One is he isn't well known
The rain tax is extremely unpopular and cost the Democratic Party the governorship
He is not flashy. He is just himself.


I would rather him run for senator of Maryland myself.

Another is that Maryland is the only state in the nation that taxes rain. It is very unpopular in Maryland. Jokes about it everywhere regardless of political affiliation.

As to why he's not doing better, the dem ptb don't WANT him to be, and he's promoting himself in the 'old fashioned' way, meeting and talking to and with small groups in Iowa and New Hampshire.

You tell ME why more DUers aren't taking him up. Looks and feels to me like the old lemming story, sadly.

I do think the media is ignoring him. The lemming effect does apply, yes. Beyond that, my question was quite sincere. I don't know much about him, but both my brother and I think he's a good man.

she put it together a while ago for our use. I've used it several times on facebook, actually. Here's more info, pinned at the top of the MO'M group, for everyone's info. And thanks for your interest, FSogol wrote this: Here's why I support him:

Martin O'Malley:

1. Ended death penalty in Maryland
2. Prevented fracking in Maryland and put regulations in the way to prevent next GOP Gov Hogan fom easily allowing fracking.
3. Provided health insurance for 380,000
4. Reduced infant mortality to an all time low.
5. Provided meals to thousands of hungry children and moved toward a goal for eradicating childhood hunger.
6. Enacted a $10.10 living wage and a $11. minimum wage for State workers.
7. Supporter the Dream Act
8. Cut income taxes for 86% of Marylanders (raised taxes on the rich).
9. Reformed Maryland’s tax code to make it more progressive.
10. Enacted some of the nation’s most comprehensive reforms to protect homeowners from foreclosure.

Mother Jones magazine called him the best candidate on environmental issues.
Article here:
http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk

http://mediamatters.org/blog/2015/06/10/bogus-conservative-media-talking-point-martin-o/203935

But referring to the 2012 legislation in question as a tax on rain is misleading. The Post wrote in an editorial that the "rain tax" is "a good applause line" but "a tougher sell on the merits":

The "rain tax" is, in fact, a federally mandated levy on pollution caused by storm water run-off, one of the main culprits in the tragic, decades-long environmental degradation of the Chesapeake Bay. Established by state legislation passed in 2012, the tax applies to the state's 10 most heavily populated urban and suburban jurisdictions, places with an abundance of hard surfaces -- parking lots, roads, driveways. In those built-up places, storm water carrying sediment, nutrients, trash and a variety of other pollutants washes into nearby streams and rivers, which drain into the bay. Revenues from the tax are meant to help localities adopt programs and build infrastructure to limit the damage from that runoff in order to protect the body of water.


The Baltimore Sun wrote in a June 2014 editorial that "rain tax" claims are "nonsense" since "Maryland does not tax the rain. It has directed its 10 most populous jurisdictions to raise revenue to pay for stormwater management upgrades that will prevent pollution from choking the Chesapeake Bay, per federal environmental regulations." Washington Post reporter Jenna Johnson wrote in a fact check article that "it's more of a pollution tax than a rain tax."

The nonprofit Chesapeake Bay Foundation called the "rain tax" moniker "blatantly false," stating: "The truth is that we are talking about a fee to reduce pollution from water that washes off hard surfaces and empties into local waterways. Runoff pollution is real--it is responsible for no-swimming advisories and beach closures in local waters, fish consumption advisories, and dead zones in the Bay that can't support aquatic life. It also causes localized flooding and property damage. And in many areas, it is the largest source of pollution."

The misleading "rain tax" talking point has repeatedly been used by Maryland Republicans, especially during Larry Hogan's successful run for Maryland governor. In May, Hogan signed SB 863, the "Rain Tax Mandate Repeal (Watershed Protection and Restoration Programs, Revision), which repeals the requirement that forces local jurisdictions to collect a stormwater remediation fee, and instead authorizes such jurisdictions to do so." The Sun reported that "environmentalists worked to get the proposal from an outright repeal of stormwater fees to the version that passed."


http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/fact-check-did-maryland-lt-gov-anthony-g-brown-really-tax-the-rain/2014/09/07/4e587672-36bd-11e4-9c9f-ebb47272e40e_story.html

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/md-gop-attacks-on-the-rain-tax-ignore-the-risk-of-runoff-pollution-to-the-chesapeake/2014/08/11/de1a45ba-215f-11e4-8593-da634b334390_story.html

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2014-06-26/news/bs-ed-hogan-brown-ad-20140626_1_republican-larry-hogan-ad-tax-hikes

http://www.cbf.org/about-cbf/offices-operations/annapolis-md/the-issues/annapolis-maryland/the-issues/stormwater-fee#rain-tax

The Rain Tax is actually a TAX ON POLLUTION.

I was answering a question that was asked. It was not a right or wrong answer by why he may possibly may not have gains in polls. It is one reason the democratic nominee lost the governorship. You can tout federal all day long but Marylanders hate the rain tax. I can go to the mall right now and ask various people who I don't know and you will hear the same thing.

and I also know something about how ignorant people are, especially when powerful interests want to mislead, for example, nra.

The Democratic nominee lost the governorship because he ran a bad campaign.

'As to why he's not doing better, the dem ptb don't WANT him to be, and he's promoting himself in the 'old fashioned' way, meeting and talking to and with small groups in Iowa and New Hampshire.

You tell ME why more DUers aren't taking him up. Looks and feels to me like the old lemming story, sadly.'

educational system.

OR, they are selfish Ayn Rand followers who think that no one should ever pay for their impacts on the environment. Yep, externalize all those environmental costs and just let the poor people who live downstream suffer, while you tout your business acumen and what a hard-working and deserving person you are, who shouldn't have to pay taxes to the government, and especially not for medical care for the people you poisoned.

(Sorry if that's a bit of a rant but I'm pretty annoyed by the sheer ignorance involved in this issue and what it says about our country. Turning off the internet for awhile now so my blood pressure can stabilize ...)

But one last rant (not directed at you but the idjits you refer to): a simple fucking google search, or just going straight to Wikipedia, sorts out the facts on this issue. For anyone with more than two brain cells to rub together and the capacity for rational thought. Aaaarrggghh.

Educational system has been messed up by them guys for years, it's much better here in MD than in other places but repugs' propaganda shines through.

There is a LOT of 'don't tax me' stuff around, really pisses me off. I pay more than I'd LIKE to pay, but I DO it because I KNOW I'm paying for services my family and I need and USE! And the environment! OMG!

THANKS again.

I answered it as a Marylander who lives here. I am sure New York City is wonderful but you don't hear from people living in Maryland like I do.

I live in Glen Oban in Arnold, Maryland here. Heaven on earth! Are you close?

Heavenly HERE!

Incidentally, I really wish those who invade this protected group with Maryland republican talking points would post their criticisms elsewhere. The long refuted nonsense about the rain tax is just one example. This is happening all over the DU -- invasion of protected groups by ill-informed naysayers.

I am well-informed about O'Malley's strengths and weaknesses, and IMO he still leads the pack when it comes to character and accomplishments.

I think the biggest mistake he made was getting into the race too late, before Sanders had the opportunity to suck up all the oxygen.

I also think that there is a lot of anger out there, as there was with Occupy Wall Street; and Sanders knows how to appeal to that.

O'Malley is rational, practical, and optimistic. As an executive, he knows how difficult it is to get things done. He also knows that whatever an executive does, some will approve and some will disapprove. That goes with executive responsibility. It is easy to talk; it is hard to get things done. And there will always be those who hate you for what you do, no matter how noble the same action appears to others.

Many progressives don't want just a decent or "good man" right now. They want someone to lead a pitchfork expedition. They want to get rid of the "bad guy billionaires" who are ruining this country. Unfortunately, no president of the United States can do this alone or right away. That president would need the help of a progressive democratic Congress he helped get elected.

In the eyes of many, O'Malley just doesn't get angry enough at the rich. He gets angry; and he has spoken out many times about injustice and inequality and inhumanity. But his anger is not up to the anger of the very angry crowd. For this I respect him. I do not think that anger and hatred and divisiveness are the answers to our problems.

After all that anger runs its course, the country may be ready for a progressive with executive experience who knows how to get things done. Until then, anger and impatience will dominate the political atmosphere.