LePage Mural Decision irks Dept of Labor Employees - TRO Denied
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Thank you, Naran. Yes, saw it here on page 10. That's the only place I see it. Several days ago I printed it out and posted it on the bulletin board at my work place along with the government propaganda that explains how the government that steals our money is protecting me from the people who pay my wages.
My question is why is it not on channels 2,5,6,8,13, BDN, TPTSBN? Where the heck are the news reporters on this blatant example of absolute power corrupting absolutely????????????
The mural has been found!
Be gentle with Domino; she's not playing with a full set of dots.
Will somebody PLEASE, move that mural from point A to point B and accidently on pupose roll the truck over and set it on fire? Of all the problems this State has and we have a hissy fit about this!
Kevin, that is just CLASSIC!
Emily Cain, now age 31, sees no similarity between the mural portrayal and the photos of former Commish Fortman.
'It's in the eye of the beholder,' she points out.
If this is typical of her power of observation and analysis, she shouldn't be allowed in the building.
I see that Emily understands post modern art.
I have been wondering for two days just when one of the MSM reporters will go to Ms Fortman and ask her if that is true, and what her thoughts are on the topic.
Guess it must be that reporters today don't ask those kinds of questions of liberals.
I still say that over the past 30 years the progressives have steadily milked the cash cow til she's nearly dried up. This is perhaps just a little teenie bit of the tip of the iceberg. I bet there will be lots more of this stuff exposed over time and I can't wait to see how badly we have really been shafted by the "elites".
WC
Perhaps this comment belongs in its own topic, but I think we're missing a great opportunity and wondering if the Maine republican party can someday understand whats missed. In the late 1950's it became clear that television would be the new medium by which people made a portion of their election decisions. How many would agree JFK's biggest asset at the time was how good he looked on tv (against Nixon I think). Other than Reagan's "tear down that wall" line on tv we have had a rough time with news media being slanted more and more to the left. Now we see a new medium - social electronic media and we fail to embrace it. I've seen liberals (yeah I know too much time on their hands) go on blogs throughout the state to find their information (right or wrong) and then post to their hearts content, while we do NOTHING to counter other than pointless arguments with people who will not engage in reasonable debate. When that happens POOF the media swings their way in editorials, and when conservatives make good points and liberals go silent POOF editorials go to the right....Classic case in point LSJ which recently has been too conservative for many who blog, yet this week has seen a considerable number of new posters from outside the circulation area and they are liberal clearly....somethng is going on and someone is clearly advocating for them to sign into these sights....and what is the response this morning by the LSJ - an editorial which slams LePage.....the newspapers are doing nothing more than pandering to the crowd that they think is most using their medium. The party needs to consider a different type of communications "coordinator" to encourage people to join these blogs, post rational points and counter what the news outlets see as an overwhelming support in favor of someone other than LePage. To paraphrase a wise man..."we have met the enemy and he is us"..
Actually, I think we do plenty to dispel the "untruthful ones," by posting worthy dissections of issues on here. You'd be surprised what a wide-ranging audience we have - politically and geographically.
I've also made some side trips onto the MTM reader sites (and others), and tried to do the same.
Every little bit helps.
If the progressive/liberals get this upset over a biased mural what is going to happen when real change starts?
By gum, Islander, I think you've got it! Clearly, Governor LePage is "warming up" the general populace, in advance of real reforms and needed changes.
it's a strategy!
:)
If the progressive/liberals get this upset over a biased mural what is going to happen when real change starts?
In a sense, the "real change" is all about controlling the narrative.
I don't know how LePage thinks, but I suspect he adroitly picked the mural as a means of triangulation: separating his ideological opposition ("progressive/liberals") from the non-ideological mainstream of the electorate.
LePage must have known he'd provoke a reaction. He created a scenario that invited his progressive/liberal opposition to reveal its leftist bias with a stridency that alienates the ordinary folks who find the mural's oppressor/victim theme vaguely radical and foreign.
I think it should go to the museum in the old mill in Lewiston a fitting place for a mural depicting how great the struggle was. And a closed up mill that had lots of jobs and now has none is good reminder of the benfits of giving money to thugs so you can work and provide for your family, go union! If the unions were really concerned about jobs for their members they would have bought the mill and run it themselves, but wait they do not know how to create a successful business or a job, but they sure are good at killing both.
I bet LePage is JUST warming up too.. If nothing else, the rest of his term will prove to be entertaining! :D
I bet LePage is JUST warming up too.
Domino -
I think that's a safe bet.
Yet he admits his timing was a mistake. That is quite a warmup.
Op Ed by David Farmer, Bangor Daily News, 3/31/11
Mural may become symbol of labor fight
First he talks about the Baltimore Colts football team "sneaking" out of Baltimore on Mar 28, 29, 1984, "under cover of darnkness" and "with stunning secrecy" as a comparison to how the mural was moved from where it was into its current place. I must not be too bright as I cannot understand the signifance of a comparison to what a private business does, to what goes on in buildings that belong to the public, ALL OF THE PUBLIC!
But lets go on:
....."The governor had grown tired of the story of the mural and all the attention it was receiving. It’s not every day that the New York Times writes a scathing editorial about you or that you become a national punch line on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart".....
....."Gov. LePage is locked in war with state workers and teachers over changes in their pension and over his support for a measure that would drastically change collective bargaining rules in Maine........The unions are fighting for their survival and the long-term security of their members".....
Ahh, the old comparison between apples and oranges again that they left seems to excel at these days.
The history of organized private sector labor is one thing. The "political spoils system" that organized PUBLIC labor has used to get a strangle holt of the public's purse is one of the most corrupt enterprises in the history of Maine, and shares absolutely nothing with the private sector except maybe the term "union".
Mr Farmer,
Nice try but I'm not buying it. See, it is like this. Your man had 8 years to "fix" this cancer that is eating at the bowels of Maine. He chose to use the usual democrat "smoke and mirrors" to hide the liberal schemes to maintain hold on power. Now we have the "clean-up-crew" in there who will have to try to clean up not only your man's mess but the messes of over 30 yrs of that gang having a hold on the power structure of this state. You guys are great talkers, always great talkers, talk an arab out of his sand even. Gov LePage is not the slick kind of talker that your guys are. He is rather blunt when he says something that is honest and straight to the point. Mr Farmer, probably you would be surprised to find out how many of us citizens of Maine appreciate a leader who is blunt and to the point, even if he defies the laws of PC that your party has been enamored of for decades. He tells it like he sees it and tells some people things they should have been told long ago.
For several legislative terms those of us with R after our names have had to accept state budgets arrogantly passed by legislative DEMOCRAT majorities. Your guys told us it was "for our own good". Hah! How does it feel to be on the losing side of a game that your guys started?
Mr Farmer, you guys wanted to hear nothing from us as you folks ran the Titanic onto the berg. If politeness is part of your make-up, perhaps you could abstain for the next few years as "our guy" tries to clean up the cat poop that "your guy" left on the rug.
Your friend,
WC
Economike wrote:
In a sense, the "real change" is all about controlling the narrative.
I don't know how LePage thinks, but I suspect he adroitly picked the mural as a means of triangulation: separating his ideological opposition ("progressive/liberals") from the non-ideological mainstream of the electorate.
LePage must have known he'd provoke a reaction. He created a scenario that invited his progressive/liberal opposition to reveal its leftist bias with a stridency that alienates the ordinary folks who find the mural's oppressor/victim theme vaguely radical and foreign.
Hmmm. I think you're right about the power of narrative, but I'm not sure this is an example of "controlling" it (except in relation to the "Maine as pro-business" narrative he's crafting). I think the "ordinary folks" are just as apt to look at the move as heavy handed or petty as not. They may not care enough to demonstrate or make any kind of public comment, but more Mainers have family histories (and contemporary employment circumstances) that would have them identify with workers than with management. LePage's kum-by-ya-we-need-to-work-together tune isn't an easy sell when--to talk about another narrative--Wall St. bonuses and the stock market are up while unemployment is still high and real wages are down.
I continue to maintain that the mural is yet another example of LePage's knack for doing the right thing at the wrong time.
With that said:
In the same article, the Maine Curators Forum, whatever the hell that is, called LePage's action a "direct affront to our values as arts professionals."
I do SO enjoy watching the terminally self-important make themselves look silly.
"Tells you a lot about the majority of posters here, doesn't it?"
Tim,
Apart from whatever we might be told about them, I would be interested in the mathmatical formula that helped you calculate "the majority".
"The historical role of Maine as muse and refuge for generations of Americans is called into question by this single action,"
Another major achievement for the administration, even though it wasn't a campaign promise; the pomposity of the artists is something to behold. The entitlement mentality in maximus form, cloaked by Chablis sipping, scarf wearing, beautiful people.
And I'll ask again; why weren't Jimmy Hoffa and the rest of the leaders of his ilk included in the mural? Surely they had a major impact on 'labor history' and 'worker rights.'
Or was it 'worker wrongs?'
This would be a great day to 'celebrate organized thuggery' and its proud history.
...the state's reputation as a haven for artists..."
That cracks me up. It's a haven only because it's so easy to get welfare. We have one of the worst work environments, with the longest commute in the country, the oldest population, and highest taxes, couple that with the ease of which you can get state aide, and of course those who don't have a real job would want to flock here. It's also why you hear of 'writers' who have no published work...they just haven't completed it yet.
I am not saying there aren't some great artisis in the state, I know a few. They often have to ply their wares in other states because few in this state have the disposable income to spend on something non-essential. But, for every one I know, there are ten who wish they were artists, and call themselves 'artists', but produce nothing but pure trash that in no way constitutes art. I know, I know..."art" is in the eye of the beholder. Horsehockey. That's a cop-out designed to end a conversation about the art, and why the artist thinks it qualifies as 'art'. I know people who think Budweiser is an 'art' as well, but that doesn't make them artists.
If their 'art' is so good, then they should be able to make a living off it, and not off the state welfare system.
I enjoy art, and travel to museums, showings, and openings all over the northeast, as well as when I'm traveling abroad. Please don't construe my comments any anti-art, far from it.
The paint-by-numbers set that is the mural in question does constitute art, to some degree I guess, but it amazes me people are making such a big deal out of moving it. I had never seen it before this incident, having no need to visit the department of labor, but upon first sight, I found it heavily skewed to the unionist point of view. I find it very anti-business.
It is so petty it's amazing. What is going to happen when real change starts, something with substance and not the interior decorating. I'd think those with issues would pick their battles better and not try to be distracting with something so trivial and superficial.
News Flash,
Maine is not welcoming to under employed, starving artists who can only sell their art is the Government buys it. Oh, the shame, the horror. I say it is about time.
Eagle - to borrow your phrase:
Terminally Self-Important - the Summit Meeting.
1:58 PM
Portland forum to focus on labor mural
By Tom Bell tbell@mainetoday.com
MaineToday Media State House Writer
PORTLAND — The Portland Museum of Art will host a public forum entitled "Whose Art Is It?" ....
.... Mark Bessire, director of the Portland Museum of Art; Sharon Corwin...Colby College Museum of Art; Christina Bechstein...Maine College of Art; and Chris O'Neil...Portland Community Chamber.
... Co-sponsors include the Portland Museum of Art, Colby, Bates, and Bowdoin college art museums, and the Maine College of Art.
*********
Word has it the co-sponsors were needed to fund the grief counselors and the kleenex supplies.
deleted
Let's grant that the controversial mural is art. Heck, let's pretend that it's a masterpiece.
If someone donated "The Last Supper" or "Olympie" or "The Triumph of Death" to the State of Maine, no one would dream of finding a Department office building to hang such a picture on basis of its thematic consonance with a government Department's mission.
If, for example, "The Last Supper" were seen in the lobby of the Deparment of Education by an anonymous and objecting atheist, even "artists" would agree that the devotional message of the piece is inappropriate for a government office. Further, the intentional hanging of the work as a representation of the Department's mission would be considered an assault on the First Amendment.
Of course, the manufactured hostility toward the governor's decision has nothing to do with the value of art.
The purpose of commissioning and hanging the mural in the Department of Labor building was not to showcase fine art. Rather, the purpose of its patrons was to suggest a parallel between the thematic content of the mural and the Department's mission. In the sense that "The Last Supper" is devotional Christian art, the controversial mural is a devotional artwork of the labor movement. The mural invites us to admire the movement's saints, devotees, and martyrs and again to take up the Cross, whoops, sorry, Hammer of the movement.
I continue to think that - intentional or not - the controversy provoked by the removal is adroit political triangulation. The public does not believe in - does not approve of - the underlying leftist oppressor/victim mythology that animates the mural. Those who conspicuously rise with indignation to defend "art" are marginalizing themselves.
Underlying leftist mythology? Are you saying that the events portrayed in the mural did not actually happen? Of course, we are happy to lionize individuals who've held leadership positions--or maybe you think we should re-name some of our state buildings, seeing as the queen bee needs her drones, and celebrating the former over the latter would be as egregious as the inverse.
I know--we should probably stop commemorating the World War II, seeing as our present relationship with Japan is honky dory. Water under the bridge! We probably didn't even need to go to war anyway. These kinds of conflicts have a way of working themselves out.
Underlying leftist mythology? Are you saying that the events portrayed in the mural did not actually happen?
Matt -
Of course the mural depicts some real events and otherwise depicts imagined scenes realistically.
The mythology is the mural's implicit narrative - the counterfactual that "better conditions" systematically were withheld by employers and that union organizing somehow created a general improvement in working conditions.
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You have to admit that Domino saves a lot of time by expressing her ideas and opinions without the time wasting need to use reason or thought. She can just go to the Liberal websites and cut and paste.