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You are here: Home / Economics / C.R.E.A.M. / Open Thread: Martin O’Malley Chooses the Right Targets

Open Thread: Martin O’Malley Chooses the Right Targets

by Anne Laurie|  March 22, 20155:41 pm| 93 Comments

This post is in: C.R.E.A.M., Election 2016, Open Threads, Proud to Be A Democrat

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Politicians make too many empty promises to Americans. But Martin O'Malley is serious about keeping your beer cold. pic.twitter.com/AbPLe7Tgoy

— John Nichols (@NicholsUprising) March 21, 2015

John Wagner, at the Washington Post:

DAVENPORT, Iowa — Former Maryland governor Martin O’Malley stepped up his critique of Wall Street excesses here Friday as he began his first swing through Iowa this year with a populist speech to an enthusiastic crowd of close to 300 people attending a Democratic dinner.

O’Malley, who is aggressively positioning himself as an alternative to presumed Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Rodham Clinton, said that his party “must not allow another Wall Street meltdown to bring down hard-working families.” In a speech broadcast live on C-SPAN, he called for tougher sanctions on banks that break the law and for reinstating the Glass-Steagall Act, the Depression-era measure that separated commercial and investment banking…

During O’Malley’s appearance at the Scott County Democrats’ “Red, White and Blue Dinner,” he offered a prescription for “making the dream true again” that includes raising the minimum wage, expanding Social Security benefits, making pre-kindergarten universally available and ensuring equal pay for women. “Sing it with me people,” O’Malley said. “When women succeed, America succeeds.”…

O’Malley’s appearance in Davenport was a homecoming of sorts. He cut his teeth in politics working on Gary Hart’s 1984 presidential bid, spending much of his time in eastern Iowa. As O’Malley has mulled his own White House bid over the past two years, he has poured resources into the state, appearing at 24 campaign events and fundraisers for other Democrats, lending 14 staffers to Democratic candidates and the state party and donating more than $40,000.

Following the address, O’Malley mingled with a few dozen activists from the audience at an Irish bar. O’Malley’s arrival Friday coincided with the publication of an op-ed in the Des Moines Register calling for a greater commitment by his party to Wall Street reforms. “Today, most Republicans in Congress are hell-bent on disassembling the Dodd-Frank Act,” O’Malley wrote, referring to the 2010 law that was intended to help lessen the risk of another financial crisis. ”And too many Democrats have been complicit in the backslide toward less regulation. Seven years after the Wall Street meltdown, Americans are still experiencing the fallout.”

Cold beer and hot attacks on the One Percenters — good old-fashioned Democratic campaigning.

Apart from politics, what’s on the agenda for the evening?

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Reader Interactions

93Comments

  1. 1.

    trollhattan

    March 22, 2015 at 5:52 pm

    Speaking of governors kicking ass, taking names and telling it like it is–Our Jerry:

    Gov. Jerry Brown said opposition to steps President Barack Obama is taking on climate change “borders on the immoral,” as he tore into Republicans in an interview aired Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”

    Brown’s remarks came after Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., urged states last week to ignore federal directives to reduce carbon emissions from power plants. Brown, a longtime champion of environmental causes, said McConnell was “representing his coal constituents” and putting at risk “the health and well being of America.” The Democratic governor called McConnell’s efforts “a disgrace.”

    “President Obama is taking some important steps,” Brown said. “And to fight that, it borders on the immoral.”

    Brown called U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a climate change skeptic and potential presidential candidate from Texas, “unfit to be running for office.”

  2. 2.

    Tree With Water

    March 22, 2015 at 5:57 pm

    If O’Malley opposed the Bush-Cheney War, I’m inclined to think he’ll get my vote (i.e., if his campaign lasts until California).

  3. 3.

    max

    March 22, 2015 at 6:02 pm

    Cold beer and hot attacks on the One Percenters — good old-fashioned Democratic campaigning.

    Well. He’s certainly going to go for it, isn’t he? Well, let’s see if he can sell it then.

    max
    [‘Decent start though.’]

  4. 4.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 6:08 pm

    Thanks for the post, AL.

  5. 5.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 6:09 pm

    I like what I’m hearing from O’Malley. And I like that he’s young enough to have the energy to be president in this day and age.

  6. 6.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    . “Sing it with me people,” O’Malley said

    I would like to see a video of this. Doesn’t sound like O’Malley’s natural style.

  7. 7.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 6:11 pm

    I don’t suppose we have any city building inspectors here on BJ, do we?

  8. 8.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 6:12 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    You have dudes here, so plenty of people who will act like one.

  9. 9.

    Belafon

    March 22, 2015 at 6:13 pm

    Have to see what he says, but I’ll take any serious candidates any election.

    Edit: Changed to a better word.

  10. 10.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 6:14 pm

    @Baud: Are you volunteering?

  11. 11.

    Bystander

    March 22, 2015 at 6:16 pm

    I want to like O’Malley but his speech at the last convention I thought was pretty pedestrian. I don’t mean it didn’t have enough soaring rhetoric for me. It just wasn’t very well written. Plus, the guy is as handsome as John Edwards. There’s a Gary Hart John Edwards tradition I don’t need to see perpetuated at the moment. I call my disease reverse lookism and I apologize in advance if anyone feels hurt or offended.

  12. 12.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I’m probably not the best person here to pull it off, but since no one else is around, sure.

  13. 13.

    juanechien

    March 22, 2015 at 6:27 pm

    @Baud:He does sometimes perform with an Irish/Rock band but I don’t know if he sings.

  14. 14.

    Pogonip

    March 22, 2015 at 6:28 pm

    I think Balloon Juice may have been hacked; it tries to redirect me to something called Vindicosuite, which when I looked it up is malware.

  15. 15.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 6:30 pm

    @Pogonip:

    I get that on the mobile site, not the web page.

  16. 16.

    juanechien

    March 22, 2015 at 6:32 pm

    @Bystander: I’ve lived in Maryland for the last 35 years and I’ve never heard a word about him messing around. I think he’s pretty clean in that respect. And, yes, I do like him, a lot, as a moderate progressive. He’s good but not an exciting speaker, unfortunately.

  17. 17.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 6:37 pm

    @Baud: Background: inconsiderate, loud next door neighbor. 2 parents, 4 young adults. 7 vehicles, which they park in front of my house rather than in front of theirs. 2 motorcycles. one of the kids has a lawn mowing & snow blowing business, so there’s always a big trailer, too. Still, I try to be nice.

    The dad mentions a year ago that he’s thinking of paving the 6-8 foot strip between his house and my fence so they can park the riding mower or snowmobiles or motorcycles. Their property is much higher than mine, so I am concerned about either a slope of concrete that has all the water running into my garden OR that they make the concrete slab at the high level and then I see 2-3 of concrete through my open fence where I garden. Or both!

    So a year ago I call the city to inquire whether they can legally do that, and I am assured that they cannot. Call me back if you see utility people or flags in the ground or paint on the ground.

    Fast forward to this week, when all 3 start appearing. I kind of meander over one evening and wonder what they’re up to. Replacing the deck in front and re-doing their driveway. He doesn’t tell me that he is moving his driveway nearly to my property line (which is apparently legal) or that the is going to pave the strip I mentioned above. Still I call the city, they confirm that he hasn’t said anything about the strip between the houses, but let them know ASAP if I think that is happening so they can do a “stop order”.

    Fast forward to today, when the contractor appears with the heavy equipment and after a few hours I see them standing in the strip between my fence and the neighbor’s house. So I head out and politely wait for a minute while they’re chatting until I can get my neighbor’s attention. In that minute or so, he is telling the contractor that he plans to use the concrete area for garbage cans, the riding mower and motorcycles.

    I catch his eye, ask if he is doing something in the little strip that might affect me. He says they are doing the concrete thing. I ask, what you are planning to put on it (more politely than that, this is just shorthand) and he says garbage cans. I say that’s it and he says yeah. I said motorcycles, he says no. Liar – I just heard him say all that other stuff.

    I politely said that I had spoken to the city and I didn’t think he would be permitted to do that, and I asked them to not do anything that “can’t be undone” until we can talk with the city again.

    I come back and and send email to the fellow that I’ve been talking to at the city. He writes me back and says he checked with the inspector and it sounds like he has the legal right to do what he’s doing. I write back and copy the notes I took from our conversation last year:

    ordinance 37-221
    6′
    what can extend into your side yard

    H. concrete is allowed but must be so located…
    as long as it’s not driven upon

    could use it as a patio but not a parking space
    if patio has to be constructed so as not to push storm water onto my property

    He writes back and says, hmm, you’re right. it looks like their is a conflict between two different codes. He will talk to the inspector in the morning and get back to me. He sends me this link:

    https://www.municode.com/library/il/champaign/code_of_ordinances/toc/MUCO_CH37ZO_ARTIVDEST_DIV6PRENACBUYA

    but I am possibly the least handy person ever born, so I am wondering if there’s anyone who can make sense of it all.

    Sorry this comment is so long, I wouldn’t blame you if you didn’t even read it all!

  18. 18.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    March 22, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    @Pogonip: Idle speculation here, but it’s possible it’s coming in from an ad. I block ads because they are the biggest virus vector that I interact with regularly.

  19. 19.

    The Fat Kate Middleton

    March 22, 2015 at 6:39 pm

    @efgoldman: Re looking like Cary Grant – me, too (sigh). Re O’Malley: He’s getting lots of good press here in Iowa – even our local rag, the Gazette, is commenting approvingly.

  20. 20.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 6:41 pm

    @efgoldman: Well, then I had a crush on you when I was just a girl. :-) I always thought my dad looked “dapper” just like Cary Grant, though I can see from photos that my dad was not as handsome as you and Cary Grant.

  21. 21.

    The Fat Kate Middleton

    March 22, 2015 at 6:42 pm

    @WaterGirl: This story makes me so glad I live on three acres in the country (although that brings its own collection of challenges).

  22. 22.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 6:50 pm

    @The Fat Kate Middleton: I have always gotten along really well with my neighbors. You know, I tell them in the fall that I’m thinking of extending my fence to the front of the house in the spring, and moving the gate closer to the front of the house, it’s nothing personal, I jam starting a garden and want my veggies inside the fence. Would that be a problem for you? I even got a fence that looks the same from the front and the back so none of my neighbors would get stuck looking at the back side of a fence.

    I have tried really hard to be patient about the rudeness and the cars with these guys. But this is a bridge too far for me. And i forgot to say that they said, no they wouldn’t wait for the city to weigh in.

    If the city tells me they can do it, I will have to suck it up and get over it.

  23. 23.

    doug r

    March 22, 2015 at 6:51 pm

    Smartypants isn’t impressed so far: http://immasmartypants.blogspot.ca/2015/03/im-not-buying-omalley-on-wall-street.html

  24. 24.

    dogwood

    March 22, 2015 at 6:53 pm

    @Bystander:
    I’m certainly not hurt or offended by your reverse looksism. In fact if I were running for office, I would benefit from your “disease”. But what has always baffled me is this idea that John Edwards is exceptionally handsome. He’s ok looking. Youthful with a big smile. But I’d say Barack Obama is far ahead of him In the looks department.

  25. 25.

    Mnemosyne (tablet)

    March 22, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    I was able to do a little bit of CicLAvia (10 flat miles by bike) by taking an antihistamine, a decongestant, a cough suppressant, and two puffs of my asthma inhaler. I’m back home waiting for it all to wear off with a thud. At least it was fun.

  26. 26.

    Bystander

    March 22, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    efgoldman, if only you were as magnanimous as you are dashing.

    O’Malley is more of a Huey Lewis than a Hugh Grant.

  27. 27.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 6:55 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Yeah, unless you want to get into litigation, I don’t know what you can do other than try to convince the inspector that they can’t do what they are doing.

  28. 28.

    Xantar

    March 22, 2015 at 6:58 pm

    @trollhattan:

    Fighting Obama’s climate change policies only “borders” on immoral? Sellout!

  29. 29.

    Another Holocene Human

    March 22, 2015 at 6:59 pm

    If O’Malley is so great how did he leave Maryland a smoking ruin when he left?

  30. 30.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 7:00 pm

    @Baud: How would I go about convincing them?

    Edit: we didn’t even pursue litigation related to my mom’s death, even though the doctor’s nurse told us she thought the doctor had made a terrible error and she thought we had a case. Not my style.

  31. 31.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    March 22, 2015 at 7:01 pm

    @WaterGirl: Looks like the important thing for that part of the code will be the definition of “automobile”. I couldn’t confirm on a quick look through if a motorcycle would be included in that definition.

    What I would be asking is whether they need a grading and drainage permit. It may be small enough to fall under the exceptions in 29.5-2.01.d (I assume you’re not in a floodway or floodplain). Since it’s in a place where the change in the runoff patterns could adversely affect your property, you might be able to get some help there.

  32. 32.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 7:08 pm

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Thanks.

    I thought the “as long as it’s not driven upon” would include both the riding mower and the motorcycles, but what do I know?

    The city guy told me this week that they are required to do drainage if it would negatively affect my property.

    The thing is, the guy from the city told me a year ago that they wouldn’t be allowed to do this, so it’s pretty upsetting to suddenly find out they might be. And would have been if I hadn’t taken notes a year ago and remembered that and sent them to the guy at the city.

    I did take a moment of joy when their big machine that barely fit into this strip hit some water or gas meter that’s on the side of their house. From inside my house, I suddenly hear 4 men all yelling stuff at the same time. Stop! Gas!

    Yes, between this and yelling at my dog to stop barking, I am officially counting myself as a bad person this week. I’ll have to do better next week.

  33. 33.

    elmo

    March 22, 2015 at 7:09 pm

    @The Fat Kate Middleton:
    Only two acres here, but that kind of story is exactly why.
    But it doesn’t always help. My neighbor is perfectly polite and wonderful, but a little too helpful for my taste. Example: he doesn’t like it if I leave my big trash tote empty up at the curb, so he’ll move it down to a grass area on my property about 100′ away from the curb and hidden by trees. I’m pretty sure he’s the one who complained to the county about me having four more chickens than the law allows. I can’t resent him for it – he was in the right, legally, and I was in the wrong – but I can’t see how me having eight chickens instead of four affects him in any way.

  34. 34.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 7:16 pm

    Seeing an O’Malley thread makes me think of askew. I hope he’s doing okay after his dad’s passing. Or is askew a female? (I always thought male.)

  35. 35.

    Hal

    March 22, 2015 at 7:17 pm

    Younger people really are going to need classes in junior high and high school to teach them about what to say and not to say on social media.

    http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/eye-on-baseball/25118154

    Regarding Davis’ prominence, here’s a screencap of a tweet (since deleted, along with the account) from Joey Casselberry, former baseball player at Bloomsburg University in Davis’ home state of Pennsylvania (warning: tweet contains language that may be offensive to some):

    And what did he have to say about 13 year old Mo’ne?

    Disney is making a movie about Mo’ne Davis? WHAT A JOKE. That slut got rocked by Nevada

    Welp.

    The word “former” is used because on Saturday Casselberry, as a result of the tweet you see above, was dismissed from the Bloomsburg baseball team

    I just can’t figure out why so many people post every thought in their head on social media. Even some people in my late 30’s early 40’s age range post every little detail about their lives on Facebook. I mean, I’m as interested in the ongoing divorce proceeding of the guy I went to junior high with as the next person, but damn people. Maybe there should be a “are you sure what you are about to post won’t embarrass you or get you fired?” option for social media platforms.

  36. 36.

    Heliopause

    March 22, 2015 at 7:27 pm

    What’s the matter with Kansas?

  37. 37.

    Another Holocene Human

    March 22, 2015 at 7:28 pm

    @Hal: maybe they should study meditation like they’re trying out in San Francisco schools (apparently it’s a success in reducing school violence)

    maybe a little less fear, a little more empathy

    less likely to think horrible stuff, less likely to say it, less likely to trigger the backlash

    I think a lot of people DO realize they’re saying horrible things which is why trolls hide behind semi or full anon.

  38. 38.

    Germy Shoemangler

    March 22, 2015 at 7:29 pm

    @WaterGirl: Yes, between this and yelling at my dog to stop barking, I am officially counting myself as a bad person this week.

    You don’t sound like a bad person. And your dog is probably saying “Gee, I feel bad barking at her to stop yelling.”

    Inconsiderate neighbors, co-workers, drivers and others make me appreciate my four-pawed friends.

  39. 39.

    Another Holocene Human

    March 22, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    @Heliopause: Brain drain, probably.

  40. 40.

    Germy Shoemangler

    March 22, 2015 at 7:36 pm

    Does anyone have any thoughts as to Hillary’s choice of VP? Assuming she decides to run (pause for general laughter and hooting) and then wins the nomination. who would be her running mate? O’Malley?
    I’m assuming a younger male for “balance” but imagine if it were Gillibrand?

  41. 41.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 7:39 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    Sorry, had to step away. My guess is best arguments would involve damage to your property. Another possibility is somehow obstruction of traffic, which is what the code seems to be concerned about.

  42. 42.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 7:47 pm

    @Germy Shoemangler:

    O’Malley would make a good VP choice. He’s biggest negative is that Maryland is going Dem anyway, so no state pickup with that selection.

  43. 43.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    March 22, 2015 at 7:47 pm

    @WaterGirl: Hoo boy. That’ll slow them down.

    Googling the contractor might not be a bad idea, while you’re at it..

  44. 44.

    rikyrah

    March 22, 2015 at 7:51 pm

    Spent the day with Peanut and her mother. We did breakfast/lunch at the Golden Corral…then the afternoon at Chuck-E-Cheese. I know that it can wear on you, but I like it. Watching a place that just makes kids happy. I love seeing the beautiful diversity in children, all races, shapes, ethnicities, sizes. Seeing what little thing just brings a smile to their faces. Peanut had a ball

  45. 45.

    Adam

    March 22, 2015 at 7:52 pm

    @Germy Shoemangler:

    Sherrod Brown? Good liberal Democratic, from a swing state. Then again we’d want as many Warren style D’s in the senate, it’s a tricky one.

  46. 46.

    Germy Shoemangler

    March 22, 2015 at 7:54 pm

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Googling the contractor might not be a bad idea Every time I google a contractor I find (a) obviously phony positive reviews and (b) angry customer/victims’ bad reviews

  47. 47.

    Germy Shoemangler

    March 22, 2015 at 7:57 pm

    @Baud: Unless things get unpleasant if they debate. If so, I hope they can shake hands later and agree to collaborate.

    @Adam: That’s a good name. I agree, it IS tricky.

    What about my Gillibrand idea? Two women… am I being crazy here?

  48. 48.

    Anne Laurie

    March 22, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    @Germy Shoemangler: O’Malley has been very careful not to say anything that the media could twist into an “attack” on HRClinton. And he’s young enough to wait four more years (or even eight!) to run for the top of the ticket again — and having VP experience certainly wouldn’t hurt. But when I raised that possibility, his biggest supporter here practically challenged me to a duel. So: I’m sure O’Malley would like to be the 2016 Democratic nominee, but I also think he’s smart enough not to close out his other options if he doesn’t have to!

  49. 49.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: If you hoped that running into the utility meter would slow them down, it was only for an hour or two, then they were back at it.

    These guys were here on a Sunday with trucks with no names on them. I was especially impressed when the contractor jumped in to assure me that he is very tight with the city and that the city will have no problem with what they plan to do.

    I mentioned that when I wrote to the guy I’ve been talking to at the city. I guess I’ll just have to see what tomorrow brings. But I did reschedule the meeting i had with one of my clients for 9am tomorrow – I figured I should make myself available to anyone at the city who (hopefully) will come by before the concrete is poured.

  50. 50.

    Adam

    March 22, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    @Germy Shoemangler:

    She’d be a good one. God willing if they win, it would be a easy seat to keep in the D column, not sure how deep the bench in the D party over there is. Maybe picking someone from a swing state isn’t foolproof either, didn’t work with Paul Ryan or John Edwards?

  51. 51.

    Germy Shoemangler

    March 22, 2015 at 8:13 pm

    I was especially impressed when the contractor jumped in to assure me that he is very tight with the city and that the city will have no problem with what they plan to do.

    That would have made me nervous. I COULD interpret it as meaning the contractor will be certain to follow all codes and not harm your property. . . . Or it could be him saying “I’m good buddies with the town guy, we drink together every friday night, and I can do whatever I feel like doing and he won’t object.”

    My experience in small towns is that it’s like Wall Street and the SEC. The contractors are often pals with the code enforcers, and get away with all kinds of stuff.

  52. 52.

    Violet

    March 22, 2015 at 8:15 pm

    @WaterGirl: Take pictures of the vehicles, the people operating them and the license plates. Get all the info you can. I’ve been dealing with contractors for a new house down the street for over a year and at this point when I hear a truck I’m out with my phone taking pictures of everything.

    The truck drivers don’t like it and I’ve even had them come over and ask me if everything is okay, what’s wrong, etc. I tell them they shouldn’t have their giant truck in that location and I’m calling the builder, the police, whatever. I’ve turned into a giant pain in the ass for them and, like you, I consider myself a nice person. I’m not nice about this. Not anymore. Nice got me nowhere for the first six months except for my property being destroyed.

    Call your city council person and ask for their help. Call the guy at the city or call his boss. Be very nice to them. Ask if there is someone else who can help because this is happening NOW and it’ll be much harder to undo than to stop now. Ask how to accelerate this issue. Who else can help.

    Google the contractor. Find out whatever info you can. If your city says they aren’t supposed to work on Sunday’s call the cops. Find out your work time and noise regulations and make sure they’re following them. If they park in the wrong place, call the cops.

    I’m sorry you’re having to deal with this. It’s a total pain. Your house should be your refuge and when you’re under attack by contractors and bad neighbors it’s hard.

  53. 53.

    Rex Tremendae

    March 22, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    We’ll see how O’Malley’s enthusiasm for cold beer may does him among the hipster Dem set. We beer snobs don’t want our beer served ice cold, and we drink quickly enough at any rate.

  54. 54.

    Keith G

    March 22, 2015 at 8:23 pm

    @WaterGirl: If your concern is mostly about drainage, why not lay your cards on the table and ask them to plan/finish the concrete in a way that provides you with no harm (as far as changes to rain drainage goes)?

    Lay out what you are okay with (No harm to my stuff) and what is non-negotiable. Maybe they will see it’s better to do a bit of collaboration than face conflict.

  55. 55.

    Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism

    March 22, 2015 at 8:26 pm

    @Germy Shoemangler: And sometimes, they turn up on the licensing board’s disciplinary lists. Or a court docket, or a news article. Reviews, pfeh.

    @WaterGirl: I don’t like the trucks with no names part. Mention that to your contact with the city, too. You want at the least to be reassured that this isn’t some fly-by-night guy.

    I once had an architect object to a statement on a set of plans that specified which edition of the erosion control manual the plans had been designed under. He actually asked me what if the small contractor didn’t know what that meant. I told him they couldn’t get a contractor’s license here without passing a test on the contents of that manual. If his client chose to use an unlicensed contractor, well….

  56. 56.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 8:28 pm

    @Keith G: I think that’s probably good advice. Unfortunately, my neighbor is an ass who has no interest in making sure his neighbor is not unhappy. It was patently obvious by his response to me today that he just doesn’t care.

    You can bet that if one of my neighbors came over to my house and was concerned about something I was doing then I would be concerned, too. But that never happens because I let my neighbors know in advance when I am thinking of doing anything on my property. It’s so much easier to avoid a problem than it is to solve one!

    I want to be a good neighbor and I have been a good neighbor. This guy has no concept of what a good neighbor is and he has no interest in being one.

  57. 57.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 8:32 pm

    @Sister Rail Gun of Warm Humanitarianism: Thanks, I just added the “truck with no names” to my list for a conversation with the people from the city. Truck with no names working on a sunday makes me wonder if somebody is working off book.

  58. 58.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 8:34 pm

    @WaterGirl: Or using unlicensed contractors.

  59. 59.

    Violet

    March 22, 2015 at 8:35 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I think that’s probably good advice. Unfortunately, my neighbor is an ass who has no interest in making sure his neighbor is not unhappy. It was patently obvious by his response to me today that he just doesn’t care.

    Your neighbor has told you what his interests are, which are to get what he wants. Your interests and your desire to be a good neighbor to him are irrelevant to him except for how that might assist in him getting what he wants. Your general niceness is an asset to him at this point because you’re less likely to be a problem to him.

    Good luck. I hope it all works out. It’s so tough to be in this situation.

  60. 60.

    NotMax

    March 22, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    @Germy Shoemangler

    They’re both residents of the same state, so not about to occur.

    (And yes, I recall what Cheney contrived. Much as there is to loathe about him, there was at least the fig leaf of verisimilitude.)

  61. 61.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    @Baud: ding ding ding. Just added that to my list, too. Thanks.

  62. 62.

    Violet

    March 22, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    @WaterGirl: Did you see my suggestion upthread to take pictures of the trucks with no names? Get their license plates and pictures of the drivers. If nothing else it makes them nervous. They can also be run if a violation of codes is in progress. They’ll show who is doing the violating.

  63. 63.

    Germy Shoemangler

    March 22, 2015 at 8:38 pm

    @NotMax: Hadn’t thought of that.

  64. 64.

    geg6

    March 22, 2015 at 8:42 pm

    @Baud:

    You don’t know O’Malley then. He is well-known for going to local pubs, especially the Irish ones, and having a few, pulling out his guitar and singing and playing. His formal speeches do not capture all of his appeal.

  65. 65.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 8:44 pm

    @Violet: Thanks. This guy is a piece of work. A couple of years ago. the tree guy for the city was coming around looking at trees in my neighborhood after the straight line wind that caused my tree to fall on my house.

    My neighbor really wanted the city to take down a tree at the edge of my property that is on the city’s right of way. When the tree guy from the city left my neighbor’s property he was carrying some stuff my neighbor had given him as a gift.

    I was not subtle about telling the city guy I had some concerns about his receiving gifts from my neighbor who was lobbying to have the tree taken down, which I wanted to keep. When the guy left my property, he walked back to the neighbor and returned the gifts.

    So I can stand up for myself when I need to.

  66. 66.

    Baud

    March 22, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    @geg6:

    I’ve heard of that, but it sounded like a speech rather than a song in this piece.

  67. 67.

    NotMax

    March 22, 2015 at 8:47 pm

    @efgoldman

    looking just like Cary Grant

    As he’s been deceased now 29¼ years, the resemblance may no longer be a plus.

    :)

  68. 68.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 8:48 pm

    @Violet: Thanks, Violet.

    I will take some photos if I can find a way to do it without being too in their face. No sense poking the bear at this point. But I will be sure to ask the city the name of the contractor and mention my concerns about no names on the trucks and whether the contractor is licensed.

    I imagine this will all be over in a day or two, one way or another. At least I won’t be living in the hell you’ve been having to deal with for so long.

    I suspect my biggest asset at this point is for the city to see me as being reasonable. No matter how unreasonable I feel at the moment!

  69. 69.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 8:53 pm

    @geg6: I kind of assumed the “sing it with me, people” was rhetorical rather than literal, but maybe I’m wrong on that.

    Like many others, I was very disappointed in O’Malley’s speech at the DNC (or wherever it was a couple of years ago). But I imagine he’s learned a lot from these past several months when he has been in Iowa and elsewhere.

    I look forward to seeing him give a speech. I respect the heck out of him for actually getting out there and making it clear that he’s running. And for doing it without tearing down Hillary Clinton. It really bugs me that no one else will put themselves out there in fear of the wrath of the Clintons.

  70. 70.

    Brendan in Charlotte

    March 22, 2015 at 8:54 pm

    @Hal: It’s absolutely amazing what people will say in public forums when they think they’re completely anonymous. And they’re shocked when they get exposed and, in some cases, punished for their stupidity.

  71. 71.

    Violet

    March 22, 2015 at 8:58 pm

    @WaterGirl: Yes, being the reasonable citizen is an asset when dealing with the government. I hope it all works out for you.

    Just another thought–is the fence between you guys on the actual property line? Could there be any dispute there? Might be another avenue to explore.

  72. 72.

    Keith G

    March 22, 2015 at 9:01 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    It really bugs me that no one else will put themselves out there in fear of the wrath of the Clintons.

    Yeah…ah…not really.

    Running for President is a hard fucking slog and under the current conditions, it’s easier for someone one on the Right to begin the campaign process than it is for someone on the Left.

  73. 73.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 9:02 pm

    @Violet: The fence is on the property line, and it’s my fence. So I’m definitely not going there! :-)

    My beautiful cedar open fence that lets light through for all my plants. Which will likely soon be a view to a 3′ wall of cement. Can’t wait.

  74. 74.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 9:04 pm

    @Keith G: If you’re not raising money at this point, you’re not running. That’s how I see it, anyway.

  75. 75.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 9:07 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I’m a female and thanks for asking. Today we had to send thank you cards for food, flowers, etc. from funeral. That was said. We had the burial site ceremony on Friday after the ME signed off on the death certificate and the cremation was done. It’s been a tough two weeks. I am looking forward to going back to work and having a bit of normalcy for a day or two. Or at least a day where I don’t spend 1/2 of it sobbing.

  76. 76.

    Keith G

    March 22, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    @WaterGirl: Certainly.

    I was just contesting the notion of the “Wrath of the Clintons” as being an impediment. If it exists as one, it is way down the list of considerations.

  77. 77.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 9:10 pm

    On a happier note, the response to O’Malley in Iowa has been great. He got 8 standing ovations during his speech on Friday. He got a enthusiastic response at other events as well. People were really impressed at his answers during the Q&A he did on Saturday. He has gotten great media coverage as well. I am hoping he’ll be able to give it a serious go in Iowa at least.

    On a superficial note, I find O’Malley to be the best looking Dem candidate for president in my lifetime. That is grading on a serious curve though. He’s no George Clooney. But, I’ve always been a sucker for musicians/lead singers and Irish bands.

  78. 78.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 9:12 pm

    @Adam:

    I’d rather a Dem from a safe seat. Holding Brown’s seat will be difficult. Plus, there is no way that Hillary puts anyone who is more interesting or charismatic than her on her ticket. So, that leaves off 99% of elected Dems. I think she goes with Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Two most boring politicians on the Dem side.

  79. 79.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 9:15 pm

    @Anne Laurie:

    I assume you meant me and it was because you and other Hillary supporters smugly assume that Hillary has won the general election already and have dismissed all other candidates. It’s annoying to assume that the nomination is automatically going to be bestowed on Hillary without ever having to talk to any voters or actually articulate a vision for the country or reason to run for president besides it’s my turn now.

  80. 80.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 9:17 pm

    @askew: I’m glad you’re hanging in there. It’s so hard. After I lost my mom, and later my dad, I would be okay at work but the second I sat down in the car to drive home I would burst into tears.

    Exhausting. Still, it was a relief to be away from it for awhile when I was at work.

    Sending good thoughts your way.

  81. 81.

    Cervantes

    March 22, 2015 at 9:18 pm

    @askew:

    Or at least a day where I don’t spend 1/2 of it sobbing.

    Cry now, but that Dad-shaped hole in the Universe will one day start to make you smile. You’ll always be his daughter. No law of thermodynamics will ever take that away.

  82. 82.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 9:19 pm

    @askew: Do you live in Iowa and get to see O’Malley in person?

    I beg to differ on looks, though. O’Malley does not top Barack Obama as a candidate in the looks department.

    @askew: I think Hillary might put another woman on the ticket.

    Edit: Mark Warner or Evan Bayh. Ugh.

  83. 83.

    WaterGirl

    March 22, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    @Cervantes: I am still daddy’s girl, twenty years later. The heart doesn’t forget.

  84. 84.

    Sharon

    March 22, 2015 at 9:24 pm

    @Another Holocene Human: I live in Marland and it seems quite intact to me. The ruin you may be referring to is the dogpile of a campaign that Anthony Brown ran in 2014. That wasn’t on O’Malley, that was all Anthony.

    Perhaps you don’t like making the !aryland income tax code more progressive, or our state version of the Dream Act, or marriage equality, or maintaining K-12 funding during the recession, or the AAA bond rating.

    Larry Hogan is in Annapolis because the MD Democratic Party sucks.

    Martin isn’t perfect, but he didn’t leave the state a smoking ruin.

  85. 85.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 9:57 pm

    @Sharon:

    Only 7 states kept their AAA rating through the recession and Maryland was hit hard by the sequester. I am impressed O’Malley managed to keep the state’s economy mostly intact after that passed.

  86. 86.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 10:03 pm

    @WaterGirl:

    I can’t see Hillary putting another woman on the ticket. I can’t think of one ticket outside of McCain who ever put a more charismatic or better candidate on the bottom of the ticket. And I think Hillary might be the least inspiring speaker of just about every woman in the Senate on the Dem side. And she is incredibly risk-adverse. She’ll pick a Bayh or Warner IMO or someone inexperienced enough that they can’t out shine her.

    My extended family lives in Iowa so I get the scoop from them on politics. I usually go down a few times a year during election season to listen to nominees. I haven’t seen O’Malley in Iowa yet but I hope to go down and see nominees this summer at the Iowa State Fair.

    I’d put Obama in a close 2nd, but O’Malley gets the edge because of the guitar playing/singing in a Irish band. Both are not up to Hollywood movie star hotness, but for politicians they are not bad.

  87. 87.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 10:04 pm

    @Cervantes:

    Thanks. We are all working on trying to tell funny stories about Dad to remember the good times as opposed to his sick times at the end.

  88. 88.

    Another Holocene Human

    March 22, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    @Sharon: I’d love to see Maryland be more progressive. It certainly didn’t seem progressive when I lived there (far from it) but at least nobody seemed to be on an anti-tax tear. They understood that taxes paid for services and they liked having services. Dunno wtf happened but the white supremacists who have always been lurking seem to be feeling their oats and you have a tax revolt going on. He blew it….

    Brown sucked but that was a blowout and voters kept saying they were punishing him for O’Malley’s tax policies.

    Maybe it’s just a deeply racist place that just won’t own up. I still haven’t forgiven Glendenning for taking money from the Baltimore Public Schools and using it to steal a football team. And he was a Democrat.

  89. 89.

    Another Holocene Human

    March 22, 2015 at 10:57 pm

    Maybe me talking trash about MD is a little too cute but Montgomery County and the Chesapeake seemed more racist to me than North and North/Central Florida (Big Bend/Gulf Coast is another story), and MD didn’t secede!!!

    This isn’t to say that Montgy Cty wasn’t very diverse with immigrants from around the world and awesome Asian food, whereas the Northern half of Florida is pretty culturally monotonous (or whatever you call two-note), especially in terms of religion. With all the in your face evangelical Christian bs that implies. (MD was the Catholic colony which attracted a fair share of Jews as well.)

    I mean more in terms of structures of white supremacy and white supremacist attitude. Florida comes from behind with its InJustice system to prove that it can too be hella worse.

  90. 90.

    Another Holocene Human

    March 22, 2015 at 10:59 pm

    @askew: Evan Bayh is less of a Democrat than Rahm Emanuel or Andrew Cuomo.

  91. 91.

    askew

    March 22, 2015 at 11:38 pm

    @Another Holocene Human:

    Not sure why that would impact Hillary’s decision to pick him. Bayh and Hillary aren’t all that dissimilar. Both got to where they went in politics in large part due to their more charismatic and accomplished family member. Both are middle of the road Dems with no real standout political skills. Seems like a match made in heaven.

  92. 92.

    What Have the Romans Ever Done for Us?

    March 23, 2015 at 11:36 am

    I generally like O’Malley and have lived in Maryland for going on 3 years now, and he is saying the right things with regard to the Wall Street Banksters and the 1%ers. But…in May of last year he signed a big estate tax cut into law in Maryland. So while he’s saying the right things, whether that will turn into doing the right things, well, lets just say the record is a little mixed.

  93. 93.

    someguy

    March 23, 2015 at 5:32 pm

    O’Malley is the guy for me. What I like about him is his gravitas.

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