WASHINGTON — Just what White House chief strategist Stephen Bannon meant when he recently suggested “deconstructing the administrative state” is unclear. To critics, he would gut the whole superstructure of social and environmental safeguards, starting with the Environmental Protection Agency (which, say news reports, may face a staff cut of one-fifth). But regardless of Bannon’s […]
Op-Eds
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Republicans converting to Trumpism
In the course of a few days, President Donald Trump showed how thoroughly he has conquered conservative activists and the Republican Party. At the Conservative Political Action Conference, the attendees would have carried him in on a litter if they had been afforded the opportunity, and Republicans applauded everything he said in his address to […]
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Democrats must rebuild party's foundation
JACKSONVILLE, Alabama — If the Democratic Party is ailing after losing the presidency to Donald Trump, state parties are on life support. Here in the long-ago Democratic stronghold of Alabama, the party is all but dead, say some of its disheartened members. Consider: Not a single statewide office is held by a Democrat; the state […]
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Wanted: Primary medical and dental professionals
As children, many of us can remember lining up domino tiles with the goal of watching the chain reaction as they all fell down when given the slightest touch of a finger to the first one in line. The brief excitement when they toppled over was quickly replaced by the disappointment of knowing how long […]
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Revolt of the states' attorneys general
WASHINGTON — Among the many unintended legacies of Barack Obama, one has gone largely unnoticed: the emergence of a novel form of resistance to executive overreach, a check-and-balance improvised in reaction to his various presidential power grabs. It’s the revolt of the state attorneys general, banding together to sue and curb the executive. And it […]
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Don't stiff the State Department
NEW YORK — The first time I met Gen. David Petraeus, he said something that surprised me. It was the early days of the Iraq War and, while things were not going well, he had directed his region in the north skillfully and effectively. I asked him whether he wished he had more troops. Petraeus […]
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Lewiston officials must commit to financial security
Some might say I was harsh in providing the Finance Committee recommendation to the Lewiston City Council regarding the fiscal year 2018 Capital Improvements Proposal. Having been appointed by three different mayors at various times to serve, and having served on the Lewiston City Council, I have the unique perspective that others may not. I […]
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Donald Trump reinvents himself
For Republicans who have been concerned that President Trump has not been specific about his policies and about where he wants to take the country, Tuesday night’s address to Congress and the nation was a welcome relief. For liberals, however, it was a problem precisely because he offered specifics. Before the speech, Senate Minority Leader […]
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People are remembering that facts matter
I’m beginning to feel like Sally Field. Remember the 1985 Academy Awards, when she was stunned by the idea of being accepted? “And I can’t deny the fact that you like me!” she gushed. “Right now! You like me!” I could give the same speech today. I am, you see, employed in an industry that […]
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Head Start a worthy investment for Maine
As Auburn’s chief of police, I have witnessed too many at-risk youth grow up to become involved in crime, and I know that for many of these kids, their lives did not have to turn out that way. If they had had the opportunity to participate in quality, early-learning programs, such as Head Start, they […]