It’d be easy to explain Seth Carey’s victory in the June 12 Republican primary for district attorney in Androscoggin, Oxford and Franklin counties by attributing it to votes cast by stupid people.
So, yeah, I’m gonna do that. Carey won by a sizable margin because lots of GOP voters are morons.
That said, there were other factors that came into play. But before I get to those, here’s some background for those unfamiliar with Carey, such as the people who voted for him.
Seth began his legal career a decade ago in Rumford, not coincidentally one of the few towns to vote overwhelmingly against him in the primary. Since then, he’s been suspended from practicing law four times for an assortment of transgressions. In one of those cases, a judge told investigators there was “a fair piece of real estate between the lowest end of competence and [Carey’s] performance.” In another, a hearing officer chastised Carey for “a steady flow of bizarre pleadings and pretrial motions that portrayed a profound disrespect of due process.”
In addition to being sanctioned for weird and incompetent behavior, Carey’s law license is currently suspended because of allegations he committed unlawful sexual conduct and assault on one of his clients. In imposing the sanction, the judge wrote, “Carey’s misconduct is sufficiently serious to constitute a threat to clients, to the public and to the administration of justice.”
And most recently, Auburn police issued no-trespassing paperwork against Carey after he tried to post campaign signs on private property without permission.
When Carey isn’t barred from legal work, he still generates controversy. In 2016, he sued the NFL to overturn “Deflategate” penalties imposed on the New England Patriots. According to his court filing, fans of the team had been subjected to “embarrassment, ridicule and depression due to the rest of the country who is jealous of the Patriots ‘piling on’ and criticize the Patriots and their fans for being ‘cheaters.’”
The suit was thrown out of court.
Also in 2016, Carey filed suit on behalf of cat caretakers in Dixfield claiming that funds from a bequest by a deceased resident for the care of abandoned felines were being misused. His clients soon decided they wanted Carey removed from the case, but he refused to quit until a judge gave him the boot. Even then, he tried unsuccessfully to get re-involved by forming his own nonprofit organization called Friends of Dixfield Cats.
That didn’t work, either.
Any voter familiar with even a small part of this history ought to have concluded that while Carey might be a perfect fit for a top administrative post at the scandal-ridden federal Environmental Protection Agency, he’s utterly unqualified to be a district attorney.
So, how did he win the Republican primary with over 60 percent of the vote?
It wasn’t about money. Carey spent about $200, mostly on hand-painted signs that read, “Build. That. Wall.”
For the record, D.A.s aren’t authorized to build walls, but I doubt most voters realized that. And the town of Mexico is in Carey’s prosecutorial district. Blocking it off from the rest of the state might have had some appeal.
Carey’s shortcomings as a lawyer and human being got plenty of coverage in the local press. But as one veteran of many GOP campaigns noted, “Republicans hate the media. They ignore facts as fake news.”
It’s also possible the public didn’t connect the bad publicity with the name on the ballot, where Seth was listed as “S. Thomas Carey.” Seth’s father is an attorney named Thomas Carey, and inattentive people may have thought they were voting for the dad.
Finally, there appears to have been some resentment toward Carey’s opponent, Alex Willette. On paper, Willette looked like a solid candidate: former legislator, military veteran, assistant D.A. in Sagadahoc County. But as one Republican activist told me, “Alex is a carpetbagger. He moved into Androscoggin County just to run for the D.A. slot. He’s just barely out of law school.”
Regardless of how he won the primary, Carey is unlikely ever to serve as D.A. He faces incumbent Democrat Andrew Robinson in the fall election in a district that traditionally favors Dems. Even in the unlikely event he prevails in November, he couldn’t be sworn in unless he’s licensed to practice law, which he isn’t at the moment. He faces a hearing before a justice of the Maine Supreme Judicial Court later this summer at which Carey claims he’ll be reinstated. But there’s also a distinct possibility he’ll be disbarred.
The voters may yet be spared the consequences of their stupidity.
Got a worse candidate? Let me know by emailing aldiamon@herniahill.net.
Al, for once I agree with you. For the first (and hopefully last) time I will be voting for a Dem.
Al hates cats. He calls them “earholes” (or something similar), and so his views cannot be entirely free of bias. Nevertheless, this is not an endorsement of Andrew Robinson. Al does not endorse politicians. Beers, Bourbons, Bars yes; politicians no.
On the other hand he has left me no choice but to vote for a Democrat. The fact that Robinson is an incumbent DA who has never indicted my for anything makes this easier.
But it does not make it easy.
Thanks Al. The Carey nomination is just another example of the majority of Republicans abandoning fact and reason based voting in favor of candidates who appeal to their lizard brain. LePage, Trump, and Carey are just symptoms of this downward spiral. November cannot come fast enough to begin voting out the insane clown wing of this party.
Sorry Al. Haters and left wing nut jobs like you are irrelevant. Voters are way smarter than you give them credit for. They aren’t fooled by vagrant degenerates like you. You look like the only thing you should be qualified to have an opinion on is who the next child will be that will sit on your lap at Renys meet Santa day. Get bent. You’ll probably die of a heart attack before November so I’m not worried about your vote, if you even were able to wander down from your shack in the woods or your conveleacent home. http://www.CareyForDA.com
Publius. So the Dems. have the ‘inside track’ when it comes to brains, facts and reason.. Is that in the genes and at what point in life does it start to show? When did you decide that? Just amazing what I can learn on here.. I pulled the plug on the TV. a few years ago. Any suggestion as to who I should watch and listen to?
The worst Republican is still better than the best democrat. Robinson is a joke, His plea deals are weak and are the reason so many in Franklin county who commit crimes even against the person, rape, sexual abuse of a minor, etc etc, get super lenient sentences, one guy convicted of raping two 12 year old girls got just 2 years, thanks to a Robinson approved plea deal, they are class A felonies, I know people who have gotten a 3rd OUI and a 4th OAS both class C felonies get 3 years in Waldo county. Most people in Franklin, and Oxford counties have known that Robinson’s time has come for a while now.
Time to take this old hick liberal elitist jerk out to pasture where he belongs. Not worried about an old fool like this voting. I’m sure the nurses will tell him he has to watch Matlovk I’m voting day anyway. Maybe they let him out at Christmas to be Santa at Renys. That’s about the only decision this fool will be making- whether Jill or Johnny is next to sit on his lap. #loser
@Publius, never will happen
Glen:
The point in life when it starts to show that the Democrats have the inside track when it comes to brains and reason is when Republicans nominate inept and unqualified people like Carey and Trump. There are sharp and qualified Republicans out there. Peter Mills is one. Alex Willette may be another. Carey is not. Your choice not to put forward such candidates makes the opposition smarter by default.
Hrtlss Bstrd, let me see if I understand your comment correctly.
If the Devil came to life, declared himself a Republican, and ran against a Democrat, is he better than the Democrat by default? I think you are inadvertently making Al’s point. Identity politics is a problem and the fact that one party in this case have voted for a person who is facing criminal charges and is not eligible for the office he is seeking shows this. People are so stuck with the label of being this or that and in the end, lose sight of the forest through the trees. That is not democracy, it is tribalism and if we all continue on this road, freedom dies.
But Publius… The dem’s have not been putting up the sharpest knives in the drawer… Bet you cannot even remember whom they have put up the last few times around. for Gov….. Then there is Hillary… OMG.. she has been around since Hecter was a pup and has never done a darn thing for anyone other than herself…
Anyone labeling themselves a democrat or joining the democrats shows their disdain for the constitution. Our form of government is a constitutional republic, not the mob rule of democracy. Everyone running for political office in the United States should be by default a republican. The “republican” party also does great dishonor to the constitution as all political parties are solely after pure power at any cost.
It should be known that political parties are for communists, and our candidates for election should run and be judged on their own independent merits and experience.
Hey Seth Thomas Carey, why don’t you take this opportunity to address some of Al’s points in a rational way? Otherwise you are just proving him right.
Pub…. I still waiting………
Tired, Since when have democrats concerned themselves with democracy? Democrats play more games with identity politics than the Republicans ever will. Democrats love their social groups, and despise the groups that ALL Americans are AMERICANS. Take the NRA for example, the NRA doesn’t care if a person is gay, straight, Jewish, Muslim, black, white, brown, Christian, Atheist, whatever, they are for ALL AMERICANS. Democrats only focus on whether a person is in one of the aforementioned groups or not, and if they are against the particular they are supporting you are seen as a racist or a bigot or unintelligent. Democrats aren’t even concerned with the rule of law or due process. Democrats have already condemned Carey in the court of social justice, and to them, that is all they need. In the 1600s in Massachusetts the court of social justice cost 19 people their life.
Hrtlss, I was not defending the Democrats or criticize the Republicans. I was simply looking for you to clarify your comment.
Lets try this again. If the Devil were running as a Republican against any Democrat, would you be voting for the Devil.
What if the Democrat were Jesus, would you still vote for the Devil?
I am just trying to understand if you look at candidates or just decide based on the party they run under.
Again, the loss of freedom draws closer if we all fall prey to cultism and identity politics.
We need to decide candidates based on their views, not simply party affiliation.
Al—I usually totally disagree with you. But this time I am 100% with you.
Anyone ask for Mills and Pingree’s thoughts on Maxine Waters’ call to harass admin officials (and perhaps Trump voters) with mobs yet? Do they condemn her actions, or is this simply “democracy”? Lunch counter politics from the 50s alive and well.
I really don’t think D’s should be discussing “moron” voters. And…isn’t that sort of ‘hate speech’, Al? Since we’re doing PC censoring and all…
Tired, I ignored your “baiting” question, because it is irrelevant. I would have done the same had you made the democrat the devil. I just don’t answer “what if” questions. But if you are curious, here is why I will never vote democrat. Democrats have done some of the most despicable things in this country, these are not “what ifs” these are actual events, The Klan, the nuking of Japan, the Korean war, the Vietnam war, openly support gentrification, very anti constitution, supports the killing of babies and the list goes on. Here is why I will vote Republican, ended slavery, made Indians citizens, ended the Korean war, ended the Vietnam war, pro constitution, doesn’t support the killing of babies. I hope this helps you understand why I throw in behind Republicans.
Too bad the republican party is not the same party it used to be. This whole identity politics and populist “mob mentality” and a break down of civility is literally the Trump campaign. I know it’s been building up for decade but the bubble really burst the last decade due to such unified hate against Obama. Clinton’s pretty much were awful as well but right now this is all the current admin propaganda. There is no respect for the constitution no matter how many commercial campaigners tout the slogan, it’s merely a propaganda technique called association. You say God Bless or we protect the Constitution and it means something to a whole group of voters. Once you have them thinking you are associated it doesn’t matter what you say or do, yo can always redirect their anger to the scapegoats you programed them to hate. Read more and watch all news, if you find something triggers your anger then you are most likely being manipulated so do legitimate research. Civility towards anyone who was critical of Trump went south during the Trump campaign to the present and now you’re angry when a Liberal says we are done being civil? Wow, remember someone telling a populist crowd to punch non violent protesters or surround them and scream? Remember when mothers and daughters were number rated by looks? Remember when the “you can grab em in the …” ? Remember when T called for a bypass of the judicial branch of government disregarding the constitution. I look at the headlines and just can’t make this stuff up. Saluting N. Koren Generals and working with a Dictator but getting nothing? Look at the headlines today there is now suspected images of N Korean Nuclear facility upgrades. Or how about last year when R. passed unlimited debt borrowing and we breached a 21Trillion national dept record? Tariffs, tension with nearly every foreign ally. You have your cake now eat it and clean up your own mess.
Overregulated:
I would think that what Waters is advocating is very similar to the Tea Party protests, except these protesters probably won’t be armed.
Hrtless:
Democrats have not “condemned Carey in the court of social justice”, whatever that means.
We have pointed out the fact that Republicans have nominated a man for DA who is currently unable to hold the position because his law license has been suspended. His documented incompetence is another reason.
Does it still constitute a witch hunt when a person dresses up as a witch and lights himself on fire prior to any accusation? Talk about a persecution complex.
As for due process, there’s only one elected official that’s currently been tweeting about abolishing aspects of that legal standard. He’s also incompetent.
Enjoy the rain.
Samo, one more thing, Harley Davidson wanted a 40% tariff on import bikes in the 50’s, in 2018 a tariff gets increased on imports and H-D jumps ship. Funny how that went isn’t it?
Publius, When it comes to President Donald J “Happy Thumbs” Trump and his tweets, if you could point out which parts of OUR constitution that apply to illegal aliens, then I will agree with you on due process. But when CBP(Customs & Border Patrol, catch illegals coming across the border at a place other than a port of entry, it is fairly obvious they are not your average asylum seekers. Now under the current rules of due process, these aliens have to be taken in and processed, and then they wait for days for that to happen, then they see a judge who then decides whether or not they stay in this country. By Trump doing away with something that aliens don’t have a right to, the CBP can immediately send them back, which they should do(Canada already does this). He is not going to suspend the 14th amendment for American citizens. There is only one person with absolute authority over immigration, and that person is the President. That power was given to the office by congress. So all Trump has to to do is sign an executive order basically saying the borders are locked down, and that’s it, nothing comes and nothing goes. It would cause some serious problems, but he could do it nonetheless.
As for Carey’s current legal woes, the bar has to suspend his license, it’s a formality, he has not actually been convicted of anything. Maybe focus on the fmr. gubernatorial candidate who is trying to end run the election process to get congress to appoint him DA, Mark Dion.
HB: True colors. What I’ve I read is that they are only moving to serve European markets so they don’t pay counter tariffs. The President is rightfully calling for more local production like I have for the past twenty years of being a local producer trying to compete with local businessmen who see my product and have a outsourced company make it for them at 1/2 the cost. Trade wars will ultimately hurt and heal depending on how much someone needs or wants to make. The only problem I have is that it’s like memoir 90% lies annd10% truth. I wonder how many T & daughter brand products are made in the USA …Look it up. Pretty much none. Walk your talk is relevant to the local movement.
Anyway, this Cary guy has also shown his true colors in the comments above without any substance as to why anyone would vote for him but pleanty of diseased mind thoughts. I tried to follow his site link to see if there was anything of substance but it made my computer sick so I wouldn’t suggest anyone use it. I even tried googling the name of his given site but it was nowhere to be found. More dysfunctional stuff? I don’t know, no contest here.
You can talk all you want about the NRA being all inclusive. My opinion, after just reading Mr. Carey’s comments on this site, is if he is eligible to buy a gun it could be a tragedy in the making.