I should have ......used better judgment to put a stop to it.

Put a stop to it? The horse's patoot initiated it!

Most importantly, is who in the City PD approved this.

Now as much as they get on TV and in the papers and say "we have no money," we have to lay people off." How in the world could someone in their right frame of mind even approve something like this? In addtion as bad as things have been these past few weeks at the Inner Harbor. Who was to say that at the time of this someone could have been getting mugged or even worse while they were trying to help him get lucky with his fiance'.

HEY JON CARDIN!
Who the hell do you think you are? You graduated from Law School... you are a seemingly bright guy. Do yourself a favor, run these types of ideas past your father to see if they still make sense.

Your inability to show contrite and present an honest description of the incident to the Gazette is shameful.

Megan Homer, its not too late to run the hell away!!!

My house just got robbed in the city - all the police do is take a report - maybe they forgot what their job is suppose to be - prevent crime

This is another example of the arrogance and poor judgement of our elected officials. Is it any wonder that the American people do not trust politicians on any level. Hopefully he intends to pay for the costs involved.

Completely unbelievable. Only in Baltimore could a politician pull a move like this and the police approve it while the city burns and people die.

My only question is why is this a blog post and not a story in the paper?

Groundskeeper -- the story is in today's print editions, on Page 1, above the fold, stripped across the top of the paper. There is a link in the blog to the on-line version of the story. The blog is a reaction to the print story.

Call it poor judgement. Baloney. No one except for those that consider themselves elite would even think of doing this with government money. To me, it is indicative of the overall mindset of those in control of this one party state. What one "elected elite" does, is condoned and supported by all from top to bottom. Maryland government needs balance

All incumbents need to go and if the public re-elects a single one of them, they get what they deserve. It is typical that the arrogant SOB's continue to snub their noses at the "little" people and continue to abuse their power. WAKE UP!

A surprise police raid on boat, threatening your girlfriend with unwarranted arrest, and scaring the bejesus out of bystanders...and who says romance is dead.

In addition to the arrogance of power how come no one is commenting on how lame this guy is in human relationships. What a moron.

I'm with Josh... as much as I'd love a creative proposal, this is ridiculous. It sounds like a bunch of buddies that got over-excited about pulling a prank, but yeah, either someone should have stopped it, or no one should have talked about it. It's just dumb on so many levels.

Yet another case of the son being an embarrassment to the father. Ben Cardin has long represented us faithfully, making Baltimore and Maryland proud. Now his constituents repay him the favor by giving his numbskull son a job and this is what we get in return. I just pray thqt this was of his son's doing and that his Dad didn't have a hand in it, because if it turns out otherwise I will be very disappointed.

Peter, you have nailed it.

Every section of the Maryland Ethics law says you don't do something like this.

Baltimore County pols have difficulty understanding ethics. Oliver thought campaign contributions were his personal funds. Councilman Moxley thinks it is okay to drive under the influence after being convicted of driving under the influence. Executive Smith makes announcements about his political career on his county website, but not on his private campaign website.

Delegate Cardin wants to write a check and make this go away. Does the police department takes checks for performances at private parties. Do the courts just take checks for mistakes in judgement like DUI, Campaign Finance violations, use of government resources for personal benefit with no further consequences.

Do we take just checks for false alarms, bomb threats without bombs, misfeasance and malfeasance in office. Is there a reason we didn't just take a check from Tommy Bromwell when his poor judgement kicked in - once in taking the money and again in bragging about it.

Mr. Rohrbaugh should look at this. The House of Delegates should remove Mr. Cardin. His uncle should disown him. The Court of Appeals should disbar him.

That, and little jail time should temper the arrogance.

Yet another case of the next generation being an embarrassment to the present. Ben Cardin has long represented us faithfully, making Baltimore and Maryland proud. Now his constituents repay him the favor by giving his numbskull nephew a job and this is what we get in return. I just pray thqt this was of his nephew's doing and that his Uncle didn't have a hand in it, because if it turns out otherwise I will be very disappointed.

Any woman ditzy enough to be impressed by this kind of frat-boy stunt deserves what she gets when she's married to the jerk.

Any woman ditzy enough to be impressed by this kind of frat-boy stunt deserves what she gets when she's married to the jerk.

I don't know which is more frustrating, State Delegate Jon S. Cardin's use of law enforcement resources for his own pleasure, or the fact that he was, as a result of these actions, the "toast" of a convention of state government leaders at Ocean City. Shots are being fired at the Inner Harbor Pavilion, and everyday citizens are suffering through a recession, yet Mr. Cardin uses his authority to tie up law enforcement and tax dolar resources in this fashion. Possibly because of his connection to Senator Benjamin Cardin, public officials are lining up to downplay the effects of the state delegate's actions, but he regardless has shown such poor judgement that his ability to serve in public office comes into question.

But maybe not, since senior state leadership, while enjoying a few days at the ocean on our badly stressed tax dollar, toasted Delgate Cardin for his little personal escapade. Their apparent immediate reaction is to praise his use of tax dollars and police resources as "imaginative." So perhaps Mr. Cardin's mindset is representative of our state government, begging the issue of whether our elected officals will ever accomplish anything other than leading us further into a bottomless abyss of government inefficiency.

This makes me furious. This story on top of how we were treated during the Ben Cardin Town hall meeting at Towson State and our other senator Barbara Mikulski was absent while all along we were being called the Mob, Un American and just yesterday a shooting around the same place this proposal took place, there was a lack of police, and now to find out Jon Cardin is on vacation again after coming back from Ocean City with Martin O'Malley on that vacation.

Who in the heck do these people think they are?

They put their clothing on the same way I do every morning. I follow the laws of the land, they spit in my face.

And to anyone who thinks that but for his name and connections this jumped-up little lawyer would have a seat anywhere other than the couch in front of his plasma teevee, I have just one word for you: Dubya.

I can totally understand how this might have seemed like a good idea. I believe him that his judgement was "blinded by love". People tell stories of funny & crazy marriage proposals, and this guy just wanted to impress his girlfriend with an "intense" experience. I can understand how "mistakes" and "errors of judgement" like this happen. I can also understand how the Harbor Police would have fallen victim to the desire to add some lightness and levity to their day, which is otherwise burdened with trajedy and dissappointment in the human condition. How tempting it would be to momentarily turn a blind eye to the search for Crime & Evil and instead get to witness Love & Faith!

I can totally understand how this might have seemed like a good idea. I believe him that his judgement was "blinded by love". People tell stories of funny & crazy marriage proposals, and this guy just wanted to impress his girlfriend with an "intense" experience. I can understand how "mistakes" and "errors of judgement" like this happen. I can also understand how the Harbor Police would have fallen prey to the desire to add some lightness and levity to their day, which is otherwise burdened with trajedy and dissappointment in the human condition. How tempting it would be to momentarily turn a blind eye to the search for Crime & Evil and instead get to witness Love & Faith!

The article states cops have better things to do. Like fight crime at the Inner Harbor. Really? Fighting crime all over the city, especially in the hell hole of east baltimore, where i reside, isnt considered a better thing to do? Only at the Inner Harbor, so all the white people can feel nice and safe as they stroll around? Reading the Sun is becoming sickening to me.

typical ahole.

and he's not fielding questions about it. that's audacious.

If someone had me thinking I was about to be cuffed and stuffed, then told me it was a joke and asked, "By the way, will you marry me?", I am certain the police would actually have to arrest me after I punched his face in. Maybe Megan is counting on the Cardin name to guarantee her the good life. I hope she's right, because she can't count on Jon's brain.

May they're just trying to aspire to the heights of the King of Baltimore County corruption, Spiro Agnew...

I'm with you, Julia Branche. They need to fight crime all over, but all they can really do is just sweep the criminals back into other neighborhoods. If you can afford it, you should move--things aren't going to get better. Good luck.

Unfortunately the arrogance shown by Del. Cardin is all too typically found in and around the State House. Elected officials need to take a long hard look at themselves and start to represent the people who sent them there. They need to use their office budgets only to benefit their constituents and not theirselves or their cronies.

People should have access to each senator and delegate's spending and make them accountable. Their arrogance has to stop.

Wow even the liberals are whooping it up over this one! Way to bring together your constituents ya big dummy!

Should have called Ashton Kutcher. Sounds like an episode of "PUNKED"
What an idiot!!
RESIGN JOHN !

Sorry, I hadn't yet checked.

Peter this is excellent work. There aren't enough reporters in Baltimore doing stories like this.

GET OVER IT PEOPLE!!!! It was a favor. I am sure if you had the right friends on the police force, they would have done it for you. We all know if there was an emergency, they would have diverted their efforts to handle the problem. At NO time was there lack of protection to the general public.

I think that Baltimore County Delegate Cardin's judgement was clouded by those television shows such as "The Wire" that use Baltimore as a backdrop for their storylines. His "prank" is suggestive of an incident whose value as entertainment would be suitable for inclusion in one of those TV series productions put together by Hollywood.

Arrogance, arrogance, arrogance. Then to not take questions but only issue a statement and offer a check, arrogance, arrogance, arrogance. What a twit.

Blinded by love? Ridiculous. And who cares anyway. Elected officials are trusted with a certain responsibility that Joe Regular Guy who "zanily" parachutes into a family party to propose is not. The office should have some gravity and dignity. State and local officials have turned it into a personal playground. Sheer arrogance. He should resign.

Bill,

I wouldn't have asked, nor would anyone with a sense of the basic responsibility that comes with elected office, which is the entire point. This is a no-brainer, he screwed the pooch.

No doubts Bill is a life long Democrat!

A typical Democratic Party member playing with his 'toys" and showing how powerful he is by ordering the Police department to undertake an immature, uncreative lame-a$$ prank at the expense of the taxpayer. First it was the children who work for Obama ordering men to fly Air Force One through Manhattan airspace so they could take some "cool" pictures. Now this emasculated attempt at being "funny". This man bears watching in the future as he has demonstrated his total lack of regard for anything remotely resembling self control. Mark my words this Cardin is already addicted to power and sees nothing that can stop him. His father is in the big time and feels as if he reports to no one. It is so much more than a girlish prank to anyone familiar with the personality type. Sociopath and con man in capital letters.

This was a stupid thing for him to do.

But I have met Jon Cardin on a few occasions. He is in no way arrogant. He is one of the most accessible and down to earth politicians I have ever met.

Bill, who thinks this stuff is just fine, concludes by telling us, "At NO time was there lack of protection to the general public."

Got news for you, Bill. At no time is the general public protected from anything, ever. The police are not here to protect you. They're here to call the coroner after you've been shot dead. And maybe catch the shooter. And maybe not bungle the arrest, so maybe your killer can be tried, and maybe convicted, and maybe serve time.

Otherwise, they're here to write tickets, take complaints, and if they just happen to notice someone with an improbable bulge in his pants, find a gun before it can be used to kill you.

"Protection"? Don't make me laugh. You're on your own.

This caper was an arrogant outrage that should be an affront to every taxpayer.
As taxpayers we have an option:
Vote the immature kid out and let's elect a responsible adult to help run our state government.

I don't know what is worse -- what this loser did with taxpayer funds or his incredibly lame "apology." As the first commenter accurately noted, he "apologizes" for organizing a "safety check of the boat" and for not using "better judgment to put a stop to it." Come on ... You, Delegate Cardin, initiated this whole thing in the first place. There is no one else to blame for your inresponsible actions.

I also love how this young man in love tries to deflect blame by noting that his best friend helped him plan the occasion. He's got the Politicians Handbook and has obviously read the sections on using small talk to avoid responsibility and how to point the finger at those closest to you. Stay classy, Delegate Cardin.

Jon is a good man and an honest person who made a mistake and has owned up to it.

Well said Peter. This clown (Del Cardin) should resign from office. Oh wait, in this one party city/state were you have a powerful Senator for a relative, it's okay to use taxpayer money and the use of police and marine officers along with taxpayer paid helicopter and marine boat for a juvenile stunt. Del Cardin is a first class south end of a northbound horse. What an arrogant pathetic clueless solipsistic JERK. And to those who defend this clown, what if a loved one of yours needed that helicopter or boat and those police for a life threatening matter? Would you still defend this ARROGANT moron? Shame on you.

Forgot to mention in my previous post. The little nine year old girl (Sophia Litrenta) who is trying to save the horses for the Mounted Police has far more class and intelligence than Jon Cardin. Maybe some of her kindness and unselfishness will rub off on Cardin.

Jon ought to test his fiancée again by resigning. See if she sticks around after he's just a private putz.

Ok, so this girl says 'yes' to spending her life with a sophomoric boy. That's fine. But, is Jon Cardin really worthy of the trust of Baltimore County voters?. I mean, if he doesn't understand what constitutes unacceptable use of public assets, then how can we expect him to act in a fiduciary capacity on behalf of residents? Please tell me we haven't set the bar this low.

Jon Cardin made a personal and political mistake. He apologized and offered to pay the city costs for equipment and man power.

I am sure he will always remember this error, don't you?

As long as he follows through, lets give him a break and forgive him.

Your title says it all: The Arrogance of Power.