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
Rich Lowry: The worst European ally
President Biden said that there’d be divisions within NATO over a “minor incursion” by Russia into Ukraine. This is true enough, and the chief cause would be a Germany that is staking a strong claim to be our worst European ally.
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Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Leonard Pitts Jr.: For some, white is the default position
Granted, this is not the bigotry of torches and hoods. No, this rhetorical decoupling of “African” and “American,” of Black people from normal human functions, represents “only” the bigotry of the implicit assumption, the things some people believe without consciously knowing they do — much less interrogating why they do. And yet, they do.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Mark Chasse: Rep. Libby an advocate for Maine families
I was impressed with the bills Rep. Laurel Libby presented last year, especially the one (LD 1139) asking to allow one family advocate to be able to visit, care for, and advocate for a family’s loved ones in the extended care facilities during the COVID outbreak. We need her back in 2022 supporting Maine families. […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
In rebuttal: Dave Griffiths: Calling names without evidence fits Trump pattern
In a letter Jan. 15 (“President Biden ‘is not for Americans’“), Tom Hart called President Biden a liar and a thief. What lies? What did he steal? That fits the Trump pattern of calling people names (“low IQ!”) without evidence. Fox News and dark corners of the internet are to blame for such extremist propaganda […]
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Gregory D’Augustine: Bill would close contaminated sludge loopholes
The front page story Jan. 23 regarding the “forever chemicals” in the PFAS/PFOA family was interesting, but deficient in one important way. It failed to mention the fact that a public hearing was held Jan. 24 at the Environment and Natural Resources Committee of the Maine Legislature to discuss LD 1911. LD 1911 is a […]
Posted inOp-Eds, Opinion
Cal Thomas: Mitch McConnell deconstructs President Biden
Too many of today’s “journalists” sound like shills for the Democratic Party, crafting their questions and writing their stories as if they are channeling that party’s talking points and worldview.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell did their job for them in his deconstruction of recent remarks by the president. Polls show Biden voters are expressing buyer’s remorse. They can be expected to reverse course in November.
Posted inLetters, Opinion
Marti Howard: Rep. Libby ‘truly wants the best for Maine’
Rep. Laurel Libby is an upbeat, determined woman. Whenever I see her, she is smiling and has kind things to say. She’s a wife, mom, daughter, sister, nurse, business owner and, for the past year, our state representative. I also call her friend.I have never seen anyone who works as hard as Laurel does. She […]