Maine Gov. Paul LePage’s capacity for churlishness is extraordinary even in the context of the Trump era. Not only does LePage go into pit-bull attack mode whenever he encounters political opposition or criticism, he even forgoes the opportunity to exploit a feel-good moment when it presents itself unbidden, opting instead, to behave in a “snarky” […]
Op-Eds
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Nation to be held hostage by Democrats
“You can get a lot farther with a smile and a gun than you can with just a smile.” This quote has often been attributed to the late Chicago mobster Al Capone, who with his fellow organized crime buddies used extortion as one of their tactics to get what they wanted. Today’s modern congressional Democrats […]
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France’s Macron sets tone on realistic immigration policy
NEW YORK — Emmanuel Macron is today the most admired world leader among liberals, centrists and cosmopolitans around the globe. He has managed to win the French presidency, enact reforms and stay relatively popular — all while speaking positively about the free market, the European Union, globalization and trade. He has done all this in […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Can we keep it? Our republic?
For better or worse, 2018 is another election season. Maine towns will soon be holding party caucuses and, in June, voters will select their party’s candidates for governor, the Legislature, and the U. S. House and Senate. Typically, these mid-term elections attract little attention and even less participation. However, in November 2017 one in three […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Medicaid expansion needs to happen
The people of Maine spoke loudly and clearly this past November. The Citizens’ Initiative to expand MaineCare passed by a wide margin and is now the law of the land. However, the deadlines to enact this law are rapidly approaching, and it is time to inquire if the governor and the Department of Health and […]
Posted inOp-Eds, sj-web
Many changes during Trump’s first year
And here we are, one year later. If you are groping for markers by which to measure how profoundly we have been changed since Inauguration Day, here’s one you might want to consider: In January of 1998, reports surfaced of a sexual affair between President Bill Clinton and a 24-year-old White House intern. It would […]
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Here comes the judge(ment)
Most of us are judgmental and base decision on our judgments. As age has crept up, I have been working to be less judgmental. But, the news that Charles Manson had died set me to judging my own judgmentalism yet again. Probably not many people shed tears at the news that Manson had died. His […]
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Stock market surge favors upper class
WASHINGTON — Call them the new millionaires. Once upon a time — certainly within living memory — becoming a millionaire was a big deal. It was a badge of economic distinction, enjoyed by a tiny elite. No more. By 2016, slightly more than 9 million U.S. households had a net worth of $1 million or […]
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Learn from false missile attack fiasco
The false missile attack alert that the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency issued at 8:05 a.m. on January 13 provides American civil defense agencies and military planners with numerous points to ponder. Three deserve immediate attention. Point 1: Hawaii’s civil defense warning system procedures are abysmally bad. Yes, the Wireless Emergency Alert system worked. Mobile phones […]
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Democrats shouldn’t be afraid to take credit
Donald Trump is fabulously adept at taking credit for and exaggerating every bit of good news, especially good economic news. When the news is bad, he changes the subject. Trump is the master, but Republicans generally are skilled at fine-tailoring reality for their benefit. Democrats are the opposite. They seem to assume that the public […]