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Thursday, November 06, 2008

Why The Eastern Shore Voted Like They Did & What Should We Expect To Hear About Kratovil/Harris






OK, I have been asked numerous times why the numbers on the Presidential Race ended up so high for the Republican Presidential Party, yet so low for Republican Congressional Party here on the Eastern Shore, (Wicomico County). I'll tell you why but you're just going to have to face facts and accept what I tell you.

First of all, Frank Kratovil labeled himself from the Eastern Shore and traditionally, (obviously) in this District this is no secret that Eastern Shore people have owned this position. I firmly believe that since Frank aligned himself with that he did a good job in doing so. Andy was labeled someone from the "Western Shore" therefore we always knew all along this was going to be a difficult territory for him to succeed in and you can't say we didn't give it our all to get people to realize he was a good man.

So you then say, well why did so many people on the Eastern Shore vote in such high numbers for the Republican Presidential Race then? Well, that's quite simple Folks. There was no way the Eastern Shore was going to vote a Black Man into Office, plain and simple. It is what it is, you have been asking me for days now why things turned out like they did and that is my own personal opinion as to why things turned out like they did.

Now, what do "I" think is going to be the final outcome of the Kratovil/Harris Race. I think Kratovil is going to pull this off and win. Look, going into the absentee ballots Kratovil was already up some 950 votes. That's one hell of a lead and there's no way Andy is going to pull off a win in Kent County or Queen Anne County. He may do well in Anne Arundel County but if things go the same way as most voters voted in Wicomico County, this thing is over.

Like it or not, it is what it is and it is how "I" feel. Everyone knows my hope is still with Andy Harris but the numbers just aren't convincing me that he'll be able to pull this off. The 1st District is in good hands with either Candidate and we're certainly far better off than we were with Gilchrest. DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!

30 comments:

Anonymous said...

"The 1st District is in good hands with either Candidate and we're certainly far better off than we were with Gilchrest. DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER!"

could we shoot you for the months of bashing posts... and requesting for Kratovil to call you etc etc etc???

Anonymous said...

Damn, Joe, you are really surprising me...in a GOOD way. Candid assessment and pretty much right on in my estimation...the only thing I think you didn't say was Harris' obvious arrogance when he appeared at SU - THAT probably was the straw that broke his back...he came across as mocking the people of the shore in such a high-falooting way that most folks wanted to send him back to the other side of the bay in tar and feathers...He's not the man for us...thx!

Anonymous said...

Joe, the National democratic party didn't dump $2 million into this race for Kratovil to be nice to the first district. They bought the seat, and another vote for Pelosi in congress. Now like it or not, that's the reality of the matter.
By the way, he's a PG County transplant. When the dust settle on this, I'll tell you how he snatched the job from a good Eastern Shoreman in Queen Anne County.

Anonymous said...

That's why Obama won, every black and muslim in the country voted for him because of what he is, not on his issues and his promises. Thats all we have heard for 2 days now is first black president, this is huge for African Americans. Regardless what they think, Obama is just as much white as he is black. I wish the whole color thing would go away.

Anonymous said...

cannot vote for a black man (even though he is half white) cannot vote for someone from the western shore People really think they are so much better than everyone else.

Anonymous said...

Joe,
It is just like you to make a post like this. Like you knew this all along. Like you haven't said super negative things about Kratovil. The vote went the way it did in Wicomico. Strongly for McCain and strongly against Harris not because Kratovil is from the Shore but because you aligned yourself with Harris and Harris accepted that alignment. He loast in Wicomico because of you. Accept it. Sorry Harris, your reputation is also the reputation of your friends.

Anonymous said...

Joe you seem to be back peddling a little. What ever happened to the 10 point Harris win you predicted on election morning?

joe albero said...

anonymous 4:04,

Let me remind you of a few things. First of all, I live in Delaware.

Second, I'm a REPUBLICAN and I live by Brotherhood. Something you obviously know nothing about. That's OK though, you're obviously very young or very selfish.

Third, I'm much smarter than you think.

Finally, I only bashed Frank Kratovil ONCE on ONE subject. I have always said kind things about Frank and I NEVER kiss any one's ass. By the way, you can even ask Frank about that.

Frank lied referencing the details of his stating the Daily Times RETRACTED an article. They did not and I will stand firm on that statement for as long as I live.

How many Democrats that supported Kratovil stood there and told others they thought Harris had this in the bag? NONE! So don't go preaching to me about who I am. You have no clue who I am. We fought the good fight and there's only one certain outcome. One man will win and one man will lose.

If Frank should win, Queen Anne will lose a damn good attorney. If Andy were to win, the Maryland State Senate will lose a damn good man in the Senate.

When you create a Blog that gets the volume of visitors mine does, then you'll be able to spread whatever word you like for your people, just as I have mine.

In the mean time, (from South Park) RESPECT MY AUTHORITY! LOL

Anonymous said...

Republicans are the reason Andy Harris lost. Frank Kratovil garnered 3,000 more votes in Wicomico County than Barack Obama did. Those were McCain voters that refused to vote for Harris. Republicans, you have no one to blame but yourselves for this loss.

Anonymous said...

Anon 3:48 pm

The "color thing" won't go away because you keep bringing it up. You need to get over it.

And how exactly do you know why someone voted for President Elect Obama? Its seems to me that a whole lot of whites voted for him too.

Anonymous said...

I did not know you lived in Delaware! What ever prompted you to do a Salisbury News Blog?

Anonymous said...

Is there any explanation why he lost bigger in Wicomico than in any other area?

Anonymous said...

Look folks. I truly believe Harris would have won had he not sought the endorsements from either Ehrlich or Riley.

Under Ehrlich here are the facts:

1. Highest increase in State portion of Real Property Tax - even despite Revenue Cap for Wicomico

2. Highest increase in tag fees for Maryland residents ever. Almost 400% higher than Delaware.

3. Flush tax imposed on our citizenry.

4. Highest increase in electricity rates -(72%)- for Constellation residents - in the entire Country.

5. Virtually no renewable energy policy for Marylanders . . period.

Aren't these enough reasons for your average eastern shoreman to not vote for Harris when endorsed by Ehrlich. If Ehrlich did this to them . . then what might Harris do?

Anonymous said...

does no relate to this topic but


just heard that there was a stabbing in the lawn and garden center at walmart.. not sure which location ..but i'm guess N. Salisbury.

Anonymous said...

joe, i agree with some of your statement. but i'm one white republican who's sick of the local republican party, from the city (we know what party they are from, although not stated), to the joke of the republicans on the council, losing $400,000.00, trying to lose more dispaning the liquor board, giving away $100,000.00 to mike mercer and howdy doody, and the list goes on. it's time for new blood in this republican party. the bartkovich era has to end. and prettyman and holloway are the other 2 stooges. for now, i no longer align with them, and voted obama and kratovil. and will support the democrats, especially locally, until the current republicans are gone.
andy harris, i met. what a joke. simple enough. a rich doctor who had none of my interests in his agenda.

Anonymous said...

When Michael Steele ran for the Senate two years ago what was the vote totals on the shore for him?

joe albero said...

Michael Steele never ran for President.

Anonymous said...

As to the comment about every black and Muslim voting for Obama, please, Obama garnered over 52% of the national vote. Given that blacks make up less than 12% of the US population and that Muslims make up an even smaller percentage, and given not all blacks or muslims (1) voted, and (2) voted for Obama, you have about 40% of a mostly white national population who voted for Obama.

Anonymous said...

joealbero said...
Michael Steele never ran for President.


I'm pretty sure that's why 5:37 asked about Michael Steele running for Senate.

Anonymous said...

Many voted for Frank as a direct result of the Gilchrest endorsement. With Gilchrest gone, we have lost a smart, hardworking representative. Our loss, his family's gain.

Anonymous said...

All Wayne's endorsement did for Kratovil was make it a closer race for Harris. The man brings NOTHING to the table. I think it was all of the years painting houses. The fumes did something to his brain.

Anonymous said...

I'm an independent who voted for McCain and Kratovil. I'm a transplant, so which one is a "real" eastern shoreman meant little to me. The deciding factor for me was the glossy mailer from the Harris campaign with "Clueless" in big letters. Attack the opponent's position all you want, but that was sophomoric at best and leaning toward childish. Actions speak louder than words. When I read that mailer, I turned it over hoping it was from GOPAC or the RNC and not Harris himself...when I found it came from the campaign, my mind was made up.

Anonymous said...

This is on "PolitickerMD"
*******************************

Day after the day after analysis of a blowout

posted by Chester Towner

The main reason for the Harris debacle on the Shore is his campaign manager, Meekins, whose claim to fame was (MD) Senator Jacobs' campaign in an right-wing district on the Western Shore. Her latest news is being named the Re publican's "minority whip." Cheap shots might work in that district -- but not here.

What got Harris where he reached is the funding that he got from special sponsors such as the Club for Growth. Without that (and those mailers, ads and robocalls) he would have lost to Gilchrest, and we would have a Republican Congressman for sure.

Yes, at the end Frank Kratovil had ample funding, too, but he made much better presentations and had more and better boots on the ground from the mid-summer thru Nov. 4. Also, his aggressive counter-punching -- and especially the prompt exposure of the deliberate misstatements about, first, his comment on the fiscal crisis and then his record as State's Attorney -- flushed the Harris/Meekins' mud down the drain. That is probably the leading secondary factor, and it would not have emerged as such but for guidance by the latter.

Another significant factor is the Harris persona. I agree with an earlier comment that he bombed in the debate at SU (I was there), and apparently he didn't do much better elsewhere. It's one thing to be a back-bench bombadier in Annapolis and another to go one-on-one with someone who knows how to reach and parry from years in the courtroom.

And let's not attribute much to Harris being a foreigner on Delmarva. Like Rogers Morton, Kratovil is a "come here". In essence, Harris and Meekins may have totally blown their double digit lead of just 2 months ago by their own actions during that period. We'll know for Shore in a few days.

And the crowning moment was the "victory party" the Harris campaign had at the crab house on election night, when he didn't even mingle with his gathered supporters or address them. They can't be blamed for saying "never again."

Hopefully, Dr. Harris' deal with Meekins provides for a bonus if he wins but not much pay otherwise. No doubt in his next campaign, whatever the office, the doctor will have other talent.

Anonymous said...

I'm confused Joe.

You said "First of all, I live in Delaware"

So how is it possible that you "voted for Andy Harris"

Anonymous said...

I apologize, my previous comment was incorrect. I didn't read the contributor who wrote the post about Ehrlich's endorsement hurting Harris and assumed it was Joe A.

Dark Prince said...

Individuals voted Republican and McCain for many reasons. His honor, loyalty and sacrifice for this Nation. They voted against Socialism and Obama's clear ties with criminals and domestic terrorists. His left wing radical views are going to destroy this economy. The left wing radicals now have free reign to pass their ideologies on a once free Nation. If you do your research you will find that Obama attended many Socialist party meetings, believes in the Marxist way of Government and to top it off Pilosy was also a member of the Socialist party. Black white green red or yellow this is not the Republic of Socialist America.

Anonymous said...

I am a small-l libertarian who voted for McCain and Kratovil. Harris lost my vote because the main crux of his campaign seemed to be "Frank Kratovil is liberal." If he had spent more time talking about his ideas and less time calling Kratovil names, I might have had a reason to vote for him.

He ran much the same campaign against Gilchrest.

I'm glad to see it (apparently) didn't work.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely. Harris is an ideologue who thinks the only way to fix government is to destroy it, and the only way to win elections is by destroying your opponent. Kratovil wants to fix government by FIXING THE GOVERNMENT, and he's not a name calling a-hole.

Anonymous said...

You have got to be kidding me! To say all blacks and Muslims voted for Obama is the most idiotic and unintelligent thing anyone could say.

However, to say the shore would not elect a black man to run this country is pretty accurate. Thank God we don't have to count on one of the most narrow-minded counties in MD to elect the president. YEAH OBAMA!!

As far as the Kratovil and Harris race, I'll just say... THERE IS A GOD! YEAH KRATOVIL!! Based on the outcome of both of these races, my faith in humanity is restored.

By the way, I was a black REPUBLICAN for years and I have heard and experienced the most racist, idiotic, hurtful comments, and behaviors that one could experience. I kept trying to overlook it, and at times confront it. I have even heard my fellow black republicans, from other parts of MD, say that behavior is just on the shore. To say the least, this election has really allowed some of my former republicans’ true colors to be revealed. Enough is Enough Thanks to these wonderful republicans on the shore you just lost a member of YOUR party. I didn’t vote for Obama because he was black… I did so because he is more qualified as did many white Americans.

Finally, one question for you Joe… Are you one of those individuals who would not elect a black man as president?

joe albero said...

I did not vote for a black president this year.

Not only did I answer your question, I did so by using my name. I think it's very small of you to ask a question like that and not use your name.