AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. Paul LePage on Friday tried to move on from the controversy caused by his recent remarks comparing the Internal Revenue Service with the Gestapo, issuing an apology in his weekly radio address and doubling down on his criticism of the Affordable Care Act.
“The acts of the Holocaust were nothing short of horrific,” LePage said in his prerecorded address. “Millions of innocent people were murdered and I apologize for my insensitivity to the word and the offense some took to my comparison of the IRS and the Gestapo.”
“I want to make this very clear: It was never my intent to insult or to be hurtful to anyone, but rather express what can happen by overreaching government,” the governor said. “I fear we have a federal government that is moving toward a socialistic state, and we must not forget history because, if we do, we are bound to repeat it.”
LePage’s public apology capped off a controversy begun a week ago when LePage called the IRS “the new Gestapo” in a weekly radio address focused on the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that upheld most provisions of the Obama administration’s signature health care reform law.
The radio address “was intended to shed more light on the tenuous situation Maine is facing,” LePage said. “Instead, one word halted the conversation and spurred a flurry of unintended consequences.”
The governor tried to put the statement behind him Monday when he said in a statement that he didn’t mean to insult anyone with his comments “or minimize the fact that millions of people were murdered.” While he stopped short of apologizing in the public statement, LePage apologized privately to Emily Chaleff, executive director of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine.
Then on Thursday in Vermont, LePage reignited the controversy when he told a reporter that the IRS might not be as bad as the Gestapo, but that the federal tax collection agency is headed in that direction.
“The Holocaust was a horrific crime against humanity and, frankly, I would never want to see that repeated,” LePage said during an interview with Seven Days, an alternative weekly newspaper in Burlington, Vt. “Maybe the IRS is not quite as bad — yet.”
The remarks on Thursday caused the Maine Democratic Party to issue a statement that said LePage’s “fitness to hold office must now be seriously and openly questioned.”
Before recording his radio address Friday morning, LePage met with Chaleff, other representatives of the Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine and Derrek Shulman, director of the Anti-Defamation League of New England in the State House cabinet room.
“We are looking forward to closure on the issue and recognize that, through a healthy dialogue, we can learn from this,” LePage said of the meeting in his address.
“It was a very good and candid dialogue,” Shulman said. “The governor clearly heard the concerns of the community and of his constituents. He was good enough to share with us some of his thoughts, and we certainly appreciate it.”
The Jewish Community Alliance of Southern Maine and the Anti-Defamation League of New England both had issued statements condemning LePage’s remarks and calling on the governor to apologize for them.
“We welcome his apology,” Shulman said Friday. “There is no place for analogies to the Holocaust when discussing U.S. public policy. Analogies like that are demeaning to the victims and undermine civil discourse and respectful dialogue, and we conveyed that to the governor.”
In a statement issued Friday afternoon, Chaleff said, “It is clear the Governor regrets the hurt his language caused. As he clearly understands, the wounds of the Holocaust have their own unique and terrible place in world history.”
LePage also used his address to call on the Obama administration to provide states with more details on implementing the Affordable Care Act. He cited seven Democratic governors who have reservations about participating in the health care law’s expansion of the federal Medicaid program, which provides health insurance for low-income people.
“The federal government has had adequate time to come up with answers,” LePage said. “The problem is, there are none — at least none that will make the administration look good or lower the high cost of health care.”
A little late for an apology….
its never too late.
You mean its November all ready time to vote him out:)
Unfortunately not till 2014 unless some impeachable malfeasance shows up before then.Maybe the IRS can find some:)
He probably had to confer with his buddy Howie Carr first ….and even Howie wouldn’t return his call !!!
Wrong, his brain is Barrister Billings:)
so chris, how do you know Howie would not return his call? do tell………………
especially when the time allowed people to spout their rants towards him. what have you done for Maine lately?
Finally…..Now was that so hard Gov?
Adrienne wrote it for him in BIG LETTERS:)
There is no such thing as a “teachable moment” with this governor. Most of us learn from our mistakes, but not this national embarrassment.
Mr.LePage is a poster child for the Tea Party.
If you say so.
Stay focused folks. There’s no need to suffer the humiliation of Mr. LePage’s presence any more than necessary. No, we can’t recall him but come November we can cripple this man politically just as much as his lack of intelligence and grace currently cripples him socially. Simply vote in Democratic House and Senate majorities and much of our current pain and level of embarrassment will vanish overnight.
along with the rest of the companies that pay for all of the state jobs, programs and handouts that you feel people deserve just for being in the state.
vanish
Spoken like a true conservative. No government program is worthwhile if you can already afford most of its benefits on YOUR own and no person is worth aiding in any way unless it’s to serve YOUR own needs. Those who fall behind, need to “VANISH”. Now where have we heard that kind of thinking before? As Mr. LePage has been told to say, “We must not forget history because if we do we are bound to repeat it.” Please vote Democratic in November and don’t repeat the mistakes that brought us our current political leadership, LePage-Poliqin-Summers-Nutting-Webster-etc. etc. etc.
which tree does money grow on?
I grew up poorer than you could possibly imagine. My single mother used to clip coupons in order to get their 1/7th of a cent value at the store.
She did not believe in taking hand outs so she worked 3 jobs and she, her mother and my mother’s 4 children all liven in a one-bed with no hot water, no tub or shower and no sink in the bathroom. We pretended to eat dessert and told each other what we were eating. My sisters liked to pretend to eat strawberries and pretended to eat vanilla ice cream.
We had each other. Now there are 2 doctorates, one law degree and one Masters in Electrical Engineering between the 4 children. All contribute to society, because not a single one of us ever felt sorry or entitled.
I suppose those degrees were not subsidized by the government in any way, whatsoever. Certainly your elementary and high school was totally paid for by nothing but your blood sweat and tears.
Good point. I don’t have children and pay taxes up the ……, while parents make out like bandits at tax time. Sure sounds like socialism to me. To some it is only socialism when it doesn’t benefit them.
That is something that ALWAYS gets skipped over.We hear all the blather about families when those who keep littering the planet like the Octomom and the Duggars can’t get a big enough refund.Disgusting.
Our elected officials in Augusta and Washington all enjoy the benefits of government provided health care. It is – the best – our tax dollars can buy.
Le Page and others serving at the pleasure of the people, have no argument with these programs. Certainly not Snowe, Collins, Michaud, or, those fierce combative “leaders” in Congress – Boehner, McConnell, Cantor. They love it. “Socialism?” Who cares?
I have paid back much more than I ever “took” and I have paid back all of my student loans and then some.
You are all a fine family and should feel proud of your accomplishments. Your comment should be Mandatory Reading in our schools. Thank you for sharing.
Mandatory?
How about Le Page’s “Things I Never Should Have Said – But, So What?”
Tea Party people oppose government. But lift the curtain enough to permit their mandates to govern the peasants.
Someone with your claimed educational background should know better than to make blind judgments of others when you have NOTHING in the form of information to go on. Actually it sounds like we may have a lot in common regarding our poverty and escape from it. We likely differ only in the degree of compassion we have for others. I don’t know exactly where you stand there but based on your comments here, I don’t see you giving anyone a run for their money in that area.
You had running water. That must have been nice. My dad hauled it milk can by milk can from the stream down the road so we could take baths in a tin tub. Boy did it “stink” being the youngest of four and always the last in the tub! Our “rich” (As we thought at the time) neighbors up the road had running water like you and your family. We walked up with empty bottles a few times a week and walked it home just to have drinking water. Maybe that’s where “I” learned how to respect compassion and see the need to assist others in their efforts to move up? That’s something I’m sure would have been difficult for any one of your many schools to teach you on your way moving up.
Many people in Maine come from poor backgrounds and went on to be successful in life. Not all of us are conservatives either.
I went to MIT and have a degree in Nuclear Physics…. I worked four jobs. Each of those were 40 hours a week to pay my tuition while I was a full time student, 5 days a week………
(poes law)
I commend you on your education and working to put yourself through school. Some how, working four full time jobs, five days a week, while going to school full time, doesn’t add up…
====
Some unfortunate people are plagued with horrible diseases and life-threatening illnesses from birth.
Unless we, through our tax dollars and government, reach out and help – who will?
They are – the truly entitled.
Sell the snowplows, fire all the police, fire, game wardens, judges, teachers and anyone else that draws a paycheck from government. Close the schools, let the roads and bridges and dams get in even worse condition then they already are, fill our lakes, rivers and streams with toxins, remove any and all regulations and get rid of all the laws. Then we will have tea party utopia
Then I will just move to Florida and wave ta-ta when I am done.
that would at least work after selling the snowplows
It’s MUCH harder in Florida, my dear! This is NOTHING!
1% er’s
” We don’t need don’t need roads and bridges ” —-Just an East West highway to get our commodities to and from China!
” Besides, we are ABOVE that”, —30,000 ft Above in our “Tax Free” Lear Jets!
That should be the beginning of removing the “Worst” Governor ever elected in Maine. SHAME is not a word Big Paul understands – hate – he loves that approach.
If I issued this kind of apology to my wife, she would not accept it. He does say, he apologizes for his insensitivity, but then blames the ones who took offense, ” the offense some took” he says, like it was their fault for taking offense.
He goes on to say that he was trying to shed light on something. Everybody knows that when you are trying to enlighten someone, you use words that carry a lot of emotion…NOT! He’s so dumb, as well a quite insensitive. This gets filed with the bearded women comment and the rest of his nonsense.
The Gov. is a giant and it totally bothers the left. Got to love this guy.
6M plus died under Hitler and you defend LePage?Not a surprise.My grandfather who fought in WW2 would be ashamed of your kind but he would’ve still fought nonetheless.
the gestapo topic was lost hours ago. accept his apology and move on. really don’t care what you label and call me, the fact is that I am an American. and my entire family has been in the service.
Most of my family fought in WW II also and we should all be ashamed. I’ll accept his policy but he seemed to have both chronic and acute foot-in-mouth disease.
let it go. time to move on to solving problems in Maine.
We need to elect a Governor who wants to take care of that first….
Did you mean “apology” instead of “policy”?
”
accept his apology and move on.” Which one?
But that was only yesterday. What will he say next, that we’re supposed to overlook and “move on?”
Le Page is a radical member of the Koch Tea Party. He is currently trying to out-speak Perry and Walker with verbal assaults on all state and federal workers. His latest is just as infantile as the other slanderous bilge he splutters daily, almost like someone with chronic gastroenteritis.
His “apologies” carry less cure than a baby aspirin.
Koch bros. have money. Soros has money. what is the difference? I suggest you take some Tums to settle your gut. also Hollywood has money. oops, better add some aspirin to your intake. it may be hard to digest and will create a headache. You appear to see only what you want to see.
Oh MY! What will he say next???! Are you KIDDING ME??! Who CARES what he says next? Seriously!!
What to forget first? You and Le Page are absolutely devoid of any knowledge of WWII, or, WWI., and all the other wars that followed.
Likening Americans who work for the IRS as Gestapo agents, is pretty damned sickening. But it was more of a curve shot aimed at Obama and his Romney-inspired Health Care Reform Bill.
We’re barely over his early slurs, and he’s out with another. So where does the road of curses straighten out with this man.
He proves every day he is not fit to hold the office of governor. He should either resign or be impeached.
I suggest you return to the sea. So if you believe the Gov. is not fit to hold public office, then tell who you believe would best be sutited for job of Gov. It is so easy to harp about resignation or impeachment. that is a cowards way to Attack. He certainly stirs the pot and gets people to think. He does NOT feed pablum to the masses.
so obama is killing thousands as you blabber.
would you be kind enough to provide details on that statement?
for one i am not replying to you. so ………. Anyway, what about the innocents killed daily in Afghanistan? Don’t they count? Guess not.
Bush and Cheney didn’t seem to worry about that issue. Why after ten years and during a wind down in the world’s worst pocket of hate, should we begin to worry now?
still holding that old grudge that Bush WON. your Sea time has salted your thoughts.
Well hammockbear….it’s a past wrong with current implications. Smart people learn from past mistakes……Going back to Republican business as usual with the tea party cut everybody off except me, my uncle on disability and my granmaw is not going to fix anything.
hm… a giant what exactly? Most of his off the cuff comments only further the argument that he is not educated and has no sense of internal dialogue. I am not “left” –just a Maine resident with a brain.
So glad your brain is working. Very hot here today.
Only the uneducated rednecks truly like him. All the smart conservatives are embarrassed. I fall somewhere in the middle.
I am hardly uneducated and am glad for you that you feel you fall in the middle. Smart conservatives, well, golly gee, who would think, sounds more like hate from the left.
Your rotund giant casts a big shadow.
perhaps you have been out to sea for too long a time. the only shadow here is the flinging of septic tongues.
Giant? What, I won’t say.
twice to think you get it. lols. fun here today.
That’s funny! A giant what?
A giant what? I have a few suggestions. And you’re right, it should bother everyone.
you totally show your wit. thanks for the laugh.
Lepage has my vote. He has actually has done an incredible job. His impact has been very Visible in jobs, roads etc.
There are no jobs. Every month a business closes here in the state. He is not even promoting training people for the available jobs. It might cost him to promote a tidy penance of spending.
Lies!
It is true. Even training programs have been cut.
95% of maine business owners are Republican and support LePage. WHY? The lost jobs are due to stupid dem regs and taxes. What to train? EBT usage? PLEASE!! Please test your own ego and THINK. The Democratic way is ruin for everyone in the END.
Good ol’ Tea Party.
True!
Take a good look at the Maine Republican Website, it’s nothing but a set of musical chairs for businessmen to come in and get out to take their turn at ravaging the State for Fun and Profit!
Lost Jobs!
They want to loose as many as Possible! It cuts into their bottom line!
More Lies!
This is happening EVERYWHERE and HAS been! This has nothing to do with LePage! What part of that don’t you get?! It is the people here that are at fault for not wanting any more than just little local businesses and afraid of possible progress. Those little businesses aren’t going to sustain everyone with hardly any money coming IN…and with the majority CHOOSING to live on public assistance.
” and with the majority CHOOSING to live on public assistance.”
No one “choose” to have their job sent to China and Mexico!
There are plenty here that CHOOSE to live on public assistance. There ARE jobs around here…just gotta get off the computer and IPhone and GET ONE!
And he is sending what should be Maine jobs to Canada, and giving tax breaks to corporations who do so…yeah, that’s job creation.
I am not sure what roads you are traveling and we were one of only five states in the nation to lose jobs in 2011 — so where are the jobs ? not in Maine
I have worked in many fields and resided in many different states in this country. I don’t wish to diminish your sensibilities but you are wrong.
Give us the stats and maybe you have a case. But from the state of the roads I travel I don’t see it. And, jobs? Where? In the minimum wage service industry? Doubt you are talking about $10.61/hr living wage jobs.
Please explain why the honorable Governor has turned his back on a town almost washed away by a recent flood. Why he holds people hostage from receiving medical care they need? Instead, he spends his time slandering government and state workers, and seeking ways to cut their jobs under the watchful eyes of the Koch brothers.
A teetering obese giant, at best.
I would stay out at sea if you can. you can miss the chance to berate an elected official.
He is the poorest representative of the Republican Party ever to told the governor’s seat in Augusta.
He is a bad reflection on the state. But that is immaterial to his myopic supporters, especially those who dangle tea bags from their hats.
Our roads are nothing but pot holes. Our bridges are crumbling. The poor and the suffering cling to life, as your “giant” wobbles around the state blurting ridicule and hate.
And our state is in the national spotlight all because of this jabberwocky-gushing tea party tool.
Do not know where you live but our road is going to start repairs this week. Not really interested in your take on the Tea Party but clearly your insults about our governor are based on trite misconceptions that you feel to know the best. Lots of babble. Glad Maine is in the national spotlight as our lobstermen are again in a financial hurt. People will buy lobster now that the price is so low.
Our governor is a decent family man who is doing his best to help the state of Maine. Time we all support his efforts and offer our help to others who are less fortunate.
He does not scare me. The only giant thing the gov. has is his ego, and he is definately over compensating for a lack of something else.
Yep. And the Republican constituents should pressure their party to give LePage LeBoot. They should run a real politician for office this time around. LePage was so used to slashing prices at Mardens, he thought the same strategy would work on a grand scale with the state.
For a long time there have been those that have felt that Mr. LePage has not been acting rationally. His actions of the past week have certainly added more people to that way of thinking. Last Saturday in his radio address he stupidly called the IRS “The New Gestapo”. After an outcry by Maine citizens he issued what at best could be termed a left handed apology. That should have been the end of it. But not as far as LePage was concerned. On Thursday he goes to Vermont and again calls the IRS “The Gestapo” but then that isn’t enough for him. He has to expand on his stupidity by adding that he thinks the IRS will be killing people. On Friday he follows that brilliant action up with another apology. The man is displaying behavior that is not that of a sane person. Watching LePage is like watching a yo-yo. The ACA has been decided by The Supreme Court of The United States. It is the law of the land. LePage can’t change it with all of his hateful and stupid remarks. It is time to move on. Anyone casting a vote in November for a republican running for Maine’s House or Senate will basically be casting a vote to enable LePage’s crazy behavior. This tea party madness has to end.
The Mad Hate’r”
Tea Party and all!
LOL
I think it’s the Summer Heat. You know the global warming that doesn’t exist? Maybe he is hitt’n the “””Twisted Tea””‘ a-littllllleeee too harhhhhd.
It happens!
You know why people support his line of thinking because we are tired of being screwed by the Democrats here in Maine and are tired of being screwed by the NOBAMA Administration. He spoke the truth about the new 16,000+ IRS “stalkers” who will abuse, stalk , causing pain and constant enduring harassment to average Americans and Mainers to collect taxes for something they don’t want. Mainers know what a farce , an abysmal failure Dirigo Health a similar program is for the last 9 years. A program that has cost $300+ million dollars, never reached a target for insuring folks, it raised taxes on people’s insurance, tried to tax people more on soda , insurance etc which voters repealed. The fact when folks find out what this boondoggle does they will want no part of it. It will increase the deficit , taxes, lose more jobs and create awful care for its citizens. Folks should have the right to opt out of it because its something most Americans don’t want. That is why only 22% of folks want this bill because they are the ones who have been sucking off the Government freebies for years.
I have no idea how anyone could support the line of thinking of someone who says things that make him look like a total nutcase, but I am sure you find everything he does as just peachy. Oh and on your 16,000 plus IRS people …….hmmmmmmmmmm like most of what you post that has been proven to be pure unadulterated BS. The number was 1200 and those were mostly computer people not revenue agents. But hey Darkcat nice try. I don’t know if you hit all the points you needed to to get paid but nice try anyway. So nice to hear from you again. I always look forward to your post as I am sure most people do. They are always good for a laugh. Have a fantastic weekend Darkcat.
If you listen to talk show entertainers maybe. But I don’t. Nope went to the CBO and some edu sites and you know what I found? That you are wrong. ACA is expected to save on premiums to the tune of (conservatively) $1000 and when all is in place and working like it is supposed to will bring down the deficit. Sounds like we are moving in the right direction to me. But, we will have to wait and see. Anything has got to be better than what we had.
So, enjoy your radical right wing tea party governor. Buy the tape: “Things I said, but shouldn’t have said – but to hell with ’em all.” Revel in his horrible and twisted condemnation of Americans, then relish his mawkish apologies.
Independents shun such loathsome behavior. Condemning people sidelined by a recession with couch affliction, and all Mainers as being obese and poor, is something no self respecting American – never mind party labels – would tolerate.
It’s time for those with common sense to look at shortening this man’s time in office through impeachment. The dream would be to have him resign. Nixon did.
Governors are supposed to serve the people – not themselves. And, certainly not the ideology and whims of a billionaire’s tea party. Le Page may have learned how to add two plus two at Husson, but unfortunately, his comprehension of people and the world we inhabit, is beyond his grasp.
Well said!
The IRS will be doing its job as it always has done its job, under republicans and democrats alike. What part of the “Gestapo” thing doesn’t he get. He is severely chastised and “Apologies “;d the next thing we know, he said it again,. only worse. The just doesn’t get it or enjoys being the subject of national humiliation for the State of Maine and its people. All he does is keep telling lies about what it will do.A follower of Joseph Goebbels it looks like to me.
Perhaps candidates for governor should undergo psychological testing?
The Republican Governors Association would be a Ghost Town!
And Romney needs to go away as well, he sold all of our jobs over seas, Paulie Just sells them to the canadians.
GE payed zero income for “stimulus” green energy credits as they exported jobs to China in exchange.
Well your people in Maine chose a Canadian, so quit your b*tching!
go florida yourself, I and the majority of Maines people did not elect this poor excuse for a Governor and if the law allowed he would have been recalled already.
dumb, Highlighted by BDN only! That’s it folks strictly BS!!!!!!!!!!! CUTTING EDGE< NOT
Maybe if you ever get audited you will have different feelings about the IRS.
Liberals making a mountain out of nothing.
How pathetic is it that if you really want to know what you actually do, or do not, have to pay in taxes, you have to hire a tax expert at your expense? That is of course, providing that you don’t qualify to file a 1040EZ form, which anyone with any amount of success at all, would not.
דעם יאַט האט ניט געדאַנק פון דער ווייטיק ער ז
Gov. LePage is a patriot. He apologized and I believe it was a real heart felt apology. He did get attention and he is a man committed to his job. He is not a poster child for the Tea party. Not.
Nor is he a “National Embarrassment”. He is doing his job and yes it offends the “Spenders” in Maine. He at least sees that when you have no money in the checking acct. to spend, you are forced to make cuts in areas of spending. Thank You, Gov. for doing your job.
pathetic
Why do you say so/ He Apologized and it is time for the haters to let it go.
if you want to see hate watch it ooze from lepage’s pores when he talks about the affordable health care act. he’s twice inserted his foot into his mouth, very , very deeply the second time; go to the press hearld or burlington vt paper, read a little more about what he said or listen to the tape. rather than being apologetic, lepage dug his hole even deeper.
I did read and I like the Gov. He has more on the ball than the liberals can see or understand.
so the us army rangers / police must remid you of the ss
huh? your spelling is hard to comprehend. sorry.
Only after inflaming it once again. You know that saying, fool me one shame on you, fool me twice shame on me? Well he said it once, then said it again.
time to get over the petty.
Agreed. You first.
some people are just plain idiots.
Yes I have made mistakes, everyone has. However I have NEVER insulted or degraded the Holocaust or down played just what the Gestapo means. I have never insulted our great mean and women who fought and die fighting against them. How in the heck does any normal and decent human even compare anything in the USA to the Gestapo? It is crazy. We can accept the apology without forgetting that act. It was not just a slip of the tongue. That is completely understandable. What anyone says about him, I am 100% sure that he works his butt off. Having a slip of the tongue is understandable. But to do it again after the storm of first comment is lunacy. This is how we forget the past, we trivialize horrific events. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice shame on me. This applies to this situation. PS. I am replying to this comment because it wouldn’t let me apply to your other one.
11 Million people dying is not petty. This is something we should never forget. Ever. Do you think it 30 years it will just be petty banter if someone a politician makes fun of 9/11. Letting this kind of comments go makes what happen seam like nothing. If makes us forget what people went through. The terror of seeing families torn apart. This is not a joking matter.
for the sake of decency, the Gov. is not a person who intended to offend anyone when he used the word Gestapo. It has been the easy route for the liberal Mainers to attack and vilify our Gov. Do you ever make a mistake? He is the Gov. of our state and deserves better than the comments here re: his poor choice of words. Let it go and accept his apology.
It was 6 million…and no one was making LIGHT or making FUN of the Holocaust…quite the opposite. But that is over your head!
Oh how we forget. It was 11 Million. 6 million were Jewish. The rest were gypsies, mental challenged, gay and other non desirables. Trivilizing those death is bad. He did it not once but twice. Trivilizing those deaths is not the opposite.
Oh, you mean that speech that Bush thought he said? Oh…nevermind!
It is sad in our country that so many people hate others when they do not have their favorite person in office. It is totally childish.
Speak for yourself.
Unfortunately you can’t change a HICK! Lord knows there are plenty of them up here!
If we have “no money in the checking account”, why did we cut taxes? That doesn’t sound fiscally responsible to me. Do you ask your employer to pay you less when you have trouble paying your bills?
I understand and support not raising taxes- but we shouldn’t lower them until we “have money in the checking account”.
So as you drive past the many empty store fronts and former homes for families, and you want to raise taxes/ tell me then Who will pay those tax hikes/. We cannot print anymore money. Obviously many cuts have had to be made in govt. jobs and it will continue. We as a nation are in deep financial trouble.
If you’ll reread what I said, I said that I did “not” support raising taxes. You correctly state that we are in deep financial trouble, but yet your guy LePage wants to make it worse by reducing what the government takes in. That’s not fiscally responsible. Pay the bills before you cut taxes.
Yes Because tax hikes are going to shatter so many families, and business. You make it seem like that if we raise taxes they are all a suddenly going to cost families an extra 1000 dollars a month!
To many in this state it would be financial ruin. as it is, many were not able to fully heat their homes last winter. Cutting the GOVT. jobs had to be the first of many cuts in spending.
So you cut jobs to save money, but then you cut taxes to bring in less money? Doesn’t make sense. I understand you have to cut spending but then you cut taxes as well? I think the problem is no one is willing to help pay. Everyone is looking out for there own pay check. The do not care about the country. We have been waging two wars for 10 almost 10 years, yet no one wanted to raise taxes to help pay for them? Its crazy.
noone said the fix would be easy . next time you see a fellow citizen who lives in their own home, take time to ask yourself how a person on a fixed income can hold on to their home with the taxes being increased??? common sense prevails here.
So if they are on a fixed income they might be getting government services? Yet we want to cut those because we can’t spend anymore. So they still get less money and still struggle. I am pretty sure those people on a fixed income would gladly pay a little higher tax to keep some of the help that they get.
Social Security is what I refer too. The fact remains that this country has spent more money than we have. Each state is in very tight financial shape. The people on fixed income most often have no money left to pay higher taxes after the govt. increases their health care payments.
how is the government increasing there healthcare payments?
many drs are now quitting their private practice and either no longer in medicine and in a different job, rather than having to work in a hosp. that is Obama Care. All the changes cost money. who do you think will have to pay that money…………..duh……………….
really, obama care is driving doctors away in droves? Source please? I am actually interested in this and a creditable source would be very enlightening.
Sources of doctors leaving private practices. First is an old friend who is a Orthopedic surgeon in NJ. Spoke with him on the 4th at dinner and he told of MANY drs. who had already closed their doors. He said this is just the beginning. Then as I was replying to you I had FOX on with Mike Huckabee who was interviewing doctors who had left their positions and said also that many many others would be doing the same. reason was Obama Care. Many in private practice would be forced to go to hospitals for employment .
I did a little research and found some articles. But nothing that points directly to Obamacare, but the direction of Healthcare in general. Some do point to Obamacare, but they also cite the corporation of healthcare. Very interesting, definatly worth reading more. You could be right about this, I just do like to take my facts from hearsay or news. There was story in New York that there were thousands of homeless trying to clean car windows at intersections. They cracked down and found out that it was only about 35. People were exaggeration the real thing. However this could very well be the case, I will look into it further. Thank you.
as for Obama care, the other part to check into is when you Sell real estate………….. If you have property on the mkt. you better hope to sell before Obama care goes into effect. a giant tax grab from real estate sales will be taken from you. that is disgusting.
I will respond here for obvious format problems.
Free contraceptives is actually Big Government fertilizer. The abortion issue in this impending election is less about social morality and more about financial ethics.
Part of the solution would be to CUT welfare to those that have been on it forever and that refuse to work that ARE *able-bodied*, that continue to have kids they can’t afford ON THEIR OWN, that are druggies and boozers, etc. THEY are the big problem in this state! Stop taking from the elderly and disabled! Punish the one’s that are using the system! (there are plenty) Take away from the irresponsible…not REWARD them! This state has more going out than it does coming in!
Then we should allow them free abortions. See the right yells about ablertions are wrong, then get made at people having the babies.
How about being RESPONSIBLE and keeping your **** closed? These idiots keep having kids so they DON’T have to work and can continue to KEEP welfare. Sterilization of these irresponsibles would make more sense! If you can’t afford to take care of your kids ON YOUR OWN after temporary help, then you shouldn’t be able to KEEP your kids. As for abortions, that is a person’s business if they choose one. You do not REWARD irresponsible behavior so they can pay for their own abortions.
Yes because sex is so unnatural. People have no desire to have sex. It’s not one of our most basic instincts.
Again, being irresponsible. Ever heard of taking precautions if you’re going to act out every time you THINK you need to have sex? Not that difficult. If you can’t then don’t have sex!
Yes because evenyone plans the exact place and time they are going to have sex. I is never a passionate thing that can just happen. Telling people don’t have sex is like telling them to just don’t eat cause you could get food poisoning. Or just don’t breathe, sex is in our most basic human nature.
No where in any post has anyone dictated to anyone else “Don’t have sex.” without an accompanying caveat to be sure responsible precautions have been taken beforehand. Why is it so hard for you to understand responsibility?
You can be responsible and still get pregnant. Sex is natural as breathing. It is so hard to go against your instincts. Oh, Sorry I can just turn off my basic human nature because we do not have a rubber. It doesn’t work that way. Never have to to think that it does is lunacy. How hard is it for you to understand that sex is like breathing. There could be toxins in the air, you can only hold your breath for so long. You talk about responsibility? You want you want to force your morals, i.e no abortions on others, yet you do not want to accept responsibly that that brings, more people needing welfare.
Intelligence permits an understanding of biology. Your passion should not become my tax.
Yes and the most intelligent people can lose there minds when it comes to sex. Your ideology should not place a undue burden on society. The antiabortion movement if they get there way will cause a rise in unwanted children thus more welfare. They do not want to accept responsibly for unwanted children, but they think you should be forced to have them? If they really cared about welfare and the burden it places on society, they would be pushing for free contraceptives and other forms of birth control. Not trying to regulate it. They would be in every school teaching kids how to have safe sex, not abstain from it. Read about Rudy Giuliani cleaning up of New York and lowering crime. It all happened 15 years after Roe vs. Wade.
I want my tax dollars out of your bedroom choices.
But people want your ideology out of there bedrooms. Those tax dollars would be if abortion was more accessible.
Why and how do people in marriages who support their own kids without financial assistance from the government somehow manage to limit the number of children they bring into the world? Progressive logic would have us believe they just give up sex to keep their “excess riches”. So much for responsibility transparency!
How is it that you can expect them to pay for their own children and then everyone elses’ uncontrolled, irresponsible reproduction on top of their own expenses and then have the audacity to insist on “Fairness”?
Do you think they have any legitimate basis in getting “mad at people having the babies.”?
Please read about demographic. Look up Japan and that will tell you the answers to your question. Were did you go to school?
I make it a point to not ask for others’ personal information online and expect that others will not request mine.
I will participate in this volley only from a perspective of American ethics rather than statistics, graphs and pie charts, battled with a war of hyperlinks.
Sorry, the last question was sarcastic, I did not mean for you to answer it. The Demographic transition model suggest that as countries advance through its 5 stages birthrates start to decline. They decline in stages 4 and 5. In stage 5 you actually see a negative population growth. Meaning that people are have less kids. Hence the problem faced in Japan and other countries. It has not happened in the USA in a large part to immigration, legal and illegal. As people get more educated and better access to healthcare they have less children. This may not be quite accurate as it is coming mostly from memory, but I am sure that I captured the basic Idea pretty well.
One word: Nutting
His Job?
His job is Not a Conservative Radio Talk Show propangandist, his job is being a Governor of All of us!
Which means resolving differances —-not inciteing riots!
The only inciting the Gov. does is obviously get under the thin skinned liberals in this state. The comments here are proof.
If you have been following LePage, his policies and his rhetoric I find it astonishing that you would be defending him. Perhaps you are a tea bagger and in that case he is your puppet.
It really is not about right or left, he is equally repellent to both sides.
Be astonished. I am glad he is the Gov. He surely has done more work than the previous gov. That is Fact.
What you call work I would call harm.
You are entitled to your opinion. I prefer facts. Have not felt the harm.
facts ? now that is funny !
perhaps funny to you. facts are facts. nothing more and nothing less. how funny is that to you now? duh???
What about those of us who are not liberals?
well what about it? do you need kleenex over this? actually, TP is less expensive.
where is the riot/ did I miss it/ he APOLOGIZED for his poor choice of words and if you have a heart then you should know that the Gov. NEVER said Gestapo to be mean spirited.
I NO Uncertain Terms —–his Remarks where Deliberately Inflamatory!
You also don’t decrease your revenue if you “have no money in your checking account”.
You can most definately eliminate and consolidate govt. jobs. It is happening in the USA everywhere…….
And laying off public workers increases unemployment. Fewer jobs for teachers in your town now? Fewer police? That means more people in your area who have NO money to pay for the goods and services that are sold by the company YOU work for. That makes it more likely that YOU will be next to lose your job.
These layoffs are happening in every state in this country. Our school was already closed a few years ago. Most often the public worker layoffs start at who has the shortest time to retire and thus are given the choice. Fact is our country is in a bad financial state and not many want to admit that. they merely listen to what they choose to hear. In reality, food costs have soared and now with the mid west drought, the prices for corn and soybeans will soar. The elected have said many times this will not be an easy fix. We are all in this mess together. It is time to help our fellow neighbor and become less dependent on foreign fuel and goods. Many people who have lost jobs have created a new business for themselves. That is what is happening and since I have been self employed for many years this is not new to me. Each of us needs to take part in our communities, volunteer to help others, isn’t that what it is all about anyway??
This is happening everywhere and HAS been happening. Maine hasn’t seen HALF of it!
We have had schools (and still continue) shut down all over Florida, as has other states where they really NEED them…same for the police and other workers. That’s definitely nothing new, but it only goes noticed when it happens in your OWN back yard. Hey, I lost my position back in 2008 by a big corp because I had finally started to use my health insurance and I was forced to go on an intermittent FMLA. An intermittent FMLA is where you continue to work your regular schedule, but if you happen to take off any time (which was my own vaca days, personal time) it is recorded basically and on paper, but it was supposed to *secure my job*…instead it was used against me…since I was in a *right to work* state. Whenever I asked to use my vaca days (with a month’s notice) or my personal time (with a month’s notice) to go to the doctors, I had to record that as *FMLA* time. I never *called out*, worked my full time hours, etc. Then once they got me to sign this form that was forced upon me, they then used it against me and said *they didn’t need my position any longer*. Mind you, I was the only one that DID this job for the entire company and it was in fact *needed*…but because my medical problems were permanent (it never affected my job ability) and would cost on the insurance, they eliminated me. I was told I did an outstanding job, etc…but they can get rid of you just for the sake of doing so. You are not protected ANYWHERE! Oh and the majority of that company’s jobs continue to go overseas. I won’t get into their other involvements.
The checking accounts of the Maine 1% sure haven’t shrunk any.
Boy that Adrienne is fast covering up. Remember Adrienne when you write material for Big Paul make sure you use LARGE LETTERS:)
Who is Adrienne? WHO??????????
Adrienne Bennett is Gov. LePage’s spokesperson.
A patriot? That would be some one who loves democracy yes? One who worries that about the loss of said democratic process? Yes, the Blaine House Emperor is certainly a patriot. After all only a patriot would halt bonds after the people had voted for them, thus unilaterally defying the democratic process. Not to mention his vow to again go against voters wishes and not allow the sale of this years bonds should they pass. LePage is nothing but a Napoleon wanna be, only he has half the intelligence of Napoleon and he is twice as crazy. If only we could exile LePage to St. Helena…
Holy Trout, comparing our Gov. to Napoleon. Our gov. is a Patriot. sorry you are blinded by thin skinned libs.
Isn’t he withholding bonds and the people voted for?
have you actually read his plans regarding the bonds?
“thin skinned libs” ok.. Hammock. Turn off Rush, Take a breath, go outside, get some excerise ( we all know you need some )
Rush who? I would not waste time listening to him. It appears typically that the Left can dish it but cannot take the heat. got to love politics.
Yeah, a patriot who is sending Maine jobs over the northern border and giving corporations tax credits to farm local work out of country. A real patriot….
Gee you describe the President. Seems you should google GE and see about NO tax payments. now that is Big news………….
Silly hammockbear, GE tax loopholes have been going on for years – and started long before Obama’s Presidency. And we can’t get those corporate tax breaks repealed because the Republican/Tea Partiers block tax reform…..
Obama got the CEO of GE to work for him. Outsourcing a bunch of businesses and has gone to China. That wintahwren, was all for Votes. Both sides are going to do what they please. If you have a negative attitude about the Tea party, then you would be best to research all that the Tea Party stands for. don’t take it personally. and they do NOT block tax reform. not sure where you conjured that one from. Obama has simply fueled the bad. Ask your Dr. when he will have to quit. Under Obama Care, the MDS will be forced to work where told.
Note that the CEO of GE didn’t last though…..Romney through business practices, allowed by Republican lawmaking, has been outsourcing far more than Obama personally has. And I don’t know if you can’t read or hear, but tax reform is being consistently blocked because it isn’t business friendly…..Get real hammock. I have read all the Tea Party platforms, been inside the Maine Heritage Policy Centerwebiste read everything and debated with folks like you. I am also very angry at the Democrats, the liberals and the Occupiers because they haven’t come up with solutions either. Neither side wants to work together to fix the ills of this country. So I am hunkering down, paying off the mortgage, getting off oil, building big gardens. It will be a long winter no matter what…
Thanks for your input. I like what you say. Until both sides can agree to agree, we will never have civility between the two parties. Name calling adds fuel to the hate and that is so rude and wrong. The people have to unite and then work together for solid solutions to improve our life in this country. Good for you to be able to pay off your mtg.and get off oil. you should research solar and wind. there are rebates for that and you probably do qualify. A solar home is a home with all that you have now for electronics. Simply depends on how much power you will need. Build a root cellar and learn to can your veggies. The county extensions offer classes on canning and you can learn volumes.
I am for Unity in this country, and I stood up for Gov. LePage as it was obvious that he goofed with his choice of words. He would not be that evil or mean spirited. not many here could not see that. The Occupiers have drawn attention and that is good, at same time their protesting cost the protest cities too much extra money to patrol them.
Wish you all the best in your next adventure.
Isn’t that what Obama and all the rest for DECADES have been doing??? WE put ourselves in this position. This is happening all over the country and has been. Everyone seems to love this Obama, yet he continues to let people come over here illegally and wants open borders, yet we don’t seem to have a problem with that!
Nope – That’s what Romney’s been doing for decades. But I agree we put ourselves in this position by allowing big business to run our government during the Clinton and Bush Administrations. As long as we could spend money on cheap Asian made crap, we didn’t give a hoot what was happening to our country…..
Travel outside of this state and ask politically minded people what they think of our governor. ON BOTH SIDES.
I do travel and I have heard plenty. Pro and Con. From Both Sides. Many say we have a Spirited Gov. who takes no bull from the pablum eaters. Many others say unprintable things about him. Mostly the people are on the common road of wanting to get our country on a better path no matter which party heads the country. Unity is the theme. Sure makes sense.
He is full blown Tea Potty! He just hasn’t got the berries to admit it. Why do you think he went to the big pow wow at the Fort Know? To buy popcorn?
Tea Potty. now that is funny.lols, thanks. gee, why do You think he went to the Fort? do tell. and am pretty sure it was not to buy popcorn.
Good for the Governor. I’m not a fan but it seems it is starting to sink in that a number of his off-the-cuff oration activates emotions long before it activates the thought process expected of a head of State.
An overreaching government always is in the beholder’s beliefs. Governing is a balancing act of serving “all” of a govern citizenry – requiring all to participate – all to be contributors to a better State and Country – for all.
The only thing that is sinking in with Mr. LePage, is his foot further in to his mouth…
Lord knows we’ve seen very little balance in the governor’s office lately.
Too little and not enough. Barely an apology, it’s an excuse in an attempt to justify how he feels.
Yes, well, I feel the same way he does, but it was right of him to apologize. Wish Libby Mitchell had when she got bagged with that horrendous photo of George Bush, instead of lying about it.
Empty apologies mean nothing, you can stab someone in the back and then apologize but the wound is still there, it doesn’t negate the offense.
Oh, what a tempest in a tea pot. So what? It is a harshly stated opinion.
He’s doing good things for Maine. Paying off debt. Honoring the commitment to our workers’ pensions. Bringing jobs. Bringing efficiency and effectiveness to the taxpayer for their hard-earned dollars.
Well done, LePage.
=====
Unemployment is down. Private sector jobs in all sorts of locals, like Brunswick, Lewiston, Auburn, and in the county. Google it. Educate yourself.
He cut taxes on *everyone. He is removing the shackles the Left placed on the poor with their welfare enslavement.
We did not elect him to be a role model or an inspirational speaker. We elected him to restore the balance between the private and public sector, stimulate economic growth so everyone, including the poor, had career opportunities, pay off the swamping debt, and restore Maine’s vitality. He is doing a wonderful job. Our communities will be richer with the opportunities for young families.
“Opportunities for young people”! 85% of college graduates have had to move back home. There are no jobs and the ones that exist need certain skills most do not have. Where is the skills training for these young people?
They have been leaving the state for 30 years. Maine is the oldest, poorest state.
—
Many of the *young families* here just want to keep popping out kids and sucking the system dry. They aren’t adding anything positive to the state, other than more debt! As for the one’s leaving, that happens in ALL states because they want to MOVE ON and want MORE out of life, other than what Maine has to offer and do it on their OWN. That’s just a fact of life and THOSE one’s will go on and MAKE something of themselves. Not a THING wrong with that! In all reality Maine has never really had anything to offer the younger generations (other than those that just choose to *settle* and get married and have kids), hence why many moved away and came back later when they were better established and older. Not everyone wants to just sit around and look at the stars or trees all the time!
And what jobs would those be?
OH WELL!! Get over it and MOVE ON! GEEZZZZZZZ People!
Deflection again. Must be stage something of denialaism.
is that all you can counter with/ you know bayview10 is correct on fact.
I agree with you that most democrats do not make obnoxious comments, backside. It truelly is the uneducated conservatives among us that say ignorant sorts of things and believe that they have a right to say anything that comes into their heads.
That said, I accept Gov. Lepage’s apology. It was the manly sort of thing to do.
Think before you open that pie hole! Its a shame that Governors of a State have to apologize for such stupid remarks.
Oh please, you’d screech about Baldacci shoving things down your throats if he did. Have some principles and quit sticking up for poor behavior. These kind of comments aren’t appropriate no matter who makes them.
LePage
is NOT a “good man!” He’s a fat tea party cartoon who is so
divorced from reality that he compared the IRS (an institution that, though it
can certainly be frustrating, is quite legitimate and would still be necessary
to the functioning of the federal government even if that government were cut
down to the size that Republicans want) to one of the most evil and murderous
institutions of the 20th century. He did
this not just once, in an overly bombastic line in a speech; no, he insisted on
vigorously defending his comparison as part of what can only be described as a
paranoid and delusional conspiracy theory (just for the record, the Canadian
health system works very well for ordinary people, as any comparison of health
costs and outcomes shows). This isn’t “insensitivity,”
this is proof that this guy is a truly dangerous (non)thinker who absolutely
cannot be trusted to govern our state. I
really wish that everyone who is so rightly offended by this comparison would
not give the governor the chance to put this behind him by accepting a phony
apology.
murderous institutions of the 20th century are directly funded by the IRS… that was part of what the governor was saying.
I am sad that people are allowing victims to determine which words may and may not be used when someone wants to make a point.
Orwellian thought police.
No, that’s not what he was saying. He was trying to scare people regarding Obamacare. It wasn’t a nuanced or thoughtful point he was making. You don’t need to defend stupidity.
He doesn’t have to scare anyone over Obamacare. It is horrifying.
You clearly haven’t read the bill then…..
Obama doesn’t want want Obamacare.
i have read it
and I rue the day that my current plan is no longer grandfathered in once i need to make a single amendment
Where does it say that? Reference please, I have read the bill and most summaries. Tell me where to look Tylerdurden
I’m sure you won’t come back and tell us if Obamacare helps you.Perhaps you’d rather be coddled by Big Insurance and Big Pharma?Their concern for people in need in certainly well documented.
Obama doesn’t want want Obamacare.
how good can it possibly be if the elected royal class exempted themselves and all of their friends from obamacare?
does that not tell you everything you need to know?
More horrifying is the invective being spewed here and elsewhere, for purely polticial reasons.
Which murderous institutions are funded by the IRS? The US government certainly has supported it’s share of murderous regimes over the years (the Somoza family, Rios Montt, Pinochet, etc.), and clearly our tax dollars have been a part of that, but somehow I don’t think that’s what you were referring to, as the right tends to see those murderous institutions as good things. Can you give an example of a domestic murderous institution currently funded by the IRS?
Department of Justice?
The name implied relation to a group that will be remembered as the lowest form of human life. In other words “SHIGHT” deserves much more respect, OK, GOT-IT.
Ever been a P.O.W. ?
How about a comment about the IRS after you experience an audit. You may think differently. The Gov. is not a dangerous man and that is a very poor choice for a description. So much hatred from the left here and it accomplishes nothing. Simply fuels the hate.
I’ve been audited by the IRS. I provided the necessary documents and had no problem.
That is wonderful. You are most fortunate to have had an no problem audit. My experience was actually worse than sitting in the dentists chair with no pain killer. The cold chill in that audit room came from the auditor. He wanted to contact an employees widow for invoices less than two weeks after he died. We finally did get his acceptance of our records but he had no remorse or concern for the woman who had just buried her husband. I will never forget the cold and manipulating manner in which the audit was performed. I told him I would be contacting our senators if he kept at his badgering.
I too was audited by the IRS and found the IRS representatives to be very professional and actually pleasant. I gave them what they needed and that was it. I was pleasantly surprised.
I also had the opportunity of dealing with IRS Auditors on a fairly regular basis while working in accounting and banking. Through all those years I never once found any of them to be unpleasant or unprofessional.
You didn’t describe anything unreasonable that they did. They do need the records they ask for and I don’t see how anyone would have benefited by prolonging or dragging out the audit in order to give this woman more time to grieve. As far as you expecting him to feel remorse about the death of this woman’s husband… why? He didn’t kill the man, right? He didn’t even know him, did he?
You said he was cold and manipulative but didn’t describe any type of behavior that would amount to manipulation whatsoever. From your description it sounds as if he was pretty direct in telling you what he needed to conduct the audit. That’s not manipulation at all… but trying to avoid giving him the records he requires to conduct the audit could certainly be seen as an attempt to manipulate by making certain records unavailable for audit. If the IRS asks for records it’s best to give them the records they ask for instead of trying to avoid it by claiming that you feel your employee needed more time to grieve. That sounds very suspicious to me and probably did to the IRS Representative too.
Whether we like it or not, the IRS has a right to audit anyone and any business, therefore, an audit alone does not qualify as badgering. If you had simply given the IRS what they asked for instead of trying to delay – even for reasons that a widow who had those records was still grieving – then they wouldn’t have had to ask for these records more than once. If they asked for these records multiple times it’s obviously because you or your company failed to comply with the original request.
Perhaps the reason you had a bad experience is because you didn’t want to cooperate had to be obvious to the IRS Representative. For those of us who simply produce the records that we’re asked for and do not try to avoid having to produce company records by complaining that the employee who has access to the required records is grieving the experience is much more positive. IRS Auditors are just people – people doing their job. One size does not fit all…
Sorry I bothered to post that statement. You have clearly read it incorrectly. There was nothing to hide nor reason to avoid anything. We complied with all that was asked for. Our records were produced with ease and were in deed, true. I do have a personal friend who is a retired IRS auditor and my friend is extremely pleasant . The agent we dealt with was totally the opposite. Please do not assume you know my business. In the end, the IRS was completely satisfied with our documents. We had nothing to hide. As you say the IRS agents are just doing their jobs. We were trying ONLY to keep the widow from being hounded as her husbands death was a horrible shock.
Hounded? Being ASKED to provide invoices to complete an audit is not hounding. Most businesses do not allow their employees to take home documents that will be needed in an upcoming audit… yes, the IRS doesn’t just show up, they schedule an appointment with the business. So, come on now… asking an employee to return business documents so that the IRS can use them in his/her audit is certainly not hounding.
It sounds to me like you either weren’t prepared for the audit or that you got off to a bad start with this IRS Auditor… Most likely he/she didn’t feel like you were being very cooperative if you didn’t have necessary documents onsite and didn’t want to ask the widow to bring them in.
Some documents are just necessary for an audit and because the IRS would have scheduled that audit prior to the death of her husband she should not have had these documents in her possession in the first place. Maybe next time when the IRS schedules an audit with your company you will make sure that all documents are available for them to use in the course of their audit. That way you won’t have to get angry that they need documents that your employees took home with them.
You have it all wrong. not going to waste time with you . you really are not worth the effort.
I agree, hammockbear! You just can’t get someone without a brain to all of a sudden *grow* one…and I see that all-too-often in these parts. hammockbear, you are one of the only one’s on here that I’ve noticed that HAS one. (a brain that is)
Tea Party interrogator: ” I will not going to waste time with you. You are really not worth the effort.” Believe I heard those lines in some old 40s movies.
What do you have to hide?
Not a dang thing to hide. does that grab you well?
“Not a dang thing to hide” I now see clearly why you are such a fan of the Gov.
what do you imply?
glad you got your b’s busted. that was the intent. lols
Seriously m_Gellar35..GET A LIFE! People like you need to stop HARASSING people just because they don’t think the same way you do! This seems to be the NORM in this state and it’s quite disturbing! Bunch of backwoods HICKS!
Do you know where Paul put the mural? He says he hid it.
I have a good horror story myself. One year the IRS cashed a check I sent them. Then they put a lien on my house. Why? Because as the clerk told me, in her own words, “Ma’am, we’re the IRS. We lose things around here all the time.” Fortunately I proved I made the payment. By then, the lien already showed up on my credit reports. I got dinged for years because of that lien. It doesn’t just disappear from your credit report when the lien is satisfied.
That is pitiful. I suggest that you take this up with the Gov. and see if their office can assist you in clearing this mess . If that office cannot help then go to the Senators. DEMAND HELP. You truely need it. Best of luck to you in ridding your nitemare.
How many communications from the IRS did you ignore for them to come to the point of taking action. And, it doesn’t sound right that IRS simply put a lien on your home. Knowing how IRS operates when they feel you owe them money your story just doesn’t ring true at all.
You see… here is the way it really works. When the IRS wants your attention they don’t bother wasting their time on liens – liens don’t do anything for them or anyone else until the home is sold. They don’t want to wait that long.
What IRS does when they want your attention and when they believe you owe them years and years of back taxes is freeze all of your bank accounts and garnish your wages.
That’s right… they can and will garnish your paychecks and freeze all your bank accounts (even if your bank accounts are shared by another person who doesn’t owe IRS anything at all). You see, IRS wants your attention NOW, not when you get around to selling your house. IRS knows that nothing gets your attention faster than stopping your income and freezing all your bank accounts.
But… to give you the benefit of the doubt and assume that IRS acted out of procedure and instead of garnishing your wages and freezing your bank accounts they put a lien on your home there would have to be a reason, such as you don’t earn any wages and don’t have money in any bank account. If that is the case they would have to go the long route and put a lien on your property. But, there are no immediate consequences to having a lien placed on your property so consider yourself incredibly fortunate!!!! Cutting off all your access to your money and your paycheck grinds your life to a halt much faster and is a lot more painful.
Like I said before, I worked in accounting and banking… I KNOW THIS FOR A FACT. It is knowledge I acquired on the job.
Tea Party ideology is reject all government, except that portion that is of personal benefit. It’s close to anarchy.
If you’re the officially designated spokesman for the amorphous non-party of tea-partiers it is not because the non-party designated you even though you feel you know them well enough to represent them as a party and volunteer to do so for them.
Credibility and respect are earned with honest words reflective of your own integrated belief system. Unfortunately, the communication method of blame bombing and vituprious emotional vitriol which you have exclusively chosen relegates your opinions as irrelevant to any serious conversational persuasion.
If you don’t like what you think the tea-partiers stand for, try honestly speaking your own ideological truth.
“Credibility and respect are earned with honest words reflective of your own integrated belief system.”
Please pass this on to Mr. Le Page.
I accept your description of what you experienced in an I.R.S. audit. During the Nixon years my Dad, a small businessman, was harrassed by a mean-spirited abusive I.R.S. agent that fit the profile of what we later learned about the culture of “dirty tricks”, enemies’ lists”, etc. from the Watergate scandal.
However, the I.R.S. is not the issue regarding the storm of criticism of the governor’s comments. His commentary, from day one, has been, and continues to be, a stream of intentional vile, mean-spirited, and yes, hateful attacks. Equally abhorrent, he revels in it.
We live in an era when politicians and their supporters regularly make egregious statements that are accepted as the norm; but there are, or ought to be, limits.
I truly cannot understand how the governor’s supporters, the vast majority of whom are probably good people, just like those who differ with them, can defend Paul LePage’s harrangues. I can assure you, I would believe the same if anyone that I support acted like he does.
The only vile and mean spirited and hateful attacks that I see, come from the BDN comment sections. Face it, the Gov. is actually working, he sets a good example to work. Seems the former Gov. played much too much golf in the summer as was shown in so many news photos.
This isn’t about John Baldacci, who was not a favorite of mine, either. Please don’t confuse or deflect the issue. It is about Paul LePage.
Sorry, but if you don’t perceive the governor’s comments to frequently be vile and mean-spirited, I really have to question what your values are.
A few years ago I was playing golf at Bangor Muni. Gov. Baldacci walked in after a round and was greeted warmly by the staff. he said he was paying a visit back home and played a round with his brother. He impressed me as being a good family man and not a time waster. Besides, how much work gets done in Augusta on a Sunday?
My opinions about former Gov. Baldacci have nothing to do with him playing golf, his civility, or his work ethic. Rather, they have to do with his policies that I feel strongly were detrimental to my region of the state.
Go back to the main page of BDN and read the man from Portland who writes about his experience with the holocaust as a child. Go visit a concentration camp in Europe, then come back and give your opinion.
EXACTLY WeRLosingCivility…and THAT’S why the governor wants to put a stop to all this craziness going on in this country so it DOESN’T happen AGAIN! What is so HARD to understand here!? That is not putting ANYONE down or making *light* out of a horrible situation! He is trying to keep that from happening again and that’s where it’s headed if we don’t stop picking at his words and take notice of what’s happening BEYOND Maine!
See my other posts. Hate (I hesitate to use the word) is in the eye of the beholder.
How correct you are. Go Figure. Sorry but there has been mean spirited hate here today. and that is not going to solve a thing.
reformedbipartisan, I do not put much stock in what the people that are attacking the governor think. THEY are the one’s demonstrating the hate…the very one’s that are attacking him for comments he’s made! What hypocrites! The people here make a stink about things that do not matter (like that ugly painting that hung in the capitol that they fought over)! Ever since that stupid painting, people have been quick to jump all over him. What he is saying is the truth and people don’t want to hear it. People around here are very close-minded and don’t like anyone that think outside the box and see’s things for what they are. They don’t like reality. If you don’t think like the masses here, you’re automatically ousted. That’s what happens when you live in the woods and don’t get out in the real world I guess. This is truly like living in the *Twilight Zone*!
Did the IRS drag you out of your bed, torture you for information and then put a bullet in your head? If not, then chill out.
you just do not see the implications of what can easily happen. have you ever heard of New World Order or worse, One World Order/ if Not, then start searching for info. It will open you to a new way of thinking.
The crazy homeless dude who hangs out in front of my office buidling yells about that stuff to random strangers.
If you think that is funny, then you are in for a jolt. Read about 66readerwriter just wrote. that happens and now his life is a living hell. very serious, research Soros and New World Order and One World Order, the 2nd will give you the chills.
and the “Crazy Homeless Dude” . did you ever buy him a meal? or have you merely labled him crazy and homeless. He may once have had a home and family. think on that.
EXACTLY hammockbear!!! I totally agree!
the irs will and has in many cases, taken posession of people pet dogs if they are an expensive breed. you do not know all that you claim to spout.
We the underpaid, the underprivileged, who work for our masters – the feudal lords, believe that Baron Le Page is a very dangerous man. He is not worthy to sit in the office of governor. He is totalitarian. His daily outbursts of rage against people, poor and sick, and his ideological quest to serve the Tea Party, aligns him more closely with that miserable outfit that surfaced in the 30s in Germany.
Looks like those two Lions want to bite Governor LaPage!!!
They smell bacon sizzling!
What group of people in this state has the governor not offended? He’s scary.
you can only be offended by the words of another if you choose to be offended.
I am never offended by words. I consider the source and I try to understand the sentiment that the person was trying to convey.
Give LePage some more time there must be some other group of people he hasn’t shat upon yet….
surely you can find something nice to say about the Gov. that would be a positive step for you and others.
better call in the military. they will protect you.
I have no doubt that many of the Americans who continue to believe–falsely–that Pres. Obama is not an American citizen see nothing wrong with Gov. LePage’s misuse of Gestapo and his rather belated apology for doing so despite widespread ridicule and bad publicity. As for liberals allegedly never attacking fellow Democrats, have you ever heard of the Vietnam War and the millions of good Democrats who, along with many good Republicans when there were such folks, protesting against Pres. Johnson’s policy?
I do not know what to believe about the Pres. place of birth. I was disgusted when he refused to show his birth certificate to the public for so many months. Also, his choice of worship place was not what I would attend but this is a free country and we can worship anywhere. Belated or not, at least the Gov. gave an apology. As for a Real problem, it is the MEDIA in this country. Each news network is slanted. That is insulting and is merely feeding pablum to the masses.
Want to know how I knew that the President was born in the US? Because Team Clinton couldn’t find anything to refute it, and you know if there was any truth to it, they would have found it.
Now that is a great point and allows something to research. You are so correct that the Clinton team would have used that if they found it. Just tell why did he not comply with the many requests to show his BC. That is the trouble at the root. He portrayed it as a game and that was so insulting to Americans.
I’ve never seen any other BC from a POTUS before. It has never been asked for like it was for Obama. Those in the parties probably ask for it behind the scenes all the time, but I have never publicly heard anyone else ask a potential Presidential candidate to provide one. Perhaps that was the impetus of why he didn’t show it. Perhaps the only people that needed to see it, legally, already had.
Just a guess.
now we see your true colors… you have no credibility.
Pres Johnson was a disgrace! As for your *president* let’s not ASSUME that he IS an American citizen either! You don’t know any more than the next person. Let’s ALSO not forget what this Obama person is all about. Have you forgotten his decades of being involved with Rev Wright? Ever listen to what he’s all about? How conveniently he dropped out of the congregation just before running for president? Ever notice WHO the Obamas cater to whenever they do their little speeches? Ya sure as h*ll don’t see many *white* faces. All Michelle does is talk about *black families*. If this were anyone else, this would be considered *racist*. I think the people in this country that are focusing on remarks that LePage made need to focus on what is going on in this country in general and look at the big picture here. Obviously that’s where the people in this country are lacking, hence why LePage’s comments could very well come true if we don’t pay attention, as that’s where it’s headed. That’s what happened in Germany and beyond and when they finally DID take notice, it was too late! Our rights in this country are slowly being taken away and we are headed in the very same direction!
everyone vote D in november and the nightmare will be over
lepage becomes a lame duck and fade away
im voting for harry brown
Motorcyle, titles don’t mean a D*MN thing! Who are you trying to kid?! Whether Dem or Repub..they are ALL the same! That’s why we have such a mess in this country, right? The government in general is corrupt and always WILL be. Ya gotta be that way to get IN! When people are willing to act like adults and realize that titles aren’t the problem here and stop playing childish games with name-calling BECAUSE someone is Dem or Repub, only THEN will there be changes. Get past all that BS and get on the subject! People are on here fighting for the sake of someone being a fr*gg*n Rep or Dem and it’s PATHETIC! This has absolutely NOTHING to do with ANYTHING! Let’s tackle the REAL issues in this country instead of *titles*! That’s just LAME!
LEPAGE! ———-No Soup For You!
I am deeply offended that you make light of the forces of oppression.
Baldacci never said anything that freaked people out because he thought before speaking – something Lepage should try once in a while. I have heard plenty of people you would call liberal say things you might consider bad about the Democrats. Maybe you haven’t heard any because you never listen? And the nose ring: isn’t that what Limbaugh and company do to people who you might call conservatives? Think of Tom Delay’s iron fisted control of the House during his time as Speaker. Think of Norquist’s no tax pledge requirement. Think of Romney’s flipflopping on the issues to satisfy the radical right. One tug on his solid gold nose ring and a penalty turns into a tax. Another tug and his crowning achievement as governor becomes a job-killer.
Why do some conservatives believe all liberals have the same base motivations and questionable ethics that conservatives have?
easy answer – brain damage:)
One of the most important issues here is the example he is showing our children. That it is okay to say nasty comments to anybody. We all know better and deserve better from an elected official.
Great point-completely unlike the fake outrage manufactured by Bob Emrich and his ilk.I’d rather my kids grow up next to a gay couple than any of those religious right skunks.
Kids don’t even WATCH the news, much less what any governor is saying…it’s only what comes out of the ridiculous *parent’s mouths* that they hear. Nothing more! Don’t want your kiddos to know about it, don’t talk about it in front of them. Please tell me what good examples kids have in general in this generation?! There are far more important issues on THAT subject. As for setting examples, I don’t see that many *good examples* in this state with the so-called *parents here today. Most of them are on drugs, boozing it up, swearing like a sailor AND using the system, which is why there is less money coming into the state than going out!
I don’t think he should have apologized given what the Obamacare mandate involves–taking away religious freedom in this country. If you do not know the significance to how the mandate works, you should really look it up–as it forces those with religious convictions (like those who can not in good conscience condone abortion, sterilization, etc.) to pay for this for other people. This is against religion and against what our country stands for. I am all for national healthcare but not at the expense of taking away religious freedom.
If you don’t want an abortion, don’t get one. If you don’t want contraception, don’t get it. Other people in religious affiliated organizations (the ACA does not apply to churches themselves) who don’t agree shouldn’t be denied health care they want because they happen to work for a group that doesn’t like what they want done.
Using your logic, groups could avoid any law by claiming a religious problem with it- you cannot assert the religious freedom to refuse to serve Black customers or women, you cannot assert religious freedom to avoid paying taxes.
What about my religious beliefs that my tax dollars shoudn’t pay to support American corporations that pay $5.00 a day for 16 hour days to Central American fruit plantation workers and corporations that sell products that are knowingly harmful, or our government that will bomb the daylights out of a country or people at the “drop of a hat” (and sending our military men and women to kill and maim or be killed and maimed) in the name of national interest (whose?) and patriotism, for examples! And the two concepts are connected. I am familiar with the scars of both sides of the killing/maiming-being killed/maimed equation.
In the words of Jesus Christ, “Render unto Ceasar that which is Ceasars. Render unto God, that which is Gods.”
HA HA nice try.There is no bigger group of thugs,violent people and deniers of the Constitutional rights of half the population the the religious right.Every woman deserves to have ALL of her healthcare needs met locally.Planned Parenthood are the bravest finest group of people in the country under constant threat.Yet the BDN won’t cover clinic bombings and fires.SHAMEFUL.
Sorry, but there were two issues here. One was the ludicrous use of the word “Gestapo” but the other – for which LePage is not at all anything but more committed – is unforgivable, hysterical lying. “Socialistic?” “IRS going to kill people?” LePage is an absolutely irresponsible embarrassment. He makes up his facts and tries to scare seniors. He’s deplorable.
Dear Mr LePage, Please stop embarrassing the state of Maine by blurting out your personal feelings in public. We are tired of hearing you apologize and we know that you are not sincere because you are just going to spew some other offensive remarks next week about something else. Just do what my mother used to do to punish me when I misspoke and put a large piece of duct tape on your mouth for a while to remind you to think before you speak.
Used to be yellow soap in the mouth for saying rude remarks. Kindly accept the Gov. apology and let us move on to solving the real problems in this state.
its Friday! the fireworks in my neighborhood are going off already!
they will keep going off til 1am
AND WHO THE BLANK IS ABLE TO SET OFF FIREWORKS AT 1PM ON A WEEKDAY/WORK DAY.???…..INSTEAD OF BEING AT WORK …….THE WELFARE CROWD!
—–good call PabMainer
Typical day in Showhegan right……
There would not be fireworks except for LePage’s stupid law.Were there fireworks during the day last year?
He just doesn’t get it. How is is someone now having health insurance taking away someone else’s life, liberty amd pursuit of happiness???? He’s just repeating the scare tactics of the right. I don’t consider this in any way an apology, just an attack on the President . LePage is one scary individual. We need to make him ineffective in November.
Pondlady, please tell me why you are so worried about what someone says about this so-called *President*? Who CARES?! How does what he thinks about Obama make him a *scary individual*? That makes NO sense whatsoever!
I’m not worried about what he thinks about our President. He’s entitled to his own opinion. However, when he goes around as a so-called “Governor” publicly spouting hate and discontent, that is scary, because it proves just how crazy the man is. He’s an embarrassment to the state of Maine.
So…..all of us who voted for him and everyone else who now appreciates the job he’s doing are not part of “the state of Maine”?
Except the majority did not vote for him or appreciate the job he’s doing!!
You continue to deny the existence of all who voted for the Governor as part of the state of Maine.
Nowhere did I say people who voted for him were not part of the state of Maine. I said he was an embarrassment to Maine in geneeral. I did not separate those who voted from him from those who didn’t. If you think he’s not an embarrassment, that’s your opinion and you are entitled to it. Fortunately you are in the minority. I’d hate to think what this state would be like if the majority thought his statements and actions were fitting for the Governor of our state.
“He’s an embarrasment to the state of Maine.”
The only acceptable apology at this point would be his resignation.
Totally disagree with you. It would be best for everyone to put their egos aside and learn to work together. We have serious financial issues here and the more concerned Mainers that can contribute possible solutions is what we should be discussing.
exactly, that is why he has to go
You cannot really mean that. The Gov. is a decent man who is doing his job. His ego is not inflated as many seem to be here today.
He has anger issues and says really ugly comments. As he has probably never had counseling for the abuse he suffered as a child, what happens is emotionally you get stuck in the child’s emotion and do not move forward. His comments are childish and he is emotionally stuck and it will continue until he realizes and changes that behavior. His wife must be an angel to put up with his abusive comments because it comes out in all avenues.
From what university did you receive you training (degree) in Psychiatry?
you know this to be true or perhaps just uneducated guessing. time for you to give it up.
Assessing what LePage has done since he has been governor I do not believe that he is a decent man. I do not understand how anyone who has been observing him can characterize him as a decent man. I do not understand why you are supporting him.
And that is YOUR opinion, usegoodsense. You can’t force someone to think just like you and follow what everyone else is saying. Just because that’s what you feel doesn’t make it so.
Guess what? Newsflash! That is how the government in GENERAL runs! You might have control over not wanting a freakin Super Walmart in your town, but in the REAL world you don’t GET that opportunity. As for the governor, he is doing his job and that’s why he’s there and you’re not.
——
Seems you describe the liberal way as in DC.
You actually think that lepage can put aside his ego? His ego is so bloated he hasn’t seen his toes in years.
I was implying the egos people who comment against the Gov.
It seems that you and all the rest of the followers in this state are more gung ho in name-calling and bashing this governor no matter WHAT he says. You are discriminating against someone just for the sake of it. I’m sure that wouldn’t be the case if he was one of yours (born and raised in Maine). Maybe if most of you got out in the REAL world, other than Maine which is closed from it all, you might learn a thing or two and stop being so close-minded! You guys wouldn’t survive outside of this state! Before this governor was elected, to be quite honest with you, this state wasn’t even a place people noticed for anything other than a d*mn lobster!
I would rather go unnoticed, than be known for a fool! Lepage has made the State a national laughingstock, and brought no new jobs to the state (except nepotistic positions for his family memebers). I agree, if Mainers were more well traveled they would know more about polititions like Huey Long (Kingfish), and Rob Blagoyavich. Then they would be able to see Lepage for what he is, a corrupt bully, who is incapable of resolving problems like an adult.
hopperdredgbill, LePage is not really the one that made Maine a laughing stock…it’s the majority of the people IN it that have. It’s like one of those creepy backwoods movies coming out of West Virginia or something! As for jobs, most of the people don’t really WANT to work and the one’s that are complain about HAVING to work. There ARE jobs around here, moreso than other places in the nation. I don’t know what kind of jobs you’re meaning, but the majority here don’t really have much of an education other than high school (IF that) so basically the jobs that ARE here pretty much suit them. If you want more, then people up here need to stop being scared of moving forward in time a bit and realize that not EVERYTHING can strictly be small town local businesses and that you need corporations (not that Corp America is a good thing nowadays They need to stop living as if it were still in the 1950’s! Other than that, the economy in general sucks overall throughout the nation, with everything taken over by people from overseas…and like I said, it is MUCH worse in other parts of the country…at least here you can find something, especially since this is all basically the boonies in much of the state so of course you’re not going to find much. Everyone complains about not having *jobs*, yet are scared of *change*, don’t want any trees cut down, widen any roads, complain and fight against any place that attempts to come in their town, etc. I really don’t think anyone here KNOWS what they want…other than to complain. Ya gotta give in to SOMETHING, including out-of-staters instead of trying to scare them away cause we all know the people here don’t like them OR their businesses. It’s not LePage scaring them…it’s your own people in their pick-up trucks trying to run them off the road when they see an out-of-state plate (yes, this DOES happen), the education up here sucks, as does the health care. I see and hear the racism (it is worse here than in the south where they HAVE to tolerate ALL types of people) at the work places (this is NOT tolerated in the south), no people skills WHATSOEVER and the *hickish* mentality overall that scares em away. Sorry, but I’m just putting it out there and sometimes THAT’S just what people have to do, including LePage. Sometimes the truth DOES hurt a little unfortunately.
Although I still think lepage is a bufoon, I have to agree in large part with the rest of your commentary. But I think it’s a combination of monied people from away who don’t want their vacation spot intruded on (see any of the articles dealing with coastal development of fish farms, oyster harvesting, seagrass harvesting, etc.), and locals who want continued unfettered access to traditional recreation areas (see any articles on Quimby and the north woods park). You are right, every attemt to bring business into the state hits a brick wall (LNG, Fish farms, Propane tank, Lobster processor, Wind turbines, etc. etc. etc.) My industry, dredging, along with oil & gas exploration, and many other seagoing jobs have a lot of Mainers in the ranks. I guess skilled workers are the biggest export the state has.
Please back up your accusations against Gov. LePage with FACTS. We are waiting. or perhaps you could go jump in a lake to cool off.
and one more thing hopper, the Gov. has a kinder heart of compassion than you could possibly ever know.
In his address what do you suppose the Governor meant by'”I fear we have a federal government that is moving toward a socialistic state and we must not forget history because if we do we are bound to repeat it.” Is he suggesting we have a history of socialism?
If so when?
It appears to me the only person who seems to have forgotton history is the Governor in his misuse of the word “gestapo” , I fear he may not really know what it means to forgot history, or maybe never knew who and what the gestapo was. If so, we are the ones doomed, as he repeats history mistakes over and over in an attempt to be politically uncorrect, and more importantly, describes historic events that never occurred.
In his address what do you suppose the Governor meant by'”I fear we have a federal government that is moving toward a socialistic state and we must not forget history because if we do we are bound to repeat it.” Is he suggesting we have a history of socialism?
If so when?
It appears to me the only person who seems to have forgotton history is the Governor in his misuse of the word “gestapo” , I fear he may not really know what it means to forgot history, or maybe never knew who and what the gestapo was. If so, we are the ones doomed as he repeats history mistakes.
The gov. was suggesting the history of socialism in other countries. That has been in the national news for months……………
Oh, so you think for him now……you have some psychic ability to know what he was thinking when he spoke? Or you are only on here as one of his office workers. Tell him we said hello, please.
NO to Both of your Assumptions. I read many newspapers and the word Socialism has been in the news for months in the USA.
WeRLosingCivility, you have ISSUES! hammockbear was SIMPLY stating what the governor meant, since obviously most of you on here and in this state don’t GET anything or have any common sense! THAT is why Maine is such a JOKE! Maine is the northern version West Virginia! I SWEAR! And THIS is the very reason why this country has gone to h*ll.
Why is it so DIFFICULT for you and all the rest of the followers in this country to comprehend what he means by this???! People are twisting it to sound the way THEY want it! He is right about the government moving toward a *socialistic state* and that we shouldn’t forget the history of socialism and where it lead…to the ghettos/concentration camps. This is what Germany did and took over how many countries??! They changed the laws to what THEY wanted to suit them so they could eventually control everyone and kill those that didn’t agree with them. Then confining those that were not liked or a burden to society in their eyes…thus torturing and murdering them. This all started out very similarly to what is going on RIGHT NOW and everyone is too blind to see it…because people are so wrapped up into who is Republican or Democrat, black or white, etc and if someone is *offending them*. GET OVER IT! Look past all that and see what is happening right NOW in the world today! Do you agree with the New World Order? Read up on it. This is NOT where we need to be and it is NOT right that our government wants to take away all our rights as US citizens (that men have fought so hard for) and start telling us that if we can’t afford to pay for health insurance that we will be fined. If that *fine* is not paid, what next??? Hence why the governor stated, what’s next…telling us we have to all buy Toyota Prius’s?? He used it as an example, but of course people don’t seem to understand things today unless it comes with instructions. Obama wants or has already signed a bill that can keep people whom the government sees as a *threat* (not agreeing with them) in prison camps indefinitely. Is this REALLY what we want here?!
People shouted in eye-bulging outrage and demanded an apology. It is very apparent that some people did not really want an apology, they just want to shout in eye-bulging outrage. Too much sugar in the Koolaid, I guess.
Or people are outraged, and after his comments in VT yesterday where he no only doubled-down, but went all-in, this apology is disingenuous to say the least. If the people of Maine wants to know what Paul LePage thinks about this, all they need to do is listen to him speak in VT.
I love the Gov
you needs meds sweetie…
Nahhhh TLMMSW…we have ENOUGH people in Maine on meds as it is! Tired of all these druggies!
I used to cringe every time LePage opened his mouth…now I just smile because with every inane thing this draft dodging nut says…..the more unlikely he is to be re-elected for a second term of disaster….that possibility gets further and further away….keep talking governor by the end of your first and final term it will be transparently obvious that you need to go home to Florida.
Your willingness to slander someone is disgusting. The garbage floating around Maine’s Leftist sites regarding draft dodging was proved to be just that – garbage!
Shame on you for spreading such ignorant filth.
So feel free to post his service and awards received.That should keep you busy for a while.
You need to think about slander, and if you want to be that person.
Prove the facts.He never served.No amount of spin will change that.
So what? Many men did not serve.
You are upset about slandering and then in the same breath you do it to someone else. Most people call that hypocrisy.
Slander is defined as: ‘The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person’s reputation.’ exactly what did I say that was false…..ummmm he didn’t run off to Canada and conveniently avoid the draft and then returned to this state when it was safe and sound to return? No? He left this state and thus avoided being drafted into a war we were never going to win and didn’t. He’s a disgrace to anyone who went to Vietnam and served this country whether they wanted to or not. Shame on LeParagraph.
Wow. He was ins school, and then married a Canadian woman. That you can so blithely make that leap is disturbing. Your hatred damages you.
Draft dodging is a crime. You need to think about what you are accusing on unfounded supposition.
Look out – the brown shirts are out. lock your doors and hide your money:)
“I want to make this very clear; it was never my intent to insult or to be hurtful to anyone,” …except employees of the IRS, the federal government (in general), the President of the United States (in particular), disadvantaged citizens who rely on public support, Americans who believe in offering a helping hand to those less fortunate than themselves, and everybody in the world who might not agree with his narrow view of the world.
Wonderful suggestion and add he needs to move to another Country where his style of talk is accepted – like the Sudan:)
He can’t come up with his own words or thoughts in an apology!
A commenter here earlier this week, who witnessed the gestapo in her home during World War II, posted, “Shame on all the Republicans who condone this kind of behavior from the governor of the state of Maine. Remember, people, if we do not learn from this history, we are going to be doomed to repeat it. I, for one, do not want to live through that again.”
In Governor’s apology today:
“I fear we have a federal government that is moving toward a socialistic state and we must not forget history because if we do we are bound to repeat it.”
The commenter got 260 likes, and rightfully so. LePage: ?.
Plagiarism…..bet this is how he got through Husson. The goons can’t even write their own responses.
Filthy slander and maligning.
Prove me wrong and I will apologize.
The burden is on you to prove such filthy accusations right. People do not repeat such garbage without proof.
Why don’t you go enjoy your bay view before the wind turbines go up. Your comments are incredibly vicious. He is no scholar. An educated person does not speak that way.
You’re right – we are losing civility and you appear to be a leading cause. Baseless accusations of plagiarism and slander while accusing others who call you out on it and point out that the burden of proof falls on you brands you as a non-credible hypocrite.
well *sigh* at least he apologized!! Ya gotta give him THAT!!! Heartfelt or not, he DID say the words!!!
I’ll give him that.
I like your style. You are so very correct. Thanks for the smile.
Politicians are under such scrutiny that they can be forgiven for an occasional gaffe. Paul LePage deserves no such consideration because his prolonged and tedious insulting, abusive, derogatory comments are calculated and intentional.
A forced apology is no apology.
Exactly…..his ‘occasional gaffes’ are daily gaffes if not hourly gaffes…..oy.
If it was never intended to hurt?
“I want to make this very clear; it was never my intent to insult or to be hurtful to anyone, but rather express what can happen by over-reaching government,” So after we complained, yesterday you made it worse by saying it proudly all over again. Sorry, you meant it and we know it.
He apologized because not only did he bite the hand that feeds him, he stomped on it. Ms. Bennett was bright enough to realize the Koch brothers would take offense as jews, but she forgot to tell her talking head. He never bothered to give the time of day to the NAACP after he stomped them, even after the shrill cry for an apology. If the Kochs’ were men of color, he would of held a press conference, met several NAACP representatives in person, and fallen on his sword during his weekly radio address. His shallowness is unmeasurable and his transparency is blinding.
Lame-duck-LePage quacks again…and a hypocritical quack at that. Our governor-of-the-moment has forgotten that the organization he references ruthlessly suppressed artistic and other forms of creative expression.
As for Mr. LePage, I’m surprised that someone so quick to suppress art representing workers-rights in America would use such a reference as an insult to anyone. After all, isn’t it the job of the IRS to ensure that the Federal government can balance its books? You know, the same justification Mr. LePage has used to limit financial investment in the future of Maine?
Thanks to the GOP, I’m more concerned about lobbies buying congressional votes, Citizens United Vs. Federal Election Commission, for example. Rich Old White People struggling to maintain control in a rapidly changing America. There’s a reason they need dark money, a reason they go to ivy league schools and then tell constituents that education is a liberal agenda. A reason that middle-class jobs are in China instead of here, a reason that the GOP is obfuscating and corrupting voting laws in Florida and elsewhere, and a reason that most of the moderate republicans have retired. The only people who resemble the G-stapo in American government are the people (or corporations, you decide) that Mr. LePage so passionately represents. Pot calling the kettle “black”, if you ask me.
That was an apology? It is another venue for him to rage against Obama Care. And that’s how race / Jewish baiters work. They get the center of the stage with outrageous remarks then play to their base all day long. He KNOWS WHAT HE”S DOING. He’s not crazy. We’re crazy to allow this racist to continue governing. Welcome to Mississippi north. Absolutely outrageous!
I’m a liberal and have no issue with being fiscally responsible that being said LePage has ZERO couth or decorum and comes off sounding like a horses rear end. There is a way to present ideas and thoughts without being insulting, obtuse and just a plain rude bully. LePage had what 38% of the vote in the last election? due to the split vote of the democrat and independent candidate…..clearly that’s not a mandate- and I will be willing to make a bet that he will not be re-elected for a second term primarily due to his freight train presentation to his constituents.
Hey Toby Keith, the reason that Baldacci didn’t have these kinds of issues, is because he could speak to Maine people without insulting them. It is a pretty easy formula. Imagine how much more LePage could have gotten done in years one and two if he wasn’t a bull loose in a china shop.
You are correct about Baldacci not having these issues as he was busy doling out the funds to his pals. And of course getting his rounds of golf in for various photo ops.
Hey I am no fan of Baldacci, I voted for him the first time and not in round two. So you won’t see me defend his actions in term two. But, the question was why he wasn’t raked over the coal on a near weekly basis, that is why.
There is still something to be said about maintaining the dignity of the office.
An apology? Not really. If only the guy would learn to think BEFORE he runs his mouth.
In what way is LePage a good man? I ask this because so far much of his public policy and much of his public comment are anything but the actions and speech of a good man. He lies a lot; not something that a good man will do without some self administered shame. He is quite happy to deny thousands of poor Maine people access to health care, not something I would consider the act of a good man. He trashes public employees of all stripes – teachers, state employees, IRS workers. He is rude to constituents, to reporters, and to the President of the United States. He writes nasty notes to people with whom he has policy disagreements. And, he threatens people with violence when they question him. All in all, the man is what is often called “a piece of work”. Hardly what I would call a good man. Based on what I have seen and heard from him so far, I think that he is a very nasty man.
This was not an apology, nor is an apology necessary because the truth of the matter reveals that nobody was offended. The DEMS simply wanted to create some hate and discontent because this is what they do best. The IRS is the Gestapo and everybody knows that, except the liberals. The liberals believe their IRS is their beloved re-incarnation of Karl Marx.
Where do you get this stuff? People WERE offended, for a start. But I’d love for you to find me a registered Democrat somewhere who’s written about how enamored he or she is of Karl Marx’s philosophy. Why don’t we stop labeling everyone whose politics disagree with our own as some sort of Communist, or Socialist, or Fascist, or whatever other evil word comes into our heads? Instead, let’s read widely from a variety of sources that reveal all sides of an issue, then use our own critical thinking abilities to form our opinions. When we rely on anyone else – radio commentator, editorialist, spiritual adviser – to tell us how to think, we’re absolutely doomed.
So teacher…..teach us!
Educate us with your definitions of Socialism, Communism and Facism. Some of us know already but if the younger set (primarily) has not yet been taught there’s no time like the present.
I’m sure the Vets who fought the Wars can back you up if you need some help with the details so we can learn to think critically.
He offended the Koch brothers who are jewish. OOPs!
Can you please provide a link claiming that the Koch brothers were indeed offended? The link does not exist and your claim is a complete liberal fabrication.
Who CARES?!
There all you complainers…you got what you wanted. Satisfied? I doubt it.
Nope. Shouldn’t have happened in the 1st place.
No because I am sure it is not even sincere to begin with….therefore it lacks substance and considering all he can do is not think and just open his mouth, I am sure this is an off the cuff fake apology just so he thinks people will move on, when we won’t, we will wait another week for him to say something stupid instead.
This person is so stupid he doesn’t even realize how stupid he is. I can’t believe his handlers let him speak at all. Every “apology” so far has just dug him in deeper. It’s time for some laws to change in Maine: A governor should be elected by a clear majority; if no one has 50+% of the vote, there should be a runoff. He acts as if he were elected with a mandate; 38% is FAR from that. We also need to have an RECALL process available to us, so we could correct embarrassments like him.
It’s obvious that the governor stuffs to much garbage into his grocery hole, if he could only learn to keep the garbage flowing one way Maine would be so much better off. November rapidly approaches consider a trash removal effort and the beginning of ridding Maine of this embarrassment by making him a lame duck.
Time to take the trash out!
61% of us were never part of that gang.See MainesMajority.org to save our state.If we had a real governor who didn’t say stupid things,there’d be no need for apologies.
So what if we had a Stupid Governor who said Real things?
LOL
You can claim the majority, but you lost. Who loses with a majority. 39% were united. And won.
WE didn’t really elect him. He squeaked into office with (barely) more votes than anyone else. Other states require runoff elections for situation like this, to avoid situations like this. He doesn’t represent We the People; he represents only the people who put him in office. Big diff.
He was elected by more of a majority than Baldacci.
Your point?
His point is Liberals always cry he got 38% of the vote well Baldy didn’t get 50% in either his elections for Governor. King was only elected with 35% of the vote in 1994 and only won re-election because he ran against 4th rate candidates nobody had any clue who they were. If he ran against someone with some name recognition he would have lost. The fact that Liberals complain that LePage won because of a minority well the Liberals aren’t popular themselves. Eliot Cutler would have won with less than 40% of the vote and he isn’t popular either. The bottom line is Liberals ran awful candidates the last few elections why because they have no record to run on their economic record of the past 40 years is pathetic, their record on education is abysmal. Our transportation system under Liberals is a joke with them not building any roads because they took all of the money from DOT AND BONDS and used it all to expand WELFARE. So Liberals should realize that Mainers are fed up with them and their agenda. Because they are running on “super sizing” their WELFARE EXPANSION AGENDA and Taxing everyone out of Maine as they intend to do.
Funny you should talk about bonds when your boy won’t put through bonds that are ready to go.We have people ready to work and borrowing/material costs will never be lower.Even petroleum is dropping in price.We will never have a better time to build.And it will get worse when his economic ignorance costs us our rating.
Mee-ow.
People are fed up with both parties agendas….and yet our citizens don’t step up and offer good solutions, get active in local government. Look in the mirror for the reason that it is all the same old, same old.
And what about the bonds your favorite guy won’t exercise to work on roads and infrastructure which woulf create jobs so people could have work instead of welfare? The expansion of welfare is due to the collapse of the economy and sending jobs overseas as well as giving the rich huge tax breaks to create jobs which they don’t create, something your favorite people love to do.
“More of a majority” than a person who wasn’t running?
Maybe the bell was ringing recall, from the people, and the groups asking for an APOLOGY ! The Pressure of the people works. see this link >
http://www.mainelegislature.org/legis/bills/bills_124th/billpdfs/HP076701.pdf
דעם יאַט האט ניט געדאַנק פון דער ווייטיק ער געטאן
I’m sure it was very painful for him but he didn’t do it on his own. Lepage is so delusional I don’t think he has a clue about how ignorant and insensitive his comments are. He’s clearly not the sharpest tool on the shelf.
He is simply a tool of the Koch ultra right wing Tea Party. He does as ordered. Some other governors are so controlled. Walker being one.
I’m sure this legislation will be reintroduced in the 126th legislature. That is, if the Republicans lost their majorities.
Overall the minority…..
Same “minority” Baldacci was.
One has nothing to do with the other. It doesn’t change the fact. Two wrongs don’t make a “right”.
He won. And he will win again. The people of Maine, the silent majority, like what he is doing.
When will someone on his staff put tape over his mouth for good?
I thought the headline said there was an apology. Did I miss something?
The headline was a complete LIE to somehow show guilt on LePage’s part. NO apology is necessary. Since when do we need to apologize for telling the TRUTH?
The IRS has started rounding up millions of people for the purpose of genocide? That’s the truth?
NO, Obama is doing that with his policy of abortion on demand for the entire 9 months of pregnancy.
Okay, not even relevant to anything.
That lie reminds me of the quote attributed to Stalin-“The bigger the lie,the easier it is to get people to believe it.”
I think this is what my mother would have called a “Left handed appology”.
At least he expanded the medical marijuana law.
The way things are going it’ll end up in a part of a Dirigo Health Plan.
Or, from, Too Much Oxy and Not Enough Moxie
I get a kick out of the fact that the Dumbocrats are all over LaPage and his Gestapo comment but turned the other cheek when Dumbocrats were all over Bush and Cheney comparing them to Hitler on multiple ocassions.
Why didn’t this coward just send them a fax. Crawl back into your yellow hole Lepage.
The problem is people are so politically correct its scary. We have been taught not to hurt peoples feelings and be nice to one another. The truth is when you speak the truth, sometimes the truth hurts so get used to it. Maybe if everybody left the man alone and quit looking for a reason to criticize him and actually support him, he might actually make a difference. After all what did our last governor do for us, not much. I say if the shoe fits, wear it. Everything he has said that you people disagree with is the truth you just dont want to admit it. I like somebody who isnt afraid to defend himself and but things blunt. Thats the only way some of these people understand. If you dont like his comments dont listen to him plain and simple. Atleast give the man credit when he is right.
In comparing the IRS to the Gestapo, Governor LePage was expressing an opinion, not truth. In saying that “Everything he has said that you people disagree with is the truth” you are also expressing an opinion. When I say that Governor LePage would not have had to apologize for his statements if he had not used incendiary language, that is fact.
That must have hurt his over bloated ego of himself.
WAY TO GO BIG P LOVE THE COMMENTS KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK!!
Doing a good job lepage, Keep up the good work your doing for this state. I can see the jails filling up fast with Obamacare Lets get rid of him this voting season (Obama)
Could you explain what you mean by the “jails filling up fast with Obamacare”? I’m struggling to find the logic in that statement.
No different boomerang logic that you libs use…LOL
No, it won’t be the end until he’s out of office, because he’ll just say more stupid stuff until he’s gone. He’s trying to be a Chris Christie, but he don’t have the smarts for that, he’s not from Jersey, lol
On Monday LePage gave the first version of his apology. So why did he need to reiterate it today? “I’m really, really, really, sorry……this time.”
I don’t like Chris Christie, or his policies, but at least when he’s coarse, he does it in a way that communicates something, this LePage “fellow” is just not in the same league. He speaks from a hate filled heart, and has no clue how to communicate, or govern for that matter. Didn’t he come from Marden’s or something? That’s where he belongs, not in our State House.
You’re apology is accepted.
Democrat party turned into the Fascist Socialist party overnight. LePage is ya’ll’s last hope.
……
…..
Sounds like material for the Twilight Zone.
Wow… Today was a day that we really needed Hell to freeze over, so how come it’s still roasting out ?
good call!
good call!
good call PabMainer
to much drama
It has been said that:
“The average age of the world’s greatest civilizations from the beginning of history, has been
about 200 years. During those 200 years, these nations always progressed through the
following sequence:
1. From bondage to spiritual faith; 2. from spiritual faith to great courage; 3. from courage to liberty; 4. from liberty to abundance; 5. from abundance to complacency; 6. from complacency to apathy; 7. from apathy to dependence; 8. from dependence back into bondage.”
Over 40% of the US population is already well into dependence on the US government.
We are very near the tipping point from which there will be no possible recovery – say
Greece, the UK, Spain, Italy or (soon) France! Obama is now pushing us toward that brink.
He is using every part of the US government in a carefully orchestrated plan to move this
country toward socialism and increase the percentage of citizens dependant upon the
federal government.
We are now in stage (7) above. The next stage (8) has, in the past, always been anarchy
followed by a dictatorship (either left or right.) I do not want to see either in the USA.
We need to start moving back up the ladder. However, many of the posts in this thread
do not make me optimistic that this can happen without a significant change in the thinking
of many in the population and in the administration in WDC!
Don’t be fooled. He didn’t mean his apology. He meant it when he told the President to go to h+++. He meant is when he told the NAACP to kiss his a++. HE IS THE GOVERNOR. Gestapo begins at home.
What’s this clown going to embarrass us with next? He’s just an adult-sized bully!
The Great Political Pendulum swings back and forth, swish swash, we may have been a little to far to the left(I do not think so), LePage may be trying to push it to the right. But, Mr. Governor, Maine was a totally different place 50 years ago, you cannot compare it to todays world. We need a Governor that can forget what Maine was, and Deal with the new Maine, the Maine of now. The good jobs have gone, farming is almost finished, the out of state money has driven home prices out of the reach of most Maine families, regulations have restricted building a starter dwelling yourself. This corrosive winter road salt eats cars, then you make inspections almost impossible on cars we can afford. Most accidents are caused by lack of attention, not a little rust on the rocker panel. Take a lesson from Lyndon Johnson, begin a OJT work programs for youths, help fund it, spend a day downeast, think about driving 25 miles a day for $10.00 a hour. Miss a couple of meals, and food stamps and Unemployment benefits might not be such a joke to you.
HaHa. All I have to say is Mr. LePage “Freedom of Speech”
If people would get out and vote maybe this fool would not be in the position of Governor,
That’s exactly why the GOP is trying to suppress voting in all 50 states. They know that’s their only chance of getting any more Republicans elected.
what on earth do you mean the GOP is trying to suppress voting in all 50 states? In Texas, there were many Deceased names who voted……………… if we all have to show photo ID, then so be it. The GOP is trying to see that elections are fair . and that the military votes are included as well. How wrong is that?
Yeah. I mean who would want a Governor who wants to increase jobs, stop govermental spending, and getting wonderful people off the couch and putting thier assets to work. Crazy huh. What this country coming too? I mean me working overtime. So someone else can get heath care when I can’t afford it myself. What was I thinking. LOL
Puhlease
LePage: RESIGN…
“fitness to hold office must now be seriously and openly questioned.”
We’re waiting.
It should have been seriously and openly questioned the first time he unzipped his mouth and then hid a mural he never even saw. It should have been seriously considered when he threatened to tell the president to “go to hell.” He’s been allowed to continue – ad nauseam.
He has no restraints. Not even the Danby zipper will control his sickening flood of contemptuous and hateful slurs.
They say you can’t impeach because he has committed no crime. Well, he’s breached all rules of civility and respect, unbecoming for the governor of the State of Maine. His threats against the poor and the unemployed, and those incapacitated through either physical or mental disabilities, are not those expected from anyone, especially a governor.
His “”Sorry” on Page One of today’s Bangor Daily News cuts no ice for those of us who feel impugned by his daily assaults on our way of life, our physical appearances, and lack of work primarily through a sluggish economy. His continued and much publicized condemnation of Maine and its people as slothful couch dwellers, is a grave injustice.
The quicker the Democrats openly recognize this man as a tool of the Koch-invented Tea Party, who seeks only to push the party’s ideology – and do something, life will improve.
But until then – he isn’t through. Slurring the IRS workers as the Gestapo, is just another stepping stone for which, he earned high marks from Koch and the Tea Party. They love him.
It’s time for the Democrats and all self respecting Republicans to Turn La Page. “His fitness to hold office must now be seriously and openly questioned.”
Don’t just say it – Do it!
He doesn’t mean his apology. I AM THE GOVERNOR. He doesn’t care if he offended anyone. I AM THE GOVERNOR. He doesn’t care if he offended the NAACP. I AM THE GOVERNOR. He doesn’t care if he offended the President. I AM THE GOVERNOR. AND DON’T YOU FORGET IT.
Who cares if he *offended* the NAACP OR the *president*. They are trash! As for offending *we the people*, oh well! There is always something that’s going to offend someone. NEXT!
Speaking of trash…
It is not *scary* to voice an opinion just because you don’t understand what he’s trying to say. Why not try to understand instead of twisting it around to what you feel he meant and move on? What’s crazy is (and scary)that it doesn’t take much for people up here to BE scared. You need to get out and live in other states and see what being TRULY scared is all about. This isn’t the first time an elected official has said something that the *majority* might not agree with, and it definitely won’t be the last time. You should be more scared about what is going on within the country as a WHOLE…not just something as ridiculous as this in the tiny state of Maine.
…
I hope him and his whole family of lying crooks gets audited, it would serve them right, and the people would then know the truth.
Hey Governor,
If you hate the government so much, get out of it.