Tag Archives: Republicans

Open primaries may be the only way to save the Maine GOP

The Republican Party in Maine is in rough shape. Democrats last fall swept elections across the state, solidifying their majority in the House, winning control of the Senate, winning the governor’s race, and knocking off an incumbent congressman in our 2nd Congressional District for the first time in more than 100 years. On the heels […]

National popular vote needs scrutiny, not partisanship

Maine’s Legislature is considering a bill to radically change the way we participate in presidential elections. The so-called “National Popular Vote” compact (NPV) would award our electoral votes to whichever candidate wins the most votes nationwide. The debate over this bill is lining up as a left versus right issue, with Democrats leaning toward support […]

Republicans have lost their way when it comes to improving America

The Democratic Party seeks to contribute to the common good in a number of ways. Democrats seek higher wages for workers, better conditions for the sick and elderly, and more rights for the marginalized. Whether or not their policies actually achieve these goals, it’s clear they are aiming toward improvements in our society. Republicans, historically, […]

Political parties have corrupted our democracy

The biggest problem in politics right now is not Donald Trump. It’s also not Nancy Pelosi. It’s the concept of base-driven elections. In a normal democratic society, the goal of politics and elections would be to convince the most people that your policies are right and that you’re the most capable leader.   And when […]

Stop feeding the partisan beast

The psychologist Abraham Maslow identified the feeling of belonging as a central human need, ranked only behind physical safety and sustenance in his eponymous “Hierarchy of Needs.” Humans need to be accepted, to feel part of a group, even from a very young age. This is, perhaps, a primal response based on the safety of […]

Budget nonsense shows Maine GOP has earned its diminished stature

Political effectiveness is not determined by any one election cycle. It’s a culture, cultivated over years, across elections. The decisions made during this election cycle don’t go away after Election Day. They shape the opinions of voters over a lifetime, and mistakes made during one period aren’t forgotten just because one side wins or loses […]

Gideon’s paid leave proposal is comedy gold — for Gov. Mills

The concept of a “straight man” is a bedrock comedy institution. A relatively normal, identifiable person is paired with an off-the-wall character, and the contrast between the two creates comedy gold. Laurel and Hardy, Burns and Allen, Abbott and Costello, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, the Smothers Brothers, all of these acts relied on the […]

Picking the primary winners: Republican edition

Last week, I laid out my predictions for the Democratic primary for governor. This week I’ll continue the wild speculation with my thoughts on the Republican primary. Where the Democratic primary is shaping up as a battle between the various factions within the party, the GOP primary is more of a contest between individuals seeking […]

Picking the primary winners: Democratic edition

With eight weeks to go until Maine voters select their party nominees for governor, the Republican and Democratic primaries are still wide open. No obvious frontrunners have emerged, and no public polling has been released. So, in the absence of quantifiable data, I’ll make some very subjective guesses about where these races are going. I’ll […]