en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/1965240 Comments by Xerxies http://www.pressherald.com/news/Maine-Rockland-facing-flag-burning-charges.html#IDComment107830171 I'm with you John! However, as much as I despise this man and his actions, we did fight for his rights too. Personally I think we need another amendment to the US Constitution, one that expressly forbids the desecration of our flag as well as any other national symbol. Thu, 4 Nov 2010 18:44:40 +0000 http://www.pressherald.com/news/Maine-Rockland-facing-flag-burning-charges.html#IDComment107830171 http://www.pressherald.com/news/Maine-Marine-Houlton-death-Zimmerman.html#IDComment107828511 Semper Fi Lieutenant! You will not be forgotten! Thu, 4 Nov 2010 18:38:50 +0000 http://www.pressherald.com/news/Maine-Marine-Houlton-death-Zimmerman.html#IDComment107828511 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/white-tail-deer-numbers-down-in-northern-maine_2010-10-30.html#IDComment107047717 I think the only reasonable short-term solution is an effective Coyote eradication program. Temporarily bring back the bounty on Coyotes. Combine this with a moratorium on timber harvesting within a half mile of any body of water, stream, etc… This will allow the black growth needed for deeryards can regenerate. Regardless, even if my suggestions were to be instituted immediately, the yards and deer herd will not recover until the forest does. I’d say a minimum of 20 years from now. Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:43:11 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/white-tail-deer-numbers-down-in-northern-maine_2010-10-30.html#IDComment107047717 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/white-tail-deer-numbers-down-in-northern-maine_2010-10-30.html#IDComment107047690 I’ve personally seen deeryards with hundreds of coyote kills in them! Increased snowfall creates feed and mobility issues, but I think that even with these last two issues, if the deeryards had not been destroyed they would have much less impact. Unfortunately the deeryards are gone, we cannot bring them back tomorrow. Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:42:59 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/white-tail-deer-numbers-down-in-northern-maine_2010-10-30.html#IDComment107047690 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/white-tail-deer-numbers-down-in-northern-maine_2010-10-30.html#IDComment107047671 I hunt, fish and recreate in Northern Maine. It’s been really sad to see what logging has done to the forests. I think that the major problem is the reduced wintering habitat. The deeryards have old growth timber, which the logging companies lust after. Recently they’ve begun behave as if they don’t care about the law, and have been harvesting these areas. As a result, more deer are concentrated in the yards that remain, making it easier for predators to find them. Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:42:47 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/white-tail-deer-numbers-down-in-northern-maine_2010-10-30.html#IDComment107047671 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Man-pleads-guilty-in-assault-on-girlfriend.html#IDComment106299560 With the oformentioned example in mind, can you legitimately say that the punishment fit the crime? I could go on and on and on and on with the examples of our lenient sentencing guidlines set by liberal legislating judges throughout "time immemorial". It's time to fix what has been broken. Its just time! Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:25:42 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Man-pleads-guilty-in-assault-on-girlfriend.html#IDComment106299560 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Man-pleads-guilty-in-assault-on-girlfriend.html#IDComment106299533 Thats all well and good Anon-ymous, but your didn't answer any of my questions. You did try to placate my tender heart with well intentioned words, but the nut of the issue remains, the system is broken, plain and simple. I'm willing to go out on a limb and cut the DA's some slack, afterall they can only do what the judges will allow. But just because judges in Maine have been making sentencing decisions "since time immemorial" does not make it right. The punishment should FIT THE CRIME! For example, recently a number of young men (adults) received 5 year prison sentences for over 60 counts of burglary, vandalism, theft, and at least one arson. The crimes took place over several months. Conservatively they each had to answer to at least 60 felony charges each. Most of the felonies would have been class B felonies, carrying a potential sentence of 10 years apiece... Wed, 27 Oct 2010 03:25:28 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Man-pleads-guilty-in-assault-on-girlfriend.html#IDComment106299533 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Man-pleads-guilty-in-assault-on-girlfriend.html#IDComment106267101 This guys nearly beats the person he is supposed to love and cherish to death and because the DA felt a "weakness" in the case he's willing to cut this scumbag a break and cap his possible sentence at a maximum of 5 years. The criminal justice system in Maine is broken in my opinion, and the part of the system thats broken is not the Police, nor the Jails/Prisons. Its the District Attornies and Courts that are broken. This man derserves to spend 10 years in prison. Why was this guy even offered a plea bargain by the District Attorney? Why can't the jury make the call as to his guilt or innocence? Furthermore, why are the judges making decisions about sentences? Why can't the jurys deliberate on the evidence and decide this as well, given a set of options and guidlines? Tue, 26 Oct 2010 23:06:34 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Man-pleads-guilty-in-assault-on-girlfriend.html#IDComment106267101 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106262336 Yeah Dale, heres to a long, long life! I have not retired yet, but I'll be listed here when I do... Funny thing is that I don't work for the state, but I do participate in the State Retirement System. I would imagine that a great number of the people listed were not state employees, hence no state funding... Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:32:27 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106262336 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106261614 Now that you mention it, you've got a good point Dee. Except for the fact that I also pay Social Security Tax. I'm not sure there is anyone in the State Retirement System that is not doing so... Tue, 26 Oct 2010 22:28:10 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106261614 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106238393 So taken in context the aforementioned statement is misleading at best. Money will be collected from the aforementioned sources over the next 20 -50 years, and it will be doled out over the next 20-50 years… 14.5 billion dollars is not going to be paid out all at once. No money is coming from the taxpayers other than the aforementioned 50% share paid by the employer spread out over many years. State retirement is much like a 401K. The only difference is, with a 401K the individual manages the investments. With state retirement, the state manages the investments, but bottom line is the money is NOT supposed to be coming from the taxpayers. Now, if the state mismanaged the fund, spent the retirement money on things other than the retirement system, then we have a problem. A problem somebody should probably go to jail for. Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:51:01 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106238393 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106238362 Wow! The out of context assumptions that can be drawn from the last paragraph of this article are all WAY off base! “The center says people now enrolled in the Maine Public Employees Retirement System will receive a projected $15.4 billion in benefits, while paying in less than $900 million”. The Maine State Retirement System is totally funded by the individual employees, the employers and MOST SIGNIFICANTLY the investments made with that money… Insofar as the contributions paid to the fund, 50% comes from the employee, and 50% from the employer, depending on contractual language. Tue, 26 Oct 2010 19:50:47 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/Maine-Portland-heritage-center-Think-tank-lists-retiree-pension-data.html#IDComment106238362 http://www.pressherald.com/news/underfishing-maine-regulations-fish-healthy-stocks-haddock.html#IDComment106013349 I think commercial fishing is a way of life, alot of people have done nothing else, and its hard to go somwhere else and find employment when you have no skills to make your employment marketable to potential employers. In addition, many involved in commercial fishing may not be as resilient due to age, as a younger person may be. I just don't think it would be fair to tell a large number of people that the government is potentially taking your job away with no recompense. In addition, if alternate career training were made available, many people may voluntarily take that path, possibly reducing the number of fishermen forced out against their will. Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:33:20 +0000 http://www.pressherald.com/news/underfishing-maine-regulations-fish-healthy-stocks-haddock.html#IDComment106013349 http://www.pressherald.com/news/underfishing-maine-regulations-fish-healthy-stocks-haddock.html#IDComment106000266 I think that the heading of this story “'Underfishing' leaves revenue in the ocean, say skippers” tells it all. It seems to me that “Underfishing” is like a savings account, the longer you leave your money in the bank, the bigger return you’ll see on your investment. I think that some people get greedy, they want to exploit our natural resources to their absolute limit, then complain when species cease to exist. I think we should all remember that we are the stewards of the Earth; we are managing it for our children, and our children’s children. Our ancestors did a miserably poor job of this, and left us with very little, as compared to their day. In my opinion, there are far too many commercial fishermen. I think that any conservation strategy needs to include the drastic reduction of the fleet, as well as new innovative species targeting measures and regulations. To be fair, I also think that the fishermen who leave the industry under any fleet reduction measure should be allowed some subsidy to obtain alternative training or education for a new career path. Mon, 25 Oct 2010 16:07:51 +0000 http://www.pressherald.com/news/underfishing-maine-regulations-fish-healthy-stocks-haddock.html#IDComment106000266 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/shot-up-so-hell-never-reocover_2010-10-22.html#IDComment105696898 I'm not hiding anywhere sir, we’re in the open, every single day. You see, my kind don't operate from the shadows, we are in front, in front of people like you, in the blazing light of public speculation and scrutiny. This is what I signed up to do, but it still hurts to hear some of the very people we’re protecting and serving, make snap judgments about how I think, about my moral character and about my integrity. Regardless of my feelings, I do recognize and respect alternate points of view. I do not however, have to agree with said points of view. Also, somuchbs; you are absolutely correct; others on this site have served on foreign soil and in harms way, including me. Sun, 24 Oct 2010 02:46:41 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/shot-up-so-hell-never-reocover_2010-10-22.html#IDComment105696898 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/shot-up-so-hell-never-reocover_2010-10-22.html#IDComment105655799 A civilian review board... So people, like some that have posted here can review whether or not I was justified in using deadly force against a person with a firearm, instead of a Taser? The mere thought frightens me. The ONLY way I'd go for it would be if the participants were required to attend the basic Police academy, at least the academic portions of it. Some people, whom have led sheltered lives, have absolutely no basis from which to make informed and intelligent decisions on this topic, they just don’t. The Police hang their VERY LIVES on the line each and every day they go to work, EVERY DAY! For what? To have to pacifist idiot tell me that I should have Tased a man with a gun instead of shooting him. Do you want Police Officers willing to risk their lives for you, or would you prefer to have them hide when the badguy with the gun starts threatening, then shooting people? Because that’s what will happen if you start an uneducated layman civilian review board for Police shootings… I mean, I already risk my life for you people, I’ll be damned if I’ll risk my freedom as well! Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:15:58 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/shot-up-so-hell-never-reocover_2010-10-22.html#IDComment105655799 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/opinion/letters/Somerset-Democrats-look-at-things-in-a-positive-light-.html#IDComment105654521 Somerset Democrats are positive? They look to the future? Are you kidding me? I can recall many so called positive democrats driving around with bumper stickers characterizing President Bush as a Nazi, a murderer and all around general scumbag! Please, take your blinders off! The so called positive, forward thinking democrats are no better than the republicans… Sat, 23 Oct 2010 20:02:41 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/opinion/letters/Somerset-Democrats-look-at-things-in-a-positive-light-.html#IDComment105654521 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/town-official-pleads-guilty_2010-10-21.html#IDComment105518021 I beg the differ sir! If the victim actually believes that a civil court action is her ticket to riches, she’d be badly mistaken. She’d only be entitled to reasonable compensation for damages incurred as the result of Mr. Luce’s actions. Insofar as I can tell, she’s not been damaged and I for one would find it difficult to award a victim such as this a single penny. Don’t lose sight of the fact that this was nothing more than a simple assault. Lets not make mountains out of mole hills prematurely. Sat, 23 Oct 2010 01:24:29 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/town-official-pleads-guilty_2010-10-21.html#IDComment105518021 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/town-official-pleads-guilty_2010-10-21.html#IDComment105468801 Hence the explanation suggestion... I don't think this necessarily needs to be the crucible on which Mr. Luce's career is destroyed. However if he fails to explain himself, or if his explanation is indicative of mental or moral defect, his political career needs to end, or at least his constituents should be provided the opportunity to determine his future value/risk in his current office and make an appropriate decision regarding his future. Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:39:46 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/town-official-pleads-guilty_2010-10-21.html#IDComment105468801 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/town-official-pleads-guilty_2010-10-21.html#IDComment105468760 On the other hand, if he committed the crime, then morally he should have done just as he did, pled guilty. I think, as he is a public figure, (politician) a public apology and frank explanation of his conduct would be nice. Even if all he has to say is; I did wrong, I'm sorry, here's why and it won't happen again... Lets keep in mind that although what he allegedly did, was grab a woman by the buttocks, we don't know if he did so because he's a perv, or because he thought it would be funny, or whatever... Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:39:30 +0000 http://www.onlinesentinel.com/news/town-official-pleads-guilty_2010-10-21.html#IDComment105468760