From Montgomery County Leslie Grizzard, Maria Sofia and Anne Koutsoutis were recently sworn into leadership positions for the Maryland Federation of Republican Women at their annual conference on Maryland's eastern shore. Congratulations and thank you for your leadership.

Jan. 6th detainees must receive due process

Why are some still in jail 10 months after the fact?

OPINION By Robert L. Livingston - - Wednesday, November 10, 2021

There can be no doubt that the January 6th demonstration on the east side of the US Capitol got out of hand, no matter how well-intentioned the vast majority of participants may have been.  I’ll leave it to witnesses, investigators and historians to determine exactly what prompted participants to push their way into the Capitol, resulting in events that have been excessively hashed out in the media.  The actions of many of the troublemakers were indeed threatening and might justify the word “riot,” but to repeatedly call the events an “insurrection” is a less than credible stretch. The sole victim intentionally killed that day was Ashley Babbitt, a US veteran whose misfortune was to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. A Capitol Hill policeman shot her, the only person alleged to have discharged a firearm in the vicinity of the Capitol.

Clearly, the Capitol was inadequately defended by the civilian leadership and uniformed law enforcement. But once the tragic events had occurred, it was not surprising that many arrests were made.  To this day, almost 700 people have been arrested and charged, the vast majority of whom have been released and had their cases disposed of in varying ways.

But in his television show this past Monday, Fox News’s Tucker Carlson highlighted a trip by Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to the Washington, DC prison where she spoke with some January 6th detainees who, to this day, 10 months after the fact, are still in jail.

Why?  As a former US Congressman and criminal prosecutor with three separate agencies, I am hardly one to sympathize with those who deliberately break the law. But I was proud to have carried out my prosecutorial duties in the name of justice and fair treatment for those who found themselves under legal scrutiny. I took seriously the rights bestowed on all citizens by our Constitution and our Bill of Rights, including the rights of a defendant to be told of the charges against them (Article V); the right to avoid excessive bail (Article VIII);  the right to a speedy trial with the assistance of Counsel (Article VI); and the right not to be deprived of liberty in unreasonable conditions without due process of law (Article V).

I wasn’t at the Capitol on January 6th.  I don’t know and have never met Ms. Greene or any of the people still held in the DC prison.  I know nothing of the individual cases or the evidence against any of them.  I am simply a citizen who has watched events unfold these past 10 months. I observed a fence erected around the Capitol, removed after six months, and then put back up for the July 4th festivities. I’ve seen the House of Representatives appoint an Investigation Committee accepting some but not all Members proposed by Minority Leadership. None of this is of immediate concern to me.

But I am concerned, nay, I’m shocked by the ongoing stories of prospective defendants who have been arrested and deprived of their livelihoods; confined in solitary confinement with little or no reasonable access to the outside world, their families or adequate legal counsel; and denied formal charges levied against them without bail and in contravention to their right to a speedy trial.  This past summer, I spoke with an employee at the federally appointed Public Defender’s Office who told me that they were not even representing any of these folks.  

Where is the ACLU? Where are the “civil rights” defenders who should be screaming from the rooftops about this flagrant denial of due process? We made exceptions for due process at Guantanamo for terrorists who took up arms against us in Iraq and Afghanistan.  But this is America!  Most of these people are at worst guilty of trespass or destruction of government property.  But for crying out loud, charge them, arraign them, and bring them to trial with counsel of their choice.  Stop simply confining them without respect for their rights as American citizens. Otherwise, they are no better off than if they were victims of a “star chamber” process that Kafka (“The Trial”) and Koestler (“Darkness at Noon”) warned us about. This atrocity must stop, and it must stop soon. 

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• A distinguished former Republican Member of Congress from Louisiana, Robert L. Livingston is a Founding Partner of The Livingston Group.

Copyright © 2021 The Washington Times, LLC

Reprinted from The Washington Times https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2021/nov/10/jan-6th-detainees-must-receive-due-process/

Explore MoCo for the Holidays

Explore all that Montgomery County has to offer this holiday season! Here are a few great activities to enjoy with family and friends:

• Garden of Lights at Brookside Gardens

• • • When: November 19 - January 2

• Winter Lights Festival at Seneca Creek State Park 

• • • When: November 26 - December 31

• Sounds of the Season in Downtown Silver Spring

• • • When: November 27 - December 18

• Sounds of the Season at Rio Lakefront

• • • When: November 19 - December 19 

• Butler’s Holiday Harvest Days at Butler’s Orchard 

• • • When: November 27 - December 7

• Wreath Making Workshop in Downtown Silver Spring

• • • When: December 4

• Virtual Turkey Chase

• • • When: November 15 - November 30

• Giving Help for the Holidays - Volunteer Opportunities through Montgomery County’s Volunteer Center

• • Opportunities available year-round

MONTGOMERY LATINO REPUBLICANS

Our men and women members have roots in Latin America, and come from diverse backgrounds - all living the American dream. We stand for freedom, democracy, equal opportunity, entrepreneurship, and the value of hard work, family, faith, and community. Please join us and add your valuable input to the ongoing dialogue.

All across Maryland politics is going on . . . don't be left out!

FREDERICK, MD – Republican candidate for Maryland’s Sixth Congressional District, Dr. Mariela Roca, has been officially endorsed by former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Newt Gingrich. Speaker Gingrich visited the district last October and hosted a fundraising event in support of Dr. Roca. Today, our campaign is proud and honored to receive this endorsement from Speaker Gingrich, who with his “Contract with America” led the Republican Party to victory in 1994 by capturing the majority in the U.S. House of Representatives for the first time in forty years.

With the ongoing “Biden Remorse” and the continued random antics of our local Legislators and County Council, I think that we Republicans are in a very unique place. It is time to make a difference. Will you help us:

• Lead the fight against teaching Critical Race Theory (CRT) in our schools.
• End Gerrymandered Voting Districts so all citizens have a voice.
• Demand Election Integrity for every aspect of the voting process.
• Fight to eliminate dangerous sanctuary status for illegal immigrants.
• Push to reinstate funding for our Police and needed School Resource Officers (SROs).
• Lead the response to out-of-control County Council spending, tax increases, and radical social dictums.
• Stop the proposed Thrive Montgomery 2050 Plan designed to eliminate single family homes.

It is time to get active and get involved. The wind is at our backs…

• There are 100,000 Republicans in Montgomery County. That is a lot of fire power!!!
• There are 11 County Council seats and 5 with no democratic incumbent. That is a lot of openings!!
• We will get single member districts to allow our legislative candidates the go heads up against Democratic candidates. That is a great opportunity!!!
• We have 5 million dollars of Public Election Funding which is available to County Council candidates. That is a lot of funding for candidates that step up.

We need your help to capitalize on these opportunities and make a difference. The Republican party needs your time, talent and treasure.

1. We need great candidates. If you know anyone that is passionate about a specific issue such as education, refunding the police, elimination of CRT, public safety or taxes and would like to run for public office, please have them contact me personally.
2. We need great volunteers. If you know anyone that wants to get involved but may not want to be in the spotlight, please have them contact me.
3. We need your treasure. If we are going to make a difference, we need your treasure to reach the voters of our great county with a clear, simple common sense and fair message. This outreach takes money… lots on money for social media, flyers, events, etc.  Please donate HERE.

Read this November newsletter and see that our Montgomery County Republicans are doing so much, fighting to ensure a brighter future for our kids, a better environment for our businesses, and a more prosperous and free future for us all.

Send me a note, tell me how we’re doing and your ideas for the future. Your notes give us strength, and it’s great to hear from you. Send it to [email protected]

Ask your friends and neighbors to sign up.

You're already getting The Party Line, now we need all Republicans to sign up to receive our on-line newsletter. Printing and postage are prohibitively expensive - and folks deserve communication to be informed. Ask your family, friends and neighbors to sign up HERE. Moderates, conservatives, non-affiliated, Independents, even Democrats who've been left behind by their Party...all are welcome here. 

Here's the address to sign up! https://www.mcgop.com/join

RESOLUTION OF THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY CIVIC FEDERATION, INC ON PROPOSED REZONING OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS

Whereas, the Montgomery County Civic Federation, Inc. (Civic Federation) has been proud to represent civic associations and homeowners’ associations throughout the County for nearly 100 years; and

Whereas the Civic Federation has expressed concern that current proposals may not lead to desired outcomes for improvements in meeting affordable housing targets set by the Council of Governments; and

Whereas, the Civic Federation has expressed concern about the emphasis on upzoning residential neighborhoods in the Montgomery County Planning Board’s Thrive 2050 Draft Plan currently before the Montgomery County Council; and

Whereas, the Civic Federation remains greatly concerned about the accelerated time frame established for the development and approval of these drastic and unprecedented changes in County zoning policies affecting residential neighborhoods; and

Whereas, the Civic Federation has previously expressed its view that there needs to be a substantially expanded process of community engagement and discussion about the proposed changes; and

Whereas, the members of the Civic Federation have many substantive concerns about the impact of the proposed Planning staff recommendations on the quality of life in the County’s residential neighborhoods, that include likely residential tax increases, the growing inadequacy of public facilities available to residents, gentrification, and likely serious environmental impacts associated with reduction of tree canopy and the increase in impervious surfaces; and

Whereas, the Civic Federation has serious reservations about permitting less-regulated residential building construction in single-family neighborhoods “by right,” with little, if any, regard to prevailing size, massing and architectural styles; and

Whereas, the Civic Federation notes that the Planning Department staff has continued to redefine the goals of a new housing strategy away from affordability toward "attainability"; and

Whereas, Civic Federation notes that some jurisdictions around the United States have pursued and regretted similar upzoning development strategies that have had unintended negative consequences for their communities and, particularly adverse impacts for low-income residents and communities of color; and

Whereas, the Civic Federation, recognizing the critical need to provide suitable housing for tens of thousands of future residents, believes that Montgomery County must adopt an aggressive strategy for truly affordable housing that would serve the needs of working families;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE MONTGOMERY COUNTY CIVIC FEDERATION INC.

1. Does not support the Montgomery County Planning Department’s preliminary recommendations to eliminate zoning regulations affecting established single-family neighborhoods throughout the County through a global Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) to the County Zoning Ordinance; and be it further resolved,

2. Does not support allowing new residential construction in single-family neighborhoods “by right,” with no review and approval by appropriate County development authorities; and be it further resolved,

3. Calls upon the Montgomery County Council to examine, refine and make broadly available to the public

(1) a fiscal impact statement describing the expected consequences of Countywide upzoning for Montgomery County annual revenues and expenditures;

(2) clarification of details regarding any possible residential tax increases associated with the upzoning proposals; and

(3) a racial equity and social justice impact statement regarding the proposed ZTA; and

(4) detailed information regarding the likely environmental impacts of the upzoning proposals; and be it further resolved,

4. Calls upon the County Council to develop and propose a significant new affordable housing strategy that will provide suitable accommodations for Montgomery County’s low- and middle-income residents and families to meet the Council of Government's targets for the net number of affordable units needed; and be it further resolved,

5. Calls upon the County Council to establish metrics for success for tracking and meeting the Council of Government's targets for net additional affordable units; and further be it resolved,

6. Calls upon the Montgomery County Government to establish a policy of no net loss of naturally occurring affordable housing through new development; and be it further resolved,

7. Calls upon the Montgomery County Government to ensure that master and sector planning is used to modify existing zoning in single-family neighborhoods, rather than by global zoning text amendments; and be it further resolved,

8. Calls upon the Montgomery County Government to require that a property being converted from a single residential unit to a multi-plex be the primary residence of the owner and be it further resolved,

9. Calls upon the Montgomery County Council to undertake a broad public engagement and consultation process necessary to secure community ownership of any new upzoning policy, along with additional public hearings to solicit community input.

Approved this 11th day of October 2021

Karen Cordry, Secretary

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Go to the Events section to attend an EPIC rally against THRIVE 2050

'I'm A Little Worried About What My Son Is Learning In School,' Says Dangerous Domestic Terrorist

From Babylonbee.com

EL MONTE, CA—"I'm a little worried about what my son is learning in school," said a dangerous domestic terrorist at a school board meeting earlier today.

The radical insurrectionist went on to say that "teaching kids to be racist and all about graphic depictions of sex seems a little problematic to me," confirming fears that she has been radicalized by fanatical right-wingers.

She was quickly added to the FBI Most Wanted list after expressing her concern that her children were being influenced by Marxist teachings and radical sex instruction by crazed left-wing nutjobs. Experts say she may be part of a growing number of deranged extremists who violently question the government's ownership of their children by attending the "open comments" portion of a school board meeting. 

At publishing time, she had confirmed her belief that parents should be the number-one influence on a child's mind and that the government does not own her children, causing FBI agents to gun her down on the spot, saving us all.

(Editor's note: If you share this on facebook you must disclose the Babylonbee is a satirical sight, it makes fun of very serious issues, and that this passes as humor. If you don't you will be banned from social media - well, you may be banned anyway)

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To sign a petition to the Department of Justice demanding they stop hunting down "Domestic Terrorist Moms" sign HERE.