PROSPECT, Maine — Every summer, the green parade grounds and old stone ramparts of Fort Knox Historic Site host all kinds of groups, from psychics to medieval re-enactors to pirates to Scottish bagpipers.
But one private event scheduled for July — the 2012 Economic Freedom Festival, sponsored by the Maine chapter of the conservative policy group Americans For Prosperity — has some folks feeling like the state-owned fort’s new management has gone too far. They also are concerned that the festival may be seen as something of a victory celebration after this spring’s controversial privatization of day-to-day management of the fort.
“Are we selling our heritage site as a commodity? Or are we preserving our heritage site as a heritage site for Maine?” Gordon Williamson of Prospect asked Monday.
He is a former member of the nonprofit Friends of Fort Knox group, which now manages the operations of the state-owned site.
“I have a fundamental disagreement with the approach that it’s a commodity that the state owns to be sold to the highest bidder — whether it’s the Americans For Prosperity or the psychic people,” Williamson said.
Leon Seymour, executive director of the Friends of Fort Knox, vehemently disagreed with Williamson’s view and noted that the Waldo County Democrats held their annual picnic at the fort for six years in a row and the Hancock County Republican Women came last summer.
“We’re open to everybody,” he said. “We like groups because they’re great for business. You can’t pick and choose based on your own political persuasion. I think it’s a tempest in a teapot.”
The July 7 fundraising festival will feature Gov. Paul LePage, conservative radio host Howie Carr and Tarren Bragdon, formerly of the conservative advocacy group the Maine Heritage Policy Center. It’s billed as “an afternoon with freedom-loving Mainers” and will culminate with a $100-per-plate sunset dinner that honors the 2012 “Maine Economic Freedom Fighter of the Year,” Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew.
One aspect of the event that seems the most egregious to Williamson is the fact that Carol Weston, president of the board of directors of the Friends of Fort Knox, is also the Maine state director for Americans For Prosperity. That conservative advocacy group was founded with support from billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch and lobbies for lower taxes and less government regulation and spending.
“I’m just outraged,” Williamson said. “It looks to me like it’s a celebration party.”
He said he is trying to rally support from Mainers who would like to see the management lease with Friends of Fort Knox nullified and said he believes that politically sponsored events held there in the past also were improper.
However, Weston said Fort Knox and other state-owned sites have never had a “litmus test” for events and that there is nothing improper about holding the festival there.
“It’s open to all persuasions,” she said. “It fits in with our goal of bringing more people there to introduce them to this beautiful site.”
Joe Brooks of Winterport, who formerly served on the board of directors of the Friends group, said the fort should not allow political groups to use the facility, especially during an election year.
“I think if the state was still in control, this would not happen,” he said. “I don’t mean to say that we should discriminate against groups or individuals, but in a political year, I think we should be a little more discriminatory.”
But Jeanne Curran, a spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Conservation, said that people hold events at state parks all the time and the July 7 festival at Fort Knox isn’t any different.
“It’s just like any other event that we would hold at any other place on state property,” she said. “It’s no different than Occupy Maine setting up a camp at Capitol Park in Augusta and having people donate funds.”
Seymour said that during the festival, the fort would be open as usual to other people who want to stop in and see the 19th century edifice. Those who want to attend the festival during the afternoon would pay $15 each, which includes both the admission and the afternoon program.
Regular admission to the fort is $3 for adults and $1 for children ages 5-11, he said.
The fundraising dinner will be held in a spot adjacent to the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, which also is managed by Friends of Fort Knox. Attendees will dine on Maine delicacies while listening to LePage, Carr and Bragdon. Meanwhile, Seymour said, an Elton John tribute band will perform at the fort in an unrelated concert event.
He said Americans For Prosperity will pay $5 per person to Friends of Fort Knox to use the space after hours, which is the going rate.
“More and more museums are offering events outside of what you’d think their core mission is,” Seymour said in response to concerns that the Friends group is moving too far afield from the fort’s historic heritage. “There’s a clear reason for it: You want to cast a wider net and offer different programs that would appeal to different populations. If a movie theater showed ‘Gone With The Wind’ every single day, eventually you’d go out of business.”
Joe Brooks gave a campaign speech there while running for State Senate, during the Scottish Tattoo. Remember that Joe? It outraged many in attendance. In fact, I remember good ole’ Joe saddling up to Rep. Mike Michaud at one of the Dem picnics I attended….LOL
“That conservative advocacy group was founded with support from
billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch and lobbies for lower taxes
and less government regulation and spending.”
OMG lower taxes and less government how could we ever allow such a thing. These are the reasons we in Maine elected our current GOV after 40 years of your way we need to stop the tax spend grow gov mentality.
lower taxes(for the rich) and less government so they have NO regulations and continue to steal from the working class…..in other words Greedy GOPers
Ok please point me to where any founding document says hey your rich you pay a higher percentage. IF you make more money your pay much more in taxes thus you shoudl get a bigger break. Now if you truly want the game to be FAIR then make a single flat percentage everybody pays. Why shoudl those who work hard and succeed be forced to pay a much higher percentage of there income to the gov? At the same time those who earn less pay no taxes and in many cases get not only funded by the state in there daily life but also get a tax return check even though they paid nothing in.
Hey! Look in the Constitution!
The Congress was given the Power to Tax. This power and the Constitution was derived from the outcome of the war of Independance, as they threw off tryanny. It was given to the duly Elected Representative’s of the People, for the People.
This Fort is an American Icon of that war for Independance.
Americans for Prosperity is a group of radical conservative Tyrants who would like to end that Democratically appointed Power of Taxation and Replace it with the tyranny of Privately Own Companies.
Their First Luitenant Paul Lepage has Made the first step in the privatization of that fort and the Tyrannical Koch Brother Kings are now intending to occupy their conquest!
If we don’t wake up we may find ourselves in the bowels of that Fort in Chains and Shackles!
Which war for independance? Fort Knox was established in 1844 and was never really garrisoned. Fort Knox was used from 1863 to 1866 as a training site and during the Spanish American war. (This info came from the Fort Knox web site)
I said that it was an “Icon” for the war for Independance I did not say the Revolutionary War. I should have said It was put in place to defend the freedom obtained in the Revolutionary war. In any event it is Still an Icon for the freedom obtained in that conflict.
Some are still fighting the War of Independance today!
They don’t want to pay taxes to their Government. You might of heard of them. They call themselves the Tea Party. They join clubs like Americans for Tax Reform and Americans for Prosperity, Then there is the Heritage Foundation, and so on and so on.
Lemme give you a simple example of how many are being manipulated.
Last year, there was a fight over a bill. It was to cut 600 million from the FEM A budget.
Ed Schultz threw a fit. “The evil republicans don’t care about people in disasters. all they care about is cutting services and the wealthy” He made it seem pretty clear that the Republicans were wrong.For days he went on about it.
600 million was 3 percent of FEMAS budget. It wasn’t even a blip that would be missed. And yet Good old Ed made it the end of the world. is this really someone you take your marching orders from? A liar. A manipulator.?
Please don’t bother with the Foxnews boring, predictable, comparisons. I’m not a fan of them either. I know that would make attacking me easier, but the point is that what the other guy does,does not excuse another’s actions.
Give a nod to Barry Sanders. Act like you’ve been there before.
Biggg Edddy! Gets a little intense,, what he lacks in fact sometimes he makes up in enthusiasm!
He does believe in what he says Right OR Wrong!
Thats {Bernie} Sanders,
Barry is the President
Barney is the one that Likes the Boys!
Oh yea that’s what we need. Forget the facts as long as they believe what they are saying.
By what you’ve stated Hitler wasn’t a bad guy just a little misunderstood.
I knew you were a fan of Schultz. Such one sided nonsense is pretty obvious.
Guess it doesn’t really matter you don’t actually have any skin in the game
I’m very aware oh whom Barney Frank is, ARE YOU? do a little research, caught with a page back in the eighties, kind of ugly. As I’ve said before, Frank is an Alpha queen, kind of a bully. Watched him the last month or two on various news programs, he never let’s anyone get a word in and then when they try to talk he shouts them down. and people like that are your heroes. real nice. Do you think barney is a centrist???? Not even remotely, he is one of the big mouths that is the problem.
You’re either very young or not particularly well rounded.
It’s BARRY SANDERS. Considered one of the all time great running backs. Retired on the precipice of breaking several records.
When Barry would score a touchdown he would simply hand the ball to the ref. No showboating, no shooting his mouth off. His actions spoke for themselves.
Give em the PROOF and let them choke on it.
I don’t see the President having that proof. He’s behaving more like Chad Johnson than Barry sanders. I’m not seeing Johnson Finding a team this year. If he does he probably won’t contribute much.An omen perhaps?
To bad we’ll never see that much common sense again.
Which means it was an active duty garrison, though not used much for its intended use.
OOOHHHHH Caaanaaaadaaaa!
So in your tiny ignorant mind, bigger government means more freedom? People like you are the reason our forefathers crafted a republic and not a democracy.
Freeeee doooooooom!!!!!!!!
Good, go to the festival and you can play Brave Heart with Koch!
You need to be careful using the royal we… we elected our current governor, remember far more people didn’t vote for Paul Lepage than did. I think you are right, we needed to find a different direction, hopefully we get on it.
Yeah, let the tree huggers and psychos have their festivals there, but no real people
“real people?”
The distinction of (Real) is made from the Haves and the Have Nots!
$ 100.00 a Plate Dinner is the clue!
Spending $100 per plate is common in some parts of the country, and is not unheard of here in Maine.
In fact there was a $40K per couple dinner held in California recently. $ 100 per plate is chump change
What was it $5000 to see Michele and Barry?
Better class of neighborhood!
LOL
Really?? 100 dollars a plate makes one wealthy in your eyes?? You’re standards are pretty low.
Exactly what would you call the people that paid 40 thousand a plate at a President Obama fund raising dinner?
I’ve been to Bucksport!
and I’ve seen the Tea Partiers,
$ 20.00 bucks would be overpriced!
LOL
So yes, your standards are pretty low.
ONE MORE TIME, I am not a TEA-party member but I will say one thing for them. They leave a place the way they find it. IT’s called respect for yourself and others.
And of course, no response to my question. No one can really defend the President, they just go off on another direction when confronted with a question.
Actually, over the past several years, Fort Knox has hosted a gathering of closet conservatives each summer.
Who knows? There may be more R’s at the fort on July 7 than at the last pirate festival.
{There may be more R’s at the fort on July 7 than at the last pirate festival}
How would anyone Tell The Differance?
What? What makes you think that people who either can’t afford to purchase a meal costing $100/person or those who are very wealthy but also very frugal and don’t want to waste $100 for a meal are all “tree huggers” and “psychos”?
Do you know that some of the wealthiest people reuse tin foil and use Walmart bags to line their small trash cans? Do you realize that there are very wealthy people who may not wish to donate to a political campaign but they will certainly cast a vote during an election. Calling these people names in attempt to force a donation for a specific political party is a rather foolish idea, don’t you think?
Bear in mind that “real people” come from all walks of life and absolutely no one – not wealthy people, not average people and not poor people – like to be pushed or insulted into making a donation to a political cause. You can’t insult “real people” into making a forced donation but you absolutely can lose a lot of votes by calling “real people” very ugly names simply because they may not want donate to your political cause. No sir… “real people” are a lot more than just donors to a specific political party. Real people are not tree huggers and psychos.
The BDN uses the term “critics” in the headline, and I had to search the article to find more than 1 person quoted. It was 2. So that allowed them to use the headline “critics” instead of “critic.” Oh, and I especially love this quote:
“I think if the state was still in control, this would not happen,” he
said. “I don’t mean to say that we should discriminate against groups or
individuals, but in a political year, I think we should be a little
more discriminatory.”
Wait – you don’t think we should discriminate, but we should be discriminatory?
How about this – be thankful that there will be dozens or perhaps hundreds of people coming to an event in your area, bringing business to this historic site and to places surrounding, and stop your whining!
Agreed!
You’ve missed the important distinction: It’s improper to have political groups at Fort Knox, and really improper to have conservative political groups there.
Question 1 – It’s improper just at Fort Knox or any other state-owned property?
Question 2 – Why is it “really improper” to have a conservative political group there and by inference “less improper” to have a liberal political group there?
Actually, my comment was meant to be a pun. I think that some of those who say they are opposed to political events at Fort Knox are really motivated by their dislike of conservatives.
I have no problem at all with these events at state property, whether they be liberal, conservative, or in between.
Joe Brooks has a problem with it because he’s running again (God help us) and he didn’t think of it. Of course, after his attempted coup of the Friends years ago, this is just his way of trying to get back at Seymour’s continued success.
I think you have got it around backward. Joe Brooks was among those community members who gave selflessly over the years to restore an extraordinary historical artifact that the state was allowing to slip into ruin. Once this daunting goal was accomplished, Leon Seymour led a group of conservative politicians in staging a coup of the management of the park that put him in charge of a cheesy marketing operation whose low point each year has been the staging of psychic ghostbuster “investigations.”
Until now de facto privitization of an important state historic site that belonged to all the people of Maine has resulted in the merely crass and silly, just what you might expect from shallow people who see everything as a commodity. Turning over the site for the Koch brothers to use to promote their anti-democratic values is a good deal more sinister.
I’m totally embarrassed. I missed the sarcasm, which is typically a language I handle fluently…
My fault. It’s hard to get it across on the internet. It just doesn’t convey.
I watch way to much political television.Over and over again I here the same empty nonesense with no substance, no SOLUTIONS. that I hear from the PARTISAN pundits. I’ve always questioned the value of political ads but it’s becoming quite clear that not that many people think for themselves left or right.
Superficial wins the day.
I agree, this is an Icon for Americas Freedom from Tryanny and there is no need to bring the next Tryrant there to use it as his own Icon.
Unless of course there was another Fort on the other side of the river, then we could let each have one fully armed and they could launch cannon balls at each other and then maybe we could “ALL” become free!
“OPINION, not FACT.Tyranny, really??
Wow Rachel and ED have you completely snowed. How are they any better than Limbaugh and Beck?? You agree with them so that’ makes what they say okay even if it’s a lie and you know it’s a lie??? Again, WOW!!.
If you aren’t a member yet, I certainly hope you get your Occupy bonifides.
And please stop pretending you have a lot of money.
As I said before”So much cooler online”
Funny but there were only three sources cited in a response from the FOFK. What do you want, a door to door census?
I’m still awaiting a valid legal reason they should be kept out.
You don’t have one, so what, you just stop responding. I can call you if you’d like. perhaps then you could explain why LEGALLY they shouldn’t be allowed.
Partisan sour grapes. Same kind of people who throw a fit over god bless America.
Way to give a SMALL portion of the town a voice.
I suspect they would much rather have Occupy hanging around pissing on people’s lawns.
Grow up, stop fighting stereotypes and start talking issues.
I Have little opinion on The Koch’s but why is George Soros never mentioned in the same ominous tone?
Sour grapes? Simply not true. You can bad mouth the folks that disagree with you and make false claims all you want but it doesn’t change the truth my friend.
Your “Fundamental disagreement” ls not grounds for anyone to do anything. It doesn’t even make you right by the way. It means you have an opinion. And you know what they say about opinions.
Once again, A valid LEGAL reason they should not be allowed.
Listen to Rush and Howie Carr for a while, each side has the other pegged as the villian!
My goal in life isn’t to assist a party in gotcha moments. I don’t listen to Beck, Limbaugh, Carr, ” or any other obviously partisan hacks. Don’t they bore you people?
In response to this:
Leon Seymour, executive director of the Friends of Fort Knox, vehemently
disagreed with Williamson’s view and noted that the Waldo County
Democrats held their annual picnic at the fort for six years in a row
and the Hancock County Republican Women came last summer.
The Waldo County Dems had picnics there, not fundraisers.
And that is the rub.
To the Dem’s a gathering should Be a Picnic Event.
To the Rep’ s a gathering should Be a Pickpocket Event.
No to both Dems and Reps any gathering is a fund raiser. Either directly or indirectly.
There may be pickpockets at Ft Knox that day, but I suspect that they vote Democrat.
I’d like to see the “freedom loving Mainers” survive without a job, no money, no welfare and see how FREE they feel. This group is only CONSERVATIVE when it comes to their own BUCK. They are a group of haters that feed poison hate to their listeners!!
But you aren’t feeding poisonous hatred to any one.
Read your posting as if it was the “liberals” that are being crapped on and think what your response would be.
I don’t believe in God personally but I can only assume you are referencing the religious right.
I suggest you take a look at charitable contributions. Those of religious belief are much more apt to give to charities than non religious people.
Get your facts straight, make a salient point and move on.
“This group is only CONSERVATIVE when it comes to their own BUCK.”
You’re absolutely right.
They want to know their taxes are being used in an appropriate manner.What’s wrong with that?
I don’t subscribe to any socially conservative talking points. But I do believe we need to START USING GOVERNMENT FUNDS MORE EFFECTIVELY.
Explain why that’s wrong.
Should we just do everything for everyone and forget the expense???
I’m all for raising taxes but that alone isn’t going to resolve our country’s issues.
An event like this may give me a reason to go to the Fort for the first time ever! Be happy about that! Can’t imagine I’d be the only one…
And as a person with a lifelong interest in the fort who now finds himself with some time on his hands this gives me a reason to not become affiliated with FOFK.
“…he believes that politically sponsored events held there in the past also were improper.”
Mr. Williamson, would you like some curdled cheese to accompany your sour grape whine? Methinks your selective outrage stinks of bitterness and poor loserism.
Sticks and stones my friend. Meanwhile the GOP is giving away your property!
You’ve piqued my curiosity…which property have they given away?
Now that is both a dumb idea and a great photo op.
So… let me get this straight.
Less than two months after Lepage signed the agreement turning control of the fort over to Friends of Ft. Knox rather than have the state maintain control, Carol Weston, who’s the president of the board of directors of FOFK as well as the State Director for the conservative group, “Americans for Posterity” pulls the strings to get HER group into the fort for a $100 per plate Republican fundraiser.
There are two tests this doesn’t pass:
The straight-face test
The bad smell test.
One thing you have to say about those Conservaite Republicans though – they sure can throw together a party in a hurry, complete with the Governaor and a radio personality! Unless… this has been in the works for months and… naw… they wouldn’t do that. :-)
“We’re open to everybody” Sounds like a great place for the supporters of same-sex-marriage to have a fund raiser.
After looking at the Ft. Knox schedule I note that there are many weekends open. I bet if some progressive group wanted to they could still book the fort for a demonstration or rally, or fundraiser, if they could stand going to a fort (you know a building built by the military).
I agree. You’re probably right about that. And it would be just as bad if it were Democrats or Libertarians or Tea Partiers or Independents or any other political faction. The fact is that our state parks should not be used for partisan fundraisers, regardless of who’s raising the funds.
People with common sense know that and respect it. Bullies take the attitude of “We CAN do it so we will”. Unfortunately right now bulling is the political climate in the state of Maine.
Well said HeaganMtn. Very well said.
gordon williamson
Perhaps someone should ask Carol Weston why she was taking her emails at the Americans for Prosperity email address rather than a FOFK email address. That’s slick! Does this mean the Americans for Prosperity group were really the ones handling the lease negotiations?
I’m almost embarrassed to admit how neive I’ve been in this. When one stops to think about what really happened and the events that transpired it’s not hard to see how this all came to be.
With all due respect to ‘truefriendof ForkKnox’ whom I’m paraphrased and possibly even plagarized here…
The FOFK wanted a larger part in the running of the operation of the fort (read: control of the money the fort brings in) so they had a bill introduced into the legislature that would give them that control. This bill never made it out of committee.
They then had the same legislator propose to then-gov Baldacci that he enact it by an executive decree – a proposal which Baldacci refused to do.
Being two-time losers at this point but determined to get what they wanted by whatever means, Caroll Weston (President FOFK AND Chairman of “Americans for prosperity” [not to be confused with the Americans who are against prosperity ]) and Bill Beardsley of the DOC worked out a deal whereby this transfer of control would just… happen.
See how neat that is??
Now, as a reward for the people who made it happen FOFK has made The Fort available for a fundraiser for (apparently) Carol Weston, Paul LePage and the Republican Party.
See how easy this is to sort out when you look at what happened??
The legislature turned this down, the then-governor turned it down, and then rather than having a cognizant thought that maybe this wasn’t a good idea they went to a staunch Republican cabinet member who could unilaterally just make it happen. Now the Republicans are rewarding themselves for it and FOFK is providing the venue for it. Sweet, huh?
This is backroom politics at it’s worst, and unfortunately what I’ve come to expect from this current administration. The bad news is, LePenquin doesn’t care – he got what he wanted so you can expect more of the same deals in the future.
{ It’s billed as “an afternoon with freedom-loving Mainers” and will culminate with a $100-per-plate sunset dinner that honors the 2012 “Maine Economic Freedom Fighter of the Year,” Maine Department of Health and Human Services Commissioner Mary Mayhew }
This is Like Holding an Ozzie Ozeborn Concert in a Christian Church!
Will there be Goat Sacrifices?
I’ll bet Mary Mayhew is a little nervous about attending.
A good chance for her to suck up to the boss. Maybe she can take a few of the DHHS recipients with her as a gesture of good will.
They have already been sacrificed!
Goat sacrifice??? I think that would be a different group.
The Conservative summer camp Bohemian grove comes to mind.
Their witch rituals are becoming noticed!
They need a new one on the east coast!
Come on now. There have been as many of these “summer camps” run by the Democrats be they progressive, socialist, union, or just plain folks.And that is their right to do so.
Please get off your perceived moral high ground and stop throwing bombs, figuratively, at those that you don’t agree with.
Why this is fun, dodging the Grenades that you throw back!
LOL
Certainly isn’t 40 thousand per plate is it
The Fort Was Bought and Paid For By The Koch Brothers, with Campaign Donations !
It’s their Fort!
They will do with it as they please!
Hey, Thats what Free Market ROI is all about!
Ft Knox was bought and paid for by the American people in 1844 and belings to the State of Maine.
Some how I doubt that the Kochs had anything to do with it.
I quess you haven’t noticed the Koch Boys trying to buy up everything that the people own?
They started with the Governors of the States first and then buy up what they tell them to discard.
You can not possibly read this board and not know how you clowns think the Kochs are.
Oooooooo….eeeeeeevil boogeymen Koch brothers. What is your tinfoil hat telling you is next in their plans for global conquest? Currency manipulation?
Whoops…George Soros already has that one covered…
How much are they charging to stand there next to the dinner and protest?
I would guess a night in jail?
Maybe they can rename Fort Knox, just for that day, and call it the Liars Club.
I envision a time in the not too distant future when you will see corporate sponsorship, much like what happens today when a company can buy the naming rights of a ballpark funded and built by the public. Will they rename Fort Knox? Naw. But you’ll see banners and other signage around the Fort proclaiming, “this Fort Knox renovation brought to you by XYZ Corporation” or “Welcome to XYZ Corporation Day at Fort Knox”. It will happen.
“I” can make false claims???
I’m not a fan of the Teaparty or OCS. Nor am I a fan of the Kochs. I’m just asking why Soros isn’t seen in the same light as they are. He’s kept up with them in the spending department and yet NO ONE will even talk about it. I suspect it’s due to people with LOTS of opinion’s but little actual knowledge of current policy or policy on the table. Give me a rational reason as to why they should not be allowed to gather there. Because you disagree with them is NOT a reason. By the way, nice touch, do you get a new name for every issue ? I’m thinking you feel it gives you some sense of self importance, to claim you have a connection to every issue.
I am sincerely sorry you do not understand my comments Thrill. Everyone else seems to. I don’t really think I need add anything more. May I suggest you reread the article and my comments. Stay focused and with an open mind. Best I can recommend to you right now.
Wow, you are a superior kinda guy aren’t ya?
I understood your comments, I am open minded. I expect the same respect be given by ALL party’s. “Liar’s club”, is not respectful
Once again, you have NOT given me a rational, LEGAL reason they should be banned. If you’re unable why should I think it’s anything beyond sour grapes?
Your inability to give me a concrete legal reason will just continue to feed into my opinion.
You don’t like someone so you stomp your feet.
You come off petty as well by the way.
Please, give me a legal reason.
Since Wisconsin has been in the news let’s take a look there. Do a search for the HERB Kohl. His name is all over the state. He happens to be a DEMOCRAT. Ehh, doesn’t fit your agenda to have a Democrat fitting the criteria.
For every person from one party, there is the equivalent, on the other side.
Lets clarify a few things. First, the Waldo County Democrats had picnics at the fort and the occupy movement “set up camp” with contributions as an afterthought. This is not the same as what the Americans for Prosperity are doing at Fort Knox. The Americans for Prosperity are holding a prepay fundraiser using our Governor and Mr. Carr as a way to draw right wing republicans. There is a big difference in intent. Second, on information I received using a FOAA request, every email I found between Ms. Weston and the Department of Conservation originated from her email address with the Americans for Prosperity, not from the Friends of Fort Knox with whom she was purportedly representing in the negotiations for this lease. When I asked her about this she refused to answer.
The whole concept of privatizing Fort Knox started when representative Michael Celli submitted a bill for this (LD509, last legislative session) to the state legislature. Base upon a report given to the legislature that felt the bill was a bad idea, a report that then Senator Weston agreed with and signed, the legislature didn’t support LD509. In fact LD509 didn’t even make it out of committee. Then, ignoring the wishes of his colleagues, Rep Celli asked Governor Baldacci to implement the bill by executive decree. Governor Baldacci declined to do so. Move forward to the GOP administration of Mr. Lepage. Ms. Weston, now Chairman of the FOFK board of Directors while also sitting as Chairman for the Maine chapter of the Americans for Prosperity, manages to avoid going through the legislature at all on this important decision. Mr. Beardsley, Director of the DOC, doesn’t even hold a public forum for the citizens of Maine to discuss this precedent setting decision. What the heck is that! They just took our property and gave it to the FOFK in the most politically expedient way that denied citizens any way to have their opinions known or acted upon.
It is openly discussed by the GOP that they want to privatize all publicly owned parks and lands. Have no doubt about it, this is a test case for the GOP to see if privatization in Maine can be pushed down the throats of our citizens. So far they are getting away with it. We can see how the Maine GOP is reacting to this. They hold a political fundraiser/celebration at the very site where this horrendous act against Maine’s citizens occurred. There is NO precedent here beyond the one they are creating right now, today, by taking our parks and lands away from us and then thumbing their nose at the citizens of Maine who have not blessed the concept of privatization, nor even discussed it in a statewide agenda.
Gordon Williamson
Prospect, ME
A true friend of Fort Knox
Did the Waldo County Democrats pay a fee to FOFK when they had their picnics there, and have other groups that have held events there had to pay for their use of Fort Knox?
This is a prime example of how republicans believe democracy should operate in America.
“the occupy movement “set up camp” with contributions as an afterthought.”
LOL! Right! They barged in and squatted (sometimes literally) on “public property” without any regard for upkeep, costs associated, etc. In many cases, they committed crimes against area citizens, businesses and themselves and left their former digs in shambles when evicted.
You’re setting up the occupy crowd as the standard of virtue when it comes to private citizens using public property?
Fantastic. Please continue. You’ll demonstrate how out of touch you are with the mainstream.
Furthermore, enough about this nonsense of “taking our parks and lands away from us.” The state still owns the land, still owns the property – they’re just having FOFK manage the property (which they’ve proven they do a better job than the state).
You seem to be trying to make a connection between Williamson and the Occupy Movement. I don’t see it. He is only responding to some BS that Jeanne Curran, spokeswoman and employee for the Department of Conservation, made as an attempt to divert attention. Just as you are. This has absolutely nothing to do with the occupy movement. Stop trying to put a spin on something that isn’t there.
Many members of MSNBC have acknowledged that occupy has been reduced to anarchists and other radicals that don’t have a rational agenda.
The only reason you don’t want them there is a difference of opinion, or ideology, or whatever else we can come up with. There is no legal reason they should be prohibited. Am I correct? If not, quit tilting at windmills, There are real concerns you can get involved with.
Other people are entitled to opinions. You may think you’re in the majority but I suggest you ask the Public union people in Wisconsin. They found out the people of Wisconsin didn’t agree with them either. Not a matter of whose opinion is right, it’s an OPINION. You protest, give your side but don’t whine and say they should be banned because you disagree with them. i suspect you’d sing a different tune if someone were trying to ban you from a specific spot based solely on ideology
You’re going to the bank on Wisconsin?!!!!! Fool. Wisconsin didn’t set a political precedent in America no matter how many times the right-wing extremists repeat the phrase. It is SO GOP to repeat something over and over again until they believe it is true. Are you still examining Obama’s birth certificate too? ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
Are you kidding me??
First, never a birth-er, buddy. I save the tinfoil for the oven.
Second, I’m not sure what Wisconsin means nationally but it sure received a lot of national attention didn’t it?
Third, I have received no answer to my request for a simple LEGAL reason this group, that I DO NOT SUPPORT by the way, should not be allowed to use the area.
So it’s Billionaire Capture the Flag!
The Tea Party has privatized Ft. Knox. It’s now Ft. Koch. Will Rupert the Fox be attending their do?
Ayup, and next week George Soros and George Clooney will be available.
If Occupy Maine had set-up camp at the fort last year the sound from these ‘critics’ would have been drowned out by the sound of crickets chirping.
I bet if the occupiers trashed the place it would
okay and they would be said to be patriotic.
While I am staunchly opposed to the current trend of Americans wanting to wage war in pursuit of the “Christian Cause,” I also feel that they have as much right as I do to gather peacefully and say so! Even though the most Anti_Mainer in state government will be present, he holds as much ownership of Fort Knox as any of the rest of us in the USA, and just as much right to state his opinions there. When I visited there, the only thing standing in my way to enter was the ticket booth, and if I wanted to make a speech there…I doubt anyone would have cared either way. So then why now is it considered improper for our own governor and friends to have the same freedom? If the city of Bangor can hold open air concerts, flying in the face of those who protest??? Then why is it wrong for a political group to have a gathering on state premises? Think it through…”Rights for us ALL, or no one will be right!”
Liberals do not understand why we have forts in America. This is the perfect place for this event. I can’t wait to attend!
So whaat does that have to do with why we have forts in America? In case they have to protect themselves from the huddled masses trying to steal their food?
Its either ok for everyone to have a function there, or theres no functions at all.
Sooo, because one group has not had a function there no group can have a function there?
If you bar one group, then you need to bar them all.
If a permitting entity says its ok to one group, but then says no to another, problems develop.
Many controversial groups get permits, and if they remain with the limits of the law, then you cant discriminate.
What group has been bared?
No question but that they have the same right to use the property as any other group.
I just hope they can get the smell out after they leave.
You appear to be misinformed. These people shower and clean up after themselves. Now, OCWS, you might need a nose plug for a month or two after.
The group running the park isn’t giving the park away; they are renting it for a short period of time. So long as they are open to other groups across the political spectrum doing the same, and money is put back into park operations, and the activities do no damage to the park, I think this rental is fine.
This does appear to be much ado about nothing….the article states “.. Jeanne Curran, a spokeswoman for the Maine Department of Conservation, said that people hold events at state parks all the time and the July 7 festival at Fort Knox isn’t any different.“It’s just like any other event that we would hold at any other place on state property,” she said. “It’s no different than Occupy Maine setting up a camp at Capitol Park in Augusta and having people donate funds.”
This “gala” (which one BTW would have to pay me $100 to sit through) is being held at the site of the PNO after it would normally be closed to the general public. The fort is open to sunset but the PNO is closed at 5 this time of year, according to the website..and this group is paying to use it….this event is in no way interfering with the public use of the site.
These arguments raised by these “critics” seem to be more of the ad hominem variety rather than one based on facts and logic…it seems to me to be a private vendetta carrying over into the comment pages of the BDN….sigh!