The e-mail bag
Before we get started . . . check out the corn-cookin' tips on the blog post below -- back from vacation . . . Thanks to the thoughtful contributors.
There was a two-day flood of e-mail on a recent column on the Archdiocese of Baltimore's "evangelical" pursuit of the Basilica restoration and plans to demolish the Rochambeau and plant a prayer garden. (Can't people pray inside the Basilica?) The mail was about 10-1 in agreement and approval of the column, with a few critics predictably claiming I am anti-Catholic. Supporters of the church's spending and its plans have been writing letters to the editor this past week. As I said before, what difference does it make? The cardinal was going to get his way no matter what anyone said. (By the way, a diocesan priest called to say that the final bill on the basilica will be more like $42 million, not the $30 million reported here.)
Sunday morning's early (4 a.m.) mail brought this letter from a state employe who asked that his name not be used:
I just read your Sunday column on the voter registration numbers. I consider myself an independent (although I usually find the Democrats less offensive than the Republicans), but after years of finding myself having effectively no say in electoral matters I grudgingly changed my registration to Democrat. The reason? In most races in Maryland (my part of it, anyway), the race is decided in the Democratic primary. Even in those rare instances when a Republican has a chance of winning, there isn't usually any competition in the Republican primary.
If Maryland allowed independents to pick a side to vote in for primary elections like some other states do, I'd return my registration to independent (actually I think it's "not affiliated with any party") where it really belongs.
Unpleasant aside: if you print any of this, please either leave out my name or edit out my dislike of (most) Republicans. I currently work for the state, and with the current governor's apparent practices I find it safer to keep my political leanings to myself. I won't even put political bumper stickers on my car
Comments
This person hit the nail on the head. I just moved from Florida, which is also a state with "closed" primaries. I registered as a Democrat in MD simply so I can take part in the primaries. Otherwise I, too, would be registered as independent of any party.
Posted by: Feeling same in Columbia | August 21, 2006 9:16 AM
Of course, it all depends on where one lives.
I live in a suburban jurisdiction which won't elect anyone without an "R" next to his or her name. Despite my own liberal tendencies, I have considered reregistering as a Republican so I can vote for the more moderate GOPer in these elections.
Only my desire to help choose the Dem nominee for Senate, President, etc. has kept me from making the change.
Posted by: howie | August 28, 2006 9:27 AM