SLOTS.

[nickshepDEM]

What do you guys think?

[DaveinMD]

1. I don't want slots

and I think the issue will be quite dead after the upcoming election.

[Lorax]

5. Remember

when slots were legalized in NJ? Wasn't a lot of money supposed to go toward rebuilding Atlantic City? I've been there recently and nothing a block off the boardwalk looked revitalized to me.

Where are revenues for slots supposed to go? In the general fund?

[CC]

2. At first I didn't care

if we had them or not. But after the last few years of the Gov. whining about it, and his refusal to put it on a ballot no way do I want them.

[aintitfunny]

3. I have been pretty ambivilent, but did not want slots

to enrich the track owners - If slots were inevitable most of the money should go to the state.

[nickshepDEM]

4. Im open to the possibility.

Mostly because I believe most forms of gambling should be legal nationwide.

[Polecat]

6. I have to agree with you, nickshepDEM

...and I have never really understood how this developed the way that it has. Traditionally, the Repubs are riding their moral high horses wanting to eradicate gambling from the face of the earth, not the Dems.

We've got the lottery...we've got neighboring states taking our potential income from gambling revenues...we're losing an opportunity to bring out-of-state money in from VA and possibly other relatively close states that have yet to legalize gambling. It's senseless for me to stand against it. I either have my already excessive taxes raised, or let those who wish to gamble "give" money to the State. Plus, it's not like it wasn't here before (no thanks to David Hume for getting it eliminated)...but since then we commenced the lottery and morphed that into a nice cash cow for the State. If done properly, I see no reason why it couldn't be as successful.

Incidentally, I'm a Harford County Dem, so I realize I'm to the right of most of you here. Like most Harford County Dems, I'm sure I cross party lines a bit more than the Balt/Wash Corridor Dems (who I suspect are the majority here).

[nickshepDEM]

7. Why do you say your probably significantly to the right of most of us?

Where do you stand on local and national hot button issues?

Who do you support for Senate and Governor?

[Polecat]

8. To answer the questions

Overall moderate on most hot button issues. However, I tend to be a "leftist" in the area I reside...but I use that term very loosely.

At this early stage I favor Cardin for Senate and Ehrlich for Governor. As a constituent in MD District 6, I favor "mud" over Bartlett. ;)

[nickshepDEM]

9. Ehrlich for Governor, eh? Care to explain that one?

[Mutley]

10. Welcome to DU.

Moderates can do well on this site, but as someone who openly supports a Republican you might have a hard time. Do you think you could explain what you like about Ehrlich over O'Malley or Duncan?

[nickshepDEM]

11. Its not so much supporting a Republican. I know a couple DU'ers

who supported Bloomberg. Its the fact that he supports an openly conservative Republican who has vetoed bill after bill that defines what we stand for as Democrats. Higher minimum wage, equal protections for GLBT, affordable college tuition for working families, etc...

[aintitfunny]

12. Exactly (eom)

[Polecat]

13. A couple of things

I've been a long time lurker here. It took me quite a while to decide to go ahead and register/post knowing that I'll likely have sharp barbs thrown my way since I'm a centrist. Now that I have taken that step...I know I have to be willing to accept that. I do.

I want to re-state something from my previous post to highlight it..."at this early stage".

I don't want to cross too many wires at this point. If I go into my rationale, you'll just respond telling me how and why you think I'm wrong. I don't want to debate that at this point when I'm still a bit noncommittal. I'll just say that Ehrlich has crossed party lines from time to time now and back in the State House. He appears to be closest to the center to me for that and other reasons.

From what I've read from most of you, you despise "The Don". I support and have supported the man since he was mayor. I'm from a similar mold.

[nickshepDEM]

14. Well, Im personally not trying to run you off.

Im glad you finally made the leap and decided to post. As you'll notice from some of my posts and by looking at the guy in my signature I am somewhat of a center/center-left Democrat.

Id like to know where Ehrlich has crossed party lines though? In my opinion, on key bills that would have greatly benefited working families he has been absent. Minimum wage increase, tuituion cap bill (big one for me being a poor college kid), fair share health care act, etc...

As far as "The Don". Well, he hasnt been a Democrat for a long time now. I respect no man who endorses George H.W. Bush over Bill Clinton, let alone Bob Dole over the very popular and successful incumbent President Bill Clinton. To each his own though. Schaffer will probably win the primary running away so you have nothing to worry about there. Like they say, vote your heart in the primary, but fall in line in the general election. Ill vote for Schafer if he wins the primary.

[Mutley]

15. I don't want to run you off, either.

I was just curious as to why you like Ehrlich.