The New Uniparty in D.C.

     THE PROGRESSIVES FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE HAVE MERGED INTO THE NEW UNIPARTY

    I am sure that I am not alone in my frustration with the "New Uniparty" in D.C., which is made up of narcissists and sycophants from both sides of the aisle (Democrats and Republicans), led by "The Radical" in the White House, Barack Hussein Obama and RINO House leader John Boehner.  These corrupt and self-seeking elected leaders have united against the will of We the People. The Radical devises unconstitutional, often illegal, bills and executive orders and the Chief RINO feigns anger and then caves quickly with very little fight. It is a formula that has been repeated with such regularity and predictability that you have to wonder if Boehner and crew are incompetent or complicit. I think we all know the answer to that by now. If the establishment Republicans have not underhandedly united with the Progressives in the Democratic Party, then they have to be the biggest losers in the history of this country. The Progressive agenda has been forwarded in the last six years with precision and at a mind-blowing rate of success to the horror of those who have been watching. It has not slowed, even with the Republican gains in the last election, as we saw with the blocking of the DHS funding bill meant to halt executive amnesty,  the passing of Net Neutrality, and the appointment of Lynch as US Attorney General. All we have gained is another RINO in charge, Mitch McConnell. He is not on our side. Clearly, he too belongs to the New Uniparty.
      Yet there are still very committed Conservative activists who continue to hold onto the Republican Party. I understand the conflict. I have been a true blue Republican for 30 years, even though they alienated me years ago, and even though they no longer seem to care about the Republican Party Platform, which most represents my principles and beliefs.  I understand too that locally we do not have the same problems as nationally, however, we have seen some of the same shenanigans recently. If you need a refresher on what that platform used to represent, go to https://www.gop.com/platform/.  I personally can no longer support and promote their causes, but I still have not changed my affiliation as of yet. The Republicans in D.C. no longer promote or protect their platform. They don't mention it, they don't fight for it, and in fact have abandoned it along with our Constitution. They are embarrassed by their own platform.
   

REPUBLICANS HAVE UNITED WITH THEIR NATURAL ENEMY AGAINST THE TEA PARTY AND OTHER CONSERVATIVE GROUPS

    Although I have been involved in the TEA Party Movement since 2009, which began as a non-partisan movement based almost entirely on lower taxes, debt and deficits and smaller government,  it is no secret that out of the two parties, the Republican Party most represented TEA Party principles. To my astonishment, establishment Republicans in D.C. have united with their "natural enemy" the Progressives against the TEA Party! They have done this despite the fact that the TEA Party was instrumental in the GOP gaining a majority in the House in 2010 and the Senate in 2014, and despite the fact that the TEA Party would be willing to go to the political frontlines for them to support their candidates and defend their platform. So what gives? I've always heard that when something doesn't make sense...follow the money.
   My theory in short includes: a Manchurian candidate (BHO), greed for personal monetary gain, greed for personal power, career politicians (addicted to status, etc.), radicals (nationwide and worldwide) with varying agendas uniting, lobbyist payoffs, corporate money, labor union money, and constituent donations. All of these have created a cesspool on both sides of the aisle, polluting D.C. with the stench of blackmail, payoffs, elitism, cronyism, and several unholy alliances. It is so dark and convoluted that it is difficult for one person to sort it all out.

ONE THING IS CLEAR: CONSERVATIVES DON'T STAND A CHANCE...

   Conservatism is on its way to becoming, if not illegal, extinct. The New Uniparty will go through the motions of the Left submitting bills or supporting executive orders that shut the mouths of Conservatives or strip them of the ability to fight back. They will use accusations of racism, hate speech labels, 1st Amendment "zones", Net Neutrality, and ultimately gun bans to shut us up and render us defenseless. They are stripping us of our American culture and revising our history in an attempt to devalue our Founders, our Constitution, and those who defend them by demonizing, labeling, and regulating us into extinction. They use our college campuses as breeding grounds for Liberal ideology, teaching anti-Capitalism, Atheism (the God of Science), anti-Semitism (Palestinian oppression), anti-Christian (bigotry), and anti-American ideas as if they are pure academic truths. This has been very effective for them, so they realized that they could "fundamentally change America" quicker if they started in elementary school. The Common Core curriculum will brainwash our children sooner and faster, and many will not be able to stop it from infecting their children. Why, because home schooling will come under further attack because Conservative parents will be deemed backward and unfit. They have infinite resources using the Green Agenda and corporate and labor union funds,  as a blank check for just about anything they want to accomplish. One side uses corporate funds and the other labor union funds to promote the New Uniparty.
    Where is the TEA Party and other Conservative Groups? These groups were very visible, and I might add effective, in 2009-2011, and then something began to change. They weren't as visible. We were told that we would do better to spend our time working from within by volunteering our time at the municipal level on up, sitting on boards, running for office, seeking jobs within the system. They are still out there...we just can't see them! I agree and I too began to get involved locally, but important issues would demand the need for a visible presence in D.C., and very few showed up anymore. I am an organizer. It became harder to fill a bus given a month's notice, when before we could fill six with less than a week's notice. I would hear: no time, not my issue, not an important issue, I'm contributing in other ways, I'm tired, and many other excuses that you just did not hear in 2009. The national TEA Party and Conservative groups grew fat and their administrators grew rich. Yet after every battle that we have lost we get emails from these organizations telling us that we have won...we are just not looking at it correctly. This keeps the donations coming in. The TEA Party really was grassroots. So how did a housewife gone CEO (Tea Party Patriots), or something equivalent, wind up making $400,000 a year? I live on just barely-making-it street in comparison, yet they are begging me for money. The argument that bothered me the most was, it is not my issue. Everybody jumped into their own canoe and labeled it whatever is their pet issue, be it Illegal Immigration, Protecting the Constitution, Energy, Fiscal Responsibility, Elections, and many other Conservative issues. We have been all alone in our own canoes paddling like hell and getting nowhere. During election season we can't unite on candidates: not my state, doesn't support my issue, insulted my rock star politician, not my Party, and more. We were no longer united. We were no longer visible. How has that worked out for us?
    Where is the church? How will the New Uniparty affect them? The church has been largely silent, and unfortunately sometimes on the wrong side of an issue, even when it has been against their theology. They either didn't want to get involved, or they wanted to vote for the first black president, or they fell for the media spin, or they preferred the praise of man, or they wanted to belong, or what I believe to be the largest influence...the threat to their tax exempt status. Some would fight to protect that tax exempt status more vigorously than for the right to preach the whole Word of God or our right to religious freedom. Sure more money allows more good works, but the writing is on the wall that soon that status will be tied very tightly to regulations on the church. You will soon have to choose between your Bible and that tax status. This is where you will see the division of the sheep from the goats. Some churches will decide that it is more important to preach the whole Word of God than to maintain that status. Many will not. Some churches will decide that it is more important for the good of our society to have a voice in the social issue debates. Many will not. Churches should be seriously considering which way they will go when the government gives them the ultimatum to submit to government speech laws, or else.

...UNLESS WE ORGANIZE A UNITED CONSERVATIVE SURGE 

   
   So what do we do? How can we fight back against this New Uniparty? I think it is time that we re-unite in a very visual way. Every single Conservative group has to re-unite at a grassroots level. We need to invite the Jewish and Christian communities to join us. We need to pool our resources. We need to show up for one another. We need to rededicate ourselves to saving this nation from complete destruction by putting down all of our differences, defenses, and egos and anything else that comes between us. Do you think that environmental groups understand or care about gay issues? One Liberal group knows nothing about the other except that they are there to fight against a common enemy. That would be us. We need to unite, sometimes on our very lowest common denominator, our common enemy, which is the Liberal Progressives consisting equally of Democrats and Republicans as the New Uniparty. We must re-unite and fight like hell. We need a surge in Conservative troops against our enemy on every front. Will we or have we already lost the war due to friendly fire?  


A reader asked me what a surge would look like. Great question! Remember 9-11-2009? We need this again, but not for just one day...for as long as it takes! 

  

MEET THE CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR OF MARYLAND

    I attended a forum last night in Anne Arundel County for candidates who are running for governor of the state of Maryland. I am writing strictly for the voter who may not have the time or opportunity to attend a forum where they can meet the candidates. I want to provide not only their answers to the questions, but I also provide some video and personal opinion to give a feel for the candidate and his character.
    The forum was organized by two Republican clubs, two ladies Republican clubs, and the AA County Republican Central Committee. It was very nicely planned and well attended. There were around 20 elected officials present and welcomed from the podium, and I'd estimate about 150 in attendance. The candidates that participated were: Charles Lollar, Ron George, David Craig, and Brian Vaeth. Larry Hogan had declined the invitation.
    I can't say that I personally learned anything new about the candidates as far as where they stand on the issues, with the exception of Vaeth whom I have never before seen or even read anything about his campaign. I did find myself with different or evolving impressions about some of these candidates than what I had previously.  Ron George presents very knowledgeable about the nuts and bolts of all of the major issues, which shouldn't surprise me since he already serves as a state delegate. George seemed to know the story behind the story on every topic. I was aware of David Craig's extensive experience, but I didn't know he had such an easy going personality. When I first saw him many months ago in Hagerstown he seemed rather stodgy and stiff, but last night he was relaxed and confident and even humorous at times. Lollar is consistent in presentation every time that I've seen him speak. He is confident, intelligent, and ready to share his vision. Vaeth is the un-politician, somewhat unpolished and at times inappropriate and provided the audience a lot of comic relief. Larry Hogan had declined the invitation, and I am hearing a lot of chatter about it. People are starting to take offense and think that he may be over confident about his following and their votes.
    The forum began with 1.5 minutes each for an opening statement. I have posted them on YouTube at http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=G8TR7r39uqc. This was followed by moderated Q&A with each candidate getting equal time to answer. The questions were almost too wordy to understand, so I will do my best to paraphrase and make them more concise. It was no surprise that the candidates' answers seemed all over the board and off topic at times. For instance, the first question was primarily about the minimum wage increase, and was probably the most straightforward of questions, but the candidates were mostly off topic.

Question 1-  What are your thoughts on the minimum wage increase?

George:   He talked about himself as a business owner, why he first became involved in politics, and then stated that he wants to lower income taxes by 10% immediately and retroactively.
Lollar:  He talked about the low quality of life in this state and that increasing the minimum wage will not make it better, but could in fact make it worse because of the loss of jobs. He said that he would start by eradicating the 80 new taxes passed by this current administration. He talked about the bait and switch use of taxpayer money, and that he would eliminate the income tax. He has worked with Arthur Lambert to develop a 5-year phase out plan, and then he finished his answer with a promise for transparency.
Vaeth:  He talked about renewable energy, in particular solar energy, as a solution to the state's economic woes, saying it would create jobs and give people who don't want to go to college usable skills with which to make a living. He then talked about making people pay the taxes that they owe and cracking down on truckers to make them pay for road maintenance.
Craig:  He started out asking, How many of you had a 30% raise this year? I am assuming he was referring to the large increase in the minimum wage, and he did get a few laughs from the audience. He then said that the average person on minimum wage are approximately age 24 or younger and they are working a temporary job not meant to be a career.
 
Question 2-  What are your thoughts on the Rain Tax?

Lollar:  He would repeal it. He thinks that Marylanders need to be educated on the facts about what is actually polluting the bay.  Just because something sounds right they line up behind it. He claimed that the Susquehanna River is the source of pollution to the bay, and that Maryland does not add to it. Vaeth: He  believes that we need to fight all federal mandates on our state. He is against fracking near the bay, and that we should begin manufacturing hemp products.
Craig:  He would repeal it. He said that he had fought against it since it was first mentioned two years ago. He warned us to watch for a Trash Tax sometime in the next two years.
George:  He fought against it since he first heard about it and before it was even proposed. He said it was passed without even going to committee and that he voted against it on the floor.
 
Question 3-  What are your thoughts on the business climate in the state, and what would you do to improve it?

Vaeth: He would work with businesses on an case-by-case basis finding their particular challenges. He would have also have an individualized tax plan for each business because one size doesn't fit all. He again reiterated that he would attract businesses through new energy programs.
Craig: He believes that the income tax is the tax that most affects small businesses because small business owners usually file their business taxes with their personal income taxes. He would phase out income tax over 5 years and pay for it by asking every department head in his administration to cut their budgets 3% a year for 3 years.
George:  Referenced a 10-point promise that can be found on his website. He would cut income tax 10% immediately and it would be retroactive. This would give people more discretionary money to spend and it would help the economy.
Lollar: Stated he has travelled all over the state to talk about this issue. He talked to the watermen on the Eastern Shore, talked about opening up fracking to those in Western Maryland, and  learned that Carroll County was most concerned about the minimum wage increase. He intends to offer a "real" Taxpayer's Bill of Rights.
   
Question 4-  What would you do about Obamacare and the delays that have cost the state $30.5M in the first year?

Craig: He would apply the 10th Amendment of the Constitution for states rights. He said Obamacare is unaffordable and inaccessible. He claimed that doctors and hospitals are cutting services because of this law and it will increasingly affect accessibility of healthcare.
George: He believes that contracts for the implementation of Obamacare in this state have been tied to donations and fundraising opportunities. He made a strong statement that he would not listen to the Feds on this or on Common Core.
Lollar:  Obamacare cannot work in the state or in the nation. He will not submit to the mandate and would instead develop private healthcare exchanges like some that have already developed in other states. He said that it is important to be able to balance the budget so that we can stand up to the Feds. When we depend on $9.3B from the Feds in our budget, we can't take a stand. 
Vaeth: Believes that accountability is needed most because he thinks it is a kickback scheme. He said that we need to go after the website developer to get our money back. He believes we need to take care of veteran's healthcare first.

Question 5: What is your view on Common Core, and should AA County switch to an appointed or elected School Board?

George: Stated that there have been five bills on Common Core. The first two were OK, but when they began to try to mandate it I began to fight it. He would restore parental rights, protect privacy, and take the control from the Feds and give it to the local school boards.
Lollar:  He is against Common Core and would provide the alternative of school choice. Parent's tax money would follow the child to whatever school they choose, public or private. The state and the Feds should have no say. He would increase standards by increasing choices.
Vaeth:  Common Core is yet another corporate kickback scheme. He named the Gates Foundation as a participant. He wondered if there were any teachers consulted in developing it. He is against the distribution of tablets to the children, saying that the information on the tablets can be modified without notice, while a book cannot.
Craig: He called upon his 15 years as a teacher and school administrator. He said it is about common sense. Politicians should not be making these decisions, and that only the teachers and the parents should have control of education. He thinks that Common Core is another 10th Amendment issue.
   
Question 6- Do you think teacher performance should be tied to test scores? 

Lollar: Stated that measuring teacher performance in this way will lead to teaching students to a test and that this should be avoided.
Vaeth: Believes that you can't base teacher performance on a failed curriculum. He also shared that he was a bad student and would not want a teacher to have to pay in some way for his refusal to learn. He thinks that teachers should be assessed by other teachers.
Craig:  It would not be appropriate for teachers or students, and he also believed that it would lead to teaching to a test. He thinks that this should be between the teachers and the school administrators.  George:  Introduced his running mate as a teacher. He said that he homeschooled his children. He believes in school choice. Not sure if he answered the question.
 
Question 7- Can you name one thing positive that this administration has done in the last 8 years?

Vaeth:  Nope.
Craig: He [Martin O'Malley] plays guitar well.
George: He does not agree with one thing. He said that Brown is an empty suit who still has not presented an economic plan, and that the state has been completely mismanaged.
Lollar: There were some good intentions, but the road to Hell is paved with good intentions.
 
Question 8- What can you do to increase voter confidence? 

Craig: Stated that he has a history of restoring confidence when he served on city council, as mayor, and now as county executive. He has an open door policy, and supports hiring an independent auditor giving them free reign to audit anything.
George:  The problem is that the government doesn't trust you! They don't trust you with the 2nd Amendment or to run your business. He will build trust by trusting the people first.
Lollar:  He will build trust by limiting the size of government without  cutting essential services. He will guarantee a Tax Payer's Bill of Rights. He is profit-minded, so he plans to not only balance the budget but make money and return it to the people. He will avoid partisan politics, and bring Maryland together to find solutions regardless of party.
Vaeth: Vote for Bongino. He said he would get the DOJ to investigate everybody. He would especially look into all of the money for consultants and reports.
 
Question 9- The day after the primary, how will you reach out to voters in the larger areas [Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince Georges County]?

Lollar:  Stated that his business is in PG County, and that he already has Democrats for Lollar groups in all four [not sure where the 4th is located] major areas.
Vaeth: Take away their pensions. I will tell them that I will protect entitlements and then I won't. I will trick them like they tricked us. They took our pensions.
Craig:  Stated that he has won over Democrats several times in his career when he won elections from long-term Democrats. He lamented that too many Republicans stay home and do not vote.  George:  I either failed to note his response or he was passed over. I am sorry if it was my mistake.
 
Question 10- If you caught your child with drugs, would you call the police? 

Lollar:  She would wish that I'd call the police! He added that he felt it would be his responsibility to deal with it as her parent.
Vaeth: I don't have children, but I think it should be handled by the parents.
Craig:  Stated that his children are successful adults, but he thinks that it is a matter for the parents.
George: It would be my responsibility as a parent.
 
    The candidates were given equal time for closing statements. I posted a video on YouTube at
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=KqoAB_KEGNo.
 

UPDATED! CHARLES LOLLAR FOR GOVERNOR SPEAKS ON ISSUES

 

 

   

 

 

* I just added a full length video of a campaign speech made on 3//26/14: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecGJ29kRP1c&feature=share&list=UU8nAHf9dn3neqKHeGgQPs2w

    I first became aware of Charles Lollar on January 13, 2010. I remember it vividly because it was at a TEA Party on a cold night in Annapolis. I think it was the only TEA Party that I have ever attended after dark. Lawyer's Mall was filled to capacity in protest of O'Malley's budget mismanagement and the anticipated new taxes to be proposed in that legislative session. The event had been organized by Americans for Prosperity, but I was there with the Hagerstown TEA Party. There were several dynamic speakers there that were able to tap into the fervor of the crowd, but none better than a man named Charles Lollar. As I heard him speak I began to work my way threw the incredible crowd hoping to see the man behind the charisma. I'm not going to pretend that I wasn't intrigued to see a black man who was a Republican and who seemed to "get" the TEA Party, especially since the movement had been maligned by Liberals and branded as racists. I was fascinated. Beyond that he was able to almost "preach" Conservative principles unscripted, intelligently, and with a passion that I am sure convinced all who were there that he indeed shared our principles, our concerns, and our hopes for going forward. I knew nothing more about him, but I felt right then and there that he would play an important role in the future of Maryland politics. Over 4 years later I have learned that he is not only a charismatic speaker, but that he is highly educated (Political Science, B.A. and an MBA), a decorated Marine (Officers Candidate School), a devoted family man (married 20 years with 4 daughters), and someone with a grasp on Conservative issues like no other.  I attended the Charles Lollar for Governor Meet and Greet last night and I was not disappointed.



Huge Rally in Annapolis in 2010

    The event was held in a trendy setting, where good food and drink were available, and cool music played in the background. It had all of the expected promotional materials like palm cards, signs, and T-shirts and even the expected raffle for a very classy hospitality basket. Team Lollar did a great job of organizing the event. I immediately noticed something different about this candidate's event, and that was that he was actually greeting and meeting with people for at least an hour before the event. I don't mean hobnobbing with Republican elected officials...he was going from table to table talking with regular people. When he came to my table I asked him several of my own questions about issues in addition to some that had been texted to me to ask on other's behalf. His answers were so forthright and succinct that it almost through me off task. I asked him if I could have a chance to talk to him again after he spoke and he said that he would be available. He was not introduced by Republican bigwigs or marched out with pomp and circumstance. He just grabbed a mic and did what Charles Lollar does. He spoke about issues.
    He started by saying that he believes that many people are asking the wrong questions. We are struggling in this state. There is a mad exodus of businesses from the state. People need jobs and they are over taxed and over regulated. Yet people are asking him what he is going to do about social issues. He couldn't have spoken a TEA Party precept more precisely if it had been dictated to him. Many people do not realize--because of the Liberal media smear campaign against the TEA Party--that although individual TP members may feel strongly about certain social issues, in the spirit of compromise and cooperation they have always avoided them as a group or organization. This is what he said:

"I am not running to be your priest. I am running to be your governor. There is a very real difference between those two occupations. If you want me to be your pastor and tell you  how to live then let's get out of the governor business and start a church and I will tell you how to live. My job as your governor, if I am honored enough to serve you, is to be held accountable for every penny that you sent to Annapolis. To make sure it is spent properly and what is not spent properly should go right back to you the taxpayer." 

Can I get an "Amen"?

    As if we needed convincing that this state is struggling, Lollar rattled off some statistics. In the last 5-7 years we've lost 40,000 jobs. We have lost 6,500 small businesses, taking with them $5.5B in revenue. [We historically lose revenue when taxes are excessive.] In one fiscal year the state budget has gone from $34.6B to $36.9B. That is an increase of $2.5B or 7.5%. In that same fiscal year the Consumer Price Index cost of living grew only 1.5%. "That means that your government grows at 5 times the rate of your pocketbooks...and why do we need 74 new taxes over 7 years? There is nothing left to tax!" Lollar then laid out his 5-part plan for economic growth:

1. Control Spending.

• Tax Payer's Bill of Rights- Legislatively ensuring that our government no longer grows faster than our CPI. 
• Return to Zero-based Budgeting- Starting with what we spent last year and not with a wish list for which we increase taxes in order to obtain all that we want.
• Hiring/Employee Budget Accountability by Department Secretaries..

"The governor of Maryland controls the budget. So whenever the governor decides to, he can make the hard decisions to balance it...whether he does so or not. Yes the legislators vote it up and down and they can propose taxes against it, but the governor controls it."

    2.   Regulation Reform. Create a Citizens Industry Review Board to work in conjunction with the EPA. The board will be made up of volunteers, so there will be no cost to the taxpayer. They will have experience in their respective industries and create common sense solutions that respects the environment, but does not senselessly burden the business owners, farmers, watermen and the economy as a whole.

"No longer will academia regulate any industry without experience."

    3.  Transparency.

• No appointed boards or commissions with the power to raise taxes and fees.
• No raiding the Transportation Trust Fund to balance the budget.
• This governor will understand that I work for you and you do not work for me.

"We will not allow non-legislative non-elected bodies or commission boards to increase your fees or your taxes going forward. That should be left to those who are elected, and not to those who are appointed."

    4.  Education.

• School Choice so that children are not trapped in a school that is operating below standards just because of where they live. Wherever the child goes to school his parent's tax dollars will follow, either by voucher or tax credit. Schools will be competing for your children!
• Internships in high school especially for those seeking a trade instead of a degree.
• Teacher training out of their districts and maybe even out of the country in order to expand their teaching experiences and perspectives.

"The often touted No.1 ranking in education is not based on standardized test scores. It is based on dollars spent per student as well as the number of teachers affiliated with or a part of our public union. They know that! What we need is less and less students needing remedial courses in order to get into college." 

  5.  Repeal taxes.

• Rain Tax
• Progressive Gas Tax
• Taxes on pensions of First Responders

"With the Rain Tax we are the laughing stock of our region."

    The following is a Q & A exchange with the audience (only parts appear on the video due to technical difficulties) and also from my interview. The answers are mostly paraphrased.

1. Q [Audience]: What will you do to make a college education affordable?
    A: Overall the cost of in-state tuition is quite affordable at just under $9,000 a year. Two things that can help:

• Educational Trust Funds. Start early saving for your children and grandchildren.
• Repeal or amend the Dream Act. You cantnot have one group of people paying into the system and another group not paying into the system (illegal immigrants) and then have both groups receive the same benefits. Somebody has to pay the difference between the in-state ($9,000) and the out-of-state ($28,000) tuition and it is the taxpayer. This has nothing to do with racism. It has to do with fairness and this act could lead us into financial trouble. We can't afford it.

2. Q [Audience]: How exactly do you propose to cut taxes?
    A: Poor spending decisions and wish-list budgeting has led to this tax burden. We plan to:

• Create a board to look at each one of the 74 taxes to determine how many we can eradicate.
• Enact a flat 5% tax rate across the board.
• Look at casinos for future tax revenue (when asked by the audience).

3a. Q: Do you feel as do some establishment Republicans that you need to distance yourself from the TEA Party?
      A. No. I have always identified with the TEA Party on issues. I have presented TEA Party principles to some very tough audiences...as you might imagine.
3b. Q: Why do you think establishment Republicans do not embrace the TEA Party?
      A: I think it threatens their status as career politicians. Politics was never meant to be a career. The founding fathers intended for elected officials to work jobs. They were to serve from January to March and then go home and work their jobs.
4.  Q: Do you think that Plan Maryland has adversely affected farmers?
     A: Yes. Plan Maryland seeks to target growth and resources towards an urban environment making it hard or in some cases impossible for farmers to sell their property or to get a loan against their property. I do not think that rural Maryland is being served by this administration.
5. Q: Where do you stand on fracking? Do you think that technology has now made this a safe industry?
    A:  "It is time!" We do not need to spend anymore taxpayer money on research and studies. It is being done successfully and safely in our neighboring states, and they are horizontally fracking and taking our resources and revenue. This could bring major economic growth to Western Maryland.
6. Q: Do you think that SB281 went too far?
    A: Absolutely. They have no right to define what kind of firearms our citizens may own. The 2nd Amendment is the right of every citizen to protect themselves with whatever firearm they choose to purchase.
7. Q: Hagerstown is a dying city. How can the state help revitalize our downtown?
    A: This administration does not want to help Hagerstown in a big way or they would have enabled fracking in Western Maryland, improved I-81, and created the highway by-pass that has been discussed for years. [I wish that I had been able to ask him to explain this further.] They are putting more state resources into the larger urban centers of the state and giving the rest of the state little to nothing.
8. Q: Hagerstown had been negotiating with a minor league baseball team to build a new stadium. The team has since decided to leave town, but the possibility of building a new stadium is still being considered. Do you think that public funds should be used to build stadiums?
    A: Absolutely not. "The day is over for taxpayer money for stadiums. The Governor is in charge of the budget. You will not see a stadium in my budget."
9. Q [Audience]: Would your administration make any changes to the pension plans of First Responders?
    A: I think that we can find ways to make a better life for our First Responders. I think that their pensions should be like my combat pay was in Kosovo...tax free.
10. Q: Where to you stand on increasing the minimum wage?
      A: I think that it inflates the whole system and winds up costing the wager earner and consumers more in taxes and increased costs that are passed down to the consumer. I think that lower taxes and smarter budgeting are the answers.
11. Q: What do you think of Common Core?
      A: "It is unconstitutional."  For a video of the full answer on Common Core go to http://youtu.be/F1rnB_e_NsQ.

   In the end, he asked for volunteers but only if they could be committed to sticking to the issues and resisting the urge for bickering and nasty campaign tactics. He admonished everyone to stick to the issues.  Privately I asked him about the rumors that his campaign team was "falling apart." He said that he cannot control every word that comes out of the mouths of 100 or more volunteers, but that once he was informed that one volunteer had used terms degrading to the developmentally challenged he took care of it and that person is no longer with the campaign. He said that his team is united and focused and moving forward. Based on the event that evening...I would have to agree with him.

You can see the video of his speech by going to http://youtu.be/CqPm_WP0r9E.

Visit the Charles Lollar for Governor website at http://www.lollar4governor.com/.

Also see: http://liberatedconservativewoman.blogspot.com/2014/03/meet-candidates-for-governor-of-maryland.html