. Republicans still need Democratic votes to stay in office. Perhaps unions have lost some of their punch, but you don't want them on your case in an election year.

--Snip--

Perhaps the damage done by Joe Steffen and those who directed him can be repaired by Election Day.

And perhaps the dikes in New Orleans can be fully repaired by the next hurricane season.

[conservative in nyc]

As many of you know, Joe Steffen is NCPAC, a Freeper whose identity was outed by the Washington Post. The person who somehow brought NCPAC's Freepmails to the Washington Post's attention, MD4Bush, is still unknown - although it is increasingly looking like MD4Bush was or worked for a Democrat operative, possibly in conjunction with the Washington Post (although they claim not to know who MD4Bush is).

Just in case you're wondering what type of person would equate a Freeper to a devastating hurricane that killed a thousand people, the footer to the article identifies the author: "C. Fraser Smith is senior news analyst for WYPR-FM. His column usually appears Sundays." According to their website, WYPR is Baltimore's NPR station.

More at the link.

[conservative in nyc]

MD4Bush Ping!

[Vision]

Ehrlich should win the next election, despite this story- the governor had nothing to do with it. O'Malley is a weak candidate. And isn't Steffen a Dem?

[fieldmarshaldj]

Martin O'Malley lied, people died.

[conservative in nyc]

And isn't Steffen a Dem?

If NCPAC is a Dem, that's the first I've heard of it. NCPAC=National Conservative Political Action Committee. And he worked for the Republican governor, both in his campaign and on his political staff. I'd doubt he's a Democrat. If he is, he's a real DINO.

There was some talk a few months ago that Mr. Steffen would run for governor on the Libertarian line.

[advance_copy]

That article is a bunch of hooey. Governor Ehrlich is doing a great job in Maryland. But he should be ready for some really dirty shots by the liberals. 2006 marks the beginning of what will be an intense smear campaign against the Governor by RATS and their media allies.

[Vision]

http://wbal.com/news/story.asp?articleid=38372

[conservative in nyc]

This article is a biased piece of bilge.

The "article" is an op-ed piece - it's supposed to be biased. But comparing a Freeper's actions to a devastating hurricane is a bit extreme.

[ConorMacNessa]

I think it's more likely he will be facing Doug Duncan in November.

[Vision]

I think it's more likely he will be facing Doug Duncan in November

I don't think Duncan has the charisma

[purpleland]

"...said the Culture Ministry in the ban..."

Totalitarian regimes always have a "Culture Ministry."
Read CULT in culture.

[sgtbono2002]

What do you expect from biased paper except a biased article.

Anyway I look for Kathleen Kennedy to take another shot at being Governor. O'Malley isnt a top runner IMHO.

[Carling]

The only comparison between MD4BUSH and Katrina is how the major media crafted the story of each to fit into a political attack on Republicans.

Other than that, it is a ridiculously callous comparison.

[shetlan]

I was prevented from seeing this article until I "registered."

Hahaha.

Seems like this conspiracy with intent to defame Joe Steffan is up against a wall.

Thanks for keeping me informed.

[Anti-Bubba182]

Thanks for the ping.

[Katya]

Duncan doesn't have the charisma...but O'malley is suffering in the polls vis a vis Duncan. We'll have to wait and see how many ways they figure out to spin Baltimore city crime rates to make it a plus for O'malley.

That said, I think it will be harder for Duncan to win just based on his Montgomery county represenatation...it's seen by so many others in Maryland as an elitist county. I'm hoping the real scandal as to "who" MD4Bush begins to simmer before the primary, but waits until the summer to play out.

[Vision]

We'll have to wait and see how many ways they figure out to spin Baltimore city crime rates to make it a plus for O'malley

They don't have to spin it at all. The Sun and the Post will treat them both with kid gloves

[TheForceOfOne]

The Baltimore Sun, dripping with Liberal hatred for the governor. The rag claims O'Malley as its boy stating all criticism against him out of bounds, including the magical disappearing 57 million from the school system, crime out of control so bad in the second most dangerous city in America that citizens don't even bother calling the police anymore.

Meanwhile the Sun's circulation is spiraling downward out of control, forced retirements, closing of foreign bureaus, etc. etc. etc.

[Abby4116]

Thanks for the ping!