By cranky yankee, unverified — Mon, 01/31/2011 - 08:50
Peggy, the issue wasn't that Governor LePage was busy or otherwise engaged. The issue is that he said he wasn't going to attend the NAACP event because they are a special interest group, but rather the fact that he did attend the NAACP event to attended the Maine Right To Life rally. The last time I checked, Maine Right To Life qualifies as a special interest group as well. It's one thing to have to make choices with a busy schedule, it's quite another to lie about the reasoning behind those choices. LePage made the decision he did because he felt he could get the most political mileage out of attending the Maine Right To Life event than the NAACP event. Then to add insult to injury, he decided to respond to a question with a stupid retort.
By cranky yankee, unverified — Thu, 01/27/2011 - 09:18
John Berry, I guess the concept of checking your facts before spewing the Republican talking points is lost on you. While I'm no fan of Maine's concept of public education, Maine ranked 25th-not last-on the SAT and ACT score averages. Maine, also, ranks 15th on educational spending, a fact that even surprised me considering how little actually makes it to the classroom. That said, the Republi-CONS have sold the working people of this country a pig-in-a-poke when it comes to their alleged concern for the working people and the cost of the Federal government. The Republicans had NO PROBLEM sinking us up to our backsides in two wars which were unfunded-and during the Bush administration were never part of the budget process so their impact on the federal deficit didn't become clear until after he left office. When Bush left office in 2009-the budget deficit was $1.4 Trillion. This year's deficit is $1.5 Trillion. Of that, the Bush era unfunded tax cuts account for 48% of the deficit. Republicans like to point the finger at the so-called "failed" bailouts and stimulus-the stimulus and bailouts which were signed into law by George W Bush on February 13 and October 3, 2008 respectively. And now Newt Gingrich wants to show us the way to fiscal responsibility by permitting states to declare bankruptcy. That's laughable, because it was the Republicans, once again, who passed legislation denying individuals bankruptcy protections from the credit card creditors. And Newt wants to lead the morality parade to save the American family-Newt who has been married three times; cheating on his first wife while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery. Newt then cheated on his second wife with a House staffer 23 years his junior DURING the Monica Lewisky scandal. Yeah, this guy is a real moral paragon.
By cranky yankee, unverified — Wed, 01/26/2011 - 18:54
crankbait said: "I could drive to 50 houses with family's using the system and they are all able to work, but wont get off thier lazy a##$%."
Then YOU are as guilty of cheating the system as they are because you HAVEN'T REPORTED THEM. You too are too lazy, or too scared. "It's not my job." YES IT BLOODY WELL IS. If you know of someone cheating the system and you don't report them, you are aiding and abetting the cheaters and are just as guilty as they are.
By cranky yankee, unverified — Tue, 01/25/2011 - 17:45
Add to that some people, like teachers here in Maine, are not a part of the social security system-nothing is withheld and nothing paid in-and of course you get nothing back whether at age 62, 65, or 67 in the case of my spouse. Never mind that in the 90s the teacher retirement fund was raided to balance the budget under that fiscal conservative (ha-ha) Republican John McKernan. Never mind that the teacher retirement fund is fully self-funded until vested (after 10 years service) at which point the state begins (hopefully) making contributions and not losing on their retirement fund investments like they have the past several years. Never mind that retirement pay is 35% of the average of the last three years' base-which right now for my spouse is $50,000, 35% of which is $17500 or $1458.33 per month. Never mind that retired teachers pay approximately 65% of their insurance premiums-right now that's $1484 (what the retiree PAYS) PER MONTH which is $26 more than the retirement pay. So remind me again about that so-called golden parachute.
By cranky yankee, unverified — Mon, 01/24/2011 - 06:19
For those on the sidelines whining about the Affordable Health Care Act, let me remind you that it is essentially the VERY SAME bill that the Republicans brought to Congress in 1993. Why was it, then, the greatest thing since sliced bread and now it's the scourge of America? Yup, because the Democrats actually passed it. Further, the Republicans, led by Newt Gingrich, had the opportunity to make a significant, positive impact on the country beginning in 1995 and what did they do? NOTHING except embroil the country in a ridiculous waste of time trying to impeach Bill Clinton while at the same time the Republican leadership kept falling by the wayside for their own pecadilloess. What makes ANYONE think that they are going to do anything different this time? Also a reminder, the preamble of the Constitution includes the phrase "Provide for the General Welfare..." which pretty much sums up the constitutional requirement of the Affordable Health Care Act.
By cranky yankee, unverified — Wed, 01/19/2011 - 09:03
It's absolutely amazing how much right-wing venom has be spewed at the Affordable Health Care Act, especially since it's almost EXACTLY THE SAME BILL brought to the table by the REPUBLICANS in 1993! Why was it the greatest thing since sliced bread then and now it's a scourage on humanity? Oh, I get it, because it was passed by the Democrats. Come on, Republicans, why don't you start doing FOR the country and the people instead of doing TO the people?
By cranky yankee, unverified — Tue, 01/18/2011 - 08:55
FYI-the Maine Right to Life group IS A SPECIAL INTEREST. Chad said: "than accept that everyone has a right to free speech no matter the office they hold." I accept the fact that you are ignorant of grammar and spelling. I accept the fact that while we have free speech, hate speech IS NOT protected. I also accept the fact that while we may all have an opinion and the freedom to express those opinions that doesn't make it a good idead to go ahead and do it. Further, I accept the fact that if I, or anyone else, expresses an opinion, there will be people who disagree with me and that they have the right to express their opinions. You, on the other hand, are blatantly telling us that if we don't agree with Paul LePage we shouldn't be expressing our opinions.
By cranky yankee, unverified — Tue, 01/18/2011 - 08:37
Congratulations on the retirement-OF BOTH. My father was a professional firefighter as were two of my uncles and my brother, all made it to retirement, all retired as officers, so I well know what it takes to make it as a firefighter and the stresses and toll it can have on their lives and their family's lives. Again, congratulations!
By cranky yankee, unverified — Mon, 01/17/2011 - 09:41
"It is a social, educational and economical experiment with few reliable case studies." Nevermind that school systems all around the country, especially in the south and west, consolidated as early as 1900. Even though the greater districts may have existed, many individual towns had their own schools. As populations shifted many schools were consolidated to make the best use of resources, especially the most expensive parts of the physical plant to construct and maintain-cafeterias, gymnasiums, science labs, music and art rooms. It makes more sense to have these rooms in use, for their intended purposes, throughout the day rather than one or two periods. To use them for other than their intended purposes is a waste of money and can and does lead to misuse and vandalism. In addition, by having a larger student body, you are more often than not, able to expand course and curricular offerings, especially upper level science, math, social science, technology, and arts classes. There's also the expanded talent pool for co-curricular programs. All in all, it is a big win when school systems consolidate, provided logistical problems are kept to a minimum (such as extended transportation).
By cranky yankee, unverified — Fri, 01/14/2011 - 08:43
Claude, maybe you need to spend a day at the local ACLU and/or Maine Civil Liberties Union office and see what it is that they REALLY deal with instead of mindlessly repeating the Conservative Mantra and sound bites.
Peggy, the issue wasn't that
Peggy, the issue wasn't that Governor LePage was busy or otherwise engaged. The issue is that he said he wasn't going to attend the NAACP event because they are a special interest group, but rather the fact that he did attend the NAACP event to attended the Maine Right To Life rally. The last time I checked, Maine Right To Life qualifies as a special interest group as well. It's one thing to have to make choices with a busy schedule, it's quite another to lie about the reasoning behind those choices. LePage made the decision he did because he felt he could get the most political mileage out of attending the Maine Right To Life event than the NAACP event. Then to add insult to injury, he decided to respond to a question with a stupid retort.
John Berry, I guess the
John Berry, I guess the concept of checking your facts before spewing the Republican talking points is lost on you. While I'm no fan of Maine's concept of public education, Maine ranked 25th-not last-on the SAT and ACT score averages. Maine, also, ranks 15th on educational spending, a fact that even surprised me considering how little actually makes it to the classroom. That said, the Republi-CONS have sold the working people of this country a pig-in-a-poke when it comes to their alleged concern for the working people and the cost of the Federal government. The Republicans had NO PROBLEM sinking us up to our backsides in two wars which were unfunded-and during the Bush administration were never part of the budget process so their impact on the federal deficit didn't become clear until after he left office. When Bush left office in 2009-the budget deficit was $1.4 Trillion. This year's deficit is $1.5 Trillion. Of that, the Bush era unfunded tax cuts account for 48% of the deficit. Republicans like to point the finger at the so-called "failed" bailouts and stimulus-the stimulus and bailouts which were signed into law by George W Bush on February 13 and October 3, 2008 respectively. And now Newt Gingrich wants to show us the way to fiscal responsibility by permitting states to declare bankruptcy. That's laughable, because it was the Republicans, once again, who passed legislation denying individuals bankruptcy protections from the credit card creditors. And Newt wants to lead the morality parade to save the American family-Newt who has been married three times; cheating on his first wife while she was in the hospital recovering from cancer surgery. Newt then cheated on his second wife with a House staffer 23 years his junior DURING the Monica Lewisky scandal. Yeah, this guy is a real moral paragon.
crankbait said: "I could
crankbait said: "I could drive to 50 houses with family's using the system and they are all able to work, but wont get off thier lazy a##$%."
Then YOU are as guilty of cheating the system as they are because you HAVEN'T REPORTED THEM. You too are too lazy, or too scared. "It's not my job." YES IT BLOODY WELL IS. If you know of someone cheating the system and you don't report them, you are aiding and abetting the cheaters and are just as guilty as they are.
Add to that some people, like
Add to that some people, like teachers here in Maine, are not a part of the social security system-nothing is withheld and nothing paid in-and of course you get nothing back whether at age 62, 65, or 67 in the case of my spouse. Never mind that in the 90s the teacher retirement fund was raided to balance the budget under that fiscal conservative (ha-ha) Republican John McKernan. Never mind that the teacher retirement fund is fully self-funded until vested (after 10 years service) at which point the state begins (hopefully) making contributions and not losing on their retirement fund investments like they have the past several years. Never mind that retirement pay is 35% of the average of the last three years' base-which right now for my spouse is $50,000, 35% of which is $17500 or $1458.33 per month. Never mind that retired teachers pay approximately 65% of their insurance premiums-right now that's $1484 (what the retiree PAYS) PER MONTH which is $26 more than the retirement pay. So remind me again about that so-called golden parachute.
For those on the sidelines
For those on the sidelines whining about the Affordable Health Care Act, let me remind you that it is essentially the VERY SAME bill that the Republicans brought to Congress in 1993. Why was it, then, the greatest thing since sliced bread and now it's the scourge of America? Yup, because the Democrats actually passed it. Further, the Republicans, led by Newt Gingrich, had the opportunity to make a significant, positive impact on the country beginning in 1995 and what did they do? NOTHING except embroil the country in a ridiculous waste of time trying to impeach Bill Clinton while at the same time the Republican leadership kept falling by the wayside for their own pecadilloess. What makes ANYONE think that they are going to do anything different this time? Also a reminder, the preamble of the Constitution includes the phrase "Provide for the General Welfare..." which pretty much sums up the constitutional requirement of the Affordable Health Care Act.
It's absolutely amazing how
It's absolutely amazing how much right-wing venom has be spewed at the Affordable Health Care Act, especially since it's almost EXACTLY THE SAME BILL brought to the table by the REPUBLICANS in 1993! Why was it the greatest thing since sliced bread then and now it's a scourage on humanity? Oh, I get it, because it was passed by the Democrats. Come on, Republicans, why don't you start doing FOR the country and the people instead of doing TO the people?
FYI-the Maine Right to Life
FYI-the Maine Right to Life group IS A SPECIAL INTEREST. Chad said: "than accept that everyone has a right to free speech no matter the office they hold." I accept the fact that you are ignorant of grammar and spelling. I accept the fact that while we have free speech, hate speech IS NOT protected. I also accept the fact that while we may all have an opinion and the freedom to express those opinions that doesn't make it a good idead to go ahead and do it. Further, I accept the fact that if I, or anyone else, expresses an opinion, there will be people who disagree with me and that they have the right to express their opinions. You, on the other hand, are blatantly telling us that if we don't agree with Paul LePage we shouldn't be expressing our opinions.
By the way Clem-you can kiss mine...!
Congratulations on the
Congratulations on the retirement-OF BOTH. My father was a professional firefighter as were two of my uncles and my brother, all made it to retirement, all retired as officers, so I well know what it takes to make it as a firefighter and the stresses and toll it can have on their lives and their family's lives. Again, congratulations!
"It is a social, educational
"It is a social, educational and economical experiment with few reliable case studies." Nevermind that school systems all around the country, especially in the south and west, consolidated as early as 1900. Even though the greater districts may have existed, many individual towns had their own schools. As populations shifted many schools were consolidated to make the best use of resources, especially the most expensive parts of the physical plant to construct and maintain-cafeterias, gymnasiums, science labs, music and art rooms. It makes more sense to have these rooms in use, for their intended purposes, throughout the day rather than one or two periods. To use them for other than their intended purposes is a waste of money and can and does lead to misuse and vandalism. In addition, by having a larger student body, you are more often than not, able to expand course and curricular offerings, especially upper level science, math, social science, technology, and arts classes. There's also the expanded talent pool for co-curricular programs. All in all, it is a big win when school systems consolidate, provided logistical problems are kept to a minimum (such as extended transportation).
Claude, maybe you need to
Claude, maybe you need to spend a day at the local ACLU and/or Maine Civil Liberties Union office and see what it is that they REALLY deal with instead of mindlessly repeating the Conservative Mantra and sound bites.