Burns-pourri for August

This is probably the first Burns-pourri that actually is looking back at the previous month and not two or three days before the end of the month. In any event, it is still owed to you.

PALIN IS McCAIN RUNNING MATE… SO WHAT?
It is amazing how the democratic voters, particularly women, are screaming bloody murder over Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) picking a woman running mate in Alaska Governor Sarah Palin (R). I guess I really do have to go there, but I will try to keep it tempered.

As I said in my last column, it is now a level playing field in regards to Palin being on the republican ticket opposite the Obama/Biden democratic presidential ticket as far as the subjects of experience and age in some form. I guess that it’s time for me to ask this question publicly, How can one group scream about McCain picking Palin because of her being a woman, when some people in the same group picked Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) because of his skin color?

In case you missed it the first time, I am saying that I think that some people are picking Obama because he is black. The only difference between me and The Baltimore Sun, who famously said in 2002 that then-gubernatorial running mate Michael Steele (R) only brought his skin color, is that I am not taking away his educational or professional background. So can we please stop with the hypocrisy?

Nowhere in the constitution of the United States of America or the 50 states therein have any requirements on how long you have to be in a certain part of government before running for President or Vice President. Even though I disagree with Obama on the issues, I would respect him more if he was not trying to pander to whichever direction the wind is blowing.

DIXON INVESTIGATION… NOW WHAT?
At last check, the investigation into the dealings of Baltimore Mayor Sheila Dixon (D) is barely a whisper. The grand jury term expires on Friday, September 5 and several witnesses have yet to be called. I think it’s come to the point that the prosecutor investigating the case need to put up or just drop it. The investigation has been going on for two years and the only thing that they established is that she likes really expensive shopping trips and she dated a prominent businessman.

Yes, I am aware that she took votes on contracts involving Baltimore developer Ronald Lipscomb, whom she dated between 2003 and 2004, but what we haven’t heard too much about is whether or not she put any more money into the relationship. It’s been reported that for the couple’s trip to Chicago, she paid for the $1700 hotel bill.

This talk of a new jury being in place on September 10 is not really ensuring that the pool is not tainted with all of the information that has been leaked, err, reported. Now, if there are different rules to grand jury’s that would allow members to have a bias, as always, please email me, but other than that, I do not see how they can have an impartial grand jury for a new term.

UNITED AGAINST SLOTS… WHAT?
I do have to point out a story from last month’s Baltimore Sun where there are some bi-partisan efforts that want to see the slots referendum go down in flames. The reasons vary from religious to Maryland does not need slots to (my personal favorite) that the law is a horrible one and should not be added to the state constitution.

As I stated a few months ago, I am conflicted because if it doesn’t pass, this would be a victory for anti-slots foes, House Speaker Michael Busch (D-Dist. 30) and Governor Martin O’Malley (D) who did a flip-flop on slots last year. By the way, he is already ramping up the doomsday machine warning that it’s either budget cuts (which he will probably never do) or raising taxes (which he has no problems doing) if this referendum does not pass. If the question does succeed, then the slot machine locations are engrained in stone on the state constitution. Either way, it will take a miracle before the General Assembly touches this issue again.

Mark my words on the date that you read this. If this referendum does not pass, it will not be because of the reasons that Anti-Slots people will use. Be prepared for them to say, “Marylanders across the state realized that we do not need slots and the realize that having casinos here are a bad thing.” First of all, we are not voting on casinos, we are voting on slots parlors. Yes, there are moral dangers to addictive gambling, but it’s called personal responsibility. People need to learn to exercise restraint. Remember the last thing that was banned in America, liquor. We all saw how well that worked out.

If this referendum fails, it is because of how bad this law actually is, NOT because we believe that we do not need them.

FINALLY…
Prince George’s County Police Chief Melvin High has still yet to apologize to Berwyn Heights Mayor Cheye Calvo and his family for the botched police operation on their home that ended with their two dogs being shot and killed and then ultimately Calvo and his family being cleared of any wrong doing. If he followed through with his plans, he stepped down this past Sunday, August 31.

High might be gone (thank heavens) but County Sheriff Michael A. Jackson (D) is still in office and he has yet to apologize for the botched operation. I might be the only person who is still bringing this up but sometimes you have to make a stand if not to draw attention to an outrageous lack of justice. With that said, I am still calling for Sheriff Jackson to resign from his position.

His arrogance in saying that his department will not apologize and that his department need not be looked over by the federal government while he is Sheriff is very cocky considering that there was a similar incident in Southern Prince George’s County and another incident where someone’s dog was being threatened by a bullet. The irony in those two cases is that the same lawyer is representing the parties involved.

High and Jackson in one single incident rekindled the flame of a reputation in my home county that we hoped would not be resurfaced, one of cowboy justice in county law enforcement. I am sure that the rank and file is utterly embarrassed by the leadership of their departments. High was able to sneak out without acknowledging that his department made a mistake. We cannot allow Jackson to do the same.

If you have stopped writing to the newspapers and calling the Sheriff’s office to express how disappointed you are, please start picking up the pace again and don’t stop. If you do not continue to stay angry and express that enough is enough, you are demonstrating the same type of apathy that allowed County Executive Jack Johnson (D) to get a second term that he should never have received. If you want a better government, you have to be active in it and encourage better people to run for office. 2010 is not too far away.

Sheriff Michael A. Jackson, is still the Worst of Maryland along with (hopefully) now former Police Chief Melvin High. Mr. Jackson, as a citizen of Prince George’s County, I am asking you to follow Mr. High’s lead out of the door. Resign and preferably, resign quickly.