Giannetti is finished. As if his love affair with Ehrlich wasn't already enough to turn your stomach, switching parties is the last straw. I think the state law needs to be amended to prevent this kind of nonsense. Why did the taxpayers pay for a primary if the losing candidate ignores the results?

"There is room for a moderate Republican."??? Giannetti wouldn't even be a moderate Republican. Anti-choice, pro-assault weapons, anti-stem cell research... Giannetti will find a comfortable seat in the right wing of the party along with Alex Mooney and Andy Harris.

Truly dispicable.

Why do you say "anti-stem cell research" when he's only against putting other people's tax money behind the failed embryonic stem cell research?

Do you have any evidence that he is against adult stem cell research, which is so successful it is getting all the private funding needed?

And why do you say anti-choice when you mean anti-abortion? Because abortion is the only choice Leftists approve of. They don't want you to choose schools via vouchers, or choose to carry licensed concealed firearms, or choose to manage a portion of your own Social Security funds, and on and on and on...

The Democratic Party has the poster child for party switchers- that Senator fella from Connecticut. Its nice that the Post is giving some focus to a state senate race. But what about the race for Montgomery County Executive? The Post has crowned Leggett who received the votes of ll% of the electorate in the Primary. Robin Ficker has Property Tax Relief signs on over a thousand yard in Montgomery County. Leggett led the fight to increase the county income tax 20%, wants to increase the gasoline tax 50% and sent out a countywide mailing opposing the property tax limit in the county. I have a strong feeling that if Ficker had Property Tax Increase on his signs the Post would have given that race at least some coverage since September l2.

and on Saturday, most of us received a robocall asking if we would support a write-in campaign for Moe, an incumbent delegate who lost.

I didn't get called about Moe, but I most definitely did get a call to ask my impressions of Rosapepe, Gianetti, Stafford, Ehrlich, and O'Malley. I was wondering why I was being asked about Gianetti at the time, but now I know.

Giannetti will make a great addition to the Republican party. To say he isn't a moderate Hoco just makes you sound stupid. I'm amused that the Democrats are so worked up...PJ Hogan switched the other way and you guys were fine with that. Ever heard of the term selective indignation?

Giannetti always worked for his district regardless of the power structure. In College Park he was instrumental in getting improved lighting near the Metro and path to it which had been a crime hotspot. He was chided in private by Democrats for doing that and working with a Republican Governor, but he did what was in the interest of his voters--what a travesty.

Rosapepe calling anyone a sore loser is about the most comical thing ever. Rosapepe has been whining about Giannetti these last four years ever since he lost. What's he ever really done for the district? Voted on tuition matters and busted on Giannetti for having tailgates? Wupdido.

Sorry Bryan, you're wrong. Rosapepe didn't lose to Giannetti. Giannetti beat Art Dorman. Rosapepe wasn't even running. Get your facts straight next time.

I attended a candidate forum in which Gianetti and his slate participated and Rosapepe was absent. When he was introduced he attempted to engage the audience with a question that sought a collective positive response, along the lines of "Yes Senator" or some such, I don't remember the details. The question was met with utter silence. My take was that the audience instantly saw through the ploy as fake and patronizing. His style and demeanor left the impression that he had been reading too many cheap motivational books.

At the conclusion, as other candidates mingled with the audience, I noticed him standing alone and thought it instructive. This party change seems more about serving his ego, than serving the public. I hope he is right when he says he thinks there is room for a moderate in the Republican Party, but just because there is a gap in the market, doesn't mean there is a market in the gap.

Now Robin Ficker is calling himself "Laurie". Interesting that Ficker started out as a Democrat, became a Republican, and now says he's an Independent. What next, Robin? Whig? Tory?

Anti-stupid-so-called-"Assault Weapon Bans" does not make someone "pro-assault weapon" (whatever those are). "Anti-choice?" What anti-abortion bill did he introduce during his term? Oh yeah, NONE. Anti-stem cell? If supporting a stem cell funding bill that passed into law is "anti-stem cell," then I guess you're right.

I wish Gianetti luck, but also wish he ran as an independent. Comments like the ones I referred to illustrate why it is harder and harder for political moderates to stay in the MD Democratic Party.

Regardless of his positions on assault weapons, stem cells, and the freedom of choice, I think we can all agree than switching parties because you lost your primary is self serving bulls**t. He was at Jack Johnson and Martin O'Malley events all summer, all democrat all the time.

He found a loophole in the sore loser law. In the SORE LOSER LAW, people. We can all agree that that's a fact.

Most people who whine about "assault weapons" don't even know what the term really means. It is a good way for them to display their ignorance, though.

Leggett who was chairman of the state Democratic party and who was rejected by Kathleen Kennedy and Mayor Martin as their running mates is now calling himself an "independent." What is next? John Bircher?

Now Robin Ficker is calling himself "Waldrop". He can't even think up an original comment, so he is appropriating mine. He was close to tears at the NARFE event yesterday. And he told that smae tired lie about being the first general counsel for the National Caucus on the Black Aged. There's no record that Ficker ever had any connection with them.

Anybody who doesnt recognize this as Gianetti making a desperate ploy to maintain power is just not seeing things straight. How can you call it fair when Gianetti runs under a Democratic platform for a full term, and then suddenly circumstances change and he loses, so now he is a Republican. Stop treating politics like a business, and bring back some morals to it.
The district Gianetti is running in is one of the most liberal areas of the state. He simply misrepresents the views of his constituents, and thats that. No worries though, we all know he has zero chance at beating out Rosapepe- an honorable member of the Board of Regents who has championed for more education funding and has strong connections in the statehouse.

You Democrat establishment shills have got it all wrong. Do the political math here. As long as Giannetti retains his Dem primary voters, plus adds GOP voters and most independents, factoring in the higher general election turnout, he handily beats Rosapepe November 7th. Case closed.

But Gianetti ISN'T going to retain his Democratic supporters, as the comments above indicate. If the logic you advocate held true, we'd see a lot of party-switching by failed candidates at every level, and they'd all win. People don't like losing candidates who aren't gracious, and I expect a LOT of Republican voters will see Gianetti as a johnny-come-lately who doesn't appeal to them at all.

Here's the math: Giannetti won 3880 votes in the Democratic primary and the sole Republican candidate won 1566. Summed, those are 5446 votes that Giannetti can hope for, which are decisively beaten by the 5835 votes that Rosapepe won in the primary. And that calculation assumes that every Democrat who voted for Giannetti in the primary will place personal loyalty to Giannetti ahead of their allegiance to the Democratic party, which of course won't happen. Thousands of Democrats who voted for Giannetti in the primary will vote for the Democratic candidate, Rosapepe, in the general election, so Giannetti can expect another landslide defeat. That he seems to expect otherwise shows the degree of his egomania.

By all accounts, John Giannetti is a good and honorable man. If he were not, we would not be having this debate right now because Rosapepe would be pusing up daisies not far from a certain restaurant in Annapolis. Has everyone forgotten that Giannetti saved this man's life, even at a time when Rosapepe was casting baseless and scurrilous comments about him to anyone who would listen? According to the Washingtonpost, afterwards there was even talk by Md. senators about passing a law making it illegal to run negative campaigns against someone who saved your life. Regardless of the way the democratic establishment sees Giannetti on national issues such as assualt weapons and stem cell (both of which have been shaefully mischaracterized by his opponent), he has done more for his district and his constituents in four years than any other senator in memory (including Rosapepe's good friend Art Dorman). I hope, for once, the voters reward the most deserving candidate, regardless of party affiliation. This democrat, at least, is voting for Giannetti!