Jon Reisman
This is my last column before the June 9 primary. I’ve been simultaneously consumed by both fear and hope. I fear what the left will do to Maine if they retain power in Augusta and to the country if they flip the House (impeachment) and the Senate (goodbye filibuster and federalism). I hope that a strong field of Republican gubernatorial, congressional, and state legislative candidates can counter the corrupt red/green, progressive/legacy press one-party junta that has run Maine into the ground for seven-plus unchallenged disastrous years. Fear and hope frequently exchange places in my head. A licensed social justice therapist would probably certify me as a conservative schizoid.
A number of both friends and foes have pointed out that it appears that two left-wing Democrat pols have taken up long-term rent-free residence in my soon-to-be-septuagenarian brain, and a rested, restful, and contented retirement is not a likely outcome. Having gravel-voiced actor/socialist/oyster Fuhrer Graham Platner and reptilian Secretary of State Shenna Wormtongue Bellows constantly on my mind is bad enough — the possibility of a multi-year effective life sentence of progressive torture, treachery, and treason is deeply depressing.
Attention rural rubes and conservative Neanderthals: Comply or be silenced. Shenna has the gags; Graham has the firearms and shucking tools. The legacy press has the Vaseline lubricants and propaganda meth to get the job done. Goodbye, freedom, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness. Hello, Senator Platner and Governor Bellows. That’s the fear talking.
It’s easy to note the high, potentially existential stakes of this election. Democrats point to authoritarianism, fascism, systemic racism, and threats to “Democracy” (translated, that means permanent and uncontested progressive control). Republicans and Democratic Sen. John Fetterman point to surging antisemitism, systemic fraud, and dysfunction. The country is polarized, and it’s getting worse, not better.
Criticism of leading candidates Platner and Charles has only increased their support, and I don’t think that is going to change. Once having chosen a candidate, supporters are more likely to double down as they have with Platner. In the more competitive GOP gubernatorial primary, Bobby Charles’ supporters have reacted the same way. I’ll be casting my election day vote for Bobby Charles and leaving the ranked-choice voting machinations to Shenna and her fellow travelers. That’s both hope and fear talking.
My most difficult and personal primary votes will be for House District 10 (Rep. Will Tuell vs. Lubec Selectman Dan Daley) and Senate District 6 (Rep. Billy Bob Faulkingham vs. Former Rep. Bucket Davis). I know and respect all the candidates and will support whoever wins.
I’ll be voting for Billy Bob for Senate, because he has a record of effective leadership and advocacy for rural Maine. I think the “must be from Washington County” argument is pure BS. Winter Harbor is about as Downeast as it gets. I agree with his position opposing statewide bans on data centers. When I asked him to put in three bills to protect rural Maine and Washington County from climate alarmism and the Climate Action plan’s negative, disparate impacts, he happily complied and lined up powerful co-sponsors. I count Bucket as a friend and mentor, but believe Billy Bob is the better choice to fight for Downeast Maine.
My most difficult vote is for my state House Representative. I have known Will Tuell and his family for many years, and I have voted for him when Cooper was in his legislative district. I believe he has done an excellent job, especially as a minority Republican in a Mills/Democrat majority-dominated Augusta. I will be casting my primary vote for Dan Daley, who is leading a Republican revival in previously very Blue Lubec. Rep. Tuell’s support for a statewide data center moratorium is the primary reason. Whether it’s Dan or Will, a GOP State House majority is the hope talking.
Get out and vote — as a Statler and Waldorf intern, I know that the sacred right to complain is strengthened by true engagement — even if it does, unfortunately, involve annoying rent-free intruders into my brain and bipolar internal fear/hope back and forth. A good friend reminded me of an especially appropriate quote from Teddy Roosevelt’s 1910 “Man in the Arena” (Citizenship in a Republic) speech:
“Of one man in especial, beyond any one else, the citizens of a republic should beware, and that is of the man who appeals to them to support him on the ground that he is hostile to other citizens of the republic, that he will secure for those who elect him, in one shape or another, profit at the expense of other citizens of the republic. It makes no difference whether he appeals to class hatred or class interest, to religious or anti-religious prejudice. The man who makes such an appeal should always be presumed to make it for the sake of furthering his own interest. The very last thing an intelligent and self-respecting member of democratic community should do is to reward any public man because that public man says that he will get the private citizen something to which this private citizen is not entitled, or will gratify some emotion or animosity which this private citizen ought not to possess.”
Jon Reisman is an economist and policy analyst who retired from the University of Maine at Machias after 38 years. He resides on Cathance Lake in Cooper, where he is a Statler and Waldorf intern. Mr. Reisman’s views are his own, and he welcomes comments as letters to the editor here or to him directly via email at jreisman@maine.edu.