There are a couple of news stories that caught my attention upon which, in my mind, the media should really place more focus. It’s not so much the story’s relevance, it is the fact there are certain stories that make me feel better about me as a person.
An item that picked up a little traction was a viral video posted on YouTube featuring New York Senator Charles Schumer waving to Snookie, a cast member of “Jersey Shore,” in the terminal at Ronald Reagan Airport near Washington, DC. Despite trying to get her attention, Senator Schumer found himself unable to compete with younger (and only partially better-looking) fans who believe that, as far as the pop culture portion of the public eye is concerned, Snookie is as good as it gets.
There is the moment in the video where one of what I am presuming are Snookie’s bodyguards asks Snookie if she knew her Senator was waving to her. Like many young people, she is so engrossed in thinking about that question that she plays with her mobile device.
Snookie, of course, does not bother to answer. In her defense, she probably does not even know what a Senator is. She probably thinks the Senator is a new brand of press-on nails or even a distant cousin to The Situation. Plus, I have been more than tempted to ignore some of my local elected officials when they wanted my attention for one reason or another. I’m not sure they would remember, though. Thanks to this past election cycle, I’m sure they are used to being blown off.
Why does this story make me feel better about myself? I really don’t care enough about “Jersey Shore” to wave to any cast member. Now I could care enough to trip Snookie or The Situation.
Speaking of wishing I was not bothered by elected officials, this brings me to the red meat of my submission. Since I posted my thoughts about this subject last year, District 7 Delegate Rick Impallaria told me, in fact, took the time to read my article, which he only found because he entered his name on the Google News alert, which emails him every time an article mentioning his name is published. I figure this is a good time to get him to read another article of mine. Hi, Rick!
Here is another thing happening since the publication of last year’s article. Delegate Pat McDonough has been outdoing himself in a way that only he can. Inspired by Arizona’s immigration law, Delegate McDonough now wants to have a similar law take effect in the State of Maryland. Ah, yes. The border state of Maryland is constantly under threat from foreign invaders. Virginia was a part of the Confederate States of America, which took up arms against soldiers wearing the uniform of the United States Army! Even West Virginia was a part of this treasonous activity before it decided to separate from Virginia. Go for it, Pat! Save us from these invaders to our south! You will be my new hero! And while we’re at it, let’s look at the illegal Amish coming in from Pennsylvania! Isn’t it great that we have a Pat McDonough to help us address these pressing issues?
Of course, my major concern is that the sarcasm in the previous paragraph comes through. There is no way to sugar-coat this one. Pat McDonough is The Delegate Who Cries “Wolf Without a Green Card!”
In the past couple of years, Delegate McDonough has criticized the federal government more times than I have yelled at my television during an Orioles game. So it makes perfect sense to me that he is now introducing the Federal Law Enforcement Act. Not only will this bill “provide intelligence, training, and financial assistance from the federal government from the burden of prosecution and incarceration,” it pretty much hands control of local and state matters over to the federal government! Yes, the same federal government that Delegate McDonough feels is wasting resources and warranted the Arizona immigration law that he supported in the first place. Waving a white flag on the State’s right to defend herself against non-English speakers, Delegate?
Another pet project of Delegate McDonough’s is a tax day protest. This may seem commonplace in today’s society, but this one caught my eye in particular because of the name of the protest. This protest has been deemed by McDonough as the No Unnecessary Taxes Protest, or as he’s thoughtfully called it: the NUT Tax Protest. He even provides an eye catching first line (Are You a N.U.T.?) on his press release that can be found on his website.
“Are You a N.U.T.?” Whenever someone tells me that they support McDonough and his varying stances on issues, I often pose that same question.
These questions are not entirely unfounded. I mercifully skewered him in a previous submission to The Dagger (I say mercifully because I didn’t write the piece in a foreign language so he wouldn’t have an aneurysm trying translate), but now I have to take him to task for a couple of notable factual inaccuracies in his NUT Tax Day post. He mentions how Governor O’Malley needs to work with Republicans in the state legislature by noting how this was done in one other state. When he writes about Minnesota’s legislature acting in the best interests of the taxpayers, he writes, “Democratic Governor Pawlenty joined with Republicans in the State Legislature to defeat a 5 billion dollar tax increase that would cost the average Minnesota family up to an extra $500 a year.”
Delegate McDonough, I don’t know if you know this, but being a Republican, you should know that former Governor Tim Pawlenty is a member of the Republican Party. I’m guessing that is why he worked so well with the Republicans in the State Legislature on the budget. Way to find an act of reaching across party lines when, in fact, there was none.
You don’t have to take my word for it. Just look at the fact that he was not only a strong McCain-Palin supporter at the Republican National Convention in 2008 and is one of the 2012 Republican Presidential hopefuls. Now, I know you stated in a speech to the Reform Party Convention in 1996 that you were a Democrat because you were afraid of having your electricity cut off, but that doesn’t mean that all elected officials who have an “R” next to their name ever had that same fear.
By the way, Delegate McDonough, you also said in that 1996 speech that you support terms limits for yourself and other elected officials. How is that coming along?
McDonough then goes on to write that “Minnesota is a unique state because it has three major political parties – the Democratic Party, the Republican Party, and the Democrat Farmer Labor Party.” Wrong.
Minnesota does have three active political parties. They are the Republican Party, the Independence Party, and the Democratic-Farmer-Labor (DFL) Party. The DFL was formed when the Democratic and the Farmer-Labor Parties in the state of Minnesota merged. Democratic candidates listed on the ballot in the State of Minnesota are often referred to as “DFLers.” The Independents in Minnesota had a successful candidate for Governor in 1998 in the person of Jesse Ventura. In 2002, Governor Ventura appointed his budget director, Dean Barkley, to finish off the remaining term of U.S. Senator Paul Wellstone, who died in a plane crash days before. Barkley even gained enough votes in the 2008 election to have the Republican and Democratic candidates, Norm Coleman and Al Franken, split their vote 42-42, with Franken emerging as a close winner.
By the way, Governor Pawlenty is a Republican. I know I mentioned that before, but I just feel I had to mention that. People like McDonough seem to remember stuff if it is repeated. Simple stuff, too, I’ve noticed. “Governor Pawlenty is a Republican” can even fit on a bumper sticker!
Now, I don’t expect much of my elected officials, but I do expect them to do research.
Delegate McDonough wrote in his tax day proposal he would like to meet N.U.T.s to take part in his protest. I don’t know if they would like to take part in his protest, but I invite Delegate McDonough to meet two NUTs that I have known for a very long time. I sincerely hope he will greet both of them with a big kiss. If certain sects of Tea Partiers are warning Americans to “Tea Bag the Liberal Dems Before They Tea Bag You,” then I might as well give them something to fear. The sight of my N.U.T.s going to a tax protest should instill a reasonable amount of fear in people of all political stripes. Who says nothing can bring Republicans and Democrats together?
While I did not always agree with your point of view I used to think you were a decent guy. Since your defeat in the last election you seem to take pleasure insulting those that do not share your political point of view. You have resorted to name calling and vulgar references that do nothing to support any legitimate argument you attempt to make. Your trying to be cute only works against you. You are truly damaging your reputation by writing these types of editorials. Think about what you are doing!
Once again, the voters of Harford County can look toward the sky and thank God that they didn’t elect this guy. If this is his idea of comedy, can you imagine how he would handle being a member of the school board?
I don’t know much about McDonough other than what I’ve read in his own words. I don’t know much about Myers other than what I’ve read in his own words. In both cases, I felt as if I’ve wasted my time.
Way to go to the lowest common denominator. Nothing makes your point more inciteful than vulgar references. Give me a break. It seems to be the basic gameplan of the Left – vitriol, disrespect, & inappropriate language. I see it all the time on blogs, social media sites, media, etc. So sad. When a conversation/argument sinks to that level, usually that side of the conversation/argument is losing. If you can’t make your point without being rude, crass, and/or disrespectful then your point probably isn’t worth making.
Mr Myers’ rant reminds me of a elementry school kid. If you’re mad @ someone and can’t make a resonable argument just start name calling and yelling.I happen to agree with a lot of what Del. McDonough says and since times are so tough for a lot of us I think the government should spend our limited resourses on Maryland citizens not illegals (or New Americans??? as our Governor likes to call them).I assume Mr. Myers would like to open our borders to everyone and let American citizens pay the bill.
When I first read the article, I was thinking, who is this guy . . . he seems to be very angry and perhaps an offspring of Keith Obberman (not sure the spelling is correct – the nut who use to be on MSNBC before he was canned). After reading some of the posts . . . I went AH, this is the guy who lost an election (thank God). This kind does not need to be in any elected position.
In regards to Delegate McDonough, I am glad to have him in Annapolis to bring attention to the many things, including the illegal alien problems this state is having (crime, medical and social costs, etc.). I am not totally heartless, and understand the plight of the people who are here illegally. However, it is common knowledge among those who enter this country illegally that they will receive benefits regardless of their status (and in some cases treated quicker and better by social service agencies than its own own citizens). That’s why they are still trying to sneak in at the risk of getting caught. If you research it (in an unbias process) you will find that the tax burden for Marylanders is much more than the taxes that come in from those “New Americans” (as O’Malley puts it) working in this state (and country) illegally. In fact, if you look at the numbers you will find that the cost of illegals in this state is an amount close to that which the state is in the hole for. But for those in Annapolis, it’s all about votes.
KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK PAT ! ! ! As for the author of the above piece, don’t waste your time.
In what sort of case would a social service agency treat an illegal quicker and better than a citizen? Please be specific about the agency and type of case.
Ugh, another miserable, unfunny Myers column. Anyone notice how The Dagger really cut back on how often they run Myers’ stuff?
Tom, they’re on to you. I bet you marketed yourself to them as a brilliant comedian/writer, and they fell for it. But with each passing column (not to mention your Board of Education debacle), you become more and more exposed as a fraud and an intellectual midget.
Pull the plug on this guy, Dagger. He’s barely fit to run a Slurpee machine.
And he’s got nothing on Snooki.
“Terrance” (doubt that is your real name)~
Major difference between you and myself: People know who I am whereas even when I called you out to tell everyone who you are, you chickened out and still continue to hide behind some anonymous screen name. (Here, kitty kitty kitty …)
As for the number of columns I submit (which are satirical in nature, by the way), The Dagger has not rejected a single one. I submit only when I have something to write. As to why I don’t submit on a regular bases, it is because I, unlike some people on this forum (ahem), have a life beyond my computer.
I think among the funniest things on this post are the number of people whose criticisms are based on lack of substance. You may not like my dislike of Delegate McDonough’s politics (although I still refer to him as a Delegate because he has been elected to that position), but no one has been able to come out and refute (or should I use the word “refudiate” so you can understand it better?)any statement I have made in this article or in the article about McDonough and Impallaria I submitted a year ago. You may look at Delegate McDonough and love him, I look at him and see a racist, obnoxious blowhard.
In other words, negative commentators, keep up the good work. I appreciate you showing everyone how much better I look when they have someone else for comparison.
~TOM
I really like the satirical nature of Tim Myers writing style. That is precisely what this paper is supposed to have; an edge. If you want bland and onethink postings read the Aegis.
I really like the satirical nature of Tim Myers writing style. That is precisely what this paper is supposed to have; an edge. If you want bland and onethink postings read the Aegis.
Ha.. refudiate!! I get it Tom. Conservatives are dumb. and apparently progressives are unoriginal.
By the way. Love the profile pic. Did you get that done at the local police station? Looks like a mug shot. Seriously, get a new pic. You look bewildered.
At least I have a pic. I took a photo and played with it using Microsoft Paint.
Judging from the lack of a pic, I’m guessing you have a face made for an anonymous profile pic.
And apparently, you are both dumb and unoriginal.
Read up on the proper usage of reflexive pronouns, Tom: http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com/myself-grammar.aspx . You misuse them frequently.
I meant Tom.
Um, there’s an edge and then there’s falling off of it!!!
“Democratic Governor Pawlenty joined with Republicans in the State Legislature to defeat a 5 billion dollar tax increase that would cost the average Minnesota family up to an extra $500 a year.”
“REPUBLICAN Governor Pawlenty joined with the DEMOCRATS in the State Legislature to defeat a 5 billion dollar tax increase that would cost the average Minnesota family up to an extra $500 a year.”
There, now it is right. Minnesota is a blue state and you can tell by their legislature. When T-Paw was governor he had to work with Democrats, and he was able to move Minnesota forward in a conservative direction despite having the minority.
Tom, I really wish you would leave your protective bubble and come to Fells Point and see what goes on in this state. Any one with a foot hold in reality who writes for a news/op ed blog takes the time to fact check….. Not only are there illegals here but The good Gov. has given them the green light to get driver licenses. A lot of the illegals are in gangs like MS13 to name one but there are others….If you had to compete with them to get work or lost your job because they work cheaper then most people do……I am all for people coming here just do it the right way….
Nice to hear from you, Brett!
Not trying to minimize the issue with illegal immigrants. The article is about a state delegate who uses his flip-flops on his ideas of the role of the federal government and mistruths that he has told to justify his own bigotry.
And yes, I do fact check.
From your article:
” Now, I know you stated in a speech to the Reform Party Convention in 1996 that you were a Democrat because you were afraid of having your electricity cut off, but that doesn’t mean that all elected officials who have an “R” next to their name ever had that same fear.”
The real language was
“I am a Republican, I used to be a Democrat. Where I was born, if you were a Republican, they’d turn your gas and electric off. But I will tell you this, both Democrats and Republicans are playing games with Campaign finance reform.”
The correct language to use here would be the past perfect tense, and say Pat “had been” a Democrat in the past, implying that he was not always, or at the time of the writing, a Democrat.
I’m just saying- I know your writing is bad, but not bad enough to overlook misleading statements about facts.
Now, I wanted your statement to be correct. I really did. I wanted to find dirt on Pat McDonough. However, it didn’t stack up. The remainder of this piece can be found here: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MarylandR&showFullAbstract=1
And Pat starts at about the 2:10:20 mark on that tape.
From your article:
” Now, I know you stated in a speech to the Reform Party Convention in 1996 that you were a Democrat because you were afraid of having your electricity cut off, but that doesn’t mean that all elected officials who have an “R” next to their name ever had that same fear.”
The real language was
“I am a Republican, I used to be a Democrat. Where I was born, if you were a Republican, they’d turn your gas and electric off. But I will tell you this, both Democrats and Republicans are playing games with Campaign finance reform.”
The correct language to use here would be the past perfect tense, and say Pat “had been” a Democrat in the past, implying that he was not always, or at the time of the writing, a Democrat.
I’m just saying- I know your writing is bad, but not bad enough to overlook misleading statements about facts.
Now, I wanted your statement to be correct. I really did. I wanted to find dirt on Pat McDonough. However, it didn’t stack up. The remainder of this piece can be found on the following video:
And Pat starts at about the 2:10:20 mark on that tape.
http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/MarylandR&showFullAbstract=1
c-spanvideo.org/program/MarylandR&showFullAbstract=1
Add a www. before this
Tom – you made me laugh. Great op-ed piece! I would star you if we could do that on The Dagger. I know you realize that you have brought the wrath of members of the “Tea *cough* Party” upon you. Good luck…. Hope your electricity stays on.
“I invite Delegate McDonough to meet two NUTs that I have known for a very long time. I sincerely hope he will greet both of them with a big kiss.”
Honestly Tom. Testicle jokes? That type of humor hardly befits a man of your stature and education. You’re too smart for those types of things.
That sounds like the ramblings of some goofy grave-yard shift 7-11 clerk screaming about Glenn Beck while filling up the hot dog machine.
By the way. Don’t forget to fill up the hot dog machine tonight.
The hot dog “machine” is not my responsibility tonight. I have the evening off. 🙂
It’s called a pun, Fatty. Don’t forget to buy a dictionary.
The hot dog “machine” is not my responsibility tonight. I have the evening off. 🙂
Oh. It must be some other failure working the counter tonight.
My mistake.
As opposed to some failure who doesn’t have the NUTs to say these things to me directly, opting instead to sit behind a keyboard and use an anonymous username?
From behind my keyboard. At my desk. At a real job.
Yes. This is where I type from.
Nice to see you admitting I actually do work at my job whereas you troll anonymously. If you’re trying to quell my ego, it’s not working. Sorry.
That’s the best compliment I can honestly give you Tom.
You are unflappable. No matter how badly you bomb on stage, or how many groans you get from the countless audiences you’ve bored to tears you keep coming like it never happened.
That quality will serve you well in your transition from failed comedian into a failed political pundit.
Also. If you’re just going to keep giving my posts thumbs downs I’m going to do the same to yours.
Yeah, how dare I not do well at open mics, where statistically there are more comics than audience members in the crowd, and get positive results from the professional shows I’ve done whre I’ve gotten a paycheck. One would think that’s exactly how I’m supposed to do comedy.
As to your posts, I’m not the one giving them a thumbs-down. However, the fact that they are written by a snob such as yourself is, to some extent, giving them a thumbs down.
If open mics are mostly comedians, shouldn’t you at least get sympathy laughs? Because you don’t even get them.
Paid gigs? Has anyone ever paid to see you on purpose?
Maybe if you ditched the Richard Lewis act that no one laughed at in the 80’s and went on wearing a big red clown nose and funny shoes you’d do better.
Actually, at open mics, comics by nature are designed to look over their notes before they go on, so they don’t pay attention to whomever is on stage. In cities like NY or LA, they often run off to the next open mic when they’re done. What they are doing is satiating their own ego. Kind of like what you’re doing here.
Have you ever paid to see me? If not, I doubt you are in any position to judge what is is I do.
As for the big red clown nose and funny shoes, I don’t want to steal your act. Maybe you can get Pat McDonough to open for you.
Tom, no one’s EVER paid to see you. The image you’re trying to paint for yourself on this website is the funniest thing you’ve ever done.
I particularly liked your “I have a life” comment. Let’s see here…
– pushing 30 and still living with mother
– working part time at 7-11
– performing open mic “comedy” one night a month in front of 6 people
…Wow, if that’s a life, sign me up! Sounds like a blast. You’re really going places, Tom.
Hey Fatty, I like your style. I’ll treat you to a Slurpee next time Myers is working.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-V6n7kXMjLw
This is the crap you post on youtube? Cream of the crop here.
When is you’re HBO special?
I rest my case.
“Cream of the crop?” Wow, another compliment from my new friend Fatty. In any case, if you’re going to argue with me, use correct grammar. (“your,” not “you’re”)
And “Terrance” (doubt that is your real name)~ Aside from the things that you post about me never having a paid gig are untrue (I can prove what I post here, unlike you), I’m still waiting for you and your new friend Fatty to grow a pair and say these things to me in person.
(Here, kitty kitty kitty …)
Terrance. If the most qualified candidate for Harford county board of education is serving them up, I’m in.
Might even get myself one of those hot dogs.
Hey Tom,
Here’s the most important question you will ever have to answer, what is the best Burrito Roller? Or maybe I should go with the Taquito. Decisions decisions… Keep them both hot for me, I may get both!
You really should take Mickey’s advice and bill yourself as the world’s worst comedian, you wouldn’t even have to change your act!
It looks like you beat me to it.