Though today she is known as a member of Congress and the wife of hedge fund magnate Donald Sussman, Maine 1st District U.S. Rep. Chellie Pingree says she came to Maine in 1971 after reading Scott and Helen Nearing’s influential back-to-the-land book “Living the Good Life.” She says some people would be surprised to know how she once was an off-the-grid farmer, toting water and chopping her own firewood on an island in Penobscot Bay.
Learn more about Chellie Pingree and other candidates in this fall’s election at bangordailynews.com/race/2012-general-election/. Meet her opponent, Jon Courtney, here.
U.S. House District 1
Jonathan T. E. Courtney vs. Chellie Pingree
This video is part of a series exploring the major candidates for Congress in Maine. Check back each week to learn more.
What a puff piece gift to the Chilly trustfunder.
You mean another fluff piece!
And it took her over 40 years to realize that the good life would come only if she married a millionaire ! I hope my kids learn faster !
I found out, personally, what kind of a person she was when, as head of the Maine State senate, she stopped on her way back to the island for a couple hours and sat in my living room concerned about the needs of a prison aftercare facility I was connected with. She had no votes to get or nothing else to gain, but she did gain my respect as someone who sincerely wants to make a difference.
Very nice and thoughtful comment mainemcq6.
Now if she would just resign her job as a Congresswoman and get down in the trenches, perhaps running a human services non-profit, and leave the rest of us alone, she could start making a difference that benefits people instead of hurting them.
Will equal time / coverage be “given” to her opponents?
Mr. Courtney was profiled last week: http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/09/27/politics/elections/meet-jon-courtney-1st-district-candidate-talks-of-early-struggles/ and http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/09/21/politics/meet-jon-courtney-looking-to-win-one-handshake-at-a-time/
How about the serious candidates?
Not sure how you mean — Pingree and Courtney are the only candidates for CD1. As the editor’s note above states, each candidate for each congressional seat — Congressional Districts 1 and 2 and the Senate — will be profiled.
NO!
Can anyone think of anything Chellie Sussman has done other than to marry the Donald? Should we get a look at their tax returns? Does the Donald pay 30 or 40%? Should we make that an issue?
A self-admitted anti-American socialist! Not what America is all about.
> (she’s ) A self-admitted anti-American socialist! Not what America is all about.
Being energy independent is un-American to what sort ?
Who are you referring to? Are you commenting on the correct article?
Lear jet liberal
I respectfully disagree. That’s not a Lear she rides around in:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okg9wbSJbIo
That’ a Falcon. It makes a Lear look like a toy. It costs gobs more money to acquire and operate and is particularly suited for overwater flight (useful when getting to your tax shelter residence in the VI).
Accordingly, I would correctly designate Chellie as a “Falcon Filcher”. She flies back to Maine, takes your earnings and redistributes them.
There is a cure for this: vote.
I suspect she would think a Lear jet is for the poor….way too small.
I had no idea that the BDN was for sale. Two puff pieces on Chellie “Redistribute Theirs, Not Mine” Pingree in one week. Is MTM making a pitch or BDN?
Point of fact–most of us in the 70s did not have a trust fund income that allowed us to drop everthing, move to Maine, and plant a garden. We were working 7 to 7, paying the bills, the mortgage and creating wealth for our families and future. Now we’re being told that it isn’t “fair” that we saved and invested and that it should be redistributed.
Here is a delightful video of Chellie living off the land at the corporate aviation terminal at the Portland Jetport literally weeks after adamantly denying the existence of and use of her private jet:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Okg9wbSJbIo
The only thing “green” about Chellie is the shirt she’s wearing as she strides away from the multimillion dollar aerial SUV she’s about to marry into.
Seriously, folks. Don’t vote for Limousine Liberals. She takes your money and redistributes it to stay in power. The people she “helps” stay trapped in the same cycle of dependence. Maine made this official legislative policy for over 33 years, and Chellie was right there in the middle of it with her fingers on the legislative tiller, steering the public tithe to her selected troughs.
Look, folks, I’m sure Chellie is a nice and likable person. She has, however, demonstrably and with increasingly devestating impact, led you down the wrong path. Now, more than ever, with debt approaching unsustainable levels it’s time to do the correct thing and end the reign of Chellie and her ilk and move on to real, substative economic change.
Mr. Courtney was profiled last week: http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/09/27/politics/elections/meet-jon-courtney-1st-district-candidate-talks-of-early-struggles/ and http://bangor-launch.newspackstaging.com/2012/09/21/politics/meet-jon-courtney-looking-to-win-one-handshake-at-a-time/
Perfect comment!
Pingree is a phony’s phony!
Donald’s JET is a French-made 19-seat $25 million dollar small jetliner. Have you ever seen it parked in Rockland? His jet TOWERS above the mere millionaires’ Lears and Cessnas.
Then there’s Miss Dirt-Farmer’s new South African built yacht, checking in at $23 million and registered (surprise surprise) in the Virgin Islands instead of Maine because – as old Leona Helmsley put it: “ONLY THE LITTLE PEOPLE PAY TAXES.”
So there you go, First District! Isn’t it fun being BOUGHT by a billionaire?
you hit this one out of the park…this is exactly the fact of the matter and explains her perfectly…Eliot Cutler,Angus, and Roxanne have some of the same similarities..
A Pingree feel good article in a news paper that her husband is a major investor in. What a surprise!!!!!! The sheep will vote her back to Washington in November.
Donald Sussman is an investor in the BDN? Wow. That’s news to me (pardon the pun.)
Mike you are correct. It was an error or my end. BDN is not included in Maine Today Media. But it is still a Liberal rag.
The second photo in the video looks like she is milking a cow
She’s milking a goat.
Why do people continue to elect people “from away”who have no clue about or represent the interest of true Maine born citizens? A shame, just a shame.
Being part of the family that is the 8th largest land owner she should be.
Being educated beyound her natural ability shows
The landowner list in yesterday’s paper specifically stated that she was not related to the Pingree Heirs.
I think I just threw up in my mouth a little!
She arrived in MAINE on a private jet.
Gag me with a pitch fork… I also worked on a farm when I was young. Started when I was 10 to be exact. AND IT WAS SO WE COULD GET MILK AND EGGS TO EAT!!! And firewood for the wood stove. And it wasn’t on an island. It is in the town I still live in. Where I grew up. Where my children are growing up. Here, in Maine! Without an airliner to take us anywhere anytime. These people have made a spectacular living for themselves and I am glad they have been successful in their endeavors. They are truly representative of the American dream. STOP TRYING TO PRETEND YOU’RE LIKE ME!
i am not fan of her politics, but it was a nice vid. And she’s right about getting an ear full, when you live in the coastal are, especially in the working waterfronts. And i could care less, that she’s from”away”. majority of us from “away” one form or another.
Another career politician.
why can’t people start thinking for themselves and elect good people?
Because Rush Limbaugh says that he dose the thinking for every one an they must follow his wisdom
Chellie Pingree is an intelligent, outspoken woman who is also a liberal. There is a lot right there, apparently, for male conservatives not to like.
Chellie Pingree is an honest, down-to-earth person who works hard and truly cares about the well-being of the people of this state. That is more than can be said about a lot of politicians these days.
I read books by Helen and Scott Nearing.. Good stuff. , Yet they could afford to live the simple life.. Not everyone can afford to not worry about money and live their hobbie lifestyle.
You make a good point that a lot of people do not realize about the Nearings.
They lived the simple life for decades, but before they went back to the land they were part of a very privileged society and were quite well off.
Being able to purchase land, build a house, etc. without a loan or mortgage is usually out of reach for those of us who do not have a fat checking account to start with.
Now matter who gets in office people will not like them. So should we get rid of people in office that we don’t like if so how long should they be in office before we can get rid of them ? If that happen then Maine would be holding an election every year ?
But she stands with the 99%ers. And that’s mighty nice of her.