The first days of the 2012 presidential campaign conjure images of posters proclaiming the revival of a classic film series: “ Godfather IV: Coming to a polling place near you!” Like crime syndicate dons, the candidates publicly engage in the political version of polite conversation. Except for an occasional debate dust-up, they do everything they […]

OTTUMWA, Iowa — The Republican Party is the party of the white working class. This group — whites with high school degrees and maybe some college — is still the largest block in the electorate. They overwhelmingly favor Republicans. It’s a diverse group, obviously, but its members generally share certain beliefs and experiences. The economy […]

The Legislature faces a great challenge this year in resolving the $221 million shortfall in the MaineCare system. We must come up with $120 million in savings by April 1 or MaineCare will run out of money. No one in the Legislature looks forward to the upcoming task of cutting MaineCare. We will do all […]

To the editor: I am permanently disabled because of multiple sclerosis. During the past five years or so, I have become more vocal in expressing my thoughts regarding the level of care that elderly and low income citizens with chronic diseases require to remain in their homes — which is clearly both what folks prefer […]

To the editor: I am writing because of the huge amount of confusion about Central Maine Power’s push to put so-called “Smart Meters” on our homes. Here in Bath, the City Council just recently reaffirmed its moratorium against the meters by extending it for another six months. Nevertheless, CMP has sent its customers a card […]

To solve our economic woes, the Republicans propose to energize our nation’s “job creators.” House Speaker Boehner makes the argument cogently when he says, in an allusion to Ayn Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged,” that “America’s job creators are essentially on strike.” To alleviate unemployment and revive growth, he and other Republicans recommend a lessening of regulations […]

The Times Record on Jan. 2, one might have reached the inescapable conclusion that Maine has messed up yet again and lost another business opportunity. We read that Kestrel Aircraft Co. has been negotiating a move to Superior, Wis. Perhaps some readers will recall a rather public announcement some months ago that this company would […]

Navy Petty Officer Stacy O. Johnson, 35, of Rolling Fork, Miss., died July 18, 2011, while supporting operations in Bahrain. The Department of Defense announced Johnson’s death on Dec. 29, 2011. Army Spc. Pernell J. Herrera, 33, of Espanola, N.M., died Dec. 31, in Helmand province, Afghanistan, of injuries suffered in a non-combat incident. Navy […]