Democrats loudly complained when Republicans threw Rep. Ilhan Omar off the Foreign Affairs Committee. But they should have thanked them, at least quietly.
Alex Lear
A Maine native and Colby College graduate, Alex has been covering coastal communities since 2001. He lives in the Portland area with his wife Lauren, 4-year-old daughter Alaina, and 7-year-old bulldog Walter. He has released four CDs of original music and does occasional research work for Marvel Comics' collected editions.
Richard Hesslein Jr.: Maintain both fish passage, renewable energy from dams
I write in response to the article “National Resources Council initiative aims to bring Atlantic salmon back to Sandy River” (Feb. 4). I always wonder when talking dam removal for fish passage (I do think fish passage is of paramount importance), why is it not feasible to restore fish passage and still have the renewable […]
Louise Samson: Develop former Lewiston school for senior housing
I’m writing about the idea of developing the Martel school into housing for seniors. This project was approved over a year ago; Avesta Housing and Lewiston Housing were working together. They had received an affordable housing program award from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston. The city signed an option on a purchase and […]
Fern Asselin: Despite divisions, ‘there is still hope for all of us’
After being raised as a Democrat all my life, I decided to endorse Donald Trump. I’m not happy with some things he says, but I was intrigued by what he said about putting America first. Surprisingly, he kept his word, and things were looking good for all of us. Then, hate took over even before […]
Austin Bay: Watching Ukraine, Japan and South Korea consider nuclear weapons
China’s communist dictator, Xi Jinping, can thank his friend Vlad Putin for prompting two wealthy Asian democracies to become regional nuclear powers.
Bob Neal: The Countryman: Does the truth scare Ron DeSantis?
What scares me perhaps most about Gov. Ron DeSantis isn’t that he’s Trump redux. It’s that he’s clearly smarter than Donald Trump and may be less narcissistic.
Clarence Page: Is George Santos another frustrated millennial?
Like many others in his generation, the 34-year-old U.S. Rep. George Santos has watched national recognition lead to power and influence in a media age much more accelerated than the one us TV-age baby boomers grew up in.
William Whitney Jr.: Capitalism won’t fix world’s greatest problems
The U.S. House of Representatives on Feb. 2 passed a resolution denouncing socialism and the implementation of socialist policies. Rep. Jared Golden voted yes. He thereby signals he’s fine with profit-driven healthcare, would tolerate profiteering from Social Security, and is none too protective of public education. Presumably he’s for capitalism all the way. If so, […]
Froma Harrop: For Republicans, it’s 3 a.m. in an after-hours bar
The people are wasted, hollering about their “enemies,” some working to repurpose their bad behavior into grifting opportunities.