It’s true, and the Republican candidate for Governor made it unavoidably plain. When he was asked “Would you support offshore drilling in the waters off the Maine Coast?” in a televised gubernatorial debate in May of this year, Paul LePage gave an unequivocal one-word answer: “Yes.”

We’ve seen what happened to the fishing and tourism industries of the Gulf Coast after BP’s recent oil disaster. Is this what you want to see happening in Maine’s future?

His opponents will get some mileage from the Republican’s answer to question about “creationism” in a debate.

He did not propose this as a vital educational reform. He did not advocate removing evolution from the curriculum. He merely said that he would not oppose a local school board including such a component.

It’s never safe to trust the truth value of a politician’s defense of someone else in his own party. Let’s fact-check John Frary’s claim about Paul LePage. What did Paul LePage actually say?

Debate transcript, May 27, 2010:

Full text of question posed by Maine Public Radio’s Jennifer Rooks: “Do you believe in creationism, and do you think it should be taught in Maine public schools?”

Full text of answer by Paul LePage: “I would say intelligence, uh, the more education you have the more knowledge you have the better person you are and I believe yes and yes.”

John Frary Claim #1: “He did not propose this as a vital educational reform.”
Verdict: FALSE. In a gubernatorial debate, candidates speak about what they would do as governor. When asked “Do you believe in creationism, and do you think it should be taught in Maine public schools?”, Paul LePage unequivocally declared “I believe yes and yes.” Yes, Paul LePage thinks creationism should be taught in Maine public schools. It was a reform proposal made specifically and voluntarily by Paul LePage.

John Frary Claim #2: “He did not advocate removing evolution from the curriculum.”
Verdict: TRUE. But nobody claims that Paul LePage is advocating this. Run a google search for “Paul LePage” and “remove evolution” and you’ll get… nothing at all. Tomorrow, you’ll get nothing. John Frary is engaged in an attempt to change the subject from creationism, a subject Paul LePage declares he thinks should be taught in Maine public schools.

John Frary Claim #3: “He merely said that he would not oppose a local school board including such a component.”
Verdict: FALSE. Paul LePage did not equivocate. He did not couch his support for creationism in public schools in terms of “local school boards” or “components.” Paul LePage made the broad declaration, “Yes,” he thinks creationism should be taught in public schools.

If you live in Maine and you think creationism is for Sunday School and science is for public school, now is the time to come out and say so. After Paul LePage is elected governor, it will be too late.

So much for the rainbow state. So much for people who care for one another in Hawaii. So much for protection of these beautiful islands. Are you angry? Have you had enough of Linda Lingle’s vision for Hawaii? Then say so.

If you feel that this kind of statement makes Joe Barton a tragedy of the first proportion in Congress, you’re not alone. But wait: it could get worse. Did you know that if the Republicans regain a majority in the House in November, Joe Barton will be made Chair of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee?

Don’t let it happen. Make your public stand against the likes of Joe Barton with this anti-Barton bumper sticker (or, if you prefer, with this made-in-the-USA anti-Barton t-shirt).

I would say intelligence, uh, the more education you have the more knowledge you have the better person you are and I believe yes and yes.

Yes: Paul LePage believes in creationism. This may be odd, given the strong empirical evidence for evolution, but as an individual LePage has the right to believe in whatever religious ideas he wants.

Yes: Paul LePage wants creationism to be taught in public schools. This is where LePage crosses the line into using his political position for pushy religious proselytization. It’s just the sort of pushy, nosy, intrusive behavior that a place like Maine is supposed to stand against. Will we be able to say that in the future?

Creationism is for Sunday school. Science is for public school. Say No to Creationism in Public Schools. Say No to Paul LePage.

Here’s what it means for Wright to be running as a “citizen’s candidate”: Instead of the standard procedure for the selection of a congressional candidate, in which a self-centered politician gathers resources for the power to orchestrate a top-down campaign, Claudia Wright was democratically chosen by a group of committed citizens who had organized around a selfless purpose: The replacement of Jim Matheson as Democratic congressional candidate with a progressive candidate.

As a Blue Dog, working with Republicans to block Democratic legislation, Jim Matheson has gained the strong opposition of his district’s progressive candidates. In spite of his claims that he doesn’t need liberal help to win re-election, Matheson looks vulnerable this time, and his campaign is struggling to figure out a good way to deal with the rebellion on the Left. So far, they haven’t come up with a reasonable response.

Win or lose, 2010 may well be remembered as he year of Claudia Wright. Utahn Democrats are tired of the Blue Dog nonsense.

What happened to the clarity of the anti-war movement? Did the fierce urgency of NOW die off with the departure of George W. Bush? Was the anti-war movement really more of an anti-Bush movement? Have we fallen under the spell of a new president who seems to promise us change without specifying exactly what change means or when change will happen? Or is there a difference between a movement to stop a war from commencing and a movement to deal with a war that is already under way?

Regardless of the reason, the anti-war movement in America seems lost in a quagmire of words that end in ish.

It’s the Blue Dog Democrat strategy to a T – and it’s enabled Melancon to rise to the top of the right wing Blue Dog Coalition in the House of Representatives. The Blue Dog Democrats are like Melancon – voting like Republicans in Congress, but registered as Democrats for electoral advantage. Melancon has become the co-chair of the Blue Dogs, leading the charge as the Blue Dogs rip apart progressive Democratic legislation.

Charles Melancon thinks that kind of political two-timing has earned him a promotion, so this year, Melancon is campaigning to become Louisiana’s newest United States Senator. The bumper sticker you see here speaks to Melancon’s bid, reading, Melancon is too much like a Republican to get this Democrat’s vote.

Sanford Bishop consistently votes against the progressive values of his constituents, and in favor of the interests of corporate polluters. The Democrats of Georgia’s 2nd district deserve better – and it’s to them that this bumper sticker is designed to speak. Sanford Bishop? I want a real Democrat! – not a blue dog.

Bye Bye Buyer, it reads, “Indiana can do better”.

Indiana certainly can do better. In the current session of Congress, Congressman Buyer earned a negative 49 legislative score from That’s My Congress. There is now hope that the 4th congressional district of Indiana can elect a more forward-looking Representative.