Information Wanted-- Robbery Suspects

On April 29, 2009 at approximately 1105 (AM) hours there was an Armed Robbery of the Blockbuster Video Rental store located at 1181 South Crain Highway in Glen Burnie, MD near Hospital Drive. Two subjects described as being approximately 6’2”-6’5” tall, wearing all dark clothing and “Timberland” style boots entered the business. One of the suspects brandished a large shotgun or rifle and demanded U.S. currency from the business, employees and customers inside. The subjects then fled out the door to the rear of the business towards the Mountain Ridge Apartments The subject pictured above was one of the alleged perpetrators.

ANYONE WITH INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT THE ANNE ARUNDEL COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT AT: 410-222-3655 OR 410-222-3566.

Riviera Beach Fire Truck Totaled

All day, Ft Smallwood Rd at Somerset Rd has been shut down due to downed power lines. Last night, an Engine from the Riviera Beach Volunteer Fire Company struck a telephone poll, causing the lines to fall. The picture posted above is an actual photograph of the damaged truck obtained through The Watch Desk. Luckily, all the firefighters aboard have survived this devastating wreck. I send along my thoughts and prayers for a speedy recovery to anyone who suffered any injuries related to this incident.

Don Dwyer Caught Littering Annapolis Harbor

At first I thought the above photo, which appeared on the front page of today's Baltimore Sun, was merely a bad painting. Then, I realized that the paper caught an actual crime in progress. Indeed, the photograph clearly shows Delegate Don Dwyer tossing a burlap sack of tea into the Annapolis Harbor.

Of course, now begs the question of what the Annapolis Police Department plans to do to address this matter. Clearly, they are actively trying to curry favor with the state by raising revenue for Martin and the gang. Everyday, they tie up several officers on crosswalk and seat belt stings. Here we have indisputable evidence of a fine worthy offense.

Whether or not Annapolis Police addresses this incident isn't the real issue. Instead, it shows how mortified District 31 residents should be that they elected such a goof ball. Granted, I know Lake Shore residents care about nothing more than a Republican label. Likewise, other uninformed voters mistake sign waving in traffic as a sign of hard work. In addition, gullible Evangelicals think giving away their absentees to others to fill out is an effective and acceptable way to advance their desires.

Still, are people proud that this person represents us? I certainly am not. In fact, I am downright embarrassed of Don Dwyer. Hopefully, people wake up in 2010 and realize the mistake they've made over the past 8 years. Enough is enough.

Forget Tea; I Prefer Beer

So today was the day of big "tea parties" across the United States. Until now, most mid-week daytime rallies were supposedly organized by unemployed left wingers with too much free time on their hands. Or at least, that's what the people behind today's pow-wow continually tried to make others believe.

In fairness, I did not attend any of the Maryland rallies. Therefore, I cannot attest who made up the crowd. Still, by listening to the Ron Smith show this afternoon, I did pick up on a familiar theme. First, those who attended the Annapolis event took exception to media reports that hundreds showed up. Instead, they claim their numbers were in thousands. And of course, we know that the passionate people that attend these types of things rarely exaggerate about how many others showed up to support their cause. Additionally, I heard callers constantly throwing Ronald Reagan's name into the mix.

Folks, let me make something clear. I think we are overtaxed on a federal, state and local level. In turn, I think Reagan was one of the better presidents in United States history. That said, I think tea parties are corny. Likewise, I believe holding onto the past is a path no one should venture. As Mike Ditka once said, "I don't live in the past. The past is for cowards". In the same way, Reagan exited office over 20 years ago. Really, it's time to move on.

Besides, the Maryland rallies have little credibility when Don Dwyer is listed as one of the main organizers. Simply put, no one can equate a uniter like Reagan with a divisive character like Dwyer. In fact, having Dwyer's name attached truly undermines any credibility the event may have started with.

Today, I got up and went to work. I could have taken off to go fishing, hiking or hunting. Granted, none of these activities are much fun in the rain. By the same token, I certainly couldn't envision myself wasting a vacation day paying homage to King Don.

Public Service Announcement from County Police

The Anne Arundel County Police Department would like to warn citizens of recent rock throwing incidents that have occurred on MD Route 100 at the B&A Bike Trail overpass just west of the MD Route 2 exit. Since Friday night, April 10th, there have been seven reported occurrences of large white rocks being thrown from the overpass at vehicles traveling eastbound on MD Route 100. In one particular incident, a rock actually penetrated the windshield and entered the vehicle, nearly striking the driver. Six of the seven incidents occurred after 10:30 p.m., but the earliest incident occurred at 8:20 p.m. There are no known suspects identified at this time, but the Anne Arundel County Police Department is actively investigating these serious incidents.

At this time, we are urging pedestrians and motorists to use caution when travelling in this area and to be alert to any suspicious person(s) or activity taking place on or around the overpass. If you see anything out of the ordinary, please contact the Anne Arundel County Police Department at 410-222-8610. If you become a victim or witness to one of these crimes, call 911 immediately.

Happy Easter

Who Is Derek Fink?

When the names of potential successors for Ron Dillon are mentioned, I continually hear people utter Derek Fink. Truthfully, I know very little about the guy. His website says the best place to catch him is at Cookies Bay Meadow Grill on Monday-Friday from 6:00am to 3:00pm. Other than that, I can't say I've ever seen him around the community. I don't mean to imply that he's not actively involved. Still, other than hearing that he all of a sudden wants to be our Councilman, I cannot vouch for his whereabouts.

Honestly though, Fink has the potential to be a force solely because he has aligned with John Leopold and Steve Schuh. Obviously, Schuh has access to big money contributors while Leopold somehow remains popular among county Republicans despite governing like a big city liberal.

Despite his current puppeteers, Fink will eventually have to establish his own identity. After all, there are some viable candidates for this seat. As of now, he's a relative unknown. Likewise, his website gives exactly zero details about the platform for which he'll supposedly fight.

Braswell Fundraiser

Jim Braswell, a Republican candidate for the District 3 Council seat, has announced he'll be hosting a Fajita Fiesta Fundraiser at Lista's Southwest Grill on Mountain Road in Pasadena. The details of the event are as follows:

* When: Sunday, April 26th, 1:00 pm-3:00 pm
* Where: Lista's Southwest Grill, 2416 Mountain Road, Pasadena, MD
* Cost: $50 per person
* RSVP: (443) 306-4956 or jim@jimbraswell.com

Attached here is a flier with additional information. This event will be the perfect opportunity to get to know Jimmy, a lifelong Pasadena resident, in a relaxed and informal setting.

Ending Speculation: Tom Redmond Is Running

This morning, a friend forwarded me this Redmond campaign sign and asked if I knew anything about the former Democrat running as a Republican in Council District 3. Come on, that's got to be the worst kept secret in Anne Arundel County Politics. In fact, Redmond has been dying to run ever since Shirley Murphy defeated him in the 1998 Democratic primary.

After his defeat, Redmond decided to lie low for several years. Then, in 2006, he re-surfaced as a henchman for the Republicans. He ultimately won a spot on the Central Committee. Nowadays, his property is used by opportunistic Republicans wanting that prime sign location on Eastbound Rte. 100. In fairness though, he also allowed a Ron Bateman sign to don his fence back in 2006. Granted, the cluster of political signs looked like such a disorganized mess that I suspect many couldn't decipher the clutter.

In an area where people base their vote on party affiliation above all else, I suppose Redmond has a chance if he can prevail in the primary. Still, I am certain the likes of Jimmy Braswell, Derek Fink and David Rosage are not about to forget about the reason Redmond got ousted over a decade ago.

Andy Harris Denied

In the end, Andy Harris' "anti-porn" amendment ended much the same way his other suggestions typically do it Annapolis. Yep, no one paid him any mind. Really, I knew the outcome was inevitable. Still, days drug on and the media played up Harris' importance while he pandered to the far fringes of his party.

And, while Harris played to one extreme, he sacrificed some core beliefs he supposedly held near and dear to his heart. During the 2008 campaign, how many times did we hear Harris preach about "freedom" and "less government"? Instead of simply dismissing the porn flick as being in bad taste, Harris sought to restrict the screening through a government mandate. Then, when that effort failed, he sought more regulations at a public university.

I guess Harris doesn't truly stand for a less intrusive government. Rather, it's clear his campaign rhetoric should be translated to mean that he only stands for lesser government in the areas he deems necessary. Once again, this whole incident exposes why Harris can never be an effective representative for his constituents. Besides being inconsistent and untrustworthy, Harris consistently shows himself as unable to elicit compromise.