Chutzpah is a Yiddish term meaning audacity, nerve, or bold confidence, often with a connotation of brazenness or cheekiness. It can describe someone acting with shameless boldness, sometimes admirable for its courage, other times criticized for crossing ethical lines.

In 2011 redistricting, Maryland Democrats, under Governor Martin O’Malley, displayed chutzpah by aggressively redrawing the 6th Congressional District to flip it from Republican to Democratic control. The map stretched from rural Western Maryland to liberal Montgomery County, a move critics called audacious and manipulative. X posts from that era (archived) describe this as “political chutzpah” for its disregard of community cohesion.

This week the Texas State Legislature tried to undertake the perfectly lawful process of voting to change the congressional representation of voting districts to accommodate the changing demographics of the state. To avoid a vote on the matter, the Democrats of the state legislature decided to leave the state to prevent a quorum, thus delaying a vote.

But I don’t live in Texas, I live in Maryland … a politically “Blue” state that in 2025 has only one republican representative in the United States Congress … and why is that? The answer is gerrymandering! Yet some of Maryland’s legislators are nothing short of outraged at the actions of Texas and now threaten to gerrymander Maryland. Seriously? I am old enough to remember Martin O’Malley and the elimination of Rosco Bartlett’s Republican seat in Congress. It was not always this way.

Following the 2000 census, Maryland’s Democratic-led legislature redrew congressional and state legislative maps. The state had 8 congressional seats, as it does today. The outcome was that the maps were designed to protect Democratic incumbents, resulting in a 4-4 split between Democrats and Republicans in congressional seats, despite Maryland’s Democratic lean in statewide votes. Districts were relatively compact compared to later cycles, but subtle manipulations ensured safe seats for Democrats in urban areas, such as Baltimore and Prince George’s County.

The 2011 map was widely criticized as one of the nation’s most gerrymandered. It flipped the 6th District to Democratic control by incorporating liberal areas of Montgomery County, significantly reducing Bartlett’s vote share. The map secured a 7-1 Democratic advantage in Congress, despite closer statewide vote margins (e.g., Obama won 62% in 2012). The 6th District’s convoluted shape, stretching from rural Western Maryland to urban Montgomery County, became a symbol of gerrymandering. Even more notable was the 3rd District. Sometimes referred to as a “broken-winged pterodactyl,” the 3rd District’s unusual shape was intended to consolidate the Democratic vote in what could be called “soft” Democratic districts by making sure they were “hardened up” for future elections.

The 2020 census prompted another redistricting. Democrats again controlled the process under Governor Larry Hogan (Republican), creating tension. Maryland’s population grew slightly, but the state retained 8 congressional seats. The Democratic-led Legislative Redistricting Advisory Commission proposed a map that maintained the 7-1 Democratic advantage but made the 1st District (Republican-held) more competitive by incorporating Democratic-leaning areas like Annapolis. This map was criticized for diluting Republican votes further.

In the Szeliga et al. v. Lamone legal challenge, Lynne Battaglia, senior judge of the Maryland Court of Appeals, struck down the 2021 congressional map as an “extreme partisan gerrymander” violating Maryland’s constitution, which requires compact districts respecting natural and political boundaries. The ruling highlighted the 1st and 6th Districts’ irregular shapes.

A revised map, which was approved by Hogan on April 4, 2022, restored some of the compactness and strengthened Republican chances in the 1st District while maintaining a 7-1 Democratic edge. The 6th District became slightly more competitive, with Biden’s 2020 margin reduced from 23 to about 10 points. The Princeton Gerrymandering Project graded this map a “B” for fairness.

This year, Maryland Democrats, led by figures like House Majority Leader David Moon, have proposed reactive redistricting in response to other states (e.g., Texas) altering maps mid-cycle. Posts on X, such as from @RedistrictNet, suggest this could target the 1st District again to secure an 8-0 Democratic sweep by redistributing voters across the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Never mind what is happening in Texas, Maryland congressional representation remains 7 to 1 across 8 seats … hardly representative of the body politic in the state. So David Moon — go back to trying to figure out how to deal with your billion-dollar budget deficit… or try harder to attract new business to the state to bolster the shrinking tax base, or just sit down and stop trying to rig the next, or any, election.

The post The Crooked Lines of Political Chutzpah appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

SPACE PROBLEM:  Montgomery County already has a glut of lab space. Cuts to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services could make it worse — so says a Washington Business Journal headline.

Recently, the state lost a $50 billion opportunity to woo a major drug manufacturer to our shores. Wes Moore was asleep at the switch. In 2025, HHS grants to the state for health-related programs are estimated to be $11.6B — not bad, but Virginia scored $50 billion just by out-hustling the Moore administration.

Now enter Montgomery County with its lackluster executive and council is whining about an ever-increasing issue … excess biolab space to the tune of over .5 million square feet and going up. Montgomery County and the state of Maryland continue to lose to surrounding jurisdictions when it comes to attracting new business to the state and the county.

But the reader should know that this is nothing new for Montgomery County. In April 2018, the County Council commissioned an economic study to be conducted by the independent Sage Policy Group Inc., focusing on the county’s overall business health. Here are just of few of the Executive Summary highlights regarding economic activity:

• Job growth has been extraordinarily soft in recent years. In 2016, the county was home to fewer jobs than in 2006 despite the addition of 11,603 public sector positions.

• Business establishment formation has been virtually nonexistent recently. Between 2011 and 2016, the county added just 6 net new establishments, about the population of businesses in a strip mall.  During that same period, the number of business establishments in Maryland increased by nearly 6,300.
  • From 2001 to 2004, Montgomery County added 1,841 net new business establishments.
  • Slow job growth has translated into elevated commercial vacancy rates, with the office vacancy rate at a stubbornly high 14% at year-end 2017. Vacancy is particularly high among older buildings.
  • The county’s circumstances are rendered all the more precarious by the immense local economic dependence on declining federal activity. As of the third quarter of 2017, Montgomery County’s location quotient for federal employment was 5.33, meaning that federal employment is 433 percent more concentrated as a share of overall employment than nationally.

Keep in mind that it was 2018 when the Sage Policy Group study was commissioned, and things were not going all that well for Montgomery County then. Ike Leggett was county executive, and while Ike was clearly a dyed-in-the-wool Democrat, he was not the far left socialist that Marc Elrich has turned out to be. Add to that the county representatives and senate representative that the county electorate has sent to Annapolis, and we just needed to sit back and wait for impending doom. That doom arrived in 2025 with the inauguration of Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States.

Remember what the 2018 Sage Policy Group report said:  The County’s circumstances are rendered all the more precarious by the immense local economic dependence on declining federal activity.  As of the third quarter of 2017, Montgomery County’s location quotient for federal employment was 5.33, meaning that federal employment is 433 percent more concentrated as a share of overall employment than nationally. No one heard of DOGE in 2018, but it was clear even then that there was an over-dependency on the federal government and the federal handouts that benefited Maryland and Montgomery County.

Now the knee-jerk reaction is to blame Trump and the Trump administration when the real blame lies with the governor and his legislature as well as the county executive and the County Council. Instead of scheming for ways to gerrymander the state yet again to grab one more seat in Congress, their focus should be on trying to attract more bioscience-related businesses to fill that vacant space — before it goes to seed and becomes unusable. The county could also use some help in trying to figure out what to do with the space as well. Rather than sitting around wringing their hands and moaning “woe is me,” it’s time to get off their collective behinds and get busy with ways to attract new business to the county.

For starters:

Incubators for startups. Transforming biolab spaces into incubators for biotech startups can foster innovation and entrepreneurship. By providing affordable lab space, resources, and mentorship, these incubators can support emerging companies focused on life sciences, pharmaceuticals, and healthcare technologies. This initiative could attract talent and investment, further enhancing the region’s reputation as a biotech hub.

Perhaps Research and Development Partnerships. Collaborating with universities and research institutions to utilize biolab space for joint research projects can enhance scientific advancements. This partnership could focus on areas such as infectious diseases, environmental health, or agricultural biotechnology, contributing to the region’s knowledge economy and providing valuable training for students. We could establish training centers within biolab facilities that could help develop the local workforce in the life sciences sector. Programs can be designed to equip individuals with the necessary skills for careers in biotechnology, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, thus addressing workforce shortages while supporting economic growth. The list goes on, but you get the idea.

Our politicians are letting us down at the state and county levels. 2026 is coming, and we have the opportunity to change the dynamic — if we don’t, we will have no one to blame but ourselves.

The post Lab Space Glut, Leadership Void: Montgomery County’s Economic Malaise appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

The state of Maryland and the Moore Administration can best be characterized as “whistling past the graveyard” once again … case in point: The Virginia Mercury headline (July 22, 2025) … “AstraZeneca to build its largest-ever manufacturing facility in Virginia, creating hundreds of jobs — Pharmaceutical giant makes record investment as state leaders tout life sciences boom.” The article goes on to say that the investment to be made will be worth $50 billion — the single largest investment ever made in the history of the company.

So… the question must be asked: Where was Wes Moore and the Maryland Department of Commerce? AstraZeneca’s announcement of a $50 billion investment in U.S. operations by 2030, with a significant portion allocated to a new multi-billion-dollar manufacturing facility in Virginia, has sparked interest, especially given Maryland’s status as a top three biopharma region in the United States. This decision, made public on July 21, 2025, reflects strategic considerations driven by economic, political, and operational factors, despite Maryland’s established strengths in the life sciences sector.

Maryland is a biopharma powerhouse, hosting over 350 biotech and pharmaceutical companies, including major players like AstraZeneca itself, which already operates a research and development (R&D) facility in Gaithersburg and a cell therapy manufacturing site in Rockville. The state’s proximity to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), combined with a skilled workforce and robust academic institutions, makes it a prime location for biopharma innovation. Montgomery County alone is a life sciences corridor, with AstraZeneca’s $300 million Rockville facility, opened in May 2025, employing 150 people for CAR-T cell therapy production. Maryland’s ecosystem supports high-tech R&D and manufacturing, contributing significantly to its ranking alongside Massachusetts and California as a top biopharma hub.

No investment should be discounted, but $300M vs. $50B – I think the math speaks for itself.

Despite Maryland’s advantages, AstraZeneca chose Virginia for its largest-ever single manufacturing investment, a state-of-the-art facility focused on producing small molecules, peptides, and oligonucleotides for weight management and metabolic drugs, including oral GLP-1 and PCSK9 inhibitors. This decision aligns with Virginia’s growing life sciences sector, bolstered by initiatives like the Alliance for Better Medicine in Richmond, which includes Virginia Commonwealth University’s Medicines for All and companies like Phlow Corp.

Virginia’s appeal lies in its business-friendly environment, with Governor Glenn Youngkin emphasizing “shovel-ready” sites and advanced manufacturing capabilities. The state’s lower operational costs, potential tax incentives, and strategic push to diversify its economy beyond federal contracting likely influenced the decision.

The investment is also a response to President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, which pressure pharmaceutical companies to onshore manufacturing. AstraZeneca’s CEO, Pascal Soriot, noted that the move supports U.S. national security by strengthening domestic supply chains, a priority amid threats of tariffs on imported drugs. While Maryland is part of the $50 billion plan, with expansions in Gaithersburg and Rockville, Virginia’s new facility is the centerpiece, expected to create hundreds of highly skilled jobs and leverage AI, automation, and data analytics. The decision underscores a broader trend of pharmaceutical giants like Johnson & Johnson and Eli Lilly investing heavily in U.S. manufacturing to mitigate tariff risks and align with federal priorities

Maryland’s established biopharma infrastructure might suggest it was a natural choice, but Virginia’s aggressive economic development strategy, including rapid negotiations completed in just 33 days, likely tipped the scales.

Maryland’s General Assembly might bear some responsibility too. After years of meetings, Maryland’s Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB) has done little to lower the cost of medications, but the chilling effect on our state’s biopharma economy is undeniable.

The Maryland Tech Council recently reported that out of $158 billion in new U.S. manufacturing investments, Maryland has received $0 dollars.

While Maryland remains a critical R&D hub for AstraZeneca, Virginia’s selection as the manufacturing cornerstone also highlights the state’s rising prominence in advanced pharmaceutical production, potentially shifting the regional balance in the U.S. biopharma landscape. It’s a shift that Maryland cannot afford.

All that said, what we are left to conclude is that the Moore Administration is once again asleep at the switch and remains asleep as we are bypassed by New Jersey, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Delaware, Massachusetts and Virginia.

With trillions of dollars flowing into the United States, both red and blue states, Wes Moore needs to up his game – because if he truly does not intend to run for President in ’28 he will surely be out of a job in ’26.

The post As Virgina Lands AstraZeneca Facility, Moore Administration Whistles Past The Graveyard appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Today we learned that our Governor Wes Moore has returned from his economic development trip to South Korea and Japan, saying: “that his role as Maryland’s chief executive has changed with what he refers to as the chaos coming from Washington. The recent trip, planned before Trump took office, offered a clear picture as to how.” We are told that: “Moore’s words were purposeful. As a leader, he wants to be an answer, a stark contrast, to what he sees in Washington.” Moore goes on to say: “I think that, actually, the best thing you can do in a moment of chaos is to show calm and to show courage,” Moore said. “And that’s the type of leadership that I want to be able to provide.”

Great stuff – words to inspire, but here is the problem … He went – he saw, but as far as anyone can tell he did not conquer! There are no announcements about companies or corporations from South Korea or Japan planning to invest in Maryland! There are no billion-dollar steel plants to be built by Hyundai or the establishment of factories to make semiconductors or iPhone production and assembly … In fact, compared to the “chaos” of Washington, Governor Moore and the State of Maryland are running dead last. If that is the type of leadership he believes the country is looking for, he is likely not to make it out of the primary process … and make no mistake, he is running for that Democrat 2028 nomination for President.

Here is what the chaos in Washington is netting the country, according to AI:

**Georgia**: There are **5** car assembly plants. These include:

– Kia Georgia Inc. (West Point)

– Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Georgia (Savannah, also known as Hyundai Metaplant)

– Rivian Inc. (Stanton Springs)

– Blue Bird Corp. (Fort Valley, primarily school buses)

– Yamaha Motor Manufacturing Corp.

**Alabama**: There are **4** car assembly plants. These include:

– Mercedes-Benz U.S. International (Vance)

– Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama (Montgomery)

– Honda Manufacturing of Alabama (Lincoln)

– Mazda Toyota Manufacturing (Huntsville)

**South Carolina**: There are **2** car assembly plants. These include:

– BMW Manufacturing Co. (Spartanburg)

– Volvo Cars (Ridgeville)

Don’t like cars – how about semiconductors? Once again, AI tells us  …

– Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC): In March 2025, TSMC announced a $100 billion investment to build **five additional chip facilities** in the U.S., primarily in Arizona, alongside President Trump. This expansion includes three new chip fabrication plants, two advanced packaging facilities, and a major research and development …

– TSMC’s earlier investments in Arizona, including a $12 billion plant announced in 2020 during Trump’s first term and a $65 billion commitment for three factories by 2030 (partially funded by $6.6 billion from the CHIPS Act), were also cited as influenced by Trump’s tariff pressures …

– Nvidia: In March 2025, Nvidia announced plans to invest hundreds of billions over four years in U.S.-based manufacturing operations, though specific details on the number of new chip plants were not provided …

Samsung in Texas and Texas Instruments in Utah … the list goes on, but the point is clear, Maryland’s Governor has no ‘juice’ when it comes to attracting business to Maryland but the chaos in Washington … well, the lists speak for itself.

These states clearly demonstrate what can be done to attract new business. Note that all can be called “Red” states that offer a clear incentive to do business in those states. Maryland has made it clear that if you come to Maryland, we will tax you till it hurts, and we will make corporate life miserable for you.

After all Amazon took one look and said, “Adios Amigos”. When Barretta Firearms got an offer to move their 600 employee plant from the Eastern Shore of Maryland to Tennessee they did not hesitate – in fact they expanded their employee base from 600 to 900 – and Maryland leadership at the time said ‘good riddance we don’t want to be making guns anyway’ – or word to that effect. And just like that 600 residents of Maryland lost their jobs. That kind of treatment does not go unnoticed in the business world.

Governor Moore needs to spare us all the righteous indignation about Washington and start producing the kind of outcomes for Maryland that he promised us all when he was elected. Telling us that he traveled to far-off lands and came home with nothing of significant value for the people of Maryland does not even make for a good travel tale.

Gulliver’s Travels … now was a good travel tale – Governor Moore’s Travels, not so much. It is time to bring industry to Maryland or stay home and watch it happen to other states, because they see how business can get done.

The post Governor Moore’s Travels not a very good story appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Once again we are being inundated with rhetoric that is intended to scare the residents of this state that the federal government is once again trying to roll back voter protections and make it harder for eligible voters to register to vote.

“Earlier this year, congressional Republicans introduced the SAVE Act, legislation that would make it more difficult for American citizens – including married women, rural voters, and veterans to cast their ballots.”

Seriously in Maryland? There is a $3B hole in the state budget and this is what the legislature is concerned about? Let’s unpack the issue here and see what is really going on. With their hair on fire, the writers of the MarylandReporter.com commentary say, “We can’t stand by as the federal government advances ant-voter policies that strip neighbors, friends, and families of their freedom to vote.” What ant-voter policies are they talking about? In the State of Maryland, we register voters at the DMV – some call it “Motor Voter”. If you are at the DMV to obtain a “Real ID” as required by the Real ID Act of 2005 – you can also register to vote. This would include married women, rural voters, and veterans – although I am not sure what the writers had in mind when they included veterans.

There also seemed to be an issue with a woman who married and changed their name, as well as other identification requirements to register to vote. Here are the document choices that must be presented to the DMV to obtain a Real ID:

1. **Proof of Identity**: This can include a valid U.S. passport, birth certificate, or a government-issued photo ID.
2. **Proof of Social Security Number**: This can be a Social Security card, a W-2 form, or a pay stub with your Social Security number.
3. **Proof of Residency**: You may need to show two documents that confirm your address, such as a utility bill, lease agreement, or bank statement.
4. **Legal Name Changes**: If your current name is different from the name on your identity documents, you may need to provide legal documents that support the name change, such as a marriage certificate or court order.

Under the SAVE Act (Safe and Accurate Voting Extensions Act), identification requirements for registering to vote can vary by state, as the act allows states to establish their own rules regarding voter ID. However, generally, you may need to provide one or more of the following forms of identification:

1. **Photo Identification**: This could include a driver’s license, state-issued ID, passport, or military ID.
2. **Proof of Citizenship**: Some states may require documents that prove your citizenship, such as a birth certificate or naturalization certificate.
3. **Proof of Residency**: Documents that show your current address, such as a utility bill, bank statement, or lease agreement, may also be required.

It appears that there is sufficient overlap between the two federal requirements that meeting the criteria for one or both does not deny any voting rights to anyone who starts the process with a Real ID. Even the marriage name change dilemma is satisfied.

As a conservative and a Republican I want to see every eligible voter in this state cast a vote on election day or deposit their vote in the institutionalized drop boxes so that every Marylanders vote counts. As the minority political party in the State of Maryland every vote is needed if we are to have any say at all in the running and management of our state.

As I stated earlier – the legislature needs to focus on solving a $3B shortfall in the state’s budget – voter registration will take care of itself.

The post It’s NOT Time To Pass the Maryland Voting Rights Act appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Last night America saw a shocking display of disrespect to the President of the United States by the assembled Democrats who attended the joint session of Congress. One member of the Democratic Party from Texas had to be escorted out of the room by the House Sergeant at Arms … shameful.

During the speech, Senator Van Hollen of Maryland left the room and took to “X” to deride the speech. He was followed by the Representative from Maryland’s 8^th Congressional District, Jamie Raskin who also expressed his woes on “X” – the free speech outlet that the Democrats have used to suppress conservative speech in the past. Perhaps these representatives of the people of Maryland should have stayed in their seats and listened to the information that America was hearing.

As the elected representatives of all the people of Maryland, these officials had an obligation to listen to the entire speech. But that clearly was not the case. If they had they might have realized that the policies that were being presented and the accomplishments of those policies were very popular with America – and I dare say many of their constituents.

CBS News, not exactly a Trump-friendly organization conducted a poll, the CBS/YouGov Survey immediately following the conclusion of the speech. The results of the survey were surprising given the level of Trump Derangement Syndrome there is in America according to the Democrats.

The CBS/YouGov survey reflected the viewer’s description of the president as “presidential”, “inspiring” and more “unifying” than “divisive”. A big majority also called it “entertaining  But the analysis went on much to the shagreen of the Dems … Question: How did the speech make you feel: 68% Hopeful, 54% Proud, 27% Worried and 16% Angry. “In the speech Trump was: 74% Presidential, 74% Entertaining, 71% Inspiring, 62% Unifying and 46% Divisive.

When asked, “Does Trump have a clear plan for inflation the speech watchers 68% responded Yes and 32% No. Even more important, the survey asked a series of Like/Dislike questions regarding Trump’s policies: “Waste in Government Spending”: 77% Like / 23% Dislike. “Immigration and the Border” 77% like / 23% Dislike. “Ukraine and Russia” 73% Like / 27% Dislike. “Tariffs” 65% Like / 35% Dislike. Trump’s description of crime in America 68% – he is telling it like it is … and finally “Having Congressman removed from the Chamber for interrupting Trump”: 76% approved and 24% disapproved.

These responses make it clear that America is with Trump and perhaps if Van Hollen and Raskin had remained in the Chamber they might have learned something  – America is with Trump! Instead of resisting it is possible that by cooperating with some of the Trump initiatives the residents of Maryland who these elected officials represent just might benefit materially from such cooperation. Our roads suck and we need to replace a bridge across the Patapsco River – resistance will for sure drop you to the bottom of any list considering Federal funding. Cooperating with the Administration might earn our state some if not all of the funding needed to fix our roads, replace our bridge, and who knows what else.

It cannot be denied, with all addressed categories of the CBS/YouGov survey registering well above 50%  the smartest thing we can say is “HEY Senator where are you going? Please return to your seat and start taking notes.”

The post Sen. Van Hollen and Rep. Raskin: Take Your Seats appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Rick Hutzel could not be more hyperbolic if he tried. Trump is not coming for the Naval Academy or any of the other military academies that we the taxpayers fund. No … what Trump is doing is driving out the mistaken notion that we need to indoctrinate those attending the academies that somehow their mission is to express their feelings and inclusiveness rather than learn to conduct violent warfare on our nation’s enemies.

The mission of the United States Naval Academy is “to develop Midshipmen morally, mentally and physically and to imbue them with the highest ideals of duty, honor and loyalty in order to graduate leaders who are dedicated to a career of naval service and have potential for future development in mind and character to assume the highest responsibilities of command, citizenship and government.”

The overall curriculum supports the moral and mental preparation of midshipmen and provides them with the skills and knowledge they will need to be successful as junior officers in the United States Navy and Marine Corps.  Nowhere do the words “diversity, equity, and inclusion” appear in the USNA mission statement.

You will find essentially the same for the United States Army: “To educate, train and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army.”

And again much the same for the United States Air Force Academy: “The mission of the United States Air Force Academy (USAF Academy) is to educate, train, and inspire leaders of character to serve in the U.S. Air Force and Space Force.”

No indoctrination just education. The academies – all of them need to be the very pinacol of education in this country. If our universities and colleges want to indoctrinate students with these far-left ideologies regarding wokism, transgenderism, and the notion that “diversity is our strength” then as private institutions I say let them have their way. But for the US military, we must maintain the notion that “strength is our strength” and that strength will be achieved by meritocracy no matter the color of one’s skin, religious background or family heritage.

Hutzel sought out the thoughts of Rep. Sarah Elfreth of Maryland’s 3rd Congressional District. True to the party she stated: “I believe strongly that diversity in all forms makes our institutions stronger, including the U.S. Naval Academy and our military …”. It should be noted for the record that Congressman Elfeth has never served a day in combat and has no real idea what makes us stronger. It should also be noted that the Naval Academy in correct military fashion is responding to the orders of the Commander in Chief and scrubbing the DEI curriculum from the course studies.

Trump has not ordered any right-wing ideology to be inserted into the military academy curriculum. He has only ordered the removal of the leftwing ideology and propaganda so that the academies can return to a meritocracy-based institution that will serve the country’s national security interests.

The post Trump’s order to have the military return to a meritocracy-based institution is the correct decision appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin on Thursday urged Americans to demand President-elect Donald Trump justify each Jan. 6 defendant pardon if he issues them on his “first day” in office, as promised.

I suspect Mr. Raskin missed the vote on November 5^th – The American people spoke then. Their message was loud and clear … The policies and decisions that are about to come forth from the Trump Administration are those that the American public voted for – full stop!

I find it incredibly disingenuous of Raskin to make such an announcement in light of the pardons and commutations that have been granted by President Biden over the past several weeks starting with the sweeping pardon that he gave to his son Hunter – an action that he told the American public he would not do. Biden issued 1634 commutations and 65 pardons without consulting the American public. He had more pardons and commutations than any of his predecessors. He commuted the death sentences of brutal murderers without even consulting the families that were waiting for final justice to be administered. The death sentence that was imposed by a jury of their peers was negated by the stroke of a pen depriving the families and the American public of justice for the commission of heinous crimes. And why did Biden do it? Because he is the President of the United States, and he can. It is the Constitution that grants the President such authority.

The Constitution states in Article II, Section 2, Clause 1: The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States when called into the actual Service of the United States; he may require the Opinion, in writing, of the principal Officer in each of the executive Departments, upon any Subject relating to the Duties of their respective Offices, and he shall have Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offences against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment.

The Constitution establishes the President’s authority to grant clemency, encompassing not only pardons of individuals but several other forms of relief from criminal punishment as well. It does not say the authority is reserved to the Democrat  President exclusively – The constitutional lawyer Jamie Raskin should understand that. Since no calls were made to the American public before Biden took action within his constitutional authority there is no reason to assume that after noon on January 20^th Trump will exercise the same authority to pardon and commute sentences as authorized by the Constitution. As for the American people – they have already spoken.

It would also behoove Mr. Raskin to stop using the term “Insurrection” when referring to those who have been found guilty of crimes related to January 6^th. The record is clear – not a single person who has been found guilty of a crime on January 6^th has been found guilty of insurrection. What is true is that Mr. Raskin stood in the well of the United States Senate during the Second Trump Impeachment and lied to the American people. The record will show that Mr. Raskin looked into the camera and stated that 6 people died on Capitol Hill on January 6^th which we know 4 years later just did not happen. Mr. Raskin has never felt he owed the American public an apology for passing along inaccurate and what we might say was “fake news.”

In fact, the only American citizen and military veteran to die on January 6^th was a woman, Ashli Babbitt. Executed by her government without due process. A clear violation of her constitutional rights but Mr. Raskin never mentioned her death – and President Biden never expressed any remorse for her death while he kneeled before the coffin of Officer Sicknick while it lay in State in the Capitol Rotunda. And 4 years later we know that Officer Sicknick of the Capitol Police died on January 7^th and the medical examiner determined his death due to two strokes ruling his death due to natural causes. No clarifications from Mr. Raskin, just a continuation of the big lie.

Now Mr. Raskin says he is going to work vociferously to block the Trump Agenda. He has sought out the minority leaders set on the House Judiciary Committee announcing his intent is to hinder the Trump America First Agenda from that lofty position. We can expect that he will start his campaign on January 6^th 2025 when it is time to certify the Electoral vote in the House. He has stated publicly that he will cite Article 3 of the 14 Amendment to the Constitution insinuating that Trump led an insurrection 4 years ago and is therefore not eligible to be President.

Raskin knows perfectly well that Trump has never been charged or convicted of the act of insurrection. So all this is going to accomplish is more political theater designed to raise Raskin’s political profile. America has had enough – they made their support for the Trump Agenda on November 5, 2024 clear. Americans have had enough of the political division. They want to get on with fixing the border, the economy, the military, and the countries standing in the world.

In the military, we had a saying” Lead, Follow or Get Out of the Way,” Raskin would do well to heed these words and cool his jets.

The post Raskin needs to cool his jets appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

It appears that the handwringing has started over the issue of women’s ability to serve in combat. Trump has nominated a combat veteran, Pete Hegseth to be the next Secretary of Defense and it appears that Hegseth has some definitive views on the subject. As a decorated combat veteran having served in two combat zones over my 23-year career as an armor officer I have also developed my views on the subject.

Let me make it clear right up front – I have no objections to women serving in all the Uniformed Services of the United States. There are military occupational specialties (MOS) that range across a wide swath of military jobs that are in some cases best performed by women.  More on that subject later. The issue is women in front-line combat units defined as the infantry, armor, and artillery. It appears that Mr. Hegseths position on the matter is that women do not support the lethality and war-fighting capabilities of these specific units.

Let us first understand what is intended when discussing “Lethality”: Lethality refers to the quality or state of being capable of causing death. It is often used to describe the deadliness or dangerousness of something, such as a weapon, disease, or other hazardous agent. The term suggests a high probability or likelihood of resulting in fatality or severe harm. It is a measure of the potency or destructive capacity of a particular substance, force, or phenomenon. As an armor officer, I was trained from the first day in Officers Candidate School that the mission of an armor unit is to close with and kill or capture the enemy.

In 2015, the U.S. Marine Corps conducted a year-long study to evaluate women’s ability to perform in combat. An AI summary of the report provided the following:

Performance: All-male units outperformed mixed-gender units on 93 out of 134 tasks, including speed, marksmanship, and casualty evacuation.

Injuries: Female Marines sustained higher injury rates than male Marines.

Accuracy: All-male rifleman squads had better accuracy than mixed-gender squads.

Crew-served weapons (machine guns, mortars, artillery): All-male units were faster than mixed-gender units, especially when using heavy machine guns and mortars.

The Marine Corps study says units with women fall short in combat … The study’s results have been used to inform decisions about whether to allow women in ground combat and to develop new approaches to accomplishing specific tasks.

The Pentagon completely rejected these study results and opened the combat MOSs to women. What is important here is remembering that in 2015 Barack Obama was the President and the military was used as a social engineering experiment. However, the study findings were and remain valid so the consideration of continuing to have women in combat at least deserves a further discussion. We are told that there are approximately 40,000 to 48,000 woman veterans living in Maryland. That means that of the estimated 400,000 vets in Maryland, approximately 350,000 to 360,000 are male veterans.

If we take the findings of the USMC study seriously and then pole the male veterans across the state on these findings we might find that there is a difference in opinion about who should be serving in the infantry or armor or artillery. The study found that “All-male rifleman squads had better accuracy than mixed-gender squads” … This is the quintessential definition of lethality. Shoot and kill the enemy before I am shot and killed. If in fact “All-male units were faster than mixed-gender units, especially when using heavy machine guns and mortars” than there is room to consider the speed with which crew-served weapons can be put into action – increased lethality from some very important weapons. As a commander when I “call for fire,” I expect my mortal crews and artillery to respond immediately. The last thing I want to hear is that they have not reached their firing position because they are still moving. If you have served in combat you know this is fundamentally unacceptable.

The battlefield is a terrifying place, and the terror is not limited to women. But if the “pointy end of the spear” is not as “pointy” as it can be because of a belief that women are a necessary part of our combat units then I do believe that we need additional debate on the matter.

The debate must begin by agreeing that there will be standards set if women are to continue to serve in the combat arms. Not “Obama” standards – no lowering the bar for the sake of inclusion. That is what is being done today and it is not acceptable. The lowering of standards will get both men and women killed on the battlefield. The standards must be set by combat veterans not “PowerPoint Warriors” who think they know but they really don’t. Then and only then can the debate go forward.

Pete Hegseth has said publicly that there is a place for women in the armed services and I think America can take him at his word. We all know the stories of the women truck drivers who fought off the ambush in Iraq. And the of the helicopter pilot that lost he legs in a helicopter crash. All persons joining the military, men, women, enlisted, or officers are taught to shoot and qualify with a rifle. Not all men are classified as 90^th percentile male and not all women are 5^th percentile females. Experience shows that some women and some men are not physically equipped and built for all of the missions. In each case, we assign people according to the skills and needs of the service that best fits them individually.

If they don’t get it right it could mean the unnecessary death of a dedicated warrior. So let’s have the debate, stop the handwringing, and recognize that there are more than woman veterans that get a vote on this matter. Let the debate begin.

The post The bar should not be lowered for women to serve in combat appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.

Some Annapolis lawmakers are readying legislation to limit the number of offenses that police can use to justify traffic stops – those flashing blue lights that can strike terror in even the most law-abiding motorists.

This endeavor seems to be a continuation of ideas of the past four years that seek to limit what police can do. It is not what people are looking for from their government.

Limiting police stops in Maryland could undermine public safety and the effectiveness of law enforcement. One of the primary roles of police is to proactively prevent crime, which often involves stopping suspicious individuals or vehicles to investigate potential criminal activity.

By restricting the ability of law enforcement to conduct stops, there is a risk of allowing criminal behavior to go unchecked, potentially leading to an increase in crime rates. Police stops can serve as a deterrent for those considering engaging in illegal activities. Reducing these proactive measures could embolden criminals.

Additionally, police stops can play a crucial role in community engagement and building trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve. When officers are allowed to interact with the public through stops, they can foster relationships, gain valuable intelligence about community concerns, and demonstrate their commitment to public safety. Limiting stops may hinder these interactions, making it more challenging for police to understand the unique dynamics of different neighborhoods. This disconnect can lead to an erosion of trust, making community members less likely to report crimes or cooperate with law enforcement.

Moreover, the argument for limiting police stops often hinges on concerns about racial profiling and discrimination. While these issues are valid and must be addressed, the solution should not be to restrict police stops entirely. Instead, the focus should be on improving training, accountability, and oversight within police departments to ensure that stops are conducted fairly and justly. A well-trained police force can balance the need for public safety with the imperative to treat all individuals with respect and dignity, thereby addressing the root causes of community distrust without compromising law enforcement’s effectiveness.

Lastly, limiting police stops could have unintended consequences that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. For example, areas with higher crime rates may rely more heavily on police presence and intervention to maintain safety. Reducing the ability of officers to make stops in these areas could lead to a heightened sense of insecurity among residents, particularly those who are already at risk. Instead of enforcing limitations that could jeopardize safety, Maryland should focus on comprehensive approaches that enhance policing practices while ensuring accountability and fostering community relationships. This balanced strategy is essential for creating safe, thriving communities.

One of the clear lessons to be learned from this past election is that people want more law enforcement not less. If this lesson is not learned by the Maryland legislature then they proceed at their own peril.

The post Limiting police traffic stops is not a good idea appeared first on MarylandReporter.com.