The Long Shot (Martin O'Malley)

[cali]

Martin O’Malley ought to be a Democrat’s dream candidate. In two terms as the governor of Maryland, he’s ushered in a sweeping liberal agenda that includes gay marriage, gun control, an end to the death penalty, and in-state college tuition for undocumented immigrants. He’s trim and handsome; he plays in an Irish rock band; he even served as the basis for a character on The Wire (sort of—more on that in a minute). He shows great zeal for improving things both large and small: during a recent visit to the Light House, a homelessness-prevention center in Annapolis that provides job training and other assistance, he said that he had, as governor, taken the state’s traditional Day to Serve and made it 17 days long. “I really enjoy progress, and making progress, and my joy comes from understanding that it happens one life at a time,” he told me, reflecting on the center’s work.

O’Malley, who is 51, has not been shy about flirting with a presidential run. “It’s something I’m seriously considering,” he said, adding that he expected to make up his mind by the end of the year. No other Democrat has been as aggressive in promoting him- or herself nationally: In the past year and a half, O’Malley has appeared in 23 states other than his own to speak to local Democrats or raise funds for candidates, with a conspicuous number of appearances in Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina. He has served as the chair of his party’s association of governors and operates in close proximity to the East Coast centers of media and politics—all characteristics shared by another, much higher-profile governor, New Jersey’s Chris Christie.

But while Maryland’s governor looks perfectly presidential on paper, Democratic voters outside the state have proved staunchly resistant to forming an impression of him. This is not for lack of media attention. A political press corps preemptively bored by the prospect of another airless Hillary Clinton campaign has dutifully floated O’Malley as an alternative, noting his hypothetical ability to run to Clinton’s left and his appeal as a practical progressive—he’s more liberal than Clinton or New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, but less of a firebrand than Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren. And yet he has fluctuated between 1 and 2 percent in recent polls of prospective primary voters, languishing behind not only Clinton and Vice President Joe Biden but also Warren and Cuomo. He’s even polling behind Bernie Sanders, the socialist senator from Vermont. As far back as June 2013, a National Journal headline asked, “Is It Time to Take Martin O’Malley Seriously?” Not yet, apparently. In September, Politico’s daily “Playbook” newsletter, noting that O’Malley had already placed 11 staffers in Iowa, mockingly headlined the news “A for Effort!”

O’Malley refuses to pout about his negligible public image. “My process doesn’t involve polling; it involves listening,” he told me sunnily, leaning back in his chair. We had moved to one of the Light House’s back rooms, which smelled faintly of disinfectant. I wondered aloud whether it might heighten O’Malley’s profile if he were to pick fights from time to time, particularly with Clinton, whose every sneeze launches a thousand cable-news segments. But O’Malley claimed he did not resent Clinton’s prominence: “She’s an iconic figure, and someone who has so many accomplishments in public service, that it doesn’t surprise me at all.” Asked whether he had something to offer that Clinton did not, O’Malley said, “I do.” I pressed him as to what that might be. Finally, after praising Clinton and Biden, he said, “The thing I believe presents something of value to my country, especially in these times, is my experience as an executive, and as somebody that was able to bring people together in order to get things done.”

<snip>

http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2014/12/the-long-shot/382238/?single_page=true

[Mass]

1. I hope he runs and frankly, those process stories and those meta stories about what the media think

are so silly that I am not sure why I read them. Right now, people are not paying attention.

[wyldwolf]

2. for the sake of transparency

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/08/03/for-2016-take-martin-o-malley-seriously.html
http://www.dlc.org/ndol_ci9678.html?kaid=111&subid=137&contentid=254484
http://www.governor.maryland.gov/speeches/070730-DLC.html
http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2000-07-15/news/0007150166_1_omalley-townsend-dlc

http://www.ontheissues.org/Martin_O%60Malley.htm

[FSogol]

3. I like O'Malley. Looking forward to seeing him on the campaign trail.

As for the media creeps and HRC supporters that want to poo-paw his candidacy: wait and and see how he runs, see what he says, and how voters react. The primary season is still in its infancy. Unlike sitcom tv, all the answers don't need to be wrapped up in 30 minutes.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

4. He's definitely my choice.

Unfortunately as the article notes, he's squeezed out by the bigger name/names, but if I had my choice to be the nominee, he'd be it.

[monmouth4]

5. I'd like to ask Marylanders how he feels about Seniors. I've heard negative statements..n/t

[rtracey]

7. Well for 1 thing

Marylanders like other states tax senior and retired pensions. That is one of the hard sells Hogan came out against. I think it may have worked. Many were jumping off the Maryland bandwagon. I have lived in Maryland all my life, voted democrat all my voting life, and supported O'Malley for both terms, on point, he did piss off a lot of people with what are classified as the "flush" (toilet) tax and the "rain" tax. Both these taxes were started to assist in Chesapeake Bay revival. The rain tax was to assist in rain runoff of farms and other items like pesticides going into the bay. I am not sure if O'Malley can convert himself from Maryland to the whole country.

[monmouth4]

8. Thank you so much for your informed reply. I had met some people from Maryland on our local

trolley and immediately asked about him since I was a fan at the time. They just said he wasn't too kind to Seniors and they did tell me they were all Democrats. This is all very interesting and to tell the truth I do like him too....

[BlueMTexpat]

15. MD is my voting residence and

I also have a home there, but have not resided there full-time for the past 20 years.

That being said, I have always liked O'Malley, back from when he was Mayor of Baltimore and have seen no reason not to continue being a major fan. I am also a senior and, even as an expat pay MD income taxes, which I do not find to be too onerous, considering the services that the state provides to all.

O'Malley is an excellent Dem candidate, but IMO has not had the kind of national exposure to the electorate (he was actually Chair of the Democratic Governors' Association so he does have lots of contacts outside the state) that would be needed for a successful Presidential run in 2016. But if he were to become the Dem nominee, I would wholeheartedly support him. There is no doubt about that.

Frankly, if Howard Dean won't/can't return to oversee the DNC and get his winning strategy going again, I'd love to see O'Malley do that. It would be a great forum for him to become known nationally. O'Malley, like Barack Obama, was one of the early Dean's Dozen picks, wholeheartedly believes in the same things I do, and is able to make things happen.

[yeoman6987]

17. As a Marylander, he is ok...just ok

Many good thing, but he does love taxes. I am for responsible taxes but to tax the rain...UGH! I hate that tax even as a liberal. He raised gas taxes while we had the highest gas prices. Ok so maybe a few will decide on public transportation. But my biggest gripe with him is his love for cacinoes. He absolutely adores them and I would imagine would love one on every street corner in America....a little exaggerated but not by much. He taxes the pension checks and SS checks where other states exempts. He does have positives like education. Our schools are the best in the country! I would vote for him in the General.

[Tommy_Carcetti]

20. Wasn't the "rain tax" a $30 a year fee?

So many people got so worked up about such a negligible amount. I don't get it.

[yeoman6987]

23. I wish it was that low. Mine is like 175 and will

Increase every year. It really is a dumb tax and I don't say that often.

[LaydeeBug]

27. The rain tax meme is bullshit. Ehrlich ushered that in and anyone paying attention knows it

We gave corporations a HUGE tax cut to dump shit into the Chesapeake Bay. The feds come back and say "Wait a minute, *we're* not going to continue to give you all federal dollars for cleaning up the bay if all you do is let companies dump more shit in the bay for us to clean up". So, instead of telling the companies that they can't have tax cuts to dump more shit in the bay, the legislature told each county who has shoreline to come up with their own plan to make up the difference. Each county has a different plan, and some allow you to pay a lesser tax if the property owners plant trees to slow the run off, etc.

This is from before my grief storm, so I remember it well.

[elleng]

28. Thanks for the clarification, LaydeeBug.

[yeoman6987]

29. Well I live in Arnold...Chesapeake is not outside my window

So the counties were all in on this fraud. Hopefully we get rid of this tragic tax. I understand you enjoy it, but everyone in my neighborhood and at work HATES it.

[LaydeeBug]

30. You are in AA County, and a LOT of that touches the bay...

and I hate the tx too...but let's make sure we are crystal clear about this: It is NOT a "tax on da rain", it is a tax transferred to the public because big corporations got a CUT.

It *is* the textbook fucking definition of fascism. We gave private corps money and passed the bill on to the public.

But it isn't a "rain tax". It's corporate welfare.

[yeoman6987]

31. Fair enough. That is why I am here to learn the truth

Obviously both Democratic and Republican voters say rain tax. I don't know where it started or how. But I will start using the correct terminology when I speak and hear others speaking of it.

[Peacetrain]

6. I met Gov OMalley (Md) this summer when he was campaigning

and I was very impressed..he was here to help out Hatch who was running against Branstad.. (it was a losing prop from day one)..but he came out here and I imagine there was maybe 30 of us volunteers for the Democratic party in a very red part of the state.. and he was impressive..

Most big wigs in the party, do not make it out our way..they figure it is just a losing cause so why even put in the effort.

But OMalley did.. and I will remember that.. he took the time to look for every vote, and talk to everyone..

[greatlaurel]

9. Heard him interviewed on the radio after the last election and he left much to be desired.

It was a terrible interview and he threw his lieutenant governor under the bus for loosing the governorship. He came across as only interested in his own political future and did not care about his lt. gov or the voters. I hope he just had a bad interview, because he was tired from the campaign or something. If he is going to go national, he needs to kick it up several notches really fast.

Hope he runs to bring some variation to the primary. I am concerned after the interview I heard that he would work to help unit the party if he does not win the nomination.

What are his policies and why should we vote for him?

[colsohlibgal]

10. They Will Try Hard to Marginalize Him

The Kucinich/Feingold sit at the kid's card table trick. I think Bernie has enough gravitas to make that hard to do, as would Elizabeth Warren for sure.

[brooklynite]

11. I see...."They" marginalized Dennis Kucinich....

And all this time, I thought the problem was that nobody wanted to vote for him. Who knew?

[progressoid]

12. FYI: O`Malley adopted the manifesto, "A New Politics for a New America" (Third Way)

http://www.ontheissues.org/Governor/Martin_O%60Malley_Principles_+_Values.htm

O`Malley adopted the manifesto, "A New Politics for a New America":

As New Democrats, we believe in a Third Way that rejects the old left-right debate and affirms America’s basic bargain: opportunity for all, responsibility from all, and community of all.

We believe:
that government’s proper role in the New Economy is to equip working Americans with new tools for economic success and security.
in expanding trade and investment because we must be a party of economic progress, not economic reaction.
that fiscal discipline is fundamental to sustained economic growth as well as responsible government.
that a progressive tax system is the only fair way to pay for government.
the Democratic Party’s mission is to expand opportunity, not government.
that education must be America’s great equalizer, and we will not abandon our public schools or tolerate their failure.
that all Americans must have access to health insurance.
in preventing crime and punishing criminals.
in a new social compact that requires and rewards work in exchange for public assistance and that ensures that no family with a full-time worker will live in poverty.
that public policies should reinforce marriage, promote family, demand parental responsibility, and discourage out-of-wedlock births.
in enhancing the role that civic entrepreneurs, voluntary groups, and religious institutions play in tackling America’s social ills.
in strengthening environmental protection by giving communities the flexibility to tackle new challenges that cannot be solved with top-down mandates.
government must combat discrimination on the basis of race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation; defend civil liberties; and stay out of our private lives.
that abortion should be safe, legal, and rare.
in progressive internationalism -- the bold exercise of US leadership to foster peace, prosperity, and democracy.
that the US must maintain a strong, technologically superior defense to protect our interests and values.

[SCantiGOP]

13. He's my choice as of now

But that is really subject to change. I actually voted for Edwards instead of Obama in the '08 SC primary, and my wife voted for Hillary, so I may change my mind several times.

[SheilaT]

14. I don't think he's very well known outside of the east coast.

I live in New Mexico, and I only ever hear about him here on DU.

[appalachiablue]

16. Good to know of his liberal record as Gov.

Don't know why he isn't more high profile and hasn't been viewed yet as a serious possibility nationally. In an interview a couple years ago it was strange how he commented twice with emphasis that he'd worked for Gary Hart, waited for response, none received. Will see how things evolve for 2016.

[passiveporcupine]

18. I don't buy the third way party line

and I did not know this man, so I looked at one of his speeches (2012 dem convention) and an interview on Crossfire from 2013 with O'Malley and Perry. While his policy views wiped the floor with Perry (easy to do), after watching his speech and the crossfire program, I have to say I'm not very impressed.

He does not have the brains, charisma, and empathy of Obama. We need another Obama. As far as anyone I've seen yet, Sanders is the best out there. But there may be others out there who just haven't been noticed yet. After all, who knew Obama before his famous speech?

[angrychair]

19. while he has some positives

He has a negative that trumps them all: he's a corporate shill...gave the state to the gambling industry. Trust when I say that this will end up a big drain on state resources and while the state may see a tax revenue bump, it will taper off fast and end up costing more than helping bring revenue into the state.
Just one among several...see "third way" advocacy and so on.

He is no better, if not worse, than HRC, who is the queen of corporate "third way" shills.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

22. That's laughable. He's been hammered by both the politcal left and right here in Maryland

for raising taxes TOO HIGH and for being anything BUT pro-corporate!

Gambling has been a major issue here in Maryland for many decades. Many Catholics didn't want it for moral reasons. Then, you had the pro-gambling contingent who argued that (1) we had to compete with neighboring states like PA and DE which allows gambling, particularly casinos and (2) gambling brings in revenue for education and other services. O'Malley was against gambling for many years, but came around eventually--convinced by many Democrats in the state legislature and some in the gaming and gambling industry as a way to make Maryland more competitive in the region.

However, he did place some regulations on his bill; don't think that the industry will be allowed to run willy-nilly. There are provisions, which I think are reasonable.

The Post did a good story on this recently:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/gov-omalley-brought-casinos-to-maryland-but-that-doesnt-mean-he-likes-them/2014/09/02/4a37050a-2eba-11e4-994d-202962a9150c_story.html

Key provisions of the bill that passed the legislature:

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bal-key-provisions-of-the-gambling-bill-20120815-story.html

And Marylanders approved the measure on Election Day:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/2012/11/06/4d55edd8-2830-11e2-bab2-eda299503684_story.html

[kwassa]

24. Gambling is also reaching the saturation point on the East Coast

I really wonder about the chances for success for the new MGM casino at National Harbor. It may work as a draw for those in the metro DC area, but probably not outside that.

I favored the expansion of the casinos in Maryland, just to keep the money here rather than send it to the states all around us with casinos. It definitely looks like there is a limit to the interested clientele, with the downturn in Atlantic City forcing casinos to close.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

26. Yes. You're probably right. Prince George's County residents may be happy because

there have been some jobs created, but I'm reading that revenues generated overall have been hit and miss over the last several months. That may have to do with the fact that the area where the casino is located in an area that is still growing commercially. I've only been there once. It's o.k. but not a major draw outside of P.G. County.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

21. Some of us proud Marylanders shared our thoughts about O'Malley in this thread...

Here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251386773

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

25. Just to refresh DU's memory, O'Malley was the head of the Democratic Governor's Association...

...he appeared on a political commentary show, opposite former Virginia governor and now convicted felon, Robert McDonnell, who at that time was head of the Republican Governor's Association.

Well, if you remember, friends, this was a classic evisceration of McDonnell. In fact, he got his ass handed to him so badly that O'Malley had him squirming in his chair.

I was so proud of my governor's performance that I literally cheered as I watched.

The segment made rounds throughout YouTube and was the talk of the town here in Washington, D.C.; made the rounds on Tweety's, Ed's, Rachel's, and Larry O's shows.

Soon after, everyone was talking about O'Malley as a presidential contender or potential running mate for Hillary...UNTIL...

...his lackluster speech at the Democratic National Convention later that year. It was a yawner for sure.

Anyway, for shits and giggles, here's the McDonnell teardown, as aired on Rachel's show:

Fast forward to 4:15

ETA: I found the entire video here:

http://www.c-span.org/video/?304573-1/economic-issues-states