"And the money came largely from some of the most reliable Democratic donors--unions and trial lawyers."

It's funny how Democrats claim they're FOR civil liberties but fail to realize that trial lawyers are actually the biggest threat to civil liberties.

There's no doubt that O'Malley must be running scared as he's enlisiting help from anyone that has a Republican axe to grind. The relentless attack ads mention NOTHING about his plans for leadership-because there are none other than being a rubber stamp for the General Assembly.

It's funny how GOPers think that they're the only one allowed to attack. It's the "bully" party, punch back and they cry to mommy.

Kane saw "strong evidence" of coordination. In GOPerspeak, that means the ads say bad things about Bobby.

What's the judgment of the Post's John Wagner, since he's seen the donor list, on whether there appears to be any evidence of coordination between the campaign and this 527 group?

If someone who worked for O'Malley in 1999 and apparently is not involved in the campaign today is the evidence of coordination, this sounds like nothing more than another Republican attempt to smear the other side.

And it's O'Malley accusing Ehrlich of being supported by the "special interests"

As Doc Holliday says, "Why, it appears my hypocrosy knows no bounds..."

I think it is disgusting that the unions for teachers and public employees are funding this effort. Shouldn't those funds be going towards our retirement benefits, which are shrinking? As both a drawer on these funds and a taxpayer, public employee unions should be barred from contributing any money to campaigns. They can run debates, list pros and cons to each candidate for their constituents, but should not give obscene amounts of money for slanderous TV ads. And I'm a registered democrat.

On a related note, the lefty Wash Post editorial page today endorsed the Democrat Cardin against Mike Steele.

Big surprise, who'd have thought...what are the odds....

Everybody hates lawyers until they need one.

Lawyers are our last line of defense against injustice.

Union money on the left is used to combat corporate money on the right.

All of you Republicans on this list that smell conspiracy every time one of yours is attacked are the epitomy of hypocrisy. Where were you during the swiftboaters attacks through their 527, where have you been over the last 10 years every time a rightwing 527 attacked a democrat falsely, when talk radio freaks like Limbaugh, O'Reilly, and Hannity sprew their partisan crap every day on an allegedly "non-partisan" mews media.

Just for the record, because a person or an organization gave to a candidate or a party, as well as a 527 is not evidence of coordination. If it were, then 2/3rds of the Republican party would be in jail right now (as compare to reality which is 1/3rd).

I love that Kane is throwing out unsubstantiated claims about coordination and illegality. What a smart guy. I'll bet he can also find OBL and WMD. What won't a Republican candidate say or do to stay in office?

JD - "surprised"? What the heck has Michael Steele done for MD anyway? Should we all vote for him as a "protest vote" against "insider" Cardin? That's silly, but actually not such a long shot for our state since Ehrlich only got elected as a protest against the idiocy that was Townsend (with her Glendenning taint).

I've come across NO convincing evidence that an overwhelming majority of Marylanders actually liked or preferred Ehrlich - he just wasn't Townsend. And Glendenning got in years ago partially because he wasn't Sauerbrey...

I am not a fan of Ehrlich but I fail to believe that there was no coordination with O'Malley campaign even if it was through friends of friends. You can bet that the O'Malley campaign knew of what was going to be aired and more than likely signed off on it.

Troy,

No offense, but if you are not such a fan of Ehrlich, then why are you repeated Kane's completely unsubstantiated claims?

Neither you, nor Kane, Ehrlich, or the Md Republican Party have presented any proof whatsoever.

Maritza, do you hate all blacks? Or just those who are successful males? (Sorry, I was channeling the liberal race card playas there for a second. Let me switch back to sanity mode. There.)

I find it interesting that the Washington Post would hold themselves out as an objective, neutral arbiter of candidate worthiness, then for whatever reason, endorse virtually every Democrat on the menu. Not that they don't have the right to do it, but rather that they should be better disclosed as an organ of the Democratic Party.

Think of it this way, other than Tom Davis, what Republican has WaPo ever endorsed? They hate George Allen for whatever reason, it's a good bet that O'Malley's got their vote, hell, they even went with Carter over Reagan, and gave a 'no decision' in Bush 1.0 vs Dukakis.

The only halfway conservative position they ever take is for school choice, and even that support is tepid. Otherwise, the paper is against tort reform, NSA surveillance, gun rights, lowering taxes, we could go on and on.

Again, not to say that they can't do this; just that you must realize that the positions of the paper cannot be trusted, which is why I cancelled my subscription.

JD,

You forgot the Iraq War, which the Post's editorial board (separate from its news pages)thoroughly supported.

Waa-waa-waa!!!

The champion of down and dirty politics gets a dose of medicine.

What's that old saying about heat and the kitchen?

Get over yourself, Kane!

The subhead for this post on the front page (under the Md. Moment News & Blogs head) reads: Who's Anti-Ehrlich Ads Are Those?

Should be "Whose ... Ads" unless you're taking the full head from this blog post: "Who's Paying for ..."

Just how do trial lawyers threaten civil liberties? Seems the Bush administration does that more than anyone. The term "trial lawyer" is so vague and applies to do many different kinds of practices. I never understand why it is thrown around in such a deragatory way. Many trial lawyers do very, very good work, even if some do not--which is true of ANY profession.

JD: When puppies become a big issue for the Senate, you can lead the "draft Michael Steele" campaign. Until then, Marylanders should be pleased to have the eminently competent Ben Cardin serve as their newest senator.

To JD, The Chicago Tribune has rountinely endorsed Republican Candidates since the turn of the last century (19th). No one has ever accused it of being an arm of the Republican Party. Other examples abound. The Post has again endorsed John Warner in his last two bids. It even endorsed Spiro back in the day (due to very complicated circumstances, a racist from the Eastern Shore won the Democratic nomination). However, ejnjoy your new Times subscription.
To Waster: What's slanderous about Erlich runing Maryland the way Bush runs America? This is not a good thing? Please elaborate.

BTW, for all those GOP-bots who hate lawyers, Your boy Bob is an ATTORNEY!!!!

I guess he must be one of the GOOD ones!

What hypocrites!

Forgot to mention, Mr. Steele would also be an attorney, but he couldn't pass the bar!

Guess he couldn't grasp the issues.

The Maryland Fund?

Is that anything like The Human Fund??

Loudon Voter: You should be more concerned with your own Senate race. We have enough lefties north of the border.

....and the SF Chronicle endorsed Arnold. Those biased liberals and with their San Francisco values know no shame.

Steele said he can think for himself, that's a laugh. I bet he ask an advisor can he laugh at my comment.

BG From PG: I'm concerned about your race because the Senate doesn't need an unqualified lightweight like Mike Steele.

Have you asked Mike to return all contributions he's received from out of state? I didn't think so.

A Hardwick uses a good example re: the Chicago Tribune. Interesting parallel. They are very community minded because they own The Chicago Cubs, which barely (maybe) break even. It's such a community project that the cubs don't even own their own TV rights, which is one of the reasons that they lose money each year.

This is a classic case of how GOP oriented organizations are pure and civic minded.

Oh, by the way, while the Cubs don't own their TV rights, those very profitable rights are owned by....wait for it....
The Tribune Corporation.

What I find most amusing in this round of elections is the high-pitched squealing and whining coming from the Republican party. Apparently, the GOP suffers from short-term memory loss. Apparently, the GOP forgets that IT is the party of dirty politics. The GOP has spent the better part of the last 14 years trying to bring down every Democrat that it goes up against with every dirty trick in the book. Do Republicans really forget that Bush and Rove called South Carolina registered voters just days before their 2000 primary and told the voters that John McCain had fathered an illegitimate black child? Do Republicans really forget that they wasted 8 years and millions upon millions of taxpayers' money trying to bring down Bill Clinton?

Yet, Republicans are the first ones to start whining and crying when they are hit with a negative ad. Unbelievable!!!!! The irony is so thick one can cut it with a knife!!!!!

Perhaps the most amusing thing about Ehrlich whining and crying about being compared to Bush is also what's so amusing about Michael Steele's campaign: That they are ashamed of their own party and want to get as far away from any association to the GOP as they possibly can!!!!!! Talk about your cutting and running!!!!!!!

Well, Messrs. Ehrlich and Steele, welcome to politics in Maryland. It's a grand old Democratic state, full of proud Democrats. Come November 8, we'll send Karl Rove over to the State House to help you clean out your desks.

Quote eminently competent Ben Cardin unquote. Yeah, that's how he looks from Loudoun County in VA. I am one of his constituents, and let me tell you, up close he doesn't look so hot at all. His constituent services suck. I started out supporting him until I saw how he did the absolute bare minimum for me. I'm just a constituent, after all, not a big contributor. I think he might have done a little more than write a letter to the wrong governemnt agency for me if I'd shelled out bucks to his campaign.

I believe it is incredibly iresponsible to suggest that anyone other than the Democratic General Assembly and the former Governor Spendenning is responsible for the 72% electric increase. Put the blame where it should be with the career politicians in Annapolis and their leaders, especially the House Speaker, the inept Michael Busch