Poor campaign coverage
I have little interest in the reporting of the presidential campaigns of Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton because the news media engages almost exclusively in “gotcha reporting.” Their questions invariably are an attempt to embarrass the candidates, not to determine their stance on important issues.
Other than Trump’s controversial position on immigration, and Clinton’s misuse of email, I cannot recall a single thoughtful report on any policy initiative favored by either candidate. I suspect I am not alone in consequently ignoring the reporting on both Trump and Clinton.
Edmund Doherty
Island Falls
Take down waterfront fence
Emmet Meara in his Aug. 22 Bangor Daily News column was right on the money about Portland’s Maine State Pier concert venue. It’s a smelly, cramped venue wedged in between two busy ferry docks, and concertgoers stand on hard cement pads like sardines. They can’t see the stage nor hear the music.
Meanwhile in Bangor, for years we had the idyllic field that hosts the Waterfront Concerts and the American Folk Festival with colorful costumes and rhythms from around the world. Whenever I passed Main Street, I could see friends and neighbors having a great time dancing on the grass down by the river, and I heard beautiful music.
But look at what has happened here recently: Now I can’t even see the river. There is a giant soul-sucking wooden fence blocking the entire field past Tim Hortons. The eyesore is like an ongoing construction-site, except we are told this urban blight is permanent. It’s to prevent people sneaking free views of the concert inside.
I live right up the hill, and none of my friends ever minded hearing some free music a few nights a year. In fact, I miss it. Now the stage is tiny and turned away from my neighborhood. Now the concert area looks like a condemned inner-city development project. And worst, I miss seeing people out enjoying themselves by our city’s gem: our waterway. Is this really better than having a few people peek in on the shows from the sidewalk? Tear down this wall.
John Picone
Bangor
O’Neill for Maine Senate
Nurses are in a unique position to educate legislators about the complexities of the health care system. A legislator who is a nurse, one of the most trusted professions, brings that experience directly to change policies and shape the future of health care in our state. Democrat Moira O’Neill is that nurse. She is running for the Maine Senate in District 7, which includes most of Hancock County.
There are four core values that guide the profession: caring, integrity, diversity and excellence, according to the National League for Nursing. These days, voters I know are looking for the same values in our state leadership.
Dealing with the complicated health care environment requires an individual with the intellect, commitment, energy and the core values to identify problems and stick to the work of solving them. O’Neill has all the skills, intellect and principles needed to be successful to represent us well in the Maine Senate.
O’Neill has all these strengths, and I urge others to join me in voting for her in November.
Mary Cahoon
Hancock
Dakota pipeline silence
Where is the reporting on the Dakota Access Pipeline protests this August? It’s baffling to compare the silence on the event with the endless coverage of the illegal and violent Bundy stand-offs in Nevada and Oregon that readers were subjected to on two occasions. This is a peaceful, legal expression of free speech by thousands of individuals in Cannon Ball, North Dakota.
They are protesting the corporate and government taking unacceptable risks with the people’s water, a precious and irreplaceable resource. The authorities are violating treaties to do so and are acting ahead of court consideration of the issue. The protesters are protecting us all who are faced with a global climate warming more rapidly than anticipated. They are not phony freedom fighters who only live out west because their ancestors depended upon big government to remove the Native population by any means necessary.
Many thousands of supporters unable to be there wonder why the media is so quiet about this protest, and about the authorities’ removal of water and limiting of toilet facilities in a camp with many elders and children. After all the sunny local hoopla about the Native communities harvesting wild blueberries in Maine, it’s hard to miss the inherent racism this lack of coverage represents.
Jay Skriletz
Perry
Legislators lack a spine
We elect our representatives to do the work of government as we see fit. In my opinion, we expect them to do what most Mainers do when faced by a problem — solve it. Some of these problems are easy, and some are stinky and uncomfortable like removing a dead raccoon from under the house.
Maine has an embarrassing and stinky problem that is under our house and that has rightfully been given national publicity.
We do not need any further national embarrassment by having a Legislature that lacks the spine to do the job they should do. The integrity of the state of Maine is greater than its governor or legislators. Act now in a firm positive manner.
Peter Templeton
Blue Hill
Re-elect Cushing for Maine Senate
As a former state senator, I know what it takes to be effective and a good representative of Maine communities. I am pleased that we have this type of individual who now represents us in the Maine Senate. Republican Andre Cushing is a tireless worker for the people of southern Penobscot County and our state.
With the many changing needs of Maine and its rural communities, for job growth and support for our young people and seniors, it takes a good listener and a tenacious advocate to serve us well. These are just a few of the many skills that Cushing brings to bear.
I was honored to serve in the Maine Senate, and I am proud to know that Cushing is continuing to serve us in Augusta. Please make sure he returns to August to continue his work this November.
Betty Lou Mitchell
Etna