In person

  Governor Moore of Maryland has announced his intention to run for reelection. The odds are in his favor to win. Statistically speaking any incumbent holds a big advantage in all elections. In the last general election, as an example, 92% of the incumbents won. The reasons are many and I'll leave that to the statisticians and political pundits to explain. The short answer is, name recognition and money. Moore has been posturing for a run at the presidency and I'm not ruling that out completely he may still do that, but currently his popularity in Maryland is falling. I'm thinking his "advisors" are telling him to hang around and perhaps try to bolster his reputation. There is a mysterious pact that has just filed official paperwork to allow them to raise funds for advertising on television and radio. The pact is calling itself, No Moore. I've seen a few roadside signs with that on it.

  The thing with Moore is this. First and foremost to me, he lied, blatantly and repeatedly, even writing a book about it, that he grew up in Baltimore. He didn't admit to that lie until confronted by a news reporter with the facts. He was born in Washington DC, went to exclusive schools and was never in Baltimore until he received a scholarship at Johns Hopkins. He made claims to living right down the street from the other Wes Moore, a criminal serving time. The claim being he grew up in the same neighborhood, with all the same crime and yet became a big success. 

  He is a combat veteran having served in Afghanistan. That's true and I won't disparage that, but he lied about having been awarded the bronze star! In many interviews he can be seen smiling, grinning and boasting about having received that award. But it was disclosed, he in fact had not been awarded that medal! The democratic machine went into overdrive to defend him. The paperwork was lost, now it was found and President Biden awards him the Bronze Star! Just like that. Moore claims he never checked and just assumed he had been given that award.  No problem, it was just an oversight, he never checked. It was awarded 18 years after his service for "meritorious" service, in a private ceremony in the governors office. After being questioned about that for years, he never checked. Yeah, ok.  

  He won the election and took office with five billion dollars in surplus funds. He has been in office for two years and the state now has a deficit of three billion dollars. Yes, he has blown through eight billion dollars in just a two year term. He hired hundreds of state workers for jobs that no one even knew about. He's bragging about all his tax cuts while not mentioning all the increases in fees that he passed. Yeah, taxes on the middle class were reduced somewhat, but the cost of registering your car doubled, the tax on gas, food, electricity and a number of other things skyrocketed. He's playing the shell game and we the people are losing! 

  So Moore announces his bid for reelection and the odds are he will win. That's just a simple statistical fact whether you like it or not. What would it take to defeat him? What does it take to defeat a democrat? Well now the answer is really quite simple, by voter turnout. That's true if you want to defeat a Republican as well, or a conservative or progressive. You really have to get people motivated to go to the polls and cast that ballot. Overall about 30% of the votes cast will be by mail in ballot. That means 70% are in person. Just general numbers, not a 100% accurate statement of fact, so don't expect me to provide the data. My point is you have to get people to those ballot boxes if you want to win. 

  Why do you think the Republicans want voter ID and in person voting? Get the people out and you increase your chances of winning. They can talk about voter integrity and all that all they want, the motivation is to get people to the polls. And I'm a die hard, conservative Republican. 

  It's just a simple fact. The democrats really don't want to rely on that, they hope to hedge their bets by making things more convenient. They just want to make it easy. People are far more likely to mail in a ballot than they are to take the time and effort to get to the polls. That's just human nature, regardless of political affiliation. Currently, as I pointed out, about 30% of the population are doing just that. If only we could get the majority to do that! The possibilities are endless. Who is voting? Are they really eligible to vote? Well, they signed a paper, so we'll take their word for it. No one would lie. 

  If Moore is to be defeated it will by voter turnout at the polls. That's my assessment. I'm not a political analyst, no expert on any of this, but I know how people are. You have to get them motivated to get the results you want. That's what teachers, coaches and politicians do. There has to be something in it for them. I'm no different from anyone else and respond to that as readily as anyone else. Moore is claiming his administration has fiscal discipline! He has provided for tax cuts for the middle class and veterans! Only thing missing there governor is the children. It has to be for the children. His fiscal discipline has created a deficit of three billion dollars. His tax cuts saved 10% with an increase in fees of 20%. 

  The truth is my motivation to get to the polls and vote against him is twofold. He's a liar and readily accepted stolen valor. He has a record of telling lies and shows zero regret for any of that. He still insists he is a Baltimore guy, even though he never lived in Baltimore until he was in his twenties. He looks you right in the eyes and lies, unflinchingly. Will he run for president? Yes, I think he just might do that, if not this time, next time. He will never have my vote. I just hope when that time comes in person, verified with an ID, is required to cast a ballot. We all need to turn out! Voting is a responsibility, a duty to be performed by every citizen. The fact that is a right, gives it that importance! It requires effort on your part! It shouldn't become something you can just do when the mood strikes you, with the stroke of a few keys on the computer, or mailing back a ballot. No, you should be required to make that effort! If you can make it to the Walmart in your Jazzy scooter, you can make it to the polling place.