AUGUSTA, Maine — The Maine Republican Party has scheduled a series of public forums in April and May featuring the party’s U.S. Senate candidates.
The party said it is planning nine forums around the state to give people a chance to hear the candidates. The first forum will be held April 6, with the final one slated for May 19
Party officials say they’ll release the exact locations next week.
GOP Senate candidates running in the June 12 primary are Attorney General William Schneider, Treasurer Bruce Poliquin, Secretary of State Charlie Summers, small businessman Scott D’Amboise, state Sen. Debra Plowman and former state Sen. Rick Bennett.
Four candidates are running in the Democratic primary.
Former Maine Gov. Angus is among the independents who have said they’re running.
Heres the Trailer!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VqM4Y3Y8Oeo
If it’s going to be nothing more than a GOP finger-pointing show then they might as well sell ticket’s and advertise it as the Great Maine Gong Show. This upcoming election is going to elect the official’s, shape and direct the public policy’s and actually manage both the Maine, locally, and the Country for the next decade. Given that, and the recent GOP Debate’s that were all but a public farce, this series of debate’s, and that’s what they’re going to come down to despite all the denial’s, need to focus on the issue’s and quit trying to be an ‘Who can I out embarass’ opportunity. Focus on the issue’s, the problem’s and the various opportunity’s open to Mainer’s to both solve the problem’s and the ways and means to start, expand and develop the business opportunity’s here. This is what these ‘debate’s are an opportunity to do. The only real question is does the GOP, and their right-wing Tea Party cousin’s, have the gut’s to actually focus on these issues and quit playing game show host ? As an Independent I, for one, would love to see a real debate, not a political version of ‘Let’s Make A Deal’ or ‘The Price Is Right’.
If any candidate is half as good as our Great Governor Paul LePage, I will surely vote for them….
I think you misspelled the last name. It is LeBUFFOON.
While I am a somewhat committed Democrat, I respect the democratic process America has.
I hope the forums are informative and not just an anti-what-ever circus such as we have seen in the Republican Presidential selection process. It has demeaned and harmed our system of self governing.
Six serious questions:
1. We know Republicans are opposed to the Affordable Heath Care Act, we also know health care was already a national crisis before the ACHA was enacted by Congress, what would you replace the AHCA with to protect the people of Maine? Please be specific.
2. Specifically what federal government programs that the people of Maine receive would you eliminate to reduce the debt or to balance the budget? Again, be specific.
3. Do you support the U.S. engagement in the Middle-east, and how would “you” define a victory?
4. The United States military budget is larger then every other country on earth combined — can it be reduced? If so how?
5. How do you address the issue of women rights on medical coverage and contraception?
6. The U.S. Congress established a Consumer Bureau but Republicans have been blocking the organization from acting on behalf of consumers. Would you support or oppose a Consumer Bureau?
Thank you for trying to stimulate meaningful discussion. I, too, have hoped that these forums are an opportunity to exchange ideas, rather than pot shots.
I’m curious how people feel the ACHA is that different than Medicare. I would like people to respond to just that one question first.
Then, my further thoughts are: I don’t think any insurance is ever going to be perfect. I think any government agency can be cumbersome but I think Medicare has worked well for many years. It seems like the discussion gets sidetracked by whether healthcare should be public or private, for obvious reasons but if I just look at what has worked and not paid attention to those issues, it seems like Medicare has worked.
The other main sticking point is the mandatory aspect where again, people get derailed for various reasons but it seems as though Medicare is “mandatory” and that’s part of what makes it work, because of the sheer numbers participating.
I do (vaguely) remember 40 years ago when I was in my 20’s and my insurance was completely covered by my employer. I didn’t pay anything and I went to whatever doctor I thought I needed and the doctor was able to give whatever treatment he felt necessary without all the restrictions of today. Healthcare was between my doctor and I, not ruled by the insurance company. I don’t remember people abusing it and I more or less took it for granted that I went to the doctor when I needed to and that was as complicated as it got. I was too young to pay attention to what ever happened and how we got to where we are today. It’s just an assumption that just for the very reasons so many people are against Unions (because they feel they are greedy and are the cause of our loss of jobs, etc.) I feel the pendulum has swung the other way and private business has gotten greedy (which is why Unions started in the first place) and they(insurance companies) caused most of the problems with healthcare.
It seems to me that the ACHA is a blend of the best of both worlds?
Thank you for the comments. While I know it would not totally improve the process I do believe the ability to some what hid one’s identity feeds the snideness of a lot of the comments. But, with that said, it would be affable to have interchanges of information and ideas without the outright crude, and intentional misleading and erroneous statements. Political campaigns in America today are unmitigated distortions of the truth…, bent to serve an individual’s goal, not the nation.
America has always reached for the ideal status of hope and opportunity, for a quality of life (and a healthy one) for anyone and everyone. We have demanded…, and given…. hope and freedom to more people on earth than any nation in the history of mankind. But we have recently turn on to ourselves in the name of greed, fear and selfishness. Our political process is sliding into a third world like warring factions seeking personal power.
I do believe the health of a nation needs a healthy populace. But, as a capitalist nation, if money can be made…. humanity becomes secondary. Don’t take me wrong, I’m not opposed to business, nor profits, nor assuring accountability and participation in the process that assures no-one milks the system in a something for nothing scam. I believe there is no free lunch, I believe in service to country and to community, and I believe, as a nation and a human, we are obligated to our selfs and society collectively. The question is – – how to achieve the ideal?
As you said so well: ”
it would be affable to have interchanges of information and ideas without the outright crude, and intentional misleading and erroneous statements. ”
It’s frustrating because I feel these are trying times that require informed choices as we are heading down a road that is more serious than many realize. Other than some on here that use this forum as an entertaining hobby, there are many people who are complacent about taking an active role as “politics” doesn’t appeal to them. While in recent times I feel helpless, I do feel that the future is in all of our hands. Putting the name “politics” muddies the waters. In fact, all the labels are detrimental because people have preconceived ideas that affect their choices where, if they looked beyond the label & came to their on conclusions often the choices would be different.
Your second paragraph is so well put and so true–bitter sweet actually. We’ve been so caught up for too long in the “greed, fear and selfishness” that we’ve almost forgotten what this country used to stand for. I’m a little rusty on my history but The Fall of the Roman Empire keeps coming to my mind, as well as The Trojan Horse and A Nation of Sheep. I also keep thinking about the beginning of our country and the passion and sacrifice it took. I think of the civil war and all that involved. It’s heartbreaking to see where we are today. I don’t think in terms of Rep or Dem. I try to learn as much as I can about an issue and go for what feels right. I also think that under all the negativity most people want “the ideal status of hope and opportunity, for a quality of life (and a healthy one) for anyone and everyone”. I think the problem lies in most people either not having the time or not taking the time to really look into the issues and instead are fed misinformation by the entities with a self-serving agendas. Also, some of the “news” (actually entertainment} shows.
As to how do we achieve the ideal? I wish I knew. For starters, I think people like you continuing to post information and thought provoking questions, somehow for people to really look into the issues and with an open mind come to their own conclusions, for people to define for themselves what is the role of government, what is the real meaning and purpose of “community”, to really dig into the issues, find out what’s way beyond the surface. What are the deeper reasons for separation of church and state, why is voter access such an issue, what is the real background of a candidate (we should go back to our school days and do a term paper on each one), we should follow the money, who supports/contributes to them–there are so many important issues being decimated, what’s the bigger picture of these collective items. If our ancestors could make the sacrifices they did, it would seem that in the age of the internet we all could educate ourselves because that is where the real power is.
(Guess I got a little long-winded :)
I would like to really live in a fantasy world and take money out of politics. I’d like the TV stations to each donate time and have all the campaigners on each station from time to time and that’s it.
Holy cow ! Someone else up here is dsgusted as I am with the dog and pony show. CP, do us all a huge favor and run for Oly’s seat as an Independent. Your questions are both balanced and cut thru all of the political menusha and moose poop so far seen. Objective and without predjudice. That’s a rare thing nowadays. Keep it going and pass it on…….
I would love to have the answers to all of these and have them actually mean what they say about the questions.
To many times they (and I mean all polititions) tell you what you want to hear and then go on and do what their (sponsors) want them to do.
2010 elections were a perfect example as the R’s said it was jobs, jobs,jobs and then look at what they are doing across the country.
Oh, so the circus is coming to town. I hope they have enough clown suits for these goofballs to wear and enough pies for them to throw at each other.