Now that the election is over, Maine Democrats can get back to doing what they do best:
Hating each other.
The Democratic Party stayed remarkably united throughout this long campaign, but that unity was artificial, formed not from some common purpose (difficult to accomplish when you don’t actually stand for anything), but by fear. The donkey party was scared to death that if it splintered again, as it did in the last two gubernatorial elections, Republican Shawn Moody was going to spend the next four years repairing cars in the Blaine House garage. Now that the threat of Moody banging out dented fenders in between vetoing bills has been removed, there’s no longer any compelling reason for Dems to make nice with each other.
Governor-elect Janet Mills may believe that her solid but unspectacular victory has given her some sort of mandate to push her agenda through the Democrat-controlled Legislature. She’s wrong. “The party liberals held their noses and worked to elect her,” a Democratic veteran told me. “Now, they’ll expect a lot in return.”
There are two problems with Mills enacting any agenda with even the faintest whiff of moderation. First, she doesn’t really have much of an agenda. She’ll expand Medicaid, of course. She’ll release that bond money lame-duck Gov. Paul LePage has blocked. She’ll make superficial changes at the state Department of Health and Human Services, which probably won’t make abused children safer, won’t provide better services to people with mental illness and won’t force the welfare system to become more effective or efficient.
The other problem is Mills is going to find herself stymied, not by the GOP, but by the left wing of her own party.
The Maine People’s Alliance plans to ignore the will of the voters and revive its referendum giving free home care for everybody by attempting to convince the Legislature to pass it. The MPA is also pushing another petition drive to require businesses in the state to provide paid sick time to their employees. Considering the alliance’s utter lack of political smarts, there’s no reason to think it’ll stop there. Universal health care. A guaranteed income for every Mainer. Free kombucha for everyone. These folks think this is their chance to turn Maine into a socialist paradise.
Nor is the MPA the most extreme faction in the Democratic Party. Quite a few newly elected legislators from southern Maine and their cadres of scruffy activists have plans to mold the state into the sort of inclusive, politically correct, organic, holistic, hemp-growing, gluten-free, vegan, solar-powered wonderland that can easily be created with nothing more than a few billion bucks of taxpayers’ money and a system of mandatory re-education camps.
These freaks aren’t going to be satisfied with a Mills platform that dares not venture past needle exchanges for opioid addicts, loan forgiveness for college students and suicide prevention programs for veterans. They want radical changes, starting with a constitutional amendment that makes it illegal for men to so much as glance at women’s chests.
The reality is the far left is going to end up nearly as unhappy with Gov. Mills as they’ve been with Gov. LePage. Once the extremists realize she’s not going to grant most of their wishes, they’re likely to turn their energies toward the next election in 2020, when they’ll attempt to elect more frothing-at-the-mouth specimens who’ll publicly pledge to thwart Mills at every turn. Then, in 2022, they’ll either run one of their own against the incumbent governor in the primary or launch a third-party bid to split the vote, returning the state to the good old days of Trumpian bozos in high office.
There are, of course, several ways Mills can head off this internal revolt without giving in to a bevy of unworkable proposals. She can appoint a few liberal sweethearts, such as Betsy Sweet and Mark Eves, to prominent positions in her administration. She can file lawsuits against the federal government to limit the impact of the orange plague on the environment, social services and immigration. She can use her bully pulpit to talk about doing things she has no intention of actually doing.
Handled adeptly, these bits of window dressing ought to be sufficient to allow Mills a short honeymoon. But it’s only a matter of time before the euphoria of victory wears off, and Democrats begin to recall why they never really liked each other.
If you’re a Republican, that’s going to be fun to watch.
Before you take to the barricades, email me at aldiamon@herniahill.net.
The environmental left is pretty happy- the Dems are united enough to enact virtue signalling climate change and energy policies that will raise electricity prices to about $.25/kwh, fatten green crony capitalist (wind and solar) wallets and avert no global warming whatsoever.
We always recover. Before you know it a Republican will be back in the office once again cleaning up the mess.
Anyone who doesn’t think our state (and country) is better off than eight years ago is a deplorable (Thanks Hil).
I give Mills six months to blow the surplus built by LePage intended to protect us during the next recession created by Democrats nationwide.
Thank God the Democrats are back in charge in this State. LePage has ruined this state and accomplished nothing in 8 years. So many programs for the poor were let go and positions left empty just like Trump is running this Country. Us Democrats are getting along just fine. We’re fighting a party that has become nothing but a bunch of racists who seem to think this is a Nation built on white people. Them and their “Nationalism” will go down in flames and they’ll all go up in flames when they meet their maker.
Here’s the difference between a Liberal and a leftist. FDR was a Liberal he came up with Social Security and food stamps to help the most vulnerable and poverty stricken, the Tennessee Valley Authority and other public programs to help the poorest of us during and after the depression to help America get on its feet and put people to work. His thinking was based on a simple reality, people have to work, and he tapped a non working labor force to build dams, and other government funded public works jobs, the same could still hold true today, our national parks and other federal lands have huge maintainance back logs and not enough people to do the work, America has large amounts of homeless and poor people that should be tapped to do the work and paid by the government. FDR didn’t just give the money away. Now a Leftist, they think everything should be government run, as problematic as it would be, they love identity politics, everybody in their own little groups, equal rights for all, even though that is nonsense and usually leads to more problems than it solves. We have a capitalist economy and live in a free market society. Where as if you don’t like the food at Mc Donald’s, you can go to Burger King, Leftists only want you to eat at Mc Donald’s, get it? The Constitution defines our rights, Leftists want to define our rights and have demonstrated that countless times over the years with terms like hate speech, common sense gun control, marriage(not really a right) as defined by the church and accepted by the government. With Mill’s willingness to enact the Medicaid expansion with no set plan on how to pay for it proves her as a leftist rather than a Liberal. FDR had a plan laid out with the means to fund it BEFORE he put it into action.
Wow mick……you are out of touch with reality, but soon will figure it out. Just wait and see!!
@mick. Before you start spewing the typical “racist nationalist “ crap stop and open your eyes. Our unemployment is the lowest in state history and that is NO THANKS to dems in Augusta. Don’t call me racist or anything but conservative. If people are poor it’s because they don’t have enough ambition to do better or they just expect my tax dollars to support them. There is no reason to be poor in todays society besides yourself it’s no ones fault if your lazy.
Ah yes, the dems favorite play – if you don’t agree with them you must be a racist! Its getting a little worn out now though. Time to come up with something new.
Le Page was frustrated by the fact his own party had a lot of people preferring to work with Democrats than follow Le Page’s agenda. My hope is that Democrats and Republicans recognize that the partisan demonization of “the other,” so popular in much of the rest of the country, is poisonous to democracy. It would be a mistake, I think, for Democrats to try to ram something through just because they have a majority. I would hope that despite having control of both houses, Democrats work with moderate Republicans and prove once again that cooperation is better than just seeing the other side as the root of all evil.
If the Dems work with “only” moderate Republicans I guess that’s better than nothing.. (and surprising if it occurs).
I would hope “both” sides could do better.
Living in the real world,, not holding my breath here.
The pendulum goes back and forth because both sides can’t help themselves….
Mr. Erb – A large part of the Democrat agenda is to promote and to try to legalize sinful behavior. All sin is evil in the eyes of God. Many Democrats don’t believe in God, and a good number of them are not shy in professing hatred for God and for those who believe in Him. Many Republicans believe in God and love Him. Maybe that’s why Democrats and Republicans get along about as well as oil and water do.
To “let me explain” – what you think is a sin, may not be what others think wrong. You have a right to your religious beliefs. But if you try to force others to live by your beliefs when they hold different beliefs, then you’re in the wrong.
Interesting view on the Dems vs Reps salvation status…
Think I’ll move on about that….
Interesting view of the word “force” by Mr Erb also.
He states it’s wrong to force your religious beliefs. I remember past comments from him about God. Not remembering that he is a fan but he felt free to “share”his opinion. It could be said that he was trying to force a view. Fair enough. I have no problem here.
Is it also wrong to force your political beliefs?
How about your beliefs on public school education?
How about your beliefs on child rearing?
The rest of these important beliefs are shoved down people’s throats as common practice,,by the “establishment”. And considered our right to do so.
Corruption runs amuck.
Is it debate or coercion? Facts or fiction when people “exchange thoughts and ideas? Is it honest or corrupt? Some things are hard to discern. Each one of us are on our own here. We are free to make our own choice.
Organized Religion is one thing,,
Often corrupt.
But God is another thing entirely.
He won’t allow us to Force Him on anyone.
He simply invites each one of us to come to Him.
He has nothing to do with “religion”.
He Loves Us.
He simply “IS”…
Coolest thing ever.
In my opinion.
Thanks for the comments.
By Force – very good response!
Mr. Erb – I’m just laying out the facts, that’s all. Just remember that every single person on earth has the same fate. We are all going to die, and immediately after death, we will be judged by Jesus Christ according to how well (or not) we have lived in the eyes of God. Not trying to “force” this on anyone. Just stating the facts, and people can make their own decisions about them. You may dispute those facts, but the millions of miracles that have happened in the experience of mankind over the past 2000 years back up those facts, and they showcase the existence of God. Many of those miracles have been authenticated by scientists, and I know that you are a big fan of science. Again, your choice whether to believe or not. You’re not being forced in any way.
Healthcare number one: cap what pharma can charge and medical treatments charges, ban all high corn fructose and any other added substances to our food causing diabetes and other diseases, health care like car insurance fixed rate for everyone and at a fair price. Government and politicians need to start working for the people. Politicians fight and bicker worse than my sister and I did as kids GROW UP!!! Welfare is out of control and too many people know how to work the system. Everyone should work even if they can’t do much because they hurt or whatever. A person needs to feel they have a purpose in life to keep going and not feel sorry for themselves. Drugs and the mental illness people need to get out there and set goals in life and feel they are making a difference. Politics right now is a depressant. Rich, poor, middle class we are all human beings and are in life together. We should not be treated differently and we should help each other out. The people running our country are to busy acting like little kids fighting, accusing, and there is too many negative adjectives. We need people to work together. We the people of America need to start looking at the problems with why things are happening and what we can do to make things better. Congress start problem solving matters pros and cons then narrow down to find solutions not fight and bicker. Trial ideas go back and see what both sides had for likes and dislikes. Resolve matters and STOP the childish crap.
nice try, scott, but having a rational discussion in the comments section of the bulldog is like having tea in wonderland.
Sick and tired. It is not the government’s job to tell pharmaceutical companies and hospitals what they can and can’t charge for their services any more than it can tell Ford what it can sell an F-150 for. For example, it costs $648 million to bring one cancer medication to the market, now imagine the cost to bring 10. In the passed 2 years there were 26 cancer drugs brought to market. Talzenna a breast cancer treatment drug marketed this year costs $5000 for 30 pills and is covered by insurance. If somebody has breast cancer and no insurance that sucks, but again, not the government’s fault that said person didn’t get health insurance before they got sick as most insurers won’t issue a policy for preexisting conditions, and who could blame them, they’d go broke. If a 20 year old gets insurance and pays into it until they are 65 and never has a major medical event, then they are one of the fortunate few. The other day on the news I heard a 25 year old say this. “The government has to do more because I turn 26 next year and my parent’s policy won’t cover me anymore.” Now how is his poor life choices in any way, shape or form the fault of the government? Here another example, A man (I draw a blank on his name) got a federal student aid package for $38,000 in the 90s to pay for a degree in aerospace, it’s a good field to be in $100,000 a year to start. He gets his BA but decides he wants a masters and maybe a PhD, so he applies for and gets the total of $75,000 in federal student aid, he owes a total of $113,000 in student loans, easily paid by a job in aerospace, He gets done with schooling with a masters degree in aerospace which has always been a growing field, so he goes job hunting and rather than take a job he is qualified to do, he takes a job at CalTech as a research assistant, a job that pays a mere $35,000 a year, he asks for a raise and doesn’t get it, so what does he do, he quits. Then 9/11 happens and the defense spending in aerospace goes through the roof, does he apply for a job in aerospace? Nope he sits on his ass or does menial jobs until Bernie Sanders decides to run for president, then this man runs around the country telling people about how hard it has been for him to pay back his student loans and that the government should forgive all student debt. The government didn’t make his poor choices for him, in fact it did everything it could to help him succeed.
To “Let me explain” – I personally think your religious beliefs are silly and obsolete, but hey – if they make you feel good, go for it! I’m certainly not going to live my life by such beliefs. I do believe there is a spiritual side to life, but you and others with diverse opinions about what “story” underlies it are, I believe, misguided. But hey – whatever gets you through the night, it’s alright.
Hrtless – the government’s job is whatever we the people decide it should be. Every other advanced industrialized nation has affordable health care guaranteed, no medical cost bankruptcies, and this is supported by conservatives throughout the world. Only here in the US are we backwards.
And Mr. Erb is a school board member helping to put things in place that will help shape the lives of the youth in our district. He isn’t the type of person I want on the board, after seeing this type of comment toward others. Apparently if we do not agree with him, we are “silly and obsolete”, I think not Mr. Erb.
Mr. Erb, I’ll take Pasquale’s side of his wager. I pray that one day you will, also.
Sorry, I meant to refer to Pascal’s Wager. It was proposed by the renowned French scientist, Blaise Pascal.
Scott Erb, No they don’t. they have free stabilizing medicine, we have that too, in the form of emergency rooms. Everything else they have to pay for and most times more than us. Ever hear of Charlie Gard? He was an infant that was taken off life support by court ruling and against the wishes of his parents. His parents had no say in the matter, why? Because they were not paying for his care, the government was. These countries all have healthcare rationing, we have that too, it’s called a paycheck. And, those countries you love, have less than half of our population combined, and they are predominantly white, so yeah…lets be like them. Tough borders, immigration control, lower crime..sounds good to me.
Republicans are as God-fearing as Hillary Clinton was suddenly a ‘devout Presbyterian’ when she was running for president. Both sides play the God Card, but the Republican politicians usually end up like Pharisees who are bought and sold like commodities by large corporations after being elected and the Democratic politicians start leaking like a perforated bucket that was used for shotgun practice almost immediately because their progressive anti-religious side that generally puts the government as the state deity can’t be suppressed for long.
Basically, the two choices in this political clown show are either brand name Pharisee products or closet Socialists who try to hide their Socialism in their pants, but their choice of pants are those tights that are in fashion among women nowadays so it isn’t so well hidden.
There are two types of people who vote: there are those who think bashing their heads against the wall continuously will magically save the future (translation: those who think one of the political parties are actually working for them), and then there are those who think they’re voting for the lesser evil that will do the least damage for the next 2 to 4 years.
Politics is where you pick your poison and hope the burn doesn’t linger for too long. Isn’t it wonderful how far this modern world has come?
Cheers,
Shamus
Remember view points come time for re-election SaRge.
Shamus, despite the fact that I agree with you I try and hold on to some form of optimism.
Mr Erb is consistent in his view of “our” religion/God/ whatever. I think he deserves respect as a productive person and sincerely hope he softens,
but honestly Who Can Blame Him for having a dim view of what is “preached”.
Maybe more Living Examples and less judgemental screaming would better represent the Living God that I have experienced thru Christ. I am not ashamed of this Gospel.
But alas,,, I make many mistakes.
Keep Getting Up.