8 million people have viewed Matthew Broderick pay tribute to the iconic 80's character that launched his career-and that's before the ad airs during the Super Bowl this Sunday!
So we are now done with the New Hampshire primary and Mitt is two for two. It was all over before New Hampshire. It should be over now. But on to South Carolina. Let's say Mitt wins. Will Ron Paul drop out? Never. But that's okay. It is good to have someone remain in the campaign to keep the candidate "honest" and on his toes. But at this point Gingrich is starting to really hurt the party. His decision to go negative simply gives Obama more talking points for the Super Bowl of politics. Huntsman is too "Mitt like" to make any inroads. Rick Perry should have never run. And Santorum will continue to fade as the "flavor of the day" trend continues. Bottom line: The Republicans will finally chose the best candidate to beat Obama in 2012. Good going. I wish the Dems had learned that lesson in 2004. Hopefully, in 2016, the Dems will nominate the best person to beat either the Republican president or the Republican candidate - and, as well know, she is Hillary Clinton! Ken
I had considered, in the Christmas spirt (holiday spirit?) NOT doing a blog about Governor LePage. But based on the last week or so I simply cannot help but comment on the Governor's "truthfulness." I would normally think that the Governor is either stupid or a pathological liar. Since he is not stupid, I have to assume he is a pathological liar. Seriously. Can he simply not help himself? He speaks to an audience of one hundred people and says "they" (his administration) called Forbes to see why Maine is still ranked 50th in business friendly states. He then detailed what the editor of Forbes said to him. The only problem is that the editor of Forbes didn't say these things to the Gorvernor or his staff. And, to make matters worse, the editor calls him out on it. And, as you know, this is one of many examples of the Governor's "straying" from the facts.
Governor, some friendly advice. Answer the questions. Short and sweet. Don't add to it. Don't embellish it. Don't change facts to advance your agenda. Otherwise, some of us may think you are a pathological liar. Oh, by the way, Merry Christmas and happy holidays!
The dust has cleared and there is a new elected mayor in Portland. Our congratulations to Mayor Mike Brennan. What is clear to me is that ranked choice voting worked: Every positiion after the first round remained in the exact same order after the thirteenth and final round. And we now have a mayor that has more than 50% of the vote. Success! Maine voters soundly rejected more casinos. It will be interesting to see if the legislature will actually put forth a real plan for developing and/or controlling casino development. I think not, but they should!
No surprise at all here. The Left and the 61 %'ers ran a great campaign, simple and to the point with very effective use of TV to keep their campaign narrow and focused and it worked. The No on 1 side tried to use TV but their spots were often inane (all the other 5 NE states coming after Maine) and did not resonate at all with Mainers. I voted against the repeal even though I did not suport the voter reg. changes at the time. I did so because I was po'd that this got to referendum, it was not that big a deal, involved very little change and I could see the argument from Charlie Summers perspective. A lot of money and time was wasted on an issue that really wasn't a big deal.
Gambling goes down big time.., again!
I thought all along Question 2 would squeak by and pass much like Oxford County did last year but it wasn't really close. The jobs angle looked like a perfect approach in today's economy, sell the horses, the hay, the blacksmiths, harness racers and more. Millions spent by the Yes on 2 side and a bad loss. A very effective counter campaign run by Chris O'Neil and the Mainers against a Rotten Deal group. Late in the campaign, they combined with Dennis Bailey, Me. Christian Civic League, MOFA and believe it or not, Friends of Oxford County Casino to drive home that not only was Q2 bad but so was Q3! 2 for the price of one from this group, very effective. Was it intellectually dishonest and hypocritical for Friends of Oxford County Casino to embrace Bailey after wanting his head on a post last year? Of course it was. No backbone at all after Bailey did everything he could to crush them last year. The day before the election, I got an email from an insider of the Oxford County Casino asking me my thoughts on how it might go. I said I thought 2 would win and 3 would lose. This person responded with an email explaining to me how if things went this way in this county and that way in that county, both 2 and 3 could be defeated. I responded with I'll bet that's exactly what Bailey must have thought last year when he was trying to bury you guys. No response. 2 ran a good campaign and should be commended it's just that gambling is what it is, an issue Mainers just don't quite know what to do with.
Now on to the Lewiston Casino story.., A big loss that I knew would happen and Paul LePage had nothing to do with it! First of all having Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert out front as your chief spokesman is and was not a good idea. Gilbert is inarticulate and frankly, stupid. In the debate we had in studio with Gilbert and Dennis Bailey, the Drama Queen cleaned Gilbert's clock! Bailey had tons of facts as usual and Gilbert had.., well.., nothing! Having said that, it wasn't solely Gilbert but so much more. A message that wasn't clear, rumors about an out of state developer being involved and the fact that Mainers have conflicting views on gambling. Oh, and Paul LePage being interjected inadvertantly into the campaign by the opposition had NOTHING to do with the loss, it was going to happen badly anyway. Gilbert is simply wrong and not willing to man up and admit he was awful and so was their campaign. What the Governor said was true in my opinion even though I voted yes on both questions.
So, where do we go from here on gambling in Maine? More proposals down the line? Yup, that will happen.., unless the Legislature takes up the issue finally and passes some clear legislation that stops the plethora of proposals that could come without it. I doubt they will though.
Cumberland county voters approve CCCC renovation bond
Shocking huh?! Not! Here's how stupid voters are. In questions 2 and 3 they had private developers willing to pony up millions of their own dollars to provide hundreds of good paying jobs with nice benefits but no, they rejected both of them. Along comes the CCCC proposal where Cumberland county resident have to put up 33 million bucks of their own money to keep and possibly add a few morer pretty mediocre jobs and what did they do? They passed it! Of course, it makes perfect sense! This renovation will get done, really bring no more big acts or shows to Portland and in 5 to 10 more years we'll hear the same old story from the CCCC Board of Trustees, the CCCC needs an upgrade and we want 50 or 60 million bucks of your own money this time. Bad choice by Cumberland county voters and they'll pay for it, literally.
Ethan Strimling back on WGAN as a Sr. Political Analyst!
Yup, I supported Ethan in his race for Mayor.., how'd that work for him?! Not only me but Ken Altshuler, Phil Harriman, Jeremy Fischer and probably some I'm leaving out from WGAN supported Strimling. How did he lose? 85k spent, great organization, prominent business leaders including many Republicans on his side, a candidate who knows the issues and articulates as well as anyone.., it's hard to figure. I disagree with Ethan on quite a few things but I think he has outstanding leadership skills and knows how to use them but that didn't catch on with the voters. People go 1 of 2 ways on Strimling, they either love him or they hate him and that didn't help him here. I don't get the appeal of Mike Brennan. Mike is a fine guy, I've enjoyed interviewing and talking to him but he's a left wing nut! He makes Ethan look like Rush Limbaugh and he has nowhere near the leadership skills in my opinion that Strimling does but once again, Ethan loses to Brennan just as he finished behind him in the '08 Democratic Congressional primary. As Jason Singer from the PPH told us Thursday morning, "next time he runs for something he first needs to make sure Mike Brennan isn't running for the same thing". Good point, can't disagree with it.
As for Strimling's political future? Short term, I don't think there is any. I think Ethan needs to sit out, listen, stay on the sidelines for a good, long while. You can never bury anyone in politics, witness Nixon coming back from losing to JFK in '60 and to Pat Brown for Governor in California after that in '62 when he said, "you won't have Dick Nixon to kick around anymore". Many others have returned from the dead and Ethan is talented and smart and knows the issues.., he just needs to make sure when he runs, Mike Brennan isn't as well!
2-22 Gregg Laskoski
Gregg Laskoski from gasbuddy.com joins us to analyze the spike in petrol prices and what that means for us as a country.
2-22 Alex Stone
ABC's Alex Stone joins us to preview what may be the most critical debate in the GOP Presidential primary race so far.
2-22 Eye on Politics
Phil and Ethan give us their preview of the GOP debate, their thoughts on Satan in the Presidential race, and much more!
2-21 Aaron Katersky
ABC correspondent, Aaron Katersky, joins the show to discuss super PAC's.
2-21 Bob Nutting
Speaker of the house, Bob Nutting, joins the show to talk about new texting legislation and other issues in local politics!
2-20 Mal Leary
Mal Leary joins us to discuss the budget proposals being worked on in Augusta.
2-17 Bill Nemitz
Bill Nemitz of the Portland Press Herald joins us to discuss the potential recount for the Maine caucus and the controversy surrounding Charlie Webster.
2-22 Daily Rundown
Mike and Ken discuss the upcoming GOP debate, Satan and the Presidential race, and much more!
2-21 Daily Rundown
GOP presidential race updates, the bailout in Greece, occupy Maine lawsuit dropped, and more!
2-20 Daily Rundown
Mike and Ken discuss the current state of the GOP primary, the rising conflict in Iran, and much more!
2-17 Daily Rundown
Mike and Ken give us their opinions on the failed budget proposal, Romney's standing in Michigan, and much more during the Daily Rundown.
2-16 Daily Rundown
Mike and Ken discuss the vote on the Maine budget, Charlie Webster's controversial reporting on the Maine caucus results, and much more!
2-15 Daily Rundown
Mike and Ken discuss the payroll tax deal, the results of a recent poll of the GOP, and why the Maine caucus is worthless. All during the Daily Rundown Early Edition!
2-14 Daily Rundown`
Obama's budget, Romney wins Maine, and Paul Withee resigns!
