Dan - I'm really waiting to hear what novel approaches to governance our straight-ticket government has in mind? Per early comments, if were really such a progressively minded state when it comes to education, why was the University of Maryland one of the first things to get thrown under the bus under Glendening - a former MD professor no less. And what has Mr. Progressive O'Malley done for Baltimore schools? Try to attract teachers into the city with those ridiculous high taxes and low salaries? At least I would feel safe from violent crime...oh wait, complaining is for losers. What was I thinking? Dan, bring on the insight...I hope the solution is slots. I love irony.

You win, Dan, you win. Everyone else was wrong, but you got it all right.

Ben's plan on what to do in Iraq: "We need to have a plan."

Huh?

Dan - This is a little off topic, but I would like to see somebody from The Sun, reply to the allegations from thesunlies.com, of one-sided reporting and editorials in the news section. You should believe in your employer, I'd like to see how you back them up. It's a debate that the people of Maryland need to see. We need to debate something, since there will be none in Annapolis!!

JTK - A first year certified teacher in Baltimore City makes a little over 42K a year. That is right around the average in the state. Much more than Harford, Cecil and virtually all of Western MD and the Eastern Shore.

As for crime - even if you want to use Ehrlich's "correct" numbers Baltimore ranks 5th in the nation in the reduction of violent crime, property crime is also WAY down. In the latest FBI "most dengerous city" report Baltimore improved from 6th to 12th. Being out of the top 10 for the first time in a very long time - not ideal but that shows progress.

What has Bob Ehrlich done for Baltimore? His administration appointed half of the school board, he never met with them. He took over 3 Baltimore schools, spun them off to an out of state, for-profit, company and THOSE schools are the worst performing in the state.

As for the tax rate. Baltimore's income tax rate is less than that of Harford, Carroll, Howard, Montgomery, P. Georges, Wicomico and Somerset counties. So while the hosts on WBAL want to make Baltimore look like the eigth level of hell, and I prefer a divided government as well, it is this kind of blind attacks against the city and OMalley that got him elected in the first place.

Ehrlich wanted to make Baltimore's problems a central focus of the campaign, but then offered no solution for said problems. But why bother finding solutions when you can just smugly accuse and point the finger.

James- Check the FBI report again. Baltimore is actually ranked 2nd in cities with population over 500,000.

How are the attacks on the mayor and the city blind? They are all rooted in facts. Are you happy with where crime and schools are in Baltimore City? If you say yes, than I have a bridge to sell you.

Also, Ehrlich has tried to help out the city schools, and has been asked to keep out from O'Malley and the City Council. Its a 2-way street, Ehrlich offered to help to show he didn't forget Baltimore, but O'Malley couldn't let him have that political chip in his pocket. You ask for Ehrlich to offer a solution to baltimore's problems, and the mayor turned him away.

To blame Ehrlich (or O'Malley) for all the city problems is absurd. What was O'Malley's plan for transportation issues? It was to bring experts together to come up with a plan. What a great solution.

Please stop all this "thou art holier than thou" mumbo-jumbo.