Ain't Politics Fun?

Truth be known, no they "ain't", in fact they have become too dirty and offensive. As an example, I refer to the recent column by Dave Miramant. The man got into office some two elections back through some shenanigans of the State Democrat party. He served his term, then in an attempted re-election came forth with aims of how he worked to lower taxes and other good things. This paper printed a letter from a political colleague of Mr. Miramant's which exposed the Miramant claims to be bogus. Fortunately and thankfully the voters saw through his offensive diatribe and voted Chris Rector into that office.

Apparently, now with Mr. Rector retiring, Mr. Miramant is giving it another go. In so doing, Mr. Miramant hasn't changed his fallacious political litany. This time, thanks to the letter in this paper (Sept. 4, by Paul Ackerman - "Puzzled by Miramant's take") Mr. Miramant is blown out of the political waters once again.

To disagree politically or otherwise is a precious prerogative of those of us in the free world. So why pollute it with untruths, especially when those untruths are blatantly intellectually offensive. Mr. Miramant accuses the governor of "creating more debt for the state" when in fact the governor paid back multi-millions of Medicare debt the state owed the hospitals. In addition, Maine now has a sizable surplus of some $93 million. Then again one needs remember that Democrats only generate debt much less accumulate surpluses. Paying back debts is alien to them. The fact that Mr. Miramant isn't running for governor seems to be irrelevant. To have read his column one needs conclude Mr. Miramant is amongst those Democrats who expect us to assume that our lakes and streams became polluted, (if in fact they are) with the election of a Republican governor. Does Mr. Miramant really expect us to be so obtuse as to forget that the same lakes and streams were flowing during the tenure of the four Democrat governors who preceded Governor LePage and no one raised the issue of pollution?? True, Governor LePage has his caustic and even his bawdy side, but he gets things done. Then again, who amongst us doesn't have a bit of the caustic and bawdy? The governor has lowered taxes, and his prime interest is the well-being of the state, not of his political party.

From the earliest of my 70 years of voting I used to look to vote "either side of the political aisle" if for no other reason but to assert my individual independence, but with the advent of the four musketeers headed by Obama, Biden, Pelosi and Harry Ried, heading the cesspool in D.C., it will be a cold day in hell before I consider adding to it by a local vote for Mr. Miramant.

Steve Masone
Camden

Planned Parenthood to Spend 500K in Support of Mike Michaud

Recently Maine has been assaulted by ads from Planned Parenthood (PAC) in support of Mike Michaud over Gov Paul LePage. Planned parenthood is planning on spending 500k to defeat the Governor. This is one of the most aggressive campaigns that Planned Parenthood has waged against a candidate in the state.

Why us it that Planned Parenthood support and want Mich Michaud so much. Is it because Mike is a better person? Or because of something else?

Our take is that Gov. Paul LePage has it right and Planned Parenthood is scared at the loss of funding. They look to Mike Michaud to reinstate the money that has been lost as much as supporting the reproductive rights of women. Planned Parenthood has been on the state and federal gravy train for years. They fear the loss associated with Gov Paul LePage. Our state is in no position where it can continue to support the policies that Planned Parenthood pushes on its clients. A vote for Gov. Paul LePage is a vote to keep more of your money in your pocket. A vote for Mike Michaud will mean opening up your checkbook for institutions and organizations like Planned Parenthood. To support policies that run against the ethics and morals that this country is based upon.

Do we want a career politician supporting special interests and funding their agendas. Or a politician that puts people first - that is putting our kids first? Supporting Gov. Paul LePage is supporting our kids.


For backup on the spending that Planned Parenthood is planning on spending:
2014-08-14 WABI - Planned Parenthood To Spend $500K In Maine Races
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Response to Dave Miramant Guest Column

To the Editor:

The recent guest column by Dave Miramant of Camden initially left me puzzled, as much of it was a diatribe against Governor Paul LePage. I momentarily wondered if Dave was running for governor against Paul LePage.

Further reading cleared things up, Dave Miramant thinks he is running against a partisan mirage of Governor LePage's record. Imagine that? Maybe he hasn't met his opponent Paula Sutton yet?

Miramant's comments: "...we can't take any more bullying and obstructionism of the present governor.." ; "..he has undone years of good environmental work and created more debt for our state.." ,are just remarkably twisted statements.

Granted it is obvious that Dave does not like Governor LePage, but lets be realistic about these specious claims.

The past legislative session saw about 2000 bills introduced, and the governor vetoed 180 of them. It is not obstructionism to veto bills, in fact it is usually the result of fiscal prudence, or the odor of legislative over-reach, that prompts a governor to fulfill his responsibilities of office and veto bad legislation.

Created more debt? Really Dave? Last budget numbers I saw (MEGOV) showed the state now has a surplus at fiscal year end, $39.1 million, and a balance in the general fund of $9.8 million.

When was the last time a Democrat governor in Maine put the brakes on overboard spending and waste,and helped the state to show a surplus?

Would it be too much for Dave Miramant to provide specifics of his environmental work "undone" claim. Isn't this just the perfect straw man?

Contrary to the claim, this administration has a very pro-active record trying to streamline and improve the efficiency of state agencies that deal with environmental matters.

In addition, the LePage administration overhauled the Dept. of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife, changed the Land for Maine's Future charter to require the prioritization of acquiring deer wintering habitat, repealed the unnecessary 2009 saltwater fishing license mandate, and supported the creation of a fisheries tax credit to encourage private sector investment in fish hatcheries and docks.

No, Governor LePage isn't poisoning streams and dumping pollutants into rivers.

The drum beat about Medicaid expansion is truly absurd. Claiming that we ought to take federal money for three years to expand a program that already costs Maine $2.4 billion per year defies logic. As if after the 3 years of "free" federal money we will magically come up with the hundreds of millions in addition to current costs per year to cover the expansion.

Sorry Dave did not knock on my door when he was making his 10,000+ calls, as a former Democrat of 30+ years I'd have enjoyed listening to his pitch.

Paul Ackerman

Tenants Harbor,Maine

372-6204 - cell 712-5601

Where do the candidates stand on welfare reform?

Today Michael Michaud announced a health plan which actually calls for spending more taxpayer money on welfare. That's right, Michael Michaud who in the State Senate helped expand welfare and create the hospital debt, is now calling for even more welfare. Haven't we had enough welfare expansion?

You can probably guess where Governor Paul LePage stands on this issue.

Support Gov Paul LePage by making a donation so that the state does not see welfare expansion.

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2014 Gov Paul LePage is Putting Kids First - He cares

Out of all three candidates for Governor - Paul LePage gets it when it comes to our kids. Because of the experiences he had as a child has made him a champion for children. In 2013 he signed into law the bill Sen David Dutremble submitted - LD 872. Just recently in a radio interview he spoke of an incident that had a profound impact on his life:

2014-09-13 PPH: “Listen. My dad, I remember, my dad, being about 10 years old, my dad kicking my mother seven months pregnant. A week later, it’s a stillborn. I blame my dad. End of story. End of story.”

Gov. Paul LePage is going to bat for parental rights - have Mike Michaud or Elliot Cutler done the same? The last four years Gov. Paul LePage has been putting kids first. Voting for Gov Paul LePage will ensure that our kids continue to stay in the front.

Maine GOP Praises Court Decision on Pension Reform

One of Gov. LePage, Republicans' signature achievements

AUGUSTA -- The Maine Republican Party on Tuesday praised a recent decision by the federal First Circuit Court of Appeals in Boston, which upheld the monumental pension reforms implemented by Governor Paul LePage, then-State Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, and Republican majority lawmakers in 2011. 

"Our state faced a looming cloud of fiscal disaster that had been ignored for years until Governor LePage reduced the state's long-term pension shortfall by $1.7 billion, protecting Maine taxpayers and keeping our promises to retired state employees," said Maine Republican Party Vice-Chairwoman Susan Morissette, who served in the 125th Legislature of 2011-12 and voted to pass the pension reform package.  "It takes bold leadership to fix big problems, and Governor LePage and Republicans showed that they have it in abundance." 

The case, Maine Association of Retirees v. Board of Trustees of the Maine Public Employees Retirement System, was decided unanimously in the favor of pension reformers against a challenge by various state employee labor unions in a brief opinion by a three-member panel of the First Circuit, which included former U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter.

The Republican pension reform initiative was enacted as a part of the 2011 biennial state budget and reduced the state's long-term pension shortfall from $4.1 billion to $2.4 billion -- a reduction of 41 percent -- by raising the retirement age from 62 to 65 for non-vested employees and freezing cost of living adjustments temporarily. 

"If Michael Michaud were to return to Augusta, he would surely bring back the old ways of tax, spend, promise, and pass the buck to the next legislature and the next generation," added Maine Republican Party Executive Director Jason Savage.  "He is too indebted to the union bosses and too entrenched in the old, machine politics of the past to fix Maine's finances and economy.  The very problems that this reform fixed were created by Michael Michaud and other liberal politicians in the '80s and '90s who refused to change the status quo.  They lied to Maine state workers by telling them that their pension system is sustainable." 

Michaud has received $1.65 million in Big Labor campaign contributions throughout his 12-year career in Congress.  One major union alone contributed $300,000 this year to the Maine Democratic Party to support Michaud's gubernatorial bid.  Powerful Democratic Party elder and lobbyist Severin Beliveau recently said that Gov. LePage is "the first governor in ages that is not indebted to the MSEA, NRCM and MEA."

Knox County - Mark Your Calendar - July 10 and August 14, 2014

Knox County Republicans announce the next two meetings at their new summer headquarters.

Thursday July 10 and August 14 (second Thursday of the month for July & August only)
Social time is 6:30pm and the meetings will start at 7pm. Refreshments will be provided as well as some really good food.

The new headquarters is located in Rockport at the old Cody's Restaurant building on Old County Road. Our space is located in the big red building. The street address is 399 Commercial Street, Rockland ME for those of you who do not remember Cody's.

At the meeting we will be working on campaign preparation, assisting candidates. Staff training for volunteers working at the office. We do have a new coordinator and we will hear updates from the candidates.

All republicans are welcome. Remember to bring a friend.

Sonja Sleeper
Knox County Committee Secretary