This is a response to Edgar Allen Beem’s “Universal Notebook” of Dec. 1-3. The particular subject was the appointments Gov.-elect Paul LePage made to his transition team. Beem characterized most of them as “tax-cappers, tea-partiers and (horror of horrors) constitutionalists.” As Beem put it, “people who seem to be on board the LePage Express for […]

With journalism’s relatively recent emphasis on digital delivery and the 24/7 news cycle, newspaper editors everywhere seem to be debating, studying and furrowing their brows over what to do about anonymous reader comments. In a perfect world, online comments would be concise, civil and always on topic. But in the real world, they’re often offensive, […]

Rationally, we all know the good old days weren’t. Still, we tend to look back through rose-colored glasses to what we remember as simpler times. Despite my best efforts to be forward-thinking and optimistic about the future, every once in awhile it occurs to me that we were all better off when … … Doctors […]

The conventional wisdom these days is that Democrats are in trouble while Republicans are soaring, reversing roles from just two years ago. Actually, both of Maine’s major parties are at a defining crossroads today, for entirely different reasons. How each responds in the months ahead will shape the state’s future over the next decade and […]

The 125th Maine Legislature has been sworn in, with new leaders elected by the new majority party. It’s a different landscape in state government, and I look forward to hitting the ground running in what is simultaneously familiar and unknown territory. Since this is my fourth and last term, due to term limits, I feel […]

I am writing to encourage South Portland residents and people who do business in South Portland to take a brief on-line survey about a proposed vision for the future of South Portland. The links are at the bottom of the city’s Web page, www.southportland.org. It is important to plan for the future of South Portland. […]

What is the verdict on “smart” meters? Why are citizens saying no? Central Maine Power had a flawed business plan. CMP has been working on this process since 2006 and cannot understand why there is resistance at this point. Last week I asked if CMP ever collected content from their customers; the response was no. […]

On behalf of the board of trustees of the Midcoast Regional Redevelopment Authority, I want to commend Sen. Susan Collins for her recent vote against a sweeping amendment that would have not only placed a binding three-year prohibition on congressional earmarks, but also would have eliminated funding next year for important Maine projects already approved […]

I had breakfast last week at Governor’s and brought The Forecaster home with me. I read a letter from Jerry Gordon of Portland, in response to Edgar Allen Beem’s previous column. I did not read that column, but my eyes opened wide at Jerry’s rant. Does Jerry regularly read newspapers, watch or listen to the […]

I’ve been thinking about sending this letter for a long time, and now I’m doing it in support of Edgar Allen Beem. I look forward to his columns because most of the time they reflect what I’m also thinking. It’s amazing to me that there are people, like those who are anti-Beem, who have their […]