My sympathies to the victims of the disaster in Haiti.

Brought from sadness to joy
A loss to a gain
A mute to a life
A birth to a death

Yet it never happened that way
A gain became pain
A life became strife
A death that left me living

An empty soul
Left by mistakes
Created of the heart
Now just torn apart

Recovering to full strength
From tearful reserves
Now to preserve
A road with no length

I think I'm done dating. I'm announcing I'm single and never approaching anyone ever again. I'll let them come to me and depending on gender I'll say: I'm straight, I'm gay, I'm racist.

Personal Troubles

So today I found out the love of my life was having an affair with someone else for months. The only reason I found out was because the decision as to which person loved my fiance more and who made my fiance happy was made last night without my knowledge. He kept up the act of a stable, almost perfect relationship up until the end.

I'm not one for dramatics. I sent the other man a message requesting that he be certain to keep my love happy. I told my love that I forgive and can never love anyone else; because I can't love anyone more. I wished my love to have what makes them happy. I explained why I love them (their kindness, their brilliance, trust, ect...). I added a word of advice to be more honest with the other man than they were with me.

I finished by saying I had the capacity to forgive, not being able to love anyone else as much as I do my love, and I would always accept with open arms a return to our relationship if it was seen as best for them.

I could be sad and cry, but I wont. Love is neither good or bad, it just is. When dishonesty enters it becomes painful for everyone. I will be lonely but I hear that a cure for human will soon be made.

The same is true for capitalism. You seriously didn't think I was going to be all sappy and emotional to the public for no reason did you?

When you have capitalism allowed to operate without physically hindering others (not allowing monopolies and harmful practices) it will be excellent. Yet when greed and dishonesty enters and people stop being kind with their excess earnings you end up with this economic collapse. Government, however, can not achieve this process in any form. It is beneath us all, no matter how big it will become a single person can always do more on their own than an entire government.

Reasonably I will probably take a few days off to adjust my life plan, and luckily for me I won't be sad. I was so convinced that this day would never come that I literally removed the sadness parts of my brain, so now I shall return to my life a robot with a monologue.

Thanks for reading, and have a good day.

Iraq-Iran Border Dispute.....Continued

A standoff at a shut down oil well in Iraq has guaranteed that Iran and Iraq are not going to be best friends by any measure anytime soon. Oh, it is also the same oil well from December. Yeah, the situation still isn't resolved. Forces are dug on both sides of the well.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/08/AR2010010803654.html

Something doesn't add up.....

Could it be that Ben Bernake is a block to making the bailout spending Bush and Obama gave him ineffective? Being a follower of Chicago economics (nothing really to do with the city itself, or Obama) he would want to limit government intervention as much as possible in order to prevent a second great depression, which due to the governments authorization of the funds would be a real possibility if the trillions in the FED are wasted or simply invented without a real source.

http://www.federalreserve.gov/BOARDDOCS/SPEECHES/2002/20021108/default.htm

Rob Tegeder

Well known and liked by those who know him, he is a possible candidate for 2010. Passionate and honest in the very little I know of him, his positions are good. Whether he is able to run the state, or a campaign effectively will have to be shown by him should he choose to run.

The Races- Another Candidate....

I just checked and a few other places got here before me, but I have confirmed that Steve Abbott will be running for governor of Maine.

Conspiracy, Plots, and Common Sense

If you feel anyone will be given a perk because of a way they vote, or that something you are told isn't as you are told (such as 9/11, or the Kennedy Assassination), or that you aren't as powerful as a part of the "Elites" all I have to say is wake up.

You are letting yourself achieve less because you think something is impossible. Either your ability to impact the situation or the situation itself is impossible. Well guess what, you can take action. Action is different than violence. While an act of violence is possible, committing that act really just means you are turning into an animal.

Vote for someone else. Stop saying your vote doesn't matter because it does. The whole point is that the more people vote the better the choice that will be made. Even then you aren't limited to just voting. Talk to the people you know, and if they have facts that you don't absorb those facts and compare them to your own. Investigate. Find the truth.

Even if you have to look at the census.gov website and crunch the numbers yourself find the facts. If you have to poll the people at your workplace go ahead and find out if the data in the news is accurate.

Then take the facts and tell as many people about it in as many ways as possible. Be honest, don't make up facts so that you can "silence" opposition. When facts aren't the same find the facts of those facts: what the difference in getting the facts were between yourself and someone else.

If you think this sounds complicated it isn't. It is what I do every day for five minutes to write this blog. Seriously you can do this if you can count apples on a table, take an apple away, and count to a number less than you started with. Eventually when you compare to more and more people your facts will become more and more accurate.

Once you have the facts look at the situation. If someone else has facts which aren't in reach of your own don't discount the other facts. Look at your own, and find a third set of facts. Either repeat your fact finding (such as with a different source of information.)

Now your probably thinking this is a lot, especially to read. Well too bad. If you're going to be worth something intellectually you better start doing this. If you think I'm part of the "plot, payroll, party, police" why are you still reading (you know I speak the truth and so you will continue reading).

So you have the facts. You've proceeded to share your facts with other people with facts. You've got a lot of information. Tell people without facts what your facts are. Discuss, talk to people all along the way. Don't raise your voice. If you have the facts you don't need to fight with people, just talk to them. If they fight just remember Ghandi:

"First they ignore you.
Then they laugh at you.
Then they fight you.
Then you win."

Quote over, I really like that quote. So after much talking you see the power of decision in the hands of someone who doesn't accept or share the facts. Replace them. Run for office, start your own business, work with those who you've worked with to find the facts and become the ones with the power through our economic or political system. It isn't impossible.

Seriously who would have thought an 18 year old first year college student in Maine would have a successful (and FREE) blog which has allowed him to interview many important people and attend political events which spark my interest.

If your complaint (as so many of the one's I started out with) is about the people in power you have the power of yourself to get near that power and influence it.

Why? Because you are in America. Not because you are human, see, North Koreans are human yet they don't have that power. You do and only in America. So take the power you have, stop complaining, and start working. Go, right now. Something you don't understand but keep harping about? Look it up. Figure it out. Become an expert on your own. Take it from me that a Ph.D. or law degree doesn't make anyone better at connecting the dots or invincible.

Susan Collins Is Confused

So in her recent update to followers Susan Collins announced how she has made $814,000 available to food and shelter in Maine, which can be explained as a necessity for survival. Then she announced how since October she has spent 25 million for the University of Maine wind power research. She finally finishes it off saying the deficit will bankrupt the country (she says it in the political jargon showing enough concern for her to work on a committee in Congress to address the issue, which is the same thing because otherwise everyone in the world would never pay back a loan).

So are the benefits of increased spending on those projects going to outweigh bankrupting the nation?

A little side note on food stamps: require people only purchase from the Dollar menu at any location with a dollar menu (a meal for a dollar, hello), and only meal a day per person.

If you're telling me a Big Mac doesn't give enough fuel for a day you haven't looked at the calories in the thing.

Does that sound heartless? Well because it is. Government isn't supposed to be nice, or evil. It is supposed to simply be. We as a society, not as a government, are meant to show kindness to each other and care for those in need.

As people we can be giving or greedy. Yet for a government to give it must first take. We can give without ever taking, but by receiving. The whole point is to give our labor to have someone else give us our pay, which we then can generously give to those who can't give themselves. If you don't understand this you might just be a soulless government robot. If you do understand this, join the GOP and the Green Independent Party in fighting all new taxes proposed by the current Maine state legislature.

Lastly to those who don't know and keep asking repeatedly: GOP is the short form of the nickname of the Republican Party.

The Race We All Forgot?

A special election to replace Ted Kennedy is coming up on January 19th. Now I am not certain why there is the silence on this critical vote. So either Republicans are keeping national hush hush in order to get their resources into the race without every other party in the nation getting involved, or Dems are keeping hush hush because the candidate is relying on the (D) on the ballot box to get elected.

If the both are true the Dems in Massachusetts are dead in the water and will lose their majority. The other possibility is the national news media doesn't want to make a race with a powerful GOP candidate and a weak Democratic candidate rely on the headline making mud slinging that would occur if it did become national. It would focus the entire nation on one race and lies could spin the whole thing upside down.

The other possibility is everyone presumes a Democrat will win and that it is not really news worthy since we "know" what will happen.

Examining the Democratic candidate there are some obvious skeletons that could come to haunt her before this thing is a done deal.

Poliquin Announced Fundraising Numbers/ Campaign Reflections

Earlier today Bruce Poliquin's campaign set the mark for the competition in fundraising. As the newsletter states:

Since entering the race, Poliquin raised $637,128 through 1,033 individual contributions. In the final reporting period, he totaled $360,189 from 575 contributions with 68% of the amount raised coming from in-state sources.

Additionally demonstrating the strength of the campaign's fundraising strategy, Poliquin reports raising $47,421 through his website during this reporting period, and finished an overall fundraising blitz by raising more than $57,000 in December.

Excerpt over. As no other candidate has updated their email followers (or blocked me from receiving the emails) this sets the mark for fundraising. Now he announced 68% came from in Maine. In a perfect world no campaign would have funds, never mind in or out of state. That figure is not exactly good, but I'm not sure if it is comparably better or worse than other candidates. However reporting it shows continued honesty in the campaign.

The December total is either a result of a good campaign or the effect of the Christmas season. Any new tactic they used at the time I'd recommend they use again to see if the effects can be replicated.

For example the $24,000 in 24 days campaign often occurred in the McCain campaign but it was often unannounced to the public. The fanfare with having goals and reaching them wasn't public.

The Bangor office for the McCain campaign was the most consistent with reaching its goals for outreach in phone calls and door knocking. Yet it wasn't advertised. Being in politics I only know this because I patiently learned as much from the process as quickly as possible and was as involved as much as possible, even though I fully knew McCain had no chance in Maine (even though I know he was more qualified, which is why I supported McCain).

Yet we had to go out and work without creating much buzz so that we could reduce the number of physical confrontations (there was an odd spike in anti-Republican violence during the campaign: for example the flag in front of my house went missing a day after we put a McCain sign up in our front window, people's tires were slashed on cars with McCain stickers, someone stole my ticket to the Sarah Palin event at the airport, ect). However we should have announced it, and show all, including violent opposition, that we were successful.

It is ironic that I look back now and see the McCain campaign (which at first was my entry into the political system) and critique so harshly. At the time I was neither in a position to question decisions because I had my own efforts in going door to door and making phone calls to work with. However looking back the ground operation was excellent while the PR department was terrible.

Never hold back for fear of being attacked. To quote Ghandi with paraphrase off the top of my head:

"First they ignore you,
Then they laugh at you,
Then they fight you,
Then you win."




Note to Blogger: Fundraising is a word. So is Obama. Update your spell checker.

Today's American Tragedy

This day is a very dark day in the nation. I no longer feel safe, nor do I have confidence in the value of the stock market, budget reports, spending bills, anything. If it is a number used by anyone in government to support or explain something I now believe it to be a lie.

Timothy Geithner should be in a cell next to Madoff. When I said they were adding zeros to the accounts I thought I was exaggerating the situation with the bailouts. Apparently it is much worse than anyone thought: they erased the zeros in the expense balance.

Guess what else? This happened under George Bush. Yet, Obama promoted him. So not only has he cheated on his taxes, he cheated on the economy too. I want any politician involved in the Federal Reserve to immediately resign. I want the Fed to be audited.

Now whether or not my request to investigate the corruption is heard depends on the action those of you reading this take.

Just go past the advertisement (if you get one) :

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-01-07/geithner-s-new-york-fed-told-aig-to-limit-swaps-disclosure.html

For the items on the debt clock that are in a decreasing state I did the calculations to see how long, at their current pace, it would take to reach zero.

Total personal Debt 64 years
Mortgage Debt 82 years
Consumer Debt 141 years
Credit Card Debt 33 years
Federal Reserve Monetary Base 4 years
Personal Savings 1.4 years
Small Business Assets 26 years
Corporate Assets 48 years


Personal savings and the Federal Reserve Monetary Base are slightly disturbing and need immediate action. Then getting small business in order. The decreasing debt is a good thing so keep that going.

The bailouts should take little under two years to pay off if they continue at the current pace. http://www.usdebtclock.org/#

Prediction

I will attempt to prevent the next massive recession by simply requesting that all "Credit Default Swaps" be made null and void and any future such agreements illegal. Let them get insurance like everyone else.

If the Total US Debt is reduced by a million dollars per minute it will take 104 years to pay off. Based on my completely amateur observations I determined the following by watching http://www.usdebtclock.org/#

U.S. National Debt +
U.S. Federal Tax Revenue +
U.S. Income Tax +
Payroll Tax +
State Revenue +
State Debt +
Local Revenue +
Local Debt +
U.S. Federal Spending +
U.S. Federal Budget Deficit +
Medicare/Medicaid +
Social Security +
Federal Pensions +
Defense/Wars +
Interest on Debt +
Earmarks +
U.S. Gross Domestic Product +++
U.S. Total Interest +
U.S. Total Debt -
Total Personal Debt -
Mortgage Debt -
Consumer Debt -
Credit Card Debt -
Federal Reserve Monetary Base -
Currency and Credit Derivatives +++++
U.S. Government Bailouts -
Personal Savings -
U.S. Debt Held By Foreign Countries +
U.S. Trade Deficit +
U.S. Trade Deficit with China +
Imported Oil +
Small Business Assets -
Corporation Assets -
Household Assets+++
Total National Assets ++
Social Security Liability +
Prescription Drug Liability +
Medicare Liability +
U.S. Unfunded Liabilities ++

Advice to the CIA

The recent attack on our CIA in Afghanistan involving a trusted Jordanian triple agent has shown that the old CIA tactics of the Cold War won't work with the current war. Why? You can always bribe a Communist. You can't bribe a radical religious extremist.

So my advice is stop trying to bribe them. Find them, interrogate them, kill them.

http://blogs.reuters.com/pakistan/2010/01/05/attack-on-the-cia-in-afghanistan-raises-jitters-in-pakistan/

With Friends Like These....

A Slovak test of their dogs in which an agent left two explosives in unsuspecting passenger bags at an Airport in Slovakia resulted in the passenger flying the bomb to Ireland without knowing it.

When they found out they contacted the plane. They didn't contact Ireland for four days after the incident.

With friends like these who needs enemies?

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=aQ.jT51geFx0

Dems Dropping Like Flies....

Chris Dodd isn't running for re-election. At least three other Dems have announced they are not running for election or re-election.

The deal here might be what those with nothing to lose might do with power.

Budget Assistance?

How about this for a helpful solution to the budget shortfall:
Cap the pay of anyone receiving Maine government funds to be no more than $1 million when including benefits. If it is, take the paycheck and run back to Augusta's coffers. This would include executives and top positions in the University of Maine system.

Just saying. Now step away from the banana.

Mystery?

Alright, so I'm talking on AIM and for months people have been on mobile when not "available". Anyone who uses AIM knows what I'm talking about. So tonight I'm watching as everyone who was mobile starts simply going offline. All of them. Then when two are online, one goes to bed and logs off. He has been mobile since I he got on my list. Then was shown as logged off. Anyone know what is going on here?

Chris Galgay is out of touch with common sense, economics, and reality. He is the president of the Maine Education Association. Examining the budget cuts to education I came across the following statement:

"Should the recession continue or get worse, the cuts to schools and social services may become so unacceptable, state leaders will have to reconsider their 'no tax' position," says Galgay. "We believe all options have to be on the table, including increased revenues."

Source: http://www.maine.nea.org/home/595.htm

Excerpt over. To clarify:
If the revenue keeps dropping legislatures in Augusta will have to raise taxes.
If the recession gets worse raise taxes.
Raise taxes.

Clarification over. If you still don't get it then take a lovely trip to the highway and drive in the wrong direction.

I say lets save some money and fire Chris. With stupidity like that heading things it is no wonder our education system is so backwards. Surely leaving the position empty couldn't be worse than having him around.

The Races - Websites

The field isn't thinner, just replaced Dawn Hill with Patrick McGowan. However, if you've been holding off on fulfilling your civic duty to become and informed voter hold back no more and check the websites out and pick the one which represents you best.

-Democratic Party-
Donna Dion
http://donnajdionforgovernor2010.com/
Patrick McGowan
http://mcgowanformaine.com/
Elizabeth (Libby) Mitchell
http://www.libbymitchellforgovernor.com/
John Richardson
http://www.johnrichardsonformaine.com/
Steven Rowe
http://www.roweforgovernor.com/
Rosa Scarcelli
http://www.rosaformaine.com/home
Peter Truman
I do not support felons involvement in politics.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=282192&ac=PHnws
-Republican Party-
Matt Jacobson
http://www.jacobsonforgovernor.com/
Paul LePage
http://www.lepage2010.com/
Peter Mills
http://www.millsformaine.com/
Les Otten
http://www.lesotten.com/
Bruce Poliquin
http://www.bruceforme.com/
J. Martin Vachon
"I am the only candidate who will reverse the trend of social decay that threatens our civilization."
-Green Party-
Patrick Quinlan
Not found.
Lynne Williams
http://www.lynnewilliams2010.org/
-Independents-
Samme Bailey
"I'm not qualified".
Eliot Cutler
http://www.cutler2010.com/
Augustus Edgerton
Not Found.
Alex Hammer
(If you keep trying to get me to post your link I swear I'll forbid your comments forever).
Beverly Cooper-Pete
Not found.
John Whitcomb
http://whitcombformaine.com/

The Races - Patrick McGowan Website Ideas

With the entry of Patrick McGowan to the race for governor I suppose I have a small moral obligation to give him the same treatment I've given the other candidates. So, here is his website ideas review:

Small Business:
Written as if by a third person the short segment here says he owned a small business and will have the Maine government be a motivator of business. Funny, I thought businesses should be motivated by a little thing called profit.

Renewable Energy:
In this segment he claims the success of group achievements making the permit process easier for clean energy project in Maine. He will enact the Great Maine Forest Initiative. I infer by the sentence following that the Great Maine Forest Initiative has something to do with biomass. However his website does not detail what it is.

Tax Relief:
Well, not exactly. His precise words are "hold the line" on taxes. So, really you'll still be taxed to death. Same old promise you hear all the time.

Education:
He promises to increase re-training programs and access to college and universities. Also promised is creating a way for our kids to go to college. Note the word "create". No actual proposals here.

Health Care:
He pretty much says the national health care bill is going to pass and will adapt to that. Also says he will overhaul Dirigo. Instead of getting rid of a failed program- while a federal bill to cover everyone anyway (it is sold as such), says he'll keep both a federal and Dirigo program. Kind of redundant isn't it?

Environment:
He claims he helped, and he did, to make the percent of Maine land under conservation protection go from 6 percent to 18 percent. He says he will continue this process.

Quick thought: If environmentalists keep conserving land at what point will they stop? 50%? 100%?

And that is really pretty much it. No specifics except for the 6 to 18 percent increase in conservation lands.

Here is his colorful green/red/blue/gray/white website:
http://mcgowanformaine.com/

So some of the new rules for flights includes not standing an hour before landing and not having blankets across one's lap. People were also told to keep their hands in plain sight.

The attempted bomber which prompted these rules was a known extremist who got through a foreign airport with a bomb in his pants.

So instead of a first response of having intelligence agencies get on the same page and increased bomb detecting equipment at airport boarding areas the new rules made it even tougher for grandma to bring shampoo to her destination.

Anyone else concerned by this?

Just saying. Now leave the pop tart in the toaster and walk away.

The Races - Enough Already

Patrick McGowan is now running for governor as a Democrat. However the situation of the Clean Election Funding has become dire:

Primary candidates are entitled to $400,000 dollars each after privately raising $40,000 in seed money. They're are also entitled to up to $200,000 in matching money to offset spending by privately-funded candidates. When a Republican Clean Election candidate is rolled into the mix, the costs of the [gubernatorial] primaries could easily exceed $2.5 million dollars.

Legislative candidates are also expected to subtract about $3 million from the $10 million fund, but that figure could go higher. What's left would go to publicly-funded [gubernatorial] candidates remaining in the race.

McGowan says the people of Maine voted for publicly-financed campaigns and the Legislature should provide the money that's needed. "And that's something that the people voted overwhelmingly for, and I think that the money will be there," he says. "I think that the commitment is there from the Legislature and the executive branch to fund a system that is in fact a model for most of the country."

"As far as not having enough money, that's a policy decision that's been made by the Legislature," says Former Economic and Community Development Commissioner John Richardson, who is also running as a Democrat for governor under the Clean Election Act. He says lawmakers need to pay up.

"I was in the Legislature and one of the leaders in the Legislature for a time, and I recall that we made sure that we held that trust fund harmless, and we made sure there was enough in there, so that all of the candidates that were under consideration could run," he says. "That's, I think, the responsibility of this Legislature, to make sure that these candidates, including myself, have enough money to run."

Excerpt over. Note to A.J.Higgens: learn how to spell gubernatorial.

So, the funds might not be enough for all the candidates. And the candidates using it say the legislature should pay up. Is it me or does anyone really expect the legislatures in Augusta to open their wallets and make a donation? We all know they will just raise taxes.

Then saying it is a model system for the rest of the country to follow is pure stupidity. Look at the results of the leaders we have elected. Also, look at the stupid people willing to run: they think their campaigns are more important than special needs funds during a budget crisis.

At this point I know we need to get rid of the stupid people in Augusta. Yes, keep the corrupt ones. Get rid of the stupid ones. At least the corrupt ones have a direction to take Maine, the stupid ones are just running us into the ground. Once we get rid of the stupid ones, lets get rid of the corrupt ones. As for governor, if Bruce Poliquin wins we'll have a smart, honest leader. Obviously a couple (read excerpt) of the Democratic candidates are either corrupt, stupid, or both.

Do I sound a little harsh here? Yes, I do. Good. They deserve my scorn. I'm 18 years old and look at the state I've been given. I'd rather grow up in a slum in the Bronx instead of Maine. I'd have a better chance of having an interesting life looking for opportunity. Here in Maine all we get are promises of opportunity and prosperity and we never get it. Well, I've had enough. There is only one candidate I trust, and even then that isn't enough. We need a complete overhaul of the entire political body in Augusta.

Replace them all. At this point anyone can call me an idealistic, young, out-of-touch-with-reality nutcase and I won't care. I do not want my money paying for candidates I do not approve of. I do not want candidates receiving money from the state budget when we have special needs kid's programs and elderly assistance being canceled. All of this while a 90 million dollar laptop program continues to exist without question. 90 million dollars for a program not yet proven to increase student intelligence and yet we are cutting the funding for those in need. Being a student who used the laptops in question: I learned nothing new. We didn't do programming, we just wrote essays on the laptop instead of by hand. Nothing new except the methods to distract ourselves in class.

Just saying. Now put down the rutabaga.

Note: the world should agree on how to spell "canceled" (cancelled).

As for those who don't believe the 90 million dollar cost:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25782209/

Update: I forgot to include the link to the first section:

http://www.mpbn.net/News/MaineNews/tabid/181/ctl/ViewItem/mid/3475/ItemId/10458/Default.aspx

What Year is It?

I declare it to be the year 12,010. Why? Because under the presumption that human civilization began roughly 10,000 BC (not using writing as a basis here, just a general time scale accepted for the formation of cities and complex societies worldwide in major river basins). It would also let us just skip the 2012 apocalyptic nonsense. Perhaps the real 2012, under my theory of time beginnings, was the great flood of both Biblical and archeological evidence? If that could be exactly dated then count back 2012 years and voila, the beginning of time and a new global human calendar can be made.

Just a thought. Put the tomato down.

The "Score" Ends

Well my short lived tracking of the deaths and captures of the conflict in Afghanistan has been so difficult to get reliable sources on that I give up.

We have been at war for more than 7 years and yet no reliable daily source of information from either the government, military, or the media exists tracking this. I didn't think it would be this difficult to get reliable information. Even Afghan sources are days behind in their reports (the cause of which might be censorship of some kind?).

Due to the hardship I am ending this "series" in episode 3.

Common Sense Economics: Math Done For You

Observe all the data and number crunching needed to prove that Capitalism and Democracy are what makes a good economy:

http://filipspagnoli.wordpress.com/stats-on-human-rights/statistics-on-gross-domestic-product-correlations/

Presidential Executive Order 12425

President Obama recently made this executive order:
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/executive-order-amending-executive-order-12425

So why should you care about section 2(c) and 2 (d)? The other parts of it really don't seem to make any difference overall. Yet those two exemptions being granted to Interpol is a significant deal. As it grants them the following:

2(c) Property and assets of international organizations, wherever located and by whomsoever held, shall be immune from search, unless such immunity be expressly waived, and from confiscation. The archives of international organizations shall be inviolable.

2(d) Insofar as concerns customs duties and internal-revenue taxes imposed upon or by reason of importation, and the procedures in connection therewith; the registration of foreign agents; and the treatment of official communications, the privileges, exemptions, and immunities to which international organizations shall be entitled shall be those accorded under similar circumstances to foreign governments.

Legal speak over. In short 2(c) makes Interpol immune to Freedom of Information requests, as well as search and seizure by the police. 2(d) recognizes Interpol as immune to American law giving it the same status as a foreign government of another nation.

Why does this matter? The potential, and with human beings we all know if it can it will happen, for Interpol to operate as its own police force with its agents able to break any law they want without U.S. prosecution. Just think of how this worked at Abu Ghraib prison: the U.S. soldiers faced reprimand (yes, lightly, but another topic for another day), yet the civilian contractors working as translators had diplomatic immunity and got no punishment at all.

Now the Executive order by Obama doesn't say 2(d). So why did I mention it? Because that was deleted by Bill Clinton via Presidential Executive Order 12917. Why does this matter? Well, Reagan created the first executive order which has been amended twice. When he did he allowed Interpol to operate in the United States. However he made it so that U.S. law was still supreme over the land. Especially since Interpol doesn't actually work for a government, they are just a police cooperation internationally. There is no actual legally binding nation they work for.

How did I come to this conclusion? Common sense.

Yet don't expect that from Obama or a "government can be the solution" person of any kind. See, if the Interpol agents now do something wrong they have no court to punish them.

The opportunity to do wrong is all that is needed for something to go wrong. Humanity has proven it can't be trusted with power.

Iran Deal

Well, how the tables have turned. Obama's first year in office went from an Iran unwilling to negotiate to where Iran is making demands that we accept their nuclear proposals.

http://edition.cnn.com/2010/WORLD/meast/01/02/iran.nuclear/

Afghanistan Rejection

17 of 24 of Karzai's official appointments have been rejected by the Afghanistan parliament. Can anyone say illegitimate government?

The "Score" of January 2, 2010

Y.M.D
2010.1.2
Captured
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: -
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 27+
Wounded
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: 6
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): -
Killed
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: 5
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): -

Detail:
Civilians:
6 killed and 5 wounded by IED.

2010 total:
Captured
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: -
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 35+
Wounded
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: 6
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 1
Killed:
Afghanistan (military):
Civilians: 10
U.S.A. (and allies): 2
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 1

+ is representing a possibly higher number as rounding to the lowest possible is done when specific numbers are not given. If any totals are incorrect please leave a link to relevent information correcting the totals in the comment section.

The Races - Dishonorable Dropout

Dawn Hill has dropped out of the race for governor to....run for state Senate. When you commit to a run for office follow through no matter the cost. You either run knowing you are the capable candidate or you don't. A candidate should never run for a position based on how easy it will be, but on the commitment they have to do the job right for the people who they represent.

When I ran for City Council in Bangor last year I knew the odds were bad. However I knew I was qualified and more capable than others running. I knew the surgery was coming but I had a commitment to uphold and I still gathered the signatures anyway. I cared about serving my city and had made promises to run and represent the people of Bangor with common sense. A promise from me is not a false whisper of desperation but a guarantee to see the job through to the end unless I no longer believe in the cause.

Yet knowing the odds for city council had someone proposed a guaranteed job in politics or an election where I had better odds I would have refused them. Not because I am stubborn but because I stand on principles. One of those principles is standing up for what I believe in. If I begin running for an office I believe I am qualified to serve I have chosen my stage and will not divert for a more glorious or easily gained position. Dawn Hill clearly does not hold such convictions.

http://www.seacoastonline.com/articles/20100102-NEWS-1020327

The "Score" of January 1, 2010

What could one call a blog series simply counting the death and capture of soldiers and militants in Afghanistan? At first I was going to use the "toll" but that sounded too depressing. I then chose the "tally" but that sounded too joyous.

Since the Taliban and pretty much anyone who hates the U.S. uses the death tolls as a form of victory, I shall be using the same approach except with a little additive: their death totals as well.

I am going to count daily the deaths and captures of forces in Afghanistan in 2009.
If you think there should be more options or a subdivision of factions just post a comment. Afghan civilian and military casualties will be counted the same. If you disagree just leave a comment. I will have details when I feel an incident (especially civilian casualties) should be explained further.

Y.M.D
2010.1.1
Captured
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: -
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 8+
Wounded
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: -
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 1
Killed
Afghanistan (military):
Civilian: 5
U.S.A. (and allies): 2
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 1

Detail:
Civilians: 5 killed by a roadside bomb.

2010 total:
Captured
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: -
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 8+
Wounded
Afghanistan (military): -
Civilian: -
U.S.A. (and allies): -
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 1
Killed:
Afghanistan (military):
Civilians: 5
U.S.A. (and allies): 2
Enemy (Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Haqqini, ect.): 1

+ is representing a possibly higher number as rounding to the lowest possible is done when specific numbers are not given. If any totals are incorrect please leave a link to relevent information correcting the totals in the comment section.
In other Afghanistan related news if you are interested:
A new base for Afghan police opened in Herat.

Version: 1.2
Included British fatality in an IED attack and an American soldier who died of injuries from previous combat.

Unsustainable

I first heard that unsustainable would be the word of 2010 from Glenn Beck. Calm down this post isn't about him. It is about that very prediction. As you will see it was correct:

From Scotland:
Research by Citizens Advice Scotland indicated that consumer debt had increased by 40% in five years.
Highlands and Islands MSP David Thompson has called for the UK to have an interest rate cap, similar to other countries in the EU.
Mr Thompson said the consumer credit situation in Scotland was "unsustainable".
"The lending situation in Scotland is completely out of control right now."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8437288.stm

Las Vegas:
LAS VEGAS—Salaries and benefits being paid to Clark County employees are unsustainable in the weak economy and should be re-evaluated, according to a preliminary report by a citizens advisory panel.

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_14101373

India:
Dec. 30 (Bloomberg) -- India’s stocks fell, snapping a four-day rally, after Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee said the nation’s budget deficit, forecast at 6.8 percent of gross domestic product in the year to March 31, can’t be sustained for a long time.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aAlnw_1.zSug

Currency Trading:
Dollar May Extend Drop on Concern December Rally Unsustainable

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=axGlJ7Um7Gbs

United Kingdom:
The UK is suffering from a "growing addiction to alcohol" which is placing an increasingly unsustainable burden on the National Health Service (NHS), according to a new report.

http://www.inthenews.co.uk/news/health/alcohol-burden-on-nhs-not-sustainable--$1350596.htm

http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Inquiry-must-be-launched-into.5951245.jp

United States:
The Concord Coalition, Arlington, Va., a group of Democrats and Republicans who want to reduce the size of the U.S. budget deficit, has published those recommendations in a commentary on the major House health bill, H.R. 3962, and the major Senate health bill, H.R. 3590.
Bringing uninsured people into an unreformed, unsustainable health finance system could make the situation worse, and there is no guarantee that Congress could offset the proposed spending increases by making proposed cuts in Medicare and Medicare Advantage funding stick, the coalition says.

http://www.lifeandhealthinsurancenews.com/News/2009/12/Pages/Budget-Hawks-Increase-The-Cadillac-Plan-Tax.aspx

Australia:
CommSec chief economist Craig James says the data shows home prices are rising at unsustainable rates in capital cities like Darwin, where prices are up almost 18 per cent and Melbourne up by 17 per cent.

http://bigpondnews.com/articles/Finance/2010/01/01/Rates_may_rise_with_property_prices_412777.html

Business:
One of the United State’s largest trucking companies,YRC Worldwide Inc. may file for bankruptcy this weekend according to an analyst despite attempts to complete a debt-to-exchange offer.
The company would need to have funds available to make a $19 million interest and fee payment by Thursday. At present the liquidity position is unsustainable.

http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=152944&cat=8

Motives and Reality

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/1139336.html

There. You know what this blog post is about. In an enlightened world you would immediately understand the title of this post and the news article's connection. Sadly, such an enlightened world does not and will never exist. So on with the blog.

Israel managed to conduct five attacks at one of the most densely populated places on Earth and managed to injure only five people. Israelis will say this is a retaliation for recent rocket attacks. Palestinians will say this is another act of violent aggression against the Arab peoples they claim to represent.

I say this was a message to stop the rocket attacks. If Israel wanted to inflict damage they have the capacity to strike quickly and deadly. They didn't. The Israelis used large explosives in one of the most populated places on Earth and hurt only five people in the process. That is a deliberate avoidance of casualties on Israel's part. The attack was deliberate. As was the Palestinian rocket attacks last week.

Yet now it is to see how this unfolds. If rockets continue to fall on Israel the war may be closer than anyone in America has even considered.

When one takes the oath to do no harm they should live up to that and never assist a suicide. The ending of a life is the greatest harm one can imagine. Due to the unexplainable unknowns beyond our current existence maintaining the present form of life is the best we can do. Yes one may be in pain and suffering but that is simply evidence of life.

In all its forms, even the pain of suffering before death, life is to be cherished.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8436777.stm

The Races Continue to 2010

As the new year enters into our lives at the speed of time one thing from last year to this year has not changed: the approaching election of our next governor. So, as of 52 minutes ago the money raising period of the last quarter has ended. The totals will probably be reported today if not outright bragged about.

Looking at my email inbox the candidates were disparate as an entity of politics for the fundraisers that will set the tone of their campaigns starting out in this new year with, depending on the current totals, new possibilities. If Rosa Scarcelli managed to pull an upset against two or three of her competitors it might be a sign that she is a very probable dark horse in the running. As for the other Democrats there are the obvious favorites and the obvious failures. Nothing really interesting going on.

Now Republicans, since they would upset much of Augusta upon election, pose the real interesting examination. Can they really return to the Blaine House? Should Bruce Poliquin raise less than double his next opponent a backlash to his initial campaign victories might be a sign of either over-extending himself or expanding too slowly. Should he raise better than double the next candidate he is simply running a very efficient campaign which will have a solid lead going into the primaries. However if Matt Jacobson falls behind Les Otten who is currently relying on an advertising gamble it could be a harbinger of dark clouds to come. As for the Waterville "Maverick" and the current state House Representative one can look at the success of one experienced politician to the failings of another and easily conclude one is clearly suited for Governor and the other, while popular, incompetent.

As for independents for any of them to have a chance at success in the next quarter they need to pull a strong and unexpected fund raising report matching at least a third place fund raiser of the two major parties. As for Lynne Williams, she accepted an interview and then never held her end of the bargain so as far as I'm concerned she can -

Anyhow, Happy New Year and the analysis of the political parties fund raising shall come in the following order upon sufficient data being available:
Democrats
Republicans
Green Independent Party and the Unaffiliated

Help the Green Revolution

http://www.torproject.org/

I posted somewhere months ago about this and how it was important to Iran and thought I should bring it up again.

On the surface I know this looks like a creepy geeky illegal thing to do. However this is how the Iranian people have been circumventing the "Iranian Firewall" to communicate to the rest of the world. I recommend you become part of this network and serve as a proxy for the Iranian resistance movement. It is legal, free, and your privacy is maintained. This is a simple thing you can do to support the movement in Iran. All you have to do is turn on your computer and internet and it will take it from there. You can use your computer as you wish with almost no interference at all. Support freedom and take this small step to supporting a change of the regime in Iran.

My National State of the Union

If I were President Obama this is what I would tell America at the State of the Union.


Hello. Firstly we must thank the troops still protecting this nation and its freedoms wherever they may be. Their efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan and elsewhere have been exceptional as always. Now, to the matters of this year's agenda.
Every tax that was approved in the past 12 months I will make an effort to repeal every single one of them. The TARP funds will not be recirculated into job creation as the past year has proven the government can not create jobs.
As for health care reform it is clear that the current bill serves no one's best interest. A simple approach banning pre-existing conditions and obvious issues with Medicare should be the initial stages of health reform and I propose a simpler approach rather than our original idea of a complete overhaul of a system which is still the best in the world despite the drawbacks.
Any new bill that is longer than twenty pages will be automatically vetoed. The sad reality that some members of Congress not reading the seventeen pages that provide the foundation for our nation's existence leads me to believe without a doubt that they do not read the 2,000 page bills they have been bringing to my desk.
Any bill without a majority of both Democrats and Republican support will be heavily scrutinized by myself and the American public. That is true bipartisanship and the past year has shown a failure of that concept by both myself, my administration, and the Democratic leadership overall. The efforts of Republicans will hopefully be equaled to provide a real middle ground representation of the will of the American people.
As for the issue of equal rights for all this past year has seen little movement towards a goal of equal in the eyes of the law. While I support same-sex marriage or any true equivalent the issue of don't ask don't tell in the military is a regrettably necessary aspect of our armed forces. It guarantees that the front lines have no distractions for our troops.
As for the war in Afghanistan we are no longer going to tolerate a Pakistan who sacrifices its forces lives against the Taliban while it also funds the Taliban efforts in Afghanistan. The message will be clear also to Karzai's government that continued corruption will result in a heavier American control of the situation if he is unable to provide the leadership the people of Afghanistan both want and need.
As for immigration reform an initial amnesty for illegal immigrants in the country more than ten years shall be granted as long as they accept a fine and the beginnings of the process of citizenship. For the rest the enforcement of U.S. law shall apply in full. No longer will businesses be allowed to overlook U.S. citizens for jobs in order to circumvent adequate labor standards by unfairly using illegal immigrants at sub-standard wages to make law abiding competitors lose American workers to stay in business. I request that a bill to this, and only this effect be passed in Congress as soon as possible.
Barring any further economic failures I feel this is an agenda suitable for the nation in 2010. I know all sides of Democrats and Republicans, liberals and conservatives will look to my statements with disbelief or anger. I want all Americans regardless of political persuasion to know that the change needed was not more government as I believed but more common sense.
Thank you, goodnight. Good bless America.

Afghanistan Confusion

Pakistan claims strategic victory, Afghanistan says the Taliban are on the verge of defeat, we say the Taliban are preparing a major offensive, and the basic facts on the ground show the Taliban are advancing in territory and capturing towns.

I really don't know what the status of the Afghan war is but I know this: the allies need to get on the same page.

Rosa Scarcelli Jobs Proposal

I've been thinking for over a week of how I was going to summarize her approach. It is extensive, detailed, and to the point. So lacking any way of actually breaking it down I will recommend you take a read of it yourself when you have time:

http://rosaformaine.com/home/Maine_Rising

However there is a positive thing to report in regards to Rosa Scarcelli: Her connection to voters. She wants your ideas and gladly wants you to let her know what they are:

http://rosaformaine.com/home/ideas

She has a drawback though: her reliance on the federal government. She has good statements in her plan for jobs but then basically throws those out the window if you read her news section. She wants TARP money (the bailout for the banks) to go for job creation in Maine even though it is clearly written in the bill that created TARP that those funds are to be placed directly to debt reduction. She also says Baldacci is making the best of a bad situation with the recent budget cuts. It is partially because of Baldacci that the state has had yearly budget crisis after budget crisis. Not only that but she is glad to promote an endorsement of her campaign by a PAC. No politician should ever brag about such an endorsement as a special interest rarely has the full circle best interest of the people at mind.

I blog, you think, we agree. Have a good day.

Bruce Poliquin Website Ideas Examination (for lack of a better title)

The first thing in regards to Bruce's campaign website is the citations for the information he uses. So far only him, Matt Jacobson, and Rosa Scarcelli actually give credit where it is due in regards to the facts they use on their issues pages. I personally prefer the Japanese method of citation but the post-script and in-linked forms are tolerable for me. Yes, I did just make those terms up. Anyhow, on with the analysis. As already stated we will begin with Bruce Poliquin. I will just use notable quotes to avoid my own bias:
[Occasionally I will speak within brackets. I have also removed the citation numbers which you can check on his website.]

1. Jobs
While our business economy has been shrinking, our public sector has been growing. It should be the other way around.

As a percentage of population, Maine has the least number of citizens under the age of 18. At the other end of the age spectrum, we have the 6th highest percentage over the age of 65.[3]
...This demographic trend is fiscally unsustainable without our burdensome taxes rising still higher. I refuse to let that happen.
[While he clearly knows the problem and its effects, Poliquin doesn't state on his website a direct solution to this problem.]

To attract businesses and jobs we must: tax less, spend wisely, simplify regulations, lower energy and health care costs, complete our infrastructure, and improve education. Some initiatives can be implemented relatively soon. Others are longer-term. It will take common sense, hard work, and competent management.

[Note the common sense aspect of this. Those of us who took economics in high school know it makes sense.]

Our State government needs a new positive attitude toward business development and jobs.

2. Taxes
[He already said he would lower them I know, but Bruce always steps up to explain why, unlike other politicians who make statements such as "There are so many things the public doesn't know; nor should they. That's why they elect us." I don't think I can ever get over that quote by our very own Pat Blanchette, since it is so very un-American.]

Maine government taxes our businesses and workers at much higher rates than most other states. It does so to pay for the excessive spending on programs and services. These higher taxes drive away businesses and jobs.

Augusta taxes our companies at the 9th highest corporate income tax rate.4 We all pay the 16th highest gas tax in the nation, 30c per gallon.5 That’s $6 to Augusta with every 20-gallon fill-up. It costs $600 in excise tax to put a new $25,000 car on the road just for the first year! We pay $438 for the second year.6 Connecticut residents pay $38 per year. New Yorkers pay $24. It’s no wonder why so many Mainers drive older, less safe, more polluting, and less fuel efficient cars.

Lowering taxes across-the-board at least to levels comparable with other states will be a visible and important step to that end. Doing so will also immediately put more money in the hands of our struggling workers and their families.

Reducing state taxes is crucial to relieving the financial burden on our families. It will also help build a positive business climate to attract jobs[.]

3. Spending
By any objective measure, our government spends too much on programs and services compared with other states. Taxes have been raised to uncommonly high levels to pay for this bloated spending.

State spending on education is the largest outlay in the proposed 2010-11 biannual budget, consuming 47% of all taxpayer dollars.2 From 1979-2006 the number of K-12 students decreased by 16%. During the same period the number of K-12 teachers increased by 32%, and administrators and staff by 52%. 3 Maine has the 7th highest cost per K-12 student in the nation.4 Although our taxpayers spend plenty on K-12 education, the results are disappointing. For example, Maine’s high school graduation rate is average, and the college matriculation rate is below average. In the fall of 2007, nearly 51% of first-year Community College Sysytem students enrolled in remedial courses because they were not “college ready.” 5
[That is an entire segment. This style appeals to me because he explains it in a straightforward explanation of the facts with the results. The numbers after a sentence are the citation. Politicians when talking about health care ignore the facts, and go straight for the sob stories. Bruce gives it straight. That might by why he reached his goal of 24,000 dollars a week early.]

Taxpayer-funded health care is the second largest expense category in the proposed state budget, accounting for 32% of all spending. MaineCare is our state Medicaid program originally designed as a health care safety net for the poor and disabled. During the past 30 years, however, our elected officials have eased the eligibility requirements such that, today, the program enrolls 275,000 of our citizens, or 22% of the population. This is the highest enrollment rate in the country. 6 Our politicians have also expanded MaineCare benefits to include services beyond traditional health care, such as meals, transportation, and housing.
[It is indeed true. I am on Mainecare, yet I certainly could go without it. However I know people who have called to cancel their MaineCare and were told it would be easier just to keep the status quo. I would rather not waste time arguing with someone about how I don't want a service I don't need. When they tried to give me more services in a new program it took me two weeks to make certain I didn't get that. Bruce is willing to tell you the status quo is unsustainable and I think deep down every person in Maine knows this.]

4. Health care
[Seems like we were just here doesn't it? Well, that is because Mr. Poliquin has probably read the MainePage in the Bangor Daily News and was able to connect the dots as a kid. Sadly, they took connect the dots out. Random thought: liberal conspiracy at work?]

Unfortunately, our state government has created a private and public health care system which is broken. Many individuals and businesses paying for their own health care can no longer afford the costs. Our less-fortunate citizens receiving health care paid by Maine taxpayers are given no incentives to control the costs. The system is no longer fiscally sustainable.
[Those who are friends on my personal facebook might remember a while ago when I said the word of 2010 will be unsustainable.]

Today, MaineCare enrolls approximately 275,000 people, 22% of our population, the highest rate in the country.3 The generous benefits and easy enrollment are making our State a magnet for non-Mainers seeking unfair access to taxpayer-funded services. We can no longer afford this. Difficult decisions must be made regarding who can enroll and what services are covered. Otherwise, our taxes will continue to rise and jobs will go elsewhere.

Competent management by our State government can provide better health care to our less-fortunate MaineCare patients at less cost to taxpayers. These fellow citizens have a responsibility to take good care of themselves in return for taxpayer-funded health care. Chronic illnesses such as asthma, obesity, and diabetes are preventable and/or treatable. MaineCare beneficiaries should be required to be treated by family physicians for long-term primary care, rather than extremely expensive hospital emergency rooms for common ailments. Wyoming has introduced a disease management program for 7,800 disabled health care beneficiaries. Taxpayer costs have fallen while services have improved.4

The huge, expensive MaineCare program is a primary reason why private health care insurance premiums are 3-4 times the costs than in neighboring New Hampshire.5 Low payments to doctors and hospitals for providing services to MaineCare patients force those same doctors/hospitals to charge uncommonly high prices to patients with private insurance. Insurance companies are then forced to charge inflated prices for those private policies, or leave Maine altogether. There are 9 insurance companies writing individual health care policies in Connecticut, 11 in New Hampshire, 21 in Massachusetts, and only 3 in Maine.6 This lack of competition leads to incredibly expensive private insurance policies.
[I examined the facts of this segment and found that indeed, while companies have a wider selection, an individual in Maine who wants to buy and pay for their own health insurance has only three options.]

Maine’s primary welfare program is called Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF). It provides cash and other assistance to low-income, able-bodied families. It sets no time limit for receiving the benefits. It imposes no strict requirements to find a job or further an education as preconditions to receiving the taxpayer assistance. There is no period of residency requirement to start receiving benefits.

The cycle of dependency continues at great cost to our less-fortunate citizens, and to the taxpayers who foot the bill.

5. Education
There are three lasting gifts we can give our children: unconditional love, a moral compass, and the best education possible. The happiness and well-being of our kids are directly related to their education. Once acquired, it can never be lost. It’s their ticket to higher income, better health, and more fulfilling lives. Businesses want to hire educated workers, skilled and eager to contribute. An improved state education system will help build a better economy.
[Bruce Poliquin connects the dots. He knows Maine and a little bit of common sense economics. That makes him very different from most Democrats and several of his Republican challengers.]

The global consulting firm McKinsey & Company has identified other reforms to strengthen our education system and save taxpayer money. They include standardized diagnosis for special needs students; consolidated negotiation of some system-wide contracts; reduction of administrative overhead; and more sharing of resources across school districts.3

Maine is one of only ten states which doesn’t allow state-funded charter schools. Maine students should be given the same opportunities as other children across the nation.

6. Energy
Approximately 80% of our homes are heated with oil, more than any other state in the county.

In 2007, 102 independent power generators in Maine produced 16 billion kilowatt hours of electricity. Our residents and businesses consumed 12 billion kwh. The remaining 25% was exported. Although Maine generates plenty of power, our electricity cost is 48% higher than the national average.2

Once constructed, a generating plant produces electricity at a cost dependent on the fuel burned. Hydroelectric dams produce cheap, clean, and renewable power. We should find other ways to accommodate migrating fish and recreational users of our rivers before removing any more dams.
[When asked roughly six months ago about what these other possibilities would be Bruce did not have the answers but did make a point that he has faith in the Maine people to be able to use our resilience to come up with a workable solution to such a problem.]

Today, commercial wind, solar, tide, current, and geothermal technologies contribute a small amount of our energy needs. However, our state government should do everything possible to support their continued development.

Recently, there has been discussion about the possibility of discovering natural gas in the Gulf of Maine. If that happens, our State should facilitate its environmentally safe development.
[Environmentalists can still focus on complaining about wind power (yes, the environmentalists are protesting the wind power facilities in Maine) if Bruce gets elected.]

Maine belongs to the “New England Power Grid,” a network of power producers, substations, and transmission lines crossing the six states. There has been debate about Maine leaving the Grid and going-it-alone. This would be a mistake. Businesses want reliable electricity provided by the security of a larger power grid.

Our state government, along with Washington, should explore ways to help the private sector complete and upgrade our power grid. This could result in the importation of that cheap, clean power from Canada. Maine might also be able to provide energy corridors to transport this plentiful power, along with natural gas, directly south to the Boston hub.
[In this way Bruce is connecting Maine to the entire region which shows a big picture awareness that has been lacking in the Baldacci administration (think LNG port).]

Lower energy costs will help build a positive business environment to produce jobs.

7. Environment
Our next Governor will be responsible for better balancing the economic needs of our families and preserving our environment. Our abundant natural resources provide many sustainable jobs in industries such as forest products, fishing, and tourism. These natural resources also provide expanded opportunities for green jobs. We can have both: increased prosperity and a preserved natural environment.
[In this section he has the boring yet for some reason necessary political story (for Mainers at least) of how he grew up in Maine and appreciates the environment. I just saved you thirty seconds.]

8. Regulations
I’ve experienced first-hand many of the problems with our business regulations in attempting to create jobs in Maine. One housing project consumed 2.5 years of design, engineering, and permitting before one worker was hired. While managing the project, I navigated the maze of separate and redundant local and state requirements. This lack of coordination between the layers of government is slow, expensive, and an impediment to business growth and jobs.

Companies, and the jobs they produce, naturally locate in states with business-friendly climates. Our elected officials have created a regulatory environment which discourages business investment. I have lived through the process. As Governor, I will understand the importance of simplifying and streamlining business regulations.

[I know how he feels. When preparing my stunted run for city council in Bangor I examined the city code on the elections. There was a page and a half of regulations on what a street sign could be, how environmentally friendly it had to be, time restrictions, and other truly boring things to have to read through in legal-speak. The entire campaign regulation packet I printed out was fourteen pages long in very small print (I like to save paper).]

9. Infrastructure
[Summary: Expand telecommunications throughout the state by having Time Warner or whatever it is choosing to be called this month hold up its end of the bargain.
Then there is the East-West highway to Canada. A unique proposal that truly makes Bruce an outside the box thinker with proposals that will defy the standard mold of political thinking.]

Canada is our largest trading partner. Still, there is no quick, safe route to truck goods east - west across Maine. Such a highway would efficiently connect Downeast Maine and the Canadian Maritimes to our western border en route to Quebec, Montreal, and Detroit/Chicago. It could also serve as a utility corridor to transport, for example, electricity and natural gas. This project would generate hundreds of Maine jobs for several years. It would also facilitate increased international trade across our State with untold new businesses and jobs. Our next state government should closely examine this economic development opportunity.

[Expanding the flights to other major destinations such as Quebec is another priority. Overall I personally see Bruce looking to expand business in Maine by turning the state into the entry/exit hub for Canada and U.S. trade, businesses, jobs. Big picture thinking and long-term thinking is what Maine needs to end our annual festival of the fiscal crisis. Bruce has the mind-set and experience that gives him the big picture view for Maine.]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Now I want to point out something Bruce Poliquin mentioned a lot:
Create a Positive Attitude Toward Business Development and Jobs.

The reason this makes him unique is because no other candidate notices that Mainers have become so used to the corruption and scandal of Augusta that a non-government solution is almost heresy. I hear so many people listen on the news about anything and everything and say the following:
Why doesn't the government do something about that?

In Maine it seems thinking of a business as anything other than "a place where we work for a rich guy who does nothing and I do all the work" makes you a rich guy yourself who doesn't care about the poor. Trust me, volunteering with Amnest International and the Civil Rights Team at Bangor High (until my transfer to the Alternative Ed) surrounded me with people with that thought process. When we lined up for a political spectrum self determination liberals were at the window and conservatives were near the door. They ran out of room by the window and were three rows deep. I was in the hallway. I never heard the end of that one.

So what is Bruce doing proposing such a thing? He is preparing us for a better system. The government system hasn't worked, and he is bringing in a business system. Yet in order for it to work we have to actually believe it will work. While government supporters need to pull heart strings, use name calling and threats, and incorrectly spell Colombia when talking about free trade agreements in order to prove their points Bruce Poliquin only uses common sense.

While common sense may not be so common, it is easily acquired. That is why he only needs to emphasize a positive attitude about businesses development and jobs. The rest is common sense to most people. Yet, if it isn't said most people just won't think of it and when they go to the ballot box won't know which candidate truly represents common sense.

The results so far: success. Bruce has such appeal based only on common sense that I've got people saying they will vote Republican for the first or second time in their life because of Bruce Poliquin's honesty and common sense.

Now, for those of you seeking more information you can go to his campaign website at:
www.bruceforme.com

Those waiting for the Rosa Scarcelli jobs proposal I am doing some further research of my own to determine if some of her ideas are suitable for the current economic climate. Overall she is very impressive even if on the other side of the political spectrum.

"Interview with a not-so-average Joe" Prelude

I have sent the following request to a person of great interest to few, yet with a wealth of knowledge greater than many:

I approach your greatness with a request to interview you for the purposes of free expression of multiple viewpoints on my blog. Since my interview with Lynne Williams fell through with her complete and total silence, I seek to interview you. The topics I will be interested in will be Iceland (particularly your knowledge of its historical cultures), Easter Island, and any temple based upon now lost documents in India.

Email (alright, facebook) request over. That's right folks, I am a man of only the most professional of practices.

Green Revolution Update

I know many are wondering why I have not posted on the Iranian situation (mostly because of your emails). While events are continuing, and deaths are increasing, as of yet there is no visible change. The protests themselves was a change, but they have yet to take the next step. For what I see in the movement is just a willingness to make themselves sheep to the slaughter, and until they move to become wolves themselves and take their country and their freedom back no further stories about this uprising will occur. They need to know what they want and get what they want. Peaceful reform does not seem to be working, as the Iranian government is already using violence beyond what took place in America during the civil rights movement.

If you want freedom you must make yourself free. First know what removes your freedom: is it the one who gives orders or bullets? Which one is to blame ultimately for your oppression? Target the source of oppression first, and that will limit the bloodshed that oppression brings to you.

If bloodshed is limited, stick with peace. Yet for Iran, peace has not worked. To be treated as a savage means you must become a savage to become free. In the chaos of violence is held the chaos of freedom- freedom being the peaceful result of liberating violence. Do not mistake my words for that of a radical. I am not endorsing violence against any non-violent or democratic government. I am saying a regime taking away freedoms with no legitimate elective system that uses violence and oppression to maintain power is deserving of a violent response by the oppressed. It is their only way to gain a just freedom in Iran. In this situation, these events, I endorse violent action. It is only in this circumstance, my viewpoint is not the same for Thailand, or Egypt. Certainly not for America. In Europe, only Belarus is oppressive yet a movement for freedom must take place before a fight for freedom.

E-Mail Mysteries Continue

A while back I got an email from Al Franken, and I was confused as to how I got on his email list. Well, going back through I have registered officially for only two email updates: from the former campaign website obama.com and from the White House email list. Somehow I have now received emails from "democracyinaction" and "Communities Standing Together".

Add this to a small email faux pas conducted by Lynne William's campaign in which all email receivers saw the email of everyone else who got the email, after having someone who supports Lynne use their own email to send the message instead of using an official Lynne Williams campaign member email.

I guarantee that any campaign I am part of shall always respect the privacy of all supporters and not engage in such activities which would reveal your information to anyone you do not approve to have see it.

In other news, I was hoping against hope that my special interview with Lynne Williams (yes, I try to represent as many sides as possible, now stop staring at this sentence with your mouth open). Due to schedule issues we couldn't meet in person, so we agreed (two weeks ago) to have an email interview. I send questions, she sends responses. Well, we corresponded frequently about the interview and then once I sent it, I have received no response. So, tomorrow (as tonight I will admit defeat to the pull of sleep) I shall post my review of the Bruce Poliquin issues and Rosa Scarcelli jobs proposal.

The betrayal was not intentional
It was forced by unkind fate
Yet it was hidden by feelings of fear
And justice never came

As the sky looks upon my soul
I stare up unaware of the toll
Waiting for the day the pain will end
And I will finally begin to mend

Justice is a lie we invent
To approve our excuses true
Yet with all the energy spent
True can never break through

I can not understand
Those who have no plan
As they have no purpose
And leave once in the hearse

Do it now
Say it now
You agree finally
You can see

Do it now
Say it now
You agree finally
You know you can see

You don't have to talk
Just look into my eyes
Justice still is denied
Yet we just go for a walk

Looking to the houses
Seeing stars in background
Talking of truths
None can take away

Attacked by forces beyond our control
Pedal faster than the attacker
Laugh in joy for your savior
Sacrafice nothing for love

Wading through the tall grasses
We enjoy what lacks in the masses
Knowledge of them all
That they live yet can't see

We observe
They suffer
We see
They stumble
We live
They die
Why?

Was that too alarming?

Perhaps calling my life an emergency in my now deleted post was a little over the top. I'm taking the next two weeks off to do paperwork and celebrate Christmas. Merry Christmas everyone.

Anti-Israel Propaganda Also Anti-American Because It Is All Anti-West

I recently mentioned how quickly a global response against Israel would form should Israel strike Iran. As evidence the reaction to the U.S. air strike against militants has instantly been declared a genocidal act against civilians by Iranian state TV, Houthi rebels, Al Qaeda, left-leaning blogs and news agencies in the U.S., and the opposition party in Yemen. All within 24 hours, and for an incident taking place in Yemen this is way too soon to confirm anything of the status of those killed. Yet, the international and leftist movement in America have already declared this another reason to take away Obama's Nobel Peace Prize.

Should Israel strike Iran this same network of international anti-West media outlets will claim war crimes as well with only the accusations of Hamas, Hezbolla, Syrian, and Iranian controlled media outlets. It will quickly be picked up by various sources elsewhere around the world and actual journalism will be thrown out the window so that the race to be the first to report a news story, no matter how illegitimate, will be won.

Candidate Website Update

I was preparing a special addition to the review of Bruce Poliquin and Rosa Scarcelli's campaign websites and currently there has been a delay in getting the second half prepared (this is what I get for relying on other people, if you want something done you have to do it yourself).

So, Monday I will post regardless of having the extra piece ready.

Health Care Request

I just got an email asking me why I don't write more about the health care back and forth in the senate. Quite simply I don't find corruption as worthy of headlines as they are of prosecutions. Being neither a lawyer or a judge I find the scandal of the "Louisiana Purchase" or the "Nebraska Medicare Payment Exemption While Getting Full Medicare Benefits" (sorry, haven't found a good name for this deal yet) to be just another failure of our system. The failures are so numerous I feel everyone knows about them already. If they don't, they probably won't be reading this blog anyway.

Every earmark, every vote getting deal, every campaign fundraiser connection, every tax cheat, every diplomatic screw up, and every marriage betrayal is common news. Our leaders are not just imperfect for the job but unfit for society. I don't think anyone disagrees with this. That is why for some reason we keep sending them to the prison known as Washington D.C. so they can continue to be housed, fed, and isolated from society by our tax dollars.

Guantanimo Bay just selectively tortured prisoners of war. Washington D.C. tortures every single American in every aspect of our lives by irritating our senses; especially our common sense. What the guards of this prison don't seem to understand is we could easily send the corrupt packing at any election.

We all know they are not doing the job they are supposed to. So why do we keep hiring them? Lets send the ones we got to a maximum security for their continued crimes and let some new prisoners enter D.C. for early release on good behavior.

U.S. Bombs Yemen Militants

The Al-Qaeda in Yemen has been attacked via drones by the U.S. Obama ordered the attack under knowledge an attack against U.S. interests was imminent from that area.

Details of the attack are limited right now and the only sources are non-independent reports (Press TV, Examiner, Yemen government) and claims of success (or genocide) can not be confirmed.

Since 2006 (yes, 2006 again, it was a good year for me, what can I say?) I have been aware of Yemen as an unstable country with enemies to the U.S. I also said we will have to take action within Yemen's borders to resolve the long running civil war.

No matter how arrogant, pious, self-absorbed it may sound it never gets old:
I told you so.

Iran Invades Iraq 1

Over the years Iran and Iraq have not had good border relations, and the border itself has been violated many times. So I am going to start tracking border incidents from now on.

On Thursday some Iranian troops took over an oil well in Iraq near the border in Southern Iraq.

Oil well No. 4 was taken over by 11 Iranian troops. Iraqi forces are massing a kilometer (about half a mile) away.

Iran rejected the claim before admitting it and then claiming the well as Iranian.

Ongoing situation, do keep track as no word from Israel yet.

http://www.ajc.com/news/nation-world/iraqi-troops-in-standoff-247318.html

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5gYiU_MRlReyRg2CPjdoSTJlUpcoQ

Fundraiser

I have zero reservations after a week of considering this post. The reason is I have put my efforts into knowing the candidates positions and qualifications and a while ago I determined for myself that Bruce Poliquin is qualified and represents my Reagan-based values the best of all the candidates.

Now, I have shared my findings with my readers over the past year (yes, it has been a long journey already). If you are not informed I suggest you scroll down and follow the links to the candidates websites and read up. If you are informed you have made your conclusions about which candidates you support. While Rosa Scarcelli and a few others have fundraisers going on right now, Bruce Poliquin has a $24 dollar campaign ongoing until the end of the year.

Why tell you about it? Because right now the preparations for the primary are coming. While I could make the case for Bruce right now I doubt it would change your mind. So all I can do is suggest that if you support him you follow the link at the bottom and show your support for his message and efforts to become governor. You could also become a volunteer, even more important than a cash donor, and follow the second link to join the Bruce Brigade.

The choice is up to you but considering who we could end up with I think you will want to make sure your candidate is the victor this election and for those who support Bruce this is your chance to do so.

For the $24 donation:
https://secure.qgiv.com/cps_donors/index.php?key=poliquinmg

For the Bruce Brigade:
http://www.bruceforme.com/index.php/volunteer_register/

For Bruce's main website:
www.bruceforme.com

Another Israel Centered Conflict

Despite the posturing, years of defiance and threatening to destroy Israel, evidence of a nuclear weapons program, proven aid to the Taliban in Afghanistan and Al Qaeda in Iraq, the coming war with Iran will be blamed on Israel. First, how do I know there will be a war?

Israel has been quiet. The leadership was vocal about Hamas and Hezbollah and Iran for months, and now for the exception of the deal to release Shalit (a soldier captured by Hamas) the leadership is quiet. Look through the past offensives and you will see a lead up of six months where four months were usually diplomatic and calling for international action. Then the headlines drop down with the news of increased activity by Hamas, Hezbolla, or whoever the attacker may be but it is not acted upon by the world.

Well, the past couple of weeks more rockets have been falling on Israel. Israel has done the usual voicing of complaint but has not turned to the international community this time.

So why would a war with Iran become an Israeli centered conflict? Israeli forces would occupy Gaza, tank divisions would capture Damascus, and Southern Lebanon would see increased air attacks and possibly Israeli special forces operations. This on top of the Israeli air strikes in Iran which would be the primary reason for starting the conflict: Iran's nuclear program. Yet, that would pale in comparison to the actual tug of war battles Israel's ground forces would be waging.

The second Israel strikes Iran has a global network of nations willing to instantly declare Israel the wrong doer, while the West will wait to see if it was justified. Such an instant reaction will certainly play against Israel in the UN and in global opinion. This is simply because world leaders, no matter how ridiculous their statements, are always listened to more than a logical observer. Such leaders will also charge war crimes just in the fact that the casualties are "disproportionate" to the nations other than Israel, disregarding any logical explanation (Israel has better training, equipment, the fighting is taking place in non-Israeli territory, ect.)

At first Israel will be victorious as they will probably be conducting this as a preemptive strike and have the element of surprise. However the U.S. leadership may be wary of having Iranian forces flowing into an already difficult situation in Afghanistan and/or destabilizing Iraq. Such fears could lead to neutrality or a limited bombing campaign only along any position of Iranian offensives against the U.S. With U.S. leadership in doubt the world will look to the other viewpoint for leadership, and that would be anti-Israel.

So at first the global opinion will be shock, but by the third day headlines will be anti-Israel. By the end of the week accusations of war crimes will be so numerous in the chaos of war that Israel will be condemned without the truth being known. Israel will be left an equal to any regime of oppression by the end of the month after the conflict begins. I have no idea how long the war will last but the sooner it ends the better for Israel because that would mean the sooner the truth and investigations to Israel's innocence can begin to repair a global anti-Israel spike.

Copenhagen Violence

230 more violent environmentalists have been arrested in Denmark. Carry on everyone nothing to see here....just violent environmentalists.

Clean Elections Discussion

To begin I only have questions to those who support clean election funding:

Is a system which allows different rules for different candidates a fair system?

How much money should be given to political campaigns by a government 400 million dollars in debt?

Israel Solution

Just a quick thought: how about we have Gaza become part of Israel and move all Gaza residents to the West Bank. In return, Israel will remove all settlements from the West Bank. The issue of Jerusalem will sadly still be an impossible road block, but it would end the Gaza issue and the settlement issue for most of the West Bank. Jerusalem is still the sticking point because there is no city of equal value in the West Bank.

Jerusalem Solution?
Could it be possible to declare Jerusalem neutral, while dividing it equally right down the middle of the city while the Old City area is internationally monitored? What I mean is have the borders of Jerusalem be the furthest extent of either Israel and Palestine and have the city be divided 50/50 in territory where Palestinians get half, and Israelis get half, and the Old City be managed by, dare I even say it, the UN. Have all construction in the Old City that has begun finished, with no new construction. The "border" in the city should be divided along the easiest natural boundaries or by neighborhood.

Now the issue will be certain neighborhoods will be seen as important to one side or the other- tough luck. Get on your own side or hope your new neighbors are friendly. Sure, it won't be pleasant, and for a while there will be a bad aftertaste but a generation of bad feelings for a solution to a ten thousand year old problem sounds like a good deal.

I like to call this the True Two State Solution.

The Race for Governor - Green Party

-Lynne Williams-
As her opponent has an inactive campaign it seems she will be the front-runner for the Green Party. Her website was difficult to analyze due to the existence of common sense within my veins.

To summarize:
Water should be free.
Health care should be a single payer system (Socialism).
Support of charter schools and opposition to consolidation.
The labor issues is simply represented by SEIU and ALF-CIO conference declarations. SEIU, if you shall remember, are the Purple Shirts. Followers of this blog will remember how I said Unions were becoming political, or maybe they won't. Go back a few months and read up folks.

The Race for Governor - Republican Candidates

As I would be clearly biased towards some of these candidates I am streamlining my opinions down to nothing and outlining only the proposals of the candidates through direct quotes of their respective websites:

-Paul Lepage-
I strongly support repeal of all new sales taxes.
The jobs that our state needs are not the kind that can be created by our governor, state legislature or any other government entity.
I will oppose any effort to undermine traditional values in our great state.

Overall he needs more detail and on more issues.
-Peter Mills-
Until we have funded our binding promises, our budget motto must be, “Pay as you go or do without.”
School based health clinics.
Affordable dental clinics in which patients contribute to the cost of their own care.
Rural Health Centers where patients pay a sliding scale fee.
Use of our charity care hospitals as outreach agents for public health.
Nutrition and health education.
Although conservation is crucial, cheaper power is even more important.

While covering a lot of issues he has very few actual proposals. Health care is his strongest issue.

-Les Otten-
Ultimately, if Maine declares energy independence, and takes meaningful steps in that direction, the industry will follow.

Otten has a lot of philosophy with little specifics. The line above I feel shows the empty promises Otten has. He may be good at politics but not, I feel, as a common sense leader. Declaring energy independence does not mean you will automatically become energy independent. He does not detail the steps to take either. However, it sounds nice so he uses it. Otten is politics as usual.

-Matt Jacobson-
Note: I am quoting as directly as possible, but not using everything so this is not meant to be connecting.

That includes eliminating Maine’s costly corporate income tax, and streamlining state permitting and regulatory approval processes. I also will establish a Governor’s Opportunity Fund that would earmark money for grants or loans to help attract new companies and create new jobs.
I will push for a business cost-matching tax credit that would keep other states from recruiting away our Maine businesses. And let’s finally make a meaningful change to keep our people in Maine: we will eliminate the state’s punitive estate tax and the income tax on military retiree pensions.
[A] 100% seed tax credit [for new businesses].
That includes mandating that decisions on regulatory applications must be made within 120 days, and that routine business applications will be decided in 48 hours or less.
We will also eliminate the state income tax on the earnings of active duty military personnel to keep these families in Maine.
[A high capacity power line from Canada to the rest of New England. This will create income from infrastructure for the state of Maine along with cheaper energy.]
[E]nd Dirigo Health.

Overall Jacobson has a good balance of specifics and philosophy. While much revolves around reducing taxes (and specific taxes at that) his proposal for a major electrical line connecting Canada to the rest of New England is one of the few gems out there among politicians. I recommend businesses and the government to look at that proposal with or without these candidates.

-Bruce Poliquin-
While the other candidates had comparatively short issue examinations, Bruce is similar to Rosa Scarcelli in sheer amount of coverage. While his is not as lengthy as hers it is comparable across the ten issues he focuses on. The big picture ten point plan of Bruce Poliquin is as follows:
1. Create a Positive Attitude Toward Business Development and Jobs.
2. Carefully Reduce State Spending to National Averages or Less.
3. Lower Taxes to National Averages or Less.
4. Audit Sate Programs, Departments, and Agencies to Improve Efficiencies.
5. Promote Competition Among Health Care Insurance Companies to Lower Premium Costs.
6. Improve Education System to Better Prepare Students for College and Beyond.
7. Simplify Business Regulations to Create New Jobs.
8. Complete Infrastructure to Enhance Our Quality of Life.
9. Aggresively Pursue Strategies to Lower Energy Costs.
10. Protect Our Environment while Promoting Job Creation.

The plan is really a set of goals, but I suppose that is always the last chapter of a plan. His other 9 website pages covers the detailed proposals he has and I will cover them, Scarcelli's Jobs proposal websites in full before the end of the week.

-Republican Party-
Matt Jacobson
http://www.jacobsonforgovernor.com/
Paul LePage
http://www.lepage2010.com/
Peter Mills
http://www.millsformaine.com/
Les Otten
http://www.lesotten.com/
Bruce Poliquin
http://www.bruceforme.com/
J. Martin Vachon
"I am the only candidate who will reverse the trend of social decay that threatens our civilization." -Note: I like civilization, I just don't think the position of governor is the best place to achieve an end to social decay.

The Race for Governor - Independent Candidate Websites

As only two of the candidates running as independents have worthwhile websites, I shall review them next.

-Eliot Cutler-
His strategy page lays out the proposals which stand out the most. An independent candidate appeals to me because they are not burdened by political affiliation. So his first proposal to lower the cost of electricity is to create:
"Maine Energy Resources, a publicly-owned business chartered to operate as a public power authority, will use low-cost, tax-exempt capital to generate electricity throughout Maine from our renewable resources and will accelerate the development of clean and low-cost electricity in Maine. Maine Energy Resources will invest in energy efficiency in Maine and will enter into public-private partnerships with energy entrepreneurs. Maine Energy Resources will not export electricity out of state, because an important part of its mission will be to put the electricity to work in Maine. "

An exact proposal outlining its function is something few of the Democratic candidates did. However, two of his three health care ideas lack detail while his third will make many disregard him completely on the issue:
"We will reward healthy behaviors and pay for healthy outcomes, de-emphasizing payments for procedures as much as possible, because many of the diseases we pay to treat are preventable."

To turn on those who need treatment is a hard pill most Mainers are not going to swallow. However he makes up for it by taking the initiative to (if for a good purpose) expand the government in order to reduce its overall size:
"As governor, I personally will chair a commission similar to the Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC), which the federal government uses to determine which military bases to keep or to close. This commission will review all state programs and agencies, and within a year will make a series of recommendations to make state government more innovative, more efficient and less costly. I will present those recommendations to the Legislature as a single package, and on behalf of the taxpayers of Maine I will ask the Legislature for a simple “yes or no” vote."

I personally feel we have the resources and knowledge to close some programs already (Dirigo health care) this would help us find the little things that serve no purpose. Much of the remainder of that part of Eliot's website is explaining the economic philosophy behind his proposals. This is a unique approach only done by Rosa Scarcelli so far. Most candidates just throw philosophy out there with no proposals to support it, or vice-versa.

-John Whitcomb-
I feel John is sending the message of everyone who is fed up with the government and politicians not doing what they say they will do. He is venting and while lacking any substantial proposal is promoting common sense. I feel the only drawbacks to his campaign will be the lack of experience and specifics along with a low name recognition.


-Independents-
Samme Bailey
"I'm not qualified".
Eliot Cutler
http://www.cutler2010.com/
Augustus Edgerton
Not Found.
Alex Hammer
Anyone who knows him knows why I didn't give the link.
Beverly Cooper-Pete
Not found.
John Whitcomb
http://whitcombformaine.com/

The Race for Governor - Democratic Candidate Websites

First of all I loaded all the websites at the same time for the Democratic candidates 5 times to determine which websites were most advanced or dial up friendly. The rank from fastest to slowest loading website is as follows:

*Note: I will never endorse or encourage a felon, particularly one who has committed felonies in relation to political campaign funding. That is why Peter Truman is not going to be examined in this.

1. Donna Dion
2. Libby Mitchell
3. John Richardson
4. Rosa Scarcelli
5. Steve Rowe
6. Dawn Hill

--The Websites--
-Donna Dion-
Donna Dion's website has an opening page requesting we give her money so that she can qualify for more money from the government (I.E. those of us who don't want to give our money willingly). Her ideas are not outstanding. To quote a summary of her ideas:
We can build from the blueprint to form a strong State structure that will carry all citizens forward to a better tomorrow.

Excerpt over. To clarify for those who can't pick it out:
We can form a strong State structure that will carry all citizens to tomorrow.
Clarification over. If you still don't see something wrong with that, move to Europe and live it for a few years.

She starts listing her ideas on the "blueprint for success" page and seems to get bored towards the last few making short three word issues. There are no actual proposals. As I read her website I see a running theme of the government controlling the workforce via schools and taxing of businesses.

-Libby Mitchell-
Libby Mitchell's website has no page for her ideas, never mind her proposals. It has a news and bio page, and a volunteer page. Her campaign is also taking government (I.E. our money) funds.

-John Richardson-
I often read, but find little value in the bio pages of candidates. John's page is long, and the part I find most interesting is the entire page is written in the third person.

His economic, environment, and alternative energy section focuses on preserving the "natural assets" of Maine. He gives no proposals on how to do so.
His ideas for small businesses is as follows: "I will reduce taxes on small business, contain healthcare costs, lower energy costs through new renewable energy sources, increase access to high-speed telecommunications and encourage innovation."
Now, lowering taxes is a good idea. Not a proposal. I inquire as to which tax should be lowered to candidates all the time and they say they will look at each when they get in office, or sometimes they stutter and admit defeat. However, it is an idea and a promise not often kept. The other parts of his ideas still have no proposals.

While saying he has a plan on health care, he actually doesn't give it.

The smarter government he proposes with no definition of smarter involves him examining how government works once he is in office. I say you should already know how government works before you get in office.

His ideas for school involve investing in teachers (with what? more money? more students?) and identifying the students with extra needs early on (with more teachers?). He never has any proposals on how to achieve any of this, and those questions I pose can be answered if he simply contacts me.

His transportation ideas revolve around investing in transportation. Investing here, and there, and everywhere is what his campaign seems to emphasize. Since he clearly hasn't seen the latest budget reports I feel he is not a good candidate for governor.

I was glad to see that John makes a point to let the readers know his ideas page will have more detailed positions soon. I shall keep you up to date when that occurs.

-Steve Rowe-
His page is appealing and direct to purpose. His website covers the most issues topically of all the Democratic candidates. However, this seems to be for nothing as while he is aware of the issues he has few proposals for them.

In agriculture a lengthy report is distinguished by nothing of substance. Perhaps the mentioning of agriculture as an industry to keep our youth in Maine after having them go to college is either a mistake or some form of unspoken enlightenment on his part. Unless the farms start paying six figures, a college graduate will not seek such a job.

In the choice section he supports abortion, yet considering it is a national standard set by the Supreme Court that is a non-issue for a governor.

His jobs and economy proposals are still non-existent. With repetitious talk of current industry as important assets while also saying we will move to the future seems flawed to me. One often thinks of the future as something different, rather than the same. Also mentioning cluster industry seems like a bad policy for such a rural state.

In education there is nothing new but politics.
Nor in Energy and Environment, Marine (fishing industries), Health Care, or Veterans pages.
He makes a point to encourage voters to vote No on 1, despite that election having come and passed.

He supports an increase in sales tax and lowering of income tax believing that most things purchased in Maine are bought by people from out of state. I'm sorry but the groceries are bought by Mainers.

Steve Rowe is a politician pure and simple. He does the lip service to appeal to whoever he wants to have vote for him, but is unoriginal and out of touch.

-Dawn Hill-
For some reason her website took forever to open on my computer in each of the tests, and it lacked anything of substance. There is no ideas page and it is the same as it was months ago with a promise to update soon.

-Rosa Scarcelli-
Note: I will report on her job ideas and proposals due to the amount of reading necessary to report on her page. It was very in depth. She has impressed me with the amount of thought and research placed into the reports she places forward. She is obviously not your standard politician. I will be giving my analysis sometime this week, but I instantly know her format is how politics should be: organized, transparent, full circle, and logical.

While she has only one report (Jobs) complete, the rest are previewed with standard political introductions. However, the opening sentences propose an outline of actual solutions:
-weatherize buildings
-cut the bureaucratic elements of education to make sure the money reaches the students (school consolidation without school closure it initially appears)

She stands out for several reasons:
-"Our goal isn't smaller government or bigger government, but dramatically better government."
Call me old fashioned, but I believe government should care for people and make their lives better.
-"I'm not one of those who thinks government is the sole problem or that everything government does is evil. But neither do I think that government has all the answers, or that it always does everything right."

That alone makes her one of the best candidates on the Democratic side of the election. She knows the limits of government and is not moving forward with a sense that government is always the solution or that business is always the solution. She is moving forward with common sense. While her personal belief favors the use of government she is willing to admit it has drawbacks. This is something I haven't seen from a Democratic candidate in Maine for a long time.


I encourage you to read further about the candidates and make your own decisions:
-Democratic Candidates-
Donna Dion
http://donnajdionforgovernor2010.com/
Dawn Hill
http://www.dawnhillforgovernor.com/
Elizabeth (Libby) Mitchell
http://www.libbymitchellforgovernor.com/
John Richardson
http://www.johnrichardsonformaine.com/
Steven Rowe
http://www.roweforgovernor.com/
Rosa Scarcelli
http://www.rosaformaine.com/home
Peter Truman
I do not support felons involvement in politics.
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=282192∾=PHnws