This week, the Bangor Daily News has been doing a very good series on gun ownership in Maine and the state's gun culture. Today's article is on the challenge Maine presents to gun-control advocates such as the Brady Campaign. It's an interesting article, because it shows the extent [...]
My thoughts on Tuesday's election results at The Greenroom.
[...]Sorry for the lack of posts. It's been a busy month at work and home. I will post again soon, honest.
Until then, here's something that made me laugh recently:
[...]I've lived in Maine for almost 20 years now, and for 15 of those years, Olympia Snowe has been my senator. So, needless to say, I wasn't surprised at all by her vote to support the healthcare reform bill. With the exception of national security and some 2nd amendment issues, [...]
I'm voting no on this question.While it’s true, some Maine residents would see a reduction in excise taxes if Question 2 passes, far more — based on the age of their vehicles — would see no change.
Estimates from the Secretary of State’s Office suggest that more than two-thirds of' [...]
Personally, I'm not sure the Nobel committee really did the president a favor, since commenters on both sides of the political spectrum were shocked by the announcement. This may prove more negative than positive for The One, since it serves to highlight his greatest weakness.
Still, Obama does have' [...]
Gardening may seem fun, but it has its dark side. On the one hand, there's the chance to work with your hands in the earth and the reward of fresh vegetables.
On the other...
[...]Anne, this word "outrageous." I do not think it means what you think it means.Of all nations, why was it Switzerland -- the country that traditionally guarded the secret bank accounts of international criminals and corrupt dictators -- that finally decided to arrest Roman Polanski? There must be some [...]
As I was reading the transcript of the now-infamous conference call between government officials and various artists, something occurred to me.
Mike Skolnick, the artist asked by the White House to coordinate the effort said in his view, part of the group's task was "to support some of the president's'" [...]
This picture cracks me up. In part because the leader of the free world is fully embracing his inner geek, but mostly the look on Michelle's face. It is exactly the same amused/'oh no there he goes again' look that my wife would have.
The picture was taken [...]
I don't have cable, so I only experience "The Daily Show" through clips like this. I've watched enough of the show to know when Stewart is [...]
Cheat on your taxes while writing tax law? Keep your position.
Heckle the president during a speech? Sanction.
[...]Adam Baldwin looks at the president's speech to schoolchildren. I agree with his main point - the problem isn't the speech, it's the lesson materials distributed beforehand that seemed a little odd.
' [...]Interesting.I met with the Senator personally during the August recess back here in Maine when she spoke with dozens of Maine folks in a series of health care talks throughout the state. Here is what I learned: She is worried about costs and the impact on the deficit, the [...]
Who better to work for the government than someone who believed the government is responsible for the deaths of 3,000 people?
Of course, Jones is furiously trying to backpedal on this one even though he signed the document calling for an investigation of the possibility that [...]
The answer to Instapundit's question is yes. As I've mentioned before on this blog, I lived in Hawaii for three years in the late 80s and saw first-hand some of the disdain many in that state have for "haoles." Nothing like being spit upon to make a guy' [...]
This article makes me miss Michael Kelly's writing, but also makes me feel both pity and disdain for the late senator. It's a must-read.
Update - Another must-read. If you support the right policies, it's amazing what some will forgive.
' [...]
This was an actual headline at MSNBC.com this evening. Amazingly enough, this is not the most gushing tribute to the late senator from Massachusetts.
So...can I imagine life without Ted Kennedy?
As a matter of fact, I can. Tonight, I will go to bed and sleep. Tomorrow, I [...]
I've got to say, I can't disagree with President Obama on some of his pet peeves.At meetings, the staff knows the do’s and don’ts. And the key to it all is being prepared and precise. Axelrod said Obama bristles when “people talk too much at meetings and prevent others [...]
As the president and congressional Democrats continue their quest to convince the American people that a public option will help lower healthcare costs, the Wall St. Journal looks north and finds an example of that approach...lacking.Then the state created a "public option" known as DirigoChoice. (Dirigo is the state [...]
Hot Air linked this article a week ago, but I just stumbled across it again and after reading it a second time, I'm struck anew by how truly nasty it is. After a string of anonymous anecdotes and ad hominem attacks, Mark McKinnon sets a new low in the' [...]
One of the questionable joys of living in a state with two center-left Republican senators is that whenever a controversial issue is being debated in Congress, the airways are inundated with advertisements for and against. It gets irritating at times, but does provide me with the opportunity to listen to [...]
Lies, damn lies...and really, really stupid lies.Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee, D-Texas, told CNN she had dialed into a Congressional hotline to get more details about a question that was being asked by a constituent at the town hall in Houston on Tuesday. House Democratic aides have set up a [...]
Is the widdle White House not getting what it wants? Awww...poor babies...Feeling victimized by misinformation spread virally through the Internet, the White House Thursday is launching its own "viral e-mail" for supporters to spread.
With the subject line: "Something worth forwarding," the e-mail — from senior White House adviser David [...]
Well, this is creepy. (h/t: ace):A leading Republican US Senator on Wednesday sharply assailed a White House request for supporters to help track "fishy" claims about President Barack Obama's plans to overhaul US health care.
"I am not aware of any precedent for a president asking American citizens to" [...]
Like Allahpundit, I'm not sure I get the point of the "Obama as Joker" poster. My best guess is maybe the artist sees Obama as an agent of chaos, or a thief. Even if I don't like it, I still admire the skill of the artist. That's a very [...]
If Obama has another 'beer summit,' this should be on tap:
Cheers!
Cross-posted at The Greenroom
[...]With President Barack Obama's poll numbers falling to earth, he's decided to embark on a bold new initiative - blaming former President Bush for the country's woes.
Didn't see that coming. Democratic strategists are supporting the president in the only way they know how - engaging in mind-numbing spin:"I'm" [...]
I'd like to thank David Frum and his hyperbole for once again making that possible.
' [...]In today's Wall St. Journal, Peggy Noonan pronounces ObamaCare 'mostly dead:'This is big, what’s happening. President Obama appears to have misstepped on a major initiative and defining issue. He has misjudged the nation’s mood, which itself is news: He rose from nothing to everything with the help of his [...]
At the end of his primetime press conference, President Obama was asked whether national health care would lead to reduced service and whether doctors would continue to make health care decisions. After a bit of rambling, Obama said this:Right now, doctors a lot of times are forced to make [...]
Don't mess with Buzz. He may be in his 80s, but the man clearly knows how to throw a punch.
And if you're of a certain age, you'll remember the existence of a lunar landing game that is both maddening and addictive. Now you can relive the endless frustration online!
You're [...]
Most transparent, administration EVER EVER.WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House is being forced to acknowledge the wide gap between its once-upbeat predictions about the economy and today's bleak landscape.
The administration's annual midsummer budget update is sure to show higher deficits and unemployment and slower growth than projected in President [...]
It has been light lately, hasn't it? Sorry about that.
Honestly, I just don't feel as though I have a lot to add to the conversation most days. That, plus a busy work schedule and a lot to do in the real world are limiting my writing time. I'm taking the' [...]
President Obama: The stimulus is working!
The economy: No, it's not:
Source: Innocent Bystanders
This chart was created by Obama's economic team to show what would happen if the stimulus was not passed. So judging by the Obama administration's own yardstick, the stimulus has already failed [...]
The horror...PORTLAND, Maine — Police in Maine's biggest city are on the lookout for a thief with an eye for roses.
Gardeners at Portland's Deering Oaks Park noticed Monday that someone had snipped 100 blooms from the rose bushes. The same thing happened last year but not on the same [...]
President-Elect Barack Obama, January 10, 2009:"And eventually sacrifice from everyone?" I asked.
"Everybody’s going to have to give. Everybody’s going to have to have some skin in the game," Obama said.President Barack Obama, June 1, 2009:I know you've already seen more than your fair share of hard times. We' [...]
Hope all of you have a safe and happy Fourth of July.
[...]Yes, it was a shocker. I figured she wasn't going to run for re-election, but the news of her resignation came as a complete surprise. My gut reaction? She's tired of politics, and is out of the game for good. Even if that's not her intention, I agree with Ed' [...]
Looking for some summer reading?
Coming soon to a bookstore near you. Or a television station. Or radio interview. Basically, wherever Mark Sanford decides to spill his guts again.
I agree with Doctor Zero. It's time for Sanford to leave the stage.
Cross-posted at The Greenroom
[...]Wow. Meghan McCain is just, like, so cool and stuff.France—home of my absolute favorite foreign first lady, Carla Bruni—perfected the laissez-faire attitude toward the sex lives of its public leaders. Not here. We hold our politicians to impossible standards. We elect them, put our hopes and dreams for a [...]
Since the first Gulf War in 1991, a group of veterans and townspeople from the area have greeted every troop flight that arrives or departs from Bangor International Airport. They're so loyal to their mission that the airport set aside a permanent room for them.
I've been at the airport a [...]
First off, I promise the post title will be the only "Evita" reference.
When South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford first disappeared, the story was weird but not scandalous. Boy, did that ever change.
When I first heard the news, my first thought was 'what kind of jerk visits his mistress on' [...]
To be fair, though, both Obama and McCain promoted this nonsense on the campaign trail. Yet another reason to be glad I purchased a pellet stove for next winter.
[...]In the book "A Darkness More than Night" by Michael Connelly, one of his characters describes what it's like to be a father. Connelly's detective Terry McCaleb talks about checking on his daughter while she's sleeping and says he "could feel her tiny heart beating. It seemed quick and desperate," [...]
The best coverage I've seen today is at Hot Air.
The White House reaction has been tepid at best. Personally, I'm not sure why an image-conscious president like Obama decided this was a good idea.
[...]
Obama did what? Oh, well...run the story in D-20,The difference is, in this version, the media is the Charles Colson-esque attack dog protecting the president. Other than that, this smells a lot like abuse of power.Some strange and potentially suspicious events tonight [...]
Just spent about three days away from the news and the internet, and am surprised by how little I missed both. I guess my near-burnout was worse than I thought. Some random thoughts and observations:
"God help the people of Iran. We sure won't." Truer words were never' [...]
Maybe he didn't make the Palin jokes to be a jerk. Maybe he just needed the attention.Though overnight household ratings (which measure approximate overall viewership) have grown tighter between the two programs since O'Brien took over "The Tonight Show," newly released adult demo numbers portray last week's competition as' [...]
One of the best things about having a Democrat in the White House in a time of easily-accessed information is pointing out the vast difference in how the press treats the new occupant versus how they treated the old one. The sharp disparity between press coverage of Obama vs. Bush [...]
First his seniority, now his candidacy?
I don't think Specter's party switch is working out as planned.Among voters that know Sestak (mostly in the Philadelphia inner suburbs) he enjoys an 18 - 4 favorable-unfavorable ratio, and among voters who already identify both candidates, Sestak actually leads Specter in the' [...]
Not sure what's more offensive about this - Megan's ridiculous stereotyping, or her belief that Megatron can be reasoned with. Has she learned nothing?The “Transformers” bombshell-cum-uninhibited philosophizer also contemplates — reluctantly — what she would say to Megatron to keep him from destroying the world. “I’d barter with him,” [...]
A little food for thought from Newsbusters:At the time of this writing, there are nearly 7,000 references to "George Tiller" in Google News.
There are under 500 for "William Long."
George Tiller, of course, was the Kansas abortion doctor murdered Sunday morning by a man who allegedly had political and religious [...]
The procedure Dr. George Tiller performed was barbaric, but even so, it did not justify this.(CNN) -- A suspect in Sunday's killing of Dr. George Tiller, whose women's clinic in Kansas was the epicenter of the state's battles over abortion for nearly two decades, was in police custody Sunday [...]
The New York Times editorial board has nothing but praise for Judge Sonia Sotomayor today, plus a frank acknowledgment of the politics at play:If Judge Sotomayor joins the court, it will be a special point of pride for Hispanic-Americans — as it was for Jews, blacks and women before [...]
I didn't mean to disappear from the internet for a few days. It just kind of happened. The combination of a busy weekend, no inspiration to write and this book left me with little online time. Which turned out to be great.
Some quick hits:
I cannot believe' [...]
The Washington Post has a good story today about yesterday's dueling speeches on national security. The close timing of the speeches was unusual, so the reporters interviewed a historian, who had the following to say:"I think it is unprecedented in the modern era," said Peniel Joseph, a historian at [...]
Who knew Rep. Mike Michaud was so powerful? After all, John Murtha only got $800,000 for his airport.PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — Northern Maine Regional Airport in Presque Isle is getting $2.5 million in federal stimulus money to extend its parallel taxiway.
The announcement Tuesday by U.S. Rep. Mike Michaud [...]
Posting at Hot Air's Greenroom is pretty cool. You know what's cooler?
As Allahpundit would say, dude.
Click the link to see the extent of David Frum's anti-Limbaugh-ism. I guess he is incapable of using Google.
[...]Today, President Barack Obama spoke at Notre Dame. In his commencement address, he said the following:So let us work together to reduce the number of women seeking abortions, let's reduce unintended pregnancies. Let's make adoption more available. Let's provide care and support for women who do carry their children' [...]
The promise:My Administration is committed to creating an unprecedented level of openness in Government. We will work together to ensure the public trust and establish a system of transparency, public participation, and collaboration. Openness will strengthen our democracy and promote efficiency and effectiveness in Government.The reality:The Obama administration [...]
President Barack Obama, January 20, 2009:Our founding fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations. Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give [...]
When in doubt, go with a talking point the media refuses to challenge:WASHINGTON, May 11 (Reuters) - High U.S. budget deficits are being driven by an economic crisis that President Barack Obama inherited, White House Budget Director Peter Orszag said on Monday.Now, the numbers:
Newsweek:The film shows the beginnings of the Enterprise crew, tracing how Kirk, Spock and the others came together. All the character quirks are there, and the Enterprise is rendered more realistically than ever, but what's missing are the typically progressive politics and moral dilemmas that made the original "Trek"' [...]
This morning, Maine became the fifth state in the country to legalize gay marriage, but only the second to do it though the legislative process.AUGUSTA -- Democratic Gov. John Baldacci today signed into law a bill allowing gay marriage, making Maine the fifth state to allow people of the [...]
Even water.The tax is the most problematic of the proposals before the Legislature, said Mark Dubois, natural resource manager for Poland Spring. He said the tax would cost the company $7 million annually, or 20 percent of its annual payroll.
"It simply puts Maine jobs at risk," Dubois said.
Poland Spring, [...]
The Boston Herald stirs up some trouble.As recently as March, Boston Newspaper Guild president Dan Totten noted union members haven’t had a raise since 2006 as he slammed Globe and New York Times [NYT] Co. management for getting an extra two weeks paid vacation in exchange for accepting a [...]
Like MKH says, just imagine if Bush had said this.
[...]Busy week, busy weekend. Sanding drywall is not a lot of fun. Especially if you don't wear a mask.
Still, got a chance to use a photoshop at the Greenroom.
' [...]Until recently, I had not heard of author Andrew Klavan. After watching this video, I picked up "Dynamite Road," and was hooked from the first paragraph: "Killing the girl was worth forty-nine points. In a lot of ways, it was the easiest job the man called Ben Fry had" [...]
The Maine Civil Liberties Union pats itself on the back for all the wrong reasons.PORTLAND, Maine — The Augusta lawyer who is challenging Maine’s Sex Offender Registry law will receive the Maine Civil Liberties Union’s annual prize next month.
James E. Mitchell, 67, who lives in Vassalboro, will be honored [...]
The results would probably look something like this column - "They will surrender, it is they who will surrender!"NEW YORK Enough already. Partial facts and misinformation about newspapers are distorting the view for everyone, including readers and advertisers.
Let's set the record straight: Newspapers still enjoy considerable readership and deliver [...]
Ron Fournier and Trevor Thompson have done what I once thought impossible - they have actually broken new ground in media adulation for the president.
Behold, the new gold standard:WASHINGTON (AP) - For the first time in years, more Americans than not say the country is headed in the right [...]
Robert Langdon will grin again.NEW YORK (AFP) — A follow-up by writer Dan Brown to his hugely popular conspiracy thriller "The Da Vinci Code" will go on sale in September, the publishers and author said Monday.
"The Lost Symbol," featuring Da Vinci Code protagonist Robert Langdon, will go on sale [...]
I haven't written a lot about Meghan McCain because to me, she seems like a pleasant enough kid with some really bad ideas. My only comments on her have been to express my hope that her attempts to remake the GOP in her image fail. Despite my strong disagreement' [...]
Workers of the world, bake!The Service Employees International Union says Mainers will deliver the pies Thursday to all 17 district offices of Sens. Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins and Reps. Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree.
In its announcement urging support for President Obama’s health care reform proposals and the Employee [...]
How are your tax dollars being spent in Maine?
Retrieving lost lobster traps. Yes, really.Fishermen and lobster industry regulators have accepted such gear loss, but the slow accumulation of lost traps on the bottom has attracted the interest of officials because of the potential impact the traps could have on [...]
This afternoon, I attended the tea party being held in Bangor, Maine. This is not a big city - the population is just over 30,000. It's also not a particularly conservative city in a very liberal state. Barack Obama received 59% of the vote in this city. I've' [...]
On guns. In this particular bit of advocacy, Michael Isikoff and Suzanne Smalley practically beg the administration to reinstate the assault weapons ban. After recounting the story of cop-killer Richard Poplawski, the reporters get to the meat:In the past, national political leaders might have raised troubling questions about how [...]
The American Recovery and Investment Act is doing exactly what some conservatives predicted: giving the government more to spend money on in the future.Little by little, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act -- better known as the economic stimulus package -- is having an effect on college campuses. While [...]
Michelle Malkin recently opened up her website to give (as of now) a dozen Hot Air commenters their own posting privileges in the "Green Room," a new section of the site.
I'm one of them, so come join the conversation. As I said in my first post on that' [...]
Hope all of you are having a good holiday.
[...]Well, this.(CNN) -- Woody Harrelson defended his clash with a photographer at a New York airport Wednesday night as a case of mistaken identity -- he says he mistook the cameraman for a zombie.
... Harrelson, who is being sued by another TMZ photographer for an alleged assault in 2006, [...]
In 1986, a group of physicians and theologians wrote a paper about what Jesus endured, medically speaking, on Good Friday.
It's hard reading, but makes me appreciate the extent of His sacrifice.
[...]No more McCains, ever. Meghan McCain, the daughter of our failed 2008 nominee, is trying to make herself the future leader of the party. Here's a sample of her winning strategy:Thank you so much Mary, yes we have to take back our party from radicals! xoxoExcuse me? "Our" party, [...]
Tonight, during "CSI," I saw a commercial sponsored by unions asking me to encourage my representatives to pass the Employee Free Choice Act.
While I'm glad to see unions pour money into a lost cause, they should probably just give up on this one. It's dead. Eliminating the secret' [...]
You have got to be kidding me.Barack Obama, concerned about offending Britain and Germany, rebuffed strenuous attempts by President Nicolas Sarkozy of France to persuade the new American president to make a trip to Normandy this week.
White House officials travelled to France at the start of March to discuss [...]
Prostitution ring busted in Brewer.BREWER, Maine — Police investigating a suspected prostitution ring used Craigslist and other online advertising sites to order six female escorts last Thursday and arranged to meet them at an undisclosed Wilson Street motel.
The prostitution sting resulted in charges against six local women and Michelle [...]
Thanks to Dan Simmons, I haven't been reading much other than this today. Blogging may suffer as a result.
' [...]So, does Terry McAuliffe think we're just going to forget all the nasty stuff he said in the 90s?
Guess so, if he's pretending to be OUTRAGED!!1! about jokes like this.
' [...]Geithner: We may have to fire more CEOs.
[...]"Present?" Seriously, Representative Cantor? That's leadership?
And what on earth is "excessive" compensation and where does Congress find the right to regulate pay in the Constitution?
[...]An annual April Fools day tradition at ThinkGeek is to post fake products for sale. It's too bad this one isn't real.
Update - The people have spoken, and they want their Tauntaun sleeping bags. Looks like ThinkGeek is going to try and make that happen.
[...]Today, President Obama and his wife met the Queen of England. It seems he has learned something from the embarrassment of giving PM Gordon Brown a few DVDs in the wrong format. The Obamas presented the queen with a songbook signed by Richard Rodgers of Rodgers and Hammerstein fame, a [...]
My daughter's favorite movie right now is "Beauty and the Beast." Looks like I'm going to see it on the big screen next year.LAS VEGAS (AP) — Walt Disney is going 3-D on a lot of future films — and some from its past.
The studio announced Tuesday that 3-D' [...]
I suppose we should be thankful our legislators are honest... Proponents said annual inspections are burdensome and costly, especially for lower-income Mainers. They also said manufacturing improvements have done away with the need to have cars checked on an annual basis.
Rep. Edward Mazurek asked House members to kills the [...]
Stories like this make me wish the GOP wasn't the stupid party. Remember, Nancy Pelosi promised the most ethical Congress ever. And she wanted to make Murtha her majority leader.
And now her Democrats are blocking the investigation of a man who has been caught up in corruption' [...]
