Hurricane Sandy is a powerful reminder that political affiliation does not matter in the slightest when a crisis is at hand. In the face of a crisis what does matter is pulling together to work on problems in order to get back on track. Republicans and Democrats have joined together to openly support U.S. Senate candidate Angus King, recognizing that, like hurricane Sandy, our nation has a multifaceted crisis that calls for the kind of leadership that only King can provide.
As two state senators, one former, one current, one Republican and one Democrat, we have differences in political perspectives as well as different experiences working directly with King. But what we share is a recognition that our next U.S. senator must be adept at bring people together to move our state and nation forward.
I (Jim Libby) served in both the House and Senate when King was governor. I was privileged to see him in action. As our governor, King was responsible, followed our Constitution and signed balanced budgets into law. Any rhetoric to the contrary is simply false, misleading and presented for political gain rather than to provide accurate information.
I experienced King’s interest in problem solving firsthand when he came into the Joint Standing Committee on Education hearing room to work with senators and representatives from both parties to build a better school-funding formula. King took pride in working on difficult policy issues. His keen sensibilities at finding common ground made our task of tackling difficult state problems less of a burden.
I (Elizabeth Schneider) serve in the Maine Senate today. I see the results of King’s excellent work. From his laptop program, to the Maine International Trade Center and Maine Technology Institute, he successfully put in place mechanisms to help businesses and citizens succeed. King made jobs a priority, and as our senator he will do the same.
It should not take a disaster like hurricane Sandy for Republicans and Democrats to work together. If we send King to Washington, D.C., it won’t. King cuts through partisan barriers, as evidenced by the civic, political and business leaders from both sides of the aisle who support King for U.S. Senate. Former state Senator Mary Cathcart (D); writer and TV talk show host George Smith (R); former Bangor Mayor Joe Baldacci (D); prominent businessman Danny LaFayette (R); former Speaker of the House Mike Saxl (D); attorney Andy Hamilton (R); and former state Rep. Kassie Stevens Zeigler (D), all agree on one point: We need King in the U.S. Senate.
Sen. Elizabeth M. Schneider, D-Orono, represents District 30. Hon. James Libby is associate professor of the Department of Business Administration at Thomas College.
“Democrats and Republicans support Angus King for US Senate”
And so do Independents/Un-enrolled!
Great OpEd.
King is not a “centrist.” For that matter, there are no “centrists.” King is an opportunist, period. It has defined his entire life, including his privileged “formative” years & pocket lining recent years. Mrs. Dill @ least acknowledges her far left views. Too bad her “own” or is that disowned opportunist party does not care. That should tell you all one needs to know about King & the D’s. Unfortunately it will fall on deaf ears since both parties only care about their “constituents” during election season. Support for King says more about his supporters than it does him.
Democrats and republicans who vote for this man need mental help.. Dill is a true democrat and thats who they should vote for.
Vote Dill!!
I couldn’t agree more! Go Cindy!
If Angus were really an Independent instead of a fairly liberal Democrat, I would consider voting for him. I’m sure he will get elected, but not with my help. Too much baggage.
…. especially since he supports the re-election of Obama. Do you think he’d EVER caucus with the Republicans in the Senate?
“The kind of leadership that only King can provide”?! Good one. A typical left-wing political hack in the pocket of big wind companies, blew a billion dollar hole in the state budget while governor and lined his pockets at the expense of tax-payers. No wonder liberals like him.
I like the military soldier for senate. Charlie Summers
We!!! former ‘Mainer’s’ support Angus King for US Senate and we live in Mexico now. So very very proud of the campaign he has been running…so very very proud to call him a friend. So wish ALL candidates in EVERY JURISDICTION EVERY WHERE would/could run the same type of HONEST/NON-THREATENING campaign that Angus has run. ‘Proud’ of him, his ‘wife’ and family does not even begin to say it all… we are BEYOND PROUD to support Angus for U.S. Senate even waaay down here in Baja Playas, MX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Wish we could vote!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Glad ya cant!
Angles King made Maine so bad that Mexico was preferable. I feel your pain, but am not there yet!
It certainly does not take a disaster to work together. It takes leadership and integrity. It’s time for a new generation of leadership. There is simply no evidence that belonging to a political party means you are less likely to work for the common good. Maine has a wonderful legacy of senators who have put Maine people ahead of ideology — from Margaret Chase Smith to Olympia Snowe.
Cynthia, today’s partisans care far more about their own narrow agendas than about the common good. The best outcome of a King victory would be the rise of a viable nationwide centrist party. If that were to happen you would find it much easier to advance some of your own political objectives. Most Americans are dead tired of Washington’s ideological stand-offs.
King is not a centrist. Kudos to Cynthia to focus on leadership and integrity, something King has little history of. Must be galling to have her own political party throw her under the bus and support the snake-oil salesman. But that shows you just how gutless many Ds are.
Ben Grant is the biggest weeny of them all. While he pretends to support Cynthia Dill he really doesn’t Plus he abandoned Matthew Dunlap who may have had a least more of a chance than Ms. Dill.
Angus King was a horrible governor. I now believe Mainers are really dumb to be supporting a snake oil salesman. He is the most self serving politician out there and Mainers are too stupid to see through him.
Couldn’t have said it better. Like like like!!
This Republican is voting for Summers.
This Republican is voting for Summers.
Summers reminds me of something I heard once. “Some men aren’t looking for anything logical, like money. They can’t be bought, bullied, reasoned, or negotiated with. Some men just want to watch the world burn.” – Alfred Pennyworth
You must be too young to remember the Barry Goldwater/Lyndon Johnson race. Goldwater was portrayed as the man who would end the world in nuclear holocaust. Turned out after Johnson won, and we got to know the real Goldwater, he was a reasonable western/style libertarian.
Then there was Reagan/Carter where Democrats claimed that the R candidate would start little Vietnams around the world leading to WW III. Didn’t happen.
In fact, the only campaign prediction that came true (in my political lifetime) was made by Independent Ross Perot in 1992, when he predicted “The great woshing sound” as jobs left this country after the passage of NAFTA…which incidently, was supported by both Republican G.H.W.Bush, adn W.J. Clinton.
Incendiary rhetoric no longer works with me.
The !diot faction has now posted it’s opinion. Another unpaid BDN King ad.
Democrats support King Angus for sure…after all, he is one of them. REAL Republicans would never vote for that rump swab.
I expect plenty of real Rs *will* vote for King.
This Republican does NOT support king agnus!
CHARLIE SUMMERS FOR SENATE!
Angus King was a D who switched to I when he determined he could not win the D primary. No doubt that he will be voting with the liberals in D.C., if elected. He only has the interests of Angus King at heart.