Does Paul LePage Really Want to be Governor?

He claims he never heard the word "creationism" in his entire life before he was "accused" of supporting it. He makes claims that someone wrote something nasty on "the blogs" but then didn't say which one. If you are gonna make that sort of accusation surely its a good idea to name the blog you are talking about?

He claims he never heard the word "creationism"

I went to 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade at a Catholic school. I have been a lifelong Catholic, and can really say that I do not remember the word "creationism" being mentioned.

Your dislikes of Lepage seems petty to me so far. I said "seem petty to me", which means it is only my opinion.

Anything else you dislike about Paul, Andrew?

So you are telling me you believe he has never heard the word creationism in his entire life before a few weeks ago? Really you believe that?

Of course, I know nothing anyone says will get you to even question anything LePage says or does. You are as much a cultist of LePage as the Obama drones who went on about "the One". You attack non-believers like Obamabots the same way too.

You don't debate you harangue. You do yourself, LePage and the conservative cause no favors.

Robert...He heard the word "creationism" at the debate where he said he thought creationism should be taught alongside evolution in Maine's schools...

The word "creationism" was in the question...the question he answered...on television...and in front of many republicans at the convention...and thousands of Mainers on television...

My problem is not with his answer...its with his lying about it now that he has gotten criticized for it...

I will not vote for anyone...in any election...for any office...if that person does not stand up for his principles...and that goes double for someone who denies his principles for political favor...

Okay, now I'm baffled. If LePage now claims he's never heard the term "creationism", why did he say in May it should be taught in public schools?

So you are telling me you believe he has never heard the word creationism in his entire life before a few weeks ago?

Who am I to call him a liar? I am not inside of his head. I had never heard of creationism until a few months age. I had to look up the meaning on google.

You are as much a cultist of LePage

I follow no one Andrew. I am very independent. I just feel LePage is the best fit for Maine at this time.

You attack non-believers like Obamabots the same way too.

I am attacking no one, well, maybe Dolley, but she is a troll. Andrew, you write for a living, many people are going to disagree with you. If you have a problem with that, well, maybe a career change is in order.

Maybe LePage has only a hazy idea of what it means. He's a business guy. I dunno.
But I digress. Let me address some specific posts of today:
It was not "painful listening" for me, to hear the MPBN blip. I loved it. The guy has a great, non-traditional-politician, positive way of speaking. People love it. Doesn't take himself too seriously. Unlike some people.
Second: Libby has been in the halls of power since the early 70s. That makes her the ultimate insider. THAT'S the problem. (If you can figure out a way to have had her first elected at age 8, then the age issue can be dismissed. If not, it's entirely relevant. 2010 minus 1974 = 36. I think.)
Third: Mike Tipping writes his predictable hit job on the Downeast blog. Here's what all good folks should do: immediately call Downeast publications and say, "enough is enough; I'm cancelling my subscription. If you get rid of the leftist hack "blogger", I'll come back aboard, aye aye". (And do the same thing with every other slimer. For crying out loud, pick up that phone or that mouse!)
That's all. Attack, attack, and again I say attack. Relentlessly. NO DEFENSE, ever. Turn EVERY SINGLE THING AROUND ON OUR POLITICAL FOES.
Some of the folks on here seem anti-LePage, in a strong, strong way. Specifically, to have a problem with one of the best "outside of the machine" candidates out there (as I've come to view him), seems like an odd thing to do in this era of the Tea Parties. (Nope, no sycophantism here. My sycophantism is reserved for one person alone at this point..........initials RR. Although Sarah is coming up fast on the outside.......).

"Mike Tipping writes his predictable hit job on the Downeast blog. Here's what all good folks should do: immediately call Downeast publications and say, "enough is enough; I'm cancelling my subscription. If you get rid of the leftist hack 'blogger...'"

It might make more sense...instead of trying to silence the left...be able to have a response that makes sense and counters what theyre saying...thats sort of what this country was founded on...

Maybe we can find someone with credibility to do that...

"... to have a problem with one of the best 'outside of the machine' candidates"...

Roflmao...who is that?

I am attacking no one, well, maybe Dolley, but she is a troll. Andrew, you write for a living, many people are going to disagree with you. If you have a problem with that, well, maybe a career change is in order.

Dolley isn't a troll, just someone opinionated just like you Robert. I don't agree with either of you all the time. I don't mind people disagreeing with me at all. Happens all the time and long may it continue.

"Outside the Machine" that is a laugh. How do you figure? He certainly isn't "outside the machine" as defined by most tea party movement people I know.

He certainly isn't "outside the machine" as defined by most tea party movement people I know.

How about some names and examples Andrew.

Just because someone questions what LePage said doesn't make them a "Hater." There is nothing wrong with questioning a political candidates' statements, position, or platform.

I am dismayed beyond measure by the rabid responses from some LePage supporters to even the APPEARANCE of daring to question his statements, etc.

He is not the anointed - he is a wonderful, viable R candidate for Maine Governor.

However, he is not sacred, and his supporters do him no favors by trying to pretend otherwise.

I am dismayed beyond measure by the rabid responses from some LePage supporters

How about some examples of the rabid responses Naran. I haven't read every post in this thread, but I do not see rabid in any that I did.

I'll take the ordinary Paul LePage over the elitest blue blood and the aged debutante.

What you want me to name them so you and your cronies can harass them by email and phone? Sorry, we've been down that road before. I am not outing anyone for or against LePage, that is up to the individual if they want to go public with their choice.

Okay Andrew, name some examples of how Lepage is part of the machine.

What you want me to name them so you and your cronies can harass them by email and phone? Sorry, we've been down that road before.

If we have been down this road, can you give example of people being harassed by phone or email.

Andrew, I have an early day, and a long one tomorrow. I am going to retire now in anticipation of your response on how LePage is part of the "machine."

Tell how he isn't since you are countering my point.

Funny...this thread started out about something the GOP candidate said...and then said he didnt say...and it has now been twisted...to be about what Andrew Ian Dodge said...

LePage has never been more than mayor of one of Maine's midsized cities. He still has to set aside some of his political stuff to keep his day job going smoothly (Mardens........a discount store).
Someone please tell me what Big Connections LePage used to help him win the nomination. The media disparaged him and still do.
I've been around a while. And I got to hand out with LePage a bit lately, in several settings. I'm a halfway decent judge of people, and he's a political outsider to me. The "games" that most politicians have mastered? The majority of folks seem to be saying, "alright, enough already! No more games.." LePage seems to feel that way too. IMHO.

After hearing LePage on WGAN this morning, I've come to the conclusion that totally regardless of his political positions, I don't want to see this man as governor. Aside from his being belligerant, combative, and abrasive, the reason I came to this conclusion is that he doesn't have the savvy to answer a simple question in a diplomatic way.

All he had to do was read this thread to learn how to respond to the questions, how to explain himself in at least a plausible way. If one of his associates had read this thread and coached him how to do that, it would have gone a long way.

This man is an embarrassment to the Republican Party and, if elected, would be an embarrassment to the State of Maine.

The interview is on the WGAN website if anyone would like a primer on how not to campaign for office.

I love Mayor LePage. He will not be pushed around by the elites. He is who he and he is not ashamed of who he is.

Ken and Mike will be pleased to learn that you consider them the "elites."

The raw audio from MPBN's Susan Sharon's interview with LePage points to another false accusation from the candidate. From this story in the KJ:

He complained that the MPBN reporter did not include his compliments to Mitchell in her coverage.

In an MPBN transcript of the follow-up interview provided to the Kennebec Journal, LePage said he did not think age should be a campaign issue. The transcript did not show comments from him praising Mitchell as a candidate.> (emphasis mine)

Listening to the raw audio tape, it is obvious that LePage spends most of his time talking about former governor John Reed, heaping compliments on him, and not Mitchell.

There is a pattern here, one that can only be described as LePage trying to paint himself as a victim. He's not the first candidate in Maine to use this tactic.

Robert - I wasn't just referring to AMG when I made the comments, above.

He made the same claims on WGAN regarding his comments on the train ride -- I wonder what the video of that shows prior to his comments about Libby Mitchell's age.

I heard a good comment yesterday -- it's hard to have a train wreck with only one train especially when it's standing still, but LePage managed to pull it off.

AJ
Here is the rub...What is taught in public schools is a local decision and a Governor has limited impact on a decision like this. The only reason it is asked is to hightlight Mayor LePage's faith in a negative light. He is called extreme because he is pro life, pro traditional marriage, and a practicing French Catholic.
Mr Manning is using the Mayors faith as wedge issue to paint him as extreme.

Yes, I've heard those comments before. Their validity or lack of validity is not the point of my post. Why couldn't your man make such a cogent argument when asked about these issues on a popular morning radio show? Might that not have served him better than acting the way he did?

To put things in perspective, only three of the seven GOP candidates for governor answered that they think that creationism should be taught in Maine's public schools: LePage, Beardsley, and Poliquin.

Abbott, Jacobson, Mills and Otten do not think it should.

AJ
I never in a million years thought LePage could win in Southern Maine. I thought he was to gruff for us country club Republicans. I was dead wrong. He won Portland, Yarmouth, and Cumberland County. In today’s political climate, people want a real person in elected office. Not some smooth talking politician.
I had a conversation with a Dem recently who said LePage doesn't have the ability to grasp complex issues. I was like- good! Government doesn’t need to be complex or complicated. It should be so simple that all that are paying for it can understand it.