Feb 9 2014

Betrayal

When The Maine Conservative Voice was started, it was my desire to be just that, a voice. The hope was to make political leaders, both statewide and nationally, aware that the conservative movement was not dead in Maine, but alive and well. What a humbling experience it has been to have so many people in rural Maine shake my hand and say thank you for lending a voice to their beliefs and convictions.

The hope has always been that conservatives across Maine would unify in one force and work together to set Maine free from the tyranny of liberal and socialist agendas. Time has passed and TMCV has been able to have some influence, along with other groups, on Maine’s political landscape. Still, progress has been slowed and marred by competing egos and personal agendas.

My greatest fear when I began this column and blog was that eventually I would grow numb to the corruption and become a silent observer. While there are some positions that I hold where ethics require silence, still my passion to expose unscrupulous behavior remains undaunted. But what if the betrayal comes from leaders you have worked closely with and supported? What then? How could I retain the integrity of the ideals I set forth with if I remained silent?

I understand compromise and that it is a vital part of our political system. What I do not understand is calling yourself a conservative yet forming an alliance with one of the most liberal members of your party. I cannot comprehend campaigning across a Senate District touting your support of the Governor’s agenda to secure conservative votes and then joining political forces with the one man who has worked tirelessly to subvert the Governor’s policies and conservative ideals. I am astounded that a man can campaign as a social conservative and then join forces with the very man who has fought to subvert everything social conservatives stand for. But this is what we find in the latest revelations from the political soap opera that is Senator Doug Thomas.

Senator Roger Katz of Augusta recently held a fundraiser for Senator Thomas in his law office in Augusta. For those who don’t know, Roger Katz and the Pretentious Eight, as I have dubbed them, wrote an infamous op-ed against the Governor in an attempt to undermine his leadership at the very onset of his administration. Roger Katz has repeatedly opposed many of the initiatives the conservatives have put forth. It was Katz that spearheaded a move by liberal Republicans to help Democrats overturn the Governor’s veto of a budget that raised taxes on the Maine people.

And Doug Thomas is breaking financial bread with him? In political speak, fundraising for a candidate is a statement of allegiance. There are no political favors without one in return. Conservatives had been uncomfortable with the various sightings of Thomas and Katz at public functions, but there was no way to verify a betrayal until now.

It’s no secret the Roger Katz has been maneuvering for power in the legislature to build his campaign against the Governor. Obviously, he has found that the “Honorable” Doug Thomas can be bought, easily. Katz wants Thomas’s vote for leadership and rumors have a way of materializing. Doug Thomas is selling out his fellow conservatives and the Governor for money.

TMCV has worked hard in the past to support and elect Doug Thomas into office. I have written many columns in his behalf. That ends now. I have grown tired of the duplicity. I will not look the other way and be silent.

When confronted on his behavior, Senator Thomas responded that it doesn’t matter and the people don’t care. I was told that I don’t understand how business is done. Actually, I do understand and I’m tired of business as usual. I will not be silent. I will be a voice for truth. We must stand for what we believe if we truly want to Set Maine Free.

Nov 26 2013

Response to Ric Tyler’s Attack on Paul Davis

I wish that I could have responded while Paul was on the radio with Ric Tyler but I was trapped in the cab of my pickup on the way to a Dr’s appointment with no phone, no computer, left only to yell at the radio and pound the dash of my truck. Now home, I will attempt to engage in a far more constructive means of communication and debate. There are several things Mr. Tyler needs to be aware of:

First, I am one of the several individuals that Senator Thomas called immediately after his conversation with Paul Davis at the Blaine House barbecue to use our friendship and influence with Rep. Davis to ask him to run for the Senate seat. Doug explained to me that he was tired of the demands of the Senate District, which before redistricting was the largest east of the Mississippi, and felt also that it was important that Paul stay involved in politics. Doug Thomas also told me clearly that Doug had told Paul that he was willing to step aside if Paul wanted run for the new Senate seat, District 4.

I think the heated exchange between Mr. Tyler and Rep Davis on the East/West issue is in itself a flaming example to how this whole project was botched. Because Sen. Thomas and Peter Vique brought the public sector into the equation with the feasibility bill, Conservatives are now caught in the confusing and awkward debate on whether to defend infrastructure and progress or stand against government intrusion into private business because the two have become entwined and not separated. These heated debates are happening all over Piscataquis County right now, fracturing and weakening a very strong Republican bastion. This mismanagement falls directly at the feet of Senator Doug Thomas. Why was a feasibility study bill even needed when eventually the DOT would have done this very thing as a matter of course? Unless, Sen. Thomas thought this would be his own political crowning achievement; instead, it has become his political millstone.

Rep. Davis is right to be concerned that this project could end up on the backs of taxpayers. Given its clumsy fumble out of the gate, the taxpayers should be wary. The lack of transparency from the beginning has many strong republicans in the North Woods angry and distrustful of Sen. Thomas. Paul Davis is right and wise to be running for this seat. Simply put, the people of the 2nd district trust Paul Davis and they do not trust Doug Thomas.

Ric Tyler’s rebuke of Davis’ critique that Vique should have got his plan perfected in private before he went public shows a fundamental misunderstanding of good business. I am a small businessman. I can tell you that when I have a new business idea the first thing I am told by those I wish to present it to is that you better have all your plan in place, all your answers ready and prepared to handle the tough questions before you make your presentation. Peter Vique broke the cardinal rule of business. He wasn’t prepared for questions. As a result Doug Thomas, Piscataquis County and Northern Maine are paying the price for being involved either by choice or not.

Presenting your plan before its complete and ready reduces the chance of transparency insomuch that as the confusion ensues from lack of information one cannot even begin to present their ideas. All the time then is consumed by explaining and defending ill-informed attacks, putting out the constant fires of diversion, and all the truth is soon lost in the dust of contention. This is the East/West highway failure. Someone tried to expose the process before the product. Someones ego got ahead of common sense.

Finally, Ric Tyler’s foolish attack on Paul Davis that his questioning of the East/West debacle shows that Paul is anti-business is reckless at best and at worst a grotesque insult to the great conservative legacy that Paul Davis has firmly imprinted on the whole of the State of Maine. Mr. Tyler needs to apologize to Rep. Davis for his thoughtless attack. Spirited debate is one thing but groundless insults are another. It should be noted that I had to enter the Dr’s office before the conclusion of the interview and perhaps Mr. Tyler composed himself and retracted those errant statements. It should also be noted that I will be posting this email response on my website at The Maine Conservative Voice.

Nov 21 2013

The Red County Firewall

The people of Maine endured a political firestorm in this past legislative session from the Democrats. From the moment they took their majority, they embarked on a partisan mission to undo every legislative accomplishment of the Republican Party. This narrow minded approach to governing was best exemplified recently as Maine Democrats voted down party lines against a bill to aid victims of sex trafficking, but then passed a Justin Alfond bill to promote wine tasting.

This “blind leading the blind” mantra practiced by the Alfond/Eaves Democrats is simply a parrot of the “my way or the highway” dogma preached by the Reid/Pelosi Democrats at the national level, where reaching across the aisle simply means to reach and pull Republicans to their side. All must obey. All must march in lockstep to the stamp of Nancy Pelosi’s stiletto heel or feel its sharp point in the back of their neck. One can then understand why Maine’s own whimpering Mike Michaud, Pelosi’s Puppy, meekly obeyed and voted against his own people, preventing them from keeping their health insurance.

The Alfond “subvert the people at all costs” tactics left the Governor sharpening and resharpening the quill on his veto pen. Governor LePage set a record for vetoes sustained. He would not have been able to defend the people of Maine with such tenacity had it not been for the strength of conservatives in the legislature who worked hard to sustain those vetoes.

In a recent conversation with an influential political operative and good friend, Jason Savage, I asked him what percentage of those vetoes sustained had been sustained by two or less votes. He didn’t have exact numbers with him but acknowledged that the percentage was pretty high. I further pressed him by asking which County was the most consistent in their votes to stop the overreach of the Alfond Democrats. Jason smiled because he knew where my questions were leading. He replied with this simple answer, “This is why we call Piscataquis County, ‘The Red County Firewall’.”

Paul Davis (R-Sangerville) and Pete Johnson (R-Greenville) are the two representatives from Piscataquis County. Their two votes have made up what has become know in political circles as “The Red County Firewall”. Their votes have been about more than sustaining the Governor’s vetoes; they have been about defending the common sense of Maine people. It has been about demanding that our State government pay its bills just like Maine residents do. With the support of “The Red County Firewall”, Governor LePage was able to pay the hospitals the money due them, something the Alfond led Democrats fought desperately to block. If you see Paul Davis or Pete Johnson, thank them for having the courage to hold the line against the firestorm of big government and selfish politicians. Thank them for being “The Red County Firewall” for the people of Maine!

Nov 5 2013

The High Value of Integrity

It has been some years now since I decided to step into the murky and troubled waters of politics. I remember the first time I walked into a political headquarters and offered to help in any way I could. To that point, I had viewed politics as a necessary evil and only got close enough to vote. But as I watched the steady downward spiral of this Country and this State I loved, I wanted to help. Perhaps, I thought, we could start to turn things around for our children.

The first politician I met when I walked through that door was Paul Davis. From that day I entered into one of the most honest, straightforward and frank relationships that I have ever been in. Despite my entering the political fray as an outspoken and, at times, edgy activist columnist, Paul was always encouraging to my involvement, though I’m sure my tendency to push the envelope could make one uneasy. Paul has always been direct in his opinion of my opinions. There is no confusion to where he stands on issues and this is why The Maine Conservative Voice is publishing this letter of endorsement to support Paul Davis in the Senate primary race for the new District Four.

Paul Davis believes in fiscal responsibility and small government. He not only believes it, he lives it. He is one of the most frugal men I have ever met.

Paul Davis is a social conservative but it is more than a title to him. He has never betrayed those of faith whose vote he courts by claiming to believe one way and living another way. Paul gives his word and stands by it.

Paul Davis will never sell his vote for campaign favors. He does his best to ally himself with men and women of like conscience, who will work with him to represent his constituents. In the very tough and, at times, ugly business of politics, it’s nice to see someone who is willing to take a stand on principle.

Paul Davis believes that the government should stay out of the private lives of the people, their homes and their businesses. He is a strong proponent of private landowner rights and prefers to keep government out of the private sector. Government has a way of confusing what honest citizens do so efficiently.

Paul Davis’ record speaks for itself. Those he has represented for so many years know him. They know he will listen to them and speak for them in Augusta, like the time he put in a bill to change the regulatory mess that was keeping Chris Clukey from establishing his optometrist office in Dover-Foxcroft or the bill to protect the Sebec and Milo dams, which guard Maine’s only natural salmon fishery in Sebec Lake. They know they can put their trust in him because he has proven over and over again that he values and protects their trust.

It’s time to restore integrity to this Senate District again. It’s time to restore the common sense and honesty to this area. It’s what we value most in Maine. Please join me in supporting Paul Davis to be our next Senator from the new District Four.

Andy Torbett

The Maine Conservative Voice