Opinions and Editorials from around Maine for Tuesday, March 8, 2010. (more…)

Deadlines for ballot signatures and clean election donations are nearing.  Questions are being raised as to who may not make the cut.  We know of three candidates who will be on the primary ballots for their parties.  Rosa Scarcelli is the first Democrat to qualify for the primary, while Paul LePage and Peter Mills have made it on the Republican primary ballot.  Mills has cleared another hurdle by qualifying for clean election funding.

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More cartoons by Rob Tornoe

Libby Mitchell has received a high profile endorsement today, perhaps the most well-known endorsement for any candidate yet.  Ex-President Bill Clinton has thrown his support behind Mitchell for governor. (more…)

This post was inspired by the writings of Gerald Weinand and Bruce Bourgoine at Dirigo Blue.  I’d like to thank them both for continuing the debate.

Not only should Maine’s education system continue to evolve, it must continue to evolve.  Our education system is still functioning on a Industrial Era model.  We continue to question why are kids leave school unprepared and/or uninterested in learning.  The answer is right in front of us.  Our schools are preparing them to work in factories settings. *RING* math time *RING* science *RING* eat *RING* english.  If we want to equip our children for the way our new world works this has to stop.  Learning, as life, should happen outside of the microcosm.  There are opportunities to learn about all the Rs integrated in almost every subject.  The world is moving toward a workplace that requires inventive problem solving.  To compete in a global economy our children will need to leverage one of America’s greatest assets; creativity.  Why can’t our education system do the same? (more…)

The state of the Maine gubernatorial race on Twitter as of Sunday, March 7, 2010 10:00AM EST. (more…)

I have high hopes for “The Marriage Ref,” the new show NBC cooked up to try to become relevant again.

They hauled in Jerry Seinfeld and a bunch of other peacock stars to try to joke about people’s marital conflicts.

The show offers funny moments, for sure, but Alec Baldwin, Eva Longoria, and Tina Fey are not improv comics, so the conversation is pretty obviously scripted and edited, stripping it of most of its chemistry.

Sort of like marriage itself, actually. (more…)

There’s nothing like a candidate who can beat the odds.  I’m not talking about an underdog who defies the odds like Senator Scott Brown of Massachusetts (R) or Mark Begich of Alaska (D).  I’m not talking about someone like Texas Governor (and professional pretty-boy) Rick Perry, who on Tuesday, pushed back against a primary challenge from popular sitting senator Kay Bailey Hutchison. (more…)

This week, Maine’s Democratic leaders released their proposal for a $99.2 millions “jobs bond package.”  The package would seek to put new construction projects into motion this summer.  “Without more work for our construction industry from engineers to the people moving the dirt, we are looking at a dire situation this summer,” said House Speaker Hannah Pingree (D-North Haven).  Democrats will have to gather support from House and Senate Republicans to forward the measure to a June vote.  Candidates for governor have provided us with their opinions on the bond proposal.  You may read their responses after the cut.  We will be adding more responses as we receive them. (more…)

Due to what many are calling a “rosier” economic outlook, Governor Baldacci has released a proposal for a revised budget.  Baldacci restored $78.7 million in cuts today.  “From the beginning, I have been committed to presenting a fiscally responsible plan to balance the State budget,” Governor Baldacci said.  “The slight improvement in the economy and the increased assistance from the federal government allow us to address legitimate concerns in human services and education while also making investments in Maine’s long-term financial health.”  (more…)