Wally Edge's blog

This week's Winners & Losers | CLICK HERE

Former police superintendent Tom Hutchins was designated "worst person in the world" runner-up by Countdown host Keith Olbermann last night for refusing to apologize for adding activists to terror lists.

With the exception of Nashville and Memphis (the debate was held in Nashville), the most tuned-in television market in the country for the second presidential debate Tuesday night was Baltimore, where approximately 55.6 percent of households watched the debate.

Baltimore also ranked highest in the vice presidential debate last week.

Your tax dollars at work:

The Maryland State Police classified 53 nonviolent activists as terrorists and entered their names and personal information into state and federal databases that track terrorism suspects, the state police chief acknowledged yesterday. [...]

Stunned senators pressed Sheridan to apologize to the activists for the spying, assailed in an independent review last week as "overreaching" by law enforcement officials who were oblivious to their violation of the activists' rights of free expression and association. The letter, obtained by The Washington Post, does not apologize but admits that the state police have "no evidence whatsoever of any involvement in violent crime" by those classified as terrorists.  [...]

"I can't imagine getting a letter that says, 'You've been classified as a terrorist; come in and we'll tell about it,'" said Sen. Bryan W. Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel). Two senators noted that they had been arrested years ago for civil disobedience. Sen. Jennie Forehand (D-Montgomery) asked Sheridan, "Do you have any legislators on your list?" The answer was no. 

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's ad says state Sen. Andy Harris' (R-Cockeysville) friends aren't your friends.

According to the Nielson's household ratings, the Baltimore TV market is ranked #1 for viewership of last week's vice presidential debate between U.S. Sen. Joe Biden (D-Del.) and Gov. Sarah Palin (R-Alaska). It is estimated that 59.1 percent of households tuned in for the debate.

Has William Donald Schaefer closed the door on running for Governor in 2010? Crazy as it sounds, friends of the former Governor says he has not.  The 87-year-old Schaefer, a served as Mayor of Baltimore before winning the governorship in 1986 and 1990, and served as State Comptroller from 1999 until his defeat in the 2006 Democratic primary, has had some discussion about a primary challenge to Democratic incumbent Martin O'Malley. But even his allies -- the ones that are left -- say that while a Schaefer vs. O'Malley primary might be fun to watch, don't lose any sleep waiting for it to happen.

Sergio Vitale (R) showed off his fundraising prowess, while U.S. Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Mechanicsville) and other House leaders bungled the bailout vote on Monday. They're among this week's Winners & Losers. | CLICK HERE

Below is video of Delegate Rick Weldon's announcement on Tuesday that he is switching his party affiliation to unaffiliated, from the Frederick News-Post.

A new ad from Democratic congressional candidate Frank Kratovil: