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• Anonymous

  What about us 39 percenters

• Anonymous

  LOL, “You see the passive-aggressive stickers on cars all across Maine”

  Who is “you”? It’s certainly not Mr. Gagnon. He doesn’t even live in Maine. 

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  No, I don’t live in Maine anymore… just for 26 years… but I go back enough that I may as well live there… I saw plenty of those bumper stickers two weeks ago when I was home, actually.

  Nice try though.

• Anonymous

  Nice try? I can say the same to you. You’re the one who doesn’t even live here and yet you’re trying to characterize a significant portion of Maine voters. You call them “self-righteous” with a “superiority complex” and yet somehow you think you’re in a position to scold them. It’s ridiculous. 

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  Again, I grew up in Maine, I went to school in Maine, I went to college in Maine, I got married in Maine, all of my family is in Maine, I spend a huge percent of my time back home in Maine, and I have more contact with average voters and the political class in the state than most people in the state… so I feel more than comfortable evaluating and analyzing the state’s politics, thanks.

• Anonymous

  Well exactly, and his rants are never consistent. If you believe a bumper sticker is petty, that’s fine, but you better believe that all of them (especially ones in the same vein) are, or else there is obviously something else going.

• Anonymous

  You have contact with the average voter? Then why exactly are you ignoring that and instead choosing to make determinations on Maine’s political climate based upon bumper stickers you saw on a trip to the state two weeks ago? 

  Again, it’s ridiculous.

• Anonymous

  Us 39 percenters are just so damned cool that we don’t need anybody to write about us. :-)

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  The point is that the group assumes a mantle FOR the average voter – including the average voters that didn’t vote for LePage – that is stupid and inaccurate.  The people who didn’t vote for LePage are an eclectic group of many different kinds of voter – some liberals, some independents, some conservatives… they are not some kind of unified block of voters who all share an ideology like the group pretends is true.

  The point of the column was to point that out, and to remind everyone that buying into this group is just as foolish as it would have been to buy into a 61 percenter group after Governor Baldacci’s last election… it is pointless and disingenuous.

• Anonymous

  Not really though. 

  You’ve written several other editorials about Obama being too forceful with his agenda, “ramming down our throats” etc with the same redundant language you hear on Fox News. I think the point of those bumper stickers is to remind everyone that, 61% didn’t want LePage in office, so perhaps, he shouldn’t be so forceful with his own legislative agenda. 

  Like I said, you’re very inconsistent with your criticism. I think you should find a way to articulate your views in a way that doesn’t highlight your hypocrisy. 

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  What the heck are you talking about?  I don’t write national columns… the only one I’ve written for the BDN is one that talked about the Republican primary, and it urged the Republicans to take a more realistic position on climate change.  I don’t know who you are thinking of, friend, but I haven’t written any columns about President Obama ramming legislation down our throats.

  But even if I had, the legislation that Obama “rammed” through Congress was facing widespread, loud, and passionate opposition from a demonstrated majority of the American people.  There is a pretty big difference between that, and a small group of liberal voters who say they speak for everyone who didn’t vote for the Governor without much noise at all.

• Anonymous

  One thing that seems to be forgotten is that the Governor might want to run for re-election. He should try not to alienate so many people. The same goes for all state representatives, although most of them didn’t have 3 or more people running for the same office. They still, once elected need to represent all the people in their district, regardless how they voted or are registered.

• Anonymous

  For what it’s worth, the message of this column is fact. Maybe a few assumptions of the liberal state of mind; but the message is pure fact.

• Anonymous

  LOL, suddenly a 61% turns into a “small group”. Sorry buddy, before the election, Cutler was characterized at liberal. Try as you might, you can’t turn the fact that 61% of Maine voters didn’t want someone as fringe right as Lepage as their governor into something else. 

  That’s your problem, you think you can just characterize people as whatever you want and then you assume it as fact, it’s ridiculous. Anyone with a gripe but you is just “self-righteous.” You want make assumptions about people with bumper stickers? Fine, but don’t act like their votes don’t speak for themselves.

  You’re nothing but a rabble-rouser. You really offer no insight. You just try to repaint facts as something else.

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  This appears to be difficult for you to grasp, “pal”, but that’s the entire point of the article… that 61% doesn’t exist… the group itself is the one who thinks it can cast a blanket characterization of everyone who didn’t vote for LePage as somebody who opposes his entire agenda like a progressive Democrat does.  It is assumptive, and obnoxious, because that group of people is highly diverse and voted for its own reasons.  Pretending they are all a single minded block of frothing at the mouth anti-LePage liberals is insane… a huge percentage of that group of 61% has a hell of a lot more in common with LePage than they ever will with Libby Mitchell.

  But keep pretending otherwise, pal.

• Anonymous

  But you’re the one going on the massive tangent and rant. You’re inferring quite a bit from a simple bumper stick and attaching quite a bit of meaning to it. You’re the one who is being assumptive. You also purport to be such a Mainer, I think you know best then that we don’t like others telling us what we ought to believe. That we don’t like outsiders being condescending towards us either. 

  Maine isn’t Virginia, pumpkin.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SHNOU64ZBOBIKWUF5IM6WSH7WA entitled4life

  A very good point.  61% of Maine voters did not vote for LePage and in the election before, 61% did not vote for John Baldacci.  So what?  Is that all that the democrats can come up with, that 61% of Maine voters did not cast their vote for LePage?  And as Matt Gagnon points out, are all 61% of you organized and agreeable about this entire issue?  The answer is obviously no because 19% of the 61% voted for Libby Mitchell, 36% of the 61% voted for Cutler, and the final 6% voted for Moody (5%) and Scott (1%).  It’s not like the 61% who didn’t vote for LePage all voted for the same candidate and had the election stolen, Paul LePage won because he received the most votes out of the five candidates in the race.  So keep on ranting about the 61% but as Mr. Gagnon pointed out, those stickers could have been used for almost all of the governor elections we have had but two so it is a meaningless display by a bunch of sore losers.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_L3DFAVSVJ4AOBRKHLCBL7BYVTM K.

  Matt;

  I would suggest if you want to give you diatribe any weight at all – that you don’t persist in calling opposing viewpoints ‘stupid’.  I am your antithesis in that I am not originally from Maine, but have chosen to make my home here.  Because some of those don’t share a particular ideology that you hold close to home – doesn’t mean that their concerns don’t merit debate – just as your column was given its due attention.

  Your article actually proved more of their points then your own.  Because your words like our Governors actions – tend to have a polarizing effect instead of inviting quality debate.  The argument should have simply stated that Gov. LePage did not receive 61 percent of the vote – but it would be unfair to deem that 61 percent hate our Governor and his policies.  That statement could be made and hold truth without seeking to drown out others opinions by debasing them to just being ‘stupid’.

• Anonymous

  Your attacks on a group of people, and on opinions, smack of the standrad crap from the GOP here in Maine. 61%ers are not opposed to the opinions of the right, or Mr LePage, it’s his actions. Was it created just because he was elected? No that would be a Mitch McConnel like thing. The group was created and is thriving because of actions, actions taken by a governor as well as a party that was given reigns by a state and have taken us on the wrong course. Smug and self righteous? Just like Fox News you have to insult to make a point, I can see the BDN made a pretty big mistake bringing you onto their pages, perhaps your time will run out in 2014 also.

• Anonymous

  You claim to know the motivation of every single person in the state who voted against LePage and Matt is the one making assumptions? Talk about hypocritical. You’re the one characterizing people however you want and assuming it as fact. You know NOTHING about why people voted against LePage unless you’ve asked them personally. Many people didn’t vote against LePage at all – they voted FOR another candidate. Not everyone is arrogant and negative.

  You claim 61% voted against LePage because he was too fringe? Fine. Then I claim that’s why 64% of the state voted against Cutler, because he was too far to the fringe. That’s why 81% of the state voted against Libby and 99% of the state voted against what’s-his-name. If we judge candidates’ extremism by how many people voted against them, LePage was the most moderate guy in the race.

• Anonymous

  Gagnon is right that past governors have been elected with less than 50% of the vote, but I doubt there’s ever been another governor as divisive / with as little public support as LePage.  Stated another way, had we had a run-off, all those other under-majority candidates most likely would have still won, but all bets are that Cutler would have won had it been LePage v. Cutler in head to head voting.    

  I am a member of the 61% that did not vote for LePage, but I have no interesting in slapping a 61% bumper sticker on my car because I don’t see that approach as constructive. Rather than constantly harping at LePage, I’d prefer to fix the system that let him get elected in the first place. My goal is to see Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) put into place so we do get governors with very clear 50%+ public support.

• Anonymous

   Are people going to bicker like this for the rest of his term? I didn’t vote for him and if I went back in time, I still wouldn’t vote for him. I simply don’t agree with many of his policies and plans for the state. But, he’s our Governor and will be for the next 3 years. The election was a year ago. People need to put these petty, stupid, ‘who voted for who’ arguments behind them so we can move forward, so we can make progress and compromises. If everybody is just going to pick fights with their opposing party, nagging to them about their bumper stickers or whatnot then buckle up guys, because the next 3 years is going to be one hell of a rough ride.

• Anonymous

  Incorrect.

  The “Maine’s Majority” group – not the actual 61%, the group that makes the stickers – takes a knee-jerk opposition to not only everything LePage does, but all Republican candidates and their proposals. They not only constantly attack LePage, they constantly attack our two incredibly popular, moderate Senators. They criticize all Republicans. They’re an anti-Republican group; they’re one of the most partisan groups in the state. They’re more partisan and divisive than LePage.

  If that’s your cup of tea, fine, but don’t pretend it’s otherwise. Just be honest and say you agree with them and hate all Republicans.

• Anonymous

  How ’bout coming back here to live under this moronic czar to see what he’s really like?  My 61% sticker is staying put and anyone else who wants one can get it through http://www.mainesmajority.org

• Anonymous

  BRAVO!! Logic seems to evade so many of the bumper sticker crowd. If the election was between two candidates, and one of them was handed a victory with only 39% of the votes? that would be bad. But 39 percent for one guy amongst that many candidates? Pretty damn good. Good enough, incidentally, to WIN. Legally, fairly, succintly.

• Anonymous

  Of course the 61% who did not vote for LePage is not a unified block.  However, the Governor did come into office claiming a mandate that he did not have and has even less so now.

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  Go back and check your Maine political history then.  John Baldacci spent most of both his terms in the low 30% approval ratings… in his second term he was frequently UNDER 30%… he might not have been as “divisive”, but he was more unpopular than LePage is.

  But as for divisive, go read a little on Governor Longley and you’d probably take that statement back.  Governor McKernan wasn’t as colorful, but he was every bit as combative.

  Your statement is either wishful thinking or the rose colored view of recent history… it isn’t indicative of reality.

• Anonymous

  Sorry to intrude on a private conversation between yourself and fwteagles.
  Okay, I guess I agree with you that there is no “average” voter.   I voted for Eliot Cutler.  Paul LePage would have been my fourth choice out of the five.  So that puts me in that 61% (but without a bumper sticker) who wanted someone, almost anyone, other than the person we got.  I would have appreciated an instant run-off system, by the way.
  I notice that almost all of the examples of minority governors you mention won by larger pluralities than Gov. LePage.  There may very well be a majority (maybe a landslide majority) of Maine voters like myself who wanted almost anyone but LePage. 
  Gov. LePage may actually have some good ideas (who knows?), but we can’t find out what they might be because he keeps shooting off his mouth, taking attention away from the real issues.  And he showed that talent for mouthing off during the campaign, which is why he was so far down my list of possible candidates.  As long as he continues to show a complete lack of common sense and self-control he will not win my support.

• Kimberly Ballard

  Ahem….remember this?  http://asmainegoeslolz.com/2010/election-2010/flashback-the-guy-that-won-with-38-in-2006/

• Anonymous

  Thank you for bringing this into perspective Mr. Gagnon.  The same people that cry about LePage not getting a majority don’t seem to ever remember that President Clinton never got a majority.  It’s complicated for most leftist’s, but in a three (or more) person race, obtaining a majority is seldom possible, and not even relevant.

• Anonymous

  You wrote, “those [61%] stickers could have been used for almost all of the governor elections we have had but two…”  I would phrase that differently.  All but two of the examples Mr. Gagnon cited were governors who won by larger pluralities than Gov. LePage.   When 61% vote for someone else, it is quite possible that a majority (even a landlslide majority) wanted almost anyone else.  I voted for Cutler, and LePage was my fourth choice out of the five candidates.  LePage had an uncontrollable mouth during the campaign, and he still does.  Until he develops better self-control he will not have my support.

• Anonymous

  Legally?  Yes.  Fair?  Well, I would have appreciated an instant run-off system.  My first choice was Cutler, and so I voted for him.  But my second choice was Mitchell, and my third was Moody.  LePage was my fourth choice, jut ahead of Scott (who received 1% of the vote).  In other words, I wanted almost anyone but LePage and his potty mouth.  So the system was legal, but in my opinion instant run-off voting would have made it more fair.

• Anonymous

  I give you a lot of credit for having the patience you demonstrated in dealing with this cretin.

• Anonymous

  Which loser did you vote for?

• Anonymous

  Moronic czar…he still beat out everyone else to be the Gov of Maine.  Get over it.  You and your ilk never bitched when Baldy was in office not representing 61%

• Anonymous

  Yet, “If_you_ask_me” has a valid point about instant run-off voting.  I voted for Cutler.  My second choice was Mitchell, and my third choice was Moody.  I would have put potty-mouth LePage fourth on my list, just barely ahead of Scott (all I knew about Scott was that he had a poor driving record).  So an instant run-off system would have put greater fairness into the election, in my point of view.  I don’t have a 61% bumper sticker, but I’m part of that largely unhappy 61%.

• Anonymous

  Know where I can buy a “1-20-2013″ bumper sticker?

• Anonymous

  And it’s a fact that there are a lot of trees in Maine.  But the point of the column was Gagnon’s opinions about the facts, which is why the BDN placed it in the Opinion section.

• Anonymous

  You had your say in the newspaper.  Don’t you think it is poor form to write back and forth and get so sarcastic and defensive in this forum?

• http://twitter.com/BeachPatriot Mike Coleman

  I would rather have a governor that speaks ineloquently but will tackle the fiscal problems of the state head on, rather than a silver tongued speaker that will maintain the status quo.

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  But it isn’t bad form for the people I was *responding* to to be “sarcastic and defensive” about my column?  Do you even hear yourself?  No, it isn’t bad form… I wrote something, a couple people decided to come in here and act like whiny children about the opinion and out came the smugness, so I responded.  Just because you’d prefer to have your opinions unchallenged doesn’t make it bad form for me to throw a dose of cold water on you.

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  I’m not inferring anything from a bumper sticker, which I think you know.  I’ve been watching the group behind it for quite a while now, and it is VERY obvious what they are all about.  But go ahead, try to sit there with a straight face otherwise… I could use a laugh… pumpkin…

• Anonymous

  What nice try? It sounds like fwteagles is only telling the truth. Funny thing I drive around Hampden quite a bit. I live there. I am not seeing all of these bumper stickers you are talking about. Just where are you seeing them?

• Anonymous

  I look forward to reading your essay in which you scold Obama’s detractors as petty sore losers. That’s coming soon, right? I mean, you wouldn’t want to seem inconsistent and selective in your criticism, would you?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SHNOU64ZBOBIKWUF5IM6WSH7WA entitled4life

  If that makes sense to you, great because it makes no sense to me at all.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SHNOU64ZBOBIKWUF5IM6WSH7WA entitled4life

  Funny how runoff elections are the talking point of democrats these days.  They did not really lose the election because had there been a runoff election, Cutler, a democrat, would have won or maybe even head to head LePage would have won, there is absolutely no way to know that.  I voted for LePage and would have put Cutler in the five slot, right behind Mitchell.

• Anonymous

  I think the people of Maine definitely would give a mandate to somebody who wants smarter, smaller, more efficient and affordable government with a stronger private sector economy.

  This is what  LePage was elected on. Do you oppose these goals? Is this what you believe he does not have a mandate to do? Do you honestly believe that a huge percentage of people don’t support these goals?

   

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_SHNOU64ZBOBIKWUF5IM6WSH7WA entitled4life

  Enjoy the next 3 years.

• Anonymous

  What’s wrong with hating ALL Republicans?!

• Anonymous

  Mr. Gagnon is quite right. In democracies where the voting mechanism often results in a plurality victor, the winner is the the candidate with the most votes, not necessarily the one most would have voted for give a choice between two.

  But that begs a different question. Paul LePages’ stature has been diminished by his post election performance, not by the complaints by “smug” or “self-righteous” detractors.

  Frankly, I wasn’t impressed with the Republican Party after their get-together in Portland in the spring of 2010. There were quite a few other potential candidates who, in my opinion, could have served conservative values better, with a greater sense of dignity and considerably more political experience than Paul LePage. But, like you say, that’s the process. So it goes.

  However, the animosity with which he is currently confronted by the “club” you so easily dismiss is entirely of his own creation. His style, his unyielding confrontational postures, his myopic attention to “business” at the expense of “people” interests and his inability to understand that successful governing requires an ability to be in balance with divergent groups rather than deliberately offending them has garnered him disrespect from all but that small group that hijacked the Republican convention.

  No, Mr. Gagnon, the 61% you are talking about are not alone and not fragmented complainers. When people find sour grapes stuffed in their mouths, they spit them out.

  Mr. LePage is a sour grape.

• Anonymous

  I well remember the McKernan years. Moderate though he was, he was in many ways actually more divisive than LePage.

• Anonymous

  Cite me the exact quote where he claimed a mandate that he did not have, please. When did he say he was proceeding with his agenda because he received a greater percentage of the vote than he did?

• Anonymous

  But the fact of the matter is that YOU DON’T LIVE IN MAINE. You can evaluate and analyze all you want, but you’re just an outside observer (unless you sneak into Maine to register and vote on election day).

• Anonymous

  Do you know members of the group? I’m one, and the group MAKES NO ASSUMPTION on behalf of the average voter. People who get bumper stickers do so of their own volition. Clearly, the organization represents something to them and, unlike you, I won’t presume to declare what it is the group represents OTHER THAN it’s complete and utter dissatisfaction with the current occupant of the Blaine House.

• Ralph Gustavsen

  You’re not inferring anything from a bumber sticker? Can you not read what you wrote?
  “…entirely too smug and self-righteous group of Mainers who view Gov. LePage as illegitimate”.  You are literally judging a whole group of people from a bumber sticker. Then denying it.  Nice try Pumpkin.

• Anonymous

  Well, Matthew, it’s clear you are out of touch with EVERYTHING. With only 38% of the vote, Paul LePage may have won a plurality, but he did not win even a majority. Paul LePage represents merely 38% of the voters, if that (many feel betrayed as a result of his actions and inaction). Now, you go on to say that those of us who are members of Maine’s Majority don’t represent a unified block. We never said we did, however, I think that you’ll find more of us in Maine who disagree with Governor LePage than agree with him. During LePage’s inauguration speech, he claimed he would be the governor for ALL of the people of Maine, yet promptly turned around and told a group representing one, growing, segment of the population to “kiss my butt.” Claiming that he wasn’t going to attend an event put on by a “special interest” group (NAACP), because he wasn’t going to pander to special interests, he instead went to a Maine Right to Life event (another SPECIAL INTERSEST GROUP). Just a little hypocritical. As for the rest of your “analysis” it’s irrelevant, moot, and more or less a fluff piece aimed whatever conservative base you’re playing to.

• Anonymous

  Interesting terms you use Matthew when referring to the 61% of Mainers who did not support or vote for the Governor. Since the readership of the Bangor Daily News is made up primarily of people who actually live in the State of Maine, predominantly the eastern and northern part of the State and not Virginia I find it strange that you have chosen to classify what has to be a very high percentage of the News’ readers as passive-aggressive, entirely too smug and self-righteous. You go on to call a person who obviously disagrees with you “pal”. I don’t know why but when I read that the vision of a large bald thug looking for a fight in a bar came to mind. Matthew you said in reply to one of the posters, I think it was the same poster you referred to as “pal” , that you have more contact with Maine’s political class then most Maine people. Just who comprises this political class of which you speak? I also note, Matthew, that there is no disclaimer by the News in regard to your article. Does that mean that the ownership and management of the News is in agreement with what you write and also the way you respond to their readers?

• Shallee Page

  It is surprising that Mr. Gagnon or someone else hasn’t invoked runoff voting in this thread.  That would have answered the question that you are arguing about.  What would that 61% have wanted if they could have picked a #2 candidate.  It will be interesting to see how runoff voting plays out in Portland…..

• Anonymous

  psst, it was thirty NINE percent. Cause, you know, 39+61=100.

• Anonymous

  Writing about Maine elections and not being registered to vote might be considered ‘voter fraud’ by Charlie Webster and Charlie Summers.

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  Maybe you need to read again… I said “pal” and put it in quotes for a specific reason… he had used that same word to snark at me FIRST, and I was pointing out what an obnoxiously prickish way of addressing a person it was, by using it back at him in a very obviously sarcastic fashion.  Next time read the entire string before you chastise me for something like that, thanks.

  As for my contact with the political class… I’ve run Pine Tree Politics for three years now which has kept me constantly involved with legislators, Senators, party leaders, opinion commentators, media figures, and right on down the line… in *both* parties… I spend a great deal of time talking to them so I have a pretty decent handle on what is going on, irrespective of where I live.

• kkmousse

  Granted that we are not a unifide group of voters. That is not even the point.  The point is that we have a minority gov that speaks about common sense however with a business leaning idealogy.   Most of the group that I am a part of are mostly working people that want jobs.  We have yet to see that materialize an any BIG way at all.
  Fastfood, service and min wages stuff with no benefits does not feed a family and provide medical.  All those jobs are gonig to lower paid overseas people and also overseas people that come here and take jobs. 
  Lots of promises of jobs, Gov payouts to Businesses to create ficticious job with no longevity.  Or just outright taking the tax break and then moving to another State or Country and not have to pay back the tax break.  Now that happens in lots of State.
  Now we hear that Asian business would come here but the energy costs are too high.  yep that they are. Maine is a cold State and the cold and dark seasons last a long time.  So the cost of doing business here is not very attractive to business. 
  But somehow there has to be a bright side to this story.  We want jobs and they have to have some meaningful pay so that we can at least put food on the table, have medical and dental care.  and maybe see a ball game once in a while.

  So this group does not have to be unified at liberal, conservative or whatever.  Just Common sense people that chose to live here and be treated right. All of us 61 %.  And I chose to  move and live in Maine. But I am not and will never be a Mainer ….I do not  meet those requirements at all!

• Anonymous

  Great article Matt.  You are spot on.  It is completely erroneous for the “So
  called 61%” crowd,” to assume they speak for most Mainers.  Under this
  group’s logic, one would also believe that 61% of Mainers were thrilled
  with the Baldacci/Mitchell/Cain regime for turning Maine’s economy into a
  rat hole filled with the astronomical total state budget debt of 12.7
  billion dollars.  Had 61% of Mainers been pleased with the Baldacci
  economic malaise, Mitchell would have garnered 61% of the vote and would
  be Maine’s governor.  Libby Mitchell only garnered 19% of the vote and
  luckily for Maine, 81% voted for a CHANGE in direction.  Yes, what a
  positive change it has been.  Governor LePage and the Republican
  legislature are doing an excellent job!!  

• kkmousse

  What is wrong with a diverse Group of people coming togather for a common cause. It happens all the time! 
  The problem with politics is that it has become fixed in a narrow platform that does not really speak to the people.  The more narrow it becomes the more people move away from identifing with a party. GOP or DEM and IND (apparently that has become a party too…but at one time it was for those people that did not want  to be labeled GOP or DEM).

  Unfortunately parties in Government do not even listen to the voters anymore. The focus is on making money to get into office then finding more money from lobbiest to stay in office.  The people seem to play no part in what happens after they are in office. 
  so the 61% just want a elected official to remember that they were voted in to represent them and not some foreign lobby group.
  It is sickening how the focus of a Presidential campaign has become electorial votes.  Maine only has 2 so they do not entice many visits to this State. 
  Just give us a politician that pays attention to a people they represent and try to make a difference for the state to improve the situdation of all of us equally!

• Anonymous

  I’ll bet Mr. Gagnon would prefer to lock us all up in the electrical closet with the mural rather than allow people to their right to freedom of speech.

• Anonymous

  Just who is the “political class” in Maine that you have so much contact with?

• Anonymous

  It’s assumptive and obnozxious for you to pretend to know what an entire group of people, of which you are not a member, thinks or feels.

• Anonymous

  In sum, though you don’t live in Maine and call those and their ideas that disagree with you “stupid,” you still believe yourself to be in a position to make determinations about a huge portion of Maine voters based upon the bumper stickers you allege are rampant throughout the state. It is others who are petty, obnoxious, prickish, self-righteous, sore, and smug — not you. Because you don’t have your own superiority-complex, you are in the one most qualified to assert what and who the bulk of Maine voters are.

  Also, I called you buddy, not pal.

• Anonymous

  You mean just like the bumper stickers challenged your opinion so much that you were compelled to write your smg piece?

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  You have the right to speak all you want… that doesn’t mean that right to speech protects you from being disagreed with… I’d get used to it if I were you…

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  I didn’t call the ideas I disagreed with stupid… I called their assumption of the mantle of 61% when they VERY obviously do not represent that entire group of 61% stupid… and I called it that because it is… it would be like me suggesting that the 61% of voters who didn’t vote for Baldacci in 2006 were all part of the same group of people who unilaterally opposed everything Baldacci did, when a substantial chunk of those voters voted for Merrill and LaMarche, two groups that were a lot more likely to side with Baldacci on anything than say, a Republican like Woodcock.

  I find the group that calls itself the sixty-one percenters smug and they act morally superior and they try to use a number that doesn’t belong to them to justify their smugness.  That *is* stupid, and I’m sorry my calling it that offended you.  But stop saying I called ideas I disagree with or the people who advocate them stupid… there is a substantial difference between saying “you did something stupid” and “you ARE stupid”.  Let it go already, man.

• Anonymous

  Actually he used the word “buddy”, perhaps you would be well advised to be the one who re reads things before getting snotty with people.  I had read the entire string as well as your other articles. As far as the way you responded to the poster with your “pal” remark it still brought the vision of an over sized , self impressed bald thug looking for a fight in a bar to mind. But that is just my personal opinion. By the way you never answered my prior question about where all of the cars with the bumper stickers you referenced are in Hampden. 

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  I’m not judging them FOR the bumper sticker.  The bumper sticker isn’t the source of my opinion on that group of people – it is but a symbol of it.  It was an illustrative opening, nothing more.

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  Nothing is wrong with a diverse group coming together in common cause.  Which is my whole point – this group is NOT such a group.  They are angry Democrats and the more leftist of the Cutler voters coming together into a support group to make themselves feel morally superior to the people they lost to, and to do it, they are assuming the mantle of a number that doesn’t belong to them.  

  A significant chunk of the 61% was conservative/centrist Cutler voters, independents with no particular hate of LePage, conservative Moody voters, etc… you have no way of suggesting that people who didn’t vote for LePage were somehow voting *against* him… the liberals certainly were, but the rest of that group more likely just voted for who they liked the best, and wanted to take a wait and see attitude about LePage.

• Anonymous

  I see, so if other people get whiny and sarcastic, it’s all right for you to get whiny and sarcastic.  Two wrongs make a right.  That gives everyone the right to get whiny and sarcastic, because they can blame it on the other person and take no responsibility for themselves.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_YAJZRSHZOYGTLTZOUREIQ7PRFY Mmmm

  Last I saw LePage’s approval rating was 31%.  Maybe the group should change its name to 69%.

  LePage is hands down the worst governor in our lifetime (and I’m 60 years old).  He sold out the old, and sick and rural for a few campaign finanace dollars.  
  He loaded up his cabinet with a bunch of incompetent toadies.
  He has repeatedly brought embarrassment on the state of Maine and its people.

  do us a favor Gagnon–stay inside the beltway, where you belong.  You are no Mainer–regardless of where you were born.

• Anonymous

  If you don’t know what you are replying to, why reply?

• Anonymous

  I agree, and that’s what I’ve been saying.  If we had an instant run-off system, I could have voted for my first choice, second choice, etc.  LePage was my fourth choice out of five.  I suspect that many voters wanted to defeat LePage as much as they wanted to elect the person they voted for.

• Anonymous

  I was not suggesting that LePage speaks ineloquently.  I was suggesting that he has a potty mouth and demonstrates lack of self-control. His mouthing-off obscures the real issues. If he is actually doing anything effective or worthwhile most people won’t notice it because they are distracted by his uncontrolled outbursts. Because of his lack of self-control, he makes enemies unnecessarily and represents our state poorly.

• Anonymous

  Now the readers of the Bangor Daily News are not only entirely  smug and self-righteous as you put it , but now you  refer to us as whiny children simply because we disagree with you.  

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  The account you listed to make this comment shows that you live in Princeton, New Jersey.  Could you spare me the nativist garbage? 

• Anonymous

  The pot calling the kettle black.

• Anonymous

  You keep going on and on about how in touch you are with Maine and its voters, but then you instead choose to characterize them on the basis of their bumper stickers. Then, when someone finds that questionable, you throw a fit and in that same breath, you criticize others of being sore losers and childish. All the descriptors you use, whether it be to characterize the person or their actions, to me seem pretty fitting as a way of describing your own behavior here. I think what’s really stupid is your blatant hypocrisy.

• Anonymous

  I’m a liberal who voted for Cutler, and wanted to defeat LePage just as strongly as I wanted to elect Cutler (who I viewed as far more liberal than LePage, more effective than Mitchell, and more electable than Moody).  LePage was my fourth choice — it was “almost anybody but potty-mouth LePage.”  Many switched from Mitchell to Cutler on the last weekend because they wanted to stop LePage.  The shifting poll numbers gave strong evidence for the last-minute Mitchell to Cutler switch. So where do I, and the many other voters like me, fit into your strange calculations?

• Anonymous

  It’s the entire ridiculous premise, actually.

• Anonymous

  Read the column again: He’s not referring to the 61% of Mainers who did not vote for the Governor (some of whom now support his efforts), he’s referring to the members of this group and those who have these stickers on their car.

  What newspapers do you read that it’s standard practice for them to put disclaimers on every column that lists the author to further clarify that it’s not the official position of the paper? No paper in Maine ever does that, because there’s no need to; it doesn’t make any sense.  I’ve never seen any paper anywhere do that.

• Anonymous

  Does anyone else besides me think it’s unbecoming of an opinion piece writer to go out and duke it out with the folks who comment on his published piece? Maureen Dowd and David Brooks get some pretty nasty comments when they opine, but I don’t see them lowering themselves to slugging it out in the online comment gallery. Just saying.

• Anonymous

  You fit perfectly into his very reasonable calculations.

• Anonymous

  No, the First Amendment gives everyone the right to get whiny and sarcastic.

• Anonymous

  Do you really have so much time on your hands that you are looking up the profiles of the people who posts comments on your piece? That’s creepy.

• Anonymous

  Not just unbecoming but shocking.  He’s duking it out on the 61%’s Facebook page as well.  Doesn’t have a lot else to do I guess.  I wouldn’t compare him to Maureen Dowd, David Brooks, or any other professional journalist.   Tough guy taking on 61% of the state’s voting population and calling us stupid.  This guy wasn’t the greatest choice to represent Maine’s GOP in the BDN. By the way, the 61 percenters don’t consider LePage to be “illegitimate,” I’m not sure why he states that in the first sentence.

• Anonymous

  If it’s a talking point, it’s one you apparently don’t understand.  

• Anonymous

  Yes, I don’t EVER remember reading a published piece (except maybe in a blog) where the original poster got down and dirty attacking the commenters. It really demeans him.

• Anonymous

  Just like LePage wasn’t the greatest choice to represent Maine’s GOP in the election. That’s why we’re in this pickle, isn’t it?

• Anonymous

  His choice, for better or worse.  Ah youth.  Reminds me of my salad days, when I was green …

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQ5FTDYTJ4YBVCLT7G4U5RRASY Kitty

  The Liberal/Progressive bastion known as Portland and surrounding areas stick these on their cars. Eliot Cutler took 4 Coastal Counties in the 2010 election. Gov. LePage took the other 12 Counties in the election. In the end, rural Maine chose Paul LePage for their next Governor.”With the exception of the area right around Portland, LePage got virtually every town with a population under 1,000,” said L. Sandy Maisel, professor of government at Colby College. “More than any election that I can recall in Maine, it was a rural-urban split.”
  In the cocktail parties of the cultured Maine elite, they hold their noses and exclaim, “Hayseeds chose this unsavory Governor and we’ll just have to have patience until the 2014 Elections.” In the meantime they inform one another where to get their 61% bumper sticker.   

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  No more unbecoming than anonymous internet commenters engaging in the cheap trash first… I didn’t call anyone any names and I never called anyone stupid… I said the assertions they made were stupid, and that is a big difference.

  As for my engaging with people here, your problem with it is what?  The author of a piece isn’t allowed to defend what he or she said?  I see… interesting take… Dowd and Brooks don’t “lower themselves” (are you calling your fellow commenters “low”?) because they write for major national papers and get thousands of comments and it is impossible to even begin to engage there… and even if they could, they both started writing on a typewriter and likely don’t have much interest in the online back and forth.  Apples and oranges (and I’m not the only writer here who has done it, thanks).

• http://www.facebook.com/matthewgagnon Matthew Gagnon

  Time?  It took .00000001 seconds.  I clicked on the blue link that was his name as it indicates he linked a profile.  I’ve spent a longer time sneezing.

• Anonymous

  Unbecoming, GIVE ME A BREAK!  How about a simple exercise of free speech.  The last I knew, Mr. Gagnon has the same free speech rights as everyone else.  The only difference is he is presenting irrefutable arguments supporting his position and the so called 61% crowd can’t stand it because they can’t defend their positions.  In other words, Matt trumps them every time.  Perhaps this liberal minority group could benefit from a class in “Tolerance.”

• Anonymous

  Hampden’s population is well in excess of 1000 as is Bangor’s. Frankly I am just not seeing all of these bumper stickers that Mr. Gagnon claims are on cars all across Maine. Of course I don’t get invited to many cocktail parties held by the cultured Maine elite, who ever they are, either. But thank you for answering for Matthew.

• Anonymous

  I’ll quit beating about the bush: It devalues your opinion/position/power of persuasion when you to jump in and take part in the comments, especially in the juvenile manner that you’re doing it (with name-calling and all.) Any credibility you got by being put in print is totally frittered away when you engage in the comments in this manner. Yes, I have seen someone else from time to time post a short comment to clarify (like an editor’s note) but I personally haven’t seem the original poster start slugging it out when commentors. Yes, we (the anonymous comments) can get low and pettty and immature, and when you jump in, it brings you down.

• Anonymous

  1.  You might want to bone up on Bill of Rights before you start ranting about freedom of speech.  The Bill of Rights addresses GOVERNMENT restrictions on speech. There are no laws restricting Mr. Gagnon’s participation in comments.  

  2.  I did not say Mr. Gagnon is barred from commenting, Im just saying it makes him look foolish to do so. I don’t see Bill Cohen, George Mitchell, Angus King, Olympis Snowe, etc. writing an opinion piece and then pouncing on anyone who disagrees. Why? Because they exercise discretion and maturity.

  3. Might try a little of your own tolerance. and lay off the ALL CAPS TYPING, okay?

• Anonymous

  It took John Baldacci 8 years to get down to 34%, Lepage is heading for 25% by January. It appears that Gagnon was right, it’s not 61% that diapprove, it’s 69%.

• Anonymous

  If referring to those who do not agree with you as “whiny children” is not name calling what is it?

• Anonymous

  (Pssst – he has just alienated the “nativists,” a faction of his party I think.)

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQ5FTDYTJ4YBVCLT7G4U5RRASY Kitty

  LOL…..if Gov. LePage develops “better” self-control, will he have your support ?  Reply not necessary…..it’s only rhetorical. I’ve heard many a silver-tongued politician deliver skilled and polished speeches, all the while selling us down the drain. Slippery, spineless cowards….but they sure give a “good” speech.

• Anonymous

  Of course the 61% that didn’t vote for LePage don’t represent a unified bloc.  However, neither do the 39% that did vote for Lepage (granted, “solidarity” may have been more prevalent).  How nice of you to say that you would have been OK with Cutler winning (and he would have if not for last-minute, fraudalent campaigning).  For those who vote the party/ideological line, thay may claim to agree with everything “their” candidate says or does (and feel obligated somehow) but no candidate is worthy of that sigle minded (blindered?) backing.  Rabid LePage supporters seem to think that he has a mandate, but he doesn’t, far from it.

• http://www.facebook.com/people/Christopher-White/1508030373 Christopher White

  Matthew Gagnon, … a Republican political strategist [who] previously worked for Sen. Susan Collins and the National Republican Senatorial Committee offers some highly partisan GOP thoughts on those who have 61% bumper stickers. Such a surprise! Perhaps unwittingly, as he engages in flame wars with those who disagree with his simplistic partisan view of many … quite possibly a majority of … Mainers (well, people living and voting in Maine, since who is a “REAL” Mainer figures so prominently in this and similar discussions) who feel the Governor has been divisive and petty rather than open to working with those who do not already agree with his every action and utterance, Gagnon makes an excellent case for why we need Instant Runoff Balloting for any and all elections in which three or more candidates are on the ballot. Much of the energy behind the 61% group is the result of Gov. LePage’s abrasive style and vindictiveness toward anyone whom he deems “an opponent”, which is anyone who did not vote for him or give him money. While there were other governors who won with a scant plurality, and even other times when the wrangling became divisive, Gov. LePage has been in a class of his own in maintaining a combative posture.

  Voter turnout in Maine for the 2010 election was highest in the nation at just over 56%, which is in itself an indictment of our malfunctioning political system. Roughly 21.5% of eligible Maine voters, therefore, cast a ballot for LePage, hardly a “mandate” to do anything, much less to overturn decades of legislation protecting workers rights, our environment and so on all in the name of making Maine “Open for Business”.

  And, for what it’s worth, I’ve NEVER belonged to ANY political party. I’ve voted for Democrats, Republicans, Greens, and Independent candidates. I want Instant Runoff Balloting, which I am convinced will help restore power to the people instead of keeping it vested in the likes of Mr. Gagnon and the special interest corporate lobbyists who fund the status quo serving candidates both of the two major parties inevitably run.

• Anonymous

  The 61% sure does exist, these numbers don’t lie.  Are they unified? Are they as vocal? Did they have they same reasons for not voting for LePage?  No to all, but so what?  The LePage 39% are not homogeneous either, although some feel obligated to parrot that they are.  Wer’re not talking absolutes here, far from it, even thaough too many on the “right” seem to think that absolutes are the only way we operate.

• Anonymous

  Actually, I welcome responses from authors of commnetaries and editorials.  However, if nothing new is said, it rapdily gets stale.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQ5FTDYTJ4YBVCLT7G4U5RRASY Kitty

  We have 3 years and 3 months to go with Gov. LePage. Perhaps we should consider manufacturing 38% stickers. 108,137 voters didn’t vote for Cutler either. If we added on that percentage to our 38 % we could make 59% stickers.  

• Anonymous

  I may not show these bumper stickers (I don’t use any) but I do identify with the sentiment, esepcially in response to the smug, arrogant, imperialist “winners” (alleged).  Does that make me an “angry Democrat”?  Hardly.  You sterotype even more than your opposition.

• Anonymous

  At least Gagnon had some more original (although still unsatisfactory) comments.  Unlike other repetitions enedlessaly echoed/parroted.

• Anonymous

  Speaking of “knee-jerk” …

• Anonymous

  All the more reason to have insant runoff elections for all offices with more than two candidates running.

• Anonymous

  Not.  But you don’t do that good a job with your PR.  Think twice about hiring Gagnon.  He’s eloquent (even slinck) but too abosolutist/sterotyping for many of us.

• Anonymous

  You need help?  Contrary to the poor winners you portray yourself as.

• Anonymous

  You literally called people names in the first paragraph of this piece. 

• Anonymous

  Your views on Instant Runoff?

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQ5FTDYTJ4YBVCLT7G4U5RRASY Kitty

  It must be that Matthew Gagnon didn’t get the memo from Dowd and Brooks that an opinion columnist has no 1st amendment rights after their column is published. Matthew has the LePage haters all atwitter today…… downright seething !  Take a chill pill, all you LePage haters. This is a beautiful day in Maine. Don’t you think you should get out into the fresh air for awhile? It will help bring down your through-the-roof blood pressure. 

• Anonymous

  And how would you know that?  I think you just violated confidentiality agreements.  How about that, BDN?  Why does anyone, outside of BDN staff have access to our accounts?  Response, please.

• Anonymous

  I wondered about the blue screen names.  Glad I don’t have one.  Good advice to others, DON’T.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1071238036 Aaron Dotter

  If we have such “fiscal problems” then we shouldn’t be cutting taxes.

• Anonymous

  And what qualifies you to run Pine Tree Politics?

• Anonymous

  LePage may or may not have indicatged he had a majority, but his “backers” have been trumpting that falsehood since the election.

• Anonymous

  I don’t get how you Tea Party guys (and gals) profess to love the Constitution so much, yet you don’t really understand what the Constitution says and how it operates. The First Amendment has absolutely  zero to do with a columnist engaging with the folks who comment on his piece. My comment was that it makes Mr. Gagnon look terribly immature to start arguing with his detractors.  Prudence (not any law) would have him remain mum and let his own column speak for itself.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1071238036 Aaron Dotter

  The percentage of the vote isn’t the sole reason this group opposes Gov. LePage.  He doesn’t govern like he got 39% of the vote.   He calls his opponents names and deliberately antagonizes them by doing things like removing murals and changing names of conference rooms.  He vetoed bills passed by large bipartisan majorities.

  Angus King wouldn’t have gotten a majority of the vote in 1998 had he not governed in a manner that would earn him that support.  Same with Brennan in 1980.  I haven’t seen evidence of LePage and the GOP Legislature governing in such a manner- though there is still time.

  Where did Mr. Cutler state that he was opposed to “liberal voting laws”?

• Anonymous

  Big announcement today in Brunswick about a $3 million investment in Maine by a charitable foundation from NYC with the aim of creating 10,000 new jobs. Olympia & Susan were there, Chellie & Michael where there. Paul was noticeable. Sent an deputy commission from DECD, someone fresh on the job who did not even apologize or attempt to explain the gov’nuh’s absense. That speaks volumes. http://www.marketwatch.com/story/blackstone-charitable-foundation-commits-3-million-to-accelerate-growth-in-maine-2011-10-07

• Anonymous

  “A Republican Political Strategist,” says the little bio. Too bad it isn’t at the beginning of the piece, because it explains so much.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQ5FTDYTJ4YBVCLT7G4U5RRASY Kitty

  I doubt the citizens in the Bangor/ Brewer area are as spellbound and mesmerized with a 61% bumper sticker as the beautiful people along the coast. Let there be no mistake…they feel obligated and compelled to let everyone who sees the rear-end of their cars know they DID NOT vote for the awkward and unpolished Paul LePage.

• Anonymous

  I voted for him. Been kicking myself since he took office.

• Anonymous

  One does not have to be in a “liberal state of mind” to criticise both LePage and Gagnon.

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQ5FTDYTJ4YBVCLT7G4U5RRASY Kitty

  OK Matt Gagnon……from now on you’ll have to address whiney children as ”complainers.”  It is not only merely appropiate, but really most sincerely ……. PC. 

• http://pulse.yahoo.com/_CQ5FTDYTJ4YBVCLT7G4U5RRASY Kitty

  Nice try.

• Anonymous

  1)  Correct, there are no laws restricting Mr. Gagnon from exercising free speech.  That was my point.  Your earlier post implied that Mr. Gagnon should remain silent, while the so called 61% crowd comes out swinging.  Something doesn’t seem right here.  Are you opposed to a fair debate?  If so, is it because you cannot defend your positions and have met your match with Mr. Gagnon?

  2)  Foolish to comment.  Hardly! 

  3)  It appears that you are offended quite easily.  First by Matt exercising his free speech rights, and now by me using ALL CAPS.  Perhaps a course in developing “Thicker Skin,” would be more appropriate.

  In the meantime, Governor LePage is proudly representing Maine and is undoing 40 years of damage, done by your heroes who recently lost control of the Maine House and Senate, along with the governorship.  If 61% of the Maine people oppose LePage’s policies, then how in the world did the Republicans gain control of our state government?  I’ll tell you why.  It’s because the Maine people have awoken.

• Anonymous

  You totally missed my point. Which is that the higher road  would have been to put all of his energies into the editorial printed in the paper AND THEN shut up. Let the goons who hang out in the forums argue both sides. When he jumps in and attacks anyone who disagrees with him, he looks really silly.  

• Anonymous

  I believe he did put all his energies into the editorial.  He then put those same energies into defending his positions.  I see nothing wrong with that.   Our great country was founded on debate.  From what I read, he did not attack anyone.  Where did you see the personal attacks?  He simply countered their opinions, as one would expect him to do.

• http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1628932330 Naran Row-Spaulding

  Yeah. As opposed to “A Democratic Political Strategist.”
  They’re so “pure.”

• Anonymous

  I agree – as someone who is sorely disappointed about Paul LePage and the work he’s done thus far (and as one who is considered the “61%”) I still found this article illuminating and it helped me understand Maine politics and history a little better. 

• Anonymous

  Apparently you haven’t read all of Mr. Gagnon’s comments. Go back and re-read all his comments, especially the “whiney children” one.

• Anonymous

  I wasn’t aware that Matthew had such special needs. but apparently you think he does. Why else would you be acting as his mouthpiece or is it that you really are hoping to become a spokesperson. 

• http://www.facebook.com/cu8605 Heather Boyer

  I think much of it comes down to LePages’ Political personality. LePage has an ethical and moral compass that is skewed off track. This is what makes him unpopular with the 61%.  Also in point of fact return on the bumper sticker issue, get used to it,because you’re gonna continue to see it,until he’s gone.

• Anonymous

  Thank you for this one Matt. As you know, I worked for Eliot’s campaign, but I have no sour grapes – what’s done is done and we’ve all learned from it and moved on. As soon as I heard about this group back in December, I was so disappointed. I cringe at the site of every sticker. I don’t consider myself one of the 61% who voted against LePage. I am part of the 37% who voted FOR Eliot Cutler. 

• Anonymous

  I am a Democrat who voted for Cutler and against LePage.  I am disgusted with LePage so that makes me a 61 percenter. 

• http://twitter.com/Shekaylee Sheryl Lee

  I really should “Flag” your comments.  “Stupid”  Name calling isn’t necessary.  You needn’t be nasty to state your case.  I am a 61 percenter.  With an approval rating dipping to 31%, LePage should listen to those other sides.  I’m not even close to thinking that my political ideas as an indepent are the same as the others that didn’t vote for LePage.  All I do know, from living here now, is that he hasn’t been transparent as he pledged to be, he rarely listens to anyone who doesn’t support him as evidenced by his frequent reactions to press questions, and he makes himself “hard to meet with”.  You claim that generalizing by the 61 %s is wrong, well generalizing the intentions of the 61 %s is also wrong.

• http://twitter.com/Shekaylee Sheryl Lee

  “Cultured Maine elite”!  Please, I live in HUD housing and live on Maine Public Employee Retirement Disability.  What elite?  That’s not who he’s hurting.

• Anonymous

  Another LePage apologist.

• Anonymous

  Don’t think anyone said that – except you.

• Anonymous

  I can’t believe this Matthew Gagnon fellow writes an opinion piece, ends it by providing his blog and his email to the readers for the convenience of contacting him if they so desire, and then has the very poor and rude form of invading the comments section to defend and explain himself to readers who have issues with his opinion. How crass can you get?

  I don’t understand why Susan Collinso ever let him work for her, but it seems clear to me why he doesn’t anymore.

  This fellow ought to present this piece in front of an audience and use a chalkboard because it reads like glenn beck composed it

• Anonymous

  Just because LePage will spend less in the budget does not mean that he is being a food financial steward of Maine.  Many of the cuts that he is proposing will cost Maine much more over the long term.  

• Anonymous

  I would thank you not to lump me with your group!

• Anonymous

  The length of his responses might be compensating for something!

• Anonymous

  Not questioning his right to comment–just his wisdom.  

• Anonymous

  he used “pal”–and so you are calling him a prick.  Nice! So articulate.  I can see why they picked you stand up for their minority.

• Anonymous

  The difference is that Clinton is a Rhodes Scholar and LaPage is…well…not.

• Anonymous

  It’s good to recognize that much of what is produced in our media is political strategy…not news.

• Anonymous

  Yes, I get it.  Everyone who does not share your views has no wisdom.  Interesting.  I believe this is called liberal elitism and it will be crushed at the polls in 2012.  For someone who is so intelligent, how is your hope and change working?

• Anonymous

  So when is LePage going to tackle the fiscal problems of the state head on?  So far he’s just put up signs, taken down murals, and put his foot in his mouth.