Posted on 03/10/2010 7:03:34 AM PST by icwhatudo
I attended the 31st annual Maryland March for Life in Annapolis Maryland on March 8. The march started at Saint Mary's Catholic church (with mass said by Archbishop Edwin F. O’Brien)and ended with a rally at the statehouse.
In attendance were several state senators and delegates including Sen. Andy Harris who will be running again for congress against democrat Frank Kratovil in Maryland's 1st congressional district. The speaker introduced each politician in attendance by name and made sure to call out to see if anyone else was in the crowd.
As I made my way around the edge of the crowd, (doing my own head count knowing the media loves to come in with low crowd estimates), I was asked to "clear a path" by state trooper. A heavyset balding man was trying to get thru the crowd that had gathered in the courtyard that many had to travel thru when exiting the statehouse buildings.
What caught my attention was someone saying "Hello Senator Pipkin!" as this man made his way past me.
I turned around to see that it was in fact Sen. E.J. Pipkin and he looked rather flustered trying to get thru the crowd. He was all alone and did not seem interested in staying for the rally. I outlined in the map below where the rally was in blue and where Sen Pipkin was traveling in red.
It is possible Sen. Pipkin was secretly a strong supporter of the rally and just wanted to stay on the outskirts and did not want his name mentioned by the speaker who was calling out EVERY other politician in the crowd---*snicker*---.
What is more likely is that Sen. Pipkin (who donated to the campaign of Democrat Kathleen Kennedy-Townsend and is described as "not 100% pro-life") is clearly not a hero with conservatives in Maryland.
Many will never forgive Pipkin for jumping into the GOP primary race against former "republican" congressmen Wayne Gilchrest. Gilchrest was one of the most liberal republicans in congress and conservatives had lined up behind State Sen. Andy Harris to defeat Gilchrest in the GOP primary. Harris had the support of the National Right to Life, the Washington Times, former GOP gubernatorial candidate Ellen Sauerbrey, 18 members of the Maryland legislature, and even former Republican governor Bob Ehrlich. The conservatives seemed unified in the goal of tossing out the "RINO" Gilchrest and at the last moment...Pipkin entered the race dividing the anti-Gilchrest votes.
Harris went on to win the nomination but Gilchrest pulled a "Scozzafava" (NY-23) and endorsed the democrat Kratovil who went on to win a close race in Obama's coattail year.
With the Obama excitement gone, Democrat congressman Kratovil is listed as one of the most vulnerable members of congress. A Novemeber Tarrance Group poll showed Harris with a 52-39 lead over Kratovil.
While things look good for a Harris victory, its important to keep an eye on where E.J. Pipkin stands...even when its walking away from most conservatives.
I wouldn’t blame Pipkin for Harris’s loss, because the 3rd party ronpaulite split the vote. I *would* blame him for running away and donating to a Kennedy.
What is it about MD politicians? Is it required they look like Babs Mikulski?
Pipkin is a typical Md. Republican; wishy washy covering his back, in a Dem controlled state. He’s better than Gilchrest, but squishier than Harris, who is a good candidate. Plus, his base is small and out in the boonies.
I wouldn’t vote for this sack of sh!t if it were running against Satan.
looks like they should have cast him to play Boss Hogg in that Dukes of Hazzard movie
‘In attendance were several state senators and delegates including Sen. Andy Harris who will be running again for congress against democrat Frank Kratovil in Maryland’s 1st congressional district.’
Let’s get Andy in this time.
http://www.andyharris.com/
FYI ping
Great post. Great job. Salute.
He is a huge ego in a huge body.
I went to a Get out the Vote meeting early in 2000 when there was considerable Republican enthusiasm in Maryland for the candidate GWB. The room was packed, many had to stand in doorways trying to hear the speakers. Pipken stood in this hallway talking loudly to various people, and preventing many people from hearing what the presenters of the program were saying.
He was so unaware of anyone else in the vicinity, or the reason why we were there, that I realized then that I would never contribute to his campaign again. (He is not in my district, but I get his literature.)
There’s a blast from the past. EJ was one of my classmates in business school. I’d lost track of him. If I’d bumped into him, I wouldn’t have recognized him.
He must’ve accidentally drank some Potomac water or something.
How much has the Potomac water level been dropping?
“How much has the Potomac water level been dropping?”
The Potomac is frozen solid; Global Warming and all that, ya know?
I'm one of them. Jerk.
About a year ago I attended a Central Republican Committee meeting. Pipkin was in attendance. I was unimpressed then, and my opinion of him has only gone south over time.
Agree. I got to meet him the evening before the election and he’s a class act all the way.
Pipkin’s a spud and a dud. He should go back home and stop bothering his fellow Marylanders.
Maryland “Freak State” PING!
I expect Andy to make tire treads over Frank Kratovil, who ironically has been far more conservative than Gilchrest. Just shows you that it may take multiple steps to move from liberalism to conservatism but with dogged determination conservatism can win.
“I got to meet him the evening before the election and he’s a class act all the way”
I did also on election day at the call center. You are absolutely right. Let’s get him in congress. He is one of us.
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