Youth at Maine GOP convention
I am a senior in high school and was honored to be a delegate for Ron Paul to the Maine State Republican Convention recently. I was so excited when I arrived at the Convention Center Saturday morning to see so many Ron Paul supporters in line. In the past, many of the Republican meetings I have been to have very few, if any, young people involved.There were a lot more exciting things that young people could have been doing this past weekend and yet they chose to go there.
I think Ron Paul has helped to energize the youth in a way the other candidates have not been able to do. Obama has always had a good youth support but the Republicans have not seemed to have caught on to that trend. I hope things will change for the better for the party with the youth involvement.
I was surprised at how many Ron Paul delegates won, and felt it was a reflection of how people in Maine feel. I have talked to many people since then who feel the same. I know how important our Constitution is and how we should elect people who think the same. Ron Paul is a champion for liberty and I hope one day to meet him! I hope all the youth of Maine see how blessed we are to live in a country with so many freedoms and the need we have to protect them!
Meryem Mertoglu
Houlton
Budget decisions
The teachers union for Skowhegan-based School Administrative District 54 urges voters to support the school budget proposed by the board of directors.
Having attended the majority of school board and committee meetings during the past three budget cycles, I know board members have worked diligently and made gut-wrenching decisions, most notably deciding to close Cornville Elementary School.
The board took advantage of retirements and resignations to reduce staff. At the middle school, foreign language and industrial arts programs were eliminated, and grades seven and eight now share the technology teacher with the elementary schools.
The high school has faced similar reductions: two English teachers, two science teachers, one math teacher and one foreign language teacher have been eliminated in recent years.
At the elementary grades, positions were cut as a result of the Cornville closure, and this year the board eliminated a music teacher position and reduced the work time of an art teacher. North Elementary will no longer have a full-time principal, just administrative support as needed.
The board made these changes to ease the tax burden, but cutting more would compromise children’s education.
The board is asking for a tax increase of 3.55 percent. That means owners of a $100,000 home in Cornville would see a $63 yearly increase in their property tax bill. Similar homeowners in Skowhegan would see a $23 increase.
Can the taxpayers afford an extra $2 to $5 a month to maintain quality schools? Please join us and support this sensible budget.
Jeremy Lehan
President, MSAD 54 Education Association
Skowhegan
Health care financing
An Associated Press story appearing in the Thursday, May 3, BDN shows how eager they are to defend the president’s health care plan financing. Written by Kelli Kennedy, the article told of the largest ever Medicare fraud bust, which alleges that over 107 individuals bilked $452 million from Medicare. The author goes on to point out that stopping such fraudulent activities, believed to be “between $60 billion and $90 billion each year,” “will be key to paying for President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul.”
Of course, the president has repeatedly stated that there will be a $50 billion annual “savings” realized from Medicare to help pay for the total package. So here we have it. That “savings” will come from stopping fraud. Well, let’s see.
According to an FBI report, that $452 million fraud case was perpetrated over a period of several years. That being the largest fraud case so far, it’s a real stretch to get to $50 billion per year. And what does the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services have to say (the CMS, among other duties, makes rules and coordinates efforts to combat Medicare fraud)? It was recently reported, “CMS said it will save taxpayers nearly $1.6 billion over 10 years through anti-Medicare fraud efforts.” That’s probably more realistic.
So where did the AP come up with $60 billion to $90 billion per year? No doubt the numbers grew to fit their agenda and to support the president’s assurances that Obamacare won’t break the bank.
Dale Sprinkle
Surry
GOP disarray
The Republicans have been so busy infighting that they’ve forgotten that their main objective is to get a Republican president elected. If they don’t get their act together, we will have another four years of the present administration.
Rita M. Souther
Camden
UMaine final grade
We arrived at the University of Maine one hour prior to our sons’ graduation ceremony to be greeted at the door by the campus police refusing us entrance due to the facility already at capacity. We were directed to another building to watch the ceremony on a large screen television that was set up for the overflow.
We were disappointed but the alternative was to not see our son receive his diploma.
As his section was announced and the graduates proceeded across the stage as their names were called, the screen flashed to notice that the program was timing out and then went blank. To our dismay we never got to see our son receive his diploma. After many years of financial and emotional support, we missed the moment that meant so much to us.
I’d like to thank the UMaine staff for their outstanding performance covering the broadcast for the families that were denied access to the event. Perhaps they could use some further instruction by the school to improve their skills so other parents do not experience the tears of disappointment after years of striving for that one glorious moment lost.
I suggest that the university provide six tickets to each graduating student for attendance to enable every student the opportunity to have loved ones attend in one of their most memorable moments in life.
Please tell me that the university can improve and learn from their mistakes, because I gave them an F on that final!
Janet and David Russell
Bangor
Rita Souther – Don’t fret. We’ve got it together. Obama is already packing his bags for Chicago.
Got it together with Mitt Romney? LOL, there is no way.
We’ll see C.
You might even qualify as chauffeur for one of his Caddies. He may even give you the Golden Toilet Brush, courtesy of Newt Gingrich, from his plan to help the unemployed. Got to admit – you teapublicans are stirring the pot so much, you’re straining the tea.
You do have all the nasty talking points down don’t you. :)
It’s your mild manner, your conciliatory waxing, and non – belligerent stance, that draws them out.
You are a dreamer!!!
This poll has President Obama and company very concerned. CBS/NYTimes called the same people between 5/11-5/13 that they called between4/13-4/17. It shows that the Presidents base is slowly eroding and I heard two different reports (one from CNN and one from FoxNews) that it has the party and the President concerned.
http://www.cbsnews.com/htdocs/pdf/CBSNYTPoll_051412.pdf
It is a long way till November but this race is getting tighter by the minute. At this point, it is any ones race to win….or lose.
Today Real Clear Politics average of polls moved the State of Wisconsin from leaning Obama to a toss-up. Governor Walker will likely survive his recall election according to the polls. If Walker retains the governorship against everything the Democrats and unions throw at him it can be taken as a sign that Wisconsin will go Romney in the fall.
The Democrats are being out spent 20 to 1 and you talk about all the unions and D’s throwing against Walker. This recall is in process of being bought by corporations and the rich and it will be very surprising if the D’s can out gun the 1 per-centers. Walker is one big lier and was caught on tape stating that he is out to divide and split and therefore eliminate the unions. His marching orders are coming from ALEC and the Koch brothers. The taking away of union rights had nothing to do with budgets. The jobs he promised are non existence he should be re-called but may sneak by with all the money being spent in his behalf.
Someone sure spiked your Kool-Aid. Where’d you come up with that load of bunk; Rachael Maddow or Ed Schultz?
Actually, Walker was caught on audio last year talking to someone he thought to be a Koch brother (It was actually a radio DJ.) about how he was happy to fulfill the Kochs’ agenda and talking on video this year to a supporter who urged him to go after private employee unions next. He told the supporter he wanted to divide and conquer the unions.
You need to stay informed. A minute of googling will lead you to both recordings. Measure twice and cut once before you challenge another poster’s facts.
No challenge of facts was made. It’s just the Maddow talking points over irrelevant stuff. No need to recharacterize peoples statements to fit your “facts”. What IS important is the unions have been so weakened they are becoming ineffective politically in some places. Wisconsin is one. They couldn’t even get the “correct Democrat” on the ballot to challenge Walker.
I saw Walker in a videotaped interview telling a supporter of his intentions to gut the unions. The same tape was shown on several other stations. I must have missed it on Fox.
Like it not, Walker is a feudal baron of the Koch Kingdom. Along with our own glorious Lord Le Page, and, Kasich of Ohio, Georgia’s Deal, and Iowa’s Branstad. There are others, too.
Obviously your lament against President Obama is melded into the four-year attack that Obama has faced since raising his hand to take the oath. Koch-Teapublican attack plans were immediately put into place. The goal – to block everything this president advocated without consideration for what that might be. Each day Mitch McConnell minority Senate Republican leader coldly castigated Obama and repeatedly re-instated his sole goal of serving in the Senate – “To make sure Obama does not get a second term.” Such narrow mindedness and self serving comments should rile his Kentucky constituents, as well as the rest of the country, he is supposed to be serving.
But the Bubble people have one goal: A plutocracy, much akin to medieval times, in a country when lords ruled, and peasants served their masters without question or recourse. It was simply -Rich versus Poor. The same goal re-incarnated by the Koch brothers and their Tea Party creation which now controls all republicans.
For eight years, Bush and Cheney aided by Karl Rove and other republicans lied and drove the country into near bankruptcy. Bush lied about Iraq, bailed out Wall Street and stuffed millionaire’s pockets with billions.
Your bombast typifies the hate and scorn shown by the Teapublican clan, relentlessly pursued for four years.
Romney is a flip flopper, a draft dodger, and a man who twists the truth to suit his own goals. His major achievements are achieving tremendous profits from bankrupting companies, passing out thousands of pink slips, wrecking the economy of several towns, etch a sketch, dog on a roof, three Cadillacs, four castles, and billions of dollars grabbed by dispersing the peasants.
You memorized everything!! Maddow would be proud. Well done!!!
You should have a spot on Fox. Failing that, maybe Koch Kingdom will probably name you Baron of Township. 4, Range 2. north of Allagash.
I ‘m unable to watch Maddow. But I’m glad to know she shares my opinion.
Poke.
LOL, still avoiding and dismissing.
It is easy to dismiss unoriginal thought.
And easy to dismiss something you’re too lazy to respond to. What’s with the C stuff, by the way?
I watched Rachel Maddow spit part of Briney’s speech last night.
And the C thing?
No answer, weird.
or can’t
Already, the recall campaign is shattering state spending records. Walker, who under recall election rules was allowed until recently to accept unlimited contributions, has raised more than $23 million, with about 60% of his money coming from out of state. Barrett has raised only about $1 million, but outside groups on both sides have raised millions more. The above is a copy from the May 9th L.A Times that looks like about 20 to 1 assuming they spend it all, with Walker he may be keeping some for his defense fund. God only know how much the Super Pacs have, but my guess is that the Koch Bros., Donald Trump, Sheldon Adelson and Diane Hendricks owner of a roofing company in Wi. will spend more than the Democrats.
By the way it was not MSNBC OR FOX NEWS where the info came from.
Typical misinformation. You have contradicted yourself. The 20 to 1 is when comparing Walker to Barrett. Then you go on to say that outside groups on both sides have raised millions more. Then you assume it is all spent. No allowance was figured in for all the other groups on both sides. And no one knows how much is being spent by all groups.
Most of the LA Times article is based on assumptions and hearsay. The figures are approximations at best. And since you “guess” that some rich Republicans are donating and spending money, then you have to include the millions that are most assuredly being spent by the rich left wingers and the unions on the other side of the table.
Your comment sounds entirely made up. Why don’t you try backing up your claims?
Read the comment I was commenting on.
I obviously did. I’m asking you to back up your claim that the article is “based on assumptions and hearsay” with approximated figures.
li·er [lahy-er]
noun a person or thing that lies, as in wait or in ambush.
Yep Ok.
I have never been praised for my spelling, believe me when I tell you I have trouble spelling cat or kat. Thanks for the correction.
No problem. I was just bein’ me… I’m not a spelling teacher. ;)
“…marching orders are coming from ALEC and the Koch brothers.” Talk about marching orders…I read these words, almost verbatim, on a daily basis here and on all manner of topic.
Koch Incorporated will fight forever to keep Walker in office.
Walker has pledged his Koch masters to destroy the unions and erase worker’s right to bargain for wages.
People across the country have contributed and continue to contribute to the workers’ fund to recall this man who serves only Koch and the Tea Party interests – the rich.
I find it right interesting that 39% of union households 47% of women plan on voting for Gov. Walker according to left leaning Daily Kos.
http://www.dailykos.com/polling/2012/5/11/WI/123/MjpEP
You must be excited. Have some more tea.
;-) My heart goes pitter patter.
Ah, the truth is so precious to you that you have decided to use it as sparingly as possible. RCP puts any state in the toss-up category once the polling margin average drops below 5%. Wisconsin is now, on average, showing a polling lead for President Obama of 4.7%. If we look at the actual average polling margins in the ten toss-up states per RCP, Obama would take eight of them, losing only Arizona and Missouri. His electoral college victory would be 347-191, just a tad below the thumping he gave McCain in 2008 (359-179).
Selective cherry picking by you makes you look like the man who fell from a 40 story window. As he passed the seventh floor he said things were going “pretty good so far.”
Pffftt… I know what they do…. Yesterday they did move Wisconsin from leaning Obama to toss-up. Nothing you can say changes that.
Ignoring that makes you look like the nervous Democrat you are…
I am disdainful of Republicans who grasp at straws as you have, but hardly nervous. Romney is likely looking to bet $10,000 against his chances of winning the White House. He would much prefer the RCP numbers of President Obama.
Uh huh.
Romney doesn’t have a chance. The GOP has been too busy alienating almost every demographic except for old white men, a segment that is shrinking by the hour. It’s tough to stay in the game when no one wants to play with you.
Let’s be gentle with old white men like Cheesecake. Let him live out his fantasies until Election Day this November. Reality will certainly crush his dreams, so there is no need for us to do it any earlier.
Yes, but first the aforementioned individual would have to have a grip on reality. Reminds me of an old lyric, “You can’t lose what you ain’t got, you can’t miss what you never had.”
If we limited the expression of opinions, the right to vote, or the ability to run for public office to those with a firm grip on reality, there would be nary a Republican qualified to do any of the three.
umm Bob… Perhaps you haven’t noticed but Obama has been running around the country shoring up the demographic that just 6 weeks ago was in the bag for him.
College kids, Gays, even black ministers…. women… Perhaps you missed this.
CBS/NY Times Poll women selected Romney 46%-44%.
How many pairs of shoes have you worn out pacing the floor, praying and hoping for the demise of Obama? Mitch McConnell and John Boehner share your concern.
Ya, he is going back for a little vacation and to pickup a few things for the next 4 years. You feel free to dream in your little world it will be better for your health until Nov. after that your on your own, you may need anti-depressants for a while but you will get over it.
I’m not gonna’ be the one eating crow on the 7th of November.
On the 7th of November you’ll be on here blaming establishment Republicans and the media for choosing Romney. Exactly the same complaints made about McCain.
Nope. If Obama wins, I’ll be on here telling the American people that greed and selfishness has won the day, and that they get what they deserve. You see, if Obama wins, America loses. And we won’t be able to recover from four more years of his Progressive/Socialist dictatorship.
That is funny and absurd. You equate President Obama with greed and selfishness. What planet are you living on.
Do you listen to Obama when he speaks? His most used words are “I” and “me”. And he and his wife act like king and queen. Yes, he is greedy, selfish, egotistical, and arrogant. But, since he was brought up in privilege, what would one expect to act like?
are you talking about Mittens?
Funny.
Yeah, and his wife Ann who says, “It’s our turn”. Romney telling Obama to pack his bags. What arrogance!
what are you talking about?
In an interview with the Romney’s recently, she asked what Mitt would like to say to President Obama. He answered, “I’d say, ‘start packing”. Ann chimed in with ‘It’s our turn now”. I was disgusted by the arrogance.
me too
Brought up in privilege ? Now you are delusional.
I vote, Yes to the delusional.
I chose delusional rather than dishonest to be more kind on second thought it is both.
He was sent to the most expensive and exclusive private school in Hawaii. He went to Ivy League schools in the states, and his way was paid for. He has been groomed by the left-wing rich, funded by the radicals, and has become a millionaire thanks to his doing the bidding of those that purchased his office. Yes, he has led a privileged life.
Hopeless.
And Romney had to fight and scratch for everything?
So a poor person working hard to earna scholarship, leads a privileged life? I know the schools, I went to you had to apply, and you needed good grades. GW Bush, and Mitt Romney, went to Ivy league Collages to, both their daddies got them into school, with W, daddy paid, to keep him there. Your hate for our President, is a sickness EJ.
Sounds like class warfare the right supposedly hates so much. And once again, if that’s the rubric for privilege living, then Romney has as well.
Spending cuts and reasonable taxation — that’s not the definition of greed and selfishness. What is though is tax cuts for the wealthy, budgets cuts that only impact the poor and spending increases for Defense.
Spending cuts?!? With 5+ trillion in deficit and another 15 trillion in predicted increases? Nothing has been cut.
Reasonable taxation?!? With 50% of Americans paying nothing in income taxes and the class war being lead by the chief of deceit and greed?
Yes, there have been cuts. Don’t be dishonest, there has been trillions in cuts already and more coming. Have you notice how Republicans are the ones trying to renege on the debt ceiling deals though? They’re now trying to INCREASE spending on Defense. Do you have a problem with that or no?
Pay no federal income taxes. They still pay taxes. Obama has proposed simplifying the tax code numerous times, including lowering the corporate rate. Why don’t you stop screaming and be objective instead of being paranoid about how awful and evil the President is. You need a reality check if you think he’s hellbent on destroying the country or whatever else.
Stick to the facts, would you?
Janet and David, your child will probably get another chance to walk across the stage as he graduates with a masters next time so don’t worry too much. The democrats have made it way to difficult for us business owners to hire anyone and the liberals claim they haven’t even started with their socialist agenda, so….yikes. So send the kid back to grad school and maybe us republicans can have this mess improved in another 3 years.
Then again, U M Zero might be so strapped from paying their non qualified administrators 6 figures that they can’t afford a $600 projector.
Rita Souther–The R’s are trying to take us back to what caused this whole mess. The last comment by (R)money was to repeal all the regulations passed by Obama, at least that was his position today, it could change if he thinks it might get him another vote, but those regulations include a watch on the banks, I guess if you don’t mind bailing them out that would be OK. (R)money wants to get the tax rates lowered, which will add approximately $10 trillion to the deficit in 10 years while cutting many programs for the poor and sick while increasing the military budget. Not a good program.
Not to mention JP Morgan’s recent loss of $2 Billion highlighting the need for financial regulation.
Ummmm… JP Morgan made a bad bet and lost. It happens… BUT someone else made a Good bet and made $2 billion dollars. Should we investigate them?
Besides when the deal was done it became a taxable event and the federal government just came up a couple hundred million dollars of tax revenue. Is that a bad thing? This whole thing just a political ploy by manipulative Democrats to convince investment noobies that something is wrong?
Democrats have long traded on the public’s ignorance, this is just another example.
What’s funny is that JP Morgan complained about how much Dodd-Frank costs them, but the number they throw out is a fraction of this 2 billion loss.
You should know C. In business the game is minimize losses when you can, even if the losses are to the government.
C?
Ummmmm…. no. It is you showing your ignorance about this type of trading. It is the same type of trading that caused the 2008 recession. The same type of trading we were told would not happen again because financial companies were capable of regulating themselves and that regulations were not necessary to stop this type of trading.
And a loss by one company does not mean a gain by another company. Ie. this type of trading caused the 2008 recession so there was not an another company making money off of those types of trade/derivatives.
NVM… You don’t get it and I’m not about to waste my time explaining it to you.
The $2 billion loss, according to Mr. Dimon, was in the bank’s “synthetic credit portfolio,” which means it involved the same type of complex derivatives that played such a destructive role in the financial crisis. And Mr. Dimon said that sloppiness, bad judgment and stupidity — his own and his colleagues’ — had led to the loss.It was a stunning admission from a man who led JPMorganthrough the crisis relatively unscathed, but it doesn’t explain what actually went wrong.What Mr. Dimon did not say is that the loss also occurred because of a continued lack, nearly four years after the crisis, of rules and regulators up to the task of protecting taxpayers and the economy from the excesses of too big to fail banks; and, yes, of protecting the banks from their executives’ and traders’ destructive risk-taking.The fact that JPMorgan’s loss — which Mr. Dimon has warned could “easily get worse” — is not enough to topple the bank, is not the point. What matters is that JPMorgan, like the nation’s other big banks, is still engaged in activities that can provoke catastrophic losses. If policy makers do not strengthen reform, then luck is the only thing preventing another meltdown.Bank regulators should start by adopting a forceful Volcker Rule. Proposed by Paul Volcker, the former Federal Reserve chairman and included in the Dodd-Frank reform law, the rule would curtail risky and speculative trading with the banks’ own capital.Banks hate the Volcker Rule, because less gambling means lower profits and lower bonuses for executives and traders. Mr. Dimon has been especially contemptuous, saying at one point that “Paul Volcker by his own admission has said he doesn’t understand capital markets. He has proven that to me.” Early versions of the restrictions have been ambiguous and toothless.Dodd-Frank also calls for new rules on derivatives — including transparent trading and requirements for banks to back their trades with collateral and capital. If such rules were in place, JPMorgan’s trades could not have escaped notice by regulators and market participants. In the face of heavy lobbying, the derivatives’ rules have also been delayed or watered down.
JP Morgan’s stock has plunged in the past week wiping out nearly $10 billion in shareholder equity (so far) for tens of thousands of shareholders. No big deal, as long as those widows, orphans, retirees and municipalities are the only ones to take it on the chin, right? Thank goodness Mr. Dimon gets to keep his job in spite of his colossal, arrogant, irresponsible mistake. That’s our good old American meritocracy at work.
Oh come on..This is business. there are no guarantees. I wonder if another pension fund made the $2 billion that JPM lost?
As for JPM stock, I bought today. Good time to do that.
Translation: “This is greedy people (traders) making money for themselves and so what if the investors/stockholders are left holding the (empty) bag.”
Ignorance. Pure Ignorance.
One company lost $2 billion dollars another made $2 billion dollars.
That’s what happens. All the time. The market reacts emotionally driving JPM stock down. People buy on the dips … the value goes up. Today I become the stockholder.
So which company made the $2 billion dollars?
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303360504577407970358475652.html
Again, traders making money off of no value derivatives (taking home hefty commissions) and leaving the losses to stockholders. Good luck with your stock.
My guess is some private firm possibly not traded. But there is no law that says that needs to be revealed. A trading loss (from your link) means by definition, there was a trading gain.
This bet is now a $3 billion loss. I know that you know with credit default swaps there is no there there. In time all this will become transparent since this bet was made from government insured private accounts, not JPMorgan’s money.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303360504577407970358475652.html
All a lawsuit means is that someone took a hosing. Happens. it’s why so many lawyers can make the big bucks. I wonder what the party was like at the other firm.
This kind of bet, and it was a bet, not a hedge, it was and is a credit default swap. I say is because this bet is still out there . It is exactly like what brought on the great recession. And it was done with money that is insured by the U.S. tax payers. Yet another example of privatizing gains and socializing losses. This is why we need the better regulation that the Volker Rule would give us.
Those who would call this business as usual are showing their ignorance .
Mr. and Mrs. Russell, although the university botched the ceremonies, don’t feel too bad: As you know, your son didn’t actually receive a diploma, but a piece of paper in a booklet that told him he would get his diploma in the mail in about four to six weeks.
Nevertheless, if what happened to you had happened to my family when I graduated, I would have been peeved to no end.
Mr. amd Mrs. Russell: You are remarkably restrained. It is no consolation to know that other parents and siblings suffered similarly because of disgracefully malfunctioning machinery. UMaine should offer to present each of these students with a diploma in a new ceremony even if the students live a distance away–pay them their travel expenses. This would never happen if there was a major hockey game and fans had a chance to watch it outside of the Alfond Arena. The comments of Bushfan are as silly as those of his idol. Obama the socialist? Give me a break. Tell that to his many Wall Street and Silicon millionaire supporters.
I have heard about these wonderful insurance policies. Only problem is that they don’t cover very much.
You are responding to a bot.
Ok, what’s a bot.?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Internet_bot
In this case the bot is designed to deliver postings to multiple websites.
Thanks. I’m a little (lot) slow on the uptake;)
Sorry to learn of your disappointment, Mr. and Mrs. Russell; however, it comes as no surprise. In my experience, the University of Maine is overloaded with incompetents.
Dear Ms. Souther,
Apparently you believe in the stand taken by Mitch McConnell and John Boehner, that their only goal for the past three and a half years was to get rid of President Obama? That and only that. The country’s business and its people have been held hostage by the Teapublican ideology.
Meryem Mertoglu – I’m afraid you’re in for a rude awakening.
I think is strange that with 5 trillion + in deficit increases that anyone could think that there have been spending cuts. Aren’t cuts supposed to decrease spending? Or do the left wingers consider 6 trillion in increases a moot point if there are claims of one trillion in cuts? It just doesn’t add up.
But if that’s your rubric for what constitutes cuts then Romney won’t be making cuts either.
Deleted.