A Notable Absence
There were several white-haired former governors in attendance in Annapolis at yesterday's State of the State address by Gov. Martin O'Malley (D): Marvin Mandel (D), Harry Hughes (D) and Parris N. Glendening (D). Absent, however, was William Donald Schaefer (D).
When asked why he didn't attend the speech, Schaefer said he had not been invited.
"I didn't even know it was going to be today," the retired political legend said from his Anne Arundel County home. "I didn't get an invitation. ..... They may have forgotten to give me one."
But O'Malley spokesman Rick Abbruzzese said that Schaefer was invited -- and that he responded "no" the day after the invitations were sent. out.
Regardless, there was no love lost between O'Malley and Schaefer.
"We haven't been what you would call 'friendly' for a number of years," Schaefer said. "We've never counseled each other."
Also absent was a still-brown-haired former governor, Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. (R). Ehrlich was invited, but told O'Malley aides that he had a "scheduling conflict."
For more from the event, see this State House Snapshot.
-- Philip Rucker
By
Anne Bartlett
|
January 24, 2008; 9:39 AM ET
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Posted by: Anonymous | January 24, 2008 2:17 PM | Report abuse
Ehrlich no doubt had better things to do than listen to O'Malley praising his $1.4B tax increase which coincides with his 5.7% ($1.5B) increase in spending.
Posted by: Fleeced by O'Malley | January 24, 2008 6:58 PM | Report abuse
There was probably a scheduling conflict with Erlich's hair-dresser. Gotta keep that hair "brown"!
Posted by: R U Dreaming | January 24, 2008 7:08 PM | Report abuse
Bobby will take the hair wise-cracks all day long but at least you can't tag him with the title of "the Maryland Governor that implemented the largest tax increase in history". Given the choice between the two, he's happy with "Hairspray".
Posted by: Anonymous | January 25, 2008 7:17 PM | Report abuse
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Also absent were the almost 4 million Marylanders who will have to send their Pelosi-Bush rebate checks to Annapolis. Taxes were raised to fuel $1.8 billion in new spending.