Well, our new Governor, Captain Tea-Bag LePage didn't waste anytime getting into the national spotlight with his TP antics.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41119888/ns/us_news/
QuoteWATERVILLE, Maine — Maine Gov. Paul LePage has changed his plans and attended a Martin Luther King Jr. Day breakfast just days after saying critics of his decision to skip other holiday weekend events could "kiss my butt."
LePage attended the breakfast in Waterville on Monday, just as he had done for several years as the city's mayor before being elected governor.
His appearance was scheduled after he responded Friday to critics of his decision not to attend the state NAACP's annual holiday celebrations. LePage cited scheduling conflicts, but his "kiss my butt" comment drew harsh criticism from state and national leaders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
LePage didn't speak publicly at Monday's event, but in an interview spoke of the importance of King's contributions.
I'm looking forward, kinda, to meeting this guy, which with any luck will be next month.
Attn, RWHN: Do not gnaw arms off of happy fun governor.
Aww. Just a little?
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 17, 2011, 05:20:00 PM
Attn, RWHN: Do not gnaw arms off of happy fun governor.
:lulz:
Just you wait. Some smudgy person is going to say he should be shot.
Quote from: Charley Brown on January 17, 2011, 05:32:11 PM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on January 17, 2011, 05:20:00 PM
Attn, RWHN: Do not gnaw arms off of happy fun governor.
:lulz:
Just you wait. Some smudgy person is going to say he should be shot.
And ruin all of the comic relief? :x
Besides, both the House Speaker and the Senate President are Republicans. So loudmouth stupid would just be replaced by stupid loudmouth
Quote from: RWHN on January 17, 2011, 07:30:54 PM
Besides, both the House Speaker and the Senate President are Republicans. So loudmouth stupid would just be replaced by stupid loudmouth
There
is a difference you know!!! :wink:
Maine, the way life used to be....
http://www.pressherald.com/news/lepage-loosen-dozens-of-rules-on-environment_2011-01-25.html
QuoteMaine Gov. LePage:
Loosen rules on environment
He says his bold plan seeks a balance with economic interests and signals a shift in regulatory approaches.
Gov. Paul LePage has proposed zoning 10 million acres of northern Maine for development, repealing laws that require manufacturers to take back recyclable goods for disposal and reversing a ban on the use of a chemical linked to cancer in children's products.
The proposals are among 36 sweeping changes to environmental laws that LePage sent to the Legislature's new Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Fairness and Reform. The panel began a series of statewide public hearings on regulatory reform Monday in Presque Isle.
LePage's submission ignited howls of protest from environmental groups, who had met with the governor in a forum Thursday to try to persuade him that environmental laws are good for the economy.
"We are shocked and stunned," said Lisa Pohlmann, incoming executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, one of the state's largest and oldest environmental advocacy groups.
Jeebus, it's still only January. He's going to turn this state upside down and inside out after he's done with it.
:x
Quote from: RWHN, MPP on January 26, 2011, 01:57:39 AM
Maine, the way life used to be....
http://www.pressherald.com/news/lepage-loosen-dozens-of-rules-on-environment_2011-01-25.html
QuoteMaine Gov. LePage:
Loosen rules on environment
He says his bold plan seeks a balance with economic interests and signals a shift in regulatory approaches.
Gov. Paul LePage has proposed zoning 10 million acres of northern Maine for development, repealing laws that require manufacturers to take back recyclable goods for disposal and reversing a ban on the use of a chemical linked to cancer in children's products.
The proposals are among 36 sweeping changes to environmental laws that LePage sent to the Legislature's new Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Fairness and Reform. The panel began a series of statewide public hearings on regulatory reform Monday in Presque Isle.
LePage's submission ignited howls of protest from environmental groups, who had met with the governor in a forum Thursday to try to persuade him that environmental laws are good for the economy.
"We are shocked and stunned," said Lisa Pohlmann, incoming executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, one of the state's largest and oldest environmental advocacy groups.
Jeebus, it's still only January. He's going to turn this state upside down and inside out after he's done with it.
Being "shocked and stunned" ain't gonna make the nut.
Quote from: RWHN, MPP on January 26, 2011, 01:57:39 AM
Maine, the way life used to be....
http://www.pressherald.com/news/lepage-loosen-dozens-of-rules-on-environment_2011-01-25.html
QuoteMaine Gov. LePage:
Loosen rules on environment
He says his bold plan seeks a balance with economic interests and signals a shift in regulatory approaches.
Gov. Paul LePage has proposed zoning 10 million acres of northern Maine for development, repealing laws that require manufacturers to take back recyclable goods for disposal and reversing a ban on the use of a chemical linked to cancer in children's products.
The proposals are among 36 sweeping changes to environmental laws that LePage sent to the Legislature's new Joint Select Committee on Regulatory Fairness and Reform. The panel began a series of statewide public hearings on regulatory reform Monday in Presque Isle.
LePage's submission ignited howls of protest from environmental groups, who had met with the governor in a forum Thursday to try to persuade him that environmental laws are good for the economy.
"We are shocked and stunned," said Lisa Pohlmann, incoming executive director of the Natural Resources Council of Maine, one of the state's largest and oldest environmental advocacy groups.
Jeebus, it's still only January. He's going to turn this state upside down and inside out after he's done with it.
Who cares about the environment. Theres fucking cancer causing shit in toys.
HOW COULD ANYONE APPROVE OF THAT?
I'm afraid that Mr. LePage is not a big fan of science.
Also, Mr. LePage used to be the General Manager for Marden's.
What is Marden's?
It is a Maine chain of salvage stores selling shit that "survived" fires, earthquakes, Chapter 11s, etc., etc,.
It's much, much worse than Wal-Mart. Everytime I go (my father-in-law loves to go there when he comes to visit) I lose a little bit of my soul.
Oh I feel so sorry for the citizens of Maine. "What once was so beautiful, is now one big corporate office park." :(
http://www.sunjournal.com/state/story/976358
QuoteAUGUSTA — The Legislature will soon join more than a half-dozen states debating the merits of an anti-illegal immigration bill modeled after the controversial Arizona law.
Rep. Kathleen Chase, R-Wells, has submitted a bill request that would require immigrants to carry their alien registration documents at all times and would allow local law enforcement agencies to ask whether the individuals are in the United States illegally. Chase said the bill was similar to the so-called "show-me-your-papers" Arizona law.
The bill has already generated a fierce reaction from human rights advocates who said such a law would lead to racial profiling and would focus local policing on a nonexistent problem.
Chase, who said she entered the legislation at the request of a constituent, said the proposal was meant to ensure Maine's coast and border with Canada were protected.
"It's not intended to be harsh or put us in a police state," Chase said. "It's just to protect our shores, our borders, our country."
Chase said she wasn't sure whether the state had an illegal immigration problem.
"There are those who think (it's a problem)," she said. "But I'm not necessarily saying I'm one of them."
She doesn't know if it's a problem but she's introducing legislation anyway.
FUCK ME my state is losing it's mind!
I thought conservatives were meant to be all "small government" and shit, not introducing legislation unless absolutely necessary?
I know, I know, but someone had to point it out.
Ooh, and I have to share this priceless comment from the FAcebook posting of this article:
Quotegood...you people don't know what is going on in Lewiston do you. it's been taken over by war refugees. that brake laws all the time.
I dunno what paper this jackass is reading, but the daily Police log is usually filled with people who broke the law that have FRENCH names, not Somali.
There's a war in France?
Things are a lot better now, but there is still a significant chunk of the old French population who absolutely despise the Somalis that have resettled here. They think that they're all lazy, committing crimes, and secretly plotting to invoke Sharia Law. Oh, and that they're sucking up all of the resources in the area. Which is all nonsense. The poor French whites here are using more social services and state assistance resources than the Somalis. But, like other dumbass Conservatives, they don't have time for silly things like facts.
See, to my way of thinking, being lazy, committing crimes and trying to institute Sharia Law are all incompatible. Can you lazily implement a foreign body of legal rulings which infringe on everyday aspects of life? Crimes, done properly, take time and effort, especially if you don't want to end up in jail. And criminals suffer rather badly under Shariah.
Quote from: Cain on January 27, 2011, 01:22:26 PM
See, to my way of thinking, being lazy, committing crimes and trying to institute Sharia Law are all incompatible. Can you lazily implement a foreign body of legal rulings which infringe on everyday aspects of life? Crimes, done properly, take time and effort, especially if you don't want to end up in jail. And criminals suffer rather badly under Shariah.
:mittens:
:mittens:
Quote from: RWHN, MPP on January 27, 2011, 01:12:25 PM
Ooh, and I have to share this priceless comment from the FAcebook posting of this article:
Quotegood...you people don't know what is going on in Lewiston do you. it's been taken over by war refugees. that brake laws all the time.
I dunno what paper this jackass is reading, but the daily Police log is usually filled with people who broke the law that have FRENCH names, not Somali.
See, this is exactly why you need this anti-illegal immigration bill. Someone has to stop the influx of dirty Canadian trying to steal yer jobs and yer womens.
Well, if it gets them out of my Wal-Mart I'll be happy.
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=146428&catid=2
QuoteAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- A legislative committee will hear the pros and cons of making whoopie pies Maine's official state dessert.
Republican Rep. Paul Davis of Sangerville takes his bill before the state and Local Government Committee on Monday.
University of Maine Foundation President Amos Orcutt says other states have official desserts. Massachusetts, for example, has the Boston cream pie. And Maine's named Moxie the state's official soft drink.
Orcutt says he wants Maine to act quickly before Pennsylvania claims credit for the whoopie pie -- creamy frosting sandwiched by a pair of chocolate cakes.
Davis' bill has drawn some editorial flak. The Sun Journal of Lewiston wonders what a session of the Maine Legislature would be without the occasional "nutty, pointless, irrelevant bill" making its way into law.
What about Maine's Official Afternoon Snack For When You Know You Wont Last To Dinner As You're Feeling Peckish Right Now, But You're Too Lazy To Make Something Involving Effort And So Want Something Quick And Easy?
If you don't choose that soon, other states will steal snacks invented in Maine first, and you'll all be screwed.
I will just note, for any of you Spags who may decide to come to Maine for vacation.
I would advise against mixing our state beverage Moxie with our maybe-soon-to-be State Dessert, the whoopie pie.
Not exactly a great taste combination.
From what I hear, Moxie is ass anyway. That was from an NPR report I heard on it a while back.
This self-righteous chauvinistic pendulum swing is rather lulzy, if sad when compared to what government should be spending time and money on instead.
Moxie is alright. It certainly is more of a sipping soda, unless you want to grow lesions in your throat.
I made a mistake once of going to the Moxie festival too which happens just one town over from where I work. A very bizarre community ritual that is.
In the early days of the new administration, Governor LePage, former General Manager of Marden's, quipped that there would be a new snow policy for State Government. If Marden's was open, the State would be open.
Well, unsurprisingly, it didn't take too long before he failed to live up to that pledge:
http://www.sunjournal.com/river-valley/story/980576
Quote"He's been at it since we opened this morning," Sirois said. "He'll get a part cleared out and it just fills in again. It's been really coming down fast. We opened up at 9 and we intend on being here most of the day."
That's why she reacted with surprise when she was told that Gov. Paul LePage, former general manager of the Marden's chain, closed Maine government offices at noon, sending workers home.
"Oh, they did close?" she asked.
Last month, LePage spokesman Dan Demeritt quipped that the governor's attitude toward his predecessor's snow days, was, "The rule of thumb is: if Marden's is open, Maine is open."
Sirois suddenly turned to face the clerks and said, "Paul closed the state at noon! Oh, gosh, I've got to call him. I've got to call the governor and tell him that Marden's is still open!"
We can haz new Governor now pleaz?
:lulz: What's the phrase?--you are getting the governor you deserve? Or at least the one you all voted for. Maybe it's a good lesson for Maine, I dunno. Schwarzenegger's defeats will certainly NOT be Brown's triumphs here in CA, that's for damned sure. But still and all, I'm glad to see the governator gone.
Well, technically speaking, only 39% of us voted for LePage. 38% of us voted for the right guy, Eliot Cutler. The other 23% are indecisive assholes.
And the portion of that 23% who couldn't read the fucking writing on the wall and voted for Libby Mitchell anyway, well, there is a special place in hell for those morons.
RWHN,
not pulling the punches.
See, apathy begets assholes. Just saying.
I know that's an unpopular opinion around here, but there are assholes, and there are ASSHOLES. Apathy really scores you some awesomeness in the asshole category in politics.
A Republican State Senator is introducing legislation that would remove language in Maine law that prohibits restaurant owners from claiming ownership of tips and gratuities.
http://www.sunjournal.com/state/story/981024
QuoteAUGUSTA — Stefanie Veneziano is a senior at the University of Maine who waits tables part time at the 99 Restaurant in Bangor. She says the tips she earns help her pay for college and living expenses.
So Veneziano had a lot of questions for Sen. Brian Langley, R-Hancock, when she noticed he was sponsoring a bill that would remove language from state law prohibiting restaurants from claiming ownership of tips and allowing establishments to determine when wait staff should pool gratuities.
"I was pretty worried when I saw it on the legislative calendar," said Veneziano, who is interning for the Maine Senate Democrats. "I didn't know what to think of it."
Neither do Democrats and labor advocates, who are alarmed that Langley's proposal will strip protections added to Maine's minimum wage law in 2007.
Langley, who owns the Union River Lobster Pot in Ellsworth, said his bill is meant to align Maine law with federal law and to allow restaurant owners like himself to determine when wait staff can pool their tips and distribute them evenly at the end of a shift.
And of course as we can see, he has a vested interest in this legislation coming to pass. Elsewhere in the article it mentions that the big lobbying firm for restaurants in Maine put some pressure for this legislation to be offered.
Wait staff get paid dirt on the idea that they are going to make money on the tips they receive. This would put that seriously in doubt.
Christ, what an asshole.
LePage dismisses BPA dangers; 'worst case is some women may have little beards'
http://www.sunjournal.com/approved/story/990639
QuoteAUGUSTA, Maine — The political debate over bisphenol A is heating up in Maine after Gov. Paul LePage's recent comments questioning whether the controversial chemical is as dangerous as many scientists claim.
And LePage's unusual quip about some women growing "little beards" from exposure to BPA likely will add another wrinkle to an issue on track to be one of the most contentious of the legislative session.
In his comments last week, LePage said he has yet to see enough science to support a ban on BPA, a common additive to plastics that some research suggests may interfere with hormone levels and could cause long-term problems. LePage said until scientists can prove BPA is harmful, the state should not rush to restrict its use.
"Quite frankly, the science that I'm looking at says there is no [problem]," LePage said. "There hasn't been any science that identifies that there is a problem."
LePage then added: "The only thing that I've heard is if you take a plastic bottle and put it in the microwave and you heat it up, it gives off a chemical similar to estrogen. So the worst case is some women may have little beards."
That last comment prompted a strong reaction from Mike Belliveau, executive director of the Environmental Health Strategy Center, a Maine-based advocacy group.
"It displays shocking ignorance for the science and a callous disregard for children's health," Belliveau said.
Other researchers bristled at the governor's dismissal of what they insist are volumes of scientific studies indicating that BPA could pose serious risks to fetuses and developing children.
"BPA is one of the most well-studied chemicals, and it is just ludicrous to ignore the science," said Susan Shaw, a toxicologist at the Maine Environmental Research Institute who has been studying the effects of toxics on humans and animals for more than three decades. "There is a large body of evidence about the hazards of BPA that is irrefutable."
....
This guy is making my brain hurt.
Wonder how he'd react if he was handed a study that proved that BPA causes impotence and significant testicular shrinkage in men.
I dunno, but I'm sure he'd react in a way that is embarrassing and reflects poorly on our State. I mean, he seems to be doing that pretty much non-stop.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on January 31, 2011, 04:31:56 PM
http://www.wcsh6.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=146428&catid=2
QuoteAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) -- A legislative committee will hear the pros and cons of making whoopie pies Maine's official state dessert.
Republican Rep. Paul Davis of Sangerville takes his bill before the state and Local Government Committee on Monday.
University of Maine Foundation President Amos Orcutt says other states have official desserts. Massachusetts, for example, has the Boston cream pie. And Maine's named Moxie the state's official soft drink.
Orcutt says he wants Maine to act quickly before Pennsylvania claims credit for the whoopie pie -- creamy frosting sandwiched by a pair of chocolate cakes.
Davis' bill has drawn some editorial flak. The Sun Journal of Lewiston wonders what a session of the Maine Legislature would be without the occasional "nutty, pointless, irrelevant bill" making its way into law.
Not even close to true insanity. Utah's official state snack food is Jello.
At least they didn't include the shredded carrots though.
Quote
Orcutt says he wants Maine to act quickly before Pennsylvania claims credit for the whoopie pie -- creamy frosting sandwiched by a pair of chocolate cakes.
Too late. Pennsylvania started 'em. If Maine claims them as their state dessert, those of us from the REAL birthplace will take it as a compliment, and an admission that y'all can't come up with anything better. :wink:
It may have been invented in Pennsylvania, but it was PERFECTED in Maine.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on February 23, 2011, 05:34:51 PM
It may have been invented in Pennsylvania, but it was PERFECTED in Maine.
What significant change was made?
Note that I've had them made, fresh, by the Amish down the road from where I grew up. Utter heaven, the crap they wrap in plastic and sell is NOT the same.
Well, if you are ever in Maine, you should enjoy a whoopie pie made by the Isamax company based out of Richmond Maine. They make them daily and ship them to local grocery store chains.
I highly recommend the Oatmeal Cookie Whoopie Pie.
Quote from: Luna on February 23, 2011, 05:37:07 PM
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on February 23, 2011, 05:34:51 PM
It may have been invented in Pennsylvania, but it was PERFECTED in Maine.
What significant change was made?
More batshit insanity, apparently.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on February 23, 2011, 05:45:58 PM
Well, if you are ever in Maine, you should enjoy a whoopie pie made by the Isamax company based out of Richmond Maine. They make them daily and ship them to local grocery store chains.
I highly recommend the Oatmeal Cookie Whoopie Pie.
Heresy. Rank heresy.
And, until you've had one still warm from an Amish kitchen, you haven't had one.
I just read this entire thread. Now I am laughing hysterically.
Try living here.
:x
Director of MaineCare was just fired, after only 15 days on the job. She was the head of the Maine CDC and served under two administrations but stepped down after LePage was elected.
I suspect tomfoolery and shenanigans.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on February 23, 2011, 05:45:58 PM
Well, if you are ever in Maine, you should enjoy a whoopie pie made by the Isamax company based out of Richmond Maine. They make them daily and ship them to local grocery store chains.
I highly recommend the Oatmeal Cookie Whoopie Pie.
Isamax whoopie pies are fucking amazing. I like the chocolate with peanut butter frosting.
LePage is also fucking amazing, but for all the wrong reasons.
Like I didn't see this coming. Apparently Gov. Walker is Gov. LePage's new hero:
http://www.politico.com/blogs/politicolive/0211/LePage_Were_going_after_righttowork.html
QuoteMaine Gov. Paul LePage said Saturday he would push forcefully ahead with right-to-work legislation in his state, even if it means a Wisconsin-style fight with unions.
In an interview at the National Governors Association, the Republican praised Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker and couched his own proposal in the language of liberty loved by tea partiers.
"He's got a big challenge, and quite frankly, once they start reading our budget they're going to leave Wisconsin and come to Maine because we're going after right to work," LePage told POLITICO.
"I believe that the Declaration of Independence says 'life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness,'" he said. "Whenever someone forces me to do something against my will, they're infringing upon my freedoms and my liberties. And that's what I think we're doing in Maine when we have fair share, which means that you are required to belong to a union, you're required to pay dues but you don't want to participate. I find that to be against everything the United States of America stands for."
LePage was unsure about the feasibility of passing right-to-work legislation.
"You know, it's going to be a battle," he said. "The people that elected me want jobs. They don't care if they're union jobs or non-union jobs. They just want a paycheck."
Republicans have majorities in Maine's state House and Senate, but moderates typically dominate the state's GOP establishment. LePage has a strongly conservative record, and he won in 2010 by playing up his "outsider"status. Republican Sen. Olympia Snowe, one of the Senate's top moderates, will likely face a primary challenge from conservatives in 2012.
LePage said he's "never inspired by a fight," but that Wisconsin is unquestionably an impetus behind a renewed GOP push to demand concessions from public-sector employees and to go after union power.
"I think [Walker is] going to have a lot less hair next month than he has this month, but I admire him for recognizing the problem and at least attempting to get it under control," LePage said. "We're all looking at each other and discussing the options, and he's taken an option that he believes is necessary for his state. And I certainly support him."
LePage said people who want to join unions have that right, but stressed that no one should be forced into the decision.
"I believe if an individual wants to join organized labor and work under a union contract, they should have the legal right to do so," he said. "At the same token, a person who does not want to work under organized labor and wants to work should have the ability to do so without the threat of having to join and having to pay dues to organized labor."
"It's that simple," he said. "It's all about freedom and liberty."
Imma gonna go Google and see if we get to recall our governors here in Maine.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/grow-jobs-in-maine_-not-when-india-calls_2011-03-09.html
So instead of putting Mainer's back to work, we are putting people in India to work. Now, technically, these contract bids were submitted when Baldacci was still in office but the final approval came under LePage and he could've fixed it so a Maine company with Maine employees received the bid. Nope. All in the name of saving some pocket change. Way to go Maine!
Quote"If you want prosperity, you have got to make sacrifices," LePage said. However, as Zaid Jilani pointed out, LePage's proposed budget asks the middle-class and public employees to bear the brunt of filling the state's budget gap, while cutting taxes for the state's wealthiest residents.
As part of his budget, LePage proposed raising the retirement age for public employees and freezing their cost-of-living adjustments. He also increased the amount that public employees are required to pay into their pension fund from 7.65 percent to 9.65 percent, which constitutes a cut in take-home pay for these employees. However, as Mike Tipping at the Kennebec Journal reported, the change doesn't apply to LePage's own compensation:
One public employee currently paying 7.65 percent, however, won't see an increase.
The governor has exempted himself...If LePage faced the same increase as state employees, it would cost him $5,880 over his term.
http://wonkroom.thinkprogress.org/2011/03/15/lepage-pension-exempt/#
Dang... Do these people think nobody will NOTICE?
No, he just doesn't care.
Whatta ya gonna do...kick him out of office? He can make more in the private sector anyway, and you'll just have a Democrat who decides to do the same....austerity is this new season's black, after all.
He doesn't care. And he's thrown down the gauntlet with the legislature. He says that if they don't pass his proposed 2 year budget, AS IS, he will veto it. Now, in Maine, a 2/3 vote is required to pass a budget bill. The GOP don't have that majority and thus will need Democrats to pass the budget. Which means shit will get changed and then LePage will be forced to make that choice.
The other thing that LePage is likely forgetting, or ignoring, is that while the GOP is in the majority, they aren't all Tea Party types like him. Some of the freshmen are, but many of the longer serving state legislators are more moderate, in the mold of Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins. Oh, and there is an election in 2012 that they have to worry about.
LePage isn't going to get his way. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 16, 2011, 12:41:14 PM
He doesn't care. And he's thrown down the gauntlet with the legislature. He says that if they don't pass his proposed 2 year budget, AS IS, he will veto it. Now, in Maine, a 2/3 vote is required to pass a budget bill. The GOP don't have that majority and thus will need Democrats to pass the budget. Which means shit will get changed and then LePage will be forced to make that choice.
The other thing that LePage is likely forgetting, or ignoring, is that while the GOP is in the majority, they aren't all Tea Party types like him. Some of the freshmen are, but many of the longer serving state legislators are more moderate, in the mold of Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins. Oh, and there is an election in 2012 that they have to worry about.
LePage isn't going to get his way. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.
With, I'm certain, all the grace and maturity of a stymied three year old.
One more little tidbit about our Governor. I've heard from some reliable sources that there is a new controversy surrounding the Governor. Apparently, he is prone to offend in meetings with legislators. No, not verbally. Aromatically. He will break the wind and apparently often, and it is so bad they have to open windows. The controversy is that, anecdotally, it seems to happen more often in meetings with Democrats then in meetings with GOP or mixed representation.
Quote from: Luna on March 16, 2011, 12:42:46 PM
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 16, 2011, 12:41:14 PM
He doesn't care. And he's thrown down the gauntlet with the legislature. He says that if they don't pass his proposed 2 year budget, AS IS, he will veto it. Now, in Maine, a 2/3 vote is required to pass a budget bill. The GOP don't have that majority and thus will need Democrats to pass the budget. Which means shit will get changed and then LePage will be forced to make that choice.
The other thing that LePage is likely forgetting, or ignoring, is that while the GOP is in the majority, they aren't all Tea Party types like him. Some of the freshmen are, but many of the longer serving state legislators are more moderate, in the mold of Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins. Oh, and there is an election in 2012 that they have to worry about.
LePage isn't going to get his way. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.
With, I'm certain, all the grace and maturity of a stymied three year old.
Yeah, that seems to be the way it's happened so far.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 16, 2011, 12:43:13 PM
One more little tidbit about our Governor. I've heard from some reliable sources that there is a new controversy surrounding the Governor. Apparently, he is prone to offend in meetings with legislators. No, not verbally. Aromatically. He will break the wind and apparently often, and it is so bad they have to open windows. The controversy is that, anecdotally, it seems to happen more often in meetings with Democrats then in meetings with GOP or mixed representation.
Charming.
I'd have to confess that I'd be tempted to throw a beans-and-broccoli picnic an appropriate number of hours before a large meeting of the Democrats with him. Revenge could be arranged.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 16, 2011, 12:41:14 PM
He doesn't care. And he's thrown down the gauntlet with the legislature. He says that if they don't pass his proposed 2 year budget, AS IS, he will veto it. Now, in Maine, a 2/3 vote is required to pass a budget bill. The GOP don't have that majority and thus will need Democrats to pass the budget. Which means shit will get changed and then LePage will be forced to make that choice.
The other thing that LePage is likely forgetting, or ignoring, is that while the GOP is in the majority, they aren't all Tea Party types like him. Some of the freshmen are, but many of the longer serving state legislators are more moderate, in the mold of Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins. Oh, and there is an election in 2012 that they have to worry about.
LePage isn't going to get his way. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.
While you know your own elected officials better, I wouldn't be so certain. "Moderate" Republicans are amongst the worst for crowing about the need for austerity, with Blue Dog Democrats (like Evan Bayh, who was lecturing the public on how all Americans must suffer together, while his wife rakes in millions as a pharma and medical insurance lobbyist) in close second.
Even Obama has conceded to the need to cuts, though this may simply be a case of his Goldlilocks Syndrome kicking in. Either way, cuts are going to happen. It'll be just like it was in the UK, the arguments will only be over how deep the cuts go, and what will be cut.
Cuts need to happen everywhere. People expect their politicians to blow sunshine, rainbows, and cash out of their assholes.
Personally, the next election, I'll be strongly tempted to vote for the guy who says, "this is my accountant. (List credentials.) When budget time rolls around, I listen to HIM."
They did cuts in Ireland. It blew a hole through the bottom of their public finances and caused an emergency budget.
They did cuts over here. It caused our economy to go from "recovering" to back into a recession in less than 6 months.
You cut spending when times are good. In a consumer economy, you have to stimulate demand. Cutting spending causes people to have little money, causing them to save, causing less spending, causing more companies to go out of business, leading to less available jobs, leading to uncertainty, leading to more saving....its a vicious circle and it only leads down into ruin.
The idea that every country can go into austerity mode and somehow make up the difference through exports is crazy. It was crazy when the Germans came up with it, and they are an exporting nation, and it is even crazier in the case of the USA, which has a global trade deficit and moved its heavy industry overseas.
Quote from: Cain on March 16, 2011, 12:56:00 PM
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 16, 2011, 12:41:14 PM
He doesn't care. And he's thrown down the gauntlet with the legislature. He says that if they don't pass his proposed 2 year budget, AS IS, he will veto it. Now, in Maine, a 2/3 vote is required to pass a budget bill. The GOP don't have that majority and thus will need Democrats to pass the budget. Which means shit will get changed and then LePage will be forced to make that choice.
The other thing that LePage is likely forgetting, or ignoring, is that while the GOP is in the majority, they aren't all Tea Party types like him. Some of the freshmen are, but many of the longer serving state legislators are more moderate, in the mold of Olympia Snowe or Susan Collins. Oh, and there is an election in 2012 that they have to worry about.
LePage isn't going to get his way. It will be interesting to see how he handles it.
While you know your own elected officials better, I wouldn't be so certain. "Moderate" Republicans are amongst the worst for crowing about the need for austerity, with Blue Dog Democrats (like Evan Bayh, who was lecturing the public on how all Americans must suffer together, while his wife rakes in millions as a pharma and medical insurance lobbyist) in close second.
Even Obama has conceded to the need to cuts, though this may simply be a case of his Goldlilocks Syndrome kicking in. Either way, cuts are going to happen. It'll be just like it was in the UK, the arguments will only be over how deep the cuts go, and what will be cut.
Well certainly cuts are going to happen, but LePage isn't going to get all of the GOP to agree lock-step with how he wants the cuts to go. Ultimately a budget will pass with cuts in place, but it will look different. And he certainly isn't going to get 2/3 of the legislature, as it is currently composed, to go along with his plan as is. I was meeting with legislators a few days ago up in the capital and just from what they were saying, there will have to be some compromises. Moderates Republicans in the North east are a bit different than moderates in the midwest. Especially when you get to the state legislature. Those who represent more urban areas are going to have a more left-leaning constituency and thus have to be careful with how they vote, if they want to be re-elected. LePage's approval here is in the low 40s right now and is likely to go down, not up. The tea party freshmen won't care, but those who've been there for awhile are going to have to be cautious about how they operate.
Quote from: Luna on March 16, 2011, 01:00:57 PM
Cuts need to happen everywhere. People expect their politicians to blow sunshine, rainbows, and cash out of their assholes.
Personally, the next election, I'll be strongly tempted to vote for the guy who says, "this is my accountant. (List credentials.) When budget time rolls around, I listen to HIM."
Cuts need to happen but they must also be done thoughtfully. One of the worst cuts that have been proposed by LePage is the 18 Million he wants to take from the Fund for a Healthy Maine and put into the general fund. FHM is the money Maine receives from the Tobacco settlements a decade ago. They are specifically to be used for programs the promote healthy living and prevention. He wants to take 18 Million to fill a gap in Medicare under the premise that somehow Medicare can do prevention. (Which it can't). He also wants to change language in the statute that authorizes the FHM to make it easier to raid. Part of the 18 Million in cuts is completely eliminating the funding for substance abuse prevention. One of the more drastic results of this is the 13 residential treatment centers we have in Maine will be reduced to 3. That is going to result in an increase in crime. It will shift costs to corrections and law enforcement, and it will most certainly drive up health care costs.
We're working to educate lawmakers on the drastic outcomes of these proposals and trying to put a wedge between LePage and the legislature. We've managed to change these proposals before, hopefully we are able to do it again.
CORPORATE TAXES NEED TO HAPPEN. There, I said it. I'm fucking tired of this "states can't RAISE taxes." BULLSHIT. Small taxes on things used everygoddammed day make a HUGE ASS difference. The cuts these state leg fuckers MAKE HAPPEN are not the ones that NEED to happen (education, health, mothefucking infrastructure). It's like the Feds wanting to cut education and welfare but LET'S HAVE MOAR WARS, AND OH YEAH HERE YOU GO FINANCE INDUSTRY, TAKE YOUR CUT OF THE PIE, TOO.
Tax the fuckers. Quit giving them a skate. (Maine may not have the types of industry we in CA have, but we currently have an initiative we're voting on in a special June election to put a tax through so we can not cut school spending again)
QuoteGovernor Paul LePage is taking down a mural in the state Department of Labor building depicting the history of the labor movement and changing the names of conference rooms that he deems too pro-labor.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/maine-governor-orders-mural-depicting-labor-history-removed-from-labor-department.php?ref=fpi
You know. Because the Labor Department can't actually show anything representing the history of workers' rights...
I'm actually going to be sending an e-mail to the LePage administration about this to inquire how much this bullshit is going to cost. Dude is supposed to be saving money and he wants to waste money on a completely unveiled political stunt.
You might wanna cc the Op-Ed portion of your local TV news stations and newspapers.
Quote from: Jenne on March 24, 2011, 07:58:05 PM
You might wanna cc the Op-Ed portion of your local TV news stations and newspapers.
I like that.
And it gives me a warm fuzzy when people DO shit because of something I post.
Quote from: Luna on March 23, 2011, 08:54:19 PM
QuoteGovernor Paul LePage is taking down a mural in the state Department of Labor building depicting the history of the labor movement and changing the names of conference rooms that he deems too pro-labor.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/03/maine-governor-orders-mural-depicting-labor-history-removed-from-labor-department.php?ref=fpi
You know. Because the Labor Department can't actually show anything representing the history of workers' rights...
:lulz:
Horribly funny...
Quote from: Jenne on March 24, 2011, 07:58:05 PM
You might wanna cc the Op-Ed portion of your local TV news stations and newspapers.
Well, the local paper here just came out in support of this so they wouldn't publish it. That and they are already publishing an op-ed of mine this weekend and their policy is I can't submit another one for 6 months.
But doing more research it looks like these are panels. I had the impression it was something actually painted on the walls. So the cost to remove probably isn't all that much.
But the symbolism is still pretty naked.
In other news, the GOP controlled State Legislature is introducing measure to roll back the provisions in Maine law that allow youth to obtain contraceptives, substance abuse treatment, and mental health treatment related to STDs all without parental consent.
These laws are important because they allow the kids to get help who want to get help but otherwise wouldn't because they have shit-bag parents who think they just need to "toughen up". Or they have parents who have completely checked-out on their job to be parents.
So, if we are keeping score. They are cutting all of the funding for family planning, most of the funding for substance abuse prevention and treatment AND they want to make it harder for kids to get access to whatever skeleton of services may be left.
Jesus fucking Christ, I feel like I'm in Raiders of the Lost Ark and I'm seeing this state melt right before my eyes.
The nutbags have a foothold. :cry:
Maine: The Way Life Used To Be
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 25, 2011, 12:14:13 PM
Quote from: Jenne on March 24, 2011, 07:58:05 PM
You might wanna cc the Op-Ed portion of your local TV news stations and newspapers.
Well, the local paper here just came out in support of this so they wouldn't publish it. That and they are already publishing an op-ed of mine this weekend and their policy is I can't submit another one for 6 months.
But doing more research it looks like these are panels. I had the impression it was something actually painted on the walls. So the cost to remove probably isn't all that much.
But the symbolism is still pretty naked.
So submit it under your wife's name using her maiden name. 8)
Quote from: Luna on March 25, 2011, 12:36:12 PM
The nutbags have a foothold. :cry:
A foothold?
They own the ball AND the ballpark.
http://www.sunjournal.com/state/story/1008116
QuoteAUGUSTA — The sponsor of a new child labor bill says employers should have the flexibility to pay workers under age 20 a "training wage."
Opponents countered that the proposal devalues young workers and takes money out of the hands of laborers and gives it to business.
LD 1346 suggests several significant changes to Maine's child labor law, most notably a 180-day period during which workers under age 20 would earn $5.25 an hour.
The state's current minimum wage is $7.50 an hour.
Rep. David Burns, R-Whiting, is sponsoring the bill, which includes eliminating the maximum hours a minor over 16 can work during school days.
PROGRESS!
TEH PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!
Unfortunately, I think what's going to happen is that whatever measly amount of jobs are created through these new pro-business policies, are going to be offset and probably overshadowed by the jobs lost due to decreased tourism from out-of-state because people realize we've been taken over by idjits and want to stay the fuck away.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 31, 2011, 03:22:51 PM
Unfortunately, I think what's going to happen is that whatever measly amount of jobs are created through these new pro-business policies, are going to be offset and probably overshadowed by the jobs lost due to decreased tourism from out-of-state because people realize we've been taken over by idjits and want to stay the fuck away.
Actually, what's going to happen is that everyone over the age of 20 in the service sector is going to be fired, so that their kids can go work for less pay.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on March 31, 2011, 04:28:59 PM
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 31, 2011, 03:22:51 PM
Unfortunately, I think what's going to happen is that whatever measly amount of jobs are created through these new pro-business policies, are going to be offset and probably overshadowed by the jobs lost due to decreased tourism from out-of-state because people realize we've been taken over by idjits and want to stay the fuck away.
Actually, what's going to happen is that everyone over the age of 20 in the service sector is going to be fired, so that their kids can go work for less pay.
Yup. The Repub spag tried this "lower than minimum wage, but not in the illegal way" thing with waitresses here in Oregon this last election session.
"It just doesn't make sense that waitresses get paid the highest average wage in the country here in Oregon and also get to have Tips" Fuck off, ass.
Quote from: Rev. What's-His-Name? on March 31, 2011, 03:22:51 PM
Unfortunately, I think what's going to happen is that whatever measly amount of jobs are created through these new pro-business policies, are going to be offset and probably overshadowed by the jobs lost due to decreased tourism from out-of-state because people realize we've been taken over by idjits and want to stay the fuck away.
Didn't stop them when Baldacci was in the Blaine House. But yeah, this is a fucking embarrassment.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/42701905/ns/health-addictions/
Maine has highest rate of people in treatment for Oxycontin addiction
State has 8 times national average for residents in treatment, Vermont next highest
BRUNSWICK, Maine — It was yet another pharmacy robbery in the small town of Sanford, Maine, where a woman claiming to have a gun said she would shoot if she didn't get the prescription painkiller OxyContin.
It was also a picture of how Maine is now on the front lines of a U.S. prescription drug epidemic the Obama Administration compares to the crack cocaine crisis of the 1980s.
Maine, the New England state better known for its striking coastline and wilderness, has the country's highest rate of residents in treatment to kick OxyContin, the brand name for oxycodone, and has suffered one of the nation's biggest spikes in pharmacy robberies.
The highly addictive opiate has been blamed for a rash of drug store break-ins by desperate addicts and drug dealers who hawk the valuable pills on the black market, authorities say.
One 80-milligram tablet of OxyContin, sometimes called "OC" or "hillbilly heroin," fetches up to $100 on the street.
OxyContin is the opiate-derived analgesic oxycodone made by Purdue Pharma. A generic version of oxycodone became available in 2004.
Last week's CVS pharmacy holdup in Sanford was the fourth drug store robbery in the southern Maine town in roughly a year. It came months after a man brandishing a machete in Rockland, Maine, demanded that a Rite Aid hand over oxycodone, some of which he immediately gobbled inside the store before six officers with guns drawn surrounded him.
"Maine has a serious prescription drug abuse problem, and oxycodone and OxyContin are the two most sought-after prescription drugs," said Sanford Police Chief Thomas Connolly. "It leads to a whole universe of issues."
This has been happening in San Diego, too. Dudes are knocking over pharmacies in grocery stores to get oxy.
I like how they call Sanford a "small town" when it's one of the biggest cities in Maine. :lulz:
But yeah, this won't come as a surprise to anyone who's lived there. Goddamn junkies can't even be junkies for real drugs.
Population 20,208? :lulz:
Quote from: Nigel on April 22, 2011, 03:50:58 AM
Population 20,208? :lulz:
My tiny desert town has a population of over 30,000 :lulz:
Maine's a great state to live in if you don't like living around a lot of people. We tend to be pretty spread out.
Quote from: Nigel on April 22, 2011, 03:50:58 AM
Population 20,208? :lulz:
Yeah, there's only 10 cities in all of Maine with over 20,000 people.
Portland, Lewiston, Bangor, Biddeford, Auburn, Saco, Augusta, Sanford, Waterville, South Portland. That's it. Having more than 5,000 people qualifies as being one of the larger towns in the state.
Wow, I didn't know that!
You fuckers better vote for Trump, or there's gonna be hell toupee.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 24, 2011, 05:31:53 PM
You fuckers better vote for Trump, or there's gonna be hell toupee.
:horrormirth:
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 24, 2011, 05:31:53 PM
You fuckers better vote for Trump, or there's gonna be hell toupee.
:lol: :lulz: :fap: :lulz: :lol: :lol: :lulz: :fap: :lulz: :lol:
:lulz: :argh!: :lulz:
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on April 24, 2011, 05:31:53 PM
You fuckers better vote for Trump, or there's gonna be hell toupee.
That's fucking brilliant right there!
http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/09/politics/lawmakers-spent-more-time-on-whoopie-pie-bill-than-health-insurance-changes/
Lawmakers spent more time on whoopie pie bill than health insurance changes
Nuggets from the notebook while considering the alacrity of insurance reform versus the dense, sticky slog of legislating whoopie pies ...
Lawmakers have made a lot of arguable statements during the furor over Republicans' fast-tracked attempt to overhaul the state's health insurance laws.
But one remark made during the House debate last Thursday remains uncontested.
Rep. Mike Bryant, D-Windham, told lawmakers that the Legislature had spent more time reviewing legislation that designated the whoopie pie as the state's official treat than it did vetting the GOP proposal that makes sweeping changes to health insurance.
Bryant is correct, at least in terms of time elapsed during the public process.
It took 52 days for LD 71, the whoopie pie bill, to go from public hearing to the first House vote.
It took eight days for LD 1333, the insurance bill, to travel the same distance.
It took 65 days from the hearing for LD 71 to become law. Ninety-eight days elapsed from the time the bill was assigned to committee to becoming law. The 98 days doesn't include the time it took to draft the bill.
:lulz:
Goddamn this is becoming one cuckoo state.
http://www.sunjournal.com/approved/story/1029071
LePage is such a "monkey see monkey do" scumbag. Because he wants to hang out with the cool kids in the DC GOP crowd, he is now proposing to eliminate funding to MPBN. (Basically the local NPR/PBS "affiliate"). He says it's just about balancing the budget but I think it's probably more to do with their reporting on his antics.
NPR/PBS are not beholden to commercial interests to the same degree that the "news" channels are, so obviously everyone in government wants them dead, especially the republicans.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/State-rep-threatens-to-shoot-innocent-bystander.html
State rep threatens to shoot "innocent bystander"
WATERVILLE — A state representative from Garland was arrested Saturday morning for pointing a handgun at a man at point-blank range in a Dunkin Donuts parking lot.
Republican Frederick Ladd Wintle, 58, faces charges of criminal threatening with a dangerous weapon and carrying a concealed weapon for pulling a gun on Morning Sentinel photographer Michael Seamans, of Sidney.
In what police termed a "bizarre" series of events, Wintle allegedly started talking to Seamans about the infant that died this week at Mid-Maine Homeless Shelter on Ticonic Street and said he was looking for the mother's drug dealer.
He then pulled a .22-caliber handgun out of his pants' waistband and waved it at Seamans in the Dunkin Donuts parking lot, located on Kennedy Memorial Drive.
Seamans was "an innocent bystander," said Sgt. Alan Main with the Waterville Police Department. "He certainly did nothing wrong and certainly did his best to try to diffuse the potential harm to himself."
Wintle represents Athens, Charleston, Dexter, Garland, Harmony and Ripley and is on the Legislature's Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee.
I can't tell if :lulz: or :horrormirth:
GODDAMMUH, YOU'D'A THUNK A MAINAH WOULDAH KNOWN BETTAH. CAN'T DO NO MUTHAFRIGGIN' DAMAGE WITH A .22, SON.
What the fuuuuuck
Just a little something to think about the next time you are in Maine. It may seem like a quaint, quiet little State, but on a per capita basis, it probably is the most heavily armed state in the nation. There's also lots of alcoholics, people on oxycontin.....
Basically, you just want to be careful when dealing with a random stranger in Maine. You just don't know what will happen.
It really depends. If you come off like some typical snotty tourist asshole, you just might find yourself deliverance'd, but mostly the most fucked-up backwards hillbilly in Maine is still better people than 95% of the rest of the US.
It's also worth pointing out that although it's true that it's the state with the most firearms per capita, most of those are hunting rifles. It's not as though there are kids with gats on the corners.
Well, except maybe across the river from RWHN, who IIRC is spitting distance from Maine's "ghetto".
Quote from: R.W.H.N. on May 22, 2011, 09:08:25 PM
Just a little something to think about the next time you are in Maine. It may seem like a quaint, quiet little State, but on a per capita basis, it probably is the most heavily armed state in the nation.
I'm gonna have to dispute that.
In terms of registered firearms owned per capita, Maine is #1.
Keep in mind that there are only 1.2 million people in the entire state, and that almost all of them hunt.
It may not be anywhere near the top of the list in terms of registered handguns per capita, though.
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 24, 2011, 12:37:21 AM
In terms of registered firearms owned per capita, Maine is #1.
Keep in mind that there are only 1.2 million people in the entire state, and that almost all of them hunt.
It may not be anywhere near the top of the list in terms of registered handguns per capita, though.
Okay. We definitely win on pistols. Probably in terms of absolute numbers of weapons, too.
I think we win when it comes to machine guns and muzzle loading cannons, too. <--- not kidding.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 02:40:36 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 24, 2011, 12:37:21 AM
In terms of registered firearms owned per capita, Maine is #1.
Keep in mind that there are only 1.2 million people in the entire state, and that almost all of them hunt.
It may not be anywhere near the top of the list in terms of registered handguns per capita, though.
Okay. We definitely win on pistols. Probably in terms of absolute numbers of weapons, too.
I think we win when it comes to machine guns and muzzle loading cannons, too. <--- not kidding.
Does Arizona even have firearm registration? I thought it was like Utah, and you just have to show your Driver's License to buy a gun.
Quote from: Requia ☣ on May 24, 2011, 03:07:10 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 02:40:36 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 24, 2011, 12:37:21 AM
In terms of registered firearms owned per capita, Maine is #1.
Keep in mind that there are only 1.2 million people in the entire state, and that almost all of them hunt.
It may not be anywhere near the top of the list in terms of registered handguns per capita, though.
Okay. We definitely win on pistols. Probably in terms of absolute numbers of weapons, too.
I think we win when it comes to machine guns and muzzle loading cannons, too. <--- not kidding.
Does Arizona even have firearm registration? I thought it was like Utah, and you just have to show your Driver's License to buy a gun.
That's it. You just have to pass the quicky 1 hour background check, and off you go.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 03:27:13 AM
Quote from: Requia ☣ on May 24, 2011, 03:07:10 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 02:40:36 AM
Quote from: Rip City Hustle on May 24, 2011, 12:37:21 AM
In terms of registered firearms owned per capita, Maine is #1.
Keep in mind that there are only 1.2 million people in the entire state, and that almost all of them hunt.
It may not be anywhere near the top of the list in terms of registered handguns per capita, though.
Okay. We definitely win on pistols. Probably in terms of absolute numbers of weapons, too.
I think we win when it comes to machine guns and muzzle loading cannons, too. <--- not kidding.
Does Arizona even have firearm registration? I thought it was like Utah, and you just have to show your Driver's License to buy a gun.
That's it. You just have to pass the quicky 1 hour background check, and off you go.
Man, that's perfect! It's long enough to get drunk, but not long enough for your anger to disperse!
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 24, 2011, 03:37:38 AM
Man, that's perfect! It's long enough to get drunk, but not long enough for your anger to disperse!
Here, people don't tend to have that sort of patience. If they're drunk and mean, they'll just beat you to death with a rock.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 04:00:55 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 24, 2011, 03:37:38 AM
Man, that's perfect! It's long enough to get drunk, but not long enough for your anger to disperse!
Here, people don't tend to have that sort of patience. If they're drunk and mean, they'll just beat you to death with a rock.
My, the savagery. When will the country finally adopt New Bedford's elegance in harpoon murder?
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 24, 2011, 04:30:24 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 04:00:55 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 24, 2011, 03:37:38 AM
Man, that's perfect! It's long enough to get drunk, but not long enough for your anger to disperse!
Here, people don't tend to have that sort of patience. If they're drunk and mean, they'll just beat you to death with a rock.
My, the savagery. When will the country finally adopt New Bedford's elegance in harpoon murder?
Not anytime soon. We're quite the traditionalists out here.
I thought I was going to waltz in here and say TEXAS BEAT ALL Y'ALL until I googled this:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-28/states-with-the-most-guns/2/
Maine #29. Texas #33. Wow.
Kentucky is #1. I assume that's why they throw all their money on the table when they come in and leave the doors unlocked.
Bait.
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 04:40:59 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 24, 2011, 04:30:24 AM
Quote from: The Good Reverend Roger on May 24, 2011, 04:00:55 AM
Quote from: Eater of Clowns on May 24, 2011, 03:37:38 AM
Man, that's perfect! It's long enough to get drunk, but not long enough for your anger to disperse!
Here, people don't tend to have that sort of patience. If they're drunk and mean, they'll just beat you to death with a rock.
My, the savagery. When will the country finally adopt New Bedford's elegance in harpoon murder?
Not anytime soon. We're quite the traditionalists out here.
Harpoons are very traditional in New Bedford.
Quote from: Anna Mae Bollocks on May 24, 2011, 08:08:08 AM
I thought I was going to waltz in here and say TEXAS BEAT ALL Y'ALL until I googled this:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-28/states-with-the-most-guns/2/
Maine #29. Texas #33. Wow.
Kentucky is #1. I assume that's why they throw all their money on the table when they come in and leave the doors unlocked.
Bait.
According to the article, its because Kentucky does monthly checks on concealed carry permit holders, which screws up their numbers.
Quote from: Anna Mae Bollocks on May 24, 2011, 08:08:08 AM
I thought I was going to waltz in here and say TEXAS BEAT ALL Y'ALL until I googled this:
http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2010-06-28/states-with-the-most-guns/2/
Maine #29. Texas #33. Wow.
Kentucky is #1. I assume that's why they throw all their money on the table when they come in and leave the doors unlocked.
Bait.
That's background checks run, not necessarily firearms sold/registered/in state.
Also, KY has 1.3 background checks per capita. :lulz:
Yeah, and it said in one of the comments that if you have a permit to carry a concealed weapon here(TX), you don't need to do the background check.
Plus all the unregistered guns floating around.
So asshat LePage apparently isn't above extortion:
If he doesn't get his DHHS cuts, as is, he's gonna close the public schools
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/state/2012/01/20/lepage-dhhs-cuts-required-keep-safety-net-schools/1141670 (http://www.sunjournal.com/news/state/2012/01/20/lepage-dhhs-cuts-required-keep-safety-net-schools/1141670)
Quote
LePage, describing the DHHS budget gap as a "runaway train," told the audience that if the Legislature didn't ratify his proposed budget he would be forced to close the state's schools.
Except Captain Dumbass doesn't know his Maine Constitution very well:
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/state/1143839 (http://www.sunjournal.com/news/state/1143839)
Quote
AUGUSTA — The LePage administration on Friday was forced to reframe comments the governor made at a Lewiston forum when he said he would close public schools if the Legislature didn't ratify the cuts in his Department of Health and Human Services budget.
The governor's comments came Thursday night at the Green Ladle during his Capitol for a Day event.
LePage said, "A lot of Democrats still think we're fooling around and making political hay here. If I do nothing, on April 1 it's catastrophe for the state of Maine."
He went on: "Right now, in order to continue the way we are (and not make the DHHS cuts), I will close schools May 1 and use that money."
Article VII of the Maine Constitution prohibits the governor from closing public schools. And, he cannot order funding curtailment while the Legislature is in session.
Schools are statutorily required to hold 185 instructional days each year. While the state has issued waivers for that mandate, most are issued because of multiple school cancellations due to storms.
Someone let me off this ride. It's making me sick.
If I still lived there, this would be the point at which I would decide to make the ultimate sacrifice and stop shopping at Mardens.
So, I'm officially a Gubernatorial Appointee.
Got the letter today fresh with his John Hancock.
I feel dirty.
Olympia Snowe isn't running for re-election to the Senate. I think the GOP will likely now lose this seat.
Unless of course the Democrats fuck it up, which of course is entirely possible. I mean, it is the Democrats fucking up which gave us our current Governor. (Thanks a lot Libby!)
There is already some hot-stove rumblings about both of our Dem Reps, Michaud and Pingree having some level of interest. Michaud is a no-brainer. He is more blue-dog than Pingree who is much more liberal and will not really appeal to the more rural district of the state. However, Pingree has a Democrat establishment money machine behind her. I can just see her sticking her nose in it and screwing it up. Michaud I think would win the general election handily. Pingree would give the tea party candidate a decent shot at winning.
There are also rumors about former Governor Baldacci having some interest. He probably would win fairly handily too. But he sucks so I hope he stays out of it.
I thought there's a large "Government out of my Medicare" faction up there, though. Weren't a lot of people angry at Snowe's moderate stances?
I'd say there definitely is a very vocal faction, but I don't think they are large enough to have any sway in the general election. And I think there is probably a large enough establishment faction of the GOP in Maine that they will want to field a more moderate candidate, as it will be very tough for a tea party type to win.
Unless, the Democrats run a real liberal like Pingree. She would do well in the Portland-containing district, but would probably lose in the rural more Conservative district of Maine.
The other wildcard is that Independent candidates have been fairly successful in Maine. I could see someone like former Gov. Angus King (I) getting into the race or Eliot Cutler who just barely lost to LePage. That would really make the race interesting.
I personally would like to see Michaud run. Though, it will be a hard choice for me if King or Cutler got into the race as well. I like all three of those guys and really like the idea of having another Independent in the Senate.
So this happened at the Maine GOP Conventi on this past weekend.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/06/paul-supporters-make-mark-at-maine-gop-convention/
:lulz:
Quote from: Reverend What's-His-Name? on May 08, 2012, 01:24:24 AM
So this happened at the Maine GOP Conventi on this past weekend.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/06/paul-supporters-make-mark-at-maine-gop-convention/
:lulz:
I despise Ron Paul, but the fact that Romney's people are finding a way to block the delegates is repulsive.
They are unwise to fuck with the Maine Paulites. They will end up giving their vote to Obama by either voting 3rd party or sitting on their thumbs. If they are robbed they sure as fuck won't vote Romney in the general. Romney apparently doesn't know how to think medium and long term.
Quote from: Reverend What's-His-Name? on May 08, 2012, 02:15:59 AM
They are unwise to fuck with the Maine Paulites. They will end up giving their vote to Obama by either voting 3rd party or sitting on their thumbs. If they are robbed they sure as fuck won't vote Romney in the general. Romney apparently doesn't know how to think medium and long term.
I sure as fuck wouldn't.
"We don't like the way you voted, so we're going to toss your votes out."
Fuck that noise. I'd cross the aisle in a heartbeat.
This also happened at the convention.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/paul-lepage-maine-unemployed-couch-job_n_1496514.html
WASHINGTON -- At the Maine GOP convention on Sunday, Gov. Paul LePage (R) received an enthusiastic standing ovation from his fellow Republicans for saying that all able-bodied out-of-work Americans need to "get off the couch" and go find employment.
[/size]LePage called on the state legislature to pass structural changes to welfare, saying, "Maine's welfare program is cannibalizing the rest of state government. To all you able-bodied people out there: Get off the couch and get yourself a job (http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/06/politics/get-off-the-couch-and-get-yourself-a-job-lepage-talks-welfare-reform-at-gop-convention/?ref=videos)."[/size]
[/size]Yes, Mr Guvernor, all the jobless people are lazing about on the couch eating Cheetohs. I don't know why they aren't out there applying for all of those jobs you created. Oh, wait, you were too busy sitting on YOUR couch whining about Democrats to create those jobs?
Quote from: Reverend What's-His-Name? on May 08, 2012, 02:33:39 AM
This also happened at the convention.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/07/paul-lepage-maine-unemployed-couch-job_n_1496514.html
WASHINGTON -- At the Maine GOP convention on Sunday, Gov. Paul LePage (R) received an enthusiastic standing ovation from his fellow Republicans for saying that all able-bodied out-of-work Americans need to "get off the couch" and go find employment.
[/size]LePage called on the state legislature to pass structural changes to welfare, saying, "Maine's welfare program is cannibalizing the rest of state government. To all you able-bodied people out there: Get off the couch and get yourself a job (http://bangordailynews.com/2012/05/06/politics/get-off-the-couch-and-get-yourself-a-job-lepage-talks-welfare-reform-at-gop-convention/?ref=videos)."[/size]
[/size]Yes, Mr Guvernor, all the jobless people are lazing about on the couch eating Cheetohs. I don't know why they aren't out there applying for all of those jobs you created. Oh, wait, you were too busy sitting on YOUR couch whining about Democrats to create those jobs?
They're just playing to win. :lol:
Maine's unemployment rate is, what, 7.2%? With all those open job slots waiting, right?
Your governor seems to be retarded.
That's one word to describe him. He's even pissing his own party off, like he did last week when he called all of the people who work in mid-management State jobs "corrupt". Every single one of them. Prominent GOP legislators in the state legislature have publicly demanded he apologize. But of course, he won't, he's like Palin, in his mind, he never makes mistakes.
Quote from: Reverend What's-His-Name? on May 08, 2012, 02:45:57 AM
That's one word to describe him. He's even pissing his own party off, like he did last week when he called all of the people who work in mid-management State jobs "corrupt". Every single one of them. Prominent GOP legislators in the state legislature have publicly demanded he apologize. But of course, he won't, he's like Palin, in his mind, he never makes mistakes.
What are his odds for reelection? His approval rating seems to bounce around between 31% - 47%, but that doesn't always mean anything.
Elliot Cutler, who just narrowly lost to him, has hinted he wants another go at him, I think that's why he stayed out of the race for Snowe's Senate seat. So it would seem like LePages chances for reelection would be pretty dire.
Except the Democrats will field a candidate, so there is always the very possible chance we will have a similar outcome, where the dumbass Dems who didn't learn last time vote for their person, siphoning votes off from Cutler, and LePage is back in. You can always count on the Dems to snatch failure from the jaws of victory.
Wow. Is Maine like the South Carolina of New England or summin? Or maybe the Arizona.... :lulz:
Well, it wasn't until 2 years ago. LePage, the administration, isn't very representative of Maine, at all. The man himself IS very representative of some in the old school French-Canadian population. You guys hear how ECH and I joke about the Quebecois who come into the state every year and are loud and annoying, yeah, he's cut from that cloth.
We're not really Arizona or South Carolina, we're just, Maine. It really is a fluke he was elected. He isn't the typical Maine Republican. A good chunk of elected Maine Republicans are fairly moderate. Maybe not quite as moderate as Snowe or Collins, but certainly more moderate than your Boehners and Cantors.
And I also have to give them credit because they are not rubber stamping LePage's agenda. In fact, they've tripped up a lot of what he wants to do. They compromised with Dems on the supplemental budget that was voted on a couple of months ago, including putting back funding that LePage wanted to cut to community and school health programs. (That is funding that funds about 85% of the agency that employs me.) LePage wanted to scoop out a chunk of unspent funds in a certain budget category that is supposed to only be devoted to health promotion programming, and put it into the general fund. They denied him on that.
So, I guess it could be a lot worse than it is, but, it could also be a lot better, and would be if Cutler had been elected. I hope he runs again. I hope the Democrats wise up and run a weak sauce candidate and get out of the way for Cutler.
Interesting... Fox news seems to have screwed up the article:
QuoteAUGUSTA, Maine – With Mitt Romney's nomination all but decided, Ron Paul supporters wrested control of the Maine Republican Convention and elected a majority slate supporting the Texas congressman to the GOP national convention, party officials said as the two-day convention neared its end Sunday. The results gave the Texas congressman a late state victory.
The names of 15 at-large delegates from Maine to the GOP nominating convention in Tampa, Fla., were posted Sunday as votes for the other delegation seats remained undecided. Maine is allotted a total of 24 delegates to the national convention.
"It's certainly a significant victory," said Jim Azzola of South Portland, Cumberland County coordinator for Paul. The votes were to become finalized when the convention closes.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/06/paul-supporters-make-mark-at-maine-gop-convention/#ixzz1uHx0KUFA
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/05/06/paul-supporters-make-mark-at-maine-gop-convention/#ixzz1uHwOBXZk
The AP article:
QuoteAUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — With Mitt Romney's GOP presidential nomination all but decided, Ron Paul supporters took control of the Maine Republican Convention and elected a majority slate supporting the Texas congressman to the GOP national convention, party officials said. The results gave the Texas congressman a late state victory.
In votes leading to the close of the two-day Maine convention, Paul supporters were elected to 21 of the 24 delegate spots from Maine to the GOP national convention in Tampa, Fla. The 24th delegate's seat goes to party Chairman Charles Webster, who has remained uncommitted throughout the process.
Making the Paul takeover complete was the election of Paul supporters to a majority of the state committee seats.
"It's certainly a significant victory," said Jim Azzola of South Portland, Cumberland County coordinator for Paul.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5haZiMmcExIWrZGANMozImDAV_8Dw?docId=a74dccdc67884f6d811bcf62218c7302
Interesting.
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/maine/2012/07/07/lepage-calls-irs-new-gestapo/1220590
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — Maine Gov. Paul LePage is using his weekly radio address to attack the Supreme Court's decision that upheld the president's health care law. He also described the Internal Revenue Service as the "new Gestapo[/size]LePage says the court's decision has "made America less free" and that people have no choice but to buy health insurance or "pay the new Gestapo — the IRS."
The Gestapo was the secret police force of German dictator Adolf Hilter before and during World War II. It was notorious for ruthless and brutal actions against Hilter's political opponents.[/size]The requirement that Americans buy insurance is at the heart of the debate over the Affordable Health Care Act. Critics say it's unconstitutional to require Americans to buy insurance or pay a penalty, but the Supreme Court upheld the penalty as a type of tax.
LePage is continuing to assail the law, saying the government is encouraging people to rely on the government instead of encouraging self-reliance.
This guy is a neverending train of funnay.
And he doubled-down on the Gestapo reference the other day campaigning for some Tea Party idiot in Vermont.
This guy is a real winner I gotta say.
So this happened:
Maine police arrested a heavily armed man driving on the state turnpike who carried clippings about the cinema massacre in Colorado and claimed he attended the new "Batman" film with a loaded gun, authorities said on Monday.
Timothy Courtois, 49, was driving 112 mph on the Maine Turnpike with an AK-47 assault weapon, four handguns and several boxes of ammunition in his car when state police pulled him over about 10 a.m. on Sunday, said Maine Department of Public Safety spokesman Steve McCausland.
He told police that he was headed to Derry, N.H., to shoot a former employer, McCausland said in a statement.
Courtois told police he had attended the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight," at a theater in Saco, Maine, on Saturday night with a loaded gun in his backpack, he said.
Police found clippings in his car about the mass shooting in Aurora, Colo., where 12 people were killed and 58 wounded by a gunman at a Friday showing of "The Dark Knight," he said.
At Courtois' home in Biddeford, Maine, police found several additional guns, including a machine gun, and thousands of rounds of ammunition, he said.
Courtois was slated to appear in court on Monday in Springvale District Court on initial charges of speeding and carrying a concealed weapon, McCausland said.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48292930/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?__utma=14933801.443538625.1342777706.1343037401.1343085084.10&__utmb=14933801.1.10.1343085084&__utmc=14933801&__utmx=-&__utmz=14933801.1342777706.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)|utmccn=(direct)|utmcmd=(none)&__utmv=14933801.|8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1^12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1^13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1^30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=140677810 (http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/48292930/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/?__utma=14933801.443538625.1342777706.1343037401.1343085084.10&__utmb=14933801.1.10.1343085084&__utmc=14933801&__utmx=-&__utmz=14933801.1342777706.1.1.utmcsr=(direct)%7Cutmccn=(direct)%7Cutmcmd=(none)&__utmv=14933801.%7C8=Earned%20By=msnbc%7Ccover=1%5E12=Landing%20Content=Mixed=1%5E13=Landing%20Hostname=www.nbcnews.com=1%5E30=Visit%20Type%20to%20Content=Earned%20to%20Mixed=1&__utmk=140677810)
Oh look, he's from Biddeford.
And this what they found at his house:
(http://www.sunjournal.com/files/imagecache/medium/2012/07/23/COURTOISGUNS.jpg) (http://www.sunjournal.com/files/imagecache/story_large/2012/07/23/COURTOISGUNS.jpg)
Typical jagoff.
Why do you need that many fucking guns? No. You need loads and loads of ammunition.
In MY day, nutcases were professional about it. Great big arsenal? Fuck that. ONE Italian rifle, and people are STILL talking about it.
I'm guessing his brain went all mushy from being too close to the Merck plant.
I find this extremely hilarious. The Republican and Democrats are having an impasse on booze. The Democrats want to jam through legislation so the bars can open earlier this St. Patrick's Day because it falls on a Sunday this year, which in Maine means they open later. Meanwhile, LePage is refusing to sign anything until the Democrats pass his emergency legislation to renegotiate the State Liquor contract, so they can lower prices, increase sales, and use those proceeds to pay off debt owed to the hospitals.
http://www.pressherald.com/news/maine-lepage-Bill-bar-pub-hours-St-Pats-Patricks-alcohol.html.