The race for governor in Maine just got named the second-most important contest of the 2013-14 cycle. When last we checked in on Maine's incumbent Republican, Governor Paul LePage, he was refusing to meet with the new Democratic leadership of the state legislature. Then an effort by independents in the legislature to meet with him ended when LePage "flew up like a jack-in-the-box and ran out of the room and slammed the door."
So how's it going now, Maine? The local press reported that as of Friday, Governor LePage has promised to veto any and all bills from the legislature until they OK his plan for dealing with outstanding debt to hospitals. The hospitals part of the story is complicated. The veto part is not. By way of the Bangor Daily News:
“I don’t care if it’s my bills. I’ll veto my own bills,” LePage said on the George Hale and Ric Tyler show on WVOM radio.
LePage's new plan for governing prompted the satirical Sardine Report -- "Maine's Fishiest News Source" -- to gin up a story about legislators passing a bill to "make Paul LePage king of the universe." Again, that's parody. The Sardine Report is to Maine as the Onion is to America. But it might be that parody is the perfect response.
About my headline: I'm not sure a governor can filibuster a state, so if you've got a better verb and it's family friendly, hit the comments, please.
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"Governor of Maine Looses His Mind"
With every single thing that this guy has done he's proving that he's sliding down the slippery slope into paranoia and sociopathic personality disorder!
STOP voting in RethugniCons to public office, they don't "do pressure" well!
"he's sliding down the slipper slope into paranoia and sociopathic personality disorder!"
Uh . . . I think he's already there.
MAINE'S GOVERNOR SHUNS STATE LEGISLATURE. He will not look at them and can only show them his back. He will not speak to them or recognize their presence. He calls this his 'shunning' veto. "I don't believe in a democracy except for voting candidates into office. I am after all, the Governor."
Let's take all the window dressing off the Tea Partying campaign platform. What LePage and his ilk are essentially saying politically is not reflective of a democratic people!
LePage's idea of public office?
Why, elect me, and we will have no government!
My suggestion to my relatives in Maine?
Vote the rascal out! -Kevo
LePaqe Boycotts Maine Government- will hold his breath until governorship turns blue.
As "The Todd" on Scrubs would say, "Double entendre five!" for the "turns blue" remark.
Dateline Maine:
Governor LePage ordered the State closed until further notice Friday citing the States widespread and profound lack of interest in anything he had to say. The Governor went on to complain that the Legislature were being mean to him and that he wanted a pony.
In a related story the Governor is also threatening to issue an executive order banning Broccoli and Brussel sprouts.
More on this as the story develops...or when the Governor stops holding his breath
Don't you love how conservatives call Pres. Obama a dictator while they have two (at the very least),LePage and Snyder in Michigan, prime examples of what a dictator looks like and how a dictator acts. In LePage, the added excitement of obvious mental illness. Don't know anything about politics in Maine, tell me this guy can"t get re-elected.
The man is clearly off his rocker, then again the people of Maine voted him into office. It's becoming a regular pattern of buyers remorse in states where surprise,surprise, surprise, the people are outraged by the actions of the Republicans they have voted for.
Actually, he wasn't voted in by a majority; he just had the largest percentage, somewhere in the high 30s I think. His closest rival was within a couple of percentage points. So, to claim he was the choice of Maine is a bit of an exaggeration.
Then he's a perfect example of why people need to get off their keester and VOTE!
No, he is the perfect example of why we need Instant Runoff Voting. When no one got a majority, one of the two major party candidates would have been eliminated and the instant runoff votes from most of those folks would have gone to the other major party candidate (I hope!) and LaPage would have lost. It allows people to not have to worry about voting strategically in races with more than two parties, or about inavertent bizarre outcomes due to splits among more popular candidates.
Seeing that a couple states are doing away with democracy in running states and trying to suppress votes, the next big step is doing away with elections in those states (with others to follow, of course). Think it's a joke? Just wait.
I'm expecting that, come 2014, Snyder will announce that Detroit can't afford to have elections.
Governor of Maine: I got mine, F*CK YOU!
There is no chance that what he's doing to the state of Maine doesn't involve a curse word.
C'mon, Maine, you can't tell me that there wasn't at least one moose who would have made a better choice for governor!
i do not kid you. the gov is CERTIFIABLE.
The weird thing is he lives in Florida. I assume that's why he's raising our real estate taxes. You'd think we could at least find someone from Maine to be governor.
Doesn't Maine have a residency requirement for statewide office?
Maine is being "tea bagged" by an ignyouranus. is that even possible?
I think Gov LaPage needs to be sent to his room without his supper.