Op-Ed: Rowe is Real Frontrunner

I can't speak to your question as I have never heard of Will Bartlett. He is not active in Portland politics that I know of.

As to the Another View, it premise is dumb, especailly considering there are so many people running. There are frontrunners, but neither party has a "frontrunner" so early in the process.

And to suggest that is the reason to vote for someone is really dumb.

Steven Scharf
SCSMedia@aol.com

The model of blue-sky puffery. The guy drives around a lot and interacts with the voters. He "stands up for the least fortunate in society" He's a bi-partisan partisan. He's an enemy of the satanic Bush. He likes clean water, doesn't like dirty water. Why bother to write such vapid drivel? Why bother to publish it?

When you know the year, make, model and mileage of somebody's car, you expose yourself as an insider to the campaign. Mr. Rowe has less name recognition than some others in the race and more shallow pockets if he's driving a Honda with 250,000 miles on it.

Does Mr. Bartlett have any connection to the Rowe campaign? Shouldn't the Press Herald find out and tell their readers?

The column he was responding to -- which hyped John Richardson -- was signed by one of Richardson's former law partners. The Press Herald did not tell that to its readers. I suspect the column was written by or on behalf of the Richardson campaign. There is nothing wrong with publishing such op-eds, but they ought to be identified as such. Readers should know if the author is connected to the campaign that the author is writing about.

Mr. Billings is so right here. Recently a staffer on Peter Mills' campaign wrote a release praising Peter and identified himself as a downeaster impressed with Peter. I'm sure Peter enjoyed being supported by someone he's paying. Perhaps he really needs a Roman slave whispering his other ear: You are human, you are human.

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Whither goest Tommie the Commie in the Dem candidate mix?

I thought sure he'd be labeled "the prohibitive early favorite" after losing the senate race. Has he gone old fashioned and decided money beats power in a dying state?

Has he completely exited the scene?

Tommie the Commie disavowed any interest in the office in the face of much speculation. I believe speculation about his "real" ambitions were fueled by the obvious futility of his efforts to unseat Collins.

I appears that, occasionally, even a politician might be sincere.

Allen is following in the tradition of Mitchell and Cohen and cashing in. He is a lobbyist for the publishing industry in DC.

He did a terrible job as a candidate in 2008. Note sure why people thought he would be a candidate this year.

Because it's his "due," if he wants it.

Remember the Baldacci run-up?

Baldacci was "due" because he was a big winner. It also helped that if he ran for Governor that opened up his Congressional seat for other Democrats who wanted high office.

After his performance in 2008, Maine Democrats did not think Allen was due anything. He lost big in a blue state in a year where Democrats won everywhere.

I agree with Steven Scharf's point about it being awfully early in the process, this seems a little bit like calling "shotgun" before coming within site of the car.

MPBN radio just announced that Steven Rowe is calling for an increase to the cigarette tax.

They said he was the first Maine gubernatorial candidate to call for new taxes.

I say he will not be the last.

Rowe was influential in establishing the civil rights teams in Maine and he should be able to explain in a court of law what he knew and when he knew it re under-age sex at the King and King school in Portland, where his wife ran the Health clinic.

I guess it would be nice to know if Will B. lived anywhere near Bliss and Wilson?

State should eliminate all sin taxes and get out of the gaming business. Imagine how much could be saved in entitlement payments!! Oh yes, drug testing for all on the dole(I would submit-SS) and check for new tatoos every month like having your car inspected. New tatoo, no benes. Let's cut the fraud!