The Runback: Tight Rope(walk)
It really is the silly season when we're talking about the Governor's entrance, or not, to a bar
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News and Politics
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How I Spent my Summer Vacation
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The Monday Thought
I was on vacation last week (as evidenced above) and it seemed that even though everybody was down at the Maryland Association of Counties Conference last week, it was still a slow news week. Locally.
Which is why this got attention:
State Sen. J.B. Jennings’ annual Ocean City reception is one of the most well-attended events of the Maryland Association of Counties’ summer conference.
The sun-splashed gathering is held at Ropewalk, a Coastal Highway restaurant, and it is one of the most bipartisan and family-friendly events on the MACo social calendar. With free-flowing cocktails and live music, the late-afternoon gathering is held outdoors, and attendees — legislators, lobbyists, governments officials and others — are encouraged to bring their children. They get to enjoy the sand-covered play area.
Last year, Jennings’ event felt like the center of the Maryland political universe, as it served as a coming-out party of sorts for former Lt. Gov. Michael Steele (R). At the time, the former Republican National Committee chair was considering a run for governor. Commerce Secretary Kelly Schulz (R), a potential rival, was there as well, and the two chatted for a while.
Gov. Larry Hogan (R) stopped by last year, and the senator expected him to attend this year’s event, held on Thursday, as well.
By late afternoon, the governor’s security team was in position, one of his State House photographers was in place by the entrance to the party area, and two members of Hogan’s press shop were there.
But Hogan never showed.
According to Jennings, the governor’s plans changed when the restaurant’s owner, Marc McFaul, a supporter of Republican gubernatorial candidate Dan Cox and former President Donald Trump, had a conversation with Hogan’s security detail.
“Marc went out and told his advance team that he didn’t want him there,” Jennings said. “I think Marc was just kidding and giving ‘em a hard time. The thing ballooned more than it was. It escalated because the troopers are pretty serious, and you tell them, ‘I don’t want him here,’ they’re going to take it seriously.”
I mean, what are we really doing here? Is this really a newsworthy story? No, probably not, other than the fact that it involved yet another angle of the Hogan-trying-to-bury-Cox1 story that is prominent among some right now.
What I do know is that you don’t say things to the Govenror’s security detail to make them think the Governor is going into a hostile situation. I don’t care who the Governor is, Democrat or Republican, left or right, you don’t play the fool in that situation. I don’t personally know Marc McFaul. I know that he was a staunch and sane Republican before this episode. I am positive that McFaul has had many interactions with Governors and other security details since Ropewalk opened. But maybe his decision to abandon conservatism and follow Cox into the abyss of insanity has harmed his judgment. I know I wouldn’t put a Cox sign in front of my business. Or house.
But then again, what really is the truth here? The Governor said he wanted a quiet night with the First Lady. Jennings said the Governor was coming. McFaul said he was just blowing off steam. And the security detail said “nope” as soon as McFaul said something.
This is one of those weird political situations where everybody saves a little face because nobody really knows what the truth is.
Either way, let’s hope the election gets no sillier than this. Though with Dan Cox involved, it almost certainly will.
Which would have been more helpful before July 19th, but here we are