North of Bangor

An Afternoon with Senatorial Candidate Andrew Ian Dodge
Sat, 04/02/2011 - 11:12pm

Andrew Ian Dodge announced recently that he will be running against Senator Olympia Snowe in the primary. Against a backdrop of much derision from the GOP party faithful, Andrew has taken all the steps to run, and the FEC has confirmed that he is indeed a candidate.

On Monday, I sat down with Andrew at the Longhorn Steakhouse in Bangor to discuss his challenge against the entrenched Republican Senator.

He answered questions about his core principles, Roe vs. Wade, the current operation in Libya, and why he believes he would be a better choice for U.S. Senator from Maine.

Click Here to Listen

Millinocket Retired Mill Worker John DiCentes: The Chinese are Coming
Sun, 12/05/2010 - 10:09pm

North of Bangor Podcast: The Chinese are Coming
Michelle Anderson Interviews Millinocket Retired Mill Worker John DiCentes

Last week, retired mill worker and ex-candidate for town council John DiCentes stopped by my house for coffee. We had the chance to talk about some of the things that were going on with the school department, some of which have people in Millinocket not too happy.

First and foremost, he wanted to talk about the new school superintendent's trip to China to "scout" around with the idea of bringing students from China to Millinocket, Maine. The problem is that none of the taxpayers of Millinocket had heard anything about this plan until the superintendent skee-daddled over there.

John also talked about the fact that half the town's tax monies go to the school as it is, and his feeling that taxpayers and voters should have a say in what that money goes to. Using the recent past purchases of a tractor and backhoe and a $72,000 telephone system, both bought without prior approval from the Town Council in violation of the town charter, as well as maintenance on the Togue Pond camp the school owns, and the fact that we still have two school buildings housing fewer students than either building holds, John makes the point that the town is buying champagne while the rest of the country -- and certainly the state -- is drinking water.

Though this is a local issue, it is playing out across Maine in several different communities now that the economy is crashing, as municipalities thrash about desperately, trying to find a way to stay afloat and looking to China to help them out..

Click Here to Listen
http://www.asmainegoes.com/audio/DiCentes11.2010.mp3

Maine HD 10 Legislative Candidate Debbi Perkins
Tue, 11/02/2010 - 8:30am

I met at the Millinocket GOP office with Debbi Perkins, who is running for the House seat in District 10 against Herbie Clark. Always the trooper, Deb was just getting over a cold, and I have edited out a couple of coughing fits.

When asked why I would want to vote for her, she answered:

"Because Debbi Perkins wants to be a new voice for the State of Maine. I've been a business owner for 25 years. I know first-hand what the State of Maine has cost me and not helped me a bit. I've been a business owner that's had no health insurance or catastrophic health insurance. I've been a business owner where bureaucracy and regulations have strangled me, and it has literally drained my resources and bank accounts, and I'm hoping to make a difference."

Debbi Hanington Perkins Podcast Pt 1: Click Here to listen.

Debbi Hanington Perkins Podcast Pt 2: Click Here to listen.

Gubernatorial Candidate Beverly Cooper-Pete
Tue, 11/02/2010 - 8:21am

AMG Podcasts: ME Gubernatorial Candidate Beverly Cooper-Pete
Interview by Michelle Anderson, North of Bangor

Last week I had lunch with gubernatorial write-in candidate Beverly Cooper-Pete and her sister at the Olive Garden in Augusta. After lunch and over coffee, we had this conversation.

"I don't have any political pollution that's sucking the life out of me every day…I can't be bought. I can't be swayed. I have a solid foundation underneath me…and I can see things through a fresh pair of eyes. And I love Maine…I wear Maine like a woman wears an expensive sable coat, which means I wear it quite well, and I love it."

Beverly Cooper-Pete Podcast Pt 1: Click Here to listen.

Beverly Cooper-Pete Podcast Pt 2: Click Here to listen.

http://www.asmainegoes.com/northofbangor

Former Presidential Libertarian Presidential Candidate Michael Badnarik
Fri, 09/24/2010 - 11:49am

Michael Badnarik ran for President of the United States in 2004 against George W. Bush and John F. Kerry on the Libertarian ticket. He teaches classes about the Constitution, and to that end runs ConstitutionPreservation.org. He is a an originalist and boils the Constitution down to two sentences: "Don't hurt me. Don't take my stuff."

I sat down with Michael during a break in the Freedom Action Convention, where he was the keynote speaker. In this interview, he talks about the Constitution, the Federal Reserve, and the responsibilities of Congress and of citizens.

"In 1913, Congress pretended -- and I say 'pretended' because it's not valid -- pretended to create the Federal Reserve Act which, presumably if you read the paper, gives the Federal Reserve -- a private corporation -- the authority to print money out of thin air…Ironically, Article 1, Section 8, Clause 6 -- the next sentence -- says that Congress is responsible to prevent counterfeiting. Well, what is counterfeiting? Well, counterfeiting is making artificial money; printing money out of thin air. So not only did Congress not have the authority to give the Federal Reserve this power, they have the responsibility to…if the Federal Reserve comes into existence some other way, Congress has the responsibility to shut it down."

Michael Badnarik Podcast Pt 1: Click Here to listen.

Michael Badnarik Podcast Pt 2: Click Here to listen.

Michael Shaw, Founder Freedom Advocates: ICLEI and Sustainable Development
Sun, 09/19/2010 - 8:50am

Michael Shaw, founder of Freedom Advocates, formerly Freedom 21 Santa Cruz, was a participant in the first Local Agenda 21 initiative in Santa Cruz, California. When he realized just what the policies of Local Agenda 21 -- known as sustainable development, ICLEI, and a host of other names -- began to counter the impact of the policies and founded his organization to help develop strategies for local organizations.

I had a chance to talk to Michael about environmentalism being the excuse to abolish private property, the training of our youth to become "global citizens," the nature of unalienable rights, and the concept of social justice versus equal justice.

Overall foundational statement: "The stated goal of sustainable development is to equalize wealth within and between nations."

From Part I:

"…public-private partnership, which is really nothing more than a polite euphemism for old-fashioned economic fascism. That is the system of economics that our Congress has adopted, and it has filtered down through every state and now is in every county. We have Agenda 21 or sustainable development programs throughout the country. There is not a county that does not have sustainability programs, whether it relates to natural resources, or it may relate to development standards in communities. Urban centers are now subject to smart growth mandates, which is the urban element of Agenda 21. And the Wildlands Project, or the Wildlands Network is the rural aspect of the land use program under Agenda 21…"

From Part II:

"…the Shot Heard 'Round the World, here in the 21st century, relates to an organization called ICLEI. Now ICLEI is the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives. It's a UN accredited NGO that exists for the purpose of localizing the globalist movement…The purpose of ICLEI is to contract, if you can imagine that, with various cities so that ICLEI can put its people and its policies into their planning departments and other local city offices so that they can bring…sustainable development right into your city. They are remunerated under the contract…with local taxpayer funds…and once you sign a contract with ICLEI, you are on the local application of the globalist sustainable development program, and you will begin to find private property being sliced and diced in your community."

Michael Shaw Pt I Podcast: Click Here to listen.

Michael Shaw Pt II Podcast: Click Here to listen.

NYT Best Seller Tom Woods on Resisting Federal Tyranny
Mon, 09/13/2010 - 2:08pm

I met author New York Times best-selling author Thomas E. Woods, Jr. at the Valley Forge Freedom Action Conference last month, but was unable to interview him then.

I did get the chance to interview him on the telephone last week, and we talked about his latest book, "Nullification: How to Resist Federal Tyranny in the 21st Century," the firearms freedom movement, Wisconsin's use of nullification in the Fugitive Slave Act, and the practical uses of nullification.

He talked about what to do about a federal government which "acts as if there is no Constitution," and the origins of nullification being the Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions -- crafted by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison -- which asserted that "an unconstitutional law is no law at all."

"These don't strike me as uniquely right-wing ideas and movements. These are American causes. These are American causes that transcend labels, and I could very easily see Vermont using nullification, and California using it for different purposes than what Texas or Tennessee might use it for. But that's fine. The United States is supposed to be a collection of self-governing communities, and yeah, they're not all going to be the same. That's the beauty of the system."

Thomas E. Woods, Jr. Podcast: Click Here to listen.

OK-SAFE's Amanda Teegarden
Tue, 09/07/2010 - 11:05am

Amanda Teegarden, from OK-SAFE which played a key role in stopping the Trans-Texas Corridor, talked to me about their efforts to lobby legislators in her state, teaching others how to have a voice, and the expansion of the reasons to collect biometric information from citizens.

"…Fusion centers, which is a data center hub. I'm sure Maine's got one. There's 72 fusion centers across the United States…to reduce the barriers to information-sharing between the federal, state, local, and tribal levels… Fusion centers are to be involved in something called 'suspicious activity reporting' -- SAR -- which is a federal, national initiative, like your 'tip line'…"

Amanda Teegarden Podcast: Click Here to listen.

FIRE Coalition's Jeff Lewis on 'Original Jurisdiction'
Tue, 08/31/2010 - 7:53am

Jeff Lewis, of the FIRE Coalition, spoke about the governmental concept of "original jurisdiction" particularly as it affects the case of the Obama Justice Department against Governor Jan Brewer, in her official capacity.

"The judges on American Idol have as much jurisdiction to hear the case against Arizona as the U.S. District Court for the district of Arizona does. So any rulings, injunctions, whatever that lady does -- Judge Bolton -- no offense to her personally, but professionally, she's in violation of her oath of office."

Jeff Lewis Podcast: Click Here to listen.

Eliot Cutler, Gubernatorial Candidate
Mon, 08/30/2010 - 8:06pm

Last Thursday, August 26, I met with independent candidate Eliot Cutler at Bagel Central in Bangor.

"Well, you know, sovereignty -- no town is sovereign…I come at this in a different way…I don't use buzzwords, I don't like slogans, because they…disguise stuff…In Maine today, towns and cities are really important. They're important to all of us…I want us to be able to govern ourselves in ways that promote and preserve our civic culture and sense of community. But I also want us to do things in Maine -- provide public services in Maine…in ways that are cost-effective. And frankly…if I'm going to pay as a taxpayer in one part of the state the costs of public services…, all over the state of Maine…I have an interest..."

Gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler Pt. 1: Click Here to listen.

Gubernatorial candidate Eliot Cutler Pt. 2: Click Here to listen.

'Brady Bill v States Rights,' Sheriff Richard Mack
Tue, 08/24/2010 - 12:14am

Richard Mack was the sheriff of Graham County, Arizona, when the Brady Bill was signed into law. He filed suit against the federal government, and won at the Supreme Court. You probably haven't read that decision or the opinion which accompanied it, which said that "states are not subject to federal direction," and that is what Sheriff Mack has most recently written about. He is a proponent of the Constitution and of officers keeping their oath of office. He explained the Brady Bill, the law suit, the decision, and the fact that the sheriff is the most powerful law enforcement officer in the United States.

I sat down for a few minutes with Sheriff Mack on August 14 at Valley Forge, and here is that interview.

"I believe that the sheriff should not sue the federal government. This is what I've learned from it. The sheriffs of this country should tell the federal government, 'Stay out. Leave us alone…' What I do know is that the federal government does not want a fight with your sheriff. I guarantee you, they do not want that fight...The bottom line here is, who's supposed to protect us from tyranny? Is there a Department of Protection from Tyranny?"

Sheriff Richard Mack: Click Here to listen.

Tom DeWeese, American Policy Center, on 'Social Justice'
Thu, 08/19/2010 - 1:50pm

I have a series of interviews done while we were in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, at the Freedom Action Conference last weekend. In the next couple of weeks, I will be putting up interviews with Michael Badnarik, Sheriff Richard Mack, Amanda Teegarden, Jeff Lewis, Steve Hempfling, and Michael Shaw.

This interview is of Tom DeWeese, president of the American Policy Center, which organized the conference, discussed sustainable development, redistribution of wealth, social justice, global warming, and the concept of private property.

From that interview:

You've heard the term 'social justice.' It's being used everywhere today. First of all 'social justice' was coined by Karl Marx, and to me, that says all I need to know about what social justice is…According to sustainable development literature, it is a social injustice for a country to have borders because, they say, it stops the natural migration of people. Second, it is a social injustice to own private property. Why? Because some people…build wealth from ownership of private property, and others do not.

Tom DeWeese: Click Here to listen.

Doug Thomas, Sen Dist 27 Candidate
Mon, 08/09/2010 - 5:42pm

On August 5, I sat down at the Appalachian Trail Cafe in Millinocket for coffee and an interview with Doug Thomas, who is running for state Senate District 27.

"The people of Maine were lied to about that railroad. Number one, we're not going to buy it for $7 million that was in the bond issue. It's going to be, probably, $25 million…and I think that the people of Maine should have been told that before they were ever asked to vote on it…"

SD 27 Candidate Doug Thomas
Click Here to listen to Part A.

SD 27 Candidate Doug Thomas
Click Here to listen to Part B.

Doug Thomas for Senate
http://www.dougthomas.org

Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Kevin Scott, 7/29
Sat, 08/07/2010 - 5:54pm

On Thursday, July 29, we travelled south to Waterville, where I had the opportunity to chat with Kevin Scott, one of the independent candidates for Governor.

When asked about what he thinks the most important things that face Maine in the next term, Kevin said:

"It's just the continuing manipulation -- intimidation, frankly -- by a national agenda, by national political parties and a federal government that has really usurped and taken all of the authority and wind out of the innovation that is capable here in the states, all 50 of them…Arizona stood up for themselves with a law that they felt, through their elected officials, would move them in a proper direction to deal with the growing immigration issue, yet our government saw fit to file a suit and get an injunction in federal court rather than go in and team up with Arizona…"

Click Here to Listen to Kevin Scott Pt 1

Click Here to Listen to Kevin Scott Pt 2

Candidate Nichi Farnham, SD 32 (Bangor, Hermon)
Mon, 07/26/2010 - 8:04am

Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor: Nichi Farnham, Senate Dist 32 Candidate (Bangor, Hermon) 7/17/10

Nichi Farnham. candidate for Senate District 32, against Joe Perry, met with me Saturday morning at Giacomo's in Bangor. We talked about her position on creating laws, her idea that legislative jobs should be more part-time and more efficient.

My take-away quote from our meeting:

"Not everything needs to be solved by putting in a bill…When I was on the City Council, I talked to plenty of neighbors, and there were neighborhoods that had issues, and…we didn't need to always put in an ordinance. We didn't need to have a stance on it as a city community. Was it a city-wide issue? Or was it just one aspect of the City that maybe we could deal with in a different way?"

SD 32 Candidate Nichi Farnham: Click Here to listen.

LePage Post-Primary Chat
Sun, 06/20/2010 - 7:18am

Last Sunday, Father's Day, GOP gubernatorial candidate Paul LePage took a few hours out to have coffee and chat with me at Governor's Restaurant in Waterville, Maine.

We talked about mending the fences among the six candidates -- and their supporters -- who ran against him in the primary, what he considers to be the most important issues facing our state as well as his campaign, and who his favorite historic al figures are.

Regarding Land for Maine's Future:

"I'm totally against it. I believe that private land owners are better stewards of their land than the government. And I've seen some of the land that the State has purchased. It's poorly managed -- If it was purchased with the intent of allowing the forest to work, for instance, and making it work, and allowing the usage of the private sector and the people of Maine, fine. But the way it's going is they want to buy it, put a fence around it and not allow anybody on it, and that's wrong."

Paul LePage Interview Part A
http://www.asmainegoes.com/audio/06.20.10LePage-a.mp3

Paul LePage Interview Part B
http://www.asmainegoes.com/audio/06.20.10LePage-b.mp3

Gubernatorial Candidate Paul LePage Interview
Wed, 05/05/2010 - 10:51pm

This week, we're going to try an experiment. I have heard from many people that they would rather not have to wait a week between listening to the first and second half of these interviews. But I am also hearing that there are listeners who do not want to be tethered to the computer for a full 30 minutes. So this week, I'm going to release the entire interview in two halves.

On May 3, I had coffee with Paul LePage, one of the Republican gubernatorial candidates, at Governor's Restaurant in Bangor. We discussed regulatory control, DHHS, the Clubhouse model for teaching life skills, and his childhood.

"I just don't believe that a bureaucrat's going to write a rule to put himself out of work."

Paul LePage Pt 1: Click Here to listen.

Paul LePage Pt 2: Click Here to listen.

Gubernatorial Candidate Peter Mills Interview
Sat, 05/01/2010 - 9:52pm
On Friday, April 16, I had coffee with Senator Peter Mills, GOP gubernatorial candidate, at the Country Diner in East Millinocket. This is the first half of that interview.

"I think that in Human Services and in Corrections, our whole system tends to reward state employees for expanding their duties and their jobs. The more people you bring into social services and welfare, the more people who are dependent on state services, the more important your job is because you've got more people to take care of. "
Click Here to listen.
Bill Beardsley Gubernatorial Candidate Interview
Fri, 03/19/2010 - 7:46pm
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor: Bill Beardsley Gubernatorial Candidate Interview Pt 1

Last weekend, I sat down at the Elm Tree Cafe in Houlton with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Beardsley to have coffee and discuss his thoughts about his aspiration to govern the state of Maine, and particularly what he thinks about the part of the state north of Bangor.

We discussed how he turned Husson College from a near-bankrupt college to the thriving Husson University, LURC, energy, Henry Joy's "Two Maines" legislation, and the Treasured Landscapes scheme.

"I think that a lot of the people who call themselves environmentalists are really much more interested in getting rid of private land...[T]hey don't need to win a referendum. They don't need to win a lawsuit. They don't need to pass a bill. All they need to do is create uncertainty, risk, and delay, and the family business will hesitate to invest; the big corporation will hesitate to invest...I don't consider that activity environmental at all. I consider that anti-business or socialistic or people that are elitists that want to soak Maine forests in formaldehyde and put a sign over it that says, 'Look, but don't touch.'"

Full disclosure: I am a staffer in northern Maine for the Beardsley for Governor campaign.

Bill Beardsley Pt 2: Click Here to listen.

Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor Interview: Bill Beardsley, Gubernatorial Candidate, Pt 2

Today, we will hear the second half of my conversation with Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Beardsley.

In this section he talks about the White Pine Revolt, the Tenth Amendment, the Progressive movement, the right to live, and his belief that one group of people should not be able to decide about another group's lives.

"..[T]here's an old cellar hole, and it's got some water in it, and it's got some salamander eggs...we have a law that says you can't cut your trees. That is just as much a taking of land as the White Pine Revolt, 300 years ago where the king came here and said, 'It may be private land, but I own all the trees.' That's what we fought about with the White Pine Revolt, and we won, finally, with the Revolution, but I..sit here sometimes and say, 'The battle isn't won.'"

Bill Beardsley Pt 2: Click Here to listen.
Rep. Henry Joy “Two Maines” Interview
Fri, 03/19/2010 - 7:44pm
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor: Rep. Joy “Two Maines” Interview

I had dinner with Representative Henry Joy last weekend, over which he discussed his proposed "Two Maines" legislation, the impact of those who control but have no investment in the land, and John Richardson's involvement in the latest landgrab, "Treasured Landscapes."

"I met with the Governor on Thursday, and he said, 'Henry, we still have one Maine.' And I said, 'Governor, that's only because I couldn't convince Massachusetts to take Southern Maine this morning'...I've got a lot of votes to be governor of New Maine, but I told them that they need someone younger than I am. Somebody who is willing to go back and go by the Constitution and ensure that people have their rights. and not be beholden to these environmental groups. that don't have any ownership in the land..."
Click Here to Listen
Steve Abbott, Gubernatorial Candidate Interview
Sun, 03/07/2010 - 7:07pm
Michelle Anderson North of Bangor: Steve Abbott, Gubernatorial Candidate Interview, 3/4/10

I met up with Steve Abbott at Ruthie's Hotel Terrace Restaurant in Millinocket, where I had the chance to ask him about what he thinks is important for the state, and particularly the northern part of the state. He talked to me about LURC, about jobs, about Dirigo, and about laptops.

The most surprising thing he said to me over coffee was this:

"Over the course of the last decade, Maine has added a net of 56 jobs…You can't sustain an economy like that. To me, more than any other statistic, that tells you in a nutshell what's wrong with Maine."

Click Here to Listen
Traci Gauthier, Candidate for Senate District 30
Sun, 03/07/2010 - 11:03am
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor: Interview w/ SD 30 Candidate Traci Gauthier Pt 1

Click Here to Listen

The following is the second half of my interview with Traci Gauthier, who is running for the state senate seat in District 30.

On Elizabeth Schneider's phone call to the morning show on WVOM, Traci said, "…at the end of that little tirade that [Elizabeth Schneider] was on, she said she felt that people with an aversion to Obama ought to do a little soul-searching to make sure it wasn't because of the color of his skin. And then she tried to deny that she said people were against Obama because they were racist. I don't think that has a place in politics. I think that's weasel-speak for 'sit down and shut up.'"

Click Here to Listen
Donna Dion Gubernatorial Candidate
Sat, 12/12/2009 - 6:22pm
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Gubernatorial Candidate Donna Dion
I met with Donna Dion, a Democrat candidate who wishes to be governor for the State of Maine. In this, the first half of the interview, she explained why she decided to run, what she plans to do for the state, and her thoughts about jobs, education, and Tabor.

"[Students] would come in and say, "Well, I'd like this commuter class...They chose what they wanted, which was not necessarily what was needed. So let's be more stringent with our money and allocate it to people who can be trained into jobs that we know businesses will have."

Click Here to Listen
2nd CD Candidate Jason Levesque
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 9:59am
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

2nd Congressional District Candidate Jason Levesque
The other night, Jason Levesque was in Millinocket for a fundraiser, and we took that opportunity to speak to him again.

We talked about what he's been doing since our last interview with him, tea parties, how he intends to deal with with town hall meetings and people who are unhappy with him, and funding for the wars in Iraq and in Afghanistan.

"There needs to be a tie-in in all bills. So you can't have one bill that covers multiple different issues, that's just three of four bills piled into one. That's the problem. Each thing needs to be addressed in turn appropriately...[C]areer politicians don't want to change that because that's where they thrive. They develop chaos. They develop problems, and then they adocate that they're the only ones who can fix the problems..."

Click Here to Listen
What's the Mission? (Or "Down the Rabbit Hole: Telephone Conversations With My Representatives')
Sun, 11/15/2009 - 9:54am
On Monday, October 26, my daughter was deployed to Iraq.

On Friday, October 9, I realized that I didn't know what the mission was in Iraq. In an effort to find out, I called my senator, Susan Collins, but they couldn't tell me. I called another of her offices, and then another. When I got no real answer there, I called Senator Olympia Snowe's offices, and then my congressman, Mike Michaud.

It was then that I decided that no one would ever believe some of the responses I was getting, and at that point, I decided to record my odyssey. This podcast is the result of those recordings. Please forgive the frustration in my voice, but by the time we got to this point, frustrated is exactly what I was.

Click Here to Listen
Michelle Anderson Interviews Indy Gov Candidate Samme Bailey
Sun, 11/08/2009 - 8:42pm
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Samme Bailey, September 6, 2009

This is the first half of my interview with Samme Bailey, independent candidate for governor. We sat down for coffee in the Bangor Governor's Restaurant.

Click Here to Listen

In the second half of my interview with Samme Bailey, we discussed the value of building a foundation, welfare, education, and why he's running for Governor.

"No. I'm not a big government guy. But there are some things in day and age, in this modern world...for which you should use government funds as a stimulus."

I apologize for the technical glitch near the beginning of the podcast.

Click Here to Listen
Michelle Anderson Interviews Indy Gubernatorial Candidate Samme Bailey, 10/15
Thu, 10/15/2009 - 10:55pm
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Independent Gubernatorial Candidate Samme Bailey

Last week, I met with Samme Bailey, Independent candidate for governor, in Bangor, at Governor's Restaurant, to discuss his view of the situation Maine finds itself in, and how he believes he can help to change that situation if he is elected Governor.

We discussed the economic state of affairs in Aroostook County, what we need to do about the outflow of our "best and brightest," and economic recovery.

"We have, for the past 50 to 100 years, let large companies come in...but we don't require their management to be there. It's always out of state management. So when...the company gets ready to go under, you don't have any management expertise that can continue it. And that culture needs to change."

Click Here to Listen
Michelle Anderson Interview Bob Emrich, Stand for Marriage Maine, 10/7
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 9:58pm
Michelle Anderson Interview Bob Emrich, Stand for Marriage Maine, 10/7
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Bob Emrich of Stand for Marriage Maine Interview

I met with Bob Emrich, of Stand for Marriage Maine, last week at the Tim Horton's in Newport.

We discussed the "Yes on 1" campaign, the consequences of changing the definition of marriage, the difference between the gay rights legislation and the redefinition of marriage, the famous "second collection, and the overall agenda of the progressive movement.

"If you change the definition of marriage, you have to change the way you start about it in schools...It just strikes me as bizarre that they deny that that will happen."

Note: The "No on 1" campaign, though contacted repeatedly, did not return my calls.

Click Here to Listen
Michelle Anderson Interviews Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Matt Jacobson, 9/8
Wed, 10/14/2009 - 7:31pm
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Michelle Anderson Interviews Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Matt Jacobson Pt 1

I had the opportunity to sit down at Starbucks Coffee in Bangor to talk to candidate Matt Jacobson about Plum Creek, LURC, local control, and opportunity in Maine.

"LURC, it seems to me that there's a faction of people who want to use LURC and turn northern Maine into a national park and forbid any kind of opportunity.

"I think that this is one of those cases where local control is really important. The people in northern Maine ought to decide the development and the plans for northern Maine, not bureaucrats out of Augusta..."

Click Here to Listen

Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Matt Jacobson Pt. 2

"In Maine right now, 25% of our kids drop out of high school. Within ten years of starting high school, only 25% have a one-, two-, or four-year degree. So that means that within ten years of high school, half the kids -- their highest attainment is high school. That's not good enough...I recruit companies every day, and not one of them has ever asked me for an ignorant workforce."

Click Here to Listen

(There is a small repetition of the last part of the first half of the interview for continuity's sake.)
Michelle Anderson Interviews TABOR NOW Chair David Crocker, 10/12
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 9:52pm
Michelle Anderson Interviews TABOR NOW Chair David Crocker, 10/12

Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

TABOR NOW Chair David Crocker Interview

I talked on the telephone last weekend with TABOR chairman David Crocker, from his home in Portland.

We discussed TABOR II, charges that TABOR would cause disasters in the infrastructure, schools, and other "vital services," and the claims that Colorado suspended its TABOR law because of those problems.

Click Here to Listen
Michelle Anderson Interviews Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bruce Poliquin, 9/28
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 9:47pm
Michelle Anderson Interviews Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Bruce Poliquin, 9/28 Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Bruce Poliquin Interview Part 1

Earlier this month, I met with Bruce Poliquin at the Woodlands Country Club in Falmouth.

Over our coffee, we discussed his thoughts about taxes, Dirigo, MaineCare, and LURC.

Click Here to Listen

Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Bruce Poliquin Interview Part 2

In the second half of our interview with Bruce Poliquin, he discussed his thoughts on a county form of government, use taxes, infrastructure, and education.

"We need to not only...reduce our taxes. We need to be dead serious about controlling our costs because if we can get our costs under control and live within our means, then that will support tax reductions. And then we will have the assets that we need to focus on our high energy costs, to focus on a better educational service and experience for our citizens."

Click Here to Listen
Michelle Anderson Interviews Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Rosa Scarcelli, 9/8/09
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 9:37pm
Michelle Anderson Interviews Democrat Gubernatorial Candidate Rosa Scarcelli, 9/8/09 Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Rosa Scarcelli Interview Part 1

Click Here to Listen

Rosa Scarcelli Interview Part 2

This is the second half of my conversation with Democrat gubernatorial candidate Rosa Scarcelli, who came up to Millinocket to have coffee with me here at the Appalachian trail cafe. In this portion, we discussed Dirigo, the laptop program, the upcoming hole in the budget, and jails.

Last week, we ended the first half speaking about Dirigo and the fact that, in Rosa's words, "it was another example of where our policies were a mile wide and an inch deep."

And that's where we will pick up in this second half.

For continuity's sake, we will listen to a little bit of the beginning of that discussion before going on to the second half.

Click Here to Listen
Michelle Anderson Interviews Green Gubernatorial Candidate Lynne Williams, 9/1/09
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 9:30pm
Michelle Anderson Interviews Lynne Williams, 9/1/09 Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Lynne Williams Interview Part 1

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Lynne Williams Interview Part 2

I recently had coffee with Lynne Williams, the Green candidate for governor. We sat down in Border's Bookstore's cafe and discussed why northern Mainers would want to vote for Lynne Williams.

Lynne, a lawyer who holds a doctorate in psychology, explained her stance on windpower, clean coal, and nuclear power, as well as other issues which affect those of us who are North of Bangor.

"The Green Party has officially come out against the recent tax bill...and we're collecting signatures for that repeal. The reason we did that is that we have always believed -- and I believe this too -- that sales tax are a regressive tax. They are not progressive. So we're increasing it, and it is not just tourists who are going to be paying these sales taxes. Haircuts? My son's barber said to me, 'So people are going to be paying this sales tax, and they're going to be giving me less of a tip.' It is wrong. It is harmful to working people. That's why we're not supporting it.

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Michelle Anderson Interview Jason Levesque, 2nd CD Candidate, 6/27
Tue, 10/13/2009 - 9:22pm
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Interview: Jason Levesque, 2nd CD Candidate, 6/27 (Time: 7 mins. 3 secs)

Saturday morning, the Lincoln Area Republicans hosted a meeting during which Jason Levesque introduced himself.

The 36-year-old fifth-generation Mainer who started Argo Marketing Group before his 30th birthday, sat down with me to answer a few questions about what he's about and how he's going to help the Second District.

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Michelle Anderson Interviews Republican Gubernatorial Candidate Paul LePage
Mon, 09/28/2009 - 7:59am
Michelle Anderson: North of Bangor

Paul LePage: The Interview

Last Tuesday, as word was leaking out that Waterville Mayor Paul LePage was throwing his hat into the ring, he met with me in Bangor at the Starbucks on the Hogan Road. We talked over coffee about his thoughts about how the state should be run, including opinions about LURC, school consolidation, and the tax and fees situation in the state.

"It's illegal in the state of Maine to go in and remove the pigeons. You have to call the state. They send up a biologist. He kills all the pigeons, removes the nest, and charges you $900...They don't want to have owners be cruel to animals."

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