It’s always gratifying when Maine, tucked up here in the far northeast of the country, gains national recognition.

It happened recently: I was listening to “A Prairie Home Companion” on Sept. 4, and Garrison Keillor was touting the virtues of Minnesota in his monologue. Among other things, he said: “Our politicians tend to be serious, upstanding, honorable people. We don’t have too many joke politicians … we’re not Louisiana, we’re not Maine … .”

So I think we should thank Gov. Paul LePage for keeping us in the national spotlight. Lobsters, Acadia and a governor who is a national joke – three indelible Maine icons.

Jim Atherton

West Bath