HATE FREE MARYLAND

I am sure that Joyce Thomann, was not shocked by the nature of the recent CASA "Hate-Free Maryland" rally. I am sure that for her and many other conservatives, the rally, it's organizers and backers, it's slogans and timing, were all very predictable. We've seen it before and we'll see it again.

It would have been novel, however, if there was some kind of organized Republican response. I would have been shocked at any attempt by Republicans to counter the slander being predictably trawled out by the tolerant and loving Left.

I wondered a few days before the rally whether there would be a press release forthcoming from any Republican quarter (the Harris camp, MDGOP, Don Dwyer's office, etc). Why is it necessary, I will soon be asked. Here are the reasons:

1. The CASA Rally was organized to bash Republicans. The "mean-spirited" bills are sponsored by Republicans.

2. It just so happens that we will be facing a General Election soon. The Democrats are going to turn up the heat from now til November and take every opportunity to bash Republicans.

3. District 1 Liberals just lost a friend in Congress. I half expected to have received a press release from Harris campaign whose success in the primaries depended largely from his immigration law enforcement position. Well, at least we didn't have to suffer the spectacle of a grateful Wayne "The Godfather" Gilchrest marching WITH the CASA rallyers.

The "Hate Free" rally will soon be followed by the "Value our Teachers" rally, the "No More Union Bashing" rally, "Save the Bay" rally, "Free Health Insurance For All" rally, ending with the obligatory "Homosexuals are People, Too!" rally and candle-light vigil.

The Democrats will take EVERY opportunity to cast Republicans (and I've said it before and I'll say it again, just becasue you may not consider yourself a conservative, you are Republican and will be tarred with the same brush....so you might as well join us!!) in the role of hateful bigots whose only joy in life is to heap scorn and misery upon the "people of color," "the have-nots," "the non-christian," "the multi-sexual," and any other group you can possible think of who can possible be adversely affected by proposed Republican legislation.

This is predictable. We all know this is going to happen. So let's not be shocked by the rally or slander du jour. Let's instead develop a counter. Let's show them and the party faithful some spine and say things that you know they wish'd you say. Let's shock THEM by daring to defend ourselves, by daring to be insulted.


From Joyce:


Dear Friends:

You know from an earlier e-mail, that this evening (February 25, 2008) CASA de Maryland held a large rally to protest all the "mean-spirited" Legislation which has been introduced in the General Assembly. This was also the same evening when many groups held "Meet Your Legislator" events. Additionally, during session, the Maryland Legislature holds a voting session on Monday evenings. Thus, the timing of this CASA de Maryland event was very well picked to have an optimum effect on the maximum number of potential on-lookers.

There was a large crowd – mostly coming in by the school-bus load. There was also a large police presence.

Most of the event was in Spanish. That portion of the protest program that was in English was translated into Spanish.

Among the signs prevalent were: HATE FREE MARYLAND! DRIVER'S LICENSES FOR EVERYONE! EDUCATION FOR OUR CHILDREN! Some of the larger supporters (in terms of physical size) hoisting signs supporting the event were representatives of the UFCW (United Food and Commercial Workers Union) and the SEIU (Service Employees International Union). No surprises here. For every one percent (1%) of additional workers, each union stands to rake in $1 BILLION dollars in additional dues!

For additional edification, you might want to check out the web sites of two of the unions that were visibly present: http://www.ufcw.org/ or http://www.seiu.org/. Both unions STRONGLY support Senator Barack Hussein Obama.

Just thought you might be interested.

"Not My Shower"

"A resident, Lisa G., wrote to the Council: "From what I'm reading, the person with gender identity confusion is being protected by what she or he FEELS he or she is. So, if I'm in a bathroom all by myself late at night, and a man walks in, I am supposed to be okay with this? This is truly unbelievable, and I'm embarrassed that Montgomery County is even spending its time on this piece of nonsense."

For anyone not familiar with what is happening in Montgomery County, please visit the Citizens for Responsible Government at the link above. This group's seemingly tireless pursuit of social norms in MC is what faces us all when we compromise. This is what happens, as I wrote in my last post, when we fail to meet liberal encroachment on what we take for granted as normal. Poof! It's gone. Ask Theresa Rickman whether she would have preferred her political "leaders" to have stood their ground years ago in defense of common decency and common sense instead of working like mad now and for the past several months in a petition drive keep the gender-challenged out of Lisa G's public bathroom.

THIS is what happens when we rationalize our weakness as "growing the party" or as proving that the GOP is a Big Tent party. Or by endorsing "Republicans" like Gilchrest and Connie Morella.

The only good thing that will come of this monumental effort is that we will NEVER have a "Republican" like Ms Morella or one such Mr. Gilchrest in Congress again and that these Montgomery County conservatives will force some spine into their "Republican" leaders and would-be state and county lawmakers.

Time is running out, though. By the time you read this, the CRG will need to have collected another 500 signatures to place the law allowing "men" into the public restrooms and shower facilities with your wife, mother, daughters and granddaughters, on the November ballot for a referendum. If you know anybody in Montgomery County, contact them NOW and see that they sign the petition. If they don't know why or what's at stake, explain it as I have done here or send them to the CRG site.

Our hats off to you Theresa and Michelle and everyone involved. We anxiously await news of your success!

Mike Netherland
Severna Park

What To Do

What a difference a month makes. Last month I was full of hope and a little trepidation (but I hid the trepidation) over the political prospects for the coming primaries. Now, I see that I should have kept my usual cynicism regarding the intelligence of the typical Republican voter. I have been meaning to write about this for some time. I am going to take my wife out for dinner now and I will complete this when I return.

OK. Wonderful dinner. Now it's Sunday and I have but a few minutes to write before church. Where was I? Cynicism, right. OK...back from church. So I have been avoiding the subject, hoping that it is all a really bad nightmare. Lunch was roasted chicken breast and lettuce topped with buttermilk ranch dressing. Yummy.

The typical Republican voter. Is there such a thing? There must be. Millions of them. Could that many people be so easily misled? What could lead otherwise intelligent people to commit mass political suicide? Lies? Deception? Ignorance? No. There is some other social dynamic at work here. The same dynamic that leads (former) conservative icons such as Newt Gingrich to endorse the most liberal Republican Congressman in the history of the party for reelection against a real conservative member of the state GOP.

I have written here before, in debates with members of ThePublicSquare who look only from one election cycle to the next, counting seats in Congress and in the General Assembly, that what really matters is how we lead. Are our leaders capable of articulating the ideals embodied by conservatism as they apply to the issues facing us today and will likely face us tomorrow?

Unfortunately the answer is still a sickening 'no.' When Newt Gingrich publishes a book called, ironically enough, "Real Change," then goes on to make sure that Real Change never happens in Maryland, it is an indicator of what is wrong with the right wing of the party. He has convinced himself that, oh it's ok. It's just one Congressional District. Surely the country can still affect Real Change and still allow me to return a favor to my ol'pal Wayne, who was so loyal to the Republican Congressional delegation way back when. Surely, I will not suffer the cries of hypocrisy from my loyal followers.

And he was right. It's just one district, just one vote, just one concession, one compromise. Surely it won't hurt. Well, it has. And we have only ourselves to blame. We have not challenged every single instance of liberal conformity. We have allowed ourselves to bear the shame and guilt of our distant forefathers for the treatment of the black American. Instead of bringing them up, society choose to 'celebrate' the black socio-economic status as a separate 'culture,' with its own unique language, dress, social customs, music and religion. If this isn't racism at the hands of liberals, black and white, then I don't know what racism is. If you ask a liberal racist he will tell you that the very act of my describing this racism-as-multiculturalism is an act of racism.

And we, conservatives black and white, let it happen. It's just one vote, one concession. Surely it won't hurt. It may even help us win converts to the Republican party! Now we know the cost, the cost of the 'soft bigotry of low expectations' even before George Bush uttered those words, decades before.

Landmark civil rights legislation was the work of Republicans in Congress. It has been used against the Republican party since it's passage. The "civil rights" movements (women and animal rights) that followed joined the unions of government institutions electing liberal majorities until Mother Nature herself was relegated to a legal disclaimer on employment forms and loan applications.

And we went along. Never considering what long-term effects our 'one little vote or concession' might have; never a thought to how it would be used against us in the coming culture and class wars. It's been 44 years and blacks still don't see the value in joining the Republican party. Why? Because they didn't have to; Why follow when you are already leading? Our "leaders" found it easier to concede conservative principles rather than articulate them. Persuade black voters that if faithfully applied, conservative principles will lift all boats? Too hard. Persuade union workers and feminists to vote for conservatives? Who needs that?

And we are doomed when a talented and popular writer comes along who can articulate conservative ideals, is shunned. Imagine that you are lost in the desert, have nearly given up all hope of living out the day. Just as you are ready to expire, a woman kneels beside you and offers you water and with your last breath you draw a weapon and drive her away. Madness, you say? Your last thoughts are, oh she was not really interested in saving my life; she was just interested in promoting herself. I'd rather just die.

So you see, we have only ourselves to blame. Our elected leaders, our party leaders, movement leaders, business leaders. Could we have stopped the onslaught? We will never know. What will we be lamenting after four years of President Hillary Clinton?

Mike Netherland
Severna Park, MD