BRUNSWICK, Maine — Former independent Gov. Angus King made his run for the U.S. Senate official Monday, branding his candidacy as one that will shake up the established parties in Washington and perhaps lead to the end of a gridlocked Congress he called “broken.”
“If you like the system as it is, I’m not your guy,” said King to a packed assembly in Bowdoin’s Moulton Union, where there were nearly as many people standing as there were sitting. “If you want a shot at changing it, join me.”
After delivering a talk on the Cuban missile crisis that was scheduled before the sudden announcement last week from Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe that she will retire from the Senate at the end of the year, King gave Snowe a nod of gratitude. Snowe said last week that a major factor in her decision to retire after 33 years of public service was political gridlock in Washington.
“It’s about politics and getting ready for the next election,” said King. “The best [Congress] could do was drive out an extraordinary woman from Maine.”
King said he knows that as a single member of the Senate, he can’t change Congress alone, but hoped Maine people would elect him and send a message to voters in other states that politically independent voices in Washington are the solution. He said problems can’t be fixed if the institutions in place to fix them are themselves broken.
“That doesn’t have to be the way it is. … I can be a broker for common sense. I can speak from the middle,” said King.
King said the problems facing the country are huge and daunting, ranging from the national debt to crumbling transportation and communications infrastructure. Some of the problems facing the country are felt more acutely here in Maine, said King, including a over-reliance on foreign oil.
“Everything we have … is built on the premise of fossil fuel,” said King, a long proponent of alternative energy sources, particularly wind power. “We still are trying to struggle along the same way and it’s going to kill us, particularly in Maine.”
King is not the first independent to enter the race, but he is by far the biggest name and his announcement Monday dramatically reshapes the race for whomever the Republican and Democratic nominee turns out to be.
There had been speculation that independent Eliot Cutler may also join the race, but Cutler quelled that Monday morning by throwing his support behind King.
“I have had several long conversations with Angus King during the past week, and I hope that he will run for the U.S. Senate,” Cutler said in a statement posted on Facebook. “He would bring to the Senate the independence, the abilities, the reputation and the disposition that will make him a great Senator, that will serve us Mainers well and make us proud every day, and that will begin to rebuild and restore the Senate to what it was intended to be, the world’s greatest deliberative body.
“I hope that each and every one of you will join me in encouraging Angus to run and that you will join me in supporting him if he decides to do so.”
Members of academia weighed in on what an independent senator would be able to accomplish in Congress.
“The logic of why King is announcing now is fascinating,” said L. Sandy Maisel, professor of government at Colby College.
But does that make King the front-runner?
“I think it depends on how it shakes out on the two party sides,” Maisel said. “With him in, it becomes a very difficult race for a Republican or Democrat.”
At the moment, the Senate field is crowded but likely will settle by March 15, the deadline for signatures collected by party candidates to be submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office.
On the Democrats’ side, the leading candidates are U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree, who appears likely to forgo re-election to her U.S. House seat representing Maine’s 1st Congressional District; and two-term governor and former U.S. House member John Baldacci. Neither has announced definitively that they are in the race but both are gathering signatures.
Former Secretary of State Matt Dunlap and state Sen. Cynthia Dill, D-Portland, are in the race as well, although Dill plans to run for the House if Pingree leaves that race.
On the Republicans’ side, a number of candidates have started gathering signatures, including Secretary of State and former U.S. House candidate Charlie Summers, State Treasurer and 2010 gubernatorial candidate Bruce Poliquin, Maine Attorney General William Schneider, former state Senate President Rick Bennett, and Assistant Maine Senate Majority Leader Debra Plowman.
Scott D’Amboise also is in the race. He planned to challenge Snowe in the primary but has been largely overlooked by the GOP establishment.
While party candidates are scrambling to gather 2,000 signatures before the March 15 deadline, King has more time. Independents must gather 4,000 signatures to get on the ballot for a U.S. Senate race but they have until June.
Maisel said King’s entering the race hurts a Democratic candidate more than a Republican.
“If King’s not in and Pingree’s the [Democratic] nominee, she probably doesn’t lose,” he said. “A Republican could more easily win the seat with King in.”
A Public Policy Polling survey conducted over the weekend showed 62 percent of those polled thought favorably of King while 24 percent viewed him unfavorably. In a hypothetical three-way race among King, Summers and Pingree, King received 35 percent of Democratic votes, 25 percent of GOP votes and 53 percent of independent votes.
The full PPP poll on Maine’s now wide-open Senate race is expected to be released on Tuesday.
King, who turns 68 at the end of the month and was Maine’s governor from 1995 to 2003, is the oldest candidate to explore a run. In November 1994, he narrowly won a three-way race against Republican Susan Collins, now a U.S. senator, and Democrat Joe Brennan of Portland, who had already served two terms as Maine’s governor from 1979 to 1987.
In 1998, King won re-election with 59 percent of the vote. Republican Jim Longley Jr., son of former Maine governor Jim Longley, received 19 percent and Democrat Tom Connolly received 12 percent.
During his re-election, King won broad support from Democrats and Republicans who found him more favorable than the party candidates.
He is perhaps best known for the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, a then-unprecedented idea to provide middle school students in Maine with laptop computers. And of course, his independent politics.
“Nobody will be able to tell me how to vote except the people of Maine,” he said Monday night. “I think that’s the way it should be.”
Another Democrat added to the list–remember, Angus King was a D before becoming a so-called Independent in order to win the governor’s postition.
As with Eliot Cutler, ask the Democrats if he’s a Democrat. They would probably say no.
He is definitely not an Independent or Republican. Those of us who are Independents aren’t thrilled we have folks like him who are Democrats representing us Independents. He is leaving the Democrat party again to become an Independent because he once again has zero chance of winning the Democrat Primary.
i am an independent you do not speak for me .to me its about the person not there party. always voted for snow never would vote for lepage.
Good to read that someone can look behind this label business. It is the person running. Their ideas and thoughts that encourage a vote. Not some silly label that right wingers apply to anyone not in their party. I always voted for Snowe, even though I’m a registered Democrat. I’m an independent when I put my mark on the ballot.
Why capitalize independents? They’re not an organization in their own right. Unenrolled (U) is how people without a party appear is on the voter rolls. Don’t worry, unless elected, Angus King doesn’t represent anyone but himself, certainly not other unenrolled voters
I am curious, are you sure. I was always (U). Awhile ago I looked at the registry and there was an (I)? I have never joined a party, and just assumed they changed everyone over to (I). I guess I will have to stop at the town office.
UPDATE: (I) is inactive, someone who has not voted in the last 2 major elections. You are (U) is as jpmcg said unenrolled.
The “Independent Green Party” is indeed a party in Maine. It is represented on the ballot with an “I”.
It may be represented on the ballot as an (I) as well as other parties; if there are any. The voter registration does not show (I) for an independend. I believe it would say (G) possibly, if it is the Green Party.
You can register as an Independent, but in Maine that means you are affiliated. truly independent folks in Maine are (U) for unenrolled.
I wished you’d describe the goals of a republican. Are they the same as republican Mitch McConnell and John Boehner? Or, are they aimed at a cooperative effort – crossing party lines for the good of the country and its people?
But the few that are allowed to think for themselves would quite possibly vote for him.
The advantage of independent is that as a swing vote and possible critical vote
he is in position to wheel and deal and bring the pork home.
The down side of an independent freshman Senator is that he would be lucky to get a seat on the Decoration Committee.
A “D” an “R” an “I” an “S”- all labels! It is the man or woman behind those initials that counts. So far the “R’s” are crippling this country, unable to think outside of their hypocritical political rhetoric and labels.
Who cares whether he’s labeled a “D” or an “R” as long as he or she are able to think and act independently, free of the party’s noose around the neck?
You mean…like a tea party Republican?
The tea party republicans are the reason we’re in such a stalemate in the Big Bubble.
So you’re saying tea partiers are wrong to think independently in disagreeing with Republican party but its OK for Democrats to think independently?
Tea party people control republicans, who are not independent thinkers. Boehner fears them as does McConnell and Cantor et al. Tea party people are waxed into an ideology which is unchangeable. Independents can mix a little conservatism and a dash or two off the left, sprinkle with reason, frugality, and add a drop of common sense. At present we have three distinct political units locked in an ideological battle.
Go away Angus People dont remember you or your reign as King
i remember him very well! not fond memories. laptops ? they dont teach you anything .
he also fought to keep in place taxes that were raised by mc kernan. they were finally lowered, but he hated to see that happen. just another tax happy democrat. also,a member of the so called natures conservation group,that would support a terrible waste, Quimby’s want to control all of maine woods.
does anyone smell something bad here??
1 billion dollars over 10 years for laptops that have had no positive impact?
most students use the laptops for screwing around and downloading whatever they want while not paying attention to the teacher.
yeah, the laptop program (which i’m sure angus got some sort of kickback from apple) has been a huge success… not.
He will also have to explain how he has collecting taxpayer funded subsidies on failed Wind Power projects that are not benefitting Maine. He should explain why he continues to get Casino money as well considering he was against Casinos all of these years as well. Those jobs which could have been going to Maine people which he was fighting for many years.
There are more than 72,000 Apple computers deployed in the MLTI program. Every middle school and about 60 percent of Maine high schools are part of the program, which costs the state around $17 million per year, roughly $250 per student per
year. Simple math tells us that $17 million X 10 years = $170 million.
(By comparison, Maine pays roughly $90 million a year for diesel fuel to bus students to school, which works out to about $450 a year per student.) Or, $90 million X 10 years = $900 million, which is a lot closer to your billion dollars. Where’s your concern about that?
My real bottom line here is that your billion dollar exaggeration serves to illustrate
the fundamental problem with today’s political discourse. When simple verifiable facts take a beating like you’ve given them, is it any wonder why we’ve become so politically dysfunctional?
Edited for format (dang Android!)
I think you might be missing some costs there.
First off, an apple laptop costs roughly 1,200 just for the hardware.
other expenses include: Apple tech support contracts, maintenance costs, network infrastructure costs, software and program costs, salaries for the additional Apple certified I.T. professionals on site, and numerous other expenses that equal out to about 60 million a year.
60,000,000 x 10 years = 600,000,000
including various other expenses, we’re talking close to a billion.
Also, in 2009, the number of laptops in the program went up to 100,000 with the change of the MLTI program to include high school students.
100,000 x 1,200 = 120,000,000 x3 years = 360,000,000
(cost in just the last 3 years)
People seem to forget that just because the cost of the laptop seems low, that doesn’t include the cost of everything else included with said laptops.
Don’t forget that apple is very proprietary with their hardware and software.
I think the lap top kickback program was his wife’s idea.
Don’t forget he pushed through deregulation of electricity, causing our local Bangor Hydro & CMP to get bought by foreign companies and the cost of electricityto go sky high compared to how it used to be. He has spent the last 5 years or so, going around Maine spreading lies and misrepresentations about energy costs to scare Mainers into backing wind power, the least effective and most costly way of generating electricity. Lousy Governor, wind developer/mountain destroyer—you actually want this guy who isn’t even from Maine representing our state in the Senate? Sheesh!!!
i didn;t say i want this useless person.{just trying to be polite},he would be a poor choice. he would be backing the Queen Quimby’s land confiscation.he is with the natures conservancy group. he’s just another liberal , we dont need, just like mike michaud,and that thing from south portland, pingree. anti united states, fits well with Obama
I re-read my comment, it wasn’t aimed at you, but instead was intended for everyone to check before jumping on his bandwagon. We agree!
Quimby’s land confiscation? Wow, I thought she bought that land?
The right wing Bund have nothing if they don’t get to have it two different ways at once.
Another “Bayroot” liberal concerned for the portfolio only.
yes Steve’s GOP crazy talk
he will not be getting my vote
King is a good candidate for Maine.
Run Angus, Run.
Now that seat just might stay Republican.
Thanks buddy.
So Republicans can only win when three or more people are in the race?
Well when 2 democrats are splitting the vote… He is a democrat not an independent.
I hope Chellie runs… after she muscled poor Mike out of the race with Sussman’s cash… what a shame if she gets all wobbly now. The undercard would have John Baldacci taking on the guy he followed… John gets 25%, the Republican gets 39%, that leaves Angus Cutler err King with 37% …. Oh the 61 percenter will get twice the pleasure out of their little stickers!
The repugnant will lose…
Your witty … repugnant… I’m sure you dazzle them at HuffPo Jay!
Yeah, only a fool would come up with something that stupid. And Jay is neither of those.
” Yeah, only a fool would come up with something that stupid. ”
Good point.
Yeah, I agree. The Christian American Taliban is more like it.
It explain much better why they are repugnant in a Nation found on liberty and individual freedom.
I’m certain America was “found” by someone at some time.
However, I believe we were “founded” on liberty and individual freedom… as well as personal responsibility.
You lefties are always crying about how we should be more like Europe. How do you think it works there with the multi-party system? Democracy..its a beautiful thing,
except you repugnants want a theocracy. THAT scares me…
I think that once their whining has been heard, that people who will not or can not compromise
do not deserve a place at table.
The record of the 2010 Congressional class supports me, too, doesn’t it ?
I hope she runs too. Then loses to either King or the Republican. Then she is completely out of the Congress for at least two years, unless her spawn decides to run.
don’t forget Andrew Ian Dodge, who hopes to get some of the Republican’s 39%
Yes that is right because they only are supported by 1/3rd of the voters.
The 61% are lib transplants from wonderfully run nanny states. Who want to impose their stupidity
I’m not a transplant, and I’m in the 61%
And which corporation is your nanny?
Which concentration camp do you guard, socialist
There are Smart People, Average People and Stupid People!
Divide by three, add one More Stupid and you got a Republican Governor
He’s an even better candidate for apple computer co.
I loved the floating wind mill and the laptops in tots hands… brilliant! I can just see a 50 foot wave knocking those suckers over a twenty mill a pop! Even better little brother and sister dumping their sippy cup on a six hundred dollar laptop on the public dime… Angus is great in theory, not so much in practice.
A 600.00 dollar lap top? More like a 3000.00 dollar lap top for you and me
low end Apple laptops are not $3,000.
When my son got his laptop I was told if he had to replace it due to his fault I would be on the hook for $700. Its a mac. Kitterykid makes no sense.
Too much baggage. I’d like to see a Dem take the election but it won’t happen with a former governor.
King is a good candidate to work inside for the American Wind Energy Association and the Maine wind lobby.
Interesting that the BDN says only that King is “a long proponent of alternative energy sources, particularly wind power ” rather than telling their readership that King is a partner in Independence Wind. How about mentioning that he’s tapped the American taxpayer to carry the risk for his only operating wind project to date with a Solyndra style DOE loan guarantee. He and his extremely wealthy partners weren’t willing to risk their money on it, but just knew we would be willing to.
How about mentioning that he’s still trying to force a second wind project on a community in the UT that doesn’t want it and has told him so repeatedly. Apparently, his financial interests trump their community interests. No reporting on that, of course.
Funny picture there, with Baldacci looking grey and peering over his shoulder, since I expect him to be King’s primary rival.
that’s a 2005 file photo, probably not indicative of the present time
Except that was my whole point. It’s totally indicative of the present time. We just had a Senator quit complaining that the Senate has become too polarized and an Independent candidate steps up and makes it virtually impossible for Baldacci to run as a democrat.
He is one haggard looking man these days.
”
He is one haggard looking man these days. ”
I hate the wing nuts …. the “non-partisan” TEA drinkers .. smearing a effective independent, with a proven record, here. It ‘s just so hypocritical.
But I also have concerns about King’s age and health.
If he should … who would Gov. LePage appoint to replace an ” Independent”
Senator ?
How frightening a thought is that ?
Agreed, it’s funny. As if Baldacci is thinking, “Geez, I wish I could give an articulate speech like Angus can…”
I loved the Disney movie Fievel goes west, I thought John Baldacci was brilliant in it!
He will get my vote.
Yay!
He’s got my vote
Excellent; Gus King should split the liberal-moderate vote enough so another 39% victory looms to whomever Olympia tipped off to enter the race by the 15th.
We need a fiscal conservative.
yes, we sure as heck do!!!! and we haven’t any.
“and we haven’t any… GOOD economic results since cutting taxes, and never compromising ?
Good point.
Are there any around? There are plenty who claim that but they all seem to be carrying more baggage and sign contracts with the extreme right.
We need anybody who doesn’t have a “R” next to their name…ANYBODY
“fiscal conservative. ” ?
Is that a deluded person who thinks you can cut both taxes and balance the budget ? I’m tired of the 1 % trickling down on our leg telling us that is the rain that will raise all boats. Given the record, your buzz word has no meaning, anymore.
Must just love the 49% who pay 0% in Income Taxes by comparison then?
Oh, please that is such a bankrupt argument. Of those 49% who pay no income tax, include Governor Romney for the year 2010. He paid excise tax on his surplus income, while getting just enough in business deductions to pay zero income tax. Many working US citizens pay no income tax but they do pay payroll tax. Look at all the possibilities to be taxed, and bet the ranch that the 49% you claim are paying no income tax are still (regardless of income) paying sales tax, property tax, excise tax, gas tax, and the taxes so embedded in the system that hardly anyone knows they are there, like the $3 per barrel import fee on foreign oil (including oil from Canada).
The largest tax paid by all middle and lower class US citizens is the government benefit from currency manipulation. If you have saved money since 1968, you have paid a total of 70% tax on that money at the point you spend it. 32 1967 cents purchased more than a dollar will buy today.
Please God I hope Lear Jet Chellie runs…
The King is dead, long live the King! I wonder if Cutler is going to let that floating windmill Piker steal his middle of the road crown? On the Left you have Madame Pingree billions against Mr Spaghetti free garlic bread coupon night… at least John’s second term felt quasi Republican… As long as either of them get in the high 20’s I’m happy!
Cutler already endorsed King. He’s out!
To believe King was/is an independent is to believe a fiction.
If we are supposed believe that the TEA Party not partisan and just right wing of the GOP, then you have to believe it when Gov. King says he is not partisan, too … don’t you ?
Actions speak louder than words. King’s record as governor speaks for itself and it is hardly the record of an independent.
Okay, so the 2010 GOTea Congressman are just useless obstructionists, and spoilers for traditional moderate conservatives, then.
That is why Sen, Snowe is retiring.
Great point.
Thanks for getting real.
I notice that far more people like my observation than like your responses.
So you say, but should I not be an free American, saying what I think, too, then ?
Is that your more popular approach ?
Oh you are free to say what you will.I’m saying you aren’t going to score any points with thinking people by running down other people exercising their right to free speech just because they disagree with your worldview. Be polite in your responses instead of sarcastic and condescending. You will get further that way.
Self-serving rent-seeking silver tongued snake oil toting fraud.
That pretty much sums it up!
Come on, tell us what you really think!
All true… but he’s a far better choice than either Pingree or Baldi!
Too bad Michaud dropped out.
Thanks for introducing yourself . . . .
He got 51 likes (no mean trick on this site) and you have none. What does that say?
Gee, now maybe as a senate candidate, Angus can articulate how his Wind Farm businesses are destroying the Maine mountains and country side while he’s getting rich off the tax payer funded subsidies.
Did he make money from Apple and the laptops?
I don’t think I could vote for a guy who has spent the last four years working to secure taxpayer subsidies to backstop his own investments. Most of the financial risk of his Roxbury wind project was put on the backs of the American taxpayer with his DOE 1705 loan guarantee. OUR risk, HIS reward. Is that what we want in the Senate?
Ummm, that is what we have now in D.C its always seems to be the lesser of two evils
I think that the scariest thing is that we don’t have to worry about what is going in, it is what is going on. Senator Snowe finally realized what we all know. If our government leaders are recognizing that our system is failing and choosing not to participate any more, what is our future looking like? Scary times in America…
Just vote out all Republicans who sign foolish pledges and we’ll get moving forward again. A GOP that won’t compromise unless it’s their way IS why Congress can’t get anything done.
And you have proved that you are part of the problem. My future children and grandchildren thank you. Both parties are guilty, the system IS failing us and from a political side, it is the democrats that have created such a large government.
Another GOP fool who conveniently forgets that he voted for the guy who got us into two wars, did two ill advised tax cuts mostly for the rich, the guy who turned a surplus into a big deficit and the guy who TANKED our economy leading to necessary bailouts.
Just how much bigger did it get in the Bush years?
See now that is why discussion is good. I find the biggest problem facing us today is that so many people are scared…. of everything.
”
I don’t think I could vote for a guy who has spent the last four years working to secure taxpayer subsidies to backstop his own investments. ”
If you ever vote for the Bush/Chaney ticket you already have, haven’t you ?
I didn’t vote for Bush/Cheney either time, so no I haven’t.
“IF …” must I define it ?
Don’t take the internet so personally, then…. It is just politics.
So why not say you agree with me ?
This is EXACTLY why Sen. Snowe said she is retiring, isn’t it ?
; )
I don’t believe I agreed or disagreed with you on anything. I simply answered the question you asked.
If you feel that Washington has become a dysfunctional place filled mostly with people sporting big egos and self-interest, then I do agree with you wholeheartedly. However, I don’t see how more of the same (Angus King) will remedy that problem.
King stands a very good chance to win, but I’m not sure I support him.
It is just a function of not having run off elections, and how you can be elected to represent all of Maine and all Mainers without ever winning a majority of the votes cast in anything.
There are lot of “I’s” in your comment decrying too much ego .
But fine, you are free.
Re: too so much ego in politics , sure, I agree :
“I don’t see how more of the same will remedy that problem, armichka.”
TTFN.
Why don’t you run for public office, suffer the same slings and arrows you aim at everyone else, and show us how to do it right?
DIRIGO = “I lead”.
Otherwise, you’re just another armchair quarterback…
He is a player, I guess,
Oh, don’t you mean like Barack Obama, who has funneled millions to his little union friends in the form of bailouts to the auto industry, green energy boodoggles like Solyndra, and Wall Street?
No, can’t you read ?
Or do you think you know better what others should think ?
While we’re talking about energy subsidies, what do you think your pump price would be if Exxon/Mobil had to contract with Blackwater to equip and field a 250,000-man army to keep its supply lines open?
I don’t know. Considering that our largest sources of imported oil are Canada and Mexico, there’s probably not much likelihood that they would. Also, our oil supply has been trending toward more from domestic sources since 2005.
I suspect our actions in the Middle East have as much, or more, to do with trade agreements and controlling who else gets access to the oil as they do with our own access. In other words, reducing our imports of Middle Eastern oil isn’t necessarily going to be accompanied by a commensurate lack of U.S. interest in the politics of that region. We don’t get oil from the Korean peninsula as far as I know, but we sure seem to spend a lot of time and money on troops in South Korea and dealing with NK shenanigans. Don’t get me wrong. If you favor rewriting the tax code to take away the substantial tax breaks – the source of most of the “subsidies” – received by the oil industry, I’d be on your side. Of course, we’d have to take those same tax breaks away from all the other industries receiving them, wouldn’t we?
But then, none of this really has anything to do with Angus King using the federal taxpayer to insure his investments.
I just got a big belly laugh as the radio news played a sound bite of The Newt promising the GOP Super Tuesday voters that voting for him is voting for $2.50 a gallon gasoline .
In how many ways, from ANY political point of view, is that just sooo very wrong of him ?
People who buy into that crap deserve the government that they have given us all.
I have difficulty understanding how anyone could believe Newt when he says things like that. But I have a tendency to overestimate the intelligence of conservatives.
Sen. Bernie Sanders I-Vt., attributes the obscene steady increases in gas prices to excessive speculation on Wall Street, in violation of their agreement.
If you’ve voted for anyone at the state or national level, you’ve already done this.
This doesn’t make sense, why now? The system was “broken” when Collins was up for re-election in 2008 – she being just as much a contributing factor as Snowe’s filibuster voting record. Why didn’t he run then? Yes I know Snowe is retiring but the “it’s all about politics and getting for the next election” held true then as it does now. If he wants to be the “common sense broker”, he could have easily done it in 2008.
Common sense was not in style in 2008.
Sarah Palin was on the ticket, remember ?
You people that are trying to figure out: Is he a democrat, …well he’s certainly not a republican…..? What’s up with that? If he once was a democrat, he certainly wasn’t elected to anything being one, if he ever was a republican, he would have been elected to less than anything. Was he a great governor? no not really…..did he win two terms?…..yes.
Has anyone thought that perhaps he doesn’t need a party platform, or partisan money to run, he never did? Has anyone thought about Senator Snowe’s desire for non partisanship in the US Senate? Has anyone thought about how much of an impact her endorsement will be?
Why would Mainers vote for someone who made millions having the wind industry ravage the mountain tops and overlook pristine wilderness lakes of Maine with hundreds of 500 foot tall wind turbines? And was able to get his son named as an executive of First Wind – the company who built these environment killing wind farms? Mainers will have to pay higher taxes and higher electric bills to subsidize these wind farms for many years so Angus King and his son will continue to make millions by destroying Maine’s environment.
Please lets invest a billion on fifty floating windmills … the first time a rogue wave hits them we’ll have our very own Gulf of Maine Solyndra… King will be known as Senator Puffin Carnage!
You are right, let’s keep investing in oil because that will never run out or the prices ever go up. Or maybe we should just keep buying out of state power at twice the national average. Or maybe we should build a couple of new nuclear power plants in Maine, or dam up the rivers for hydroelectric power… To dislike anything new is ignoring what already exists. The people of this state continue to use electricity at greater quantities than the past, but you don’t seem to want to address where the new electricity will be coming from. Ostrich… head in the sand.
Huh? What do wind power on Maine mountains and oil have to do with one another? Is King still trying to convince us that his wind business is going to end our oil consumption? Perhaps he can use his Senate bid to describe in detail how that’s going to work.
I don’t dislike anything new, just anything that’s being sold to us more for the political, ideological and personal gain of a few well-connected people and businesses than for demonstrated efficacy and value.
Sounds like you are ignorant of the facts. The Department of Energy wind maps says the interior of Maine is a poor wind resource area: http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=4630
Why would you wasnt to destroy Maine’s environment to build hundreds of 500 foot tall wind turbines in an area known to be of a poor resource? Is that logical?
Why would you want the Maine taxpayers to pay higher taxes and higher utility rates to subsidize environment killing inefficient massive wind farms?
When you have the government subsidizing for-profit industries you end up with unintended consequences.
Why are we subsidizing the oil and gas industries?
Get educated!
Be willing to learn from those you oppose:
http://www.windtaskforce.org/
http://www.protect-our-lakes.org/
http://windfallthemovie.com/
Yes, I remember when we (I lived in New Hampshire then) subsidized the Nuclear industry’s construction of Seabrook I & II. they told us that nuclear power would be so inexpensive residential users would get it for free, because it would be too cheap to meter.
Great!
If angus gets (s)elected then apple will finally have a senator in their pockets.
Just think of all the places that angus could force to use apple products.
you have GOT to be kidding.keep the dishonest wind man OUT please- he used to care about Maine now he is about greed and deception..sad.
He never cared about Maine, only his ego. He is a non-native carpet bagger. He was always about sound bytes and photos ops. Michaud, Collins, and Snowe are real Mainers and I want someone like them representing me in Washington.
The word is “Scalawag” Carpet-baggers went from North to South Scalawags went from South to North.
What’dja say, Harry?
Pingree will not run against him. looks like it will be Baldacci…..
She would be wise not to.
John’s a team player who can take one for the team.
Shelly would have to run for POTUS to make up for losing a Senate race.
His candidacy is going to shake up the established parties and end gridlock in Washington? I can see the Pixar movie title already: Mr. King Goes to Washington. (In 3D, of course).
Biggest EGO in Maine jumps at political opportunity. No surprise there. I just wish the full of himself carpet bagger had driven off into the sunset in his RV and never returned to Maine.
Losers inside have big egos outside.
He’s a superficial political oportunist who could care less about Maine. His career is going nowhere so he’s hoping for chance for a new job. Yuck.
Snowe way!
He’s got my vote. I am not voting for any career politicians anymore, and only for Independent candidates whose integrity is not compromised by party politics.
But he IS a career political hack with little or no substance. Just a self serving egotistical guy who wasted 8 years as governor and now wants the job security of a senatorial seat because he can’t make it in the real world. Get a real job, Angus, if you can find one in Maine.
“He’s , (former Gov. King) got my vote. I am not voting for any career politicians anymore … ”
ROTFLOL
He rides a Harley, can’t be all that bad
“Nobody will be able to tell me how to vote except the wind lobby.”
Quoting yourself ?
Check your power bill every month. If you think it’s to high, thank Angus. We are only as smart as our memory allows.
I am going to vote for him because he wears a mustache. All real men do…
That is the best reason written here so far.
YES! GET INDEPENDENTS IN THERE FOR CHANGE!
Is he? That’s for you to decide. But that message is spot on!
Is there really a need for another polition for life going to D.C.? Lets get someone fresh in there for once.
kick that maggot to the curb
Burn the leech with a cigar butt to get him off our leg.
lets begin looking into the forced state rentals by his administration like the surplus property going from no cost to a rental by a buddy,
I’m an Independent and I support “King ” for the senate…
How can you be an independant , and support a “King”?
Go Angus!
Go where? Down to where he belongs I think you mean.
although i like king i dont want anyone that will try to compromise with the tea party crazies in washingtion. How much better would this country be if the tea party wasnt blocking everything obama tries to do.
Careful Joe. Your common sense and reality are showing !
You mean like preventing Pres. Obama from increasing our deficit by an average of over ONE TRILLION DOLLARS a year? We need to cut the cost and size of the federal government. Electing a former governor to the senate who doubled the size of Maine’s budget during his term is exactly the wrong direction to take.
You are a GOP fool. Increased deficit is due to Bush and the Republicans tanking our economy.
I’ve now heard it all…!
Bashing Obama for three years doesn’t erase the fact that – The $6.4 trillion debt
incurred by George W. Bush accounts for almost half of today’s total $14.3 trillion debt. Two needless wars, the killing of capital gains and inheritance taxes, all helped inflate the deficit.
Remember, the Iraq War Bush and Cheney plunged us into was completely unjustified. There were no WMD.
Both wars account for two trillion dollars of the current debt, plus additional debt and encumbrances including the collapse of Wall Street, and a wrecked housing market, and a failed auto industry, and, massive unemployment. Bush took over the presidency with a huge surplus from Bill Clinton. Barack Obama was handed enough debt to sink the country.
Observers agree, almost half of the total of today’s $14.3 trillion debt was accumulated during the eight-year reign of Bush and Cheney.
Unfortunately we are a divided nation, which leaves the debt and other major concerns on the shoulders of one man.
Obama signed re-authorization of Bush’s Patriot act.
He didn’t have to.
He continued Bush’s policy of rendition and torture in foreign jails.
He didn’t have to
Obama escalated the war in Afghanistan even after Osama was killed in Pakistan
then he apologized to Afghans because the troops did their jobs, and this is the guy you’re defending?
Obama signed into law a policy allowing the military to arrest and detain U.S. citizens on US soil, indefinitely, while denying them access to a lawyer and court appearance. Is this what “free access” means to him? Does this man have ANY U.S. values? He made that one up all on his own, Even George Bush didn’t go that far.
He decided to use US money to help rebels in Libya, Egypt and Yemen even though he knew that the rebels in these nations hated the US as much as they hated their own leaders. Now he’s considering helping Syrians, and starting a war against Iran (the reason for the gas price hikes) without explaining how these actions would help the USA. Hey Barak, you are NOT the president of Israel.
He has authorized the use of drones to target suspected terrorists on U.S.soil. For the first time in this nations history the force of the US military can be used against US citizens.
You like this presidency, then you’ll love Angus King. By all means vote for him.
His apology for the troops destroying the Afghan’s bible, was the only correct action to take. It helped stop increased violence against U.S. forces.
Libyan rebels killed Khadafi – the terrorist who hated the U.S. enough to blow one of its planes out of the sky over Scotland. Obama also ordered the taking of Osama Bin Laden, the terrorist who orchestrated the 9/11 attacks against the U.S. Bush turned his back on the latter and the former. He was simply disinterested.
The hate of Middle East nations is not directed solely at the U.S. It has mushroomed itself against all of the Western nations who have invaded their lands. Bush invaded Iraq claiming it had WMD., knowing that this was untrue. Proven by both U.N. inspectors and his very own personal inspector. Bush and Cheney instigated torture and rendition. Both men still support their actions even today. We lost more than 5,000 in Iraq along with 35,000 severely wounded men and women. Our bill is in excess of two trillion.
In his news conference yesterday I didn’t hear him say he was even considering supporting the Syrians, anymore than rushing to Israel’s side to declare war on Iran. I did hear him say how the people wishing to defeat him wanted a war with Iran without first considering the implications of war – any war. He prefers diplomacy before war. No politician waving a sword ever thinks of the people directly involved – sons and daughters and families, he said.
It was the generals who wanted to increase troop levels in Afghanistan – a war that is gradually winding down. The remnants of Al Queda are weak and in total disarray since they lost their leader, and continue to lose their top echelon. The first time in history. Russian gave up their quest to conquer the country. We want to get out – and will. Republicans said we should stay in Iraq. It is Republican John McCain who so easily calls for air strikes against the Syrian dictatorship.
The Drone program was running before Obama took office. It is better to use a drone than to risk pilot’s lives or those of a special ops team to take out a terrorist. The program has accelerated under Obama. Terrorists pledge their lives for one goal – to die. Why not help them achieve this objective before we become their target?
Hated because of his roots, despised because of his success, he stands tall.
I didn’t say anything about “hating” Obama. I just don’t see the success. You (on the other hand) sound like a campaign commercial.
The Drone program (over the USA) is an Obama policy…exclusively.
Osama Bin Laden did NOT orchestrate the attacks of 9/11. he financed them. Wouldn’t it have interesting to hear what he had to say in an open trial? I’ll bet interesting as well as revealing. Can’t afford any honesty anymore.
You write as if I’m defending the Republican position. I’m not. I don’t trust ANY of the players up there on stage. They are a gaggle of liars, cheats and professional thieves. I also do not support a US role as world policeman. I do not support military arrests of US citizens on US soil… a totally Obama policy.
I like loyalty, and you obviously have it in spades. I also respect knowledge.. you don’t seem to have that down yet.
I must apologize for my ignorance. I was hoping you would infuse your retort with some knowledge.
apology accepted.
Really? Who created all of the wasteful bailouts?
If you care took it up you will see that George W. Bush bailed out Wall Street just as the housing market slumped and foreclosures were rampant. He even called the campaigning candidates back to Washington to help him save Wall Street. So I suppose you can blame Obama for signing the bill at the president’s behest. As for the “wasteful” bail out – the auto industry? He saved the business. GM is making profits unheard of in its history. The auto industry is paying back the loan – the last I read about it. The bailout saved millions of jobs, a auto-related businesses, and thousands more related or spin-off business. The unemployment would have sent the economy into an even deeper spiral with auto manufacturing going overseas.
“How much better would this country be if the tea party wasnt blocking everything obama tries to do. ”
I agree.
What place does anyone who can’t or won’t compromise have at the table ?
Compromising with people who don’t respect the need to compromise is called caving,
and is an invitation to disrespected then shafted.
It is exactly why Sen Snowe said she is retiring, isn’t it ?
The question I have is:
When you say his first name, is the “g” silent?
Just can’t wait for this play out. To see what clown we get in there next. It would wonderful if King was going in help the State of Maine. But for some reason its hard to think this is the reason for him to run or unless we can some how get a wind mill hooked into our car to run it. Because power is what he he all about!!!!
An aging profligate to supplant Lizaveta in Washington… Is there no mercy for the citizens of the State of Maine? King has profited handsomely from a whirlwind debacle of Quixotic projects that have ravaged the landscape while pilfering the pockets of taxpayers. For King, the Independent tag represents another euphemism for behavior founded on the Progressive agenda of personal gain, fiscal irresponsibility and a further erosion of America’s Judeo-Christian values.
Hang onto your wallets, boys! Here comes another “hack” who needs to bolster their retirement income.
BDN says he’s “a long proponent of alternative energy” but fails to mention that he co-founded Independence Wind. I think that’s significantly more than being a proponent. King’s company estimated they would generate about 17.204 megawatts annually – seems a poor trade-off for the amount of devastation this project will wreak on the mountains of Western Maine.
King has taken enough government money, don’t let him take anymore. King should run in Massachusetts, not in Maine, based on the fact he sold Maine’s Mountains for Massachusetts wind industry. To much federal subsidy and not enough regulations to protect the people.
Well I guess we know which candidate the BDN is backing. How much would the Bangor Daily News Charge to run a campaign ad on the front page above the fold, for, say, Rick Bennett?
This is no surprise because the Maine daily always advocates higher taxes, and Angus is just the man to bleed taxpayers dry.
It’ll be most interesting should Baldi become the Democrat candidate (which I doubt if Chellie stays in) and Angus an Independant…
I can’t imagine either Summers or Bennett getting any positive coverage by comparison.
Neither my wife nor I could support Angus King. The idea is to get new faces with new ideas, not the same old guys with the same old ideas.
Angus King thinks that GRID scale Industrial WIND is good for Maine’s ice age eco-systems on our mountain tops.Angus King set himself up in the name of “GREEN”.
He should recuse himself from all public office.
Mainers, do you really want to see thousands and thousands of Turbines?
As far as the eye can see?
Maine real estate valueless?
We need budget-cutters in Washington. Maine’s budget more than DOUBLED under Gov. King. He has a very nice smile and a very smooth delivery, but he clearly does not have the stomach to cut the cost and size of the federal budget.
A very nice smile like a cheshire cat. And a very smooth delivery like a well oiled snake, but shifty, beady eyes which he never takes off the prize—his ego!!
Thanks Angus for splitting the vote, giving the GOP a better chance to win. We don’t want a damn Republican anymore so please reconsider.
King is just a slick talkin’, budget bustin’, do nothin’, kind of guy. Kind of reminds me of the current resident in the oval office. Voters beware.
This guy is a fraud, one billion dollar deficit when he left office, also hes a dem and dont think hes not, wrote alot of checks to obama campaign and would vote on everything he wants, he caucuses exclusively with democrats so dont think for a minute this independent stuff is real. no matter what you think of snowe,cohen,mitchell or margarete chase these are intellectual people that represented maine with dignity and never embarrassed this state. These yahoos baldacci, king, and I have to mention plowman really!! cmon these three are the problem plowman served under both these governors and that went great and is part of the dysfunction that is that party in augusta today. Chellie Pingree is smart and gets it, would be a great representative of our state. Liberal maybe but have seen her find the middle on many occassions. crazy No!
Oh and by the way this guy not only facilitates wind power but owns companies, this would be a great way to legislate all he needs to profit at the expense of our greatest asset and one tool to spur our economy, our environment!!!
Snake oil Salesman!!!
Come one come all…
I have been told there he has a bridge to sell in Brooklyn (NY that is).
He states it will help with our deficit, as long as he pockets the proceeds.
Mr. King has 3 things in his favor. (1) He is not Mr. D’Amboise..(2) He is not Ms. Pingree..(3) He is not Mr. Baldacci. Unfortunately, going against him is:..He is Angus King. Hmmmm, should be interesting.
King might remind us of Washington’s parting advice: steer clear of factions. Only an aloof figure such the first president could say that with all seriousness, because the factions were in each other’s faces before he was put to rest. The only times when factions haven’t put a crimp on the well being of the commonwealth has been when one of them is in full control of the executive and legislative branches. Until our present constitution, particularly Article I, gets amended I can’t see much hope for anything different from what we have, King or no King. Our fixation on two and only two factions worthy of regular attention doesn’t help. A multi-party parliamentary system relies most often relies on compromise to get things done, but our winner-take all mentality stand squarely in the way of that ever happening.
But. no matter: Angus King isn’t going to teach us about George Washington. He’s pretty much the same: mostly about Angus the subsidy siphon.
He is 68 years old,that would make him 76 when his first term is up.
One term and another retirement for the rest of his life
Angus here is some advice, go away.
Do the math. Senators only have 6 yr terms, not 8.
sorry your right
i screwed up
but still makes him too old
Why would Mainers vote for someone who made millions having the wind industry ravage the mountain tops and overlook pristine wilderness lakes of Maine with hundreds of 500 foot tall wind turbines? And was able to get his son named as an executive Vice President of First Wind – the company who built these environment-killing energy-inefficient wind farms and made millions of dollars for its executives.
Their million dollar salaries were paid by the tax subsidies granted by the federal government. And who pays for those tax subsidies that were used to pay the million dollar salaries of the executives at First Wind including Angus King and Kurt Adams? You guessed it – the American taxpayer.
Mainers will have to pay higher taxes and higher electric bills to subsidize these wind farms for many years so Angus King and his son will continue to make millions by destroying Maine’s environment.
The continued proclamation that King is “independent” is a lie; he was a Democrat that ran for Governor as an independent in order to avoid being denied the Democratic nomination. Once in office, he governed as a Democrat. If he were elected to the U.S. Senate he would have to choose a party to affiliate (caucus) with in order to get committee assignments, and take a wild guess which party he would choose? All this is fine, but please, please stop the lie that King is independent; he is FAR from it (as also evidenced by his financial support of Obama and John Kerry).
Now is not a time to compromise but rather push for what is right. What we have in the white house is an agenda to spend money & more money to implement a political agenda at all cost. Our debt keeps climbing and the white house continues to spend. Energy cost keep climbing and this white house is doing nothing to reduce energy cost that impact us now. Hang on to your wallet because food cost as well as energy cost continue to climb. I don’t believe Mr. King will have any impact on out problems. We must change the direction this Country is headed in and remove those who like to spend and spend.
This guy is the reason why we pay so much for electricity. His idea to break up the producers and the delivery of electricity was the biggest BS ever played on the people of Maine.
No, that was the cost of power going up since he left office. Should we blame him for gas prices too?
King is not too old to run, but he is too self-important.
“That doesn’t have to be the way it is. … I can be a broker for common sense. I can speak from the middle,” said King.
I listened to this man talk at the University of Maine about raising the cost of tuition at the University of Maine to attract out of state students because it will make us comparable to other schools that are ranked higher. It was probably one of the most foolish things I have ever heard. This man’s priorities are not centered around the needs of the people of this state, and I don’t see how he could be an effective senator in that regard. At least Baldacci isn’t dumb enough to come out and say whacky things like that.
Thing is I don’t see a candidate on either, side, Republican, Democrat, or Independent that is really standing out to me as someone I could really throw my support behind.
Olympia Snowe has shown tremendous bi-partisan support. There is really no other republican we can trust to do this. So King entering the race is comforting to Mainers. He was a stellar Governor! He will be a stellar Senator. I now have a person to vote for! Looking forward to seeing an independent Senator from Maine in D.C.
A “stellar governor?” I think you have your Kings mixed up… We’re talking about Angus, right?
He’ll enter as an independent and neither side will criticize him because if he wins they will both want him to caucus with them in Congress.
So, now comes Angus King, also known as a “The Snake-oil Industrial Wind Salesman of Roxbury” .
This self serving , subsidy sucking money grubber desecrates his home state of Maine with useless machines for his own form of green ($$$$$), and now wants to RULE it too.
This scoundrel cannot even tell the truth concerning his real party affiliation, left wind democrat.
He knows lying pays big $$$, and is a consummate practitioner of deception .
Please remember, King was banned in 1776, and we should continue that tradition.
This low form of political self-server should be banned again, and our independence declared from this kind of political scoundrel.
Maine is NOT King’s “home State.” he was born in Virginia. “Scoundrel” is a good word. He reminds me of a fast-talking medicine man.
Weren’t Kings banned from running for our senate in 1776?
Said King, “Nobody’s gonna tell me how to vote except the people of Maine.” on the GH/RT Show this morning.
Mainers want a clear choice based on a candidate’s honest stands. Despite the reality these
spineless politicians need the comfort zone of the manipulatable middle in
order to play their little games with million dollar price tags on them. The people
beg for solution but are chronically administered an anesthesia of lies and
promises.
The people will not tolerate this any longer. Stand alone on your chosen principles. Either back up the Constitution or honestly admit you think the Constitution no longer works. Mainers are in the fast lanes going both directions around King. The choice to flap in the wind in the middle of the road doubles the liklihood of a fatality in this political atmosphere as there is no compromise.
As far as Independents go, Sen. Bernie Sanders I-Vt., has to be one of the best representatives of the American people in Washington, D.C. He’s all business. No clowning around. Just interested in getting things done to help Americans. He’s currently blaming excessive speculation for the high gas prices, a violation of the Wall Street agreement.
Check out “Bernie’s Buzz.”
Sanders is the first (self-described) Socialist to be elected to the U.S. Senate…..running as an Independant.
Is he a socialist for questioning the practices of Wall Street speculators ?
He described himself as a Socialist long before the current screams against speculators.
Whatever he is, he certainly stands for the American people on this and many other issues.
Sanders self-identified and having done so was honest about his beliefs. You are free to vote for any non-avowed “I” here in Maine as you are quite content to accept a “whatever he is” but other Mainers are quite aware of the potential for deceit.
Candidates…..who are you? What do you believe about Freedom and Self-Determination, the right to private property and the need for personal responsibility?
He isn’t the only one.
Exxon Mobil Chairman and CEO Rex Tillerson said Thursday that heavy Wall Street trading has driven up the price of oil well beyond the level that normal supply and demand forces would suggest.
Exxon chief said that if oil prices were being dictated by normal economic forces, it would cost between $60 and $70 a barrel. Oil is currently trading just below $100 a barrel
I suppose no one noticed that Newt Gingrich has been saying this since the gas prices began their last rise in November?
Angus is a shoe in.
Probably so, but that’s a shame for the taxpaying frugal citizens of this State who will have to support this relic in his old age.
Angus was born in Virginia, not far from Washington D.C.. The one good thing about electing him is we will probably never see him again.
How do we get Joe six pack in there.. Common sense would be a nice change for Washington!!!
Perhaps the most shameless phony on the planet. By their lack of scrutiny Maine people probably deserve this carpetbagger from Virginia.
A “carpetbagger” by definition is a Northerner, who went to the South after the Civil war seeking economic opportunity, often at cost to native southerners. King came from the South to the north so the term you are looking for is “Scalawag,” a southerner who moved north after the Civil war for like reason.
Thank you, Harry. I did not know that, so was using “carpetbagger” in an ironic sense. Allow me another opportunity to name the former governor, this scalawag from Virginia.
The only thing I like about him is that he lives relatively modestly, unlike Pingree, Cutler et al. But he’s a D in disguise and after voting for Dems in the past, I am done with them.
I will make this short and sweet. Angus King has my family’s vote.