Is the word "bull-sh*t appropriate to use for an elected official's public comments?

Profanity should be reserved for those occasions when it is richly deserved.

Auntie Mabel does not approve; but then again, Auntie Mabel isn't walking around in Gov. LePage's brogans, either.

We didn't send Mr. Rogers to Augusta - we sent "General Patton."

If that's the worst thing he ever does in his first four-year term, personally, I can live with the oath.

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Take your pick, Spin.

Speaking of the "substance" in question....

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From the BDN link:

Maine Democratic Party Chairman Ben Grant said.

“As we have known for a year now, Governor LePage does not have the temperament to lead this state. It’s time for him to grow up, accept responsibility for his failed leadership and stop bullying everyone who opposes his ideology. And, it’s time for Maine people to demand some honor and dignity in the Blaine House.”

"LePage Meets with Democratic Rep then Curses Him"

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Yeah, Mr. Grant. We all know what that former "honor and dignity" did for the people of Maine. Baldacci's public approach to everything was so carefully scripted, so staged, so GENTEEL -- and we're still paying the horrendous consequences of his enforced school consolidation, and every other failed mandate and episode of bad management over his eight year reign in Augusta.

But, hey -- he skewered us financially with such grace and STYLE.

After all - that's what counts, right?

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Finally, it appears that what Gov. LePage called "bsh**" was not Rep. O'Brien himself, but the arguments being made by O'Brien.

Yes -- we all know that not every single unemployed person is "lazy." However, we also know there sure as heck ARE some that are diehard lazy.

I see Rep. O'Brien's entire campaign around this issue as pure grandstanding.

ps - the quality of reader comments and "discourse" on the BDN blog linked above is hovering right around the level so beautifully established by Democratic Underground, with perhaps a soupçon of YahooNews as garnish.

Feh.

And.... of course, the PPH leaps on the porcine-pile -- can we hear the gleeful capering and "lepping" from the Left?

"OOOOoooo -- the Governor SWORE in public again!! Hide the children, and cover your ears!!"

I am absolutely certain that NOBODY lodging these priggish complaints has ever --- ever --- used the word themselves. Nor, of course, any other words that could be considered unfit for language used in church.

Can castigations and lamentations about the Mural be far away?

Conservatives should lock their doors and burn some money, just in case the noxious vapors from the Sanctimonious Soirees emanate too far from their original sources.

lol

It is clear, unambiguous, to the point and short. Yes...its OK because it is BS.

Is the word "bull-sh*t appropriate to use for an elected official's public comments?

Not to Bess Truman, but times have changed. This HELPS Lepage in the polls - people are tired of the pre-packaged politicians.

I will always take brutal honesty over contrived anything.

I suppose that the word would be appropriate for use by a member of organized crime or by a member of a governmental body.

Regular folks use plain language, too. I don't see the problem.

Naran, I wrote the open letter because I felt personally insulted having been in that situation and I felt the Governor should be called on to put himself in other's shoes. I have received many letters from people pouring out their hearts about the frustrations they've had in finding work and thanking me for raising the issue. I could have written a simple op-ed, but I felt an open letter was a much more personal way to do it, since I was telling my personal story.

I know you have also been there and don't fault him for it, but I feel that since he used the platform to make those comments, it sends a message. Also, as for the rally, I did not organize it and I didn't go there to bother the Governor. I was asked to say some words about what it's like to be unemployed. The media seized on it like I was leading a protest on the capitol, which was not my intention. I was actually surprised when I was asked to come up to his office. My intent has always been for him to listen directly to the unemployed, not to me. I had set up a meeting and it didn't work out and I settled for talking to his economics adviser.

Lastly, we actually did have a very productive discussion and found some good common ground on some issues. I was very pleased that he is putting in a bill on teacher certification reform that is apparently identical to the idea I put forward last session, but was killed in committee.

At least we got a public dialogue going on the barriers the unemployed face. It's my strong belief that we don't talk enough to people we don't necessarily agree with, which is why I like talking to you folks on AMG.

What's the point? Does anyone think the governor doesn't care about the unemployed? There are programs available across this state for the unemployed. The governor is taking steps to make Maine a abetter place for business. Creating that kind of environment will create jobs. It won't happen overnight.There is only so much the state and federal government should be expected to do. The rest comes down to personal responsibility. That may seem harsh, but government should never be sole solution to any problem.

Rep. O'Brien, why is this issue not being addressed by the Maine Democrats' Get Real statewide listening tour?

I honestly can't speak to that because I haven't been involved in it, Thistle. To me, unemployment should be a non-partisan issue.

Any suggestion that Rep. O'Brien is using this issue for anything more than political grandstanding is bu||$h!+.

I thought it was the most accurate description of what Andy was trying to do.

Jim, I think you give me more credit on that than I deserve. Anyone who knows me, knows that I am anything but skilled in the art of politics. ;)

see Rep. O'Brien's entire campaign around this issue as pure grandstanding.

I see it as the Governor sees it.

Bullsh%t !

One wonders how much time spent setting this up, COULD have been spent actually doing something to help alleviate joblessness.

Or is that too much to ask of our elected representatives?????

Well, I wasn't there...I don't know Mr. OBrien or Governor LePage other than what I read and hear.

So, I will take Mr. O'Brien's words here at face value and he has earned some credibility in my book by:
a. willing to engage in conversation with those who disagree
b.) complimenting the Governor's efforts on other fronts (teacher certification issue)
c.) making comments that the meeting with the governor was productive.

Mr. O'Brien, whether he believes it or not, is a politician, so acting political does not surprise me.
That said, I can also understand the Governor's frustration with a media that is relentless and less than objective, by any measure.

I maintain that Governor LePage has some golden opportunities before him; I also believe he wants what is in the best interest of Maine, and that he was elected by people who were sick and tired of politics as usual.

Perhaps, the Governor could not care less about getting re-elected. Bravo, then, for speaking his mind and calling 'em as he sees 'em. I, on the other hand, believe he is well equipped to make improvements to Maine's economy, business atmosphere, and thus our quality of life. So I wince when he makes statements like the "bullsh*t" comment because I fear it loses him potential support from the middle. I would like to see him earn a second term.

At the end of the day, only Governor LePage can answer the question of which matters more: his pride or his greed? Meaning is it more important to act the way you want or to get what you want? In the Governor's case, he told us that he wanted to turn Maine around and he has made bold steps in that direction (LD-1; LURC reform, budget priorities, Medicaid payments, etc.) If he wants to continue doing those things, than his greed (objectives) should trump his pride (emotions).

In summary, I am a half-loaf is better than no loaf kind of guy. You can call me gutless, unprincipled or whatever else, it doesn't matter much. I am just one voter, but I want more of my fellow Maine citizens to join me next time in voting for a candidate who can get the state finally turned in a direction of prosperity. I also find the remark to be callous and ill-advised and simply more ammunition from those who have vowed to remove Gov. LePage from office.

Unless I'm missing the joke, I don't understand how anyone on this thread can defend LePage's "bull***t" remark (I'm not going to *#&# out the letters. If the Governor can say bull***t to the press, I'm sure it's fine here at AMG). Agree with him or not on positions, his boorish and crass style is not "refreshing", is not even remotely in the league as "Patton" (as Naran would have us believe), and does nothing to advance any sort of policy. He proudly and obnoxiously offends, and somehow this is seen as a virtue?

I was always taught that it's not the words we use, it's how we use words that matter. Here, he speaks with contempt towards citizens that he is supposed to represent (whether they like it or not).

The "lefties" have been up in arms...but so have others. Being an asshole is not a partisan issue. I wonder how students talk about him in civics class? Are they at risk of detention if they simply quote what he says to the press?

He's not a politician, CV. That's been said a million times. Seems you just don't believe it to be true?? I think it is.

There it is gone...I don't think that word is "profanity"...Scott's sandbox , Scott's rules though...It's sad that commonly used phrases that anyone raised in rural Maine or on a farm uses is off limits or considered profanity in todays ultra PC I'm offended by nearly everything world we live in today...Profanity to me is the 7 words George Carlin notes in his "The 7 words you can't say on TV" routine...But hey , like the good Governor , I'm just a commoner...What do I know..

Too bad we can't get some input from VP biden on this ,he might convince us it's a really big f******* deal.

Editor's Note: The use of bulls**t, with or without asterisks, has never been okay on AMG, Quite simply, profanity on a web forum begats more and worse profanity - with or without asterisks. The post just above this one is a case in point. For anyone needing a longer explanation, check out the topic on the AMG FAQ page. The point is also made on the AMG Register page.

I'm okaying use of the word in this thread because it appears on the Bangor Daily News blog. But I'm not okay, from this post on, with sneaking in more profanity, with or without asterisks, to make a point about use of the word bulls***t.

Thank you.

Scott K Fish
Owner/Editor AsMaineGoes

Scott my apologies I should have shown more restraint when posting and will in the future.. I could have made my point about the double standard without the *****.

Is Bulls**t any less a profanity? Is the "N" word any less derogatory than the "real" word? How about the "F" word...or any of the other contrived ways we use profanity without using profanity? We all know what we mean. I can say ..."Go "F" yourself anywhere but, is that really not cussing?

I do not cuss and never have (except for the occasional comment on Liberal/5th column/Socialist actions) but none of it rises to the level of being unhearable or unreadable.

Much ado about nothing.

"Much ado about nothing"

Sure, if public approval and elections don't matter...go for it. In fact, let completely loose....never let an emotion go to waste.

Loose cannons typically have brief political careers, but are good for shaking up otherwise dysfunctional systems. I don't expect Governor LePage to be a "politician," but I wish he would get a handle on his anger management issues because there is much more at stake here than the governor's re-election. Maine needs the leadership that LePage has demonstrated, slips like this hinder his ability to keep it going for another four years after this term.

This limp-wristed, panty-waist, elitist would hope we take the long-term view because we need more than one term to correct the course of this misguided ship.

Jim Cyr, The fact that he's not a politician (which is a debatable point by the way) is irrelevant. Politician or not, he is theoretically a leader. There's nothing refreshing or inspiring about "leading" or governing with an insensitive gutter mouth. I think people lazily mistake his "anti-PC" ways for competency and courage. If he really is competent or actually has courage, it's not because he's willing to degrade or insult people who challenge him.

Not to Bess Truman, but times have changed.

I remember an anecdote and if it's not true, it should be. A ladies' group visiting the White House complained to Mrs. Truman about her husband's use of the scandalous word 'manure' in a recent speech and urged her to convince the president to clean up his language. Bess replied:

My friends, you have no idea how much effort it required to get him to use 'manure'.

Mal Leary, who reported the comment, was on the Ken and Mike show a bit ago. He put the Governor's BS comment in context saying it was directed at Rep. Obrien and not the unemployed he'd met with.

charlie

A glib tongue speaks a vacant mind.