Tag Archives: Bipartisanship

Iran debate shows dwindling respect for principled opposition

Recently, a disturbing trend in American politics has become stunningly clear: the inability of many on the left to show any kind of respect for those with whom they disagree. It is not just that they have a tendency to vociferously defend their position; that would be fine. It is that they seem to question […]

Augusta needs to realize Maine has a spending problem

You would think that, after Gov. Paul LePage secured a re-election win over the Democrats’ best candidate, Bruce Poliquin was elected to Congress, and Republicans regained control of the Maine Senate, legislators in Augusta would hear the message loud and clear from the voters of Maine: that our state has a spending problem, not a […]

Maine has the chance to lead on gun rights

In the coming days, as many Mainers scramble to finalize their tax returns, the Legislature will begin debating what has already become one of the most bipartisan bills of the session. Sponsored by freshman Republican Sen. Eric Brakey of Auburn, this legislation seeks to bring constitutional carry (already the law in Vermont) to Maine. Currently, […]

Cain’s announcement reveals the emptiness of her rhetoric on bipartisanship

Earlier this week, when I saw the news that former congressional candidate Emily Cain would again be running in Maine’s 2nd District, I had to do a double take. It wasn’t that Cain’s second run was such a galloping shock; indeed, it was pretty much a given. What I had to check was the calendar, […]

Obama offers campaign planks, not solutions

In his State of the Union address to Congress on Tuesday night, President Obama attempted to invoke the unity theme of his 2004 Democratic National Convention speech and 2008 presidential campaign. However, on Tuesday — as in the past — this hyperbole was not reality-based, but was soaring rhetoric designed to win enough support to […]

The real reason behind Obama’s immigration action

At first glance, President Obama’s announcement on Thursday that he intends to usurp the authority of the United States Congress on immigration reform seems counter-intuitive. Though immigration reform has been a top goal on the left for years, this is not the way to go about it. While it might please immigration activists, Obama’s taking […]

It’s time to stand up and fight taxnesia

For the past two years, a curious malady seems to have gripped Maine Democrats. It’s most pronounced in legislators who have served since 2010, but it’s spread to new legislators as well, to varying degrees, and even is appearing in regular Mainers. It’s a form of amnesia – or, perhaps, self-hypnosis – that is remarkably […]

Beware the perils of fake bipartisanship

Not all bipartisanship is created equal: There’s real bipartisanship and fake bipartisanship. There was plenty of both on full display in the Legislature this week. In real bipartisanship, both sides actually come together to solve a problem. They negotiate to find a solution that both of them can support. They make sacrifices, and nobody gets […]

No, Susan Collins isn’t reacting to Shenna Bellows on the minimum wage

When you’re as far ahead as [PDF] Senator Susan Collins – one of the widest margins of any incumbent United States Senator in the nation – it’s utterly natural for your opponent to desperately try to become relevant. Democrat Shenna Bellows has been doing just that in her quixotic quest to unseat Susan Collins. That’s to be […]