Letters to the Editor
Conviction pays off at the polls
To the Editor:
It’s been some weeks since the election and The Maine Conservative Voice has been silent with our take on the election. There are a couple of reasons for that. First and foremost, immediately after the votes were tallied, I had to find another gear and dive headlong into some construction work that some patient customers were waiting for me to complete. I must say I envy some of my political colleagues who were posting messages of taking a few days off to recuperate, which they certainly deserved, but I have yet to get my break. The story of my life.
Secondly, if this country bumpkin has learned one thing in politics it is never to get in the way of the VIPs and self-proclaimed experts as they stampede for the spotlight after an election victory. It’s a good way to get trampled. The last thing the political establishment wants to hear is the opinion of someone who works with and alongside the hardworking voters of Maine, not when they can sit rapt and doe-eyed fawning at the feet of political pundits, who sit in office gazing at polls and come out just long enough to get the credit for the election results.
So here is the opinion of the “last thing”: The Governor won his election in historic fashion. Again, the pundits have come out with all their reasons why, yet, there seems to be a maddeningly simple reason for his win that the “experts” are either missing or trying to avoid. Everywhere I went during the election cycle, whether it was on the streets, on the construction site, or out campaigning there was one constant theme from voters throughout, “I don’t like his mannerisms. I think he is crude, but … (There’s the big word) … but, he does what he says he is going to do.” It would seem that the Governor LePage got reelected not just on his political prowess but on the fact hat he has something most in the political realm are very afraid of and avoid like the plague … conviction. The people of Maine voted for his conviction.
Bruce Poliquin surprised the political establishment with his victory. Yes, those amazing pontificators, who thought he didn’t have a snowball’s chance in Hades, now all seem to know why he won. Aren’t they just so amazing with their big … knowledge? I was involved with the Poliquin campaign during the primary and maintained contact through the general election, so I do have some understanding of how the campaign worked.
So here is my hickishly (it’s a word if I say it’s a word) simple explanation. Poliquin and his campaign manager, Matt Hutson, targeted the church vote during the primary to see if they could awaken a historically dormant and apathetic demographic to his advantage. The result was the first of his surprise and convincing victories. When he refocused his campaign for the general election, Poliquin was still able to keep the social conservatives energized. As a result, he pulled off his second convincing upset.
My analysis? Social Conservatives, we can affect politics and we need not check our convictions at the door, as so many in the political realm want us to do.
While most in the political elite would like for those with moral convictions to work hard but shut up, I would call upon those who believe in faith, family and freedom to, yes, continue to work hard, but stand up for what you believe, “hold fast the profession of your faith” and never waver.
Andy Torbett
Atkinson
Special gift for every veteran
To the Editor:
I want to let area veterans know that there will be a get-together at the Milo American Legion (on West Main Street) on Saturday, Dec. 20 at 11 a.m. “Hike for Heroes” wants to give any area veteran a gift basket.
Randy Kluj of the Milo Post and also the commander of our district, is the contact person at 943-5509.
Veterans, please just show up, call Randy or call myself at 717-6473.
We are here for you. We are part of the largest veterans’ organization in the world … one veteran at a time! God Bless.
Ed Conroy
Dover-Foxcroft