In all probability, this is the last original post I will be writing for Maryland Politics Watch for the foreseeable future. I owe it to all of you to explain why.
It’s actually pretty simple. Two endeavors occupy nearly my entire life. In the first endeavor, I work for an international union (the Carpenters) as its sole researcher. I am responsible for investigating corporate, economic and academic issues throughout the United States and Canada. I travel frequently. My “office” is often nothing more than a cell phone, a laptop, a rental car and a never-ending series of randomly located hotel rooms. I do whatever I have to do to perform this job as well as I possibly can.
Every spare minute that I can find goes to my second endeavor, which is writing Maryland Politics Watch on an unpaid basis. I owe a great debt to everyone that has aided me in this, especially my precious spies. Even though I write the blog at night and on weekends and program the content for daily viewing, it requires almost as many hours as my job. If that were not the case, then the quality of the work here would not be high enough to create and sustain the audience that this blog has.
Caught between these two activities is my family: my wife Holly and my one-year-old son Andres. Tragically, I have spent more time working on the blog than I have with my son.
Andres Pagnucco trying to get his Dad's attention.
So long as I have both a very demanding job and a very demanding blog, I cannot be the husband and father that my family deserves. So I have to choose. And right now, I am choosing the job that puts food on my son’s table. That, of course, is not the blog.
Some may wonder why I don’t simply “cut back.” It is not my nature to do anything without giving it 100% effort. I’m just not made that way and I can’t change.
If I had one wish for MPW readers, it is that they could see the political process as closely as I have witnessed it. It’s really not about third readings, zoning text amendments, committee votes, task force reports, staff memos or any of that. It’s all about the people who participate in government decision-making. I have come to know these people better than anyone – perhaps, even better than they know themselves. They are a fascinating group. Elected officials are not the cardboard, All-American baby-kissing characters they try to become at election time. Nor are they all evil, money-grubbing con artists as they are frequently portrayed by the media. Yes, many of them are insecure, needy, egotistical and overly sensitive, though there are plenty of exceptions. A few of them are even paranoid, arrogant and self-obsessed. But the vast majority of them enter politics with some spark of good intent in their hearts. Many of them really do have beliefs, and even principles, and are not faking them. Most of them want to perform well. The late Delegate Jane Lawton (D-18) was an example of the very best of politics, and even of humanity itself.
What the public never sees are the sacrifices they make. I can’t count the number of times elected officials have despaired in private conversations with me – often very emotionally – about the impact of their office-holding on their families, their careers, their finances, their social relationships outside of politics, their enjoyment of the fun things in life, and even on their emotional condition. Some sacrifice these things for the wrong reasons. Maybe it’s ego or the need to be recognized. These people become little more than the badges they wear on their chests. But some sacrifice these things for the right reasons, like a true dedication to helping others. The really good ones often can’t serve without giving 100%. I sympathize. I wish there was a reliable way for the voters to tell apart the good ones from the mediocre ones and the really bad ones.
Now to the blog. I can’t say whether I will ever write again about state and local politics or policy. If I do, it will have to be in a way that is compatible with the economic and personal well-being of my family. No matter how hard I have tried, I cannot make it work under the current circumstances. I may occasionally put up guest blogs, press releases, event announcements, endorsements, videos, photos, literature and the like. (Isn’t it a shame that the mainstream media ignores most of that material?) But I cannot simultaneously be the Walter Winchell of Maryland and an international union corporate investigator and a good husband and father. Unless things change, I can no longer write original columns for Maryland Politics Watch.
Thank you to everyone, and especially to the great David Lublin, who is the best blog-father an online rapscallion like me could have ever had.
Monday, June 21, 2010
Farewell to Maryland Politics Watch
Friday, October 23, 2009
What I Will Teach My Kid About Politics
As every reader knows, Baby Olson Pagnucco (now known as Andres) has arrived. Now we will have to teach the next generation the way of things. That means saying please and thank you, brushing teeth, tying shoes and not repeating every bad word that comes out of Daddy’s mouth. But in my house, it also means early lessons in politics. You can never start too young! Here is what I will teach my kid about politics.
Politicians usually don’t lie. They just play “let’s make pretend” a little too much.
If a politician knocks on the door, just tell them we’re voting for Sarah Palin. They won’t stick around for long.
If a politician asks you for money, just cry until they stop asking. This works well for Daddy.
If a politician promises you a great present for your birthday, don’t be surprised if it’s just clothes. It’s not you – they do that to everybody.
If I hear you say “Purple Line,” I will know you’re spending too much time with George Leventhal.
If I hear you say, “The Devil is in the details,” I will know you’re spending too much time with Nancy Floreen.
If I hear you say, “Project area transportation review,” you won’t be going back to Marc Elrich’s house for a long time.
If you hear me say that your toy purchase habits are “unsustainable,” that means your Dad is spending too much time with Phil Andrews.
Do you see that woman who’s making those three hundred people in the yellow T-shirts clap? Yes, that’s Aunt Valerie!
You are not allowed to watch a County Council hearing in which Gino Renne testifies before Phil Andrews until you’re 17. And even then, not without parents around.
“Big Daddy” is not your Daddy after a long Sunday of football games and wings. No, it’s that nice old man from Annapolis who breaks into the house at night and sends some of your toys to Baltimore.
The only thing you need to know about the death penalty is that it’s the reason Daddy can’t take cell phone calls from politicians after 7 PM. That’s why if is he is on the phone, your job is to tell Mommy that it’s somebody from work.
Here’s what taxes are. For every four scoops of baby food you get, one scoop goes to Rockville, one scoop goes to Annapolis and two scoops go to Washington DC. The babies who live there are really big, really loud and need a lot to eat!
What is a state budget deficit? Think of it this way: the state has poopied in two billion diapers and can’t afford to buy any new ones!
Friday, June 05, 2009
Andres Teams Up with Delegate Al Carr to Bag Some Publicity
Check out the last item in this Gazette article. It's a hilarious - and successful - attempt by Delegate Al Carr and little Andres to promote Al's reusable bag bill. Since the District of Columbia is on the verge of passing a similar law, Al's bill (along with Andres) has a bright future. Andres and the whole family offer their thanks to Delegate Carr and Gazette reporter Sean Sedam.
Little Andres is all bagged up and ready to go!
Monday, June 01, 2009
Welcome, Andres Calisto Pagnucco!
Vital Statistics:
Date of Birth: June 1, 2009
Time of Birth: 12:57 PM
Place of Birth: Holy Cross Hospital, Silver Spring, MD
Length: 21 inches
Weight: 8 pounds, 5.1 ounces
Party Registration: Democrat
Sunday, May 31, 2009
BOP is Coming Out Soon
Baby Olson-Pagnucco could be out any day now. As you see, his blogging station is ready. The mobile is a present from BOP's uncle, MPW founder David Lublin. Don't worry, dear readers - there is plenty of content already programmed over the next couple weeks for your reading pleasure (or displeasure).
Friday, April 24, 2009
BOP Update
By Holly Olson.
*** WARNING: This post contains no political content whatsoever. Read on at your own risk. ***
I admit that when I found out I was pregnant with Baby Olson-Pagnucco (BOP), I became quite curious as to whether people would start to treat me differently. Would people hold the door open for me? Would they give up their seat on the metro for me? Would drivers at the Intersection of Death (IOD) let me cross the intersection without nudging their cars up my butt?
As I suspected, the answer came back a resounding NO. No passes for the pregnant lady, thank you very much. This is DC after all, where everyone has places to go, people to see, and little time to show any extra courtesy to a pregnant lady. I recently heard about a new show called ‘In the Motherhood’ on ABC, and in the premiere, the story line included a woman who faked a pregnancy to receive preferential treatment. Obviously, this story was written by a Man, because I don’t believe that this happens in real life - at least not where we live.
Even in my own home, I don’t get much of a break. The vision of me lounging around on the sofa while my husband fans me and feeds me grapes is only that - a vision in some alternate reality. Instead, I find myself still doing my usual chores, cooking dinner, and yelling at Adam to stop blogging as midnight rolls around. And those pesky D4 debates did not help my cause. [Note to the politicians: Could you please not hold any more special elections? I am tired of seeing my husband disappear three nights in a row during the work week because you all need to have campaign debates.]
And so rather than the universe stopping to revolve around me, I find that it continues on, just as it always did. Instead, what I find is that my life is now filled with A LOTS. I have to go the bathroom, A LOT. I eat, A LOT. I am tired, A LOT. My belly has grown, A LOT. You get the picture...
As the big day approaches, we are trying to get ready as countless parents have done before us. We ordered the crib, set up the baby registries, and are scheduled for lots of baby classes at Holy Cross Hospital. There is the ‘How the hell do I make it through labor class’, the ‘What do I do now that he is out class’, and the ‘How do I prevent him from electrocuting himself class’ (i.e. baby safety). Somehow I couldn’t convince Adam to attend the breast feeding class with me - he wanted to go to a D4 debate instead. Go figure. [Note to assorted politicians: Adam WILL be attending baby classes throughout April and May. Tuesday nights will no longer be free. Please adjust your schedules accordingly.]
There are also the usual worries: will there be any complications during delivery, will he have any health problems, will he terrorize us both with endless crying. Adam is particularly concerned about all the diapers that he will have to change. I am concerned about whether he will try to blog while changing the diapers. But such is life.
All in all, things are going pretty well (knock on wood). BOP continues to grow, and as far as we know, he is healthy. He moves around a lot, and I am sure that if he could take a mini-laptop into the womb with him, he would be typing out his daily updates on Facebook. So keep us in your thoughts. Only 2 more months, and out he comes - get ready world!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
BOP Gets First General Assembly Letter
Baby Olson-Pagnucco (BOP) has just received his first letter from the General Assembly:
Soon enough, BOP will be debating Judiciary bills with the Waldstreicher twins.
Friday, January 09, 2009
Changes Are Coming
By Holly Olson.
Over a year ago I made a suggestion that would change my life forever. I told my husband that he should start blogging. So, for better or for worse, I am in great part responsible for the beast that I have unleashed on Montgomery County, and to a lesser extent, the state of Maryland.
It started off harmlessly enough. I frankly was tired of coming home every night and having to listen to my husband rant for hours on end about assorted local political drivel. Why should I be the only one to be enlightened (suffer) by (from) this endless source of wit and wisdom? So, I did what any good wife would do — I tried to push it on someone else. My husband was a frequent reader of Just up the Pike, so it seemed natural for him to provide the occasional guest post. Soon, he began guest posting on MPW — and from there it steamrolled. Now he is the main contributor, typically posting at least once a day. He even has a Facebook page, where MPW readers can become ‘fans’. As if his ego isn’t big enough already...
My husband still shows no signs of slowing down. However, there is something that may just put a kink in his plans for mass domination of the Maryland liberal blogosphere — a baby. Yes, Adam and I have a bun in the oven — a little baby Olson-Pagnucco (BOP) due in the first week of June.
So to prepare you all for what is to come, I feel that I must lay down some rules (for my own personal sanity) — for if Adam had his way, he would probably continue to call up his ‘spies’ and post from a wireless laptop while we are in the delivery room. So come June, here are Holly’s NEW RULES:
1. No more ‘calls’ to/from local politicians after 7pm. It always amazes me how he can yap for an hour or more to one of the pols — I swear he is like a teenage girl in high school, but instead of gossiping about who is going out with who or what so-and-so wore, he talks about who is running for x seat or who is on the outs with Mike Miller. Pleasseeee...
2. No more week night ‘dinners’ with local politicians (or weekend dinners for that matter). OK, I have to give Adam some credit here. He has improved. He went through a spell this past summer where he was going out to dinner with some local muckity muck at least three times a week. Um — hello, you do have a wife! After about a month of that behavior I threatened to remove certain body parts essential to the male anatomy, and he straightened up quick. But just so he doesn’t start fantasizing about getting out of diaper duty so he can drink beer with a new ‘informant’, I figured it would be good to reinforce this rule.
3. The final and most important rule is a biggie. It will take the most self-discipline, and probably require a bit of help from you all. Adam must blog less. The daily postings, the staying up till all hours of the night, the weekend afternoons dedicated to blogging, MUST be minimized. Yes, Adam will still be up all hours of the night — but it will be for taking care of BOP and not MPW. I realize that this will probably take great will power on Adam’s part, for in many ways, blogging has become a bit of an addiction. It may even require an intervention. So I am asking all of the readers, females in particular, that if you see Adam posting too much, you must remind him of his parental responsibilities. Tell him that instead of dishing the latest local political dirt, he should instead be removing the last round of poop.
So there you have it folks. Get ready for BOP! I expect BOP to be quite feisty. When I had an ultrasound several weeks ago, the technician commented on how active it was and difficult to pin down (sound familiar?)! But have no fear, I am not banning Adam completely from blogging. I will still allow him to post on occasion. And I might add that this would be a great time for all of you wanna-be bloggers to step up to the plate and start providing guest posts. There are plenty of insightful, witty, and thoughtful readers out there who could offer a post or two a month. So let’s keep MPW alive and active — but let’s do so as a community endeavor. After all, I know that you all will continue to need your political fix — baby or no baby.
