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Commentary

Marcus: Trump’s Senate impeachment trial won’t be a waste of time
February 2, 2021 -

The Senate impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump promises to be an event entirely lacking in suspense. The verdict seems clear before the first words have been uttered; Trump will be acquitted because not enough Republicans will vote to make up the two-thirds majority needed for conviction. This disappointing reality does not mean the trial will be a waste of time or even counterproductive. To the contrary, as the House prosecutors’ brief filed Tuesday underscored, the magnitude of Trump’s misconduct requires that the Senate proceed regardless of the outcome.

Read More: Washington Post
Berlin: Protect Md.’s Children, Override the Governor’s Veto of Ban on Harmful Chlorpyrifos
February 2, 2021 -

Do you want your children eating food treated with a chemical linked to learning disabilities, autism, pediatric cancer, pre-term birth, asthma, ADHD and more? Who would possibly say yes? Unfortunately, this brain-damaging pesticide, called chlorpyrifos, is widely applied in the production of fruits, vegetables, nuts and other conventionally grown crops — even though it has been found to damage children’s brain development.

Read More: Maryland Matters
Zurawik: Time shift of Hogan’s State of the State speech looks to be more about politics than the pandemic
February 2, 2021 -

Gov. Larry Hogan has cast his decision to break with tradition Wednesday and deliver the annual State of the State speech at 7 p.m., rather than noon, as part of a reaction to new demands caused by COVID-19. While almost everything these days is legitimately a reaction to the pandemic at least in part, the question is: How much of the move is actually about politics by someone who looks more and more like he wants to be president?

Read More: Baltimore Sun
The COVID-19 vaccines are not short on science
February 2, 2021 -

As an infectious disease physician, I spend my days understanding and treating illnesses that spread in our communities. With COVID-19, many of my colleagues and public health professionals have fought diligently as this highly contagious and serious illness ravaged our nation. I personally have cared for many patients with the disease, and sadly, despite outstanding care, some lost their lives. To motivate me and remind me why tireless efforts in fighting COVID-19 must continue, I keep the death notice of a long-time patient in my inbox.

Read More: The Daily Record
Our View: ‘Irresponsible’ to make the next group eligible with so many older adults yet to be vaccinated
January 31, 2021 -

Elected officials are getting angry calls. Health department personnel, too. Thousands of Carroll countians are frustrated, confused and upset that they were in one of the first groups eligible to receive the COVID-19, vaccine yet Maryland has moved past them to the next group. They have good reason for their feelings. County Health Officer Ed Singer called it “irresponsible” that Maryland moved on to group 1C of its vaccine distribution plan last week while so many in 1A and 1B have yet to be vaccinated.

Read More: Carroll County Times
Colbert & Starger: Detention fees unfairly burden poor people
January 31, 2021 -

Imagine the plight of Jason, a typical Maryland criminal defendant accused of selling drugs. Six months ago, Jason considered himself fortunate when his bail review judge ordered him confined on home detention before trial. That sure sounded better than being locked-up indefinitely in a cage and being exposed to the deadly COVID-19 virus. But after finding it difficult to raise the $400 to $600 monthly fee for his GPS monitoring bracelet, Jason’s not so sure.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Editorial: Want to reduce overdoses? Give people a safe place to do drugs.
January 31, 2021 -

The COVID-19 pandemic gives more reason for why the state should finally approve legislation creating overdose prevention sites, where people can use drugs in a safe setting staffed with medical professionals. Advocates of such sites, which already exist in 12 countries around the world, have tried for around half a decade to bring these centers to Maryland with no success. But with overdose rates on the rise, the state needs to try new ways to prevent more deaths.

Read More: Baltimore Sun
Milbank: The ‘civil war’ for the soul of the GOP is over before it began. Trump won — again.
January 31, 2021 -

The supposed civil war within the Republican Party is over. The neo-Confederates have won. Just three weeks ago, congressional GOP leaders set out to reclaim their party from President Donald Trump and his violent supporters. Trump had frequently emboldened white supremacists and domestic terrorists, but never more visibly than when he recruited and incited those who sacked the Capitol on Jan. 6 — and then did nothing for hours as they rampaged, hunting for lawmakers, in hopes of overturning the election.

Read More: Washington Post
Ignatius: The U.S. is finally catching up to the domestic terrorism threat
January 31, 2021 -

It’s often said that soldiers don’t hear the mortar round hurtling toward them until it explodes. For most Americans, that was true with the insurgency that detonated at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. We should have seen it coming: Intelligence reports from local police and the FBI describe a wave of domestic terrorism building through the summer and fall as the United States headed toward the November presidential election. But as is so often the case, law enforcement agencies didn’t take decisive action until too late.

Read More: Washington Post
The jury is in: Spy plane is out
January 29, 2021 -

From its beginning five years ago, the concept of planes circling Baltimore with video cameras in hopes of helping police solve violent crimes was a dubious undertaking. The best thing that could be said about it was that it was free — a test of technology by backers hoping to make money selling the equipment and expertise to many other cities. And given Baltimore’s level of violent crime, with a nearly one-a-day homicide rate, it was an offer that was almost impossible to refuse even if it seemed constitutionally suspect as an invasion of privacy.

Read More: Baltimore Sun

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