Articles by Matthew Gagnon
MATTHEW GAGNON
You’ve come a long way, Mike
What could you buy for $800 a month? Residents of Maine’s second congressional district could buy a lot. That could pay the rent for an average sized apartment, groceries, gas and dinner out once a week. It could buy a few new suits or day care for a couple kids. ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
The Legislature you deserve
This November, the election most people will be paying attention to is the presidential race. But as important as it is, if you glance several inches downward on your ballot as you vote, you will see a place to register your choice for your local state senator and state representative. ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
The untold story of the ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ repeal
It was December of 2010 and Congress was in a protracted battle over a host of issues, including an extension of expiring tax cuts, the Defense Authorization bill which included a contentious repeal of the “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, and the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Sen. Susan Collins, ...
PINE TREE POLITICS
The untold story of the DADT repeal
on May 10, 2012, at 2:07 p.m.
It was December of 2010, and Congress was in a protracted battle over a host of issues, including an extension of expiring tax cuts, the Defense Authorization bill which included a contentious repeal of the so-called Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) policy, and the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty. Senator ...
PINE TREE POLITICS
Show some class, Mr. President
on May 04, 2012, at 8:29 a.m.
On the evening of May 1, 2011, I was settled in for a quiet night. My cellphone was dead, nothing was on television, and I was half asleep on my couch ready to go to bed. Suddenly, as I continued to slip in and out of consciousness, I started seeing ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
Show some class, Mr. President
On the evening of May 1, 2011, I was settled in for a quiet night. My cellphone was dead, nothing was on television, and I was half asleep on my couch ready to go to bed. Suddenly, as I continued to slip in and out of consciousness, I started seeing ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
Outrage Inc.: Councilor’s Nugent comments nothing but political showboating
A few days ago, editorial cartoonist George Danby came up with a rather interesting take on the minicontroversy that is Ted Nugent’s visit to Bangor. In the cartoon, two people are sitting in a diner of some kind, with one complaining that criticism of Nugent is unfair because he meant ...
PINE TREE POLITICS
The vetoes that weren’t
on April 19, 2012, at 2:21 p.m.
Say what you want about Paul LePage, the man is doing exactly what he told you he was going to do when he was running for office. You may not like what he does, but in an age where all too often silver-tongue, polished, over-consulted, wishy-washy, power-hungry politicians say one ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
The vetoes that weren’t
Say what you want about Paul LePage, the man is doing exactly what he told you he was going to do when he was running for office. You may not like what he does, but in an age where all too often silver-tongue, polished, over-consulted, wishy-washy, power-hungry politicians say one ...
PINE TREE POLITICS
The Real War on Women
on April 13, 2012, at 10:16 a.m.
I am told that there is a war being waged against women in this country. I had no idea I was such a reprehensible human being, but as a registered Republican, apparently I am one of the people in political fatigues, prosecuting this war. Who knew? Now that I think ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
The real war on women
I am told that there is a war being waged against women in this country. I had no idea I was such a reprehensible human being, but as a registered Republican, apparently I am one of the people in political fatigues, prosecuting this war. Who knew? Now that I think ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
‘Found’ money: Maine still needs reform
Let’s say that you are having a rough time lately — not a stretch of the imagination for a lot of folks. Life is not treating you very well. You just had to accept a pay cut at work (but are thankful you still have a job), your health insurance ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
Start from scratch on health care
The so-called “Affordable Care Act” — an Orwellian-named law if I have ever seen one — is in some pretty serious trouble this week. That’s not just my assessment, it seems that legal observers all over the country are agreeing that the Supreme Court is likely to deal a major ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
The Republican Senate seat contenders
Angus King may have sucked all of the oxygen out of the room, but there are in fact other people running for the Senate seat vacated by Olympia Snowe. Were I to profile the Democrats, I am certain I would have plenty of unhappy readers. I doubt anyone much cares ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
In defense of conflict
Angus King is a talented man. He has managed to so thoroughly frighten every major player in the Democratic Party, they have abdicated any serious attempt to even try to win a highly coveted seat in the U.S. Senate. If I didn’t see it with my own eyes, I wouldn’t ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
No coronation for King
No one can afford to lose the race for Olympia Snowe’s Senate seat. No one. The Republican Party is desperate to retake the United States Senate, and that is a task that becomes much harder if Maine falls into non-Republican hands. If President Obama is re-elected in November, the GOP ...
PINE TREE POLITICS
BREAKING: Steve Abbott Out
on March 02, 2012, at 10:56 a.m.
BREAKING: Confirmation from Steve Abbott that he is NOT running for Senate. Release later this morning… with Ciachette and Raye out, the wagons are circling around Bill Schneider.
PINE TREE POLITICS
House races shaping up
on March 01, 2012, at 1:09 p.m.
This morning, sources very close to Bangor Mayor Cary Weston (full disclosure, a friend of mine and somebody I greatly respect) informed me that Weston is seriously looking at running for congress in the second district, provided Senate President Kevin Raye steps out of the race in order to run ...
MATTHEW GAGNON
Snowe seat: no one has a leg up
Beware conventional wisdom; it has a nasty habit of being anything but wise. After everyone had picked their collective jaws off the floor upon hearing of Sen. Olympia Snowe’s retirement, the very first thing we all saw was the birth of a brand new political meme, repeated endlessly by gleeful ...
PINE TREE POLITICS
No on the date moving
on March 01, 2012, at 12:46 p.m.
Yesterday I reported that the LePage administration was interested in having discussions about the possibility of moving the March 15th primary filing deadline, to accomodate the political fallout from the sudden and unexpected retirement of Senator Olympia Snowe. I am told that those talks are now dead. Speaker Nutting is ...
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Former CEO of MaineToday Media Richard Connor sued over $250,000 in loans
Small idea launches major project in Hampden
Diversity predicts export success, MIT professor tells Maine audience
New, old methods combine to deter scrap metal thefts in Aroostook
Gary Allan talks with the BDN leading up to Bangor concert
Out of the ashes, Central Street’s garden grows
Mid Coast Actor’s Studio provides new forum for classic plays
Signs lead artist to opportunity
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