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Why America needs more politicians like Maine Gov. Paul LePage
theweek.com ^ | 10/8/14 | Michael Brendan Doughterty

Posted on 10/11/2014 6:58:37 AM PDT by cotton1706

Ever since Mitt Romney's "47 percent" disaster-gaffe in 2012, national Republicans have tried to shirk their image as welfare-hating, green eyeshade–wearing budget choppers. Even Paul Ryan, the former head of the congressional Ayn Rand fan club, now talks about expanding the scope of welfare programs to return more of their dependents into productive workers.

But Maine Gov. Paul LePage (R), himself the product of a poor and disordered childhood, is not following the national herd. He's promising more cuts, and not exactly masking his rationale. Last year, he even took up the 47 percent number, saying "about 47 percent of able-bodied people in the state of Maine don't work... It's really bad." The number was wrong, significantly so. But he had staked out a clear position: Many recipients of state aid were undeserving. During his state of the state speech early this year, he said, "Too many Mainers are dependent on government handouts. Government dependency has not — and never will— create prosperity."

Unlike Romney, LePage is not destined to defeat. With an unintended vote-splitting assist from the independent candidate, LePage may yet be re-elected as the most conservative governor in America from one of the most deeply Democratic states. He is hovering around 40 percent of support from likely voters, about even with Democratic opponent Mike Michaud and far beyond the reach of third party candidate Eliot Cutler. Democratic voices are now rising up calling for Cutler to drop out to ensure that the anti-LePage vote isn't split.

Perhaps no American politician of LePage's prominence clings so tenaciously to his political doctrines, and no other figure more closely ties them to his own biography. This is a very admirable thing, and important in a political culture that seems to default to gutless, poll-tested groupthink.

(Excerpt) Read more at theweek.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Politics/Elections; US: Maine
KEYWORDS: elections; eliotcutler; maine; mikemichaud; paullepage
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To: Atomic Vomit

Oh wow!! Thanks for sharing! I believe governor LePage will win re-election. The GOPe could learn a lot from him. Stand on sound principles and win the hearts and minds of the people. What a concept!


21 posted on 10/11/2014 8:20:55 PM PDT by wjcsux ("In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act." - George Orwell)
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To: EricT.

If you have a problem with the your perception of the wrtier, stop reading. My problem is with you and several other people making an artilce about Paul LePage be an article about Paul Ryan who was tangentally mentioned. In doing so you have made this thread about you and you moaning about every politican you don’t like.


22 posted on 10/11/2014 10:13:52 PM PDT by Steven Scharf
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To: wjcsux

You’re welcome! We really like our Governor around here.

Mrs. AV


23 posted on 10/13/2014 7:15:48 PM PDT by Atomic Vomit (http://www.cafepress.com/aroostookbeauty/358829)
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