Jon Reisman

This week’s “quick hits” column is a consequence of summer-time dreams being interrupted by meteor showers and media powers. I submitted a long-stewing paper on how rural Maine and the Second Congressional District have been well and truly screwed by Maine’s climate, energy, and equity policies. I have my doubts that the paper will be accepted, but completing it amidst a mid-July heat wave (undoubtedly caused by extreme weather, climate change, and Trump) was both cathartic and deeply satisfying.

It also left me without a clear column topic theme, so “quick hits” off the various “news” and agitprop operations is a good alternative.

Epstein

Bangor Daily News Politics Reporter Billy Kobin contacted me, and we had the following exchange, which he reported verbatim:

Billy Kobin: Asking Maine Republicans at different levels for any thoughts on this Epstein files debacle that continues to get attention. Wanted to reach out to you and other non-elected officials in addition to the candidates/lawmakers who support Trump or have strong opinions on this.

Jon Reisman: I'd like additional clarity and transparency from AG Bondi, but the whole Epstein saga/debacle/political theatre piece is pretty far down my list, after climate/energy policy, antisemitism, division within the country, and declining media credibility. The evil that Epstein did lives after him.

I wouldn’t change or add a word. 

PBS

The barely passed $9 billion minuscule rescission package is symbolic as opposed to substantial, but the symbolism is very powerful. Ending taxpayer funding for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting after previously ending it for Planned Parenthood is insignificant in fiscal terms, but monumental as conservative virtue signaling. I’m both gratified and astonished. Of course, our tribal divisions and biased media silos (PBS, NPR, Fox, CNN, and MSNBC) mean that there will be a very polarized perception, and it will likely get even worse.

I wonder what would have happened to a Virginia lawyer who moved to Brunswick in the 70s if Maine hadn’t been watching him on “Mainewatch” for many years. That surely explains Senator King’s “no” vote.

Blaine Game

The race for the Blaine House is on, and the field is still developing. 

It looks like a rank-choice voting Democratic dogfight amongst Shenna Bellows (most woke), Hannah Pingree (Janet’s legacy/Chellie’s progeny/Climate Czarina), Angus King III (Quixotic wind miller/Angus progeny), and Troy Jackson (Ghost of Democrat Big Labor Past). I’d guess that Hannah is the likely winner in a multiple-round RCV thriller/fiasco. Watching Secretary of State Bellows supervise an election with her name on the ballot should be entertaining, aggravating, and frustrating.

The Republican primary will also be an RCV-tainted drama, although Republicans are less likely to approve of it. Laurel Libby has formed an exploratory committee, and I expect her to be the favorite should she run, but with a crowded field, rank-choice voting will likely be an unwelcome decider. Jim Libby, Bobby Charles, Doug Jones, and perhaps Jonathan Bush will all have some support, and my crystal ball is too cloudy to cast much clarity on how Republican voters will use RCV.

Long-time Republican Rick Bennett has announced as an independent, hoping to follow Jim Longley and Angus King as an independent Governor. If the Party nominees are perceived as strongly woke (Bellows) or conservative (Laurel Libby), Bennett will have a shot. Party nominees perceived as more moderate will make it more difficult. Fortunately (at least from my point of view), RCV does not (yet) apply in general gubernatorial elections

Music Memes

Songs going through my head and my writing:

Summertime Dream (Gordon Lightfoot 1976, https://youtu.be/aBq2StnOFAA)

The Heat is On (Glenn Fry, 1984, theme to Beverly Hills Cop, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZD8HKVKneI)

City of New Orleans (Many, Highwaymen 1990, https://youtu.be/RnGJ3KJri1g)

Jon Reisman is an economist and policy analyst who retired from the University of Maine at Machias after 38 years. He resides on Cathance Lake in Cooper, where he is a Selectman and a Statler and Waldorf intern. Mr. Reisman’s views are his own, and he welcomes comments as letters to the editor here or to him directly via email at [email protected].