Croom Station Signal

Roscoe Bartlett

The elected official from Maryland whom I respect the most and whose political views I think are most compatible to mine is Rep. Roscoe Bartlett.  Rep. Bartlett represents Western Maryland, from Frederick County west through Garrett County.

Rep. Bartlett has one of the most consistent records in the House on enforcement-first immigration reform.  He is a strong but thoughtful supporter of our military.  He has an excellent ethical record on social values, and federal spending.  Mr Bartlett is also an important advocate for the environment and energy security among his House colleagues. 

I have been surprised and a bit disappointment that mentioning his name at campaign forums has not produced the level of public response I had hoped for. Why is he not well-known throughout the state?  Part of the answer may be Rep. Bartlett's low-key persona.  Although from the same generation, Bartlett and Hoyer seem worlds apart in values and style.

Thank you for your Support

Dear Republicans,

Thank you all for your support on September 12.  It was a close race; in fact it was an exact tie in Calvert County last time I looked.  What better proof that EVERY VOTE COUNTS!

I think that my campaign showed that issues are the key to success for the Republican Party in Maryland. With no (yeck) signs, a few hundred dollars, and no outside organizational support, I attracted more than a quarter of the electorate based on a simple flyer and a home-made website.

The bad news was that our party turnout rate was only about 2/3 of the Democrats; about 21% for us versus 32% for the Dems.  If we are serious about victory, our goal in Novemenber must be a registered voter turnout of 40% or greater.  We have the candidates, now we must communicate our important causes and ethical standards to the electorate.

We now have some outstanding candidates for the November general election:  Gov. Ehrlich, Mike Steele, Ron Miller, Ken Brown, Fredrick Rolle, and Anne McCarthy, and they need our support.

Real issues like sprawl, illegal immigration, energy security and traditional family values are lasting concerns. They motivate the base of the party, and help us cross party lines to build the citizens coalition needed for victory.  I will continue to blog on the Croom Station Signal on these topics and more. I invite you to join me. All aboard!

Thank you all and god bless America,  Mike Hethmon.

Calvert Candidates Forum

Attention Calvert County Voters in District 27A:  I will be at the Calvert Candidates Forum at the new Huntingtown FD Conference Center, 4030 Old Town Road, TONIGHT (August 24) from 6:30 to 10:00 pm. It will be a great chance for you to meet all the Republican candidates for state and local office. 

I've been going door to door in Calvert County the past couple weekends. It is a big (and beautiful) part of our district.  We have a high level of registered Calvert 27A Republicans. Your votes will be key to sending the DINO-saur incumbents packing in November!

I'm delighted with the postive feedback you're giving to my issues!  My sons Andrew (12) and Daniel (10) are having some nice time with Dad out on the stump- not to mention a good workout running up and down all those long driveways. :-)   Hope to see you tonight!

On the other hand, I think it was very regrettable that the incumbents, Vallario and Proctor, couldn't be bothered to attend the big NAACP Candidates Forum at Prince George's Community College last week.  (Proctor sent his adult son, who - in violation of the rules - was allowed to sit on the panel with the candidates.  The son didn't have a clue how to answer the questions about death penalty policy and financial fraud against seniors that were posed to all the candidates.)  I may not agree with factions of the NAACP on all topics, but I respect the criticial role they play in bringing information on local and state government to the public. The discussions were vigorous and open.

Vallario seems to think he is entitled to the black vote, and no longer needs to dialogue with the ordinary citizen.  In contrast, Ron Miller, Ken Brown and I were able to show the audience of concerned citizens how voting Republican this fall will improve their lives and help their communities progress.

Taxes and Compassion

"In the United States, taxes must be paid before one can buy food, shelter or anything else for oneself or one's children. This means that requiring American taxpayers to privide for people who have no right to be in the United States forces them to buy food, shelter, education, and health care for illegal immigrants before they buy it for their own families.  Such policies treat productive American workers as legally indentured servants whose labor is owned by anyone managing to cross the Border.

To cloak such a preposterous idea in the mantle of compassion and human rights is an affront to all who take American citizenship seriously.  It is also a measure of just how far some people's notions of compassion and responsibility have strayed from reality."                                                                       - Daniel Sheehy, Fighting Immigration Anarchy, p. 222 (2006).

Constituent to Senator Sarbanes: Make Me An Illegal Alien!

Dear Friends,

I found this tongue-in-cheek letter from an American citizen and Maryland voter addressed to Senator Paul Sarbanes on the internet. It puts the issues of fairness and respect for our laws in a humorous but thoughtful perspective.

I know our future Senator Mike Steele gets it!  And so do the great majority of Maryland voters.  But the District 27A incumbents' open preferences for illegal aliens over ordinary American citizens is another important reason to vote for reform on September 12.  I'd like to share the letter with you:

"June 7, 2006

The Honorable Paul S. Sarbanes

309 Hart Senate Office Building

Washington DC, 20510

Dear Senator Sarbanes:

As a native Marylander and excellent customer of the Internal Revenue Service, I am writing to ask for your assistance. I have contacted the Immigration and Naturalization Service in an effort to determine the process for becoming an illegal alien and they referred me to you.

My reasons for wishing to change my status from U.S. citizen to illegal alien stem from the bill which was recently passed by the Senate and for which you voted.  If my understanding of this bill's provisions is accurate, as an illegal alien who has been in the United States for five years, what I need to do to become a  citizen is to pay a $2,000 fine and income taxes for three of the past five years.

I know a good deal when I see one and am anxious to get the process started before everyone figures it out. Simply put, those of us who have been here legally have had to pay taxes every year, so I'm excited about the prospect of avoiding two years of taxes in return for paying a $2,000 fine. 

Is there any way that I can apply to be illegal retroactively?  This would yield an excellent result for me and my family because we paid heavy taxes in 2004 and 2005.  Another benefit in gaining illegal status would be that my daughter would receive preferential treatment  relative to her law school applications.

I you could provide me with an outline of the process to become illegal (retroactively if possible) and copies of the necessary forms, I would be most appreciative. Thank you for your assistance. 

Your Loyal Constituent, Pete McGlaughlin" 

Wednesday August 2, 2006 - 09:40am (PST

Help Ron Miller Beat "Dino-saur" Mike Miller

I had the good fortune to hear Ron Miller, Republican candidate for State Senate for District 27, speak last night at the Jaycees Center on Oxon Hill Road. Ron is a very impressive candidate who I am convinced can appeal across partisan lines to all but the most hardened Democratic party hacks.

Ron announced a big kick-off rally with Governor Ehrlich at Decatur Middle School in Clinton this Thursday, July 27, at 2.30 pm.  Please show up to support Ron!

24 year incumbent Mike Miller does nothing for our District, but spends all his time running his state-wide partisan patronage machine and fundraising PACs.

I'm sending Ron Miller a donation, and I urge everyone to kick in something on Ron's website. Against an entrenched machine candidate like Mike Miller, funding is vital. You can link to his site by clicking on the link my home page. If you have money give, send it to Ron, not to me. I'm running my cutting edge campaign for District 27A Delegate using freely available communications technology. All I need is for you to email your friends and neighbors with the URL to my website, www.mikehethmon.com and ask them to "take a look at this no-B.S. candidate."

Tuesday July 25, 2006 - 08:26am (PST)

End Illegal Alien Sanctuaries in Maryland

A Washington Examiner editorial today called on the Maryland legislature to stop cities like Takoma Park from enforcing so-called "sanctuary" policies that require city personnel to refuse to cooperate with federal immigration authorities or to respect federal immigration law.  The editorial accurately compares the  Takoma Park ordinance with the "states rights" and "nullification" doctrines used by Southern states to enforce slavery prior to the Civil War.

LINK:  http://www.examiner.com/a-172640~Editorial__Sanctuary_cities_are_feeling_the_... 

As an attorney and community activist, I have fought these unconstitutional acts for 15 years.  As District 27A Delegate, I will introduce legislation to clarify that municipalities and counties cannot pick and choose which laws they intend to respect.  I will also introduce legislation to close the appalling loophole in state law that permits non-citizens including illegal aliens, to vote in Maryland elections. -  Mike Hethmon

Friday July 14, 2006 - 03:57pm

Welcome to the Signal

Dear Friends,

Welcome to my new 2006 blog site.  I have moved the site to Typepad provide a more accessible service.