Category Candidates

May 21 2010

At Last, An Endorsement

“The Red County Caucus” has made its endorsement for Governor.  It will be formally announced on Friday May 21, 2010.  It has been hinted at in this column that this columnist has had some involvement with the Caucus.  This is true.  I was selected by the members to be its chairman.  Here is some background on the Red County Caucus.

Some months ago, the night of the marriage referendum, in fact, my Representative, Paul Davis, shared a vision he had with me to form an activist group that would represent Conservatism in Piscataquis County.  It was Mr. Davis’ hope to capitalize on the singular distinction that Piscataquis County had acquired by being the only county in New England to vote Republican in the 2008 election cycle period.  He entitled his concept, “The Red County Caucus”.

Needless to say, I saw great potential in Paul’s idea and was immediately captivated by it.  I would suspect that, at times, I reminded Paul and Patty Davis of an annoying child who gets fixated on an idea and just won’t shut up about it.  Soon Sen. Doug Smith was roped into the fracas and the ball started rolling.  After some discussion, it was agreed that we should not proceed much further with out informing the Piscataquis County Republican Committee of our intentions.

If memory serves correctly, it was Patty Davis who brought the idea to the floor.  There was considerable apprehension from the County Committee.  Many were very uncomfortable with any endorsement looking as if it came from the County Committee itself.  After much deliberation and debate, they agreed that the Red County Caucus should be separate and detached from the County Committee.  Any endorsement from the Red Caucus was not necessarily reflective of any views of the Committee members.  This agreed, some Republican Committee members state emphatically that this decision would, “Be on your heads.”

So, on our heads it was placed.  Paul Davis, Doug Smith, myself, and since we felt a little lonely, we dragged Pete Johnson into the mix.  Through several meetings we developed a questionnaire to send to each candidate.  After these were sent, we began to watch for signs that any candidate was gaining traction.  It was our hope that a Conservative candidate would begin to emerge that we could endorse.

Soon the time for the Center Theatre Debate arrived.  As usual, the Central Maine Republican Women did a fantastic job and the Debate was well attended.  Still, there was no clear-cut victor between our Conservatives.  We had hoped to be able to endorse a candidate at the Republican Convention.  We backed off that first, because we still weren’t sure whom to endorse.  Second, because we did not want it to look like a State Republican endorsement and embarrass the State Chairman.

After the Convention, it seemed increasingly clear who the front-runner was.  The polls on the Maine Conservative Voice showed emphatically that Piscataquis County had made its choice.  It was now incumbent upon the Red County Caucus committee members to make an endorsement that was reflective of our county.  The Piscataquis County poll showed one candidate held a commanding 73% of votes cast.  Early statewide polling showed a similar margin of dominance.

The Red County Caucus has voted to make its endorsement.  This will be revealed Friday, May 21.  It is important at this time that all Conservatives unify behind this candidate.  The Red County Caucus endorses Paul LePage.  With our support, we can help him be the catalyst to a Conservative revolution in our state.  We must unify and stay unified.  If we do this, we will have victory in 2010 and Set Maine Free!

May 11 2010

A Perspective on Common Sense

Rural Maine and its people have been described in many different ways.  The varied descriptions, sometime colorful, do have one constant that threads vibrantly through the many views often expressed on the fabric of rural Maine.  That constant is common sense.  Maine people do not have the corner on the market for common sense, but it does seem that this time-honored attribute is more prevalent in states that have a large rural population.

The stark reality of survival in this rugged North Eastern state demand its inhabitants embrace common sense.  Without common sense, individuals are doomed to repeat failures unable to comprehend the impact of their consequences.  In rural areas, which typically have limited means and limited resources, a pattern of repeated and costly missteps is unacceptable; therefore, common sense must take preeminence in the rural Mainers daily thought and decision-making process.  Not so in Augusta.

Recently I had a conversation with Bob Emrich who is running for Representative of District 25.  Much of our time talking was consumed by a discussion of common sense, or the lack thereof, in Augusta.  As I talked to Mr. Emrich, it became more and more apparent to me that he was a man of sterling character, deep conviction, and resolute will.  Most impressively, these attribute were all grounded in Maine’s most prized resource, common sense.

Te next few paragraphs, I want to pass on some of the thoughts Bob Emrich shared with me.  I think his heart for the future of Maine will be clear.  Maine needs Mr. Emrich’s proven leadership in Augusta.  Let me show you why the Maine Conservative Voice wholeheartedly endorsed Bob Emrich for Representative District 25.

The ministerial history of Mr. Emrich reveals a pattern that will benefit him greatly in Augusta.  Throughout is Pastoral life he has chosen positions not based on the salary, but rather on the challenge.  The more difficult the situation the more attractive seems to be to that situation.  He is undaunted by the odds or the naysayers.  His stellar leadership of the latest fight against the gay marriage law could not better exemplify this.

When I spoke with Mr. Emrich, he had just finished meeting with a group of fifty or so men he said had more common sense than any of the Democrats in Augusta.  He voiced his frustration that these hard-working Mainers have to balance their own checkbooks, but the Democrats who are in power refuse to do the same.  One could feel his angst as he spoke of these local residents who know enough to buy only what they can pay for, yet the Liberal “elites” continue to spend our state into bankruptcy.

Bob Emrich spoke quite candidly that Augusta needs “to slow down, take a breath, and make the difficult choices” to bring spending under control.  He said Legislators need to decide what “we really need” and then begin to eliminate all other wasteful programs and bureaucracies.  The words common sense were repeated and over and over again as he spoke of Augusta’s ineptitude.  He used for an example, road building. The one thing government is supposed to do it cannot do.

Common sense is not a term to be used lightly.  Those who posses this attribute will scrutinize your actions carefully to measure them against your words.  Bob Emrich’s actions speak louder than his words, but thankfully, they back up his words emphatically.  He has a history of fighting the right battle, the hard battles, and winning those battles.

Finally on a different subject, we at the Maine Conservative Voice would like to inform those who attended the Debate in Dover-Foxcroft and any others with an opinion, to take part in our poll at www.meconservativevoice.wordpress.com. The MCV would like to get a feel for the pulse of Conservatives on the primary candidates.  Also, don’t forget to go to www.redcountycaucus.com and read the candidates questionnaires.

Mar 31 2010

THROUGH THE CONSERVATIVE PRISM: Paul LePage Edition

Imagine yourself homeless at age eleven.  An eleven year old boy shining shoes to earn enough money to eat.  What would your dreams be?  Would you let them succumb to your reality or would you keep believing?  Imagine yourself working in the local fairgrounds and hiding after work so that you could sneak back into the horse stalls to find a warm bed in the hay.  As you lay alone in that stall at night, would you believe that you could fight for a better future or would you lie there, blame your circumstances, and let self-pity consume the light of hope?

Such were the choices that the young Paul LePage faced.  Unfortunately, Mr. LePage’s early story is not unique to a large amount of our nation’s children who end up on the streets of our cities.  What is unique is the decision that the young waif made in the midst of that desolation.  Paul LePage decided to fight back…the right way.  Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, young LePage resolved to work and earn his way free from the depressing and humiliating bonds of Maine’s entitlement system.

Paul LePage was born the oldest of eighteen children.  The LePage family was very poor and lived under the constant threat of a drunken, abusive father.  At the age of eleven, young Paul ran away from home to escape the abuse.  He lived on the streets until the age of thirteen, earning money anyway he could from shining shoes to cleaning horse stalls.

Finally, two families took notice of the young street urchin’s industrious nature and put him to work.  Eddy and Pauline Collins gave him a job washing dishes in their restaurant and housed the thirteen year old for part of the week.  The rest of the week he stayed with Bruce and Joan Myrick and stacked boxes in Bruce’s Pepsi-cola delivery truck.  Good people doing good deeds.  It is one of the things that have always made America great.  A hand up not a hand out was exactly what Paul LePage needed.

At some point, the teenager met Peter Snowe.  Mr. Snowe is the late and first husband of Olympia Snowe.  He took a liking to Paul Lepage and offered to pay for his first year of college tuition if he would finish his degree.  Paul LePage promised and kept his promise.

Mr. LePage was raised speaking and reading French so passing the entrance exam was difficult.  Mr. Snowe convinced Husson College to administer the exam in French.  Once admitted, Paul LePage’s English speaking skills improved dramatically and he eventually graduated with honors.

In the years since then, Mr. LePage has worked throughout the state of Maine and Canada; his specialty, turning around businesses.  He has also serves to this day as the general manager of Maine’s largest retailer, Mardens.  Perhaps his greatest accomplishment is his highly successful leadership of the city of Waterville.  As the Mayor, he has lowered the mil rate every year he has been in office.  He has been successfully re-elected even in a strongly Democratic city.  I think the spokesman for the LePage campaign said it best when he said that this proves citizens may believe in “Liberalism in theory but they embrace Conservatism when they see it in practice”.

I have heard Paul LePage speak multiple times in his visits to the Red County.  While he may not be the most polished of speakers, he speaks directly and honestly.  He’s a “no bull” kind of guy; in fact, he seems to be more comfortable with the tough one on one question forum.  It is the street fighter in him.

This is a man who has been so far down he had to look up to see the bottom and, yet, he scrapped his way back up to success.  Perhaps, a mountain of socialist debt is not too intimidating for him.  The political elites don’t like him and don’t take him seriously.  I don’t think Paul LePage really cares.  I know this columnist doesn’t.

Maine citizens are faced with seemingly insurmountable odds in the recovery of our great State from the hands of the socialists.  In the next four to eight years, we must engage in a political war in which the very future of this great State hangs in the balance.  What kind of leader should lead the charge?  One who has overcome those odds already or one who has not?  Think about it …. Conservatively.

Mar 18 2010

THROUGH THE CONSERVATIVE PRISM: Bruce Poliquin edition

Through the luck of the draw, Bruce Poliquin was the first gubernatorial candidate to speak at “The Red County Caucus”.  This could, for some, be an unenviable position, but Mr. Poliquin handled it well.  He was probably the most polished of all the speakers.  He presented himself with measured energy and intensity.  It was an impressive speech.

Bruce Poliquin is a native of Waterville.  He is the third generation of his family to live in Waterville.  Mr. Poliquin cites his family and their relations (the Cyrs, the Doyons, and the Bouchards) as major contributors to business and its management in the State of Maine.  Research seems to back up his claim.

Unlike Les Otten, Bruce Poliquin’s background seems to be relatively clean.  The news media did dredge up an incident that involved the theft of a traffic sign when Bruce was nineteen.  The Maine Conservative Voice does stand in support of all the helpless traffic signs throughout the State of Maine.  We demand that Bruce Poliquin never, ever do that again.  That was really, really naughty, Bruce.  The airstream media must have had a crack research team on that little jewel.  Okay, back to more serious things.

Mr. Poliquin earned his degree in economics from Harvard.  This columnist was surprised at the negative reaction so many caucus goers had to the word Harvard.  While I can understand the angst and suspicion that many may have against elite schools, remember that those degrees come with hard work.  An individual should not be judged negatively solely on the basis of his education or lack thereof, for that matter.  As a man who has not been able to achieve the level of education he would have liked, I respect Mr. Poliquin’s accomplishments.

Many caucus attendees also expressed a strong dislike for lawyers.  Remember that legislation is the business of lawmaking and it takes a lawyer to catch a lawyer, to play on an old saying.  While it is true that lawyers have had a strangle hold on the modern political process, we still should not discount the need for their input in that process.  I have friends and mentors that are lawyers; therefore, I can attest, there is such a thing as a good honest lawyer.

The Maine Conservative Voice does have some issues with Mr. Poliquin. First, is his claim that he is the only candidate that is native to Maine.  Unfortunately for Mr. Poliquin, this claim shows a complete lack of research.  It took this columnist all of thirty seconds to find that Peter Mills was born in Farmington, Paul Lepage was born in Lewiston, and Steve Abbott was born in Orono.  Even with my nominal knowledge of geography, the fact that there is an ME attached to each one of those towns suggests that they could be in the State of Maine.  This may be a miscalculation by a campaign team but it is not very impressive.  I think Mainers are desperate enough for relief and freedom that, hopefully, we are beyond “you’re not from here” attitudes.  Just do the job, conservatively.

While this campaign tactic is a head scratcher, this next is a killer from a conservative point of view.  Mr. Poliquin is the only candidate, save for a liberal left wing loon, which is for mandatory background checks on guns.  Geography again, Mr. Poliquin.  This is the State of Maine.  Not even the Democrats and Peter Mills are for background checks.  They know better.  Les Otten didn’t even speak “reluctantly” in favor of this.  He knows better, amazingly.

This political stance will destroy Bruce Poliquin’s campaign unless he backs off it quickly.  Both Democrats and Republicans alike feel strongly about gun rights in Maine.  This columnist believes Bruce Poliquin is a clean candidate.  He is fiscally conservative, but his weakness on gun rights and social issues will probably be his undoing.

Finally, I would like to send heartfelt good wishes and a get well soon to Miriam McArthur of the Central Maine Republican Women.  Miriam is a driving force behind the Conservative movement in Piscataquis County.  Her impact is immeasurable.  My family’s prayers are with you in your battle with cancer.  We believe for the best.  God bless you! Get well soon!