Trump spinning, blaming, lying
What a perfect metaphor the other day when the backdrop curtain collapsed at Donald Trump’s so-called “ press conference” about his birther announcement. Peel away the curtain of phony imagery he has created, and there on the stage stood a disgraceful little man with his flaws on full display.
Having built his campaign by stirring up the shameful lie of birtherism, he suddenly changes course and renounces it. That in itself is a flagrant flip-flop, and it leaves us wondering if he really believed all that birther nonsense in the first place or was just using it for personal gain. Either way, the answer is disgusting.
But then he goes and blames the whole birther movement on Hillary Clinton and actually claims the credit for “ending it.” Wow, shamelessly spinning, blaming, lying and claiming false credit all in one sentence. But it continues: Having lured the press to this supposedly newsworthy event, he turns it into little more than a publicity tour of his own hotel.
Is that what his entire presidency will be about — self-promotion? Maybe most galling of all is the way he takes advantage of Medal of Honor winners, using them almost like props. When the press tries to ask him some questions, he hides behind these war heroes like a child cowering under his mother’s dress, then flees without answering a single question.
This guy’s supposed to be tough? Courageous? Transparent? Trustworthy? Honorable? Tells it like it is? You’ve got to be kidding me.
Peter Gordon
South Portland
Clinton deserves support
Hillary Clinton deserves the support of all Maine voters. Unlike her opponent, Donald Trump, who has spent his entire career enriching himself, Clinton has devoted her life to public service and served with distinction as secretary of state and a U.S. senator. Her opponent claims to speak for the American working people but in fact has outsourced contracts to foreign countries at every opportunity. Clinton recognizes the importance to our national security and well-being and the need to address climate change, while her opponent thinks we should burn more coal.
As a former business executive, I am particularly appalled at Trump’s practice of not paying his contractors, forcing them to resort to legal action to get paid for their work. Contrary to common myth, businesses and workers have consistently done better under Democratic administrations. I am proud to support Clinton and urge my fellow Mainers to do the same.
Arthur Adelberg
South Thomaston
Propane tank concerns
Waldo County General Hospital in Belfast has submitted a proposal to install a 30,000-gallon tank on its grounds as a cost-savings measure. Such a tank, within one of Belfast’s most densely populated areas and adjacent to the city park, poses a substantial risk to public health and safety.
It would be within 150 feet of the hospital’s helicopter pad and adjacent to a congested parking lot that sees daily automobile, tractor-trailer and trash truck traffic.The blast radius from a catastrophic tank failure would be a half-mile and would include several dead-end streets where residents could be forced to flee toward the accident site.
Thermal radiation from a 30,000-gallon propane tank explosion could be lethal for those within 522 yards, could cause second-degree burns for those within 737 yards and could inflict pain on those within 1,148 yards within 60 seconds. The Department of Homeland Security has listed quantities of 15,000 gallons or more of propane as “chemicals of interest” for potential terrorist threat.
No evacuation plans or warning sirens have been deemed necessary, so it is unlikely that a successful evacuation could happen in the event of an emergency. Propane leaks of 30,000-gallon tanks have occurred around the country. An explosion is just an ignition source away.
I urge all concerned citizens to attend what likely will be the final planning board meeting on this issue, which could be on Sept. 28 or a later date to be determined (check the city’s website: cityofbelfast.org) or email Sadie Lloyd, assistant city planner (slloyd@cityofbelfast.org) to voice your concerns.
Judy Williams
Belfast
Ski mountain failure
After reading the Sept. 9 article about Big Squaw Mountain ski area being sued by the state of Maine, I feel it is necessary to remember that Maine had a chance to avoid the whole situation 40 years ago, when it was given the area by Scott Paper Co. The state totally missed the chance to create a valuable asset to the state.
When the state decided to lease out the area as opposed to operating it under one of the state’s departments, the fate of the area was sealed. From that point on neither the state or the lessee was going to do any major capital improvements.
Had the state decided to run the area like our neighbor New Hampshire does for at least one area I know of, we would not be where we are now. I skied with season passes at Squaw Mountain for many years in the ’70s and early ’80s and watched its condition deteriorate.
I firmly believe that is the reason the current situation exists.
Nicholas Fox
Holden
Hillary’s health
Hillary Clinton, as a presidential candidate, is naturally under more public light to ensure our country chooses a president who will be effective and ethical in their dealings. This scrutiny is important when the candidate has taken hundreds of thousands of dollars to give speeches to big banks or been involved in foreign policy at such a high level. However, requests for Clinton’s medical records to be in the public light are too far reaching and inappropriate.
Clinton should make a decision with her physician on whether she is physically able to do the work of president. As voters we instead should limit ourselves to asking whether Tim Kaine, her vice-presidential candidate, is someone we want in office.
I come to this as neither a Clinton or Donald Trump supporter, as I am in fact likely going to vote for Dr. Jill Stein, the Green Independent candidate. But as a medical student at the University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine, I find it unfortunate the public is more interested in someone’s personal health issues than whether they would actually make a good president.
Frank Jackson
York