Is Senator Susan Collins still a Republican?

Silly question?

Maybe.

But her recent political antics certainly provoke much widespread puzzlement and confusion. Either Susan is badly out of step with the Republican Party, or many in the Republican Party are out of step with Susan. As a very troubling symptom of Senator Collins political "pivots", the very left-leaning Portland Press Herald has been keeping her front and center in the paper on an almost daily basis, as she gives various Republicans a "black eye". It has kept most Republicans very unhappy!

These days Republicans come in many different "political flavors. There are:  conservative "Tea Partiers", Libertarians, Middle of the Road types, RINOs, and then there is Senator Susan Collins. Is she an Independent, or an-almost Democrat, or what?

In all fairness, Senator Collins has many years of admirable public service as a Maine Republican Senator. She used to be a fairly recognizable "middle of the road Republican", able to compromise on legislation when it seemed appropriate to get things done. This was compromise without "surrender" of core Republican principles. Now we are left wondering as she jumps ship on core Republican issues like Obamacare - repeal and replace. Senator Collins recently proposed a bill to rescind President Trump's decision to disallow transgender persons in the military. The president's decision recognized the difficulty of having a functional, combat ready military if there is an array of internal social turbulence.

Here in Maine, there is much Republican perplexity about Senator Collins "next political move". Will she run for Governor of Maine? On which party? Republican, Independent, or Democrat? When will she make known her decision? Some suggest it will happen within a month. There is considerable concern being privately expressed among some Republicans that a Collins run for Governor could be a "spoiler" for those Republicans who have already announced that they are in the gubernatorial race. The speculation is that, having offended Maine Republican leadership, and therefore  damaging her her chances in the Republican primaries, that she might enter as an Independent candidate. As an Independent, with great name recognition and with constant press approval of her rebellions against the Republican party, she might scoop up supporters from among more liberal Republicans and from a large number of Democrats, who like her attacks on Republicanism.

The word in the street is that over the years, Collins has accumulated a huge "election war chest" and doesn't need any financial support from the Maine Republican party. Furthermore, it is being whispered behind closed doors that she is hinting at helping with financial support for Maine politicians seeking Maine or national political offices. Loyalty to Susan Collins is the 'quid pro quo'. The "Collins marketing pitch": Imagine a "Republican Governor for 8 years. Imagine a Republican majority in the Maine House and Senate. Imagine an all Republican congressional delegation. 

Just "make nice" to Susan Collins in the primaries and it all could fall into place.

Has she "cooked her goose", as Gov LePage claims, or can she entice with "a chicken in every pot" for loyal candidates?

Public Comments on LR 2395 An Act To Amend the Marijuana Legalization Act.

THIS IS YOUR ONLY CHANCE: This is your one chance for your views to be heard in person by Maine's Joint Select Committee on Marijuana Legalization Implementation. This is the only time that the committee will be hearing from the public.

This past summer the committee has been hearing from the lobbyist for marijuana industry.

YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED: 

The Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee will be hosting a public hearing at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 26. The purpose of the hearing is to take public testimony on LR 2395, An Act To Amend the Marijuana Legalization Act.

LOCATION:

specific room in the State House is To Be Decided, but probably, it will be the Appropriations Committee Room (it's big). Further details will be distributed by email and posted on the committee's website at  when they become available.

COME, SPEAK, BE HEARD:

It is always strongly recommended (but not mandatory) that in addition to spoken testimony, that you have written testimony (multiple copies- 20). Written testimony goes to each committee member, the policy analysts and the State House Law Library.

Will Medical Marijuana Undermine Municipal Sovereignty?

To: Senator Roger Katz and Representative Teresa Pierce, Members of the Marijuana Legalization Implementation Committee

From: Sidney Board of Selectmen

Date:  August 28, 2017

Subject: The Dan Walker Memo dated 8/4/2017; Re: proposed changes to medical marijuana laws


The Selectmen of Sidney have grave concerns about the concepts embodied in the Walker memo. The memo from Mr. Daniel Walker to Sen Katz and Rep Pierce appears to jeopardize Sidney’s Ordinance banning all retail sales/operations of recreational marijuana, passed at the Town Meeting in March 2017. As we read this memo it would, in fact, nullify our “go dry” ordinance as it relates to recreational marijuana. Can you clarify this for us?

Here are several other questions the Walker Memo raises for which we request answers from you:

1. What would be the impact of the proposed changes in status of medical marijuana dispensaries in the Walker memo on Sidney’s current "go dry" ordinance?

 2. Would this establish 'de facto' marijuana shops, clubs and manufacturing under the medical marijuana license, and avoid the need for such businesses to contend with Sidney’s "go dry" ordinance?

 3. Does the Walker proposal subvert the intent of "local control" regarding municipal marijuana commerce?

 4. Who would regulate this commerce if it were transformed from medical marijuana to a multi-dimensional commerce, including recreational marijuana?

• Local cities and towns, the state?
• Department of Human Services?
• Who would have oversight, do inspections, assure product quality, spot check license (and other) violations and prosecute them?

 5. Who would handle law enforcement? Department of Human Services, State Police, Sherriff, local police? No one?

 6. Does the Maine Marijuana Legalization Committee intend to seek direct opinion data from Administrators and governing bodies of Maine towns and cities about the "Dan Walker" proposal? Or is it up to cities and town to oversee where the committee moves on issues affecting municipal sovereignty?

7. Is the Maine Municipal Association being briefed by the committee on these issues?   In what form are these relevant opinions being sought – written testimony or opinions, interviews, other?

8. Has the Walker memo been circulated to Maine cities and towns for their in-put? Are there any other similar proposals with an impact on municipalities that will go out for evaluation and comment?

We look forward to your response to these questions prior to the announcement of any proposed legislation.

Sincerely,

John Whitcomb, Chair; Kelly Couture, Laura Parker, Sandra Tibbitts, Tim Russell

Town of Sidney Selectmen

A note to Hollywood

Dear Hollywood celebrities and actors you only have a place in my world to entertain me. 

That’s it.

You make your living pretending to be someone else. Playing dress up like a 6 year old. You live in a make believe world in front of a camera - and often when you are away from one, too. Your entire existence depends on my patronage.

I don’t really care where you stand on issues, and I laugh at how you think your threats to leave our great nation could hold such a value that would inspire someone to change their vote. To be bluntly honest I value the opinion of the common citizen which you could only relate to through your in character moments on stage. 

Lastly I am thankful that those electoral voters stood up to you and your bullying and kept their integrity when they voted. You see, you aren’t real. I turn off my TV or shut down my computer and you cease to exist in my world. 

Once I am done with you, I can put you back in your little box until I want you to entertain me again. I hope you realize that the only words of yours that matter are scripted. In my world, you exist solely for my entertainment. 

PURE ARROGANCE!

RepubliCAN of Maine cannot take credit for writing this piece - but I think it speaks to the arrogance that Hollywood displays. These actors live in a life that is far from the reality that many of us have to experience daily. For them to tell us how we should live our lives is an insult - especially when they fail to practice what they preach.

Here is How You Can Help Richard Bennet Cast Electorial Vote

Friends,

We need your help.

We have planned a rally and march from our office at 9 Higgins Street (just a short walk from the State House) – in order to surround Chairman Bennett with strong supporters before he makes history and casts Maine’s first split Electoral Vote.

Now, I don't think it's overly dramatic to say that I do not want to see him having to wade through a crowd of protesters without a strong contingent of proud and strong supporters by his side.

So please, help us help Chairman Bennett as he makes history casting Maine's Electoral Ballot for Donald J. Trump.

I know you have probably seen the news coverage about the flood of emails and phone calls Chairman Bennett has received trying to convince him to change his vote. It is not happening.

Chairman Bennett is an honorable man who respects our republic and the people that comprise it. He WILL cast his historic vote for President-Elect Donald J. Trump, and no amount of protest will persuade him to go against the wishes of Maine’s Second Congressional District.

Please come rally, march, and stand by Chairman Richard Bennett's side this Monday, December 19th.

google maps route to state house

We will start at our office, 9 Higgins Street in Augusta, with coffee and cocoa at 1 pm. Then, we will march together to the State House and accompany Chairman Bennett into the building so he can cast our historic Electoral College vote.

It has been decades since Maine has had a Republican elector, and Chairman Bennett is New England’s ONLY  Republican Elector. 

Let us celebrate peacefully, and stand strong together as a party united.

For our planning purposes, please RSVP on this Facebook event, or email Maine GOP Communications Director Nina McLaughlin at nina@mainegop.com if you plan on attending.

Thank you so much, and we look forward to seeing you!

Sincerely,

Jason Savage
Executive Director

Court Reform - Are Judges Truly Impartial?

The Maine Voices piece in the PPH is interesting for those who support court reform. John Massaro, the author, has a couple of excellent points with which many people would agree, and some directly political points which are unknowable, more speculative and therefore less meaningful for judicial reform..

Massaro is absolutely right that a legislative Judiciary Committee - either state or federal - should raise questions in committee about the politics and ideology of judicial candidates - both new appointments and re-appointments. Judicial ideology and political views are inescapable for anybody - judges included - and unavoidably bound to have an impact (for better or worse) on judicial decisions. The public and the oversight committees need to know how the ideological deck is stacked, and it needs to be in the record for future reference. 

Mr Massimo indirectly raises an important, often taboo question: are judges truly impartial? While the "bench" has standards for judges and political behavior, these are for the judges' public 'persona'- not the "inner judge". Knowing a judges partisan and ideological leanings, as recorded in an appointment hearing, might help litigants to decide about when to challenge a judge's impartiality, about bias or conflicts of interest.

In Maine judicial appointment hearings for the vetting of judges in the Judiciary Committee are truly woeful: a perfunctory, innocuous "white wash". The committee relies almost entirely on unpublished, unexamined Maine Bar surveys, used exclusively by the Governor's appointment advocate.   As a result committee questions for judicial candidates are beyond banal.  Almost at the level of: "Read any good books, lately?" "Think the rain will ruin the rhubarb?" Judicial vetting function in public by a committee of the legislature is vital and badly in need of repair with more serious evaluation of judicial candidates.

Lawn signs......

...don't vote. At this point, all that matters is making sure Republicans and conservative voters get out and vote.

Friends,

I was hoping to get your attention. I just need a few moments of your time.

This election is on a razor's edge. It is so close nobody knows for sure what is going to happen on election day – but I know one thing, we are going to fight until the last poll closes.

One thing I love about Donald Trump is his plan to 'drain the swamp' in Washington D.C.

Let's be clear, this is long overdue. As Wikileaks and the FBI reopening their investigation show, Washington D.C. HAS become a swamp of corruption. It IS time to drain the swamp.

It is also time to make sure the Supreme Court is NOT stacked with people who will attack our rights. 

In 2010, Augusta, Maine was in a similar situation. The Maine Turnpike was out of control, and Maine Housing was wasting enormous sums of money funding pet projects for special political allies of the director. 

Bloated welfare spending, with some fraud, along with a ton of other waste and unsustainable spending for special interest groups was bankrupting the state.

Republicans came in, looked around, and said, it's time to drain this swamp. 

Bruce Poliquin was right there with his sleeves rolled up, and he got to work.

Now, in 6 days, voters have a choice to make. Is it finally time to drain the swamp in Washington? We think so. And we can vote for Republicans Donald Trump, Congressman Bruce Poliquin and Congressional Candidate Mark Holbrook as our team to do it.

Mr. Trump has the plan to drain the Washington swamp; Congressman Poliquin has proven experience draining a swamp of corruption;  and Dr. Mark Holbrook has smarts and ambition to make sure the job is done right for the people.

But, this only happens if, right now, you are willing to pledge to join the fight with us.

In 2014, I sent an email like this, and I compared our election fight for Governor LePage to the story of the '300', who knew they were outnumbered, but fought valiantly for what they loved. In the end, though, we won.

So this election, let me frame it like this for you:

There are already hundreds of people getting involved in this election.

We are no longer on defense.  We are on offense. 

We are storming the beaches this election cycle, but the fight is tough – it is brutal.

The opposition is pulling out all the stops. They are telling lies, and even stealing and destroying lawn signs and other property.

But if we do our job, all their dirty tricks are too little, too late.

They might take our lawn signs, but they'll never take our freedom, to talk to our friends, neighbors, and every voter who will support our candidates, and drain the swamp.

Right now, we NEED YOU to come in to reinforce us. 

Will you hit the street this weekend and help us win your neighborhood by making sure all your Republican and conservative neighbors vote?

Will you fire up your computer and cell phone to make calls to Republicans for our candidates?

Even if you only have one day, or a few hours, you could make a difference.

Our Presidential and Congressional elections could come down to a razor thin number of votes.

I promise you, some seats in the Maine Legislature will be won or lost by less than 20 votes.

All we have left is to prove to the radical left that, while they may take our lawn signs, they won't take our freedom to protect our country, and our principals, from the corruption of the Clinton machine.

So please, go here right now and sign up to make a difference in your community. 

http://mainegop.com/gotv/ 

We have our field team standing by to get you plugged in and working as soon as you are available.

Let's send a team to drain the swamp and begin the work of Making America Great Again.

We know which candidates will do that work, and we know what it takes to deliver victory for them.

We hope to work with you this weekend, as one force, determined to make a better America for generations to come.

Sincerely,

Jason Savage
Executive Director
Maine GOP

 P.S. Please don't close this email if you really believe in fixing our country and winning this election. Go here now and sign up to do what you can: 

 

http://mainegop.com/gotv/

Maine GOP  9 Higgins Street, Augusta, ME 04330

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