Politics & Other Mistakes: Dirty rotten past

6 mins read
Al Diamon

Let’s say you wanted to liven up your next party by featuring a Donald Trump impersonator. Your budget doesn’t allow for hiring the likes of Alec Baldwin. Johnny Depp would drink all your booze and punch out your guests. Donald Jr. might do, but he probably has a scheduling conflict due to an appointment with some Russians.

Despair not. There’s a locally grown alternative who works cheap and can nail the Trump agenda.

Here’s our faux Trump expressing opposition to the North American Free Trade Agreement: “I’m sick and tired of a government that cares more about Canadian farmers than Maine potato growers.”

We’ll build a wall and Canada will pay for it.

This person has also expressed concerns about the Trans-Pacific Partnership. This person is on record as opposing “political correctness.” This person favored cutting the capital gains tax. This person appears to be skeptical of globalism: “Too often we have seen congressmen and women who are … more concerned with parochialism than with nationalism.” This person isn’t interested in finding middle ground, ostensibly because that’s bad for the little guy: “Too often compromise saves ‘the haves’ and ignores ‘the have nots.’” And this person is no fan of strict environmental rules. “One of my main objectives as [an elected official] will be to unclutter some of this regulatory gridlock,” the ersatz Trump has said.

Who is this talented Trumpoid? Republican Gov. Paul LePage? Fanatic state Rep. Lawrence Lockman? Senate majority leader and possible gubernatorial candidate Garrett Mason?

No, no and no.

The politician who out-Trumps everyone in the GOP is none other than Democratic Attorney General Janet Mills, herself an announced candidate for governor. Mills made most of those comments during her run for Congress in the state’s 2nd District back in 1994. That was an era when moderate to conservative Democrats still wielded some clout in the party, and Mills, then the district attorney for Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties, attempted to appeal to that constituency by using the slogan “Tough Works.”

As it turned out, it didn’t work all that well. She finished third in the primary with just 17 percent of the vote, well behind eventual congressman and governor John Baldacci. That loss could be attributed to a certain inconsistency in her ideology. For every conservative stand she took, there was a countervailing liberal position. She was pro-choice on abortion, sometimes supported gun control, opposed a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution and favored universal health care.

Another problem Mills had was her tendency to get annoyed at reporters (does that remind you of anyone whose name rhymes with “hump”?), and she was sometimes perceived as dismissive of her six primary opponents and even the occasional assertive voter.

To be fair (just this once, I promise), all that was nearly a quarter century ago, and Mills has mellowed a bit since then. She’s developed thicker skin and handles criticism better than before, at least in public. She’s also assembled a sizable portfolio of instances in which she opposed many of LePage’s legal blunderings, earning her the undying enmity of the governor and some measure of respect from her party’s left wing.

Which is not to say liberal Democrats are rushing to embrace her current candidacy. Her opposition to a generic drug bill that she believes conflicts with federal law has earned her the wrath of state Sen. Troy Jackson, the Dems’ floor leader and an influential voice with the party’s sizable Bernie Sanders caucus. She’s caught flak from the Penobscot Indian Nation and its supporters for opposing tribal fishing and water rights on the Penobscot River. During last fall’s referendum campaign, she alienated advocates for legal marijuana by pointing out a flaw in the bill that might have allowed children to buy pot.

That’s not to say Mills can’t win the Democratic nomination. So far, the lefties haven’t found a strong candidate they can rally around (note to lefties: using the words “Mark Eves” and “strong candidate” in the same sentence is tantamount to inviting cries of “oxymoron”). At this point, Mills would have to be considered the frontrunner.

At least until somebody spoils the party by dredging up all those Trump comparisons from 1994.

Sources for any of the above quotations are available by emailing aldiamon@herniahill.net.

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13 Comments

  1. Blah blah blah….why bother to respond in a educated, fair and coherent way…

    Nuff Said…

  2. Just when you think those well organized groups of climate change demonstrators are the real ‘grass roots’ of Maine; you find out they are the end result of an extremely well funded and thought out international ‘conspiracy’ ….’message tee shirts indeed’!

    Local Public Events
    In addition to town halls, MoCs regularly attend public events for other purposes — parades, infrastructure groundbreakings, etc. Like town halls, these are opportunities to get face time with the MoCs and make sure they’re hearing about your concerns, while simultaneously changing the news story that gets written.

    TOWN HALLS WITH SOME TWEAKS

    To take advantage of this opportunity, you can follow most of the guidelines above for town halls (filming, etc.). However, because these events are not designed for constituent input, you will need to think creatively about how to make sure your presence and message come through loud and clear.

    Tactics for these events may be similar to more traditional protests, where you’re trying to shift attention from the scheduled event to your own message.

    OPTIMIZE VISIBILITY.

    Unlike in town halls, you want your presence as a group to be recognizable and attention-getting at this event. It may make sense to stick together as a group, wear relatively similar clothing / message shirts, and carry signs in order to be sure that your presence is noticeable.

    BE PREPARED TO INTERRUPT AND INSIST ON YOUR RIGHT TO BE HEARD.

    Since you won’t get the mic at an event like this, you have to attract attention to yourself and your message. Agree beforehand with your group on a simple message focused on a current or upcoming issue. Coordinate with each other to chant this message during any public remarks that your MoC makes. This can be difficult and a bit uncomfortable. But it sends a powerful message to your MoC that they won’t be able to get press for other events until they address your concerns.

    IDENTIFY, AND TRY TO SPEAK WITH, REPORTERS ON THE SCENE.

    Be polite and friendly, and stick to your message. For example, “We’re here to remind Congresswoman Sara that her constituents are opposed to Medicare cuts.” You may want to research in advance which local reporters cover MoCs or relevant beats, so that you know who to look for.

    HOLD ORGANIZATIONAL HOSTS ACCOUNTABLE.

    Often these events will be hosted by local businesses or nonpartisan organizations — groups that don’t want controversy or to alienate the community. Reach out to them directly to express your concern that they are giving a platform to pro-Trump authoritarianism, racism, and corruption. If they persist, use social media to express your disappointment. This will reduce the likelihood that these organizations will host the Trump-friendly MoC in the future. MoCs depend on invitations like these to build ties and raise their visibility — so this matters to them.

  3. Being “organized” doesn’t mean its a bad thing. Being effective, having impact is the goal.

    Remember The Women’s March in January? The Solidarity movement in Poland? Anti-Viet Nam War protests?
    The Civil Rights movement?

  4. Yes Marie I remember them.
    What about em?
    Did they accomplish anything or…..

  5. Please DO tell us what the accomplishments of the Women’s March in January were. Please also tell us how many were PAID to participate, plus having their expenses paid, and who paid them. Like Hillary’s “Victory Party”, and her “Speaking Fee” Pay to Play bribes, the money was wasted

  6. “…tell us what the accomplishments of the Women’s March in January were.”

    “One of the goals of any type of march or any type of visible sign of solidarity is to get inspired, to inspire people to do more,” “Women in America are not going back.”

    “…a march needs to be part of a greater social movement with clear and consistent objectives, constant pressure on the Legislature, dedicated support from its base and continued momentum. Perhaps most importantly, creating systemic change has historically called for one last critical element: help from people in government.
    http://www.npr.org/2016/12/21/506299560/womens-march-on-washington-aims-to-be-more-than-protest-but-will-it

    “…the civil rights and antiwar movements succeeded because of the organized networks that preceded and followed any single mass protest. “The march on Washington in 1963 was the culmination of years of local activism, including civil disobedience, registering voters, protecting civil rights workers and voter education movements…”

    So, if it’s elected GOP women voting to resist the inane manipulations of their male counterparts to gut the healthcare laws that protect the poor, children and the disabled, I’ll applaud and thank them. This is just the start.

  7. Marie, I’m reading the liberal, how to, talking points. News flash for ya, it ain’t working. President Trump, handily flushed the paint suit queen. The burnout from Vermont didn’t have a chance because even GED enhanced welfare nation types dont believe socialism works. Again with the free medical care, nothing is free, figure it out. Swelling the Medicare roles with able bodied individuals only insures an earlier demise to the failed obummercare nightmare. Healthcare isn’t a right, it’s a service we pay to receive. Maine taxpayers aren’t going to foot the bill for lay abouts, welfare nation or unemployed college drop outs. Best get used to a new America with common sense voters that aren’t going to tolerate wasteful spending. Have a nice day out there.

  8. The Women’s march? Impact?

    In our family, two daughters and one mother participated. Pay? nope, they paid their own way.

    For these three women, their commitment to women’s rights firmed. For the youngest, the trip to DC was AMAZING. Lifelong commitments have been forged, and are being tempered. Is this a good thing? Women standing up for their rights, and the rights of others? Absolutely.

    Will they continue to be effective citizens, who participate, and sometimes lead? Yes.

    Are they hyper sensitized to the alt facts environment? Yes. Will they continue to work to improve their own lives, and help improve the lives of others? Yes

    Is our family rare? I do not think so. I hope not.

    Marie E. Thank you !

  9. I don’t know why people complain about liberals. You probably don’t even know what a liberal is. It is someone who thinks for themself, not some blind folded guppy fish or something. Just because all your friends and cronies think alike, doesn’t mean you have to be that way, too

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