Devoted followers of this column know that I am a fan of Chris Cillizza’s the Washington Post column Worst Week in Washington which runs on Sundays in the Outlook section. With apologies to Mr. Cillizza for parodying his column, I would like to issue salutes to those who had the “best week” in Washington and in Maryland last week.

First, to President Obama, who, yes, had the absolutely best week in Washington last week during his State of the Union Address as he zinged the Republicans who joyfully applauded his statement that he had no more campaigns to run (giving those Republicans the second-best Best Week in Washington). But Obama, master orator that he is, delivered the Number One Zinger saying that he’d already won the first two. Excellent job, Mr. President. No, you didn’t have the Best Week in Washington for delivering the best State of the Union Address; merely for delivering the best zinger. 

Now, on to Annapolis, Maryland, where there are several awards for having had the best week…
Hell froze over last week on Jan. 21 as Larry Hogan was sworn in as Maryland’s governor on the steps of the State House in Annapolis during a snowstorm. S.A. Miller in a front-page article in The Washington Times on Jan. 22 quoted Hogan good-naturedly stating, “They said it was going to be a cold day in hell before we elected a Republican governor,” as he acknowledged the improbability of his election. Well, it was, and we did, Mr. Hogan, so congratulations on having the Best Week in Maryland.

It’s official, according to Jason Babcock’s front-page article in The Enterprise on Jan. 23, “Wood is out, Waugh is in. Chick and Ruth’s Delly in Annapolis has removed the “John F. Wood Jr.” sandwich from the menu (Wood is a 28-year legislator from St. Mary’s County who did not seek re-election in 2014) and replaced it with a sandwich named for newly-elected Maryland State Senator Steve Waugh. Number 21 on the menu is now a pastrami sandwich with Swiss and Russian dressing on rye. The “Steve Waugh” joins two new menu items at Chick and Ruth’s named in honor of Gov. Larry Hogan, the “Hogan’s Hero;” and “Hogan’s Bipartisan Soup” (a mixture of Maryland Crab Soup and Cream of Crab Soup invented by Hogan’s daughter, and St. Mary’s County own first daughter, Jaymi Sterling. Congratulations, Senator Waugh!

In the Jan. 21, Metro section of The Washington Post, Jenna Johnson notes in her “Out” and “In” list based on Annapolis’ changing of the guard, that William O’Malley is “out,” “Jaymi Sterling” is “in.” Congratulations, Jaymi! In that same list, Jenna Johnson notes that former Maryland Gov. O’Malley’s roast beef and provolone sandwich is “out” and Hogan’s Bipartisan Crab Soup is “in.”

Congratulations again to Gov. Hogan, Sen. Waugh, and First Daughter Jaymi; you’ve each had your own Best Week in Maryland!

GOP Events
The National Federation of Republican Women will hold the Spring Board Meeting and Legislative Day at the U.S. Capitol March 19 – 21 at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, VA. You may register online at nfrw.org. Former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will be the headline speaker at the Friday, March 20 luncheon. Both Newt and his wife, Callista, will be available for book signings immediately afterward.

St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee (SMCRCC) Chair Julie Burk-Greer announces that due to the potential for bad weather Jan. 26, the meeting of the Youth Political Roundtable was cancelled. The next meeting will be held Monday, Feb. 23 at the new location which is the Law Enforcement Institute Office at 22530 Washington Street One in Leonardtown. For more information you may contact SMCRCC Chair Julie Burk-Greer at (301)475-8709.

Events Around Town
A contra-dance sponsored by Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance featuring caller Greg Frock will be held on Saturday, Feb. 14, Valentine’s Day, at the Christ Episcopal Church Parish Hall in Chaptico. Doors open at 7 p.m. with a beginners’ class; dancing starts at 7:30 p.m. which will be followed by an ice cream social.  Admission is $10 for non-members and $6 for members. Band members are admitted free of charge. You may contact www.smtmd.org for directions and for more information.

(Ellynne Brice Davis is a former member and Recording Secretary of the St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee, 2010 – 2014)