Political Atmosphere in Maine (Clinton, Harmony: home, live, move)

[Northern Maine Land Man]

Maine is one of the bluest of the blue states. Maine voted for Kerry, Gore and Obama. As Margaret Thatcher famously said, "Socialism works until they run out of other people's money." We have a Democrat governor, two Democrat representatives, a legislature that has been Democrat for over 30 years and two US Senators who vote with the Democrats when it's important. The grass roots are stirring though since we have nearly the highest tax burden per capita income in the nation. There are, however, small pockets of people who still believe in self sufficiency and personal responsibility. We have a candidate for governor who does scare some of the old time progressives because he would rein in some of our huge bureaucracy.

Mainebrokerman notices the grass roots undercurrent and there could be some surprises this year. We could begin a return to fiscal responsibility. It will take a while because the state owes hospitals and doctors over $400,000,000 for care they have already provided. Then there is the $138,000,000 that the DHHS says they lost. I should think somebody would ask who got the money. It didn't burn up in a fire. Somebody did get that $138,000,000. Lets ask who got it. What an idea!

[BobTex]

To the OP and as a true Texan who lived in Maine a couple of years I found it quite liberal both socially and politically. They tell me Portland is the most Liberal and I lived in Bangor.

I found the liberal attitudes a bit strange as the stage was set for the area to be Conservative but I think the rest of the Northeast had a big influence.

I really found the last 3 posts interesting and with good points.

[Zymer]

Originally Posted by Evan_Lanctot

LePage scares me; not his ideas but his mouth. Saying he would say F You to the President of the United States is not indicative of a steady mind. Nor is swearing to a bunch of reporters.

Hasn't got anything to do with a "steady mind". I'd rather have some one say what he really means and a few well aimed expletives sometimes get the point across a lot better than a couple of hours of PC, non-offensive word-wrangling.

I've been composing some letters to political representatives, and in considering what I want to say, I've been thinking I need a little invective to show just how angry I really am. And I wouldn't mind having the opportunity to say "F you" to the Prez's face...he doesn't seem to be hearing it when I say it at the TV.

[broadbill]

Originally Posted by Zymer

Hasn't got anything to do with a "steady mind". I'd rather have some one say what he really means and a few well aimed expletives sometimes get the point across a lot better than a couple of hours of PC, non-offensive word-wrangling.

I think the "Ads by Google" that pops up on this page says it better than I ever could (this is a direct cut/paste of that ad/link):

"Watch LePage Lose It - Paul LePage Wants To Be Governor But Can’t Even Manage An Interview. - facebook.com"

You could explain away his behavior as a non-PC, straight-forward way of speaking....you can also describe it as crass, uneducated and inarticulate.

I think more people are turned off by it then the number who appreciate it.

[Evan_Lanctot]

Originally Posted by broadbill

I think the "Ads by Google" that pops up on this page says it better than I ever could (this is a direct cut/paste of that ad/link)

I think more people are turned off by it then the number who appreciate it.

Exactly.

[OutDoorNut]

Originally Posted by BobTex

To the OP and as a true Texan who lived in Maine a couple of years I found it quite liberal both socially and politically. They tell me Portland is the most Liberal and I lived in Bangor.

I found the liberal attitudes a bit strange as the stage was set for the area to be Conservative but I think the rest of the Northeast had a big influence.

I really found the last 3 posts interesting and with good points.

Shortages breed liberal thinking.

Like a shortage of good paying jobs and financial security.

In more densely populated areas, like cities, it's the shortage of space and affordable real estate.

The shortage of warm weather and the cost of heating, another.

[Newdaawn]

Great OP-ED piece in the BDN on Sept. 29th by a teacher in Waterville on exactly how LePage did not cut services in the school system as he claims he had done. No money for text books - some they are using are 25 years old - and shortages of math books, shortage of supplies that teachers are buying out of their salaries. He is running saying he kept taxes in Waterville down by NOT cutting services.

[mainebrokerman]

Originally Posted by broadbill

I think the "Ads by Google" that pops up on this page says it better than I ever could (this is a direct cut/paste of that ad/link):

"Watch LePage Lose It - Paul LePage Wants To Be Governor But Can’t Even Manage An Interview. - facebook.com"

You could explain away his behavior as a non-PC, straight-forward way of speaking....you can also describe it as crass, uneducated and inarticulate.

I think more people are turned off by it then the number who appreciate it.

i'd take crass, inarticulate any day over slick and glib, and spending our state&country away, and not believing a word thats said
we have too many lawyers and law professors as politicians-politicians should be like jury's - a jury amongst your peers
Id rather see politicians voted in that have been teachers, plumbers, contractors, business owners, nurses etc.

only short "terms" as in term limits

when the machine of professional politicians are greased, we all get -------!!

[Evan_Lanctot]

Even if those "Crass, inarticulate" words are lies?

[IrishMom76]

Isnt it always the lesser of two evils? If you really believe you can believe everything either canidate has to say, well lets just stop there.

"A Government big enough to give you everything is strong enough to take it all away" Thomas Jefferson