Alan Caron: Maine Democrats have only themselves to blame for LePage victory

An article that was posted on November 6 in the PPH (Pingree Press Herald) takes the view of why the Democratic party may have taken such a beating. This from the perspective of a Democrat. When done with the article check out the comments as many of them offer an interesting view of the election.

PPH (Pingree Press Herald)

Congratulations to Republican Gov. Paul LePage and his team for a well-run, smart campaign. They never wavered on making government spending, welfare and immigration their galvanizing issues. LePage didn’t commit a major gaffe. His debate performance was strong, and he actually gained support during the race.

In the wake of Tuesday’s losses, the first instinct of Democrats will be to blame others: big money from away, independent candidate Eliot Cutler and a Republican “wave.” That would be both a mistake and a lost opportunity.

Democrats need to go back to the drawing board and take a hard look at their priorities, their messaging and who they’ve been nominating for higher offices. They need to look inward rather than outward. They promised to do that kind of “soul-searching” after 2010, but there wasn’t much evidence of it this year.

Those who can’t imagine why LePage was re-elected have not been listening carefully enough to Maine people. In growing numbers, Mainers are frustrated about the state’s economy and stagnation. In part, they blame a government that has outgrown our means and that cannot be sustained without continuing tax increases, which, in turn, hurt the economy.

The election of Paul LePage was made possible because of the growing perception that Democrats have forgotten the working people and taxpayers of Maine, and that won’t change until Democrats in Maine pay more attention to those voices, and actually do something about it. Rightly or wrongly, voters are coming to feel that Democrats are incapable of changing a government that they are so busy defending.

Full story: PPH (Pingree Press Herald)

Is 58 too old to realize you're Gay?

The "Michaud disclosure" of the last two days has predictably set off a media "firestorm", which is due to run its course over the next week or so before it burns out.  At the moment appears to be using up all of the political "oxygen" in the room, and Governor LePage's announcement of his candidacy is apt to be partially eclipsed by the public, political and media rush to vocalize their greater degree of  enlightenment than everyone else.

But ... we would say, wait a minute. Michaud is really only making  a partial disclosure. Gay sex comes in many varied forms.  The so called, "Michaud disclosure" leaves unanswered a good many potentially troubling questions: 

(a) Why choose to disclose his "gay identity" just now?
(b) Since Michaud reports in the Portland Press Herald that he has no regular known partner what is the nature of his "gay sex outlet": casual pick-ups, under-age boys, public men's room encounters, male prostitutes or other types of "outlets" which might be able to compromise his political integrity? 

Is the rush to disclose, because he is being threatened with blackmail or some form of legal/police action?  At the moment, we simply don't know.  No one is addressing these serious questions.

Before we all join the emerging rally, marveling at "his courage, his honesty, his integrity", let's have a few facts.  Is courage at play, or is it lawyers and public relations "mavins" trying to forestall something less admirable than "courage", etc?

Our suggestion would be to let the firestorm burn down a bit more, before seeking answers.  And ... let others ask the questions.  Any "off color" answers are not apt stay buried for long.  And ... by all means, remember, the worst case scenario, would be for Michaud to drop out of the race, leaving Eliot Cutler as the only opponent!!  A wounded opponent still maintains the three way split.