http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/ Recent blog posts from Strange Bedfellows on ExploreBaltimoreCounty.com en-us 2009 The Baltimore Sun Media Group, All Rights Reserved. smekosh@baltimoresun.com (Technical Help) http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/338/pardon-the-brain-cramp/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/338/pardon-the-brain-cramp/ Sorry for the delay I was out of town yesterday. Here's the audio from my weekly chat with Maryland's Morning News anchor Bill Vanko on WBAL AM 1090 where we talked about Mike Pappas, tanning beds and three councilmen who want to be County Council chairman. One small correction. Larry... Fri, 06 Nov 2009 09:45:44 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/337/pappas-ends-run-for-governor/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/337/pappas-ends-run-for-governor/ Mike Pappas, a Perry Hall resident and Towson attorney, said Wednesday he has ended his bid for the Republican nomination for governor. Pappas announced in December that he was going to seek the nomination. Since then, he has spent time traveling and meeting Republicans around the state. At the time,... Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:51:37 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/333/furlough-watch-del-todd-schuler/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/333/furlough-watch-del-todd-schuler/ Del. Todd Schuler returned five days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. Schuler, a first-term Democrat who represents the 8th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. The 8th District includes... Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:51:34 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/332/furlough-watch-del-pat-mcdonough/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/332/furlough-watch-del-pat-mcdonough/ Del. Pat McDonough returned five days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. McDonough, a two-term Republican who represents the 7th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. The 7th District includes... Mon, 02 Nov 2009 18:15:27 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/335/pension-issue-must-be-addressed/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/335/pension-issue-must-be-addressed/ Another County Councilman is weighing in on the issue of possible pension reforms for council members. Bryan McIntire, the council's lone Republican, said he believes the current council will have to confront the issue. "It's out there," said McIntire, who represents the 3rd district, including Parkton, part of Cockeysville, and... Mon, 02 Nov 2009 12:45:03 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/336/the-quote-wall-don-murphy/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/336/the-quote-wall-don-murphy/ Here's the first of what I hope will be a regular feature on some of the funny, ironic and interesting things said in the world of politics. "It's like being on an airplane when those oxygen masks drop down from the ceiling. You put your mask on first and then... Fri, 30 Oct 2009 18:42:51 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/331/hutchinson-pensions-a-no-win-situation/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/331/hutchinson-pensions-a-no-win-situation/ The current controversy about pensions for County Council members is a no-win scenario regardless of what the council may or may not do in the way of reform, according to former County Executive Don Hutchinson. "There's no way they can win on it," Hutchinson said, adding that voters would likely... Fri, 30 Oct 2009 11:34:35 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/328/preserving-the-mystery/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/328/preserving-the-mystery/ Two weeks ago I wrote that Al Redmer is close to announcing a return to  politics and is considering a run for the 7th District Senate seat held by Republican Sen. Andy Harris. Redmer sent an e-mail to supporters Monday, alerting them to a "no-cost, campaign kick-off" event on Nov.... Thu, 29 Oct 2009 18:01:59 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/330/bumped/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/330/bumped/ It may have been a little confusing if you tuned in to WBAL 1090 AM  this morning at 7:39 expecting to hear my weekly chat about county politics but heard Bill Frist. You were just a few minutes late. Paper covers rock, rock breaks scissors and a Republican former Senate... Thu, 29 Oct 2009 12:20:55 EST http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/324/furlough-watch-sen-norman-stone/ http://www.explorebaltimorecounty.com/blog/politics/324/furlough-watch-sen-norman-stone/ Sen. Norman Stone returned four days of his $43,500 annual legislative salary late last year. Stone, an 11-term Democrat who represents the 6th District, released documents showing he participated in a furlough program requested by House Speaker Michael Busch and Senate President Thomas V. Mike Miller. The 6th District includes... Thu, 29 Oct 2009 08:44:59 EST