POLL: MD Supports Obama, Hogan, Pot & Immigrants (1 Is Not Like The Others) // PLUS: Marylanders on Presidential Race

By Matt Verghese

Below Maryland Juice provides highlights from a new Goucher Poll on the Presidential race, Governor Larry Hogan and a few policy debates. You can see the summary data below. A few quick items of interest:

1. Slim majorities of Marylanders approve of Larry Hogan & Barack Obama's jobs, but many residents don't yet have an opinion on Hogan.
2. Governor Hogan's issue ratings are lower, and he receives his lowest marks on education -- the most important issues facing the state and the only issue where Democrats disapprove 
3. Marylanders support marijuana legalization, and a super-majority of residents support a path to citizenship for undocumented residents.
4. Marylanders disapprove of the job Congress is doing by a whopping 83%.
5. It's early in the Presidential race, but Hillary Clinton tops the polls for Maryland Democrats & Martin O'Malley is scraping the bottom in his own state

Who Would Maryland Democrats Vote for in Presidential Primary?

• Hillary Clinton: 43%
• Joe Biden: 23%
• Bernie Sanders: 17%
• Martin O'Malley: 2%

Who Do Maryland Democrats Think Will Win Nomination?

• Hillary Clinton: 54%
• Joe Biden: 14%
• Bernie Sanders: 8%

Marylanders' Approval of Governor Hogan's Job as Governor:

• Approve: 58%
• Disapprove: 18%
• Don't Know: 23%

Marylanders' Approval of Governor Hogan's Handling of Issues (ranked by importance):

	Approve	Disapprove
Public education	40	33	+7
Taxes	51	29	+22
Economic growth	52	21	+31
Job creation	42	28	+14
Crime	43	32	+11
Transportation	50	29	+21
Environment	43	27	+16

Marylanders' Approval of President Obama's Job as President:

• Approve: 53%
• Disapprove: 38%
• Don't Know: 7%

Marylanders' Approval of Congress' Job:

• Disapprove: 83%
• Approve: 9%
• Don't Know: 7%

Marylanders on Marijuana Legalization:

• Support Legalization: 52%
• Oppose Legalization: 42%

Marylanders on Who Should Decide Marijuana Policy:

• States Should Decide: 64%
• Federal Government Should Decide: 31%

Marylanders on Redistricting:

• Prefer Independent Commission: 73%
• Prefer Redistricting by Electeds: 21%

Marylanders on Starting School After Labor Day:

• Support Starting After Labor Day: 72%
• Oppose Starting After Labor Day: 19%

Marylanders on Undocumented Immigrants:

• Allow Them to Stay In Jobs With Path to Citizenship: 62%
• Make Them Leave Jobs & the USA: 20%
• Allow Them to Stay Temporarly In Jobs Without Path to Citizenship: 13%

JUICE: Mayor Bloomberg Endorses Frosh for AG, John Delaney Obamacare Idea, MD Closer to Wind Power, Valerie Ervin Video

Below Maryland Juice provides a round-up of recent news of interest to politicos:

JUICE #1: NYC MAYOR MICHAEL BLOOMBERG ENDORSES BRIAN FROSH FOR MD ATTORNEY GENERAL - The Washington Post's John Wagner reported this morning that New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg has endorsed State Senator Brian Frosh for Maryland Attorney General (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: In his bid for Maryland attorney general, Sen. Brian E. Frosh has picked up the endorsement of outgoing New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, a noted national gun-control proponent.

Frosh (D-Montgomery), chairman of the Judicial Proceedings Committee, shepherded legislation introduced by Gov. Martin O’Malley (D) through the Senate this year that subjects handgun purchasers to new fingerprinting and training requirements....

“Reducing gun violence in America is a moral and social imperative,” Bloomberg said in a statement. “No one has done more in Maryland than Brian Frosh to lead the fight against illegal guns and protect citizens from incidents of gun violence....”

JUICE #2: REP. JOHN DELANEY SUGGESTS MARYLAND JOIN FEDERAL HEALTH CARE EXCHANGE INSTEAD OF BUILDING ITS OWN - The Baltimore Sun in an editorial yesterday expressed interest in a proposal from Congressman John Delaney for Maryland to forget about building it's own health care exchange system, and instead adopt the federal Obamacare exchange (excerpt below):

BALTIMORE SUN: Since Gov. Martin O'Malley declared that the state's health insurance exchange website was functional for most users, anecdotal reports have been mixed. Some people report continued problems with frozen screens and other glitches that have bedeviled the site; others say they were finally able to enroll with relative ease.... That said, the pace of enrollments is still far too low....

Under those circumstances, the question raised by Rep. John Delaney, a Montgomery County Democrat, about whether it would be better for Maryland to scrap its effort to build its own exchange and instead join the federal one has merit. Indeed, Gov. Martin O'Malley acknowledged on Monday that the option — and all others — remain on the table.

That's a hard possibility for Governor O'Malley to acknowledge. Under his leadership, Maryland was one of the most aggressive states in the effort to build out its own exchange — a strategic decision that appears in retrospect to have involved no small amount of hubris and political ambition. Walking away now from all that effort and tens of millions in expenditures would be particularly embarrassing....

Both the governor and Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown indicated on Monday that they are open to all options. They need to be. We can't let pride or momentum get in the way of doing whatever it takes to make sure Maryland residents can sign up for health insurance as soon as possible. After all, despite the political overtones, that's what this is about.

JUICE #3: OBAMA HELPS ADVANCE WIND POWER IN MARYLAND - Maryland Juice received the following press release from Environment Maryland this week indicating that President Obama has helped the state move one step closer to harnessing wind energy:

PRESS RELEASE

Obama Administration Sets A Major Milestone for Offshore Wind in Maryland
Baltimore, Maryland -- Today, the Obama Administration joined state officials to announce another major milestone for clean, renewable energy in Maryland.  Secretary of Interior Sally Jewell and Governor Martin O’Malley announced the sale of an area off the coast of Maryland suitable for offshore wind development.

The announcement comes in the wake of a bill passed earlier this year that would help finance offshore wind in Maryland.  The bill was a signature issue for Governor O’Malley and strongly supported by a wide range of stakeholders; including environmental advocates and business groups; 

Three additional wind energy areas have been approved – two off the coast of Rhode Island and Massachusetts and one off the coast of Virginia.

The lease sales represent a key element of President Obama’s plan to expand clean renewable energy to meet our nation’s energy and carbon reduction goals. 

“There is tremendous potential for producing clean, pollution-free offshore wind energy off our coast,” concluded Environment Maryland’s Energy Program Director, Rob Sargent.  “Today’s announcement represents another important step forward on clean energy for Maryland and the nation.   It’s a great example of the collaboration between state and federal officials that is necessary for continued progress on reducing pollution.”

"Today’s announcement brings our state one step closer to harnessing the tremendous potential of offshore wind energy off our shores and realizing Maryland's clean energy future,” said Governor O’Malley. “The development of offshore wind will drive economic development in Maryland, create high-quality, family-supporting jobs for Maryland residents and play a major role in reducing emissions and protecting the environment.”

“Responsibly harnessing the power of the wind blowing off our coast is critical for cutting pollution, and repowering America with clean, renewable energy,” said Joanna Diamond, Environment Maryland Director.  “We are thrilled with this progress and look forward to continued action from our officials so that we can start reaping the benefits of offshore wind power.”

###

JUICE #4: VIDEO FOOTAGE FROM VALERIE ERVIN'S RETIREMENT PRESS CONFERENCE - Maryland Juice was unable to attend the press conference announcing MoCo Councilmember Valerie Ervin's retirement last week. But for those who are interested in what happened and what was said at the event, check out the video below:

Democratic Members of Congress, Clergy & CASA Leader Arrested in Protests over Mass Deportations & Immigration

DAN FURMANSKY: Democratic Members of Congress, Clergy Arrested in Civil Disobedience for Immigration Reform; CASA’s Gustavo Torres Taken Into Custody; Maryland Rabbi Leads “Prayer-In” at Eric Cantor’s Office; More than 1,000 still being deported every day.

Approximately 15,000 people converged on the national mall today and marched to the Capitol building to call attention to stalled immigration reform legislation. No surprise that the soulless Republican majority in the House of Representatives has refused to move the bill passed by the Senate, even with its broad bipartisan support. They’re too busy snatching food assistance from hungry Americans and trying to get the Supreme Court to strike down individual aggregate contribution limits so they can ensure that the wealthy have an even greater say over who gets elected in this country.

But I digress.

The inspiring news is that nearly two hundred brave leaders were arrested in acts of civil disobedience as part of Camino Americano, “a massive demonstration of solidarity and support for comprehensive immigration reform.” It was the third major act of civil disobedience by immigration reform advocates in the past few months alone. This includes 12 members of Congress, including Reps. John Lewis (D-Ga.), Raul Grivjalva (D-AZ), Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), Joseph Crowley (D-NY), Luis Gutiérrez (D-IL), Al Green(D-TX), Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), Jan Schakowsky, (D-Ill.), and Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.)

Rep. John Lewis once again proves why he is social justice legend.  According to his office, it is at least the 45th time he has been arrested—40 times during the civil rights movement alone and 5 times as a member of Congress.



According to ABC News, Gutierrez pledged in a speech to “lock arms with my colleagues and go to jail today for the father who was deported and cannot see his children, see them grow up, and see them prosper in the United States, the country of their birth.

To give credit where credit is due, there were apparently some Republicans in the crowd. Reports The Huffington Post (excerpt below):

HUFFINGTON POST: Several Republicans turned out for the rally as well. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), a long-time supporter of reform and the only GOP member of a bipartisan working group on immigration who didn't quit, appeared on stage, along with Reps. David Valadao (R-Calif.), Jeff Denham (R-Calif.) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). They did not participate in the protest later in the afternoon.

Apparently they didn’t want to get their hands too dirty.

Our own Gustavo Torres, head of Casa de Maryland, was also taken into custody.

Photo courtesy of Casa de Maryland

So were countless faith leaders, including my old boss, the Rev. Peter Morales, president of the Unitarian Universalist Association, who was also arrested in Phoenix during our protest of SB1070. “Our laws are more than broken, they’re evil,” he said today.

Right on.

Also arrested was Rabbi Jason Kimmelman-Block, of Silver Spring, who addressed the crowd on the Mall and led others in prayer at the office of Representative Eric Cantor, the only Jewish leader in the House Republican caucus. Rabbi Kimmel-Block, a father of four, is the rabbi-in-residence for the great advocacy group Bend the Arc: A Jewish Partnership for Justice. As we Jews say when someone performs a mitzvah, or good deed, Yasher koach, Rabbi.



I don’t mean to be the Debbie Downer in the room, and I would love to be proved wrong, but I simply cannot imagine the dysfunction that is the House Republican Caucus coming together to pass anything resembling the immigration reform bill passed by the Senate which, let’s be honest, would be a great step forward but is no prize. And, lest you think the shutdown is preventing families being ripped apart and deportations from moving forward, think again. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) employees and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents are considered “essential employees” and are still be around to enforce immigration law because the operations are “necessary for safety of life and protection of property.”

But—as I’ve said before and will say again—it doesn’t mean all is lost. Reports The Washington Post (excerpt below):

WASHINGTON POST: One of the rally’s goals was to highlight the record number of deportations by the Obama administration, which have been estimated at more than 1,000 per day. President Obama has called immigration reform his top domestic priority in his second term, but he disappointed activists last month when he said he would not use executive authority to expand a deportation deferment program for young people, who are known as “Dreamers.”

President Obama does have the power to halt deportations until the Republicans take meaningful action for immigration reform. But he won’t do it without real pressure from the Democratic Party. Activists are more than impatient with the President for failing to make a real difference. so far, only one Maryland Congressperson has had the gumption to ask the President to stop separating families - Rep. John Delaney.

As we march towards the last sad breaths of this Congressional term, if inaction continues in the House of Representatives as expected, it will be long overdue for Maryland’s Democratic leaders to step up to the plate and let our president know that we expect him to do everything in his power to make lives better for immigrants and immigrant families.

#StoptheDeportations

Time for Maryland Democrats to Speak Out for End to Mass Deportations // U.S. Ejecting Residents At Fastest Rate Ever

Below Maryland Juice presents a new article from our writer Dan Furmansky regarding the record  setting mass deportations of residents under the Obama administration:

After the heaviest of lifts, the comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed the Senate is now languishing in the House of Representatives. It’s easy to see why, since House Republican leadership is already awful busy giving the middle finger to the Affordable Care Act and proposing a renewed food stamp program that cuts $40 billion from SNAP and effectively leaves millions of Americans hungry at night. With these noble endeavors at the forefront of the House’s agenda, and Iowa Congressman Republican Steve King telling the world that undocumented youth aren’t really hungry for an education, but drug smugglers with “calves the size of cantaloupes,” I think it’s safe to say that the “new and improved” Republican Party rashly promised to us in a series of post-November news headlines is also languishing.

In June the House sent a clear signal to the country with a mostly party-line vote of 224-201 to discard President Barack Obama's rule allowing deferred deportation for some young undocumented immigrants. Only six House Republicans, none in GOP leadership, voted against Steve ‘the Cantaloupe’ King’s amendment. Advocates will not be deterred, and with the August congressional recess upon us, the broad coalition pushing for immigration reform is urging the grassroots to lobby members of the House in their home districts.

Meanwhile, there is work that we here in Maryland can do with our own congressional delegation. We need our members of Congress to urge President Obama to halt deportations now.

As the clock ticks on achieving any meaningful and compassionate changes to our woefully broken immigration system, tens of thousands of families will be ripped apart because President Obama continues to deport more immigrants—aka future citizens—than any other president in our nation's history. Consider this:

• The United States is now deporting people at a faster rate than at any time in our modern history—an estimated 1,100 people per day. 

• More than 410,000 undocumented workers were deported last year, an all-time high.

• A report from the nonpartisan Migration Policy Institute released earlier this year found that the United States spends more money on immigration enforcement—nearly $18 billion in the 2012 fiscal year—than on its other law enforcement agencies combined. 

• The government spends about 15 times more on immigration enforcement than it did in the mid-1980s, adjusted for inflation, the report found. 

• According to data obtained by the news website Colorlines, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security deported nearly 205,000 parents of U.S. citizen children from July 1, 2010 to Sept. 31, 2012.

Given these numbers, what does this mean for immigrant communities right now, as House Republicans obstruct any progress and endorse the continued separation of parents and children?

During the August recess alone, an estimated 44,000 people will likely be expelled from the country.

Pres. Obama has the power to stop this. He already chose through his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) memorandum to allow for deferred deportations for young immigrations, aka DREAMers. But this only happened after tremendous, sustained pressure on the Administration to take action, and the failure of the passage of the DREAM Act in the U.S. Senate due to Republican obstructionism, since the DREAM Act had majority support, but lacked 60 votes to end debate.

Many people believe that halting all deportations could put key pressure on the House of Representatives to move.

Pablo Alvarado, of the National Day Laborer Organizing Network, has strong words for President Obama in The Hill (excerpt below):

PABLO ALVARADO (VIA THE HILL): Luckily for the president and for those victimized by the current broken system, such cruelty is optional.  Building upon prosecutorial discretion and the deferred action for childhood arrivals program, the president has it in his executive authority to expand the relief he’s granted dream-eligible youth to their parents, neighbors, and the other potential citizens who are watching the Congressional debate closely.

In fact, if and when the president will stop prolonging the suffering of people in deportation proceedings and use his authority has become a repeated question any time he addresses Spanish language media. As limitations of the Senate bill are being reported and a few obstructionist legislators seek to imperil progress, hundreds of organizations have looked to the administration to take action and help break a possible logjam. His response to whether he will step in: “Probably not. I think that it is very important for us to recognize that the way to solve this problem has to be legislative.  I can do some things and have done some things that make a difference in the lives of people by determining how our enforcement should focus.”

Imagine how different the conversation would be and how much stronger reform's prospects would look if the president told obstructionist Republicans that deportations are suspended until a legalization bill is passed, as some of his own advisors have recommended.

To some people, the idea that the President might simply halt all deportations—not just those of DREAMers—may seem radical. No doubt it is aggressive, but is aggressive really such a bad idea when dealing with obstructionist Republicans? The President has worked ferociously over the years to prove he is “tough” on illegal immigration while wasting untold government resources, and he has absolutely zero to show for it from conservatives who clamor for more deportations and continue to parrot the words “border security” over and over as a talking point for their standing in the way of any pathway to citizenship.

Sadly, the President is unlikely to take bold action and expand the scope of his deferred deportations:
"I think it is important to remind everybody that, as I said I think previously, and I'm not a king," Obama told Univision's Maria Elena Salinas in January. "I am the head of the executive branch of government. I'm required to follow the law."

Yawn.

As with most issues, the President requires a strong push to exercise greater authority in this debate. He needs the same type of robust, concerted pressure that led to his decision to defer deportations for DREAMers.

Across the country, activists are asking lawmakers and local and state Democratic Parties to put pressure on the President to halt deportations until comprehensive reform passes. Resolutions are being drafted. The Maryland Democratic Party and Maryland’s congressional delegation can and should call for a change in the terms of the debate by asking the President to halt all deportations.

Reps. Raúl M. Grijalva and Rep. Yvette Clarke are circulating to their colleagues a sign-on letter to President Obama, urging him to suspend any further deportations and expand the successful deferred action program to all those who would be potential citizens under immigration reform. The letter to the President reads:

“As we have seen with deferred action for childhood arrivals, such relief brings with it the benefit of active participation in the debate by undocumented people themselves. When their stories are known and voices are heard, we have witnessed how the debate shifts. The fear and xenophobia that block progress only shrink in the display of their courage. But left unchecked, the threat of deportations will prevent so many from coming forward and contributing to the national conversation. Instead, the specter of deportation removes the human and grounding element in any political discussion—those individuals who are most directly impacted.”

If you agree that we need a bolder strategy to move immigration reform, then call up your member of Congress and ask them to sign on to Reps. Grijalva and Clarke’s letter to the President.

To call your Member of Congress:
US Capitol Switchboard (202) 224-3121

To locate your Member on-line:
U.S. House of Representatives: www.house.gov

Maryland Juice will be following this story and will keep you posted next month on which members of our Congressional delegation chose to sign on and take a stand for an end to deportations now.

- Dan Furmansky

JuiceBlender: D19 Dems Form Slate w/o Sam Arora?, Obama Picks Raskin for #2 at US Treasury & Candidates Enter AG Race

Below Maryland Juice provides a round-up of recent news of interest to local politicos:

JUICE #1: SAM ARORA'S DISTRICT 19 COLLEAGUES FORMING SLATE WITHOUT HIM? - Bethesda Magazine's Lou Peck today reported that marriage equality flip-flopper Sam Arora may be about to be ditched by his District 19 colleagues when it comes time for re-election next year. Voters in Arora's Montgomery County legislative district are represented by one State Senator and three members of the House of Delegates. The norm for well-functioning teams is often for the incumbent members to run for re-election together as a slate. But writer Lou Peck reports that D19 Senator Roger Manno and D19 House members Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer may be forming a re-election slate without Sam Arora (details below):

BETHESDA MAGAZINE:  Three of [District 19’s] four incumbents – Sen. Roger Manno and Delegates Bonnie Cullison and Ben Kramer – are likely to form a joint slate as they seek re-election in 2014, according to sources.... The slate will not include the district’s other incumbent, Delegate Sam Arora.

Meanwhile, Marice Morales, who works in Manno’s office as a volunteer special assistant, confirmed that she plans to file this week for delegate in District 19.....

Asked whether he plans to seek re-election, Arora would say only, “I expect to announce my plans at the end of summer.” As of January, Arora had only $3,200 in his campaign treasury, raising just $270 during 2012, according to a filing with the state Board of Elections....

Another potential candidate apparently in the mix is Charlotte Crutchfield of Silver Spring, who represents District 19 on the Montgomery County Democratic Central Committee....

Already filed is Melodye Berry of Silver Spring, a former officer of the county’s African-American Democratic Club who ran for delegate in 2006....

JUICE #2: POWER COUPLE EMERGES IN D20 AS OBAMA TAPS SARAH BLOOM RASKIN FOR #2 SPOT AT U.S. TREASURY DEPARTMENT - Yesterday, Maryland Juice received a forwarded copy of the following White House press releases announcing that Sarah Bloom Raskin (who happens to be married to State Senator Jamie Raskin) is being nominated for Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Treasury. Obama's selection of Raskin would make her the first woman to occupy the #2 spot at Treasury (excerpt below):

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• France Anne Cordova – Director, National Science Foundation
• Sarah Bloom Raskin – Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury
• Sylvia I. Garcia – Chief Financial Officer and Assistant Secretary for Budget and Programs, Department of Transportation
• Jo Handelsman – Associate Director for Science, Office of Science and Technology Policy
• Gregory B. Starr – Assistant Secretary of State for Diplomatic Security, Department of State
• Karen Stanton – Ambassador to the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, Department of State
• Amy J. Hyatt – Ambassador to the Republic of Palau, Department of State

President Obama said, “The extraordinary dedication these individuals bring to their new roles will greatly serve the American people.  I am grateful they have agreed to serve in this Administration and I look forward to working with them in the months and years to come.”

President Obama announced his intent to nominate the following individuals to key Administration posts:

• Sarah Bloom Raskin, Nominee for Deputy Secretary, Department of the Treasury

Sarah Bloom Raskin is a Governor on the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a position she has held since 2010.  Ms. Raskin was Commissioner of Financial Regulation for the State of Maryland from 2007 to 2010.  Prior to this, from 2003 to 2007, she was the Managing Director of Promontory Financial Group.  She also was General Counsel of Columbia Energy Services from 1998 to 2001, and the Worldwide Retail Exchange from 2001 to 2003.  Ms. Raskin was Banking Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs from 1993 to 1998.  Ms. Raskin began her career as a lawyer for Mayer Brown and Platt in New York, and later for Arnold & Porter, in both New York and Washington D.C., where she engaged in corporate finance work as well as regulatory work.  Earlier in her career, she worked for the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Joint Economic Committee of Congress.  Ms. Raskin received a B.A. from Amherst College and a J.D. from Harvard Law School.

###

JUICE #3: SEN. BRIAN FROSH & DEL. JON CARDIN OFFICIALLY ANNOUNCE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL - The 2014 Democratic Primary for Attorney General is getting underway, as State Senator Brian Frosh and Delegate Jon Cardin announced their campaigns in the last week. The Washington Post's John Wagner reported that Cardin announced his campaign last week with a web video, which happens to feature Del. Talmadge Branch and U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (excerpt & video below):

WASHINGTON POST: Del. Jon S. Cardin (D-Baltimore County) formally kicked off his campaign for Maryland attorney general on Monday morning with a Web video in which he pledges to protect families “from the next-generation challenges they face.”

“Families are facing new and complex challenges in today’s rapidly changing world, and I believe Maryland’s next attorney general must be aggressive enough and savvy enough to stay one step ahead of anyone seeking to harm our families, whether on our streets or in cyberspace,” said Cardin, a member of the House of Delegates since 2003 who has been gearing up to run for statewide office for months.... 

The video also includes testimonials from several people — including Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), the delegate’s uncle....

Meanwhile, State Senator Brian Frosh announced his campaign for Attorney General with the following email message:

BRIAN FROSH: Dear Juice, Over the past few months I have traveled across the state talking with Marylanders from all walks of life about their hopes and goals for the future, the challenges that they face, and how state government can help.

Wherever I went, I found that all Marylanders want the same things:  safe neighborhoods; clean air to breathe and clean water to drink; equal opportunity; economic security and a shot at the American Dream.

The problem is that too many people aren’t living in safe communities.  Too many people feel they don’t get a fair shot.  Too many Marylanders feel taken advantage of by utilities that underperform and overcharge.  Too many people worry that polluters are destroying our air and water with little accountability.

In a world where powerful special interests seem to get all the breaks, too many Marylanders feel like their voices aren’t being heard.  They want to know that they’ve got an advocate who will fight for them.  They want to know someone has got their backs.

That’s why, after much encouragement from Marylanders across the state, I’ve decided to run for Attorney General of Maryland.  I want to be the people’s lawyer.

I am no stranger to these battles.  As a young man, my parents taught me the importance of fighting for justice, making independent decisions and standing up for people who can’t stand up for themselves.    I’ve carried those values with me throughout my career in public service: championing laws to curb gun violence; prohibiting drilling for oil and gas in the Chesapeake Bay; protecting Maryland homeowners from the threat of foreclosure; fighting to end discrimination and inequality; and holding public utilities accountable for poor service and unwarranted rate hikes.

But there’s still much work to be done.

We need an Attorney General who will fight for justice and equal treatment for all Marylanders; someone who knows that protecting our children and fighting for safe communities is the first step in creating opportunity for all; someone who will fight to protect consumers and seniors from scam artists; someone who will crack down on corruption and hold accountable those who try to defraud our citizens; and someone who will enforce laws that protect our environment and work to prevent discrimination so that all Marylanders have the opportunities they deserve.

That’s the kind of Attorney General I intend to be. I will fight for you every day.

I hope you’ll join me on this journey.  Keep checking back in the coming weeks and months for more information on my agenda to protect Maryland families.  Please join me in September for our campaign kick-off.  In the meantime, I’ll continue traveling across the state, discussing the issues and concerns that affect the daily lives of all Marylanders.

Thank you for your support and words of encouragement. Marcy and I are deeply grateful to you, and I am confident that together we can win this race and continue to protect our youth, keep our communities safe, preserve Maryland’s natural resources, and level the playing field for all Maryland families.

Sincerely,

Brian Frosh 

JUICE #4: MONTGOMERY COUNTY ROAD SIGN HACKED TO DISPLAY MARIJUANA MESSAGE  - A couple of Maryland Juice readers took note of an unusual act of "hacking" in Montgomery County. WUSA9 reports that an unknown person took control of a road display sign on Kensington Parkway and used it to tell drivers to "Smoke Weed Evryday" (excerpt below):

WUSA9: [A WUSA employee] spotted an electronic message sign near Beach Drive that read "Smoke Weed Evryday." She turned around and snapped a photo for us....

Of course, hacked road signs aren't new.  In May, a sign in Portland, Oregon  on Southeast 39th Avenue and Grant Street was changed to read "Caution. Gingers ahead."  In 2012, an electronic sign warned of the fiscal cliff ahead while another told drivers that zombies were coming. Take a look at some other signs that were hacked here, courtesy of Jalopnik: http://on.wusa9.com/13mxlYX

INTERESTING: Controversial Obama Pastor Jeremiah Wright to Speak at Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake's Church

Adam Meister, a Baltimore-based blogger and political activist, today reported that President Barack Obama's former pastor Jeremiah Wright is coming to Baltimore in February. Wright is scheduled to speak at Douglas Community Memorial Church, which is apparently where Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake worships. A press release for the event notes:

DOUGLAS COMMUNITY MEMORIAL CHURCH: Rev. Dr. S. Todd Yeary, Senior Pastor and the Douglas Church Family will welcome  Dr. Jeremiah A. Wright, Jr.  as they celebrate the 88th Anniversary of the church’s founding. The Founders’ Day service will be held on Sunday, February 17, 2013 at 10 A.M. at Douglas Memorial Community Church, located 1325 Madison Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21217.

In a blog post today, Adam Meister reminds readers of some of Jeremiah Wright's more inflammatory and controversial comments regarding Jewish Americans. You may remember Wright from the conflicts he created during Barack Obama's 2008 run for President, when he began criticizing the candidate at public events during the campaign. Wikiepedia provides a quick description:

WIKIPEDIA: Wright, who was Barack Obama's former pastor, gained national attention in March 2008 when ABC News, after reviewing dozens of Wright's sermons, excerpted parts which were subject to intense media scrutiny. Obama denounced the statements in question, but after critics continued to press the issue of his relationship with Wright he gave a speech titled "A More Perfect Union", in which he denounced Wright's remarks, but did not disown him as a person. The controversy began to fade, but was renewed in late April when Wright made a series of media appearances, including an interview on Bill Moyers Journal, a speech at the NAACP and a speech at the National Press Club. After the last of these, Obama spoke more forcefully against his former pastor, saying that he was "outraged" and "saddened" by his behavior, and in May he resigned his membership in the church.

On June 9, 2009, in an interview with the Daily Press of Newport News, Wright indicated that he hadn't had contact with Obama up to that point because "Them Jews aren't going to let him talk to me. I told my baby daughter, that he'll talk to me in five years when he's a lame duck, or in eight years when he's out of office."

Pastor Jeremiah Wright Comes to Baltimore, Maryland - February 2013

How to Score Tickets to the 2013 Inauguration of President Barack Obama // PLUS: Ticket Info for the Inaugural Balls

Alrighty folks, Maryland Juice is back in action after a much-needed mental cleanse from the sizzling political action of this past year. I decided to resume the blog with some very practical information on the upcoming inauguration of Barack Obama's second term as El Presidente de los Estados Unidos (English-only? Pfft!). Below you can see some information on how to request inauguration tickets, along with details on some inaugural balls that you may be interested in. The bottom-line is that unless you are a well-connected insider, you need to request free inaugural tickets from your members of Congress. The inauguration and official "Obama" balls are on Monday, January 21, 2012, while the state parties are holding events on Sunday, January 20th.

Get Crunk w/ POTUS & FLOTUS!

As in 2008, there will be no guarantee that you will get tickets, but if you don't there will surely be folks peddling their tix on eBay. If all else fails, you can always huddle in steerage with the rest of us on The Mall. As for the inaugural balls, those will cost money, and the ones that Obama attends will likely be hotly sought-after tickets. Without further ado, here are the links to request tickets, followed by information on some balls. Note that I couldn't find ticket links for every member of Congress. If you happen to have one of the missing links, please email me the info at david@marylandjuice.com. ¡Muchísimas gracias!


2013 Presidential Inauguration Ticket Links for Maryland Residents:

• U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski - DEADLINE 12/31/2012
• U.S. Senator Ben Cardin - NOT TAKING ANY MORE REQUESTS
• Rep. Andy Harris - LINK
• Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger - NO LINK AVAILABLE
• Rep. John Sarbanes - LINK
• Rep. Donna Edwards - LINK
• Rep. Steny Hoyer - LINK
• Rep. Roscoe Bartlett/John Delaney - NO LINK AVAILABLE
• Rep. Elijah Cummings - LINK
• Rep. Chris Van Hollen - DEADLINE 12/31/2012

Links & Info for 2013 Inaugural Balls:

• Official Obama-Biden Ball on January 21, 2012 at DC's Convention Center ($60/person) - Those who sign up will receive an email notification when tickets become available with a link where they can request up to two tickets on a first-come, first-served basis. Public tickets to The Inaugural Ball are limited and will cost $60 each - LINK

• Maryland Democratic Party Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2012 at National Harbor ($225/person) - LINK

• Virginia Democratic Party Inaugural Ball on January 20, 2012 at Westin Arlington ($250/person) - LINK

See ya'll at the inauguration & balls!

SIGN-UP NOW: U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski is Taking Requests for 2013 Inauguration Tickets from Marylanders

Now that the Presidential Election is over, politicos are beginning to move forward with other priorities -- including celebrating the inauguration of Barack Obama's second term in office. The event will take place on Monday, January 21, 2013. The official website for the 2013 inauguration notes that "tickets for the Inaugural swearing-in ceremonies will be distributed in January 2013 by both Senators and Representatives elected (or reelected) this November."

MIKULSKI TAKING INAUGURATION TICKET REQUESTS: Indeed, U.S. Senator Barbara Mikulski's office already has a request form up and running for Marylanders who are interested in receiving inauguration tickets. You can sign-up to try and score some tickets now.

Senator Cardin's office is not yet taking ticket requests, but they posted the following note:

BEN CARDIN: It is still early in the planning process for the inaugural events, and it will be a few weeks before I will be able to take names of people interested in tickets. Please check my website after the Thanksgiving holiday for more information. When I have tickets available, I will be distributing them via lottery and not on a first-come, first-served basis, and there will be plenty of time to apply.

Maryland Juice will post more inauguration details as they come in!

U.S. Senate Candidate Rob Sobhani Releases Sample Ballot: Yes to Obama & Sobhani, No to Dream Act & Marriage Equality

Maryland Juice recently interviewed U.S. Senate candidate Rob Sobhani, an independent challenger to Democratic incumbent Ben Cardin. We asked Sobhani to explain his views on the various ballot questions facing Maryland voters this November. His answers at the time were vague, to say the least, and he was even undecided on hot-button issues like the Dream Act (Question 4).

ROB SOBHANI'S VIEWS REVEALED: But now, a Maryland Juice reader has forwarded us scans of a voter guide that Sobhani's campaign team is handing out at the polls. Rob Sobhani is encouraging voters to support his campaign for Senate, and also to support Barack Obama's re-election. But it appears that Sobhani is also telling voters to "vote against" all of the ballot questions, including marriage equality (Question 6) and the Dream Act (Question 4). See the sample ballot below:

Rob Sobhani's Sample Ballot

DREAM ACT UPDATE: Advocates Launch TV Ad with Obama // PLUS: New Support From MoCo Schools Chief & NAACP Head

Below Maryland Juice has a few quick updates on the battle to defend the Dream Act. We begin with a new television ad that backers of a "Vote For Question 4" are airing, featuring President Barack Obama:

PRESS RELEASE
Montgomery County Public Schools Superintendent,  NAACP President Endorse Question 4, Maryland DREAM Act
With less than a week before the November 6 election, supporters of the Maryland DREAM Act released two new endorsements today from prominent leaders in the state—the Superintendent of the Montgomery County Public Schools, Joshua P. Starr, and the President and CEO of the NAACP, Benjamin Todd Jealous.

Yesterday, Educating Maryland Kids also issued a press release announcing new support for Question 4 from Montgomery County's Superintendent of schools and the head of the NAACP
In a written statement, Joshua P. Starr, Superintendent, Montgomery County Public Schools, said:

"The Maryland DREAM Act is not about politics: it’s about our future and the future of our students. The Act would simply allow hard-working students who have been in our system for years to pursue the dream of post-secondary education and receive in-state tuition rates. A college education is often the key to unlocking opportunity and all students—regardless of where they were born or their parents were born—deserve the chance to have a bright future and be a productive member of society. I fully support the Maryland DREAM Act.”

And in a video PSA, NAACP President and CEO Benjamin Todd Jealous spoke as a civil rights leader and proud Marylander about why voters should vote for Question 4 and support the Maryland DREAM Act as a matter of fairness and equal opportunity for all hard-working students.  See the video here: http://educatingmarylandkids.org/the-naacp-supports-the-maryland-dream-act/.

Members of the Educating Maryland Kids coalition are canvassing and phonebanking in this final 6 days before the election, reaching tens of thousands of Maryland voters.  There will also be a rally and canvass on Sunday, November 4 at 1:30 p.m. at the Baltimore Freedom Academy sponsored by The Intersection, which is mobilizing Baltimore City high school students and teachers around the Maryland DREAM Act.

###

POLL RESULTS: New Goucher Survey Shows Majority Support Marriage Equality, Dream Act & Gambling // READ FINDINGS

BACKGROUND: A Maryland Juice source has forwarded us the inaugural poll results from Goucher College's inaugural "Goucher Poll." The Baltimore-based school will now be polling Marylanders on a variety of topics and periodically releasing results. Their first surveys, not surprisingly, capture opinion on several items on Maryland's Presidential Election ballot.

OBAMA-ROMNEY APPROVAL RATINGS: Goucher surveyed Marylanders on Obama-Romney approval ratings, and not surprisingly, the President remains popular in the Free State:

• 60% of Marylanders view Obama favorably
• 64% of Marylanders view Romney unfavorably

O'MALLEY APPROVAL RATINGS: As for Governor Martin O'Malley:

• 45% view the Governor favorably
• 36% view the Governor unfavorably

BALLOT QUESTION RESULTS: But the the survey results on a few key issues in Maryland are a bit interesting. First, Goucher's poll confirms a sizeable lead in support for both marriage equality (Question 6) and the Dream Act (Question 4). But surprisingly, they are showing that a majority of respondents favor gambling expansion (Question 7). Other polls had been showing a more even divide on this question. Notably, 87% of Marylanders have reported seeing the endless array of gambing ads on television. See a summary of the results below:

• Gambling Expansion (Question 7): 50% For vs. 44% Against
• Marriage Equality (Question 6): 55% For vs. 39% Against
• Dream Act (Question 4): 57% For vs. 39% Against

PIT-BULL RULING: Goucher also asked respondents to weigh in on whether they agreed or disagreed with the Maryland court ruling that pit bulls are "inherently dangerous."

• Ruling Pit Bulls "Inherently Dangerous": 42% Agree vs. 52% disagree

See the Goucher poll results below:
Goucher Ballot Question & Pit Bull Poll Results

Goucher Obama-Romney-O'Malley Approval Ratings

RUMORS: Pundits Speculate on Obama's 2nd Term Cabinet Picks // Chris Van Hollen for OMB & Martin O'Malley for HHS?

A Maryland Juice reader forwarded us news that last Friday, The National Journal began speculating on Obama's cabinet picks should he win a second presidential term. Their list of rumors includes the possibility of two Marylanders becoming agency heads: Rep. Chris Van Hollen and Gov. Martin O'Malley. See a brief excerpt from the lengthy article below:

OMB Director: No matter who wins the White House, the partisan budget battles are ongoing. Obama will want a seasoned person to oversee the agency charged with preparing and mapping out the president’s budget. Some names bandied about in Democratic circles include:

Two possible long-shot candidates come from Capitol Hill. One is retiring Sen. Kent Conrad, a Democrat from North Dakota, who is chairman of the Senate Budget Committee and a member of the bipartisan “Gang of Six.” Conrad has been obsessed with solving the deficit problem for years. The other long shot is Democratic Rep. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the ranking member on the House Budget Committee. His profile has risen considerably this fall as a key surrogate for the Obama campaign and one of the party’s loudest critics of his House colleague Paul Ryan, the Republican vice presidential nominee.

HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECRETARY: The consensus is that the current secretary, Kathleen Sebelius, will stay on. She was a loyal foot soldier for the administration when it passed the politically tricky Affordable Care Act, but she has avoided taking too much of the blame for the law’s unpopular features. Although she has not made a public commitment to holding her post, Sebelius is thought to be determined to see the law fully implemented.

If the secretary goes, however, Lois Quam, the executive director of the Global Health Initiative at the State Department is a possibility for HHS.... Several Democratic governors might be considered (but they may be on short lists for other Cabinet posts as well). Martin O’Malley of Maryland has overseen one of the most aggressive state health-insurance exchange-building exercises in the country....

This article may be premature, given that recent polling is showing the Presidential race tightening up. Time to get your canvassing shoes on!

NEW: Rockville-Specific Marriage Equality Lawnsigns // PLUS: Elijah Cummings Hiding from Civil Rights & PG Dems Speak Out

UPDATE: Rockville City Councilmember Tom Moore sends us word that Rockville marriage equality supporters have reached their fundraising goal. Signs will be ready for pickup next Monday:

TOM MOORE: Thanks for the link over the weekend.  We raised $645 in a flash with help from Maryland Juice! I've shut down the fundraising, I've ordered 300 signs, and they're being rushed back here.  Pickups start at my home -- 11 Forest Ave. in Rockville (map below) -- starting next Monday, Oct. 29.

JUICE #1: NEW ROCKVILLE QUESTION 6 LAWNSIGNS - Rockville City Councilmember Tom Moore has also decided to go rogue and print his own Question 6 materials. He is organizing pro-marriage equality Rockville residents to print a batch of "vote for" 6 lawnsigns. Here's some information from his new website:

TOM MOORE: Here's the deal: A few folks in Rockville wanted to get the message out by printing up some yard signs and giving them away. They've kicked in around $700. A few more folks said, "How can we help?"

This is how you can help. Click on the Paypal link below and give anything you'd like -- anything up to $50. (Please, no more than that -- over $50, and we may have to report your name, and we'd rather skip the hassle.)

Here's how it's going to work: The signs will be shipped to the home of the reasonably upstanding Rockville citizen Tom Moore, where anyone and everyone can come by and pick up a few signs for their yard. Whether or not you kick a few bucks toward the effort, you're more than welcome to nab some signs. Tom's house is at 11 Forest Avenue in Rockville.

JUICE #2: DOES REP. ELIJAH CUMMINGS GET A FREE PASS ON SUPPORTING CIVIL RIGHTS? - Shouldn't there be some expectation from the party base that long-time "pro-civil rights" advocates actually do something to help Maryland families in their time of need? Rep. Elijah Cummings has been in office for a decade and a half and is never in danger of losing his seat. So much so, that Maryland Juice wonders if he thinks he's earned enough chits with progressive voters that he doesn't have to help with civil rights causes like marriage equality anymore. Cummings' silence is completely voluntary.

At last check Rep. Cummings' position on the issue was: "It’s now up to the voters to decide whether to uphold the law." Is this an acceptable position for a safe member of Congress in a one-party Democratic state?  He wants to subject individual rights to a popular vote?  Remind me not to vote for Elijah Cummings in the Democratic Primary if he ever runs for U.S. Senate.

I WILL NEVER VOTE FOR ELIJAH CUMMINGS FOR U.S. SENATE

JUICE #3: LAST CALL FOR OBAMA-DREAM-MARRIAGE SIGNS IN BALTIMORE - Maryland Juice & allies have been distributing lawnsigns throughout the state urging residents to vote for:

1. Obama
2. Dream Act (Question 4)
3. marriage equality (Question 6) 

BALTIMORE SIGNS AVAILABLE FOR PICK-UP: We are almost completely sold out, but there are a handful of signs left in Baltimore. If you are able to pick them up in B'more and are interested in spreading the word in your neighborhood, please email me at david@marylandjuice.com for instructions. Maybe you can even put a few up in Rep. Elijah Cummings' neighborhood.  :)


JUICE #4: PRINCE GEORGE'S DEMOCRATS GLENN IVEY & JOLENE IVEY COMBAT MISINFORMATION: Lastly, if you're sitting on your laurels while this battle is going on in Maryland, it is time to wake up! The haters are airing television advertisements trying to confuse and mislead voters into voting against basic legal rights for Maryland families. They are seizing on Gallaudet University's suspension of their anti-marriage equality "diversity & inclusion" provost as evidence that "we're all at risk."

This has led our side to divert efforts from our basic message to try and fend off the misinformation campaign. Delegate Jolene Ivey and her husband Glenn Ivey (former P.G. State's Attorney) released the following ad to counter recent propaganda from the anti-civil rights forces:

WATCH TV DEBATES: Maryland Juice vs. Red Maryland, Del. Heather Mizeur vs. Gov. Bob Ehrlich, SEIU vs. Help Save MD

As we get closer to the November 6th election day, numerous media outlets are beginning to cover the various candidate horse races and ballot question battles with greater scrutiny. Some local TV reporters are also beginning to host right-left dialogues to tease out the arguments (and spin) from both sides. Today, we highlight a few worthwhile TV debates, including one tomorrow night featuring Maryland Juice! You can also watch Del. Heather Mizeur debate former Gov. Bob Ehrlich below:

TOMORROW NIGHT: MARYLAND JUICE ENCOUNTERS RED MARYLAND ON TV - Maryland Juice (aka David Moon) will be appearing on a televised "Political Roundtable" on the MPT show "State Circle." I'll be appearing alongside Red Maryland blogger Mark Newgent. Catch us on MPT Friday night (Oct. 5) at 7:30 pm.

The left-right dialogue is billed as a conversation between "a Republican blogger and a Democratic blogger to discuss the latest happenings in the state government." But I suspect we'll be talking about topics like so-called voter fraud, the ballot questions, and issues in the 6th Congressional District race. Watch the show tomorrow night on MPT @ 7:30 pm. We'll also post the online version of the discussion once it is available.

WARNING: Turn your eyes away from the stretched photo of my face above!  :)

WATCH ONLINE: DEL. HEATHER MIZEUR VS. GOV. BOB EHRLICH DEBATE THE DEBATE - News Channel 8's Bruce DePuyt today had a segment featuring Del. Heather Mizeur and Mitt Romney's Maryland Chair - former Gov. Bob Ehrlich. The Democrat and Republican appeared on air to discuss the impact of last night's debate between President Obama and Mitt Romney:



ALSO ON MPT FRIDAY NIGHT: SEIU VS. HELP SAVE MARYLAND ON THE DREAM ACT (QUESTION 4) - In addition to Maryland Juice & Red Maryland, tomorrow night's "State Circle" broadcast will include a debate over the Dream Act (Question 4). The segment will feature Mark McLaurin from SEIU and Brad Botwin from Help Save Maryland. SEIU is one of the leading members of the Educating Maryland Kids coalition, a group promoting a "vote for" Question 4. Help Save Maryland is a nativist group that is airing radio ads urging a "vote against" Question 4. Watch the debate on MPT Friday night (Oct. 5) at 7:30 pm.

CANDID COMMENTS: Gov. Martin O'Malley Calls Micro-Targeting a "Bullshit" Strategy & Critiques HBO's "The Wire"

Maryland Juice recently caught two interviews with Gov. Martin O'Malley that are worth reading. A few days ago, Maryland's governor (who also chairs the Democratic Governors Association) provided candid comments to the BuzzFeed website and Governing magazine. See a few choice excerpts below, including O'Malley's belief that trying to micro-target independents this year is a futile strategy. Instead, he argues that the Democrats need to fire up the base of younger, more liberal voters, along with people of color. Indeed, O'Malley's stated belief in tonal campaigning (noted below) is something that Maryland Juice agrees with, particularly during the current demographic shifts we are witnessing:

BUZZFEED: O'Malley, a top Obama ally who chairs the the Democratic Governors Association and is often named as a possible presidential contender in 2016, discounted the idea that whoever wins the presidential election will be the candidate who focuses most closely on independent voters. And he suggested that the Democratic National Convention marked a decision to run a campaign centered on core Democratic voters — traditionally, younger, more liberal, African-American and Hispanic.

"Sometimes in campaigns you can drive yourself crazy with the micro-targeting and the pollsters and the tea leaves and the pixie dust trying to twist yourself into triple back-flips to appeal to the three percent that are the undecideds that live in suburbs and have lawns that are less than 20 feet long and all that bullshit," O'Malley said in an interview at BuzzFeed's Manhattan office Thursday. "Just tell the base why you're doing what you're doing and why you're better than the other guy."

O'Malley made the case that undecided voters are simply too diverse to be effectively targeted by a candidate or campaign....

O'Malley dismisses comparisons to The Wire's Thomas Carcetti

In an interview in Governing magazine, O'Malley also addressed comparisons between his own political career and that of Thomas Carcetti, Baltimore's mayor in HBO's hit show "The Wire" (excerpt below):

MARTIN O'MALLEY: (Laughs) I'm not that guy. I mean, there are aspects of that character -- how can I say this? David Simon and I both came from Montgomery County, Md. David came to Baltimore and saw nothing but suffering and hopelessness, and made a lot of money on it. I moved from Montgomery County to Baltimore and saw the tremendous opportunity to heal and save lives. I haven't made a lot of money, but the people of Baltimore achieved the biggest reduction in part 1* crime over the last 10 years of any of the major cities in America.

David Simon has a very, very cynical view of what we're capable of accomplishing as a free people in the face of challenges like the level of drug addiction and violent crime that we had allowed ourselves to sink into in Baltimore. But I've seen the goodness in the people of Baltimore, and that's the power I've chosen to tap into.

I'm glad that I have outlived "The Wire." More importantly, I'm glad Baltimore has outlived "The Wire."

Check out the full interviews with Gov. Martin O'Malley at BuzzFeed & Governing.

Michelle Obama to Headline Baltimore Fundraiser // DETAILS: First Lady Hosts a 9/21 Reception at Morgan State University

Maryland Juice has received word that Michelle Obama will be headlining a September 21st fundraiser at Morgan State University in Baltimore. See the forwarded email from Maryland's OFA head Jason Waskey:

Reflections on the Anniversary of the 9/11 Attacks // Are American Civil Liberties & Pentagon Budget Restraint Toast?

PLUS: Maryland politicians fundraising on 9/11

UPDATE: The ACLU of Maryland warns that tomorrow Congress is scheduled to vote on an extension of police powers allowing the government to wiretap American's communications without a search warrant. Use the ACLU's online action tool to send an email to your members of Congress today.

ANOTHER DAY OF 9/11 REMEMBRANCE: Today marks another anniversary of the tragic 9/11/01 attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon. Indeed, I nearly forgot about this new American milestone, until I woke up and started reading the news coverage and alerts streaming through my email inbox. Of course, most news outlets are running the ordinary tributes and commentary on the event itself, and the victims deserve their moment of remembrance. It is, after all, tough to forget the jarring emotional period in American civic life that many of us lived through. It is harder still to forget the tragic imagery from that day and how it continues to impact the American policy mindset (both positively and negatively)....

DNC Convention Video: Rep. Donna Edwards Speech // PLUS: Get 1) Obama + 2) Dream Act + 3) Marriage Equality Lawnsigns!

PLUS: Download an Obama-Dream Act-Marriage Equality Image for Your Facebook Cover Photo

The Democratic Party's convention in Charlotte, North Carolina ended last week, but Maryland Juice has some loose tidbits to shake loose before we're done with the event. We previously noted that Maryland had a large presence on the arena stage, and we provided video footage of Free State speakers like Gov. Martin O'Malley and Rep. Chris Van Hollen.

But Rep. Donna Edwards closed out Maryland's list of speakers in Charlotte last Thursday night, with an address before President Obama's keynote speech. See a replay below:

VIDEO REPLAY: REP. DONNA EDWARDS' DNC CONVENTION SPEECH

GET AN OBAMA + DREAM ACT + MARRIAGE EQUALITY LAWNSIGN

Maryland Juice editor David Moon has been unloading lawnsigns for this November's Presidential Election. Our particular signs encourage voters to support Baracka Obama and vote for the Dream Act (Question #3) and marriage equality (Question #6). See a couple photos of our signs on display in Maryland. There are a limited quantity of these lawnsigns left, so please request a sign using the form below or email david@marylandjuice.com. NOTE: We are asking folks to pitch in $4/sign to reimburse the costs of producing them.

MAKE THIS YOUR FACEBOOK COVER PHOTO: If you use Facebook, Maryland Juice has produced a specially formatted Facebook Cover Photo (right click and save to download) for you to use to promote our sample ballot for November (aka Barack Obama, the Dream Act & Marriage Equality). You can see an example of the cover photo in use on Maryland Juice's Facebook page below, but we also provide the raw cover photo image for you to download below:

Maryland Juice's Facebook page

Make this image your Facebook cover photo

POLL RESULTS: 54% of Maryland Voters Support Marriage Equality // African-American Voter Support Holds Steady

Marylanders for Marriage Equality released poll results today showing that a majority of Free State voters continue to support civil rights for LGBT families. Moreover, the gains in African American voter support that we witnessed after Obama's endorsement of marriage equality are holding steady. Take that Chik-fil-a!

See the press release and poll summary below:

PRESS RELEASE

New Poll: 54% of Maryland Voters Would Protect Marriage Law

Lead for marriage equality advocates widens as African-American support grows

BALTIMORE – Marylanders for Marriage Equality today released a new poll showing voters approve of marriage for loving, committed gay and lesbian couples by a 14-point margin (54% to 40%). The poll was conducted by Hart Research last week.

JuiceBlender: Daily Kos Prefers O'Malley to Cuomo, Cuomo Hesitates on Dream Act, Bartlett Slams Obama on Immigration

Here's a random blend of political tidbits from recent news, starting with commentary from journalists and pundits comparing MD Governor Martin O'Malley with NY Governor Andrew Cuomo:

JUICE #1: DIFFERING RESPONSES FROM O'MALLEY & CUOMO TO OBAMA DREAM ACT ANNOUNCEMENT - Maryland Juice recently reported on President Barack Obama's major announcement that his administration would halt the deportation of young undocumented residents (aka Dreamers). This week, Politico's Maggie Haberman covered the differing responses to the new policy development from Maryland Governor Martin O'Malley and New York Governor Andrew Cuomo -- two rivals in the 2016 Democratic White House race.

Initially, Haberman wrote about O'Malley's support for Obama's actions, compared to Cuomo's silence. But days later, Cuomo is now praising Obama's immigration position. Notably, Gov. O'Malley had backed a Maryland version of the Dream Act which provides for in-state college tuition for all high school graduates, regardless of their immigration status. Gov. Cuomo apparently did not support the New York version of this legislation. See excerpts from the pair of articles below: