Keep that Lepage train rolling!

I won't be on the train but am going to Waterfront Park bbq in Bath where we will all go and meet the train to hear Lepage and Scontras speeches. Hoping each stop has a good turnout and hope train is sellout.

I would love to be on the train to meet him and hear what his intent is for tis state, unfortunately $100 is more than i can afford with one son having just gotten married, another enterring college and one in high school. It's been 2 years without a raise due to wage freezes while health insurance creeeped up more than $300 higher than when i was hired. These are not mentioned for pity, but are the basic building blocks of a new direction from this state - fix wages, less mandates for healthcare and reduce the tax burden.

Tomorrow afternoon (July 24) after the Paul Lepage Whistle Stop Express, Paul will be stopping at the Knox County Paul Lepage Headquarters.

If you like to meet Paul, he is expected to be there from 4:00 – 4:30.

The Headquarters is located on Rt 17 across from Maritime Farms in Union.

Union is Paul Lepage country.

Let’s give Paul a big welcome!

Hope there is a good turn out at each of the stops today. Glad Dean and Paul are campaigning together. I am hoping to get to Waterfront Park in Bath by 11:30 with 2 friends. If the band is good will spend the afternoon. I am going to have the BBQ for 15 dollars but my friends are packing a lunch.

Good turnout in Bath - 200 by my count, plus the passengers. The Mattel sound system couldn't be heard over the train engine, but that didn't seem to dampen the enthusiasm of the crowd.

It was very Old School America - Bag piper lead a parade to the train station; brass band played Happy Days on the platform; Scontras laid out a very compelling case against Pingree and gave Paul a worthy introduction; LePage laid out a good case against Mitchell/Cutler and tossed a few LePagisms out - "Maine has bought a Lexus but can't afford to put any gas in the tank. We need to get back in the Chevy and fill it up!"

The Whistle Stop Tour is a great idea, one I suggest they
revisit during foliage season...
It was nice to see Mel Udall on the platform.

(Author of Old School America, Peter Slovenski,
is Athletic Director and one of the last remaining
conservatives on campus at Bowdoin...)

LePage Express stop in Brunswick

This is uploading so it's not available when I post, but when youtube gets it it should show up here:

TC- Video removed for being too long...

Editor's Note: This pic is from Dean Scontras's Facebook page? Any more out there? How about working YouTube video, reports from folks who rode the train, who were at one or more of the train stops? Thank you!

Ooops, I filmed the entire Brunswick stop, but the video was too long, if I can edit it to post it this week, I will. Sorry!

Editor's Note: Here's a crowd shot from the LePage2010.com Facebook page. Not sure where this is on today's train stops.

That's Bath.

I hope they raised lots of money, but the whole train thing is a turnoff to me. The State of Maine has ruined trains for me. I associate trains with socialism. I hope Paul announced support for selling the rail line he was traveling on to the private sector while on his trip.

Do you HAVE to be such a wet blanket , Dan ?? As usual I had to work...I never could have afforded a ticket but it would have been nice to see him in Union which is just a few miles from the homestead..Hope all had a GREAT time with the next governor....Gotta get on Facebook too I guess....And YES , Dan I will be giving till it hurts....LOL....

Hey, I have had to look at Paul next to what I see as a socialist symbol at the top of AMG for two weeks. It makes me crazy!

Just say NO to trains!

If Paul makes a point of campaigning at high school soccer games in the fall that may be a deal breaker. Conservative candidares drive trucks and campaign at football and baseball games! Leave the trains and soccer to the liberals!

Dan I saw some irony in the whole event too. The railway should be private and not funded by taxpayers.

I went to the park in Bath first. I announced I had some buttons and they were gone in a flash. It was cool to have a bagpiper lead the way to the train. I was glad to see Mary Adams through the window of the train. She is a Maine Treasure as far as I am concerned.
I had a woman aproach me asking where to get a sign so I gave her mine. She said her and husband want to be involved and volunteer. I gave her the website. Later in the park someone had volunteer forms and I introduced her. Another gentleman also signed up. I suspect this is happening all over and will result in a succesful army of voluteers for the fall.

The Press Herald
Posted: July 25
LePage conducts whistle-stop tour along midcoast
Crowds turn out to greet the Republican candidate for governor and to hear his conservative message.
By Rebekah Metzlerrmetzler@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer

WISCASSET - LePage repeated a similar message at each stop.

"We've got to send all those liberal Democrats to the unemployment line," he told the crowd in Wiscasset. "It's time they stop digging in our pockets and we start digging in theirs."

Crowds seemed receptive to his message of fiscal discipline, smaller government and welfare reform.

Campaign staff said the train had 84 passengers, including members of the media as well as campaign helpers.

http://www.pressherald.com/news/lepage-conducts-whistle-stop-tour-along-...

Here are pics from Brunswick,

Any more out there? How about working YouTube video,

Oh, you want WORKING YouTube video, do you?

Well, la-de-da.

I'm trying to format the video for you tube, it covers the entire stump speech, including unloading the train, Scontras talking and LePage talking, it's 18 minutes. The sound is so-so.

Here's the BDN on the train tour.

GOP hopefuls take whistle-stop tour
7/25/10
By Abigail Curtis BDN Staff

Dean Scontras...said he is not a party activist and...is willing to buck...national leadership on issues.

“I think Republicans need to stop saying no...,” he said.

He said...[Snowe/Collins] have a history of being well-informed on...issues and...speaking for themselves.

“[I]f you try to be a red-meat Republican, you’ll go down in flames,” Scontras said.

[H]is primary goal[:] improve the economy, create jobs.., reduce government spending and the...national debt.

Source

he said what? And encouraging unemployment? come on...

"We've got to send all those liberal Democrats to the unemployment line," he told the crowd in Wiscasset. "It's time they stop digging in our pockets and we start digging in theirs."

A simpler more conservative statement might have been simply "It's time they stop digging in our pockets"..

Wowwee...the misstatment...or appearance of one...about Arden Manning is typical of the candidates "white lies" approach...

He seems to not realize that everything he says...wherever he says it...is recorded...and that what works well in a bar...or in his living room...or even with his supporters in a locked room...does not work in public...

Thruout his campaign...he has demonstrated that he has a habit of saying whatever comes to his head...

Examples...

He says he left home at 11 from the hospital...but his foster father says that he brought young Paul home from work one day...and that his parents had moved away...Foster father says he "took him home with me"...

He volunteers that he is a "lifelong resident of Maine"...when it turns out he spent years living in Canada...and some in Boston...

He has told audiences that he personally drives welfare transferrees back to their hometowns...but maybe not...

He accuses Arden Manning of saying racist things in blogs...but no one can find...or remember...such a thing...

Back to the BDN article...

"...LePage answered that he doesn’t know very much about the Tea Party. 'Except that if they support me, I’ll accept them,' he said."

Firstly...either he is lying...or does not read newspapers...or watch television...or talk to anyone interested in politics...

Secondly...Is he saying he will "accept" anyone who supports him...? Rilly...?

"...he answered that he did not really know what creationism is. 'Knowledge is power,' he said."

Ho boys...

Firstly...that has to be the most unfortunate juxtaposition of statements in the world...and I did not leave anything out between those two...

Secondly...it sure sounds like the Ray Richardson forum all over again...you know...the one where he didnt know what "civil unions" were...and the one where he said he supported them...

Thirdly...doesn't anyone prep this guy...? Knowing that it is going to hound him his whole campaign...wouldnt you think that someone...anyone...would explain to him...that its not the governors job to decide that...or something better than the Apostle Peter answer he gives...?

I have much more but will stop there...preparing for the slings and arrows...

But I have a sincere suggestion for the GOP candidate...

Start moving toward the truth...you dont have to apologize for...or even acknowledge...that you have told some "little white lies"...some over and over...but for heavens sake...stop telling them...

If you think that your political enemies havent noticed...and thats why they dont bring it up...you are mistaken...

If you think that if we dont mention it on here on this forum...again...wrong...

Their silence should be sending shivers down your spine...

I guess he could have forgotten...
Plus, there are a lot of different definitions of Creationism floating around out there...

"During the media scrum last week after LePage's unity event, he was asked what he'll do to appeal to moderates who may object to his opposition to abortion and gay marriage and his support for teaching creationism in schools. Creationism: 'Quite frankly, it's a learning tool for our kids. I think we should teach them everything possible and let them make their own minds up on how they want to live their lives.'" Portland Press Herald

"But once aboard the train, LePage changed his tune. 'I never said such a thing,' LePage told Susan Sharon. 'Quite frankly, until [Manning] brought up the term creationism I never heard it. I never hear it in my whole life. I'm 61 years old. I never heard the word. Do I believe that we came from monkeys? Yes. Do I believe in God? Yes. Does that make me a creationist?'" Downeast.com

Senior moments...or stretching the truth...?

Dolley why don't you just find something else to do with your time. We know you don't like him. Why not take the summer off?

"Dolley why don't you just find something else to do with your time. We know you don't like him. Why not take the summer off?"

What an asinine request...

Would you make that request of anyone whose position is known...or just those who post things you dont like...?
I know that you do like him...why dont you take the summer off?

I am amazed to see people who scream at the top of their lungs that the left shuts down discussion...and that the left calls people racist to shut them up...that the left lies to back up their positions...now emulate the left.

Tsk tsk...

Dolley do what you want I just think that all the negativity is going to effect you more than anyone. BTW how do you know I like him. I've never posted anything about him. Does that mean you're not speaking the truth? TSK TSK

Dolly seems like a fine young lady, and she's just trying to help us keep our wits sharp.

I do have a suspicion, though, that she is in fact out good friend Charlotte, who, since the last time she posted here regularly before, has somehow learned to form complete sentences.

Thanks for feedback Tom. You may be right.

Here is the Downeast Report on the train ride complete with links to some raw audio of what LePage said.

Ouch.