King Middle School Invasion

Ed Brown - Kindly take it to PM, as I asked earlier.

Thank you.
- NRS

Seems link didn't work - hope this one does LINK

Naran your selective censoring doesn't make sense to me. Ms. Rosen is a political figure, and commentary on her is political speech.
You've allowed humorous commentary by Punk Freud for years about various political figures, but now you're going to censor innocuous jabs at a controversial political figure like Cynthia Rosen?

Ed - if you have any issues with my removal of your photos, please take it up with Scott, either via PM, or at his email address: editor@asmainegoes.com

Thank you.

ps - I didn't find your photo commentary on Cynthia Rosen and Paul LePage to be either humorous or innocuous.

I didn't see the pics, but I trust Naran's judgment. I ask all posters to remember this truism: Once a thread starts to come apart, to deteriorate, it's a quick race to the bottom with one poster trying to outdo another to win that race. When that happens the thread is removed from the Public Square.

Thank you.

skf

Jacobson's blog post about the incident was excellent. This is not the behavior of the Republican Party I am involved in. Those actions were truly boorish, rude, disrespectful and destructive. I too offer an apology to the King Middle School, Mr. Clifford, and the students on behalf of Republicans everywhere and the Knox County delegation for the actions of the misguided vandal. Whoever it was they certainly did not represent the values of the Knox delegation. I certainly hope Jacobson's carefully composed post was not intended to paint the entire Knox delegation with that brush.

You have all drifted hopelessly off-topic. I think that is by design. Nevertheless I would like to present some genuine factual information for the perusal of those who view this thread in the future, that they do not take as gospel the foamings of a bunch of uninformed partisans.

On the desk note issue: The room had about 1/3 of the chairs necessary to seat the entire delegation. As people filed in, the men who were seated at the desks and chairs gave up their seats to the women and elderly as they arrived. Senator Christine Savage was one of those seated, as was Committeewoman Linda Post and many other delegates of some esteem. I would not expect anyone to baselessly malign their character by insinuating they were responsible.

It is my recollection that the loudest objections to the teaching materials on the wall came from the old guard Republicans present, not from the ones who supported the replacement platform.

I recall at one point near the end discussion of the ACLU Constitutions ensued. This too came primarily from the old guard. At least one Tea Party member present stated that he did not care who was teaching children about the Constitution as long as they were learning about the Constitution and being exposed to the original document.

As I recall upon cursory examination, the first half of that booklet was the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and the second half was information about the ACLU and how the ACLU interprets those rights, things like what to do if stopped by the police and so forth. Similar to the information contained in the ACLU wallet card, which I carry and hand out, and which is excellent. Those following this thread at home may be interested to learn that Jon Stewart rose vociferously in defense of the utility of the information in the second half of that book, and the importance of teaching it to our children. Having heard him speak at various venues over the past several years that was no surprise to me at all.

I have many various pocket Constitutions, but I do not have an ACLU copy. All of the ones I have also contain the Declaration of Independence. It is my recollection that the ACLU version does not.

I hope we can restore some sanity to this discussion.

I'm frankly a bit embarrassed to see these libelous attacks happening on AMG by people who don't have the courage to place their true name behind them.

Which comments are libelous?

"Once a thread starts to come apart, to deteriorate, it's a quick race to the bottom with one poster trying to outdo another to win that race."

Quite so...and the race to the bottom began at post number...where it is suggested that it maybe didnt really happen..."If the incidents alleged in the article did occur..."

...and by post number 30...it was in full swing...with proclamations that it is a conspiracy...that someone not in the GOP chose the room used by the Knox County...to frame...pretending that a poster was stolen and bad manners abounded...

How would that someone...not in the GOP (?)...know that the one person most apt to be so very ungracious...and so crass...and so bullying...would be sitting in that room at the time that somone...not in the GOP (?)....chose to frame the committee?

For goodness sake....can the Knox County Committee issue a meaningful apology...or will that be left up to the six candidates who will do it?

For any of last weekend's delegates who may have had questions on the Expeditionary Learning model incorporated by the King Middle school, there is an open house of exibits with the students making presentations at the Portland Expo going on today.

Here is an teriffic opportunity to correct the dreaded "contempt prior to investigation" syndrome.

After reading through this thread, I have an observation. There have been some accusations made against Cynthia Rosen. I don't know her, but if "Rosen" is a jewish name, then how can she possibly be part of a white supremicist group? It doesn't make a lot of sense to me. I think people should start thinking about what they are posting, or you aren't any better than the liberal on the site that libeled Mark Cenci.

I know nothing of Ms. Rosen and this controvercy but I do know plenty about Apollo's plight.

"It doesn't make a lot of sense to me."
Go read about George Alan Reckers.

"For goodness sake....can the Knox County Committee issue a meaningful apology...or will that be left up to the six candidates who will do it?"

As far as the thread coming apart goes, I will not speak to the theories that the vandalism did not happen or that it was a conspiracy to cast the GOP or the Knox delegation in a bad light. I see no reason to put any credence in them whatsoever at this time. But at least those conspiracy theories had some tenuous connection to the facts at hand. The effort to somehow use this incident as an opportunity to demonize Paul LePage did not. Funny how you left those posts out of your recap Dolly.

I think the party should issue any apologies, not any of the six candidates. I will make no claim to speak for the Knox County Committee, but I think the right thing for them to do is issue a very strong apology irrespective of any that has come from the state party. I do not know if this has been done yet or not. I will bring it up at the next meeting, but I am quite certain the topic is already on the agenda. But my impression is there is no sort of apology any of the agitators in this thread would accept.

I find comparing Cynthia to the Rekers case in any way absolutely and disgustingly offensive. Such baseless slander and bigotry has no place in civilized discourse.

How bout nice and simple for you mic.
Jews can be white supremisists just as virulemtly anti-homosexuals can be gay.
This was a specific lesson for Apollo to help him in his confusion.

Course we wouldn't want to mention that Apollo took a massive prejudjement hike with the nature of his subject's surname, now, would we?

Hats off to Christie-Lee. Well done!

Is there any PROOF that this redecorating of the classroom was done by Republicans? I know the circumstantial evidence points in that direction but is there any proof. Wrong no matter who did it.

Of course there isn't any proof Islander, just accusations. But people like Coose want all Republicans waterboarded over this hyped up non event.

Not to put too fine a point on it, but, based on what I read of her email about Scontras, Ms. Rosen is a political assassin. And a paid one at that… by Paul LePage.

The time has passed for LePage to start reigning in these kooks.

They’ve effed up his campaign and the Maine GOP in less than 24 hours.

If they have proof that it was a few select Republicans...then I hope they have the right ones and are not just assuming that it was not the ones in that classroom. Of course a confession from whoever did it would be even better.

Oh, I think I understand now. Apollo hazards a guess based on her last name that she might be Jewish. You then point out that if she is she could very well be be a Jew-hating Jew. No need to make it simple for my sake, but thanks for the clarification.

Read back mic, I never said "she."
Just as anti-homosexuals might be gay, a Jew could be a white supremisist.
With this information, Apollo may be less confused.

Right now, there's no proof of anything, either way. We don't know exactly what vandalism/theft took place; who did it (if it did happen); or whether those who did it were operating independently (committing selfish, entitled, immature acts), or were acting at the "direction" of candidates and a larger party presence, as has been alleged by some.

Here's my reasoned analysis, based on nothing but intuition:

I do believe the vandalism occurred, largely as alleged. I believe the poster was taken, along with possibly other materials, and the box in the teacher's office was rifled through. The note was left on the teacher's desk, as alleged, as well as the bumper sticker on the classroom door. This was likely committed by several malcontents who lingered after the other caucus members had departed. Either that, or the perpetrators left for a short time, and then returned to the room after the other members had departed the building.

These people, and some of their friends, are likely the ones who also called the principal's office the next week, cowardly refusing to give their names while complaining about the materials and the content.

I sincerely doubt there was any forethought, premeditation, or planning involving other party members or candidates. This was likely a crime of opportunity committed by either one or two people, since the caucus members wouldn't likely have seen the classroom in question until the day in question. I would bet the entire 2010 Homestead chutney output that the perps retrieved the Republican bumper sticker from their vehicle, which is also where the poster ended up - crumpled under the driver's seat until it could be immolated at home.

Unless there are security cameras in the school (and I hope there are), which recorded hallway movement after the caucuses ended, it's likely we will never know exactly who took the materials and messed with the teacher's possessions.

I hope we can find out exactly who did it, and call them to account. In my opinion, they should be booted from the R party, and shunned by decent political activists.

There is absolutely no excuse for such behavior -- no way, no how. Regardless, further speculation on "who, what, why and how" is useless unless someone can obtain proof as to the perpetrators, one way or the other.

Auntie Mabel has spoken, and Betsy concurs.

"We don't know exactly what vandalism/theft took place; who did it (if it did happen)..."

I think the teacher...and the principal...and the article...were all explicit about what happened...which room it happened...and what was taken from the room..

The fact that a vocal contingent tries to pretend it did not happen...rather than expressing regret at the incident...and promising to find the missing poster...is embarrassing...Twice in the last 24 hours....I have heard the denial slash conspiracy theory slash referred to as the "I am not a crook" position...

Those of you who are parents...what would you do if it was your kid instead of the Knox County Committee...who met in that room...and you got word that private areas were rifled...something was stolen...and rude notes left behind...?

I for one am a parent...and with more than 900 hundred people in the building, there has been no proof offered up that it was the folks from Knox County that did this. However, the likelyhood is higher considering they were in that room. Unless you can prove that it was the Knox County delegation, I would not go and throw stones.

It could very well be a hoax crime as well. Liberals do that all the time. For example, as reported several times last year when they were caught, a liberal smashes in the windows of the Democrat headquarters, then blames it on the Republicans or Tea Party members.

"These people, and some of their friends, are likely the ones who also called the principal's office the next week, cowardly refusing to give their names while complaining about the materials and the content."

I do not believe you are correct in that assumption. I think the vandalism and the uproar surrounding the posted materials are completely unrelated.

There was significant and heated discussion regarding the perceived bias in the posted materials. I believe any other county caucus would have done the same. I do not doubt that Bill Chapman got an earful from the delegation, and mention was made of contacting the school to discuss the matter. I do not know if there was any followup.

I remember pictures being taken, but I witnessed no one rifling through drawers and cabinets.

Under no circumstances will I concede that the Knox County delegation is responsible for the vandalism. Those were the acts of the vandals themselves.

Anybody who calls a school principal to lodge such an important complaint and refuses to give their name is lacking in backbone, and doesn't deserve to be taken seriously.

Im still baffled by the idea that people looked at...let alone discussed...the items on the wall...I noticed nothing on the walls of the room we were in...probably because I was not there to critique the school...or the curriculum...

I would do such things in the town I pay taxes in...but given that we have a strong tradition...and law...regarding local rule...why would I feel that it was my place to complain...let alone steal items I found offensive...

I am interested in knowing...did anyone else discuss the items on the wall in the classrooms they caucused in?

Cumberland County was in the cafeteria - there wasn't anything liberal in there.