Maine
updated
12:52 p.m.
Contains only posts that are ID'd as local content. An explanation. Want to help improve our local content filter? Add keywords here.
Congressman Mike Michaud is a regular at labor events. The Solidarity Celebration on July 4th, hosted by Food AND Medicine and the Eastern Maine Labor Council was no different. This year Mike gave a speech calling for “independence, from the corporations that have working families on their knees.” He also reaffirmed his support for the employee Free Choice Act saying “Worker’s have...
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - 12:52 p.m.
At Down East today, I take a long look at Les Otten's campaign and the controversy over his website. It turns out his campaign site isn't the first time he's borrowed someone else's logo. Here's a hint: On a related note, I'm very sorry to hear that Lorie Costigan, Down East's online editor, has been let go from the company for financial reasons. In our conversations, she always show...
Maine Politics - 8:29 a.m.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v... Hit the link above to see a short video about killer drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles - UAV's) now being flown over Afghanistan-Pakistan war zones from pilots sitting in New Mexico. Previously we had heard they were only flying them from Creech AFB outside of Las Vegas, Nevada. The drone market is exploding and there is an effort underway to turn Bruns...
Turn Maine Blue - 7:40 a.m.
My friend Suzan (who took the above picture and sent it to me) and I went to Portland on the 4th of July to hear Rep. Herb Adams read the Declaration of Independence aloud. Let patriotism ring! Honestly, I think Sarah Palin should listen to this document be read aloud, because last I knew, kings [...]...
White Noise Insanity - 5:26 a.m. - 3 clicks 
(image created by KayInMaine of White Noise Insanity) I don’t have a link to the tweet, but apparently on Twitter yesterday, Sarah said she was mad at the media for making fun of her “I Ain’t No Quitter” speech, because in her mind quitting is only for losers and then her quitting her governorship did not [...]...
White Noise Insanity - Sun 11:21 a.m. - 5 clicks
Good morning. How long has it been since a day began with sunny skies in Maine? This is definitely a day to get outside and hike up a hill or get on the water for a view of our beautiful state. ProPublica has this story about How a Loophole Benefits General Electric in Bank Rescue : General Electric, the world's largest industrial company, has quietly become the biggest beneficiary of one...
Turn Maine Blue - Sun 5:47 a.m. - 6 clicks
Taken earlier today of the 4th of July Parade in Thomaston, Maine. The Coast Guard COlor Guard was followed by this bagpipe band: A man on stilts from the Shoestring Theatre Troup: More after the fold: Antique vehicles: One has to like the sticker in the cigarette window of this Nash - so good: A high school theatre cast: And - THE SUN : Rep. Joan Welsh (D-Camden)...
Turn Maine Blue - Sat 5:06 p.m. - 6 clicks
What are you doing today to celebrate America’s Independence Day? My son is going to a pig roast and I’ll be joining a friend in Portland to watch Rep. Herb Adams read the Declaration of Independence. A little known fact: Maine has one of the only 25 copies left in the nation of the original [...]...
White Noise Insanity - Sat 7:44 a.m. - 7 clicks
The rumors are flying around the Internet about Sarah Palin’s resignation yesterday. We are all wondering why she would quit her governorship half way through her first term. No one does that if they’re innocent of any charge and a governor is more protected in office than out. Sarah’s quick resignation is definitely strange. So, what [...]...
White Noise Insanity - Sat 7:44 a.m. - 4 clicks
Mayor Larry Gilbert is one of the many public figures that have stepped up to voice support for the Employee Free Choice Act in Maine. "The reason why I support the Employee Free Choice Act is because I remember the working conditions as a patrol officer, when I just started. They were terrible." Larry continued "I feel that if employees wish to join a union they have that right." ...
DailyKos (Maine) - Fri 9:06 p.m. - 8 clicks
Food AND Medicine and the Eastern Maine Labor Council invites you to attend our Ninth Annual ... FOURTH OF JULY SOLIDARITY CELEBRATION Featuring Sarah Lee Guthrie & Johnny Irion with Slaid Cleaves PLACE: at the Solidarity Center, 20 Ivers St. Brewer, 04412. TIME: 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m Rain or Shine This year's Fourth of July promises to be a blast with amazing food, music and program to c...
Turn Maine Blue - Fri 12:07 p.m. - 5 clicks
If you are looking for a way to celebrate the holiday, the Bangor Daily News has this list of communities holding 4th of July events . I'll also remind you of this post recounting last year's parade in Round Pond - if you look closely at the photographs, those dark areas are called shadows, and are caused by sunlight. Use the comments to promote your town's event, or if a group will be ...
Turn Maine Blue - Fri 8:28 a.m. - 8 clicks
Come Celebrate the Fourth of July and Support Laid-off Workers with Food AND Medicine and the Eastern Maine Labor Council July 4th 6:00PM, 20 Ivers Street, Brewer Maine The Solidarity Celebration is Bangor/Brewer's best kept secret. This year they've got great music from Sarah Lee Guthrie (Arlo's Daughter), Johnny Irion as well as Maine native Slaid Cleaves. Congressman Mike Michaud will join us o...
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - Thu 8:05 a.m. - 16 clicks
Good morning. In Beltway political news, the Hill reports that former senator John Sununu announced that he will not seek to return to the Senate , and that Rep. Joe Sestak to take on Sen. Arlen Specter in the Democratic primary in Pennsylvania. This will be an interesting race to follow. Rep. Chellie Pingree will be joining over 25 groups and organizations, including the Maine State Ch...
Turn Maine Blue - Thu 4:57 a.m. - 5 clicks
Maine Republican candidate for Governor Les Otten has just announced he is running for governor. His website is a total ripoff of Barack Obama's website. http://lesotten.com/ (image from www.politics1.com ) Story is developing. Maine Politics is covering it- http://mainepolitics.net/... Also the Republicans are already tearing each other apart over it on their As Maine Goes fo...
DailyKos (Maine) - Wed 6:51 a.m. - 10 clicks
On May 6, 2009, the Governor of Maine signed the law ending discrimination in marriage for same-sex couples, but it is already being threatened. Our fight to protect civil rights through marriage equality is just beginning out here in Maine. Almost immediately, national opponents of equality declared they wanted to turn back the clock and are working tirelessly to place a measure on this November...
DailyKos (Maine) - Wed 6:51 a.m. - 7 clicks
Ron Hemingway the Recording Secretary of USW Local 900 authored a great Op-Ed in support of the Employee Free Choice Act, that was published in the Lewiston Sun Journal last Sunday. If you didn't happen to catch it, you can download a pdf of the article here. Download Sun Journal sunday June 28th, 2009...
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - Jun 29 - 5 clicks
Republican Representative Jim Campbell represents the people of district 138 in the Maine House of Representatives. He is a retired printing plant manager and a devout public servant. Jim's father was an active union member and he hasn’t forgotten that. In his words he “Started at the bottom and worked my way to the top… but I haven’t forgotten where I came from.” This may explain why Rep. Campbel...
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - Jun 29 - 6 clicks
We’re saddened to say that Adam Weiss, a NALC Political Field Coordinator that has worked closely with the Maine AFL-CIO, has returned to Washington D.C. Adam has been an integral part of the campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act for the last three months and we would like to extend our gratitude to him and his union. Judging from this photo Adam will at least miss Maine’s lobster....
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - Jun 29 - 3 clicks
So let's review: First, as editor of Portland Press Herald, Jeannine Guttman supervises soft, superficial, spotty and error-prone coverage of the Allen-Collins race--coverage that seems, almost invariably, to tilt toward Sen. Collins. She never runs profiles of the candidates, and even allows the publication of a Collins endorsement that side-steps literally all the major issues in the race...
Collins Watch - Jun 26 - 11 clicks
A front page post on the website of the Republican Project, the organization created by unsuccessful first Congressional District candidate Dean Scontras in an attempt to turn the Maine GOP to the right, endorses a video labeling Democrats "traitors" and calling for a second American Revolution. Most of the video, which Scontras' group calls "A meesage [sic] worth hearing and taking to heart...
Maine Politics - Jun 26 - 9 clicks
This is gross : The former editor of the Portland Press Herald and Maine Sunday Telegram has taken a post in Washington, D.C., as communications director for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs. The appointment of Jeannine Guttman was announced Wednesday by Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the committee's ranking Republican. Collins said Guttman has tremendous experience b...
Collins Watch - Jun 25 - 6 clicks
As Executive Director of the Maine State Building & Construction Trades Council, John Hanson has enthusiastically supported the Employee Free Choice Act. Prior to his involvement with the building trades, John was an active member of AFT Local 189, a unique local of labor educators. His background as a labor educator and his work with the Building Trades give John a unique appreciation for just ho...
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - Jun 24 - 6 clicks
Why is Sen. Collins stalling confirmation of the administration's nominee to head the Office of Legal Counsel? Is it because the nominee, Dawn Johnsen, is willing to call out illegal torture and the lawyers who abetted it? Because Johnsen is unambiguously pro-choice ? Something else? ...
Collins Watch - Jun 23 - 5 clicks
The 2010 gubernatorial field is quickly getting crowded. Today, Dawn Hill , a second-term state Representative from York jumped into the race for the Democratic nomination. Hill is a lawyer and owns a dog daycare center called "It's a Dog's World". Yesterday, Les Otten, a businessman whose most recent venture is Maine Energy Systems in Bethel and whom MaineBiz described as "one of Maine's ...
Maine Politics - Jun 23 - 6 clicks
AFGE 2610 is a unit that encompasses all of the workers that run the Togus VA Medical Center and the VA satellite sites throughout Maine. The Togus VA Medical Center is one of the largest VA facilities in the country and 2610 members pride themselves on providing the best possible care. In support of the campaign for the Employee Free Choice Act Chris Bovie and the other executive members of 2610 ...
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - Jun 19 - 5 clicks
Bill directs the Bureau of Labor Education at the University of Maine. Under his direction the Bureau has produced invaluable research and literature in support of the Employee Free Choice Act campaign. In 2008 the Bureau published a briefing paper entitled "Restoring the Right to Organize: Impacts of the Employee Free Choice Act." This Briefing has been distributed widely throughout Maine. Last T...
Maine AFL-CIO Employee Free Choice Act Blog - Jun 17 - 5 clicks
No violence. No burning flags. Just Iranians, demanding a voice. We took the gun away from their heads. We unclenched the first fist. Will we see an open hand by the end of the year? It is to be hoped for and encouraged. read more: Borrowed Suits ...
Borrowed Suits - Jun 15 - 5 clicks
Democratic former Attorney General Steve Rowe has filed papers to run for governor in 2010 and has launched a very narrow website . ...
Maine Politics - Jun 9 - 6 clicks
Sen. Collins' office : U.S. Senator Susan Collins today met privately with Judge Sonia Sotomayor for 45 minutes... "During our meeting, I was able to ask Judge Sotomayor a broad range of questions. Much of our discussion focused on a speech that she delivered in 2001 in which she says she "would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a...
Collins Watch - Jun 8 - 5 clicks
At Down East this week, I take a look at the Portland Charter Commission election, including its possible effect on state politics and a likely explanation for why Jim Gooch's campaign signs have all gone missing. ...
Maine Politics - Jun 8 - 7 clicks
Maine 2nd District Congressman Mike Michaud appears to be out of sync with fellow members of the Blue Dog Coalition, a group of conservative Democrats in the House, on the issue of federal health care reform. The Blue Dogs today sought to limit the bounds of discussion on reform, releasing a memo outlining the conditions under which they would be willing to support new health care legislation...
Maine Politics - Jun 8 - 6 clicks
CQ : "She assured me that she understands when deciding cases that she needs to put aside any personal experiences that might color her decisions and, as she said it, that the law is the law," Collins said. Collins said she was "somewhat frustrated" that Sotomayor would not discuss perhaps her most controversial case, Ricci v. DeStefano , in which Sotomayor was part of a three-judge panel that...
Collins Watch - Jun 8 - 5 clicks
And New Hampshire makes six . Traditionally conservative New Hampshire today became the sixth state in the nation to legalize gay marriage, after a bill was was enacted by both the state House and Senate and then signed by Governor John Lynch. Where you at, Rhode Island? read more: Borrowed Suits ...
Borrowed Suits - Jun 3 - 5 clicks
The New York Times : Much attention, however, focused on Judge Sotomayor’s remark in 2001: "I would hope that a wise Latina woman with the richness of her experiences would more often than not reach a better conclusion than a white male who hasn't lived that life." Senator Susan Collins, Republican of Maine, who voted to confirm Judge Sotomayor in 1998, said she needed a fuller explanation and ...
Collins Watch - Jun 3 - 4 clicks
