Leonardtown, MD — MD GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Larry Hogan was greeted by sign-waving supporters as he arrived at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds for the Oyster Festival on Sunday, October 19 at 11 a.m.
Please do not be misled by the erroneous information being broadcast in the latest Brown campaign ad which says that “Hogan opposes universal Pre-K” because we “can’t afford it.”  I will repeat information from Mr. Hogan’s Talking Points which have been graciously supplied to Ellynne en Pointe by newly-elected SMC RCC member David Willenborg:
“Anthony Brown has no plan to fund future Pre-K programs that, under his proposal, will cost hundreds of millions of dollars. In fact, the Federal Government’s Pre-K funding pays 90 percent in the first year to get states hooked, then drops this to 10 percent thus leaving states like Maryland with another huge program we simply can’t afford. Larry’s concern is that if Maryland takes Federal Pre-K dollars, we are going to have to slash funding on other programs; he believes the focus needs to be on improving education for our elementary- and high school-aged students first.”

Here are some comments summarizing Joseph Curl’s “Political Theater” column from October 6 in The Washington Times:

Curl poses an interesting question at the beginning of this column: Is President Obama a pathological liar, or just incredibly stupid?; there is no third option. He then continues on to give examples:
-Mr. Obama, re: the Affordable Care Act, saying, “If you like your health care plan, you can keep it”…which turned out to be completely false;
-The President says he has “full confidence” in the director of the Secret Service, and then, seven hours later, fires her.
-Obama calls terrorists stomping across Syria a “JV” team; weeks later, these Islamic State extremists are beheading Americans and threatening to attack the US;
-The President says the chances of Ebola making its way from Africa to America are “extremely low;” check today’s paper for the latest update on Ebola cases in the US, now that Ebola is a true pandemic threat. (NOTE: A few highlights of sample recent The Washington Times front-page headlines include (but are not limited to!) the following…”Obama Ignored 2008 CDC Transition Advice on Ebola,” “Second Nurse With Ebola Traveled to Ohio,” and “Fear Drives Huge Swing in Stock Markets (Slowing of Global Economy, Spread of Ebola at Heart” – all three of these from October 16; and in that same issue a page 5 article was titled, “Obama Vows Aggressive Ebola Fight as Second US Infection Emerges.” The front page on Oct. 17 contained these headlines: “Obama Oks Reserves to Fight Ebola,” and “CDC Big on Bonuses, Short on Funding for Ebola.” Then on page 2 of that same issue, “Leisure-Prone Obama is Belatedly Serious On Ebola,” and “Obama Prepares for the Ebola Election.” The Washington Post on Sunday, October 19 found columnist Chris Cillizza awarding the CDC his “Worst Week in Washington” honor, stating…”The CDC, for not exhibiting much control or prevention, you had the worst week in Washington.”

But I digress; this column is not about Ebola, but Obama.)
Curl wants to know if all these were lies. Or did the President just not know? Curl believes the most fascinating scenario is the latter one: he just didn’t know.
Curl reminds us that Obama campaigned that he would talk with the world’s worst despots, boasted about a “reset” with Russia, gave speeches on how the world would be a better place if America took a back seat and let others be in charge for a while…Lies? Or stupidity? But six years later, Iran is unchecked, Russia is again invading countries and seizing territory, the Middle East is exploding, northern Africa is in turmoil, and the U.S. is begging the United Nations to take over. Curl thinks all the signs point to incompetence and asks: now don’t you wish he was just a liar?

Thank you Mr. Curl, for so succinctly hitting the nail on the head regarding the incompetency of our community-organizer-commander-in-chief. The solution to getting on track to solve some of the above dilemmas?… Vote Republican on November 4.

(NOTE: Joseph Curl covered the White House and politics for a decade for The Washington Times; he can be reached at: josephcurl@gmail.com)

Be sure to log on to RED Maryland’s newly-designed site: www.RedMaryland.com – user-friendly and information for the best in Maryland conservatism.

Elephant Jokes of the Week from 101 Elephant Jokes, by Robert Blake, available on Amazon.com
Q: How do you fit 6 elephants in your car?
A: 3 in the back, 3 in the front.
Q: How do you fit 6 elephants in a Volkswagen?
A: 3 in the back, 2 in the front, and 1 in the glove compartment!

GOP Events Around Town
-Volunteers are welcomed to join in the GOP Unity Sign Wave TODAY, Wednesday, October 22 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the intersection of Routes 4 & 235. Another GOP Sign Wave is scheduled for Thursday, October 23 at 4:30 p.m. at the corner of Route 5 and the Hollywood Road in Leonardtown. You may contact RCC Communications Director Kevin Cioppa for more information at: (240)577-2067.
-General Election information: The October 14 deadline to register to vote, to change your party affiliation, to update an address and to request an alternate polling place for the Nov. 4 General election has now passed. Thursday, October 23 through Thursday, October 30 are the days voters may vote in person from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at the Governmental Center in St. Mary’s County in Room 14 of the Potomac Building during Early Voting. To access information about Early Voting you may contact: www.elections.maryland.gov/voting/early_voting.html.  For additional information in St. Mary’s County, you may contact the St. Mary’s County Board of Elections at (301)475-7844, ext. 1100.
-The next Youth Political Roundtable meeting will be held on Monday, October 27 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the Holly II Building of Sierra Management and Technologies, Inc. located at 44427 Airport Road, Suite 150 in California, MD.  Come and join in as members discuss their views on politics and current events, selected by those ages 14 through 24. This event is sponsored by the St. Mary’s County Republican Central Committee (SMC RCC) but it is non-partisan in that all viewpoints are welcomed. For more information you may contact SMC RCC Youth Outreach Director at: jburk@md.metrocast.net.

Events Around Town
-Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance will hold a HomeSpun Coffee House Concert at Christ Church Parish Hall in Chaptico on Friday, October 24. Featured performers are Michael Kelly & Friends with a Guest Appearance by Lynn Hollyfield.  Doors open at 7 p.m.; music starts at 7:30 p.m. The cost is $10 for SMTMD members; $15 for non-members. For more information you may contact: www.smtmd.org.

Ronna Farley

Congratulations to National Oyster Festival Contestant Ronna Farley of Rockville, Maryland
Frequent cooking/recipe award-winner Ronna Farley was the recipient of the Third Prize in the Soups and Stews Category of the 2014 National Oyster Cookoff (with her Heavenly Oyster Bisque) held this past weekend at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds. (In 2013, Ronna placed second in the Hors d’oeuvres category of the National Oyster Cookoff in addition to walking away with the Best Presentation Award.) After competing here in Leonardtown on Saturday, October 18, Ronna traveled to Baltimore the next day and was declared the winner in the Riunite Ultimate Chili Challenge 2014. Congratulations, Ronna!
Ronna Farley’s Heavenly Oyster Bisque
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
1 T. EVOO
I c. frozen corn, thawed
1 c. onion, chopped
1 c. yellow bell pepper, diced
1 and ½ c. russet potato, peeled and diced
1 tsp. seafood seasoning, plus more for garnish
½ c. dry sherry
1 c. chicken broth
1 c. half-and-half
1 quart Maryland oysters
¼ tsp. salt
¼ c. parsley, chopped
Directions
Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add corn, onion, and bell pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the onion and pepper have softened, about 5 minutes. Add potato and 1 tsp. seafood seasoning. Cook, stirring often, for 2 minutes. Add sherry and cook, scraping up any browned bits, until the liquid has reduced slightly, about 5 minutes. Add broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, until potatoes are tender, about 15 minutes. Working in 2 batches, puree the vegetable mixture in a blender or food processor (or using an immersion blender, right in the pan). Return the puree to the saucepan. Stir in half-and-half, oysters with liquid, and salt. Cook, stirring occasionally, until heated through, about 5 minutes. Sprinkle each serving with additional seafood seasoning and chopped parsley.
(NOTE: Ronna recommends adding the half-and-half at the end, after the oysters cook in the soup as this will keep the cream from separating.)
Ronna Farley’s Rainbow Chili
Makes 6 servings
Ingredients
1 lb. ground beef
8 oz. mild bulk sausage
1 large yellow onion, sliced
1 c. frozen mixed pepper strips
1 11-oz. can Mexicorn, drained
1 4-oz can chopped green chiles
1 16-oz. can red kidney beans
1 16-oz. can black beans, drained
2 cups fresh tomatoes, peeled and diced
1 T. granulated sugar
3 T. chili powder
1 T Louisiana Hot Sauce
1 cloves garlic, minced
1 T. ground cumin
½ tsp. salt
¾ c. sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
¾ c. sour cream
1 spring onion, sliced
Directions
In a large stock pot, brown ground beef and sausage; drain grease. Add onions, peppers, corn and chiles. Cook until onions are softened, about 2 minutes. Stir in beans, tomatoes, sugar, chili powder, hot sauce, garlic, cumin, and salt. Bring to a boil over high heat. Reduce to low heat. Simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. Ladle each serving into a soup bowl. Top each with 2 T. cheese, 2 T. sour cream, and spring onion slices. Enjoy with a glass of Riunite Lambrusco!


As a result of winning the regional Chili Cookoff in Baltimore, Ronna won an expense-paid trip to compete at the San Diego Chargers’ Stadium on November 23 where she will be up against the other regional winners. (She also gets to attend the football game!) Then she goes on to participate in another cookoff – the World Food Championships which are held in Las Vegas November 11 – 18. This is a tournament-style cookoff with professionals and home cooks competing in 9 categories; she’s competing in the Recipe Category which features cheese recipes. Each contestant will prepare 2 recipes to be turned in within a 2-hour time frame. The top 10  winners in each category will go on to the next competition; then the top 10 winners in that round will compete for first prize in the category. From that round, they compete for the Grand Prize of $100,000! Ronna and I have been friends since we first cooked together in The National Oyster Cookoff at the St. Mary’s County Fairgrounds in 2007. She’s been a cashier for Giant Food for almost 30 years and is a mother two and grandmother of three. All the best to you, Ronna as you continue to compete!

Contact Ellynne at: LynnieBDavis@gmail.com