“[Homosexuality] is a pathetic little second-rate substitute for reality, a pitiable flight from life. As such it deserves fairness, compassion, understanding and, when possible, treatment. But it deserves no encouragement, no glamorization, no rationalization, no fake status as minority martyrdom, no sophistry about simple differences in taste-and, above all, no pretense that it is anything […]

Homeowners fearing foreclosure can find help without paying exorbitant, upfront fees. Any outfit offering mortgage salvation in exchange for cash is actually peddling anything but, as free or inexpensive services for aiding desperate people do exist. These unsavory firms, with reassuring names like “Fresh Start Mortgage Assistance Solutions,” are a bottom-feeding product of the doubts […]

Little did we know that Les Otten’s announcement of an exploratory committee for Maine governor would also feature some impromptu environmental policy. Clearly, he is a fan of recycling. It’s one explanation for why Otten, a Republican, would imitate the campaign logo and Web site of President Barack Obama for his gubernatorial bid. It’s bizarro […]

The house at 711 Weld St. in Dixfield is, according to an online map, 4.5 miles from the town center in Dixfield and 2.5 miles from the center of Carthage. Or so the map says. It depends on how much technology is trusted to provide precise location information. If that map is accurate, emergency responders […]

Today is the first of Maine’s 20 mandatory shutdown days to be scheduled over the next two years, days when nonessential government workers are off, government offices are shuttered and the public’s business is neutralized. The savings is expected to reach $14 million, at least that’s the current thinking. It’s tough to say two years […]

For awhile, we thought President Barack Obama would become the “sunshine” president. On his first day in office, Obama issued a “Day One” memorandum calling for greater access to government records. The president launched two sweeping initiatives designed to open government records to Americans. The first gave his new chief technology officer 120 days to […]

• Cheers to PO2 Lisa Martel, serving in the U.S. Navy and stationed in Kuwait, who asked the Sun Journal to deliver this message to her family and employer:  Happy Fourth of July to the following people: my husband, Rob Martel of Lisbon, daughter, Samantha Pease, stepchildren, Brittany, Courtney and Derrick Martel, and all other […]

Now that we are accustomed to government bailouts of every stripe — from banks to carmakers — the question is actually being asked with a straight face: Is California too big to fail? This is, as we have seen, another way of asking: Should California get a bailout? Our quick, firm answer: No. Clearly, the […]

Maine Sen. Olympia Snowe is shaping up to be a pivotal player again in another national debate, this one over health care reform. Some Democrats and President Barack Obama favor creating a public option for health care insurance that would compete with the private market. Snowe recently made headlines after announcing she’s open to the […]

The overcast skies and rain just couldn’t squeeze the good news out of Tuesday’s Sun Journal: • Bravo to Dirigo basketball coach Gavin Kane who has fulfilled his goal of coaching Division I basketball. Kane, who put together an incredible 263-17 record coaching the Dirigo girls and was 74-10 coaching the boys, will become assistant […]