Celebrate pride, but be wary of backsliding on LGBT discrimination
We have come a long way in the last half a century, but discrimination persists. We can’t let progress backslide.
The perilous pseudo powers of Susan Collins and Donald Trump
Elected officials hold power on behalf of the people. Exerted within the bounds of institutional checks and balances, this push and pull keeps government in check and protects rights. Yet recently Sen. Susan Collins devalued her impact and President Donald Trump inflated his prerogatives. Both portraits of power were false and harmful to basic precepts […]
Why Maine should have presidential primaries
As Maine legislators consider replacing caucuses with presidential primaries, we should remember what happened the last time caucuses were held. My own memories are vivid. When I arrived at Bangor High School for the 2016 Democratic caucuses, there were long lines and many people milling about. On the positive side, there was a sense of […]
Bruce Poliquin misunderstands why voters are angry
Bruce Poliquin lost his seat in Congress in November, but he hasn’t gone quiet. On Friday, the former congressman spoke to the annual meeting of the New England Political Science Association. With forks and plates clattering as conference-goers ate lunch, Poliquin gave a speech and took questions. After the luncheon, people were talking about the […]
Trump is a fake economic populist
All of what’s happened was not only utterly predictable, but was also not what the American people wanted.
How Barr’s Mueller memo sparks distrust
Decades after the Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald was the only person responsible for assassinating President John F. Kennedy, a majority of Americans rejected their finding, believing there was a conspiracy. Attorney General Bill Barr followed a path that’s likely to make responses to the Mueller report at least as distrusting. Why? No […]
Vaccinations and the politics of fear and distrust
How did vaccines, a highly effective medical tool, become controversial?
Why politicians should stop lying about abortion
In the 45 years since the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that there is a national right for women to choose abortion and, despite stable public support for abortion in all or most cases, the issue has not faded away.
Maine leads on voting access. We can do even better.
Maine has an opportunity to improve its voting laws, making this fundamental part of representative government even better. Many bills are before the Maine Legislature that would increase access to the ballot. Mainers already have one key element that helps people engage in the democratic process. When people move to or around Maine, they can […]
Susan Collins and the party of Trump
In not saying whether she would endorse President Donald Trump in 2020, Sen. Susan Collins shared what she decided about her election plans. Asked on PBS Newshour about a Trump endorsement, Collins said, “I’m really focused on my own campaign for 2020, and I really haven’t focused on the presidential campaign. So I’m not prepared […]
