That he’s achieved this status without espousing anything remotely like social conservatism illustrates how important a set of hothouse progressive pieties have become to the nation’s political debate.
Alex Lear
Staff Writer
Alex Lear is a lifelong Mainer who has spent 25 years in journalism -- the first 20 as a reporter for newspapers in Damariscotta and Falmouth, then as Opinions section editor for the Sun Journal and now a digital producer with the Maine Trust for Local News. His long-running “Learics” column won first place in the Maine Press Association’s 2023 Better Newspaper Contest. He and his wife Lauren are kept young by their 9-year-old daughter Alaina. Send feedback and suggestions to Alex.
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Bob Neal: The Countryman: What can we learn from the past?
Events this year in Maine and Florida may ensure that young people coming up will repeat the past rather than learn from it. The good and the bad of it.
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Dr. Edward Walworth: School shootings in Maine?
On Nov. 15, a series of calls were made to several schools across the state, from Sanford to Brewer. The dispatchers soon realized that the claims of active shooters were false, but not before there were lockdowns, armed police searching school hallways, and fearful texts from students to parents.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Dick Pickett: Politics have no place in law enforcement
Lt. Justin Brown of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Department ran an excellent campaign for sheriff. Lt. Brown ran as an independent, void of any political party support or money. He lost by only a few votes. An amazing result. His entire campaign was based on the need for changes he would make within the department. […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: Rudolph Ziehm: A viewpoint different from 2 letter writers
I write in rebuttal to Clem Bechard (“Energy malarkey reigns while prices needlessly soar,” Dec. 8). President Biden increased the amount of leases on federal lands in his first year to 3,557, from 2,658 in President Trump’s last year, (Taylor McKinnon, Center for Biological Diversity, Jan. 21). Voisine also changed his mind and is urging […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Mark Hyland: Brakey played politics instead of helping constituents
Well, it didn’t take long. Sen. Eric Brakey voted against heating assistance for Mainers in his first vote in the current Senate. He ran for election on smaller government and lower taxes. The heating assistance bill would have returned $450 of our tax dollars to nearly 800,000 eligible Maine taxpayers. He voted against. His reasoning […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Ken Gordon: Heating aid bill deserved Sen. Brakey’s support
Well, that didn’t take long. At the first opportunity to flex his obstructionist muscles, political gadfly and newly minted Sen. Eric Brakey kicked sand into the gears of a very popular proposal which would have helped thousands of Maine citizens deal with the highest heating oil prices in our history. The proposal had overwhelming support, […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Leonard Pitts Jr.: Good night, everybody!
I’ve written about 1.6 million words as a columnist. This 600 or so will be the last.