Our governor continues to amaze us with the vastness of his incompetence as chief executive.

He crudely undercut his marine resources commissioner by going behind his back to make deals with the fishing industry and punish perceived enemies in Portland.

His handpicked press secretary had to resign because of foreclosure problems. His environmental commissioner had to resign because of a serious conflict of interest but stayed around to lead another department.

His budget director overlooked an illegal sale of state property.

Without batting an eyelash, Republicans nearly passed a bill allowing weapons in the State House even after a first-term Republican almost shot a news photographer in Augusta. Meanwhile, the majority party passed new gun laws to allow employees to bring concealed weapons to work and public citizens to hide guns while visiting state parks.

LePage signed onto a prayer day proclamation sponsored by Texas Gov. Rick Perry without understanding its transparent political intent. Apparently, our governor didn’t pay attention in history class. This day of prayer is Aug. 6, the day we “Christians” bombed Hiroshima in 1945 killing almost 200,000 fellow human beings.

This is a governor who supposedly cares about “the people.” Which people? He refused to sign LD 860 that would have funded a low-income children’s summer free lunch program, but passed tax laws that primarily favor those making over $120,000 and penalized teachers and retirees for the state’s negligence of the pension system.

Anyone still want the tea party to run the state?

That letter sums up how many of us feel about Paul LePage. L’Idiot! Let’s not let it happen again.

If you’re an artist, a worker, a woman with a little beard (or more accurately, a man with a shriveled ***-***), an environmentalist, a person who believes in racial equality or simply a person with a brain who believes Maine is too big for small politics, express your indignation against the tragi-comic reign of Paul LePage with one of these anti-LePage bumper stickers from Irregular States.

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.

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.

In the current election season, something similar is happening in Maine. With a declaration yesterday that “We can continue using duct tape, Bondo and baling wire to keep our economy limping down the road,” Republican Steve Abbot joined more than 20 other candidates who are running for the office of Governor of Maine. The Portland Press Herald refers to the race as “already crowded,” as if there isn’t enough room in Mainers’ heads to think of all their choices. Won’t an anointed candidate emerge to make the choice simple?

But who says life has to be simple? A “simple” choice between two alternatives often leaves most of the power in the hands of those who decide what the choices will be. Now that’s classy… as in upper-class control. We say let a thousand candidates bloviate, and let the people decide who moves forward.

In the meantime, there’s nothing wrong with a little humor directed at the situation. Share this message with fellow travelers on the roads and byways of the Pine Tree state: You’re running for Governor? Hey, me too!

To support Lynne Williams in her gubernatorial bid, put one of these stickers on your car, kayak or bicycle. Then wait for the fruitful conversations to begin.