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Maine News

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Maine News for Tuesday, September 11, 2007

PRESS HERALD:

Maine delegation wants shift in Iraq strategy
Gen. Petraeus says the surge is working. Mainers call for a new mission.

Lawmaker will give up House seat
Rep. Philip Cressey will resign today, according to top Democratic and Republican leaders.

State Web page honors the fallen
Thirty-three service members from Maine have died since Sept. 11.

EDITORIAL: Terror war transcends the debate about Iraq
We shouldn't let disagreement about Iraq become an excuse for ignoring the larger threat.

EDITORIAL: Absentee legislator's residency was not a partisan issue
Leaders from both parties worked together for the good of House District 99.

LTE: The longer we stay in Iraq, the worse the consequences

BANGOR DAILY:

U.S. focuses on security at customs
Much has been done since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks to improve security at customs and border facilities in Maine, according to Ted Woo of Boston, chief public affairs officer for Customs and Border Protection.

U.S. awake to threats by sea
Though the Sept. 11 attacks came by air, government agencies have focused significant attention on threats by sea in the last six years, and with good reason.

Baldacci firm at meeting on jails
AUGUSTA, Maine — Gov. John Baldacci essentially told the three Somerset County commissioners Monday afternoon that they either could get on board with the state’s jail takeover plan or get out of the way.

Editorial: Heating money
Just a year after the state first began getting a discount for the millions of gallons of heating oil it obtains for the state’s low-income residents, the Maine State Housing Authority and the Maine Oil Dealer’s Association again disagree on what that discount should be. If the rancor over discounts continues, a reasonable alternative would be for the state to solicit bids from companies to deliver oil to low-income residents on a regional basis.

Tuesday's Letters to the Editor

KENNEBEC JOURNAL:

Views of Maine's delegation not changed
The Iraqi government did not hold up its end of the bargain, so the status quo is not an option.

State lauds war dead online
AUGUSTA -- A new Web site honors the 33 service members from Maine who have died while on duty since Sept. 11, 2001, the governor's office announced Monday.

DISTRICT 83 House vacancies restart nomination cycle
AUGUSTA -- The process for filling the House District 83 seat will begin again next week when local Democrats meet to choose a candidate.

No promises emerge in jail meeting
AUGUSTA -- Somerset County Commissioners found little reason to continue work on a new $30 million jail Monday following a meeting with Gov. John Baldacci that was short on specifics and sometimes testy in tone.

MORNING SENTINEL:

Flags at Colby College honor those who died
WATERVILLE -- Colby College students will awaken this morning to find 2,977 American flags on the lawn of Miller Library -- to honor each person who died in the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

MAINE DELEGATION - Lawmakers' Iraq views unchanged
PORTLAND (AP) -- Gen. David Petraeus' testimony on Iraq had little apparent impact on Maine's congressional delegation Monday as Reps. Tom Allen and Michael Michaud remained firm in support of a U.S. troop withdrawal and Sen. Susan Collins stood by her call for a change in mission.

LTE: Republicans rely too much on Clinton card
I'll say this for Republicans, they sure know how to spin a story.

TIMES RECORD:

Misusing patriotism...(full story)

SUN JOURNAL:

General: Stabilizing Iraq 'won't be easy'
WASHINGTON - Gen. David Petraeus, the American commander in Iraq, told Congress on Monday that he's recommended the withdrawal of 30,000 U.S. forces from Iraq by mid-July.

LTE: Cut the fat from the budget
People of Maine please take notice! The column by former Dixfield Rep. Randy Hotham in the Sun Journal of Sept. 2 was quite precise and to the point.

MPBN:

Maine Congressmen React to Petraeus Report
Listen

WCSH:

State Representative To Resign Over Residency Questions http://www.wcsh6.com/images/other/camera.gif

Allen, Michaud Cite Lack Of Political Progress In Iraq http://www.wcsh6.com/images/other/camera.gif

NPR:

Handful of GOP Senators May Swing Iraq Debate
Tom Allen, who is a vocal opponent of the war, in a state that leans Democratic. Chuck Hagel (NE): Hagel may not be seeking a third term, but he remains an ...

WAKE UP AMERICA:

Fred Thompson: Democrats should return all donations from Move On.org
So far, only one Democratic Senate candidate, Tom Allen of Maine, has received money from the group, though the amount he has received, almost $250000, ...

FEDERAL TIMES:

Senators aim to slash political posts
Susan Collins, R-Maine, in an interview. Collins and Sen. Joe Lieberman, I-Conn., the chairman and ranking minority member of the Senate Homeland Security ...

ICE chief faces second confirmation hearing
Susan Collins, R-Maine, the committee’s ranking member. “We’re going to ask her some tough questions tomorrow, but in the end, I expect to support her. ...

BAKERSFIELD CALIFORNIAN:

After 9/11, it's safer to say you're 'sorry'
Susan Collins of Maine inserted a "good faith" law into a sweeping homeland security bill. "An alert citizenry is one of best defenses against terrorist ...

CNN:

Analysis: Hagel's decision a blow to GOP
The lists includes: Susan Collins of Maine, John Sununu of New Hampshire, Norm Coleman of Minnesota and Gordon Smith of Oregon. As of now only one Democrat ...

INTERNATIONAL HERALD TRIBUNE:

US officials warn of persistent threats
... violent segment of the West's population is expanding," Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the committee's ranking Republican, said in her opening remarks. ...

THE HILL:

Leading The News

The political calculations of presidential hopefuls and Republicans in tough reelection races will be on full display at Tuesday’s Senate hearings featuring the top U.S. officials in Iraq.


MERCURY-REGISTER:

Intelligence, Bush at odds on bin Laden
Susan Collins, R-Maine, noting that a recent Justice Department report had found problems with the FBI's terrorist watch list, including a failure to ...


BLOGS:

GOP State Rep Phil Cressey Resigns

Congressional Dems 'No-Growth' Agenda Taking Toll

Any hint of a growth agenda has vanished since Democrats took Congress.

Hsu Cash: Allen Gives Back $1,000, Keeps $1,500

Strimling fundraising Email

More despicable behavior from Tom Allen’s fundraisers

From a Maine GOP press release:

Ethan Strimling: Divesting Maine’s Terrorist Holdings?

Sen. Ethan Strimling (D-Portland) is announcing legislation directing the state to divest its holdings in companies that do business in countries that support and finance terrorism. Good grief! Is Maine investing in terrorist nations?

Maine’s Fallen Heroes

Maine’s fallen heroes have their own web page at Maine.gov. The families of these heroes were presented the Maine Gold Star Honorable Service Medal in recognition of their servicemember’s dedication, duty and ultimate sacrifice while serving our state and nation in support of combat operations.

Petraeus: Surge Protector

So basically, the troop surge was a political maneuver … one that would, if successful, allow us to have the illusion of troop withdrawal to “pre-surge” levels.

Petraeus Recommendation Unacceptable

by: Tom Allen 2008

During my trip to Iraq last month, General Petraeus told me he believes our troops will be in Iraq in some form for nine or ten years. That is completely unacceptable. Today, General Petraeus recommended troop withdrawal to pre-surge levels and leaving 130,000 troops there. That, too, is completely unacceptable.

Q & A

As The Left Coaster intimates, it will be interesting to see how Sen. Collins performs on Tuesday at the Senate Armed Services Committee hearing with Gen. David Petraeus.

Senate 08: Good News, Mostly Bad News (Updated) (Updated again by BDP)

Susan Collins (Maine), Norm Coleman (Minnesota), and Pete Domenici (New Mexico). Coleman could be saved by the fact that Al Franken might be the DFL (Dem) candidate. Any other non-controversial Dem would have to be favored in this deep ...

Netroots Attack Maine Newspaper Editor's Connection to Republican Senator

"I am delighted that one of Maine's most respected journalists is joining my staff" A blog posting at Daily Kos on August 24 has fired up the Netroots to point accusatory fingers at a Maine newspaper editor whose wife works for Republican Senator susan collins. via NewsBusters.org ...

Collins: September 10th Thinking

Senator Susan Collins, ranking member of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, may have been looking to boost her own mojo, especially considering this recent ad peppering the airwaves: Collins reminded us of the need to [...]

Republican Ability To Blur On Iraq in 2008 Becoming More Likely

In the Senate, the sponsors include highly endangered Republicans Susan Collins, John Sununu, and Pete Domenici. Basically, we are talking about giving cover to Republicans in at least half of our top-tier pickup opportunities. ...

Democrat's could pickup seats in the Senate

In Maine Tom Allen is running against Joe Liarman friend Susan Collins and he is running strong. Allen could give Collins the most serious political fight she has ever encountered. In New Hampshire John Sununu is toast if Jeanne Shaheen ...

Tomorrow May Be "Make Or Break" For Hillary

And with a 2008 race staring her in the face, can Susan Collins afford to give Petraeus a pass tomorrow? Every time a Republican senator talks about how great things are getting in Iraq, a Democratic senator should immediately apply the ...

US East: Open Discussion

Susan Collins has to deal with her very own modern day Henry David Thoreaus. Will she support going all Waco on them? What's going on politically in the East?

Who Is Tom Allen?

While many conservatives may have issues with Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins, on the heels of the General Betray Us nonsense, I doubt they'd like to see her replaced by Tom Allen who, in his own words, has been bought and paid ...

GOP support for Iraq war on shaky ground

Susan Collins, R-Maine, who is up for re-election next year and under substantial pressure by voters to help end the war. Collins, along with Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., supports legislation limiting the mission of US troops. ...

Oops I did it again

When asked by Senator Susan Collins whether Britney was fat, corrupt, and phoning it in while aspiring to "Anna Nicole Smithdom," Petraeus responded that he would prefer to have six months to a year in order to observe Britney's ..

For him, losing will be winning

Gen. David Petraeus’ testimony on Iraq had little apparent impact on Maine’s congressional delegation Monday as Reps. Tom Allen and Michael Michaud remained firm in support of a US troop withdrawal and Sen. Susan Collins stood by her ...