Portland Maine, Starving In Paradise/ Operation Freedom

Self | Self

[Little Bill]

At the Invitation of Rock Lobster, a true American, I journied North to the City Of Portland, For a Cumberaland county Republican rally in thanksgiving for tax freedom day.

I am a Masshole but these people live under the subjection of a tax and spend government, the taxes that they pay make Mass, Peoples Repubic, look like a Free State.

I arrived at 3:00 and wandered down to Monument SQ, I was immediatly surrounded by cops with guns drawn, some jerk called in that I was carring a rifle, Old Glory and a POW/MIA flags wrapped in trash bag green, get real. A Portland Republican said typical area cops.

At 4:00 the rally started, these people in Maine are GREAT, because of the weather there were few of us but they made up lack of numbers with their enthusiasm, it was great, a people crying to be free. For you people living in slave states look to the Maine FReepers for guidence.

[Little Bill]

I Loved it, political FReepin' is as good as commie bashing.

[Chad Fairbanks]

"Masshole"... havn't heard that one in a while... now I miss home - where one could, at one's leisure, heap scorn and derision on all you flatlandahs.... heh heh heh... just kidding - glad to see conservatives in New England working together, regardless of what state you are in (even... gasp... Connecticut...) ;0)

[SheLion]

Wish I could have been there. I live too far north.

How many were there??

[ellery]

I didn't realize Maine's taxes were so much worse than even Mass's -- YIKES!!! My husband and I were thinking about moving to Maine at some point, (from Pittsburgh), at least for part of the year. Now, we might have to reconsider...what's bad, the income taxes? Property?

[Number_Cruncher]

Here is a list of state individual income taxes.

For Maine, it looks like they tax at an 8.5% rate for any income over $16,500. Montana looks kind of bad too.

[Little Bill]

Ping

[ellery]

ARGH -- 8.5 percent!!! Thanks for the great info source....

[Little Bill]

There were about eight of us, +/-, the weather reminded me of the New York FReep on 2/02, and like an idiot I left my gloves in the truck, the Cumberland County Republicans were in jackets and tee shirts. I live in Northen Essex County, Mass, by the Map we are North of them.

[SheLion]

Well, hopefully, more will be able to make the next one, and the weather will be warmer. Sure hope so.

[Little Bill]

Talk to Rocklobster and Ozone1 and the other Maine Freepers, organize and protest, be a pain in the neck, get with your friends and neighbors, you have nothing to lose but your chains.

[Little Bill]

Ping

[FlyingA]

Bill thanks for the report, did the COPS arrest you for carrying the Flags? Did they appologise FlyingA

[Little Bill]

A: No, B: No, I thought it was rather strange myself, I have carried those things all over Washington and Boston and never recieved a second glance. Portland must be more interesting than I thought.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

Hey Mister,

Thank you for your kind words and thank you for coming up to Maine to join us FReeping in the bleeping rain.

Sorry about your encounter with the cops, I assume it was the Portland Police Department (Chief Media Mike).

Of course it could have been the Cumberland County Sheriff's Dept., who's Sheriff (Mark Dionne)we backed as an independent then later, it turned out, used us, turned on us in a newspaper interview and claimed that he always was really a RAT.

I hope to have other events and the legislative RATs have just given us plenty of political ammo, a $90 Million shortfall after blowing last year's surplus and giving laptops to all 7th graders in perpetuity.

I would like to have a RAT costume at our next event and have a real entertaining circus-like spectacle which would entertain the passers by and motorists, perhaps long enough to imprint our message. (I love those honking horns and thumbs up)

If we keep hitting them with the same message, we can effectively combat the ministry of propaganda (press).

Thanks again for coming up, and next time maybe we can have more FReepers, good weather and a picnic or party afterwards.

[ROCKLOBSTER]

By the way, this weekend is the ME GOP Convention where I will, tomorrow, go out on a political limb, and as a "neutral" county chair, endorse the conservative Congressional candidate from my county in front of the full convention.

Logically, how would a liberal republican congressman have any credibility or effectiveness with the likes of Tom Delay et al?

We have only 2 districts up here and this one covers northern Maine.

[Little Bill]

I had a great time, cops or not. I don't know about a Rat costume but I do have a couple of bull horns, that might proove useful, just make sure the permit is for sound also.

Bill

[michaelje]

Nice Job Bill. Gotta dig the authorities.