Editorials
After Musharraf Wednesday, August 20, 2008 The excitement over Monday's resignation of Pakistani President Pervez Musharraf was short-lived. Just a day after he announced he was stepping down, the leaders of the country's two main parties are already disagreeing and issuing ultimatums as violence continues. |
Frary's Follies Wednesday, August 20, 2008 John Frary's colorful campaign for the 2nd Congressional District seat now held by Mike Michaud has been, by turns, amusing, confusing, frustrating -and finally, disappointing. |
The New Gold Standard Tuesday, August 19, 2008 'Epic,' is how Mark Spitz described U.S. swimmer Michael Phelps' winning eight gold medals in Beijing, breaking Mr. Spitz's 36-year-old record for the most gold in one Olympics. |
ClickBack on religious test Tuesday, August 19, 2008 This week, ClickBack solicits the comments of Editorial Page readers on the role of moral considerations in selecting a president, the revelation that former presidential candidate John Edwards had an extra-marital affair, and what it means if Sens. John McCain and Barack Obama choose running mates with views that differ from theirs on abortion or other issues. |
Telling the whole truth Monday, August 18, 2008 It may be time for an American version of the "truth and reconciliation" commissions that other countries have used to restore their reputations and boost national self respect. Such a commission could bring closure to an era in which America's good name has been tarnished and many Americans have lost pride in their own government. |
Tailgate tactics Monday, August 18, 2008 Tailgating is inconsiderate, hazardous and infuriating. It's even worse in August, with the influx of tourists added to the unruly minority of Mainers who seem to be trying to climb into your back seat. Dealing with it requires some thought - and a cool head. |
Keeping the heat in Saturday, August 16, 2008 With the public's heightened concern about energy - especially its cost - and high expectation for government solutions, Gov. John Baldacci has proposed a modest short-term plan that sets the appropriate tone of using state resources wisely before moving to spend money the state isn't likely to have. |
Tax reform challenges Saturday, August 16, 2008 While it is welcome news that Gov. John Baldacci wants to lower the state's income taxes, many more details are needed before this becomes realistic. One of the biggest problems is that with the state already predicted to face a large shortfall in its next budget cycle, revenue reductions will only worsen the budget gap. |
Maine's Water Wars Friday, August 15, 2008 When he was governor, Angus King often lamented the lack of value-added components in Maine's economy. Wood chips and pulp should not be exported, he argued; instead, Maine should lead in paper, lumber and furniture making. |
Editorial: Georgia on the Mind Friday, August 15, 2008 Russia's invasion of neighboring Georgia was clearly a disproportionate response to the situation there. But holding up Georgia as an innocent victim of Russian power run amok is an oversimplification of a complex problem. |
Guantanamo Justice Thursday, August 14, 2008 The fact that the trial of Osama bin Laden's former driver appears to have resulted in an appropriate verdict and sentence will be meaningless if the Bush administration does not release the Yemeni man after his sentence is served. |
UMS Financial Gain Thursday, August 14, 2008 With the University of Maine System in the midst of an effort to reduce costs, especially by reducing administration and increasing collaboration, it has hired the right person to oversee this work. |
'Fogust' v. The Maples Wednesday, August 13, 2008 This month of rain, mist, humidity and fog is so miserable that one Maine lobsterman has coined the term 'Fogust.' It has spoiled a lot of picnics, ball games and hikes, but one of its worst visible consequences is what it has done to the maple trees. |
Iraq's Budget Surplus Wednesday, August 13, 2008 The revelation that Iraq's government may enjoy a $79 billion surplus by the end of the year, while the U.S. government expects a $482 billion deficit, is a classic good news, bad news development. |
In search of the real GOP Tuesday, August 12, 2008 Polls show that most Americans view the Bush presidency as a dismal failure. Whether the president can redeem himself in the eyes of the public in his post-White House years remains to be seen. Of far more interest to Republicans seeking elected office is the way their party is now perceived by the public. They worry, correctly, that the GOP has been tainted by the Bush years. |
A Clearer Tax Picture Saturday, August 09, 2008 It has been taken as gospel for years that Maine's tax burden is among the highest in the country. Turns out this isn't true. |
Methadone Methodology Saturday, August 09, 2008 With three methadone clinics, Bangor has done more than its share to combat drug addiction in Maine. Without a comprehensive approach to new clinic siting from the state and other communities moving to ban or severely restrict such clinics, Bangor officials are right to be concerned. |
Food and Fuel Friday, August 8, 2008 A recent report from the World Bank concluding that biofuels are a major contributor to rapidly rising food prices adds urgency to the need for a thorough analysis of alternative energy sources to ensure they don't have unintended negative consequences. |
Olympic Expectations Friday, August 8, 2008 In an era when reality shows are more popular than, well, reality, the Olympic games beginning today in Beijing are likely to offer more complaints about judging than 'American Idol,' more unfettered emotion than 'Big Brother' and the rivalry of 'Survivor.' |
Wasted Political Energy Thursday, August 07, 2008 It is understandable that the public and some lawmakers want action on energy policy, at both the state and federal levels. Calls for special sessions of the Maine Legislature and Congress must be tempered by the realization that there are no quick fixes to the long-building problem of global oil and gas supplies not meeting global demands. |
North Korea Update Thursday, August 07, 2008 As the Bush administration winds up its eighth year, the talks with North Korea about its nuclear weapons program stand as a piece of unfinished business and a challenge for the next administration. |
Public Transit Revival Wednesday, August 06, 2008 For decades, the words 'public transit' and 'Maine' rarely would be found in the same sentence. Other than in Portland, Lewiston-Auburn and Greater Bangor, most of Maine's 1.3 million residents have settled sparsely across its many towns and villages or 'sprawled' in the regions between them. |
Alexander Solzhenitsyn Wednesday, August 06, 2008 In a 1975 lecture, writer and Soviet Union critic Alexander Solzhenitsyn cited an old Russian proverb: 'The yes-man is your enemy, but your friend will argue with you.' By that definition Mr. Solzhenitsyn, who died Sunday at 89, was a friend to his native land and a friend to the world. |
Editorial: Homegrown oil debate Tuesday, August 05, 2008 Oil extraction on federal lands and off the coast has quickly become the continental divide of energy policy in this presidential election year. Congressional Democrats have, for the most part, opposed lifting the ban on off-shore oil drilling. Republicans, for the most part, support it. |
Editorial: Green fatigue Monday, August 04, 2008 As worry spreads through the nation about how global warming threatens the planet, some committed environmentalists find themselves afflicted by two new annoyances: "green noise" and "greenwashing." Together, they are causing a certain green fatigue that could endanger the growing national determination to do something about climate change. |
Editorial: Snowe and the veepstakes Monday, August 04, 2008 As both John McCain and Barack Obama close in on their choice for a running mate, one name keeps popping up — Olympia Snowe. Her name isn't bandied about by professional political pundits, but by bloggers and would-be wonks. |
Fishing Under The Dock Saturday, August 2, 2008 Calling the state 'Vacationland' isn't enough to sustain Maine's largest industry. The Maine Office of Tourism tries to react to ever-changing trends in the business, and like a fisherman, must decide where to cast its net to bring in the biggest catch. |
Driving While Distracted Saturday, August 2, 2008 Of course you’ve seen them - drinking coffee and smoking a cigarette, reading, applying make-up, text messaging, eating and even dressing - while steering a 4,000-pound vehicle down the road at 50 mph. Here’s another: a state trooper recently observed a woman watching a TV show on her laptop while driving. |
Tomalley Trouble Friday, August 1, 2008 With warnings about tomatoes and then jalapeno peppers tainted with salmonella, food safety has been a concern this summer. So it is not surprising that a federal warning against eating lobster tomalley quickly led to fears about the crustaceans, resulting in a short-lived ban on lobster shipments to Japan. |
Hiring In-Justice Friday, August 1, 2008 A second report has found political views were improperly considered, and in some cases the top consideration, in hiring decisions at the Department of Justice. While it is helpful that Attorney General Michael Mukasey wants to ensure such a situation doesn't happen again, much more is needed. |
Loony Wildlife Funding Thursday July 31, 2008 Sales of the state's conservation license plates have been declining for years. With introduction this spring of a sportsman license plate, revenues are apt to drop even more, widening the shortfall in funding for state parks and wildlife. |
Empty Pockets, Promises Thursday July 31, 2008 If their campaign promises are to be believed, both Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama as president would increase government spending on a host of fronts. |
Drilling Liheap Wednesday, July 30, 2008 With heating oil bills rivaling many mortgage payments, winter is not far from the minds of many Maine residents despite the summer's warmth. That concern apparently hasn't reached Washington where many Republicans are content to hold heating assistance hostage to their agenda to allow more oil drilling. |
McCartney and Quebec Wednesday, July 30, 2008 The good news was that Paul McCartney, co-founder of the Beatles, would perform a free concert in Quebec City July 20 to mark the city's 400th anniversary. The bad news was that Mr. McCartney's appearance was seen by some in the province as another wave of the British invasion. |
Editorial: A 'background' gap Tuesday, July 29, 2008 A recent political survey has disclosed a significant and possibly disturbing gap in public attitudes toward the "values and backgrounds" of the two presumed presidential candidates. |
Editorial: To drill, or not to drill Monday, July 28, 2008 Oil was $12 per barrel when Federico Pena was the nation's energy secretary in the Clinton administration. Mr. Pena is now a co-chairman of the Obama campaign and an adviser to the candidate on energy and transportation issues. |
Editorial: Rocking the mail boat Monday, July 28, 2008 Summer residents of Sutton Island have lost their special private postal service, and there may be a moral to the story. |
No Second Stimulus Saturday, July 26, 2008 Congressional Democrats, including presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, are pushing for a second economic stimulus package that would put some $50 billion of federal money into the hands of consumers. It's a bad idea. |
Editorial: Ship Shape Saturday, July 26, 2008 The Navy's decision to build only two of its next generation destroyers has raised concerns about the workload at Bath Iron Works. Sustaining the yard's skilled work force is necessary for both the Navy and the state economy. |
Paint the Town, River Friday July 25, 2008 Two events scheduled for Saturday make for perfect opportunities to enjoy high summer in Bangor. Each marks a turning of the page in the way the city and region sees itself. And each can be understood as a fresh way to value the abundant natural resources on which Bangor was built. |