I'm still wondering what happened to all the peace protesters that were so common during the Bush administration.

How many were attending this event?

I thought so...

bemused those concerns are from both sides of the aisle...not just one.

It does not matter in the upper echelon who is a Republican or Democrat these days. That is just played around with for us folks out here. They all eat, party, and sleep together off camera. Election of an official is not a free pass or guarantee to hold office until death. The truth is loyalty to one individual for many years elected to a post is not a good idea for freedom. By not as a majority electing new blood our state stagnates and suffers. A very good indication we have gotten to this point is when our officials are no shows here at home to address a specific issue, or do not address these serious issues with us before deciding to place our vote in Washington. After the fact Congressman Michaud called here to the house today, and he has decided to hold a telephonic town hall meeting. I was at work making money to pay bills, as I will probably be when he calls tomorrow evening (this is something many of us out here do in order to entertain ourselves from time to time). Can you folks imagine a town hall meeting on the telephone...the first true voice of my opinion, concerns, or opposition and...click, and my name is on a list.

If you don't think people are genuinely fired up, contemplate 450 people coming together to address their grievances to three photographs of politicians. Astonishing! Also a great call out of the pols' refusal to show their faces and hear what the folks have to say. Great job, Paul!

Do it again. Too bad our reps in Washington only come see us when they want our vote. These politicians should be ashamed. We will have our say in November elections.

Sounds like a mob to me. I doubt if anything productive can come out of people screaming at each other.

Grey Haired Mob against ObamaCare=Bad

Dirty Hippy Mob against George Bush=Good

Of course a bunch of old people, some with canes is some threatening mob eh "freedom"fighter?

Were there no youth in Lincoln to interview today, BDN? No shows? Some clown gets a free hall rental and Snowe. Collins, and Michaud are no shows? Is the BDN just annoyed they got tricked into covering a bunch of loudmouths?

If you think healthcare is expensive now, wait till its "free".

Ah, the astroturf is everywhere...lol...

Amazing how phony "people" could drive all the way from the St. John Valley just to vent a little. They must all be members of Obama's ACORN, huh?

Look, this isn't a partisan thing, folks. It's really quite simple. WE NO LONGER HAVE EVEN A DEMOCRACY, only the facade of one. (Of course, the Constitutional Republic we were supposed to have was subsumed long ago to the New World Order.)

IF we throw ALL THE BUMS OUT in the fall, it might make a difference. Unfortunately, it looks like (at least here in Maine) there are only rich new insider-approved wannabees running, for the most part...WE NEED POPULIST, PATRIOTIC, CONSTITUTIONAL SCHOLARS RUNNING, but more importantly we need citizens to SUPPORT THEM, because these are NOT the people with the money....

How do we fix America's gravest problems?:

1. Hold everyone who voted for treasonous, un-Constitutional bills like the "Stimulus Bill" (written by radical Marxists like those at Apollo) accountable. (Yes, Susan and Olympia, that means YOU, despite your unwillingness to listen to the Aroostook County Republican Committee resolution condemning you for this unconscionable vote, and despite your RINO lapdogs at the MSRC covering for you to keep it off the floor there.)

2. ELECT ONLY PEOPLE WITH PROVEN PATRIOTIC CREDENTIALS. Never vote for a closet globalist again.

3. Educate yourself on what is really going on here, folks, and GET ACTIVE. Hint: Why does the USA keep getting weaker and the UN keep getting stronger. Did you think that was accidental? Some websites to look at: givemeliberty.org, nofda.com, jbs.org, thenewamerican.org...

Turn off the tube and get on the internet, and shortwave radio.

For the Republic,

Steve Martin

Host, The Aroostook Watchmen Radio Show

Member, Maine State Republican Committee

State Coordinator, Continental Congress '09

Local Coordinator, 911truth.org

Amity, Maine

If the thee cowards can not face their constituents they should be recalled at the very least. It is a sad day in Maine and the USA when elected

officials won't hear the concerns of the citizens they represent. This is an abuse of power and should be punishable, if your obligation is to represent us which the we lent you the power to do so, and you totally ignore our concerns. This smacks of treason and cronyism because it certainly appears our representatives are conspiring against the citizens.

450 ADULTS venting concerns and frustrations with our political representatives hardly makes a mob.This was a polite informed and educated group.

How many were carrying guns? Or did they leave their guns at home because they knew there would be no one there to intimidate?

Its sad when some people think this is an angry mob. I would of gone if I had known about it. The frustration is overwhelming and who do we have to vent our frustration to "noone" and our Reps should be held accountable. They don't want to listen to us, but they want our vote. They get the best health care in the country and I bet it doesn't cost them much, if anything. The best way to act is vote them out. When we put Snowe and Collins back into office every term they run, we put back two Democrats. The people have vented there frustration out in the town hall meeting all over the United States and there Reps. aren't listening either.

I wish I would have know about this I would have been there. But I don't think our Rep's care about what we think! They hav all been paid off and and are doing just what they are yold to do. Trommer could send the recording to them and I hope he does. But he will get back just what everyone gets back. A feel god forum letter that means nothing and says nothing. We here in this State should thnk all our Rep's in the voting booth.Its time for real change!!!! Change that is what our Forefathers meant for tis Country. Not the change that is killing this coutry now!

acadian My name is on the list also!

stearns66 People need to star writting the Maine Republican Party and let them know that they are not happy with Collins and Snowe and to get someone else to run and not to support Collins or Snowe next time they run!

Did Mr. Trommer actually invite Snow, Collins and Michaud? Did BDN contact them to find out if they were invited? Or why they didn't come? Of course people are angry with their "representatives" in Washington who seem to work only for the rich and the powerful. But Mr. Trommer seems to have been too ready for "no-shows" to make me think that he tried to work out schedules with the senators and Representatives. Sounds like he's getting ready for a run at a Washington job himself.

Did BDN get sucked in to an early campaign ploy? Mr. Trommer emails his buddies and asks them to come berate pictures of politicians that weren't part of the planning. Now he has low cost video for advertising in his run for office in Washington. Then BDN amplifies the "misinformation".

Shoddy newspapering and the usual unthinking kneejerk reactions in the comments. Sigh . . .

I agree with scottcom36. This was a significant number of people for a Maine political meeting. Whether it will have leadership and focus rather than feelings of frustration is another matter.

It should be noted that, of the Maine Delegation, Sen Collins stands out at the one most concerned about spending and deficits. Notice her recent function with the Concord Coalition.

awchasse, good points. I hope someone will be able to answer your questions.

What's the matter Anne? Suddenly the democractic process isn't working for your cause? Too many of your fat cat friends in politics are being shown to be the true cowards. Politicians should be paid nothing. If they truly want what's best for everyone, just serving the people should be enough reward. I bet they all had 4 star meals somewhere last night. You should run. How could you possibly be defeated? I have several guns, thank you.

Careful Anne, some of us uptight,homo-phobic,jack-booted,anti-semetic,mind-numb, legally well-armed, Rush Limbaugh robots have feelings..

I too am curious how short of notice Mr. Trommer gave to the delegation to attend a meeting? Also, did they even receive an invite? Did any of the offices respond if so? and BDN did you try to get comment before writing this article? seems to me there is some information missing.... if you want your reps there then maybe you should work with them to get them there an not plan something last minute.

8:18 am, I am impressed with the clarity of your self-awareness.

I can't believe that they didn't have the guts to show up, that is down right cowardly, when it comes time for elections, you dam bet you will get a recorded phone call from their office wanting your vote. All they want to do is spend the tax payers money on their salaries and use it for their pleasure and not do a dam thing for the state of Maine.

I've never criticized a BDN article or reporter.... but I gotta say I'm disappointed that the article was silent on any invitations or plans for elected reps to attend. Its fine if this was a staged event but its not fine to be silent on the facts regarding invitations/plans/expectations for our political representatives to attend. Editors should not have sent it to print without full disclosure or comment.

Steve Martin - You appear a little non-chalant about this whole situation with a "told you so" attitude and un-invited sarcasim. With all of your so called credentials you would think you would, at the very least have the utmost respect for the good individuals who want to be heard from the St.John Valley.

Steve Martin said

"Amazing how phony "people" could drive all the way from the St. John Valley just to vent a little. They must all be members of Obama's ACORN, huh?"

I case you didn't know, we people of the St. John Valley have to travel for everything. That is a choice we make to live away from people such as yourself. People of the Valley want to be heard and have many of the same complaints that the rest of Maine and America has. Just because we travel doesn't mean we are not effected by the poor decisions made by our representatives and senators. We are the people, just like you, of America! We are not yet Canadians, however we may be on sale soon for cheap! LOL!!!

Thankyou Anne. I am equally aware of the direction this nation may be headed and has been for some time. Neither "side" is sleeping.

In a nutshell (appropriate in your opinion no doubt) I would rather see corporations and citizens prosper. When the government withdraws money from citizen taxpayers to supplement the well-being of those that can't produce; that is welfare. When the government "prospers" on the extortion of money from successful producers to supplement the lifestyles of those that won't produce; that is the new America.

Also, things would be better for all of us if we would (can we?) stay out of other nations business. I assume that requires energy independence in multiple directions, discovered by innovative minds .

awchasse: our reps were invited. unfortunately, the reporter did not say this, but paul trommer did in his opening remarks. snowe, declined, michaud declined and collins never responded. i spoke of term limits: maybe their limit is up!

Having attended this meeting last night, although somewhat disappointed to not get the excitement of seeing some debate with our legislators, it became clear to me why our elected officials do NOT spend their time attending meetings such as these. I did not hear mention of how much notice they had been given, or what their reasons were for not being there, but honestly it's hard to see how much of it could have been constructive. Having been a meeting called on the health care debate, the attacks on the enlarged photographic depictions ranged from global warming, to energy, even to flu shots and the Fed. Citizens were allowed to ramble on off-topic, however heartfelt, and of course with no opposing views there was no debate to be had or questions to be answered. That said, it's hard to picture these same citizens directly addressing our legislators face-to-face with their strong words of "fire them" and "shame on you". There were a handful of speakers with very well-prepared thoughts and questions, these of which I would have loved to see some honest debate among the senators and congressman. But being few and far between, 2 and a half hours got a little long and while it certainly got people fired up, this article is presumabley the extent of the media coverage the event will receive... So what's next?

“I want people to receive health care, but I don’t want the government to run it,” Teel said in the article on the "meeting".

....then...

“The nose of a mob is its imagination. By this, at any time, it can be quietly led.” Poe

A simple google search for Paul Trommer says everything about the guy and his friends:

What issues concern you the most? (Please check all that apply)

Illegal Alien Amnesty & Open Borders, Socialism, Climate Alarmism, Judicial Activism, Universal Healthcare, Gun Control, Social Liberalism

Just another group of negative, conservative people making noise. What is horrible is that they are being listened at all. Let us stand up against these people. In my opinion, it is a shame that the press even covers this type of event.

This is the future of ObamaCare. The government unionizes all doctors, hospital administrators, federal bureaucrats regulate all health care personnel.

This is what you end up with. A total mess. There is another Brit newspaper report about 4,000 women per year forced to give birth of babies in the hospital corridors, toilet rooms, in ambulances, cabs because of the huge wait time, shortage of maturity wards in Britan's socialized system.. In the future, America may be dependent of Mexican doctors because nobody in a right mind wants to waste the best years of their lives training to be doctors, only to end up in a profession run by union goons, regulated by government bureaucrats.

Foreign GPs who commute to Britain: £100-an-hour Poles and Lithuanians fly in for shifts our doctors won't do

By Rebecca Camber

Last updated at 8:35 AM on 25th August 2009

The huge extent to which the NHS needs foreign doctors to treat patients out of hours is revealed today.

A third of primary care trusts are flying in GPs from as far away as Lithuania, Poland, Germany, Hungary, Italy and Switzerland because of a shortage of doctors in Britain willing to work in the evenings and at weekends.

The stand-ins earn up to £100 an hour, and one trust paid Polish and German doctors a total of £267,000 in a year, a Daily Mail investigation has found.

David Gray

Dr Daniel Ubani

Blunder: David Gray, 70, was killed by German doctor Daniel Ubani (right)

It raises fresh concerns that British patients are being treated by exhausted doctors without a perfect command of English.

Yesterday the Royal College of GPs and the General Medical Council called for a 'radical review' of out-of-hours care so that the NHS no longer has to rely on help from abroad.

The figures come months after an investigation was launched into the conduct of a German doctor after two patients died on his first shift in Britain.

Daniel Ubani had just three hours sleep after travelling from Germany before he went on duty in Cambridgeshire.

* Tory MPs revolt over David Cameron's plans to increase NHS spending above inflation

* One third of GPs would not take swine flu vaccine over safety fears

The Nigerian-born doctor injected 70-year-old kidney patient David Gray with ten

times the maximum recommended dose of morphine, and an 86-year-old woman died of a heart attack after Ubani failed to send her to hospital.

The NHS is having to rely on doctors from overseas because a lucrative new contract for British GPs has resulted in more than 90 per cent opting out of responsibility for their patients in the evenings and at weekends.

Despite doing less, their pay has soared by 50 per cent to an average of almost £108,000.

Responsibility for out-of-hours cover has now passed to primary care trusts.

The rules state that foreign doctors need to have basic GP training, but recent experience is not always necessary.

Their qualifications are checked by the General Medical Council and the local PCT, but no checks are in place to ensure that they are not exhausted after working long hours in their home country.

Our investigation revealed that more than a third of the 152 primary care trusts (PCTs) in England have flown in foreign GPs in the last year. Of the 146 trusts who responded, 51 have used overseas GPs in the last 12 months.

The figure has trebled since 2008 when just one in ten primary care trusts were flying in GPs from abroad. However, it is impossible to know the exact number of GPs travelling to the UK as many primary care trusts do not keep a record of their nationality.

Halton and St Helens PCT spent the most on foreign GPs for the second year running. Between 2008-9, it paid nine Polish and two German doctors a total of £267,000 for shifts in the UK.

The rules state that foreign doctors need to have basic GP training, but recent experience is not always necessary

/////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////

South Western Ambulance Service, which arranges out- of-hours cover in Bournemouth, Dorset and Somerset, spent £163,760 in the same period employing four German GPs - more than twice the sum spent the previous year.

South Staffordshire PCT spent £13,585 on three foreign GPs who provided more than 205 hours of cover between 2008-9 on an hourly rate of £66.10, and Medway PCT spent £12,000 on foreign cover.

Many of the trusts employ the same European locums regularly. East of England Ambulance Trust, which covers Norfolk, Suffolk and parts of Essex, employs two Italian and three German GPs for five shifts a month on average, while Leicestershire and Rutland PCT regularly employs three EU doctors.

Campaigners fear the use of foreign doctors is putting patients' lives at risk.

Michael Summers of the Patients' Association said: 'The problem is that these PCTs send the work to agencies saying we need this number of doctors, we don't really care where you get them, and they get any old Tom, Dick or Harry to do the job for £1,000 a weekend.

'Patients' lives are likely to be put at risk if we do not establish the level of expertise and medical training of these doctors arriving from all over the world.'

Liberal Democrat health spokesman Norman Lamb said: 'The Government completely botched reform of the GP contract and failed to develop an adequate out-of-hours care system.

'Relying on doctors being flown in for a weekend shift is not a sustainable way to cover up ministers' mistakes.'

Calling for a 'radical review' of out-of-hours care, Professor Steve Field, chairman of the Royal College of GPs, said: 'I am particularly worried about the use of doctors from Europe flying in to provide out-of-hours care and then flying back to their home countries to provide services there.

'It's not good for patients here or in their home countries.

'Doctors from Europe who come to the UK to work in out of hours services must prove they are of the same quality as our home-grown doctors. We are not convinced there are appropriate checks in place to ensure they are.'

Finlay Scott, chief executive of the General Medical Council, which regulates doctors, said the current system 'does not guarantee the level of patient safety that we want'.

A spokesman for the Department of Health said: 'The NHS has always used professionals trained abroad because until recently we did not train enough for our own needs.

'Now the need to use overseas doctors is declining.'

Explore more:

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1208663/Test-foreign-doctors-coming-practice-Britain-say-GP-leaders.html#ixzz0PIK3UYQf

Don't worry...you'll see them next fall at election time. But I will be telling them, "I know what you did last summer...and it wasn't talking to us. Still think you deserve my vote?"

I attended this event. Here is my opinion on the night > http://augustainsider.us/brewertownhallevent/

Would you expect more from the Maine delegation who consistently support Obama and the liberal left?

I see nowhere in the article where any attempt was made to contact the offices of Sen. Snowe or Collins or Rep. Michaud. Was this really an attempt to get redress for their concerns or was this just another conservative whine-fest about how bad "big government" is?

Glad to see the democratic process in action. Regardless of the "motivation" no one can say it's a bad thing for people to exercise their right of free speech. The fact that Snowe, Collins, and Michaud didn't PLAN town hall meetings during the recess says enough for me. I don't care if they were invited to this event or not - the point is moot. They didn't have meetings . . . they care very little about their constituents.

, the election took place last nov.

theres been a huge shift in the countrys priorities, which had been shifted to favor 1% of the population

its not an easy job

snowe , collins and michaud are busy trying to undo the wrongs done to the world and our country over the last catastophic 8 years

the truth is , we let it all slip away under the well calculated ruse of the "war on terror "and now we cant catch up.

the war should have been against corporate take over , obscene profit ,the culture of greed and the fall of the middle class .

I ,for one ,want my country to do something other than go to war for the oil men and support the drug companies

first thing is solve the healthcare crisis for all americans

then lets save those damn polar bears

snowe , collins ,michaud ..keep up the good hard work.

and remember , the option of a single payer system is the only way out of this healthcare mess its a dirty job . I could not do it .there are too many lies and too much money floating around .

ps where were all these people when we were killing thousands of innocent peasants in the name of fear and oil.??

watching american idol ?

p.s.

Id like to hear from constutional scholars only or at least someone with a minor degree in political science on matters of the constitution from now on .

It's too bad that all the people who could make a difference in this country are too busy WORKING!

The cardboard cutouts are probably a better representation than the human parasites they represent.

These "representatives" are not interested in real reform - they are interested in protecting their contributors in the insurance and pharmacutical companies. Vote for anyone different in the next election. PLEASE!!!!!

again...how much notice were the actuall given and was there an actual negotiation on time? why was the meeting not printed in the BDN PRIOR to the actual event? hmmmm sorry but regardless of how many things I may not agree with any of the reps, I'm still not convinced that this "town hall" forum was even structured for EVERYONE to attend....

Mr Trommer Invited Sen Snow Sen Collins & Rep Michaud to the meeting. Snowe declined, Michaud said he was busy, Collins did'nt acknowledge is invitation.

Ok i understand they were invited but again I will ask...how much notice were they given? and did mr. trommer actually take the time to follow up with a phone call to see if there were any options? my guess probably not...and again I will stress this question: If it was for the public not just republicans then why was it NOT in the BDN or in the papers PRIOR to the event? because it was a closed vent session. I would have loved to have been there. But heard nothing about it prior to today's article. if you want change then make real efforts at change. offer suggestions instead of arguments. If mr. trommer really wanted to have an "open" forum he would have made sure the media hit it up prior to the event allowing folks from ALL perspectives the opportunity to attend.

For those of you who believe the "free health care" system is the answer to all prayers. I recently spoke with some folks from Canada who told me that their taxes are not 18% due to their "free healthcare". Yes I said eighteen percent!! Imagine that!!

Mistake... their taxes ARE 18 %.

It`s refreshing to see the silent majority starting to get involved and paying attention and talking about how they feel. May there be many more debates like this. We have been told for to long that talking to each other is not PC, look where that has got us. Do not fear our Representatives know all about this and if we continue they might get off the fence and work for this State instead of there next election(which is the norm for all of them) Sweep them all out and you will see a differance in how they pay attention. If they don`t sweep them out again. We do have the power but we need to use it.

I love it! A room full of white-hairs and bald heads, all living off Medicare and they're afraid of government messing with health insurance. Medicare IS government health insurance. It's like people in a sinking ship rallying against lifeboats while they climb into them. Dopes!

HA HA

No, ha ha ha

What ya doing over here dirty Lew????

Trommer for Senate!!!!

One of the first posters on this thread said it sounds like a mob. You know what?? I don't really care WHAT you call it any more. If you think you're going to get rid of us or even slow this groundswell by throwing weasel words like that around, go right ahead. It's actually pretty funny that you think it's that simple to stop this.

I don't know Paul. NO clue who he is. I DID get an email last Friday about this from someone. If I did not have a crucial meeting last night, I WOULD have driven the 200 miles to be there, natch. No question. This is that important an issue. Sothen, is my disdain for this silly idea "artificial"?? Nope, not a bit. Was I "organized"??? Not really. Not even CLOSE to how organized the SEIU/AARP/Obama-ites are doing it.

KUDOS KUDOS KUDOS to Paul

KUDOS also to Dawn Gagnon. As I told her today on the phone, you did a full and fair job on this story. It would have been easy for her to smear the whole crowd, or dismiss this event. She did neither. (She admitted she was blown away..............she expected 30-40 people. She's part of a media culture that JUST DOES NOT GET IT).

I won't even TRY to tell you what my calls to Michaud's office and the local media were like today. I tried to find out the exact process by which Michaud quickly set up tonight's sham "town hall", and how is trying to control the message with the media today (i.e. use them). All I will say is this: I asked the office manager if the media were invited to sit down with Michaud tonight, or patch into his phone system so that they could actually cover the "spectacle". She said nope. So, when I asked how the media was supposed to do their job tonight and report on what happens, she said (and I am not making this up), "dont' worry, our communications director will TELLTHE MEDIA what happened".............

Isn't it fun to live in a banana republic?? Breathtaking.

(The BDN was not happy when I called them back to tell them the above quote about how they'll find out. As much as they don't mind being used by Michaud, Snowe, and Collins, I guess even THEY have a little bit of self-respect left!!! We'll see...........)

Babydoll, HELLO!! It WAS in the BDN. A stand alone article publicizing it. You WISH it wasn't in there, so you could deny the validity of the event. It was on the local TV news too!! You whine when it is held spur of the moment?? Well, you would whine if it were planned in advance. Your posts say far more about YOU than about this event or the organizers.

Kudos to the organizers. Shame, shame, shame on the state's top politicians. Honest to god... if our own politicians can't turn out to a public forum as large as this one - then why on earth are we keeping them in office???

Babydoll... true enough with respect to the planning... but still, the officials are absent enough to give one pause and when they are absent to frequently, especially to an event that pulled in this many people, one has to wonder who they really are serving: themselves or the people of maine?

Amazed, Is not Canada's healt care funded by a 15% HST (harmonized sales tax) on all purchased goods and services? If I remember correctly, that is on top of their sales tax.

Keep your government hands off my government-funded and administered Medicare and my government-funded and administered Social Security! And crush socialism, except for police, fire, public works, water and sewer, and all the other socialist programs that we all depend on from cradle to grave.

And don't call us a mob, were just an angry, ill-informed, hypocritical, sort-of...club. Ya, that's the ticket! We're not a mob, we're a club! Cool!

I'am fed up with the 3 idiots I never voted for them and never will lets get someone in office that cares about something other to fill their pockets with tax payers money.

So this was like a "pretend" Town Hall Meeting. What did people do, throw tomatoes at the posters? I'm surprised they didn't burn them in effigy! And of course the state reps weren't given enough notice or an opportunity to respond. It's just plain sad that people are so gullible.

Umm, they put their pictures on chairs and yelled at them. That's real mature.

That reminds me of when I was like, five, and used to have tea parties with my stuffed animals sitting around my little child's table. "Would you like one lump or two, Fluffy?"

I had a Town Hall Meeting in my kitchen this morning where I spoke in favor of single-payer universal health coverage and no protesters showed up to disagree, so I can only assume that they've all changed their minds overnight and now support single-payer. Hooray! Hey, if they can stack their meetings, I can stack mine! Fair and balanced, baby!

Wait, who really cares?????

Well, my golden retriever cares. She was the only one who attended my kitchen Town Hall, other than me. She wagged her tail while I spoke, which I read as strongly supporting my position. I guess I should have had a photo of Jeff Ashey there too. And hey, maybe some pictures of other people like George Hale and his sidekick Ric Tyler. And maybe Eddie Driscoll as Marvin Mutt. Oh man, and a picture of Paul Bunyan too! Next time I'll do it up right.

Stone cold Steve Houston wasn't there????

It's Steve Austin you drunk moron. Give it a rest and log off!

That's not who I'm talking about Dufus......Hugs and kisses anna banana....lol.....

no piece-meal reform! weak legislation will yeild weak results. Single payer healthcare now!

Remember Anna, you have been told told to stop with the personel attacks on posters, wait I shouldn't have to remind you as you were suspended for doing so..

sarahmb11: Thanks for your comments from someone who was there. Very interesting.....

Yeah well I guess it's just a crazy free for all here tonight. Where the heck are the moderators? How is it possible that these threads have gotten so out of control and have been almost completely hijacked by Stevey Dee of Tinkersville, aka Telefunkinu47, and the psychotic multiple username poster now going by the name of BeavisJSmith3rd? Shame on you BDN, for what the disgusting comments that you have allowed to stand on these threads today. It is absolutely irresponsible and sickening.

Me doth thinks you protestith too muthch.

Stop it before you embarrass yourself again.

Don't forget the King of Maine, I'm surprised you haven't spotted him, I have..

I like to call him the dirty Lew....

I'm proud to be thumbdowned by the moron right wingers who can't stand the truth. :)

My vote will go to whom ever is running other than Collins, Snowe or Michaud. They have proved they have been there too long. In their opinion we do not know what is good for us and we can not decide for ourselves.

I have 1 question that is off topic but needs an answer. Why can they stop a social security increase for 2 years for limited income people that really need it, but when the country is in the deepest recession since the great depression CONGRESS grants themselves a cost of living increase.

We need to start over and I say STAY OUT OF MY HEALTH CARE DECISIONS!!!

If this passes how long before overwieight individuals are prevented from certain foods, smokers prevented from buying cigs, meat eaters stopped from eating red meat, 2nd ammendment is deleated from the constitution???

OK So I havd a few questions

safedman must not have received the mesage yet - No Questions Allowed!

IMO, unless the ACORN nuts stop falling from the SEIU and ACLU trees, our country is heading in a very bad direction with ObamaCare.

Paul Trommer - where were you when GBW, grew government to record levels, emptied the treasury and created record defiicits?

8:22 Obama has a larger deficit in his first year than GW had for ALL 8 years combined.

George Bush bad... Obama = Bush on steroids.

Time to trot out the scaremongering about the swine flu -- gatherings like these are obviously a threat to public health.

I'm so disillusioned by what has happened to this country. The two party system is really just one party, there is no real difference between the two. Castro and Hugo could do just as good a job as what we now have.

Funny none of the libs heard about this before now. I've seen it on the news since this weekend and even in this paper at least once. When it was published the person running it even said our reps turned him down and he was going to put their photos up.

The liberal blinders are on it seems.

I went on the phone last night for Congressman Michaud's health care line, I stayed on the line for an hour or more, but finally hung up, because all I could hear was the same old back and forth bickering by mainers, and from where I listened I could not come up with a good reason why we were all hanging on. It is the same thing over and over again, what I feel we need to do is cut the costs of the hospitals and the enourmous amounts of money the doctors and nurses are getting, that is what makes the cost of health care so high, that we cannot afford to pay the high premiums needed to sustain the outrageous cost of care. Further more I think that cost must be contained at the front end, not after . For instance the insurance companies dictate what tests we can have, what medications will be covered and what will not be covered. Leaving us unable to afford to pay for what we may really need out of our pockets. Plus Medicare and Medicaid costs are not reimbursed at what the actual cost is, but if the costs of care were adjusted to a reasonable rate, then perhaps insurance rates would not be so high, and if doctos and hospital costs were lowered, that would also make insurance more affordable.

Also, just because one gets older they should still be cared for properly. Let the younger people stop abusing the system and perhaps we will all fare better.

I don't know Paul, I wasn't at this meeting, I am not on medicare, medicaid, social security, or any other government funded program. I have however read both the House proposed bill HR 3200 and the Cape and Trade bill (energy bill). My conclusion is, I wouldn't put my cats on this health care bill if it were FREE (which it isn't because people like me who WORK & PAY TAXES

BDN, fix your comment section, please! here's the "rest of my story".

will have to pay for it and all the other programs Obama's given us in 8 months!)

Here's a few things about HR 3200:

The Health Choices Commissioner will choose your benefits for you. page 42

The Government will audit all of the books of all employers that self insure. page 22

An employer must enroll employees into public option plans. page 145

No company can sue the Government on price fixing and there is no judicial review against government monopoly. page 124

Officers and employees of the healthcare adminimstration will have access to ALL Americans financial and personal records. page 195

The Government will reduce physician services for Mediciad. page 239

The Government regulates rental and purchase of power driven wheelchairs page 268

Government mandates program for orders for end of life. page 427

Government sets value of a Doctors time. page 253

Government will decide what level of treatment you will have at end of life. page 430

Govt. will build registries and data networks from your electronic medical records page 503

Government will restrict enrollment of special needs people page 354

Government mandates eligibility for State Family Planning Services page 770

Government will set and madate drug prices & controlling which drugs can be brought to the market. page 789

Would you like more proof of the socialization of America's health care?

I was raised that this was the greatest nation on earth. Historically speaking we have been the sole Country to take us from 1500 to 2009 in terms of technology and advancements with everything. We were funded as a Capitalist Government which is what allowed all of this great advancement.

Do you really want to loss that people? The Government is already way to involved in our lives, I don't need them telling me what to do.

If you want every person to be insured than instead of changing our society, why not simply tell insurance companys that each company will take a % of the unisured into their plans and let it run like that!

Or, if you want change and competition with insurance companies allow them to be in ANY STATE! Look how screwed up Maine is because we don't have but 2 carriers I think!

Now if you want to consider a large majority of Americans who use to sit at home "mobs" you can but it will be you, not them, who will wake up one day and wonder why you can't have this or that; why you can't have this freedom to choose; why you can't have the care you want; etc... These people are trying to save you from you selves so you don't take us all down with you.

SEPTEMBER 12, 2009 at 10:00 AM AT THE MALL IN WASHINGTON DC THERE WILL BE A PEACEFUL MARCH TO ONCE AGAIN TELL THESE SO CALLED "REPRESENTATIVES" TO STOP DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND START DOING WHAT WE VOTED THEM INTO OFFICE FOR. I HOPE A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL JOIN US BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IS BODIES! LET'S SEE MORE FOLKS SHOW UP FOR THIS THAN FOR OBAMA'S INAUGARATION! They can't ignore us then!

BTW, guess who wrote HR 3200? Like most bills passed, it was not written by a Congressman or his staff. This one was written by Acorn and SEUI. Great, we have unions writing our bills??? In fact, most bills passed these days are written by lobbyists or special interest groups, NOT your elected officials. That too needs to change.

Back in Colinial times, the PEOPLE would ORDER their Representatives to "Appear in public and answer for their actions, or be tarred and feathered". It's time for the Three Stooges to APPEAR before US and EXPLAIN themselves. Perhaps one of OUR representatives can send several registered/certified letters ORDERING the three stooges to appear at a specific place at a specific time (make it convenient for them and make it when they are still here), and also publish it in the BDN, the county weekly newspapers, and send copies by certified/registered mail to their home addresses too.

I would ABSOLUTELY participate in a real tar and feathering of these 3 if it were going on. There's a REASON why politicians used to feel they had to listen to the pubic, in the old days.......

As to the telephone "Town Hall" that Mikey had, could anything be more transparently pathetic?? He finds out on Monday that there will, indeed, be a large gathering of constituents to discuss health care, and he has been trying like crazy to avoid being SEEN for the last month. So.............he hurriedly throws together his OWN town hall. By phone. And the phone system doesn't even work (I called in and got through to him: either he could not hear me, or he was lying when he said that, and intentionally went off on a completely different direction from my question, in his "talking points....". And THEN, the icing on the the cake, I was foolish enough to press 3 as they told me I should, if there was a problem, only to be treated to a recorded message, "your vote has been recorded".. VOTE?? My vote?? WHAT vote???.

Nice.

Quit with BUSh waaaa waaa, Bush waaa waaa. For the Love of God if that is all you got, crawl back into your hole.

reaganite,

I can understand your frustration, but I am not for 'tar and feathering' just 'because'.... I am certainly giving them AMPLE opportunity to APPEAR IN PUBLIC as ordered by the people. IF they AT LEAST APPEAR before the public---in person---then the tar cools and the feathers go to the factory to make pillows. Why can't the people place an ad in the BDN ordering them to appear? In fact, why can't the BDN place their own ad ordering them to appear? THAT'S WHAT THE PRESS IS SUPPOSED TO DO!!!!!!!

HOW ABOUT IT BDN???????? ARE YOU READING THIS???????

THE POEPLE OF THE STATE OF MAINE

v.

SENATOR OLYMPIA SNOWE

SENATOR SUSAN COLLINS

CONGRESSMAN MICHAUD

CV-2009-0001

TO THE ABOVE NAMED DEFENDANTS:

YOU ARE HEREBY ORDERED TO APPEAR before the people of the State of Maine to answer for you congressional actions on behalf of the Constitution of the State of Maine and the People of the State of Maine since January 3, 2009. You are odered to appear at ________________________________

on _______________________ at ___________________o'clock in the afternoon. You may bring all printed documentaion pertaining to the actions you have taken since January 3, 2009. If you fail to appear at this hearing, you will be held in contempt, and the People will bring charges against you for refusal to fulfill your Constitutional and Congressional duties.

Signed,

1,250,000 citizens of the State of Maine

*****************************************************************

So, how does this sound?

frankforter: Ummm...it sounds like you are a nut.

"frankforter: Ummm...it sounds like you are a nut. "

what makes him a nut?

The idea that the people who work for us should answer to us?

I mean it isn't like we don't pay them well or they are just volunteers or something right?

I'm not sure that an angry mob has ever really accomplished anything, other than working themselves into hysterics.

Seeker - that an ignorant, and incompentent response. Try using facts next time.

"I'm not sure that an angry mob has ever really accomplished anything, other than working themselves into hysterics. "

The Revolutionary War comes to mind.

"Emotions at the time were very strong on the subject of independance to the point where many Loyalists had their homes taken or destroyed (and sometimes they were even killed) by angry mobs. This is what forced many loyalists out of their complacency and into the army to fight against the rebel colonists.

Loyalists are often represented today as being traitors to their own people who tried to sell them out to a tyrant king. That just wasn't the case. The Loyalists were simply loyal to their government and didn't feel one third of the population should be able to decide for the rest simply because they were more vocal or more angry. But of course, the winning side writes the history. "

http://thebean1.tripod.com/loyal.html

Try not to pick the wrong side.