gdp's Comments

Augusta Insider : Who Will Win The Republican Primary?

Thu, 20 May 2010 20:56:17 +0000

A link to those statistics would be appreciated.

Augusta Insider : Passamaquoddy Leaders Endorse Steve Abbott

Sat, 15 May 2010 12:24:16 +0000

OK right after I made that comment I found this. "A brief history of Indian Legislative Representatives" Written in 1983, updated in 1999. Little out of date. Did we discuss that the Tribal reps can introduce legislation and speak on the House floor?

Augusta Insider : Passamaquoddy Leaders Endorse Steve Abbott

Sat, 15 May 2010 11:30:56 +0000

Maine feels should read Maine's government felt when they made that law. Of course they wouldn't have two votes. They would only have the votes of their tribal reps. That sounds fair to me. If the tribal reps are irrelevant, then why have them? Keep the reps and shift the vote or drop the reps. As for history I couldn't find much. Article II section 1 of the Maine Constitution says: Every Indian, residing on tribal reservations and otherwise qualified, shall be an elector in all county, state and national elections. Also found when they were given the right to vote nationally and then in state elections. Maine is the only state that gives its tribes reps, but gives them no right to vote. I believe Montana for example, has native lands set up as their own voting districts. Of course they have quite a bigger native population than Maine does.

Augusta Insider : Passamaquoddy Leaders Endorse Steve Abbott

Sat, 15 May 2010 00:27:17 +0000

Maine feels the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot need reps in the State House, even if they can't vote. Those nations need their own separate representation, according to the state. If there is a special circumstance that allows them to have their own representation, then their own representatives should to be able to truly legislate on their behalf. Otherwise they don't need their own reps. Anyone know what district the Passamaquoddy tribe is in. Penobscot is in the 7th Senate and 121st House.

Augusta Insider : An Open Letter to Maine GOP Chairman Charlie Webster and Executive Director Christie-Lee McNally

Fri, 14 May 2010 23:41:33 +0000

When did they admit they were a front for Dems? Just curious.

I always took them to be with the GOP on fiscal issues, but not all social issues. Their platform seems to support that as has information from reputable sources I've read/seen. There may be some plants of course, but that could happen in any organization. Why go through the ridicule some of these members face if one didn't believe in the GOP? Some of the must be serious GOP supporters

Augusta Insider : An Open Letter to Maine GOP Chairman Charlie Webster and Executive Director Christie-Lee McNally

Fri, 14 May 2010 21:16:36 +0000

Did a brief scan of some GOProud articles and their website. They seem similar to LCR in philosophy, but minus the big backing of people like Tim Gill. NOM doesn't seem to care for GOProud much though.

Augusta Insider : Maine League of Young Voters Back Rowe

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:31:00 +0000

I suppose that depends on which Democrats you ask.

Augusta Insider : Maine League of Young Voters Back Rowe

Fri, 14 May 2010 11:30:11 +0000

You know I realized what you meant right before I went to bed. I was going to correct myself, but I thought that it would be nice to let other people do some typing.

Augusta Insider : Maine League of Young Voters Back Rowe

Fri, 14 May 2010 01:38:45 +0000

Well now that's just as partisan. Would you be OK with the League if they were the League of Young Liberal Voters? ;) They are both real grassroots organizations, just with different points of view.

Augusta Insider : Who Will Win The Republican Primary?

Wed, 12 May 2010 00:33:50 +0000

All valid points. I'm not sure the John McCain thing is completely comparable to Maine,but certainly the TP element wouldn't be happy. Mills can attract independent votes, and likely even some Dem votes. Of course his odds depend on who he is running against. McGowan also does have great appeal in the 2nd district, more so than his competition. Eliot Cutler has not been in the conversation as much lately, but that's a mistake. He has a part to play in this too. Before my mind, which is still clouded by finals, rambles on too much, what are your top three picks? At this point I'll say Mills, Abbott, LePage. That's in no particular order.

Augusta Insider : Who Will Win The Republican Primary?

Tue, 11 May 2010 23:36:41 +0000

I still stand by this piece I wrote back in August.

Augusta Insider : GOP Candidates on Creationism in Maine's Schools

Sat, 8 May 2010 21:05:18 +0000

I don't recall even beginning to learn about anything religious until high school. I really can't say if that is a state wide experience in our schools. Since I'd erase all the responses if I redid the poll, let's assume that if it were allowed it would be acceptable starting whenever evolution is taught currently. I'm not sure what grade level that would be off the top of my head. Middle school?

Augusta Insider : GOP Education Questionaire #1

Tue, 27 Apr 2010 13:15:31 +0000

Brian Hubbell emailed a response to me. He has expressed issues with the commenting system, as have a few others. In the interest of furthering the discussion I will post his comment for him. Now Brian's comment: "Marcus DW: In its 2009 annual summary, Ed Week ranked Maine 10th for K-12 achievement. Utah was ranked 26th. http://www.edweek.org/ew/qc/2009/17src.h28.html Every one of the other states in the top ten had higher per-capita incomes, along with the advantages that provides. Five of these states (MA, MD, VT, PA, VA) spend more per pupil than Maine. Only one of those states with an equivalently rural population, and therefore similar disadvantages of scale, spends less per pupil. http://forum.mdischools.net/State/StateReportCard...

Augusta Insider : GOP Education Questionaire #1

Mon, 26 Apr 2010 23:25:53 +0000

The average score for 4th grade in Utah is 219. Maine scored 224. Utah scored an average of 266 in 8th grade. Maine scored 268. Fact-checked. And here is the link to the NAEP scores site.

Augusta Insider : Bond Package Passes

Mon, 12 Apr 2010 21:32:30 +0000

Thank you Steven. I did not see the vote on the November bond.

Augusta Insider : McGowan & Mitchell Submit Clean Election Donations

Fri, 2 Apr 2010 11:46:57 +0000

It must be nice for the hundreds of legislative candidates who receive public funding. It must have been nice for Chandler Woodcock to be able to compete with Baldacci thanks to the Clean Election Fund

Augusta Insider : Preble Street Looses Funding

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 11:09:15 +0000

I don't disagree that Preble is to blame for its actions. I don't think it is unreasonable to think there plenty of Catholics who leave a bit in the collection plate and agree with the Church on every matter. Sometimes they may choose not to. This issue could be one. I was not arguing for people to bankrupt the Church and realize that the number of people who withhold their donations will be a drop in the bucket, that wasn't my point. The point was that if people do disagree with their decision (or just want to help the homeless) , there are productive alternatives to yelling about how awful the Church is. For example, I just read that last night Donald Sussman is personally donating a "large chunk" of money to Preble Street. It would be nice if the Portland Diocese encouraged parishioners to donate to Preble and/or other homeless advocacy groups, which I'm sure they do already. I don't know if, because of what happened, the Church will not deal with Preble anymore. Anyone a little more tapped into the Church than myself know?

Augusta Insider : Michaud Says Yes to Health Care Reform

Fri, 26 Mar 2010 18:30:03 +0000

My reply had nothing to do with my opinion on Michaud and absolutely nothing to do with my thoughts on the UN or Fidel Castro. Just pointing out your incorrect statement in a light way. If you choose to not take it lightly, that is certainly your business. That is not to say the topic isn't serious, but come on, we all need to turn the heat down a bit sometimes. It's bad for the blood pressure.

Augusta Insider : LePage's Civil Union Flip-Flop: Updated 3/30/10

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:37:30 +0000

Agreed. I have a contract for my cell service and to rent from Netflix. He said in the Pine Tree Politics interview, his words not Matt Gagnon's, that he supported "civil unions". I do wonder how much the average GOP primary voter will care about this issue though. Probably not much.

Augusta Insider : Michaud Says Yes to Health Care Reform

Thu, 25 Mar 2010 19:34:22 +0000

It might prove difficult to make Michaud a one term congressman since he's voted into office four times already. Do you have some time machine you'd like to share?