Red Maryland and Free State Politics have reached a tentative agreement to merge their blogs to take advantage of efficiencies of scale and to reflect their increasing convergence of political and philosophical perspectives.

Red Maryland leading blogger Mark Newgent and Free State Politics' Editor in Chief Isaac Smith shook hands on the deal today in the upper back room of Chick 'n' Ruth's Delly on Main Street in Annapolis today.

The new blog will be called "Maryland Politics," a name chosen for its creativity and due to the lack of other blogs currently using of that name.

Under their operating agreement, Isaac Smith will take the lead in advancing rapid environmental and utility deregulation efforts and aggressive tax cuts while Mark Newgent and occasional Red Maryland contributor Greg Kline will work to integrate the perspectives of Queer Nation and La Raza more fully into Maryland's polity and public discourse.

Life-long Duke fan and Maryland blogger Maryland Conservatarian commented over an O'Doul's at Finn MacCool's on Capitol Hill, "Well, it's about time that these conservatives get their ears pinned back. It's not been the same since we lost Brennan on the Court."

Montgomery County civic activist Dr. Dana Beyer mused after attending a Promise Keepers' rally in Thurmont, "well, the merger will work as long as they know Jesus."

Comptroller Peter Franchot declined comment regarding the merger and apologized, citing untreated pathological shyness.