He’s at it again. He is doing stuff he shouldn’t do. He is doing stuff few agree with, and some cannot stomach. And I am trying to defend him.
But am I – and he – headed for a trip down the toilet? Probably.
Governor Paul LePage has had an active spring and early summer. As my late mother would say, “Well, we have been quite busy lately, haven’t we?”
Here is what the governor has engaged in recently in his Augusta freak show:
• He vetoed 64 of the Legislature’s bills, because he was irked at Democrats;
• The Legislature overrode 60 of the vetoes; each vote took up time; the lawmakers were not happy they were hauled back to the Statehouse for this formality.
• A few days later, he did it again – this time vetoing 31 bill that were awaiting the Governor’s signature;
• He made some joke to a political cartoonist in Maine that cartoonists – like in France with Muslim extremists – ought to be shot on occasion;
• He chuckled at the thought of having a firing squad in a local town square to assassinate locally elected politicians;
• He wrote a letter to a private school in central Maine that had recently hired, as its president, Mark Eves, a counseling professional who is also Speaker of the House in Maine, saying, basically, Eves is a bad person, and, if the institution, Good Will Hinkley School, hired Eves, LePage would try to harm the school in any state funding coming its way;
Whew. I’m tired now. Let me take a break. OK. Resume.
The Governor won re-election this past fall. He got more than 50 percent. Good for him. What has he decided to do with this political capital? Not much.
He clear understands it would not be easy to get big bills through the Legislature to advance his political agenda. He has decided not to try.
Instead, he is frustrated, and apparently will spend the next three years letting us know this.
Shades of former independent Gov. James Longley, though Longley was personally classy.
The governor at this point should give some thought to making the remainder of his term productive. In addition to this, he might start caring how he will be remembered in Maine history. Another pass on that question as well, it appears.
I have tried to try on his political positions the past five years like you try on hats. Attribute his controversial statements and actions to “style.” He reminds me of the crazy uncle who would show up at the family barbecue or graduation parties and belch the first two stanzas of “The Star Spangled Banner,” or put his cupped hand under his arm pit and emit flatulence sounds to the tune of “Yankee Doodle Dandy.”
Some people like that stuff. Some people find it endearing.
Now?
He is like the uncle who the nieces and nephews, having seen Uncle Paul in action for a few years, are trying to decide whether they will invite to their graduation events, or weddings. The answer is increasingly no.
He is becoming an embarrassment. Too bad. Vigorous guy. Important part of any political debate. But squandering his political capital with words and actions that just unnecessarily offend, and do not advance his agenda.
Too bad. He needs his own Dutch Uncle.
Dan Warren is a Scarborough trial lawyer. He can be reached by private Facebook message at the Jones & Warren Attorneys at Law page, or by email at jonesandwarren@gmail.com.
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