John Baldacci

Latest Articles

Prison in turmoil

Investigators probe killing, stabbing, corruption allegations
Will reform have to wait for a new governor?
By LANCE TAPLEY | June 17, 2009

Civil liberties' limits grow
Recent decisions by President Barack Obama and Maine Governor John Baldacci have dampened progressive hopes that the Republican-inspired war on civil liberties might be winding down.
By JEFF INGLIS | June 10, 2009

Having it Both Ways

Should we blame Baldacci now?
For years, Democratic Governor John Baldacci, governors before him, and many legislators have made job creation their loudest mantra. “Jobs!” echoes under Augusta’s State House dome as the rationale for cutting taxes and expenses (services) and increasing corporate tax breaks to make Maine more “business friendly.”
By LANCE TAPLEY | June 03, 2009

Out of the closet

Politics and other mistakes
I don't believe in gay stereotypes. With one exception.
By AL DIAMON | June 03, 2009

Stickin' it to the poor

Right wing celebrates state budget
The Maine Heritage Policy Center, a right-wing Portland think tank, has been bragging in news releases about how state leaders have followed its advice, approving a two-year state-government budget that, among other cuts, slashes school aid, programs for the needy, and state-employee pay.
By LANCE TAPLEY | June 03, 2009

Bigger is better

A smaller House
You've seen those obnoxious TV ads for phony products promising "natural male enhancement." Now, here's something that does exactly the opposite.
By AL DIAMON | May 20, 2009

After the battle

Where will same-sex marriage be in 2010?
In a fast-moving and historic couple of days in Augusta (pity they don't move so fast on other important issues), the Maine Legislature last week approved same-sex marriage, and Governor John Baldacci ended weeks of speculation about what he would do by signing it that very day.
By JEFF INGLIS | May 13, 2009

The rain in Maine

Gay Marriage Ratified — and Jilted
If you're planning a trip to Vacationland this summer, be sure to bring your galoshes — the "gay storm" that's been satirized all over the Internet rolled into Maine last week.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | May 13, 2009

Do state officials know best?

Word From The Top
Like when the country goes to war, most news reports of how state government is handling the H1N1 “swine flu” crisis have just repeated what officials have said.
By LANCE TAPLEY | May 07, 2009

Art for art's sake

The creative economy
Apparently, I'm one of those artist-types. Except it's not called "artist" anymore. That term is too, well ... artsy-fartsy. It doesn't adequately convey my critical importance to society.
By AL DIAMON | April 29, 2009

The way they tell stories

Local film
Aron Gaudet and Gita Pullapilly's documentary The Way We Get By has its official Maine premiere in Orono this weekend with an unusual amount of fanfare.
By CHRISTOPHER GRAY | April 08, 2009

Lawmakers to probe prison

Several investigations begin simultaneously
For years controversy has churned over the Maine State Prison's treatment of both inmates and correctional officers. For the first time, legislators have taken action.
By LANCE TAPLEY | April 08, 2009

Do it to debt

Spending money to make money?
A friend of mine walked into the local bar during a recent happy hour and announced, "I'm furious at IGA."
By AL DIAMON | April 01, 2009

Official propaganda

Why pay for the governor's publicity machine?
Isn't it sinister or at least creepy in a democracy for citizens to foot the bill for politicians and high officials to propagandize them?
By LANCE TAPLEY | March 18, 2009

Cleaning up Maine's sleaze

Politicians have left it to the people
When tourists admire Maine's picturesque waterfronts, they aren't close enough to smell the barrels reeking with rotting lobster bait.
By LANCE TAPLEY | March 18, 2009

Here it comes again

Gov. Baldacci's stupid approach to tax reform.
Is it possible to tax stupidity? If so, Maine could generate enough revenue to eliminate the income tax, property tax, excise tax, inheritance tax, and sales tax.
By AL DIAMON | March 04, 2009

Saving the earth

Seeing the climate-change forest for the carbon-storing trees.
Former Green gubernatorial candidate Jonathan Carter's 120 acres in Lexington township will be the first-ever officially designated "carbon sequestration forest." It remains to be seen whether they will also be the only one.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | February 25, 2009

Transmission troubles

We're all about wind power — but do we have a way to harness green energy?
Late last month, Maine's second large commercial wind farm officially opened at Stetson Mountain in the eastern part of the state. But for all this potential, both in terms of the power source itself, and the brainpower behind it, Maine risks losing a lot of money.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | February 11, 2009

The wrong man for hard times

State House Democrats need to stand up to the governor
Most Democrats see Barack Obama’s inauguration as a clear-cut, welcome turn to the left.
By LANCE TAPLEY | February 04, 2009

Acid tongue

Politics and other mistakes
Watch your mouth.
By AL DIAMON | February 04, 2009

What's wrong with Augusta?

Whatever it is, it isn't new. Things were just as screwed up a decade ago — in the opposite direction
Charlie Colgan couldn't predict a recession if its arrival was signaled by warning lights and sirens.
By AL DIAMON | January 29, 2009

Baldacci rejects reform, embraces corporate prisons again

Prison watch
Awareness is dawning around the country that 30 years of lengthy, tough-on-crime prison sentences have constructed an unsustainably expensive penal system.
By LANCE TAPLEY | January 21, 2009

Legislature will take up gay marriage this session

Equal rights
Maine lawmakers are certain to debate gay marriage in 2009, with competing marriage-related bills slated to be filed with the Legislature this week.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | January 14, 2009

Hey guv: stop slashing!

State budget cuts just make the recession worse
It seems as if there’s no light at the end of the state’s gloomy fiscal tunnel.
By LANCE TAPLEY | December 31, 2008

Prisoners’ support services slashed

Baldacci’s Warehouse
Governor John Baldacci announced on December 16 that he had taken significant steps toward warehousing prisoners instead of rehabilitating them.
By LANCE TAPLEY | December 23, 2008

Chronichitis

Politics and other mistakes
Many of you are suffering from a brain condition called ignorance. Others are infected with a disease called stupidity of the head.
By AL DIAMON | December 23, 2008

Gay marriage debate comes to Maine

Civil rights
Even as same-sex marriage supporters across the country reel from the Election Day approval of California's Proposition 8 — which changed that state's constitution to define marriage as between a man and a woman — they are optimistic about bringing gay marriage to Maine, possibly in the upcoming legislative session.
By DEIRDRE FULTON | December 17, 2008

Way to normal

Politics and other mistakes
No offense, but you're totally unqualified to decide who my wife's boss is.
By AL DIAMON | December 10, 2008

Corrections changes

NAACP leader challenges Maine prison policies
Like a movie hero, the NAACP’s new, young national president, Benjamin Jealous, swept into the 900-inmate Maine State Prison in Warren on Monday, quelling protests among the prisoners and, at least temporarily, rescuing the organization’s prison chapter from being snuffed out by state corrections officials.
By LANCE TAPLEY | December 10, 2008

We sing, we dance, we steal things

Politics and other mistakes
Last week, I profiled the Democrats running for governor of Maine in 2010. Thousands were taken ill.
By AL DIAMON | November 26, 2008

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