Told You I'd Be Back

It just took a few years.

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Happy Holidays

As you've probably noticed, I haven't written anything for the last month either here or at Believe in Maine. As I mentioned previously, I figured this would be a good chance to take a break and concentrate on schoolwork.

I want you to know, however, that this hiatus isn't permanent. I'll be back with a new online experiment sometime very soon.

Thank you to the 100+ people who the sitelog shows still access this site every day, hoping in vain for new content. Thanks especially to everyone who has emailed me and encouraged me to keep writing. It means a lot. I hope you all have a merry Christmas and a great new year.

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Cianchette Out of the Governor's Race

He sent an email to supporters today.

I wanted you to be among the first to know that I’m announcing today that I will no longer seek the GOP gubernatorial nomination in 2006. This has been a very difficult but thoroughly considered decision, and I want to share my reasons for this development with you directly.

After several months on the campaign trail, I have determined that the commitment required for a year-long campaign and then to govern the state is greater than I can give at this time in my life. I believe strongly in the importance and value of public service, and I also believe that that must come in the right season of one’s life. After honestly reflecting on these past several months I have concluded that this is not the right time for me.

While I may have the chance to seek public office again someday, I know that I only have one opportunity to be there with my children during some of the most important years of their young lives. I don’t want to miss that.

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Pat LaMarche

According to the latest Maine Green Independent Party minutes sent out by email, Pat LaMarche will be announcing her gubernatorial candidacy the Friday after Thanksgiving.

Lamarche recieved 7% of the vote for governor in 1998 (allowing the Greens to regain ballot status) and was the vice-presidential candidate for the national Green Party in 2004.

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New Maine Blog

The Maine Women's Lobby has a weblog. It's pink.

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Changes

School is starting and I won't have much time for blogging. I will still be posting at Believe in Maine, but things will be slowing down here.

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Collins Begins Investigation

I've heard complaints before (some of them from her own staffers) that Collins hasn't used her spot at Government Affairs the way she should be. It looks like that may change.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Two key U.S. senators said on Friday they will open a bipartisan investigation into what they described as an "immense failure" of the government response to the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Sen. Susan Collins, a Maine Republican who heads the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee, and Sen. Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut, the panel's top Democrat, said they plan to begin an oversight investigation next week when the full Senate returns from a summer recess. [...]

The Bush administration's handling of the disaster that wreaked havoc in the Gulf Coast and spilled a devastating flood into New Orleans has come under sharp criticism.

If you aren't incredibly angry about the man-made disaster that has unfolded over the past few days, then you haven't been paying attention. I hope some good comes from this investigation.

In related news, despite Katrina, Republicans are planning to hold a vote on repealing the estate tax on Tuesday. Right now, we need emergency assistance to those left homeless and starving. We need to fix the terrible problems with our national infrastructure that this clusterfuck has laid bare. We don't need another tax cut for the ultra-wealthy.

I'm headed back to Halifax tomorrow. This may be the last post for a bit.

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Mendros Struggles to Get Signatures

From the PPH:

The organizer is an anti-tax activist who doesn't even have the support of his own political party. No special-interest groups have lent a hand, and funds are in short supply.

Yet former state Rep. Stavros Mendros, a Republican from Lewiston, says at least 40,000 people have signed his petition to repeal part of the state budget.

What's resonating with many supporters - though it's only part of the proposal - is the chance to jettison Maine's new cigarette tax of $1 per pack. Signatures are being gathered at hundreds of convenience stores that sell tobacco products. [...]

The shoestring campaign still faces an uphill battle.

Organizers must submit 50,519 valid signatures by Sept. 16, just as the tax increase is due to take effect. But Mendros expects that many of the signatures will not be valid, so he hopes to gather at least 70,000.

Anyone want to take bets?

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Believe in Maine

This is something I've been hinting about for a while and it's finally ready for primetime.

Believe in Maine

This new weblog will focus on the anti-discrimination referendum and features some stellar contributors from all over the state.

It's based on the CivicSpace software architecture created by the Howard Dean campaign, and has a community rating system for comments that should keep out the crazy internet people.

This campaign, like most referendums, can be won through education and mobilization. I hope this site will help on both fronts.

For more info, visit www.believeinmaine.com.

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Maine is Awesome

The response to Katrina here has been great to see. Baldacci is sending direct help to the affected areas. Snowe and Collins are pressuring Bush to open up the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to make sure the hurricane doesn't lead to a spike in oil prices.

The most heartwarming thing I've heard, however, is that Stephen King's WKIT (100.3 FM) in Bangor is playing song requests in exchange for contributions to the Red Cross. Every dollar pledged is being matched by Stephen and Tabitha. Long live local radio.

You can contribute to the Red Cross online here.

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Misleading

Nowhere in this Kennebec Journal article, headlined "Closure could make Baldacci vulnerable" does it actually says that the base closure could hurt Baldacci. The closest it comes is this bit:

So Baldacci didn't seem to mind being asked Friday if the state's 2-and-1 standing in the latest closure round will help his quest for a second four-year term.

"The sun is shining a little brighter today," he said with a smile.

In fact, the exact same article in the Morning Sentinel is headlined "Bounce for Baldacci?"

The article discusses who should get credit for the good BRAC results and includes speculation on whether the good news will help Baldacci come election time, but nowhere does it discuss a downside for the Governor. This headline actually says exactly the opposite of what's written in the body of the piece.

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Bigoted Bedfellows

It almost makes me rethink my opposition to casinos.

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Happy Birthday Social Security!

August 14th was Social Security's 70th Birthday. To celebrate, I helped deliver some cupcakes to the Bangor offices of Senators Snowe and Collins.

Collins has refused to reject Social Security privatization, but chocolate can melt even the most Republican of hearts. Here's one of her staffers holding up a "say no to privatization" birthday card.

The Bangor Social Security office is in the same buidling as Collin's Senate office, so we stopped in and said thanks to the staff for 70 years of guaranteed benefits.

Next was Senator Snowe's office, just up the street. Snowe has been pretty good on the Social Security issue, unfortunately much of her staff took a strong anti-cupcake stance. We left them some anyway.

Finally we headed to the old folks' home where we partied late into the early afternoon and got a chance to talk with the residents. These ladies had some heartfelt stories about how important Social Security has been for them and their families.

Social Security is an anti-poverty program, it's an insurance program, and it's a safety net. It's a vital part of every community in this country. Here's wishing it another great 70 years.

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Bases

PNS will stay open. BNAS will close.

Update: Defense Finance Accounting Service Center gains jobs.

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