Presidential Candidate Quiz

Who do you support for President? Take this quiz and be surprised who most likely matches up with your views. Let me know who you got!

http://www.wqad.com/Global/link.asp?L=259460

Interestingly, I gave me John McCain.

O'Malley and Bill Clinton Conversation

K-Mart Fire in Eldersburg

A fire was reported on Monday at the K-Mart in the Carrolltown Center in Eldersburg, Maryland in Carroll County. Fortunately, no one was injured. Unfortunately, the fire did not consume the entire mall and burn it to the ground.

Fire companies from Sykesville/Freedom, Gamber, Winfield, Liberty Road VFD in Baltimore County, and a company from Howard County arrived to put out the fire that caused $2000 in damage. Having 5 fire companies respond, however, cost tax-payers $20,000.

There was speculation that the fire was caused by Chinese-made toys tainted with phosphorous and lead which were placed too close to a light bulb. These reports have not yet been confirmed.

The mall, which is not frequented by anyone from Carroll County, is also anchored by Peebles, Dollar General Stores, Big Lots, and a Dungeons and Dragons-type store for nerds. Several times in the past year, state highway employees arrived to board up the mall thinking it was abandoned.

However, Dixon Harvey, the owner of Black Oak, a development company, has fought off pressure to improve the mall and hopes to turn Eldersburg into Carroll County's version of Randallstown. Houses surrounding the mall have decreased in value and have brought in undesirables who contribute to the noise and graffiti that blesses the mall.

Vice President O'Malley

Sports Update

Yesterday, Winthrop defeated the lowly East Carolina Pirates from the lowly Conference USA in men's basketball, 72.-57. It obviously wasn't much of a game.

In other news, the Maryland Terps, who at 5-2 have one of the worst records in the A.C.C., defeated Illinois in the ACC/Big Ten (11) Tournament. Thus far, the A.C.C. has won 2 of the 4 games, with North Carolina and Boston College winning the other games. Unfortunately, N.C. State got crushed by Michigan State and the hapless Hokies of Virginia Tech were defeated by the hapless Penn State Nitney Lions.

In hockey, the horrible Washington Capitals continue to lose. They have the worst record in the N.H.L. at 8-15-2. They were defeated by the Hartford Whalers last night, 2-1. The Whalers continue to play under the guise of the Carolina Hurricanes. It is unknown when this practical joke will end, but it has been going on for some time now.

Van Halen Coming to Baltimore

In what perhaps could be the greatest news Baltimore has received since over 300 criminals were murdered during the Schmoke administration, Van Halen has announced that they are adding nearly 30 stops to their reunion tour. For the first time in years, Baltimore will feature a major music artist, let alone the greatest rock and roll band in the history of the world.

Though tickets are not yet on sale, Van Halen has a date of March 9th to appear at the 1st Mariner Arena, (aka Baltimore Arena, or the Civic Center).

Green Light Bulbs

Go Green! Everyone is going green. We're going green on so much that sometimes we don't stop to think about what we're doing or to consider the fact that there may be unintended consequences of our good intentions.

Take compact fluorescent bulbs (CFL's). They are advertised as using 75% less energy and last 8-10 times longer than normal incandescent light bulbs. San Francisco, in their infinite wisdom, is seeking to ban incandescent light bulbs (in addition to plastic bags).

The problem that people fail to realize with CFL's lies right on the label of the box. "Lamp Contains Mercury" or for the people in Montgomery County, "La Lampara Contiene Mercurio". "Manage in Accord with Disposal Laws". Disposal laws? You mean you can't just throw these things away when they die? You got it.

Another thing I noticed the last time I went to Home Depot is that they no longer carry GE light bulbs. Instead, most of their light bulbs are made in China. This is reassuring because everyone knows that China is the global leader in product safety. None of their toys are tainted with lead, mercury, cadmium, and the blood of political dissidents, except for the products that they sell in stores, like Wal-Mart. (And isn't it amazing that Wal-Mart is able to carry any toys considering EVERYTHING sold in Wal-Mart is made in China?!!!)

If you have to properly dispose of these bulbs, how does that indicate that they are perfectly safe? If they were perfectly safe, you'd just drop them in your trash can. What possibly could be the problem with these bulbs?

According to http://www.lamprecycle.org/, there has been no significant adverse affect of ingestion, inhalation, skin or eye contact from broken bulbs. No "significant adverse affects"? I think I heard the same thing coming from the Russian government in the wake of the Chernobyl nuclear plant explosion. "There is no news to report today....especially in Chernobyl."

Signs of mercury poisoning, not that it's possible after being exposed to these safe bulbs, are profuse sweating, increased heart rate, hypersalivation, hypertension, loss of teeth, hair, and nails, transient rashes, muscle weakness, kidney dysfunction, emotional lability, memory impairment, and insomnia. Fortunately, these symptoms seem mild.

On the Environmental Protection Agency's webpage, they provide some helpful tips for handling damaged light bulbs:

Fluorescent light bulbs contain a very small amount of mercury sealed within the glass tubing. EPA recommends the following clean-up and disposal guidelines:
1. Open a window and leave the room for 15 minutes or more.
2. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag.
· Use disposable rubber gloves, if available (i.e., do not use bare hands). Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag.
· Do not use a vacuum or broom to clean up the broken bulb on hard surfaces.
3. Place all cleanup materials in a second sealed plastic bag.
· Place the first bag in a second sealed plastic bag and put it in the outdoor trash container or in another outdoor protected area for the next normal trash disposal.Note: Some states prohibit such trash disposal and require that broken and unbroken lamps be taken to a local recycling center.
· Wash your hands after disposing of the bag.
4. If a fluorescent bulb breaks on a rug or carpet:
· First, remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder.
· If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in two sealed plastic bags in the outdoor trash or protected outdoor location for normal disposal.

Wow. Based on this list of frightening intrusive and demanding instructions, I agree with Al Gore that these things are perfectly safe. I bet he tells all of his servants not to worry about cleaning up these broken bulbs.

So where do you dispose of your used compact fluorescent bulbs? You're lucky. There is a facility in Maryland. Though there is only one. It is located at:

Environmental Preservation Associates

dba USA Lights

3408 52nd Avenue

Hyattsville, MD 20781301-699-6244

Please drive to this facility near Washington, D.C. in your SUV and spend $30 in gas to get there. It is located in the dangerous ghetto neighborhood of Hyattsville. Properly dispose of your used bulbs. It's the environmentally friendly thing to do!!! Yeah!!!

Your Money is THEIR Money

Christmas is approaching and what a joyous time it is. It's when families gather to exchange gift cards, because as a society we've become too damn lazy to make those educated purchases. Though it makes a parent proud to hear their children talking, "which gift cards did you get? I got..."

However, don't forget about those old gift cards and gift certificates. Hurry up and spend them. Otherwise, State Comptroller Peter Franchot will come 'a knockin'. You see, in the Special Session, some sneaky Democrats slipped in House Bill 30. What is House Bill 30 you ask?

It reads as follows:

Establishing the Maryland Education Fund; providing that after a specified date, the balance remaining on a gift certificate shall be presumed abandoned; requiring a person that sells or issues a gift certificate in the State to remit to the Comptroller the remaining balance on gift certificates on or before a specified date each year; etc.

For those of you that attended Baltimore City public schools and don't understand this bill, it means that the if you do not spend you gift certificate after 4 years, the State of Maryland will confiscate the balance for their own use. It is no longer your property. It is no longer the property of the company that issued the gift certificate. It is the property of the State.

Have you ever read 1984 by George Orwell? You might want to do so. The State of Maryland is watching you.

Who submitted this bill? You can pretty much bet that if you live in Montgomery County, Prince George's County, or Baltimore City, you delegate voted to confiscate your personal property.

Here are the sponsors of the bill. Do you know your delegate?
Delegate Joseline A. Pena-Melnyk, District 21 - Prince George's County - Laurel
Delegate Ben Barnes, District 21 - Prince George's County - Laurel
Delegate Aisha N. Braveboy, District 25 - Prince George's County -
Delegate Rudolph C. Cane, District 37A - Dorchester / Wicomico County
Delegate Frank M. Conaway, Jr., District 40 - Central Baltimore City
Delegate Barbara Frush, District 21 - Prince George's County
Delegate Tawanna P. Gaines, District 22 - Prince George's County
Delegate Cheryl D. Glenn, District 45 - east Baltimore City
Delegate Peter A. Hammen, District 46 - South and southeast Baltimore City
Delegate Marvin E. Holmes, Jr., District 23B - Prince George's County
Delegate Tom Hucker, District 20 - Montgomerty County
Delegate Jolene Ivey, District 47 - Prince George's County
Delegate Anne R. Kaiser, District 14 - Montgomery County
Delegate Susan C. Lee, District 16 - Montgomery County
Delegate Gerron S. Levi, District 23A - Prince George's County
Delegate Maggie McIntosh, District 43 - north central Baltimore City
Delegate Dan K. Morhaim, District 11 - western Baltimore County - (Owings Mills, Pikesville, Reisterstown)
Delegate Peter Murphy, District 28 - Charles County
Delegate Nathaniel T. Oaks, District 41 - northwest Baltimore City
Delegate Craig L. Rice, District 15 - Montgomery County
Delegate Barbara Robinson, District 40 - central Baltimore City
Delegate Justin D. Ross, District 22 - Prince George's County
Delegate Melvin L. Stukes, District 44 - west Baltimore City
Delegate Veronica Turner, District 26 - Prince George's County
Delegate Michael L. Vaughn, District 24 - Prince George's County
Delegate Jay Walker, District 26 - Prince George's County

Give Thanks

Most of America celebrated Thanksgiving this weekend. It's the time of year that we should reflect upon what we have and how we should be grateful (or thankful) for what we have.

This year, I am thankful for my family's health and our happiness. We celebrate with a new member of our family. My 3 1/2 month old daughter insisted that she not sit in the bouncy seat on her first Thanksgiving. Instead, she viewed the turkey and all the trimmings from the comfort of my lap. And in addition to my brother, she also saw the food that we were eating.

This year, I am thankful that my family was in a good mood. You never know what you're going to get when we all get together. My sister is a left-wing nut. "God bless the people with no ambition that want to suckle on the teet of the working class," she says. "Execute Martin O'Malley for treason", my father says. And this is the friendly fire. Things often get heated.

After everyone had left, my wife and I got to discussing Christmas. I'm sure you are all familiar with Christmas - it's that holiday that 99% of agnostics and pagans celebrate. It's the night that St. Secular comes down fibre optic line through your TIVO and delivers electronic gadgets from Sony and Apple to the self-absorbed narcissists. But I digress.

My wife said that her mother is giving her a check for $1000 for Christmas, just as she did last year. She is in her 60's and wants to start drawing down her assets so that we are not slugged with the death tax, compliments of Congress and the Maryland General Assembly. This is where they graciously take most of your money when you die - it's in order to pay your fair share of the services that they provide.

My wife then mentioned that her 2 aunt's would probably both give her $100. This is usually in addition to gifts. I got to thinking. It must be nice to have a big family. My family consists of my 2 parents, both of whom are only children. I have no uncles. I have no aunts. I have no cousins. Sure, I have some second cousins, but they are in their late 40's and 50's. And they live elsewhere. I think my mother is giving me Season 3 of Magnum P.I., something that I want.

Two years ago, on my birthday, I got a cheese steak sub for my birthday from my family. I was thankful for what I received. However, I cannot help comparing the gifts that my wife's family gives her to the gifts my family gives to me. I shouldn't do that. Different circumstances. Different priorities. Different opportunities.

Enough about that. I am also thankful that New England was able to defeat Philadelphia this weekend. You see, Philadelphia is Baltimore's Mississippi. Arkansas is the 49th worst state in union. The only thing keeping it from being the worst is Mississippi. The only thing keeping Baltimore from being the worst city in America is Philadelphia. Happy Thanksgiving!

Tasers - Weapons of Death

TASER's have become the bane of criminals existence. Over and over, we hear the media crying about how another person died while being subdued by brutal and overzealous police.

Just this week, a 20 year old young boy was tasered and died in Frederick, Maryland. The bleeding heart libs are in an uproar. The NAACP is calling for the banning of TASERS. These are the weapons that are killing our youth. You hear it all the time. "He's a good boy. I don't know why they would have done this to him". Other than the 5-page criminal record, resisting arrest, concealed unregistered weapons, assaulting an officer, being drunk and on drugs, and being verbally abusive, I agree that most of the victims are good people.


I almost have to agree. I mean, what's the point? How much does a TASER cost? TASER, who's Christmas slogan is, "What does Santa bring You when you have been GOOD but the WORLD has been BAD?", sells the TASER C2 Black Pearl w/o laser for $299.99. The one with the laser is $349.99. I was unable to find the nickel-plated one with a sight, silencer, and harpoon attachment.

Regardless, if these things are so bad, let's go back to the old days and save some money. Let's allow the police to bludgeon perpetrators with billy-clubs until they cooperate. Or, if that does not work, let's allow the police to start using their service weapons (better known as guns) to help apprehend and subdue criminals. If we ban TASERS, we can't cry foul when they have to start shooting people.

Winthrop Almost Ranked!

College basketball season is upon us again (as is the NBA, but no one gives a shit about the NBA) and Winthrop University is off to a decent start. In a tournament in St. Thomas, Winthrop defeated Illinois-Chicago, then Georgia Tech. They eventually lost to Baylor in the Championship game.

I was hoping that Winthrop would end up playing either Notre Dame or Wichita State in the championship. Winthrop handily defeated Notre Dame in this year's NCAA tournament. Former Winthrop coach Gregg Marshall left after 9 seasons and took over the Wichita State program. Unfortunately, both teams lost before Winthrop could beat up on them.

If you look at this week's rankings, you will see that Winthrop received 5 votes to be ranked, 2 more points than Maryland. Ha-ha!

We Love Taxes in Maryland

I gathered some quotes from O'Malley and his Democratic cohorts.

"I have seen the future and I will tax it."

"I never met a tax I didn't like."

Yesterday O'Malley signed the bill approving $1.7 Billion in new taxes (yes, BILLIONS). After signing it, he said, "It was hard to ask people to do more, but it would have been irresponsible to not ask the people of our state to choose to make progress''. It's disappointing that he thinks that raising taxes on the hard working middle class is progress. I guess it just depends on your definition of progress. If progress means "the government needs more money to control your lives and wants to control more", then yes, Maryland definitely made progress on Monday.

As for the slots, our unable Governor said, "We finally settled that most contentious issue of all that had divided us for these last four years by finding the humility to let the people decide." What the hell does that mean? Of course, anyone who didn't go to Baltimore City public schools or wasn't blinded by liberal propaganda taught at Montgomery County Public schools knows that this means that the legislators knew the slots would generate more revenue, but also know that many people in Maryland don't want slots. So if the legislators don't vote on it, then the voters can't hold it against them in the next election. But come on, 'humility'? Our legislators showed humility? Is that why the Democrats were wide-eyed and salivating when they heard how much money the taxes would generate? Because they showed humility???? You'll have to agree that O'Malley is the most condescending politician in recent Maryland history.

Additionally, feeble O'Malley said "This is one of the toughest things I think that you ever have to do in any sort of representative democracy, and that is to tell the people that we work for to tell one another that: 'Yes, we have to sacrifice more and we have to invest more." So the government is telling me that they are investing my money for me? And in investing it in what?

One of his plans is to add hundreds of thousands of children to the state health plan - including children that are already on their parent's insurance plans. Is this responsible? I hope for the middle class' sake, he invests the money more responsibly than he did a few years ago when he "lost" $50-some million playing cards with the Baltimore City public school board.

Finally, O'Malley's pompous cohort Michael Busch was quoted saying, "It puts all the demons behind us that we struggled with for the last six years." All I can say, Mr. Busch, is that if you would quit drinking so much, many of those demons will go away.

I have to go to work now. Gotta pay my taxes. It's for the people.

The Maryland Constitution

Which of the following items seems as if it is inappropriate to appear in the Maryland Constitution?

We, the People of the State of Maryland, grateful to Almighty God for our civil and religious liberty, and taking into our serious consideration the best means of establishing a good Constitution in this State for the sure foundation and more permanent security thereof, declare:

Article 1. That all Government of right originates from the People, is founded in compact only, and instituted solely for the good of the whole; and they have, at all times, the inalienable right to alter, reform or abolish their Form of Government in such manner as they may deem expedient.

Art. 5. (b) The parties to any civil proceeding in which the right to a jury trial is preserved are entitled to a trial by jury of at least 6 jurors.

Art. 7. That the right of the People to participate in the Legislature is the best security of liberty and the foundation of all free Government; for this purpose, elections ought to be free and frequent; and every citizen having the qualifications prescribed by the Constitution, ought to have the right of suffrage.

Art. 10. That freedom of speech and debate, or proceedings in the Legislature, ought not to be impeached in any Court of Judicature.

Art. 13. That every man hath a right to petition the Legislature for the redress of grievances in a peaceable and orderly manner.

Art. 14. That no aid, charge, tax, burthen or fees ought to be rated or levied, under any pretense, without the consent of the Legislature.

Art. 22. That no man ought to be compelled to give evidence against himself in a criminal case.

Art. 48. We shall have slots, hon, down Ocean City, in the number less than 15,000 machines, of which the total across the state shall be. We also want slots down Rocky Gap out in Western Maryland. The state shall assume 55% of all proceeds from slots to pay for education. The machines should pay out 85% of all proceeds. The machines will be digital and glitzy, not to exceed 95 decibels.

If you think one of these items does not belong in the Maryland Constitution, you get the chance to vote on it. The legislators decided that it was too risky to vote on it themselves and rather than having a legislative referendum to have the voters decide (which would have allowed slots under a new Maryland law), the left-wing liberals and the misguided and unintelligent Baltimore City delegation voted to have a Constitutional referendum, which will add the details of slots into the Maryland Constitution. So, "We the people of Maryland wanna play slots, hon."

Good News Everybody!

The doctor called and I don't have mono, though I may be in bed with one of her cousins, which outside of sicknesses is one of my favorite situations.

So I read another 50-75 pages of Living Biblically. This book is fantastic. I really enjoy this dude's sense of humor. I highly recommend it. Hopefully I can finish it by the end of the month. Now that I'm back at work, my reading will subside to about 15-20 pages per night.

I slept a lot again yesterday, which is what I hear you should do when your sick. I also continued to watch lots of movies. I watched Fargo. Someone needs to help me with that one. Why was Jerry Lundegaard trying to get the money in the first place? It that even significant? Overall just a goofy movie. I also watched the Princess Bride. My friends who grew up in the 80's say this is one of their all-time favorites. Perhaps I should get some new friends. It was okay, but mostly hokey. Vizzini was funny. And everyone loves Andre the Giant.

I also watched I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry. It was very funny for the first hour. The second hour fell into that "we need to tie this together and finish the movie" drama.

I also filled my day on Wikipedia. I decided to go through all of the Democrats in the Maryland General Assembly and add legislative notes to their bios indicating which ones voted in favor of raising the sales tax by 20% and which ones voted in favor of allowing illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition. Apparently Delegate Anne Kaiser didn't take to it too well. I assume it was her changing the bio because the changes made were inconsistent to wikipedian's changes. Anyway, my changes were undone, but because it's Wikipedia, I get notification of changes and I went back and re-added it. Ha!

Anyway, I'm back at work today. Boo...

Home Sick

No, I'm not homesick, but I am at home and I am sick. I haven't felt well since last Wednesday. I thought I was coming down with the flu or something. However, the next morning I felt somewhat better. No flu.

However, every day I have been tired and feel like a low grade flu. I'm slightly achy, certainly can't hold my own attention. On Monday my wife informed me that 3 of my daughters' friends have been diagnosed with pneumonia. I looked pneumonia up on the Internet. It usually has red or pinkish phlegm, painful coughs, soar throat. I do not have any of these symptoms. However, what caught my eye is that 3 million people per year get pneumonia in the United States. Half a million are admitted to the hospital. Five percent of these people will die. Yikes! I don't want to die. (At least not yet - I haven't had sex with Reese Witherspoon yet!)

So I go to the doctor. He asks all those normal questions. He asks if I am coughing. Of course I'm coughing. I cough all the time. A combination of asthma and reflux will do that to you. However, I admitted that I am coughing a little more than normal. He listens to my chest. He asks me to take a deep breath. I breath in and nature takes over. I probably damaged his eardrums with the rocks jostling around in my lungs. He says in addition to my other problem, I have a respiratory infection.

He asks if I'm peeing a lot. Now that he mentions it - yes, I am. Am I dehydrated? Why, yes to that, too. Do you feel really tired all the time? I think he's on to something. I ask if he thinks it's mono. He says not really because my glands aren't swollen, but all signs point to mono. He thinks it's definitely a virus. He sends me for a urine and blood sample. I thought they would call today with the results, so perhaps I'll call him tomorrow.

The good news is that I have to stay home for 2 days - at least. I fight with him vigorously for 0.2 seconds. I concede. I inform my wife of the good news. I could see the look of fear in her eyes. We get in each other's hair when I'm home for more than a few hours a day.

Since I'll be home, I know that I'll get bored. I go to the library and get The Year of Living Biblically by A. J. Jacobs. I've already read 115 pages. It's really funny - and informative. Did you know that if the wife of an adversary grabs your penis - you get to cut her hand off?

I can't read all day, so I pick up a few movies. So far today I've watched the 1955 Oscar winner for Best Picture - Mister Roberts. It stars Jack Lemmon (one of my favorite actors - check out The Odd Couple and The Apartment. These are funny classic movies.). Then I watched Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. I remember this movie being pretty good. I have a doctor's appointment tomorrow to have my head checked. That movie sucked. I also picked up The Hunchback of Notre Dame, the 1939 version, Fargo (never seen it), and The Best of Woody Woodpecker, disc 2. This should keep me busy for the next day or two.

And I get to take naps (cuz I don't feel good). I took a 2 hour nap with my 3 month old daughter this afternoon. We both liked it.

Cold and Sick

The weather has changed here in Carroll County. The leaves are in full color and falling fast. The wind is whipping around in our urban-sprawl development. Each morning I am greeted with a sheet of frost across my lawn and across the windows of my car.

It's about time to find that ice scraper. I spend about 10 minutes each morning waiting for the forces of Ford engines to generate enough heat to clear my windshield. Call it laziness. My ice scraper is somewhere. It's not in my car. But it's somewhere. One day, I'll remember before 6:45 in the morning to look for it.

So this change in weather has taken its affect on me. I usually get sick some time in the fall. It hit me last week. I started getting a headache and have just felt like blah for several days. Though not enough to keep me from my highly important job.

Yesterday was a different story. I woke up and fell asleep. Did anyone get the tags of that bus that hit me? I slept in until 8am. My son (bless his heart), came upstairs with orange slices and some eggs for me to eat. It was his idea.

After the kids went to school I began to watch movies. And watch movies I did. I started off with National Lampoon's Van Wilder, the Rise of Taj. It was expectantly dumb. I then got caught up in the Crime Doctor series on TCM. I was parts of 2 movies, though there was a nap in there somewhere, so I can't say that I watched the whole thing. My wife watches my niece, so we had to squeeze in Wallace & Grommit. After I put her down for a nap, I watched The Sting II, which I saw years ago. Definitely not as good as the original, but not bad.

I finished the day with watching part of The Blob - the original one with Steve McQueen. However, my wife made me turn it off because she said it was inappropriate for me to watch with the kids. I'm a little confused. How can an obviously fake horror movie from the 1950's be worse than anything she watches on MTV in front of the kids? Every show on MTV is required to say "bitch", "ass", "hell", and "fffckkkk" (with a lame attempt to bleep out the "uh" in the middle.

Anyway, I posted several bios on Wikipedia and did some cleanup on the others. Three cheers for my nerddom!!!

Hopefully, I'll feel better later and I provide an update on Dictator O'Malley's temper tantrum.

It's Not In My Budget, But That Doesn't Matter

Today, I decided that I am going to buy the Nikon D80 10.2MP Digital SLR with the 18-135mm AF-S DX Zoom-Nikkor lens. The problem is that is costs $1,159. Well, that's not actually the problem. The problem is that I only have $900 to spend. However, I learned something this week from Martin O'Malley and I am going to apply my new found knowledge.

Recently, Martin O'Malley decided that he wanted to spend $33 billion (yes, billllllllllionsssss) for 2008. The problem is that he only has $31.3 billion to spend. (whah!) He brags that he wanted to spend more, but decided to cut $280 million from his plan. $280 million?

So he's Mr. Wonderful because he cut 0.8% of his budget? And now we have to dish out billions more in new taxes so that he can spend more money for our benefit? To make matters worse, he says that if we don't hurry up and give him this money, he's going to demand more money? How does this make any sense?

So....using Martin O'Malley's logic, it doesn't matter if I don't have $1,158 for that new Nikon D80. It's what I want, and that's what matters. All I need to do now is tell my employer that they need to pay me a little more money (and it's for their benefit!) and I can get my new camera. And if they don't give it to me, I'm not doing anything for them. Easy as pie, eh?