# Martin O'Malley for President thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [May 31, 2015, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241 "2015-05-31T05:33:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/102 "2015-08-03T15:28:41Z")
I read with interest his criminal justice reform proposal laid out in a 9-page white [paper](http://martinomalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OMalley-Criminal-Justice-Reform.pdf). Based on the reporting and the political circumstances, I was expecting an aspirational document that would seek to get to Hillary’s left on the issue. But it’s a much more workmanlike collection of modest reforms, all of which are politically feasible. For example, he calls for rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule II instead of Schedule I controlled substance. I could see that being proposed to the 2016 Congress, but it strikes me as sort of weak tea in a presidential primary. Don’t get me wrong, there’s lot of good stuff in there. But I am hard-pressed to identify any policies in there that Hillary would not also support, which I would have expected to be half the point of putting it out. It is nice to see the candidates raising the issue. It will be very interesting to see if it remains once we get to the general. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/103 "2015-08-03T15:34:13Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Was O’Malley running in the last election? No, this is his first Presidential campaign. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/104 "2015-08-03T15:37:42Z")
I meant the last Maryland gubernatorial election, in which he was apparently rejected by the voters. ---
**Author:** ![Defensive\_Indifference](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/defensive_indifference/32/6502_2.png) [@Defensive\_Indifference](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Defensive_Indifference)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/105 "2015-08-03T15:40:03Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > He didn’t just sign somebody else’s bill. He had been pushing it [since 2009](http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/05/02/us-usa-maryland-deathpenalty-idUSBRE9410TQ20130502). Cool, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/106 "2015-08-03T16:59:08Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > I meant the last Maryland gubernatorial election, in which he was apparently rejected by the voters. He was rejected by the voters when his hand picked successor suffered a defeat. It’s a typical usage of the term “rejected” in modern politics. For example Mccain’s defeat was a rejection of Bush. O’Malley supporter , huh? Lol. > **[Marylanders Don’t Like Martin O’Malley, So Why Would The Rest Of America?](https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marylanders-dont-like-martin-omalley-so-why-would-the-rest-of-america/)** > > I have long considered former Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley, who is kicking off his 2016 campaign Saturday, the longest of long shots. The barriers between O’Ma… ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/107 "2015-08-03T17:00:59Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > I read with interest his criminal justice reform proposal laid out in a 9-page white [paper](http://martinomalley.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/OMalley-Criminal-Justice-Reform.pdf). > > Based on the reporting and the political circumstances, I was expecting an aspirational document that would seek to get to Hillary’s left on the issue. But it’s a much more workmanlike collection of modest reforms, all of which are politically feasible. For example, he calls for rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule II instead of Schedule I controlled substance. I could see that being proposed to the 2016 Congress, but it strikes me as sort of weak tea in a presidential primary. > > Don’t get me wrong, there’s lot of good stuff in there. But I am hard-pressed to identify any policies in there that Hillary would not also support, which I would have expected to be half the point of putting it out. > > It is nice to see the candidates raising the issue. It will be very interesting to see if it remains once we get to the general. It’s not just about “would support”, it’s also about priorities. If Clinton doesn’t have a criminal justice reform plan then it’s not a priority and nothing is likely to be done. O’Malley does have one, so obviously it’s important to him. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/108 "2015-08-03T17:17:28Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > He was rejected by the voters when his hand picked successor suffered a defeat. It’s a typical usage of the term “rejected” in modern politics. For example Mccain’s defeat was a rejection of Bush. > > O’Malley supporter , huh? Lol. No. No one says so-and-so was “rejected by the voters” when they are referring to that person’s successor losing. You’re reaching and projecting that on **RNATB**. > [@adaher](#): > > It’s not just about “would support”, it’s also about priorities. If Clinton doesn’t have a criminal justice reform plan then it’s not a priority and nothing is likely to be done. O’Malley does have one, so obviously it’s important to him. More ad hoc standards from **adaher**. IME, written policies are not a good indicator of priorities. They are a good indicator of front-runner status (i.e., front-runners constrain themselves less because they have to). ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/109 "2015-08-03T17:24:07Z")
That’s true also. I just wanted to point out that “would support” is pretty meaningless. Presidents only get to do a fraction of what they want to do. O’Malley, being an ex-governor, has written down a plan that can pass a Republican Congress. That’s a sign that a) it’s important to him, and b) he has the maturity to govern. If this is a high priority issue for you, then O’Malley’s doable plan \> Clinton’s “would support”. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/110 "2015-08-03T17:27:43Z")
> [@adaher](#): > > If this is a high priority issue for you, then O’Malley’s doable plan \> Clinton’s “would support”. I don’t think that follows. Surely the equation is [likelihood that candidate will make this a priority as president] x [likelihood that candidate will win] x [likelihood that candidate will be effective at getting legislation through Congress]. Even if I thought the first variable went to O’Malley, it’s not clear that the other two would. Mostly, I am surprised because usually the guy who is trying to win the primary from the flank would…well…outflank. But I guess with Sanders in the race, O’Malley is kind of boned on that front. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/111 "2015-08-03T18:03:05Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > He was rejected by the voters when his hand picked successor suffered a defeat. It’s a typical usage of the term “rejected” in modern politics. For example Mccain’s defeat was a rejection of Bush. > > O’Malley supporter , huh? Lol. > > [Marylanders Don’t Like Martin O’Malley, So Why Would The Rest Of America? | FiveThirtyEight](http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/marylanders-dont-like-martin-omalley-so-why-would-the-rest-of-america/) You can’t just make things up and call it “typical usage.” McCain’s defeat certainly had a lot to do with antipathy towards Bush, but nobody said “voters rejected Bush.” And no, I’m not an O’Malley supporter. As I think I mentioned earlier in this thread, I’d never heard of him until now. Having said that, I am more likely to support almost any Democrat than almost any Republican, so if O’Malley is the nominee I will likely support him. ---
**Author:** ![USCDiver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/uscdiver/32/354_2.png) [@USCDiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/USCDiver)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/112 "2015-08-03T18:25:45Z")
I hardly think McCain can be classified as Bush’s ‘hand picked successor’ either. My recollection is that the GOP was trying to keep Bush as far away from the campaign as they could at that point. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/113 "2015-08-03T19:15:07Z")
> **[Rejecting Bush Era, Reclaiming Values (Published 2009)](https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/21/us/politics/21assess.html?pagewanted=all&referrer=&_r=0)** > > Though couched in indirect terms, the inaugural address was a stark repudiation. > **[Rejection of Bush, his legacy clear in election](https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/rejection-of-bush-his-legacy-clear-in-election/)** > > Step back for a moment and consider what happened Tuesday. The people of the United States have elected an African-American man named Barack Obama as their president. Anyway, we can debate an editorial turn of phrase or the gist of my post. Again, Marylanders do not like o’Malley for president. His legacy is inextricably tied to tax increases as governor, and book-cooking and failed schools as mayor. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 7:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/114 "2015-08-03T19:25:32Z")
> [@](#): > > Hogan’s Democratic opponent, Anthony Brown, was O’Malley’s lieutenant governor. His defeat, in an overwhelmingly Democratic state, has been interpreted by some national political reporters as a **rejection** of O’Malley’s legacy. The New Republic’s Alec MacGillis attributed the result in part to the “rain tax” — a fee for building impermeable surfaces that O’Malley introduced to reduce pollution in the Chesapeake Bay caused by stormwater runoff. > **[Martin O'Malley is a longshot presidential candidate, and a real climate hawk.](https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2014/12/martin-omalley-longshot-presidential-candidate-and-real-climate-hawk/)** > > The data-loving Maryland gov could have the greenest credentials of any '16 contender. He is also rightly criticized for destroying families by the mass incarceration of black youth. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 7:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/115 "2015-08-03T19:28:36Z")
> [@USCDiver](#): > > I hardly think McCain can be classified as Bush’s ‘hand picked successor’ either. My recollection is that the GOP was trying to keep Bush as far away from the campaign as they could at that point. I never made that claim. Read again. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [August 3, 2015, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/116 "2015-08-03T19:31:21Z")
“Voters rejected non-candidate X” = not normal English “Voters rejected the policies/legacy of non-candidate X” = normal English ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 1:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/117 "2015-08-04T01:42:38Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > “Voters rejected non-candidate X” = not normal English > “Voters rejected the policies/legacy of non-candidate X” = normal English Headline Seattle Times: “Rejection of Bush, his legacy clear in election” Ye coppeth many pleas. Perhaps the Seattle Times is published in “not normal English”. Maybe their editors took NNESOL, it is close to Canada. Maybe you could just admit to being unfamiliar with a standard rhetorical convention. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/118 "2015-08-04T02:05:50Z")
> [@WillFarnaby](#): > > …He is also rightly criticized for destroying families by the mass incarceration of black youth. Funny how he got large majorities of the black vote in both mayoral elections and both gubernatorial elections in which he ran. ---
**Author:** ![adaher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@adaher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/adaher)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/119 "2015-08-04T07:13:16Z")
Running against Republicans that’s no feat. Democrats beat Republicans even when they were fighting for segregation. Beating ANOTHER Democrat, that’s where the test is, and O’Malley doesn’t look like he’s going to be very competitive among African-American voters against Clinton. ---
**Author:** ![Claverhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/13edae/32.png) [@Claverhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Claverhouse)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/120 "2015-08-04T09:37:58Z")
I keep reading this as **Martin Mull for President**. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2015, 3:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241/121 "2015-08-04T15:42:29Z")
An Oct. 2014 article on O’Malley’s declining support then among his fellow Marylanders: > **[Even in his home state, voters are weary of an O’Malley presidential bid,...](https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/as-omalleys-approval-rating-falls-md-voters-not-confident-in-his-presidential-bid/2014/10/11/e48aebd2-5096-11e4-8c24-487e92bc997b_story.html)** > > The Maryland governor’s approval rating falls, says a new Washington Post-University of Maryland poll. And see the last four paragraphs. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/martin-omalley-for-president-thread/721241.md?page=7)