This week the Senate will very likely end its consideration of Donald Trump’s impeachment by the House of Representatives. Trump will always be the third president in American history to have been impeached. The Republican-controlled Senate, led by Mitch McConnell, will also face the judgment of history. Trump will be the only person to have […]
In one universe, that of televised ads run by her campaign, Susan Collins is a stalwart independent. Yet the impeachment trial of Donald Trump started with senatorial obstruction, when all Republicans, including Collins, voted against Democratic proposals to change the ground rules of the Senate trial, which were written by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, […]
As most Mainers celebrate Christmas in their homes and churches, I’ll be engaged in another annual pastime, Jewish Christmas. The American ritual, dating back at least to the 1930s, consists of eating Chinese food and watching a movie. If Hanukkah and Christmas coincide, as is the case this year, my family will light the menorah […]
It’s all too easy to give up on politics, to grow cynical, but succeeding politically can mean saving lives, literally. Gov. Janet Mills knows this. When Mills was sworn into office nearly a year ago, she invoked a dear friend, Patty, who, she said, lacked insurance and “died needlessly from breast cancer, a disease that […]
Despite being well prepared for the task, it’s not clear Collins recognizes the full extent of the Senate’s role.
There are five major problems with the ignorance and incompetence defense, starting with the president’s constitutional responsibilities.
Talking to my mother lately, she can be surprised by her couch. I’ll tell her that her apartment in assisted living is fixed up like her house, with her couch. She’ll look down and say with a startle in her voice, “Yes, that is my couch. How did it get here?” My response is nearly […]
From the 2016 Republican primary fight to today, Republican leaders have avoided confronting a man whose view of government, character and temperament are decidedly not conservative. That man is Donald Trump. While running for the nomination, Trump went after the GOP establishment, insulting in especially personal and nasty terms Jeb Bush, Marco Rubio and Ted […]
Every scandal is terrible in its own way. The Trump-Ukraine shakedown bears the greatest resemblance to the late 1980s set of events known as the Iran-Contra affair, but it’s far worse. Both episodes involved partially privatizing our nation’s foreign policy. Iran-Contra included a sleazy arms dealer and wealthy individuals who worked with the Reagan administration […]
Despite her past big wins, if Sen. Susan Collins runs for reelection, she won’t really be running on her own. Instead Mainers will judge Collins in part by her links to three powerful men. One she voted to lead her party in the Senate. Another she voted to put on the Supreme Court. And the […]
